Systems and methods are presented for insertion of assets into a stream of content (e.g., audio and/or video programming). Such assets may be targeted to network users separate from the surrounding content and deliveries thereof confirmed. Among other things, these systems and methods enable a new advertising paradigm based on guaranteed delivery of targeted commercial impressions. In this regard, the systems and methods generally provide assets with broadcast network programming (e.g., via actual insertion and/or switching to an asset channel) based on actual audience observations. For example, asset providers may wish to target assets for delivery according to specific audience classifications (e.g., gender, income level, locale, age, etc.). Programming providers, such as television programmers and radio programmers (e.g., standard tower broadcast radio and satellite radio), may receive information from broadcast network users and insert the assets into available bandwidth based on that information.

A method for use in a data processing system includes storing pass order information in a first data structure, wherein the pass order information stores settings associated with an order in which media items are to be scheduled for inclusion in a broadcast media schedule, and automatically generating the broadcast media schedule in accordance with the settings stored in the first data structure.

A broadcast receiver for processing of a broadcast signal, and a method for processing a broadcast signal by a broadcast receiver. The broadcast receiver includes: a receiver unit that is set up to receive the broadcast signal and convert the received broadcast signal into a digital data signal; a bandwidth filter unit that is set up to filter the data signal with a variable filtering bandwidth; a demodulation unit that is set up to demodulate the filtered data signal; a signal content analysis unit that is set up to determine a signal content of the demodulated data signal; a signal quality analysis unit that is set up to determine a signal quality of the data signal; and a bandwidth regulation unit that is set up to regulate the filtering bandwidth depending on the signal content and the signal quality.

A broadcast receiver for processing of a broadcast signal, and a method for processing a broadcast signal by a broadcast receiver. The broadcast receiver includes: a receiver unit that is set up to receive the broadcast signal and convert the received broadcast signal into a digital data signal; a bandwidth filter unit that is set up to filter the data signal with a variable filtering bandwidth; a demodulation unit that is set up to demodulate the filtered data signal; a signal content analysis unit that is set up to determine a signal content of the demodulated data signal; a signal quality analysis unit that is set up to determine a signal quality of the data signal; and a bandwidth regulation unit that is set up to regulate the filtering bandwidth depending on the signal content and the signal quality.

A device and method for using carry forward conflict resolution in a constant order schema for multimedia airplay scheduling. A reusable multimedia content set (e.g., music, news, other audio, advertising, etc.) can be combined with a secondary multimedia content set for playback of multimedia content to create a scheduling order. Conflicts in the scheduling order resulting from the combination can be resolved by exchanging slot positions in the reusable multimedia content set, which can then be reused for combination with subsequent secondary multimedia content sets while maintaining the previous conflict resolved scheduling order, thereby adhering to a substantially constant order for the multimedia content.

Apparatuses for playing signals received from the internet or other information highway or a stored database on one or more speakers are described. The apparatus has a receiver for receiving information from preselected addresses; a processor for interpreting the signals; and at least one speaker for playing signals from the internet. There is at least display device in the form of a holographic projector connected to the receiver for displaying a 3D holographic image received from the internet. The processor selects images that correspond with the signals played by the speaker. The speaker projects the sound into certain areas of the environment, so that it appears that the sound is coming from a place other than the actual speaker itself. A holographic projector connected to the processor projects a 3D holographic image onto the place from which the sound appears to originate, rather than on the actual speaker itself.

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing devices capable of the reception and playback of one or more crafted media channels transmitted over an intermittent connection. The one or more channels may be customized by the end user to bias the programming towards individual tastes or moods. The channels may be delivered over an intermittent, unidirectional link, for example a Satellite Radio receiver in a home or car. Content may also be delivered over an intermittent, bidirectional link, for example to a portable media player via a wireless 802.11 or other networked connection.

Multiple shots representing potential playlists of content items are generated. Each shot includes multiple shot positions into which potential content items are placed. The shot positions are individually assigned position index values. The position index values assigned to positions in a particular shot form a unique sequences of index values. Eligible content items are identified for insertion into a first shot position. The eligible content items are scored relative to each other, and associated with content index values. Selected eligible content items are placed into particular shot positions based on a comparison of content index values associated with the selected eligible content items to a position index value assigned to the particular shot positions. Shot scores are determined based on aggregate scores of eligible content items placed in shot positions associated with each individual shot, and the shot scores are compared. A broadcast schedule is generated based on the shot-score comparison.

Apparatuses for playing signals received from the internet or other information highway or a stored database on one or more speakers are described. The apparatus has a receiver for receiving information from preselected addresses; a processor for interpreting the signals; and at least one speaker for playing signals from the internet. There is at least display device in the form of a holographic projector connected to the receiver for displaying a 3D holographic image received from the internet. The processor selects images that correspond with the signals played by the speaker.

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for audience metric determination are described herein. An audience segment may be targeted for delivery of content. A clustering algorithm may be used to categorize a quantity of users or devices into subsets based on a propensity to consume, present or output a particular type of content, and a quantity of time to output the particular type of content. A weight may be assigned to each subset based on its relevance to other subsets, such as based on data variance, e.g., on a distance to a midpoint of a specific subset of the subsets. An index parameter may be determined for the datasets, e.g., based on each weight for each subset, and data may be generated that reflects a ranking of content delivery spots for delivery of content to the audience segment.