U.S. patent application number 11/361190 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-31 for system and method for playlist management and distribution.
This patent application is currently assigned to YAHOO! Inc.. Invention is credited to David E. Brown, Matthew D. New, Ian Rogers.
Application Number | 20060195512 11/361190 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36941496 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060195512 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rogers; Ian ; et
al. |
August 31, 2006 |
System and method for playlist management and distribution
Abstract
A system and method for storing a playlist of media files that
is accessible from various locations in a network. In one aspect,
the playlist is accessible from multiple users of the network. A
method is also described for arranging the media files of a
playlist. In one aspect, the method for arranging the media files
is based in part on implicit and/or explicit user behavior.
Inventors: |
Rogers; Ian; (Santa Monica,
CA) ; New; Matthew D.; (Irvine, CA) ; Brown;
David E.; (San Francisco, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBERG TRAURIG, LLP
MET LIFE BUILDING
200 PARK AVENUE
NEW YORK
NY
10166
US
|
Assignee: |
YAHOO! Inc.
Sunnyvale
CA
94089
|
Family ID: |
36941496 |
Appl. No.: |
11/361190 |
Filed: |
February 24, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60657222 |
Feb 28, 2005 |
|
|
|
60678718 |
May 5, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
709/203 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 16/637 20190101;
G06Q 20/386 20200501; H04N 21/8355 20130101; G11B 20/00086
20130101; G11B 27/105 20130101; H04L 63/0263 20130101; H04L 63/105
20130101; H04L 67/325 20130101; G06Q 20/1235 20130101; H04N 21/4825
20130101; H04N 21/2541 20130101; H04N 21/4622 20130101; G06F
16/9535 20190101; H04L 65/4084 20130101; H04N 21/47214 20130101;
G06F 16/273 20190101; H04L 67/34 20130101; G06F 2213/0038 20130101;
H04L 12/1822 20130101; H04L 51/04 20130101; H04L 67/306 20130101;
H04N 7/17318 20130101; G06F 16/639 20190101; G06F 2216/01 20130101;
G06F 2221/2113 20130101; G06F 16/4387 20190101; H04L 63/101
20130101; Y10S 707/913 20130101; G11B 27/34 20130101; H04L 67/22
20130101; H04N 21/8113 20130101; H04L 67/327 20130101; G06F
2221/2137 20130101; H04L 2463/101 20130101; H04N 21/41407 20130101;
G06Q 10/10 20130101; G06Q 30/06 20130101; H04N 21/4126 20130101;
G06F 21/10 20130101; H04N 21/4331 20130101; G06F 21/6236 20130101;
G06F 16/3344 20190101; H04N 21/4788 20130101; G06F 16/4393
20190101; H04L 67/06 20130101; H04N 21/4627 20130101; H04N 21/658
20130101; G06Q 30/02 20130101; H04L 29/06027 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/203 |
International
Class: |
G06F 15/16 20060101
G06F015/16 |
Claims
1. A method of storing a playlist of media files accessible from
various locations on a network comprising: receiving, upon a user
selection action to identify a created playlist, a list of media
file identifiers wherein each identifier is associated with a media
file said user has selected to include in said playlist;
identifying a media file source associated with each identifier;
and storing said list of media file identifiers in a storage on
said network so that multiple users of said network, including said
user, can access said playlist from various locations.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending, upon a request
from one of said multiple users to access said list of media file
identifiers, said list to said requesting user.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending, upon a request
from said user to send said list of media file identifiers to one
of said multiple users in said network, said list to said one of
said multiple users.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said user selection action to
identify said created playlist comprises said user naming said
playlist.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein said user selection action to
identify said created playlist further comprises saving said named
playlist.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein one of said locations comprises
said users local media library.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein one of said locations comprises a
local media library associated with one of said multiple users of
said network.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein one of said locations comprises a
database located on said network.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein one of said locations comprises a
database located on the internet.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein each of said media file
identifiers comprises a pointer associated with each of said media
files.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein each of said media file
identifiers comprises a universal resource locator associated with
each of said media files.
12. A system for storing a playlist of media files accessible from
various locations on a network comprising one or more servers
configured to: receive, upon a user selection action to identify a
created playlist, a list of media file identifiers wherein each
identifier is associated with a media file said user has selected
to include in said playlist; identify a media file source
associated with each identifier; and store said list of media file
identifiers in a storage on said network so that multiple users of
said network, including said user, can access said playlist from
various locations.
13. The system of claim 12 further comprising said one or more
servers configured to send, upon a request from one of said
multiple users to access said list of media file identifiers, said
list to said requesting user.
14. The system of claim 12 further comprising said one or more
servers configured to send, upon a request from said user to send
said list of media file identifiers to one of said multiple users
of said network, said list to one of said multiple users.
15. The system of claim 12 wherein said user selection action to
identify said created playlist comprises said user naming said
playlist.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein said user selection action to
identify said created playlist further comprises saving said named
playlist.
17. The system of claim 12 wherein one of said locations comprises
said user's local media library.
18. The system of claim 12 wherein one of said locations comprises
a local media library associated with one of said multiple users of
said network.
