Automated scheduling of media items into schedule based on whether position is a transition position

Abstract

A method for use in an automated media scheduling system including a processor and associated memory includes inserting media items from a first category into broadcast schedule positions of a first daypart of a broadcast media schedule, and determining that a second daypart, adjacent to the first daypart, is to be scheduled. A first position within the second daypart is selected, and a determination is made regarding whether the first position is a transition position. In response to determining that the first position is not a transition position, a first media item is selected in accordance with a user-specified order. The broadcast media schedule is automatically modified by inserting the first media item into the first position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for use in an automated media scheduling system including a processor and associated memory, the method comprising:
 inserting media items from a first category into broadcast schedule positions of a first daypart of a broadcast media schedule;   determining that a second daypart of the broadcast media schedule is to be scheduled, wherein the second daypart is adjacent to the first daypart;   selecting a first position within the second daypart to be scheduled;   determining whether the first position is a transition position;   in response to determining that the first position is not a transition position, selecting a first media item from a plurality media items, wherein the first media item is selected in accordance with a user-specified order; and   automatically modifying the broadcast media schedule by inserting the first media item into the first position.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in response to determining that the first position is a transition position, selecting the first media item subject to both vertical and horizontal adjacency conflict protections.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting the first media item includes:
 selecting the first media item from the first category.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that a third daypart of the broadcast media schedule is to be scheduled, wherein the third daypart is adjacent to the second daypart;   selecting a second position within the third daypart to be scheduled;   determining that the second position is not a transition position;   in response to determining that the second position is not a transition position, selecting a second media item from the plurality media items, wherein the second media item is selected in accordance with the user-specified order; and   automatically modifying the broadcast media schedule by inserting the second media item into the second position.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that a third daypart of the broadcast media schedule is to be scheduled, wherein the third daypart is adjacent to the second daypart;   selecting a second position within the third daypart to be scheduled;   determining that the second position is a transition position;   in response to determining that the second position is a transition position, selecting a second media item subject to both vertical and horizontal adjacency conflict protections; and   automatically modifying the broadcast media schedule by inserting the second media item into the second position.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 scheduling dayparts of the broadcast media schedule in reverse order.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 scheduling media items from the first category into a plurality of selected dayparts of the broadcast media schedule prior to scheduling media items from plurality of selected dayparts of the broadcast media schedule.   
     
     
         8 . An automated media scheduling system comprising:
 a processor;   memory operably associated with the processor; and   a program of instructions configured to be stored in the memory and executed by the processor, the program of instructions causing the processor and memory to implement a method including:
 inserting media items from a first category into broadcast schedule positions of a first daypart of a broadcast media schedule; 
 determining that a second daypart of the broadcast media schedule is to be scheduled, wherein the second daypart is adjacent to the first daypart; 
 selecting a first position within the second daypart to be scheduled; 
 determining whether the first position is a transition position; 
 in response to determining that the first position is not a transition position, selecting a first media item from a plurality media items, wherein the first media item is selected in accordance with a user-specified order; and 
 automatically modifying the broadcast media schedule by inserting the first media item into the first position. 
   
     
     
         9 . The automated media scheduling system of  claim 8 , wherein the program of instructions is further configured to cause the processor and memory to implement a method including:
 in response to determining that the first position is a transition position, selecting the first media item subject to both vertical and horizontal adjacency conflict protections.   
     
     
         10 . The automated media scheduling system of  claim 8 , wherein the program of instructions is further configured to cause the processor and memory to implement a method wherein:
 selecting the first media item includes selecting the first media item from the first category.   
     
     
         11 . The automated media scheduling system of  claim 8 , wherein the program of instructions is further configured to cause the processor and memory to implement a method including:
 determining that a third daypart of the broadcast media schedule is to be scheduled, wherein the third daypart is adjacent to the second daypart;   selecting a second position within the third daypart to be scheduled;   determining that the second position is not a transition position;   in response to determining that the second position is not a transition position, selecting a second media item from the plurality media items, wherein the second media item is selected in accordance with the user-specified order; and   automatically modifying the broadcast media schedule by inserting the second media item into the second position.   
     
     
         12 . The automated media scheduling system of  claim 8 , wherein the program of instructions is further configured to cause the processor and memory to implement a method including:
 determining that a third daypart of the broadcast media schedule is to be scheduled, wherein the third daypart is adjacent to the second daypart;   selecting a second position within the third daypart to be scheduled;   determining that the second position is a transition position;   in response to determining that the second position is a transition position, selecting a second media item subject to both vertical and horizontal adjacency conflict protections; and   automatically modifying the broadcast media schedule by inserting the second media item into the second position.   
     
     
         13 . The automated media scheduling system of  claim 8 , wherein the program of instructions is further configured to cause the processor and memory to implement a method including:
 scheduling dayparts of the broadcast media schedule in reverse order.   
     
     
         14 . The automated media scheduling system of  claim 8 , wherein the program of instructions is further configured to cause the processor and memory to implement a method including:
 scheduling media items from the first category into a plurality of selected dayparts of the broadcast media schedule prior to scheduling media items from plurality of selected dayparts of the broadcast media schedule.   
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer readable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions configured to be stored in memory and executed by a processor, the program of instructions including:
 at least one instruction to insert media items from a first category into broadcast schedule positions of a first daypart of a broadcast media schedule;   at least one instruction to determine that a second daypart of the broadcast media schedule is to be scheduled, wherein the second daypart is adjacent to the first daypart;   at least one instruction to select a first position within the second daypart to be scheduled;   at least one instruction to determine whether the first position is a transition position;   at least one instruction to select, in accordance with a user-specified order, a first media item from a plurality media items in response to determining that the first position is not a transition position; and   at least one instruction to automatically modifying the broadcast media schedule by inserting the first media item into the first position.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the program of instructions further includes:
 at least one instruction to select the first media item subject to both vertical and horizontal adjacency conflict protections in response to determining that the first position is a transition position.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the program of instructions further includes:
 at least one instruction to select the first media item includes selecting the first media item from the first category.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the program of instructions further includes:
 at least one instruction to determine that a third daypart of the broadcast media schedule is to be scheduled, wherein the third daypart is adjacent to the second daypart;   at least one instruction to select a second position within the third daypart to be scheduled;   at least one instruction to determining that the second position is not a transition position;   at least one instruction to select, a second media item from the plurality media items in accordance with the user-specified order in response to determining that the second position is not a transition position; and   at least one instruction to automatically modify the broadcast media schedule by inserting the second media item into the second position.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the program of instructions further includes:
 at least one instruction to determine that a third daypart of the broadcast media schedule is to be scheduled, wherein the third daypart is adjacent to the second daypart;   at least one instruction to select a second position within the third daypart to be scheduled;   at least one instruction to determine that the second position is a transition position;   at least one instruction to select a second media item subject to both vertical and horizontal adjacency conflict protections in response to determining that the second position is a transition position; and   at least one instruction to automatically modify the broadcast media schedule by inserting the second media item into the second position.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the program of instructions further includes:
 at least one instruction to schedule dayparts of the broadcast media schedule in reverse order.