Interactive delivery of media using dynamic playlist generation subject to restrictive criteria

Abstract

A media delivery scheme distributes a stream of media files to a group of users while allowing individual users to request specific media files. In one embodiment, a media server maintains a playlist of media files to broadcast, and requests for media must satisfy certain restrictive criteria to be added to the playlist. In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, the media server schedules requested media so as to comply with provisions of the DMCA.

1 . A computer implemented method of interactively delivering media over a computer network from a media server to a plurality of clients, the method comprising:
 generating a first playlist that defines a first media file sequence, said first playlist satisfying a first set of restrictive criteria specified by a first client;   generating a second playlist that defines a second media file sequence, said second playlist satisfying a second set of restrictive criteria specified by a second client;   receiving a request to add a first media file to said first playlist from a third client while broadcasting said first media file sequence on a first channel;   broadcasting a first updated media file sequence on said first channel as a conditional response to a determination that said first media file satisfies said first set of restrictive criteria specified by said first client, wherein said first set of restrictive criteria preclude any media files outside a first genre specified by said first client from being added to said first playlist and wherein said first updated media file sequence is formed by scheduling said first media file into said first playlist;   receiving a request to add a second media file to said second playlist from a fourth client while broadcasting said second media file sequence on a second channel; and   broadcasting a second updated media file sequence on said second channel as a conditional response to a determination that said second media file satisfies said second set of restrictive criteria specified by said second client, wherein said second set of restrictive criteria preclude any media files outside a second genre specified by said second client from being added to said second playlist and wherein said second updated media file sequence is formed by scheduling said second media file into said second playlist.   
     
     
         2 - 3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first set of restrictive criteria includes a condition that would preclude a media file from being played within a defined period of time. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first set of restrictive criteria specified by said first client comprises whether said playlist satisfies a set of group preferences. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said scheduling said first media file into said first playlist comprises:
 adding requested media files into said first playlist so that fewer than a substantial number of media files will be transmitted within an hour of receiving said corresponding request, or at a time that a client is informed that said requested media file will be transmitted.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said scheduling said first media file into said first playlist further comprises:
 adding requested media files into said first playlist so that at least one media file will be transmitted within an hour of receiving said corresponding request.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said media server comprises a computer system having a memory, said method further comprising:
 maintaining said playlist in said memory of said media server.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 notifying the third client that the first media file will be broadcast as a conditional response to said determination that said first media file satisfies said first set of restrictive criteria; and   notifying the fourth client that the first media file will be broadcast as a conditional response to said determination that said second media file satisfies said second set of restrictive criteria.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said broadcasting is streaming audio. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said broadcasting said first updated media file sequence on said first channel as said conditional response to said determination that said first media file satisfies said first set of restrictive criteria includes broadcasting the first media file at least one hour after receiving the request to add the first media file to said first playlist and wherein said broadcasting said second updated media file sequence on said second channel as said conditional response to said determination that said second media file satisfies said second set of restrictive criteria includes broadcasting the second media file at least one hour after receiving the request to add the second media file to said second playlist. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second media files and said first and second media file sequences are all music files. 
     
     
         13 . A computer implemented method of interactively delivering media over a computer network from a media server to a plurality of clients, the method comprising:
 generating a first playlist that defines a first media file sequence, said first playlist satisfying a first set of restrictive criteria specified by a first client;   generating a second playlist that defines a second media file sequence, said second playlist satisfying a second set of restrictive criteria specified by a second client;   receiving a request to add a first media file to said first playlist from a third client while broadcasting said first media file sequence on a first channel;   broadcasting a first updated media file sequence on said first channel as a conditional response to a determination that said first media file satisfies said first set of restrictive criteria, wherein said first updated media file sequence is formed by scheduling said first media file into said first playlist;   receiving a request to add a second media file to said second playlist from a fourth client while broadcasting said second media file sequence on a second channel; and   broadcasting a second updated media file sequence on said second channel as a conditional response to a determination that said second media file satisfies said second set of restrictive criteria, wherein said second updated media file sequence is formed by scheduling said second media file into said second playlist.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said media server comprises a computer system having a memory, said method further comprising:
 maintaining said playlist in said memory of said media server.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 notifying the third client that the first media file will be broadcast as a conditional response to said determination that said first media file satisfies said first set of restrictive criteria; and   notifying the fourth client that the first media file will be broadcast as a conditional response to said determination that said second media file satisfies said second set of restrictive criteria.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said broadcasting is streaming audio. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said broadcasting said first updated media file sequence on said first channel as said conditional response to said determination that said first media file satisfies said first set of restrictive criteria includes broadcasting the first media file at least one hour after receiving the request to add the first media file to said first playlist and wherein said broadcasting said second updated media file sequence on said second channel as said conditional response to said determination that said second media file satisfies said second set of restrictive criteria includes broadcasting the second media file at least one hour after receiving the request to add the second media file to said second playlist. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said first set of restrictive criteria comprises a requirement that said first playlist only incorporate requests originating from a subscriber of a media service provider. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said first and second media files and said first and second media file sequences are all music files.