19. The system of claim 12 wherein one of said locations comprises
a database located on said network.
20. The system of claim 12 wherein one of said locations comprises
a database located on the internet.
21. The system of claim 12 wherein each of said media file
identifiers comprises a pointer associated with each of said media
files.
22. The system of claim 12 wherein each of said media file
identifiers comprises a universal resource locator associated with
each of said media files.
23. A method for arranging media files of a playlist comprising:
identifying at least one media file of said media files of a
playlist; accessing data associated with said identified media
file, said data being collected from a user; generating a first
score based on a first portion of said data; generating a second
score based on a second portion of said data; and determining,
based in part on said first score and said second score, a position
of said identified media file within said playlist.
24. The method of claim 23 wherein said data comprises a rating
associated with said identified media file.
25. The method of claim 23 wherein said data comprises a date when
said identified media file was last played.
26. The method of claim 23 wherein said data comprises a frequency
said identified media file has been played.
27. The method of claim 23 wherein said data comprises whether said
identified media file has been transferred to a portable media
player.
28. The method of claim 23 wherein said data comprises whether said
identified media file has been transferred to a local media library
associated with said user.
29. The method of claim 23 wherein said data comprises whether said
identified media file has been recommended by said user to another
user.
30. The method of claim 23 wherein said data is stored on a
server.
31. The method of claim 23 wherein said data is stored at a local
processor associated with said user.
32. The method of claim 23 wherein said first portion of said data
comprises a date when said identified media file was last
played.
33. The method of claim 32 wherein said date is processed into a
score to be used to determine said first score.
34. The method of claim 23 wherein said second portion of said data
comprises a rating associated with said identified media file.
35. The method of claim 34 wherein said rating is processed into a
score to be used to determine said second score.
36. The method of claim 34 wherein said rating comprises a rating
associated with an artist associated with said identified media
file.
37. The method of claim 34 wherein said rating comprises a rating
associated with an album associated with said identified media
file.
38. The method of claim 34 wherein said rating comprises a rating
associated with a genre associated with said identified media
file.
39. The method of claim 34 wherein said rating comprises a default
rating.
40. The method of claim 23 wherein said first score comprises a
rating score associated with said identified media file and a last
played scored associated with said identified media file.
41. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of determining said
position comprises aggregating said first score and said second
score and weighting said first score and said second score against
scores of said media files in said playlist.
42. The method of claim 23 wherein said step of determining said
position is based on the formula [N*(R/N).sup.p].sup.0.94, wherein
N is the number of said media files in said playlist, R is a random
integer, and p is a constant value.
43. The method of claim 23 further comprising generating a
separation number so that an attribute associated with said media
files in said playlist is not repetitive.
44. The method of claim 43 wherein said attribute comprises an
artist associated with said media files.
45. The method of claim 43 wherein said attribute comprises an
album associated with said media files.
46. The method of claim 43 wherein said attribute comprises a genre
associated with said media files.
47. The method of claim 43 wherein said separation number is based
on the formula T/N.sub.a, wherein T is the total number of said
media files within said playlist, wherein N.sub.a is the number of
media files with said attribute.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 60/657,222, filed Feb. 28, 2005, entitled A
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DELIVERING MEDIA OVER A NETWORK, and U.S.
Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/678,718, filed May 5, 2005,
entitled A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DELIVERING MEDIA OVER A NETWORK,
both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to a system and
method for storing a playlist of media files that is accessible
from various locations in a network.
[0004] 2. Background of the Invention
[0005] The expansion of the Internet and the World Wide Web ("web")
has given computer users the enhanced ability to listen to and to
watch various different forms of media through their computers.
This media can be in the form of audio music, music videos,
television programs, sporting events or any other form of audio or
video media that a user wishes to watch or listen to.
[0006] In the past, users were able to purchase some form of
removable media (e.g., compact disc), place the media into their
computer's drive and listen to the song that was on their removable
media. As time evolved, users were able to take the music that was
on that compact disc store it on their computers and listen to it
locally. More recently, web systems were developed which allowed a
user log on to a network such as the Internet and, using a media
player, either listen to specific media chosen from a group of
media that a particular service has to offer or listen to an array
of media offerings such as a radio station wherein different songs
or other forms of media are combined to allow a user to listen to a
group of songs in sequence, whether chosen by the user or by the
operators of the network service. For example such a service is
Yahoo!.TM. Music. Many media players, services and other software
tools enable media to be organized by a user or a service into
playlists, which, as the name connotes, are groups or lists of
media files or file identifiers that can be used to effect playback
by a user in a sequence or other selected or random order.
