Patent ID: 7020893
Filing Date: 2006-03-28
Classification: H04H,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for generating an opportunistic broadcast schedule, comprising: broadcasting meta-data to a plurality of client systems, the meta-data including descriptions of a plurality of pieces of content that are in consideration for inclusion in upcoming, yet to be scheduled, broadcasts; receiving individual sets of client demand feedback data from at least a portion of said plurality of client systems in response to the broadcasted meta-data, each individual set of client demand feedback data comprising raising data and rankings data indicating a client interest level in at least a portion of the plurality of pieces of content corresponding to the descriptions of the plurality of pieces of content provided in the broadcasted meta-data, and a meta-data identifier that is used to determine broadcast schedule queue; determining a piece of content from among said plurality of pieces of content that is most opportunistic for a next broadcast by aggregating the individual sets of client demand feedback data; maintaining a broadcast schedule queue comprising an ordered list of pieces of content that are scheduled to be broadcast in sequence derived from the aggregation of the client demand feedback data based on a relative level of client interest in each piece of content; and placing the piece of content that is determined to be most opportunistic for a next broadcast at the top of the broadcast schedule queue such that it is next to be broadcast, wherein the determination of the piece of content that is most opportunistic for a next broadcast is performed continuously.