CPC H04N 21/439 (2013.01) [G06Q 30/02 (2013.01); H04N 7/165 (2013.01); H04N 21/23424 (2013.01); H04N 21/25883 (2013.01); H04N 21/2668 (2013.01); H04N 21/26233 (2013.01); H04N 21/26258 (2013.01); H04N 21/4147 (2013.01); H04N 21/4302 (2013.01); H04N 21/442 (2013.01); H04N 21/44016 (2013.01); H04N 21/44222 (2013.01); H04N 21/4755 (2013.01); H04N 21/812 (2013.01)] | 11 Claims |
5. An apparatus for selectively scheduling a plurality of media items to a programming slot in a program break, such that a program receiver is enabled to output up to one selected one of the media items for output in said slot, and to output a linear one of the media items in said slot if no other one of the media items is selected, wherein the media items have respective attributes, and scheduling of the media items to the slot is subject to one or more constraints applicable to the attributes, comprising:
a. an avail schedule generator and updater arranged to generate or update avail schedule data relating to said slot according to one or more of the media items scheduled to said slot; and
b. a scheduler arranged to schedule said linear one of the plurality of media items to the programming slot, and to selectively schedule a further one or more of the media items to the slot, subject to said one or more constraints applicable to the respective attributes of the media items and to the avail schedule data.
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