[0007] Newer technology has also allowed computer users to purchase
portable devices that are able to store a user's media, making the
user's media portable in the sense that a user can take his or her
music with them wherever they may be going. These devices permit
the storage and transport of the actual media files that are
downloaded from a user's computer or a network onto the portable
device. These portable devices are able to store individual media
files and/or playlists that a user wishes to make portable. Thus,
if a user has a certain media file on their computer the user can
transfer that media file onto the portable device and transport it
to locations different from the location where the user's computer
system is located. Although these devices are popular today, they
do have numerous drawbacks in that a user is severely limited in
the range of what type of media they can store on their portable
device and the ease of storing such media. This is because these
devices only allow a user the capability of transporting media that
is available locally on their computer as well as media that is
available from a network service that offers such media. It is a
shortcoming in the art that there is no system by which the user
could broaden the range of media that can be made portable so as
not to be constrained by the bounds and limits of certain Internet
services' range of media or offerings. It would also be
advantageous if a system or service was able to create a playlist
and/or suggest different media for a user based on the user's
previous experience and then make that media available at multiple
media enabled devices as well as made portable, so that the user
need not individually download each specific song and/or other
media that the user likes but rather, in addition to the user's own
selections the system would be able to grant the user more variety
as well as spontaneity in the media available to the user no matter
where the user might be located.
[0008] Another by-product of the expansion of the web is the
interaction between different users by various different means such
as email and/or instant messaging. This interaction has resulted in
the ability for computer users to share many different types of
information. For example, one user may send another user the
Universal Resource Locator (URL) which points to a specific website
that one user wishes the other user to experience. In another
situation one user may wish to send another user a media file that
they wish the other user to experience. This can be accomplished by
sending the other user the actual media file attached to an email
or instant message. On the other hand one user may send another
user an URL, which links to a particular media file and is stored
on a particular network. All of these systems however utilize an
email, instant messaging or similar service to transfer information
regarding the particular media that the user wishes to share and/or
recommend. What is lacking in each of the currently available
systems is a system in which a user may utilize their own media
player to communicate their likes or dislikes for a particular
media item to another user. It is a shortcoming in the art that
there is no media system or service available wherein a user can,
from within the media system and/or an enhanced media player,
communicate with another user and share media with that other user
and/or express a like or dislike for particular media. It would
also be beneficial over known systems for a user to not have to
rely on utilizing multiple programs to share or recommend music or
other media to other users. It would be similarly advantageous over
known systems to have one media player or to be more precise, a
media engine which is able to play media as well as address a
multiplicity of other user's media related needs and thus enable
the user to have a more enhanced media experience.
[0009] An additional by-product of the expansion of computer
related technology is that a single user in various circumstances
may have more than one computer or media capable device located in
numerous different locations through which a user may wish to
experience their media. In the past, the users who wished to
transfer or transport media files between different locations would
have to go through the cumbersome steps of either transferring the
media files by hand (e.g., on a compact disc), emailing or instant
messaging the media file to themselves and then opening the file at
a second location, or attempting to locate the media file on a
particular media network service and then once again loading that
particular media at a second computer location.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method
of storing a playlist of media files accessible from various
locations on a network comprising: receiving, upon a user selection
action to identify a created playlist, a list of media file
identifiers wherein each identifier is associated with a media file
the user has selected to include in the playlist; identifying a
media file source associated with each identifier; and storing the
list of media file identifiers in a storage on the network so that
multiple users of the network, including the user, can access the
playlist from various locations.
[0011] In one embodiment, the present invention includes a system
for storing a playlist of media files accessible from various
locations on a network comprising one or more servers configured
to: receive, upon a user selection action to identify a created
playlist, a list of media file identifiers wherein each identifier
is associated with a media file the user has selected to include in
the playlist; identify a media file source associated with each
identifier; and store the list of media file identifiers in a
storage on the network so that multiple users of the network,
including the user, can access the playlist from various
locations.
[0012] In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method
for arranging media files of a playlist comprising: identifying at
least one media file of the media files of a playlist; accessing
data associated with the identified media file, the data being
collected from a user; generating a first score based on a first
portion of the data; generating a second score based on a second
portion of the data; and determining, based in part on the first
score and the second score, a position of the identified media file
within the playlist.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The following drawing figures, which form a part of this
application, are illustrative of embodiments of the present
invention and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention in
any manner, which scope shall be based on the claims appended
hereto.
