Scheduling multimedia for distribution with conflict resolution

Abstract

A method for a data processing system includes retrieving a first set of multimedia content identifiers having a first sequential order and a first category, retrieving a second set of multimedia content identifiers having a second sequential order and a second category and combining the first and second set of the multimedia content identifiers to produce a chronological scheduling order. The method continues with the data processing system determining whether one or more conflicts exist in the chronological scheduling order and based on a determination that one or more conflicts exist, exchanging a slot position of either of the one of the first set and the one of the second set with another corresponding one of either of the first set and the second set of the multimedia content identifiers based upon a predetermined number of slot value to resolve the conflict and to modify the chronological scheduling order.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for use in a data processing system including one or more processing modules of one or more computing devices, the method comprises:
 retrieving, at the data processing system, a first set of multimedia content identifiers having a first sequential order and a first category, wherein each of the first set of multimedia content identifiers includes at least one multimedia parameter, wherein the first set of multimedia content identifiers is used to create a plurality of schedules for media distribution, and further wherein each of the first set of multimedia content identifiers includes at least one multimedia parameter;   retrieving, at the data processing system, a second set of multimedia content identifiers having a second sequential order and a second category, wherein each of the second set of multimedia content identifiers includes at least one multimedia parameter, wherein each of the second set of multimedia content identifiers includes at least one multimedia parameter;   combining, by the data processing system, the first set and the second set of the multimedia content identifiers to produce at least a portion of a chronological scheduling order having a plurality of slot positions;   determining, by the data processing system, whether one or more conflicts exist in the at least a portion of the chronological scheduling order;   based on a determination that one or more conflicts exist in the at least a portion of the chronological scheduling order, exchanging, by the data processing system, a slot position of either of the one of the first set and the one of the second set with another corresponding one of either of the first set and the second set of the multimedia content identifiers based upon a predetermined number of slot value to resolve the conflict and to modify the at least the portion of the chronological scheduling order; and   producing, by the data processing system, a modified portion of the chronological scheduling order.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more conflicts include at least one multimedia parameter of the first set and the second set having substantially equivalent data values within a predetermined number of slot values of the at least the portion of the chronological scheduling order. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more conflicts include at least one multimedia parameter of the second set having one or more incompatible data values, wherein an incompatible data value is a data value of at least one multimedia parameter of the second set having a different value than the same multimedia parameter of the first set. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the media comprises at least one of:
 video media;   audio media; and   music media.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one multimedia parameter is selected from a group including at least one of a theme, a category and a twofer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 modifying the first sequential order or the second sequential order of either of the first set and the second set based on the exchanging the position of either of the one of the first set and the second set of the multimedia content identifiers.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the combining the first set and the second set of the multimedia content identifiers includes interlacing the first set and the second set of the multimedia content identifiers. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the interlacing is substantially random. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the interlacing is determined based upon an algorithm, wherein the algorithm is at least partially based on a predetermined relationship between a plurality of multimedia parameters. 
     
     
         10 . A computer-based device for scheduling multimedia for distribution, the computer-based device comprising:
 a processor;   a data bus coupled to the processor; and   a non-transitory computer-usable medium embodying computer code, the computer code including a program of instructions executable by the processor and configured to:
 retrieve a first set of multimedia content identifiers having a first sequential order and a first category, wherein each of the first set of multimedia content identifiers includes at least one multimedia parameter, wherein the first set of multimedia content identifiers is used to create a plurality of schedules for media distribution, and further wherein each of the first set of multimedia content identifiers includes at least one multimedia parameter; 
 retrieve a second set of multimedia content identifiers having a second sequential order and a second category, wherein each of the second set of multimedia content identifiers includes at least one multimedia parameter, wherein each of the second set of multimedia content identifiers includes at least one multimedia parameter; 
 combine the first set and the second set of the multimedia content identifiers to produce at least a portion of a chronological scheduling order having a plurality of slot positions; 
 determine whether one or more conflicts exist in the at least a portion of the chronological scheduling order; 
 based on a determination that one or more conflicts exist in the at least a portion of the chronological scheduling order, exchange a slot position of either of the one of the first set and the one of the second set with another corresponding one of either of the first set and the second set of the multimedia content identifiers based upon a predetermined number of slot value to resolve the conflict and to modify the at least the portion of the chronological scheduling order; and 
 produce a modified portion of the chronological scheduling order. 
   
     
     
         11 . The computer-based device of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more conflicts include at least one multimedia parameter of the first set and the second set having substantially equivalent data values within a predetermined number of slot values of the at least the portion of the chronological scheduling order. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-based device of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more conflicts include at least one multimedia parameter of the second set having one or more incompatible data values, wherein an incompatible data value is a data value of at least one multimedia parameter of the second set having a different value than the same multimedia parameter of the first set. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-based device of  claim 10 , wherein the media comprises at least one of:
 video media;   audio media; and   music media.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-based device of  claim 10 , wherein the program of instructions is further configured for:
 modifying the first sequential order or the second sequential order of either of the first set and the second set based on the exchanging the position of either of the one of the first set and the second set of the multimedia content identifiers.   
     
     
         15 . The computer-based device of  claim 10 , wherein the combining the first set and the second set of the multimedia content identifiers includes interlacing the first set and the second set of the multimedia content identifiers. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-based device of  claim 15 , wherein the interlacing is substantially random. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-based device of  claim 15 , wherein the interlacing is determined based upon an algorithm, wherein the algorithm is at least partially based on a predetermined relationship between a plurality of multimedia parameters. 
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory computer-usable medium embodying computer program code, the computer program code comprising a computer-executable program of instructions configured for:
 retrieving a first set of multimedia content identifiers having a first sequential order and a first category, wherein each of the first set of multimedia content identifiers includes at least one multimedia parameter, wherein the first set of multimedia content identifiers is used to create a plurality of schedules for media distribution, and further wherein each of the first set of multimedia content identifiers includes at least one multimedia parameter;   retrieving a second set of multimedia content identifiers having a second sequential order and a second category, wherein each of the second set of multimedia content identifiers includes at least one multimedia parameter, wherein each of the second set of multimedia content identifiers includes at least one multimedia parameter;   combining the first set and the second set of the multimedia content identifiers to produce at least a portion of a chronological scheduling order having a plurality of slot positions;   determining whether one or more conflicts exist in the at least a portion of the chronological scheduling order;   based on a determination that one or more conflicts exist in the at least a portion of the chronological scheduling order, exchanging a slot position of either of the one of the first set and the one of the second set with another corresponding one of either of the first set and the second set of the multimedia content identifiers based upon a predetermined number of slot value to resolve the conflict and to modify the at least the portion of the chronological scheduling order; and   producing a modified portion of the chronological scheduling order.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-usable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the conflict occurs upon the at least one multimedia parameter of the first set and the second set having substantially equivalent values within a predetermined number of slots of the at least the portion of the chronological scheduling order. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-usable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more conflicts include at least one multimedia parameter of the second set having one or more incompatible data values, wherein an incompatible data value is a data value of at least one multimedia parameter of the second set having a different value than the same multimedia parameter of the first set.