[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustrating an exemplary system
architecture of one embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is an exemplary user interface of an exemplary media
engine according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustrating an exemplary network
architecture according to one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a flowchart depicting the organization and
classification of a user's media files according to one embodiment
of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 5 is an additional exemplary user interface of an
exemplary media engine according to another embodiment of the
present invention;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a flowchart depicting a process of bookmarking
media according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a flowchart depicting a process of locating files
according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 8 is an additional exemplary user interface of an
exemplary media engine according to another embodiment of the
present invention;
[0022] FIG. 9 is an additional exemplary user interface of an
exemplary media engine according to another embodiment of the
present invention;
[0023] FIG. 10 is an additional exemplary user interface of an
exemplary media engine according to another embodiment of the
present invention;
[0024] FIG. 11 is an additional exemplary user interface of an
exemplary media engine according to another embodiment of the
present invention;
[0025] FIG. 12 is an additional exemplary user interface of an
exemplary media engine according to another embodiment of the
present invention;
[0026] FIG. 13 is an additional exemplary user interface of an
exemplary media engine according to another embodiment of the
present invention;
[0027] FIG. 14 is an additional exemplary user interface of an
exemplary media engine according to another embodiment of the
present invention;
[0028] FIG. 15 is an additional exemplary user interface of an
exemplary media engine according to another embodiment of the
present invention;
[0029] FIG. 16 is an additional exemplary user interface of an
exemplary media engine according to another embodiment of the
present invention;
[0030] FIG. 17 is an additional exemplary user interface of an
exemplary media engine according to another embodiment of the
present invention;
[0031] FIG. 18 is an additional exemplary user interface utilizing
a search engine in connection with an exemplary media engine
according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 19 is an additional exemplary user interface utilizing
a search engine in connection with an exemplary media engine
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 20 is an additional exemplary user interface utilizing
a search engine in connection with an exemplary media engine
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 21 is an additional exemplary user interface utilizing
a search engine in connection with an exemplary media engine
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 22 is an additional exemplary user interface utilizing
a search engine in connection with an exemplary media engine
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 23 is an additional exemplary user interface utilizing
a search engine in connection with an exemplary media engine
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0037] FIG. 24 is an additional exemplary user interface utilizing
a search engine in connection with an exemplary media engine
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0038] FIG. 25 is an additional exemplary user interface utilizing
a search engine in connection with an exemplary media engine
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0039] FIG. 26 is an additional exemplary user interface utilizing
a search engine in connection with an exemplary media engine
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0040] FIG. 27 is an additional exemplary user interface utilizing
a search engine in connection with an exemplary media engine
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0041] FIG. 28 is an additional exemplary user interface utilizing
a search engine in connection with an exemplary media engine
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0042] FIG. 29 is an additional exemplary user interface utilizing
a search engine in connection with an exemplary media engine
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0043] FIG. 30 is an additional exemplary user interface utilizing
a search engine in connection with an exemplary media engine
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0044] FIG. 31 is an additional exemplary user interface utilizing
a search engine in connection with an exemplary media engine
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0045] FIG. 32 is an additional exemplary user interface utilizing
a search engine in connection with an exemplary media engine
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0046] FIG. 33 is an exemplary user interface of an exemplary media
engine according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0047] FIG. 34 is an exemplary user interface of an exemplary media
engine according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0048] FIG. 35 is an exemplary user interface of an exemplary media
engine according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0049] FIG. 36 is an exemplary user interface of an exemplary media
engine according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0050] FIG. 37 is an exemplary user interface of an exemplary media
engine according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0051] FIG. 38 is an exemplary user interface of an exemplary media
engine according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0052] FIG. 39 is an exemplary user interface of an exemplary media
engine according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0053] FIG. 40 is an exemplary user interface of an exemplary media
engine according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0054] FIG. 41 is an exemplary user interface of an exemplary media
engine according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0055] FIG. 42 is an exemplary user interface of an exemplary media
engine according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0056] FIG. 43 is an exemplary user interface used in creating a
playlist with an exemplary media engine according to one embodiment
of the present invention;
[0057] FIG. 44 is an additional exemplary user interface used in
creating a playlist with an exemplary media engine according to
another embodiment of the present invention;
[0058] FIG. 45 is a flowchart depicting the creation of an affinity
playlist;
[0059] FIG. 46 is an additional exemplary user interface used in
creating a playlist with an exemplary media engine according to one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0060] FIG. 47 is an exemplary user interface used in creating a
playlist with an exemplary media engine according to one embodiment
of the present invention;
[0061] FIG. 48 is an additional exemplary user interface used in
creating a playlist with an exemplary media engine according to one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0062] FIG. 49 is a flowchart depicting a process of generating a
playlist according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0063] FIG. 50 is another exemplary user interface of an exemplary
media engine according to one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0064] FIG. 51 is another exemplary user interface of an exemplary
media engine according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0065] FIG. 52 is another exemplary user interface of an exemplary
media engine according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0066] FIG. 53 is another exemplary user interface of an exemplary
media engine according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0067] FIG. 54 is another exemplary user interface of an exemplary
media engine according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0068] FIG. 55 is another exemplary user interface of an exemplary
media engine according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0069] FIG. 56 is another exemplary user interface of an exemplary
media engine according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0070] FIG. 57 is another exemplary user interface of an exemplary
media engine according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0071] FIG. 58 is another exemplary user interface of an exemplary
media engine according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0072] FIG. 59 is another exemplary user interface of an exemplary
media engine according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0073] FIG. 60 is another exemplary user interface of an exemplary
media engine according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0074] FIG. 61 is another exemplary user interface of an exemplary
media engine according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0075] FIG. 62 is another exemplary user interface of an exemplary
media engine according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0076] FIG. 63 is another exemplary user interface of an exemplary
media engine according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0077] FIG. 64 is another exemplary user interface of an exemplary
media engine according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0078] FIG. 65 is another exemplary user interface of an exemplary
media engine according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0079] FIG. 66 is another exemplary user interface of an exemplary
media engine according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0080] FIG. 67 is another exemplary user interface of an exemplary
media engine according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0081] FIG. 68 is another exemplary user interface of an exemplary
media engine according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0082] FIG. 69 is another exemplary user interface of an exemplary
media engine according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0083] FIG. 70 is another exemplary user interface of an exemplary
media engine according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0084] FIG. 71 is a schematic illustrating exemplary system
architecture of one embodiment of the present invention;
[0085] FIG. 72 is a flowchart depicting a process of creating and
interacting with a network according to one embodiment of the
present invention;
[0086] FIG. 73 is an exemplary user interface used in creating a
playlist with an exemplary media engine according to one embodiment
of the present invention;
[0087] FIG. 74 is an exemplary user interface used in creating a
playlist with an exemplary media engine according to one embodiment
of the present invention;
[0088] FIG. 75 is an additional exemplary user interface used in
creating a playlist with an exemplary media engine according to one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0089] FIG. 76 is an exemplary user interface used in creating a
playlist with an exemplary media engine according to one embodiment
of the present invention;
[0090] FIG. 77 is a flowchart depicting the publishing of a
playlist according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0091] FIG. 78 is an exemplary user interface used in creating a
similar users/members list with an exemplary according to one
embodiment;
[0092] FIG. 80 is an exemplary user interface used in creating a
similar users/members list with an exemplary according to one
embodiment;
[0093] FIG. 81 is an exemplary user interface used in creating a
similar artist list with an exemplary according to one
embodiment;
[0094] FIG. 82 is an exemplary user interface used in creating a
similar artist list with an exemplary according to one
embodiment;
[0095] FIG. 83 is an exemplary user interface used in creating a
similar artist list with an exemplary according to one embodiment;
and
[0096] FIG. 84 is a schematic illustrating an exemplary system
architecture of one embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0097] In general, the present invention relates to a system and
method for delivering media over a network and for enhancing a
user's experience in experiencing the media that is transferred
over the network. In view of the aforementioned shortcomings in the
art, it would be advantageous if a system was available wherein a
user had complete and unfettered access to all media files that he
or she has purchased, acquired and/or has access to at any location
that they wish. Moreover, as was discussed above, current systems
grant the user the ability to transport a media file on a portable
device. These portable devices are limited in space and it becomes
cumbersome to have to upload and download from the devices to and
from each specific location that a user wishes to access files
from. Therefore it would be advantageous if a system existed where
a user was able to access these files through a click of a mouse on
their local system with a minimum of cumbersome intermediary
steps.
[0098] A certain embodiment of the present invention will now be
discussed with reference to the aforementioned figures, wherein
like reference numerals refer to like components. Referring now to
FIG. 1, the architecture of one embodiment of the present invention
is shown in schematic form. As can be seen in FIG. 1, a system 100
according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. In
general the system 100 allows users 102 to experience, share, and
otherwise utilize different media. Although numerous exemplary
embodiments will be discussed in terms of music and/or audio files,
this invention can also be utilized with any form of audio, video,
digital or analog media content, as well as any other media file
type now known or to become known.
[0099] Each user 102 utilizes a processor 103, such as personal
computer (PC), web enabled cellular telephone, personal digital
assistant (PDA) or the like, coupled to the Internet 104 by any one
of a number of known manners. Furthermore, each processor 103
preferably includes an Internet browser (not shown), such as that
offered by Microsoft Corporation under the trade name INTERNET
EXPLORER, or that offered by Netscape Corp. under the trade name
NETSCAPE NAVIGATOR, or the software or hardware equivalent of the
aforementioned components that enable networked intercommunication
between users and service providers and/or among users. Each
processor also includes a media engine 106 that, among other
functions to be further described, provides the ability to convert
information or data into a perceptible form and manage media
related information or data so that user 102 may personalize their
experience with various media. Media engine 106 may be incorporated
into processor 103 by a vendor of processor 103, or obtained as a
separate component from a media engine provider or in some other
art recognized manner. As will be further described below, it is
contemplated that media engine 106 may be a software application,
or a software/firmware combination, or a software/firmware/hardware
combination, as a matter of design choice, that serves as a central
media manager for a user and facilitates the management of all
manner of media files and services that the user might wish to
access either through a computer or a personal portable device or
through network devices available at various locations via a
network. As used herein, the term media file is used generically to
refer to an item of media, as well as associated metadata and/or
network location information for that item.
[0100] The media engine 106 to be described herein is interacted
with through a graphical user interface and related functionality
so that a user, through a central and common entry point, and
through a readily understood graphical user interface, can manage
and access media files available through disparate sources as well
as personally collected and organized sources. Thus, with initial
reference to FIG. 2, an exemplary preferred graphical user
interface for media engine 106 is depicted. As can be seen from a
review in FIG. 2, the user interface from media engine 106
facilitates the management and organization of, in the depicted
example music files, available as part of a user's own stored
library of media files, media files available through outside
service providers, music available on compact disc or an associated
player device, as well as other sources of music or media related
information. Thus the media engine, through its user interface,
acts as a gateway to all of the user's media wherever it may be
found. Thus the media engine contemplated by the present invention
extends beyond the capability of presently known media player
software by greatly expanding functionality, organization
capabilities and integration functions heretofore not found in
known media players.
[0101] Additionally, in the described embodiment, the processor 103
also runs an instant messaging software program 108 that is used to
communicate with an instant messaging platform 116 and to
facilitate the exchange of messages and other information between
users. One such example of an instant messaging program is Yahoo!
Instant Messenger, or any other instant messaging program now known
or hereafter to become known. Although this embodiment is
preferably described in terms of an instant messaging program it
can also utilize other forms of communication over the network
heretofore or hereafter known. Processor 103 also may include
storage of local media files 110 and/or other plug-in programs that
are run through or interact with the media engine 106. Processor
103 also preferably is connectable to device 114 such as a compact
disc player and/or other external media file player, commonly
referred to as an MP3 player, such as the type sold under the trade
name iPod by Apple Computer, Inc., that is used to portably store
and play media files.
[0102] Additionally, processor 103 may contain Digital Rights
Management software (DRM) 105 that protects the copyrights and
other intellectual property rights of the user's 102 media files by
enabling secure distribution and/or preventing or hampering illegal
distribution of the media files. In one embodiment, DRM 105
encrypts or decrypts the media files for controlled access by
authorized users, or alternatively for marking the content with a
digital watermark or similar method so that the content can not be
freely distributed. Media engine 106 preferably uses the DRM
information to ensure that the media files being experienced
through media engine 106 are not copied to or shared with users
that are unauthorized to listen to or view the content.
[0103] As will be discussed in greater detail below, in addition to
the messaging platform 116, the system 100 also includes media
server 118. In addition to serving media over the Internet 104 to
the user 102, media server 118 also preferably includes a media
database 120, which in addition to storing the actual media also
stores or communicates with storage of various metadata attributes
of each particular piece of media. Database 120 may be distributed
over multiple servers or locations. Other servers 130 make other
content and services available and may provide administrative
services such as managing user logon, service access permission,
digital rights management, and other services made available
through a service provider. Although some of the embodiments of the
invention are described in terms of music, embodiments can also
encompass any form of streaming or non-streaming media including
but not limited to news, entertainment, sports events, web page or
perceptible audio or video content. It should be also be understood
that although the present invention is described in terms of media
content and specifically audio content, the scope of the present
invention encompasses any content or media format heretofore or
hereafter known.
[0104] In one embodiment of the present invention, similar to the
DRM software 105 located on the user's 102 processor 103, the media
server maintains its own DRM software 150 which tracks the digital
rights of media files located either in the media database 120 or
stored on a user's 102 processor. Thus, for example, before the
media server 118 streams or serves up or transfers any media files
to a user 102, it validates the rights designation of that
particular piece of media and only serves streams or transfers the
file if the user has the appropriate rights.
[0105] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the users 102, the media server
118 and messaging platform 116 as well as the other servers 130 are
communicatively connected via the Internet 104. In alternate
embodiments, different components of the system may be
communicatively coupled differently, for example each may be
coupled directly to each other wirelessly or by a local or wide
area network (WAN) or the like. Additionally, functional components
can be distributed so that certain functions of media engine may be
performed at media server 118, or vice versa, or distributed in
modular fashion for operation at various locations throughout the
system 100. Thus, the description herein of a function or component
being associated with a particular device or component or location
is merely exemplary.
[0106] A further architecture of a network 300 according to another
embodiment of the present invention will now be discussed with
reference to FIG. 3. This embodiment maintains a broader network,
which includes a plurality of users 102 such as, for example, user
A, user B, and user C. Each user maintains at least one processor
103 that contains media engine 106 as well as a messaging program
108, local media files 110 and a variety of software plug-ins 112
as was discussed with reference to FIG. 1. Additionally, each of
the processors 103 may also contain local devices 114 and these
processors also preferably contain digital rights management
software or functionality 105, as was discussed above in FIG. 1.
The processors 103 may be connected to each other directly or via
the Internet 104 or some other communication network. Additionally,
these processors are connected via Internet 104 to media server
118. As was discussed above with reference to FIG. 1, media server
118 contains media database 120, user information database 122 as
well as a digital rights management 150. Additional databases are
also connected to the media server to manage or service the overall
network 300. For example, ratings database 320 contains information
about the ratings that particular users can apply to a particular
media file in numerous different formats that will be discussed
later in reference to FIG. 2. Additional databases connected to the
media server are playlist database 340, which stores playlists that
are created by a user that combines various media files which may
be located either on processor 103 or media database 120 or
elsewhere. These playlists stored in the playlist database can also
be made available to various different users 102 of network 300, as
will be discussed later. As was discussed with reference to FIG. 1,
media server 118 is also connected to messaging platform 116 which
helps interconnect the various users and also stores additional
information about particular users. For example, messaging platform
116 can also be connected to an additional user information
database 360 which contains specific information about users'
connectivity to the messaging platform and connectivity to each
other. For example, this user information database may contain
information regarding each particular user 102 as well as the
user's processor 103 as well as the connections that user processor
103 maintains with other processor 103's. The use of this
information and how it improves the interconnection between
different users utilizing the messaging platform will be discussed
later in reference to FIG. 71. In another embodiment, media server
118 also includes an affinities engine 4050 that is used to help
generate affinity playlists as will be discussed below in reference
to FIG. 47, FIGS. 48 and 45.
[0107] Additionally as can be seen in FIG. 3, the media server and
the messaging platform are also directly connected to other sites
or servers 380 that are available throughout the Internet. These
sites may be sites that are publicly accessible to user 102 such as
a commerce website or the sites may be internal sites that are only
available to the media server and/or the messaging platform. Within
network 300, each particular user preferably has a distinct
identifier or "user Name" which is used to track the particular
user as well as manage all activity that the user is involved in
both via the media server as well as many other servers connected
through that network 300. This user Name is stored within the user
information database 122 and is a distinct identifier for each
particular user. Additional information stored about the user
preferably includes the user's personal information such as home
address, email address and/or telephone number. This database may
also include user's personal preferences for using the network, for
example, if a user A uses media engine 106 for accessing media and
indicates a preference for a particular media or indicates a
preference to be alerted when a particular media item becomes
available, such preferences would be stored together with the user
Name in user database 122. Alternatively, these preferences can be
stored anywhere on network 300 including user's 102 processor.
Thus, if media server 118 was to make those particular songs
available to users of the network 300, it would search through the
preferences, for example, in user information database 122 to find
which users that might want that song and, as in the above example,
user A's preferences would alert media server 118 to send or
otherwise make available that particular song to user A's media
engine 106.
[0108] Moreover, in this embodiment, the overall network 300 is
connected in such a way that the media server 118, as well as the
other servers, are able to interconnect with each other to optimize
the experience for a particular user 102. As will be discussed
further below, while a particular user may be locally associated
with a particular processor 103, when connected to network 300,
that user will have the ability to access all of the resources
available throughout network 300 whether those resources reside on
a particular server or whether those resources reside on another
processor. The network 300 is able to collect and retain user
specific information to enhance the user's experience through the
resources available as part of the network. Thus, throughout the
network, different users 102 will be accessing the same media
server 118 via their individual media engine 106, however, their
individual listening experience will be tailored to their
particular needs and will utilize the capabilities of the entire
network.
[0109] In one embodiment of the present invention, the system 100
is able to manage user's 102 media files in such a manner that
facilitates the easy playback of different media files located in
different locations throughout the network 300 as well as the
creation of playlists or other combinations of media that can
easily be accessed by each individual user 102 from any processor
where the user 102 is located. In another embodiment of the present
invention, two or more different users 102 are able to share and/or
recommend media files amongst each other (if properly authorized)
utilizing media engine 106. This is carried out by the interaction
of media engine 106 and media server 118 which both share and store
data that pertains to both users 102 as well as the media that is
stored on media server 118 and the user's 102 respective processor
103. When the user 102 installs or utilizes media engine 106 on
processor 103, the media engine 106 goes through various different
steps to both acquaint itself with user's 102 media as well as to
interact with media server 118. FIG. 4 depicts steps associated
with this process.
[0110] Referring to FIG. 4, first, user 102 installs or otherwise
instantiates media engine 106 on their processor 103. Step 402.
Once the user has installed the media engine 106 on their processor
103, the media engine searches processor 103 for any media files
that it is able to locate on processor 103. Step 404. If the media
engine 106 is able to locate any media files on processor 103, the
media engine 106 creates a file that is stored within the media
engine 106 that contains information on the media files that have
been found. Step 406. This file contains information about each
media file including the location of the media file as well as
metadata stored with the media file such as song name, artist name,
or album name. If no such information is available with the media
file, media engine 106 merely stores a pointer and/or location
reference for the media file with an indicator indicating that
there is no metadata available for this particular media file. In
other embodiments, the media engine 106 and/or the media server on
the network can undertake steps to search the network for
information about a particular media file in order to obtain useful
metadata for the user.
[0111] Media engine 106 also searches for any devices 114 (MP3
player, CD drive, flash memory etc.) that may be located on or
connected to user's 102 processor 103 that may contain media. If
such a peripheral device is found, the media engine determines
whether there is any media located within that peripheral device.
Step 408. If there is, media engine 106 stores information about
that media including any associated metadata, in a file so as to
enable the media engine 106 to access that data at a later point in
time. Step 410. Once media engine 106 has acquired all information
about the location of and the content of media files located on
user's 102 processor 103 or its peripheral device(s) 114, the media
engine 106 is able to communicate with media server 118 to pass
along the information that media engine 106 has acquired about the
media files from processor 103. Media server 118 receives this
information through the file or files created by media engine 106
containing the location and metadata information about the media
files located on processor 103 and stores that information along
with the other user information in user information database 122.
Step 412. The media server 118 then compares the information
received from the media engine 106 with the media files and
associated metadata located in media database 120. Step 414. If the
media files that are located on processor 103 match media files
that are located on media database 120, media server 118 notes the
location of those media files within media database 120 and appends
that information to the file containing the information acquired by
media engine 106 from processor 103. Step 416. Media server 118,
then sends a file which contains an updated list of media files
that combines both the media files that are located on processor
103 as well as information about the media files that media server
118 wishes to make available to user 102 from media database 120.
Step 418. Once the media engine 106 acquires this file, it
generates an interface which enables the user to manage all of the
media available to the user in an efficient and coherent manner as
will be discussed in reference to FIG. 2. Step 420. Thus, once the
media engine 106 has acquired all of the information relating to
the media files located both locally on processor 103 as well as
those files available to user 102 from the media server 118, the
media engine 106 allows the user the ability to both locate and
access that media from one central location through the media
engine 106. In other words, when a user 102 uses the media engine
106, he or she is able, from one central location, to access or
manipulate media and information that is available locally on
processor 103, from media server 118, or from elsewhere on the
network.
[0112] Moreover, through the use of the media engine, the user is
able to bookmark media that is located locally that the user 102
wants to make available from different processors 103 located in
different locations. In other words, if user 102 has both a
processor 103 located at home as well as a processor 103 located at
work, the user can designate or the system can designate (in
accordance with user preference criteria) some or all media files
that are located at his or her home processor 103 that he or she
wishes to be able to experience at processor 103 located at work or
elsewhere. This once again is managed via the media engine 106 that
both tracks, processes and shares information about the media file
with the media server 118. Thus, if a user 102 wishes to experience
media files that are located on processor 103 at a different
location, the user would seamlessly be able to access and
experience those media files from any processor that is running
media engine 106 and has access to media server 118. This is
because media engine 106 has previously stored all the metadata
information as well as all the location information about each and
every media file on processor 103, and forwarded this information
to media server 118. Thus, for example, if a user 102 wishes to
experience a media file that is located on a different one of their
processors, media engine 106 located on the processor where the
user is located would request a media file from media server 118
which is able to look up and access all of the users media files
from information available to the media server 118. Once media
server 118 locates the particular media file being requested, media
server 118 is able to retrieve that media file and stream it,
forward it, or otherwise make it available to media engine 106 that
is installed on processor where user 102 is currently located.
Conversely if another user logs on using the same processor he or
she will not be able to access the first user's bookmarked media
files unless he or she bookmarks them independently of the first
user. As can be seen, the interaction between the media engine 106
and media server 118 creates a robust media collection and
management tool for the collection and management of media files
that a specific user 102 is able to access from various locations.
Media engine 106 is also able to utilize this functionality to
exchange music between different users 102 as will be discussed
below. The user interface according to one embodiment of the
present invention, which carries out the functionality discussed
above, will now be discussed in reference to FIG. 2.
[0113] Individual users 102 can maintain different processors
and/or devices on which they can obtain and/or listen to media
files. For example, a user may maintain a processor at his or her
home, a processor at his or her place of work, a portable device in
his or her car and/or a media player at another location each of
which is capable of accessing the network 300 and/or playing media
files. In one embodiment of the present invention, when a user
utilizes media engine 106 to access media files, the media engine
is able to maintain information regarding the user and/or media
files being played. This enables the user to enhance their
listening experience by being able to transfer the listening
experience from one location to another. For example, if a user is
listening to a particular song on their home processor, and has to
leave the home and go to their car, the user can maintain the
status of where they were listening to the song from the media
engine on their home processor and pick up from that point on their
local media device in their car or media device in other location.
Thus when the user leaves the processor at home, the media engine
106 saves information about what song the user was listening to and
passes that information along to media server 118. When the user
reconnects to the network from the second location (e.g. their car)
the media engine 106 located at the second location where they
currently are will query the server for the location of the music
that was being listened to and will then locate that music and
stream it or otherwise make it available to the second location. If
for some reason, the media engine at the second location is unable
to access the song from the same location because, for example, the
second location does not have a connection to the location where
the media file is located or the location where the media file is
being streamed is currently offline, the media engine will attempt
to locate that song from a different authorized location and stream
it to the user at a new location. Thus it should be appreciated
that this enhances a user's experience in that a user is able to
enjoy an all encompassing experience wherein the experience can be
extended to various different locations at various different times
on the various different devices. The user interface according to
one embodiment of the present invention, which carries out the
functionality discussed above, will now be discussed in reference
to FIG. 2.
[0114] It should be noted that different components of the
functionality described above can take place within different
components of network 300 with information residing in different or
the same components. For example, either the media engine 106 or
the media server 118 can maintain any or all of the data regarding
the media files as well as any location information about the media
files. If the data about the media files is maintained completely
on media engine 106, for example, different media engines 106 may
communicate amongst themselves without any necessity to access the
media server 118. Similarly, additional servers can be utilized by
the network 300 to distribute the information more widely.
[0115] As can be seen in FIG. 2 and described further below, when a
user 102 utilizes media engine 106, all of the media files
available to the user are organized in a logical fashion for
display to the user in user interface 200. User interface 200 is
preferably presented with a plurality of panes within which media
information is displayed. Referring now to pane 201, a list of the
various media resources or sources where a user's media is located
is displayed. As was discussed above, media engine 106 acquires and
stores information concerning the user's media located on processor
103 and available via media server 118. With reference to FIGS. 2
and 3, for example, in this embodiment, a user is able to view all
of the media files arranged by particular source or location, or a
complete list of all of the available media files. For example, by
clicking on the "my music" tab 222 a user can view all of the music
available to that user stored locally or in the media database 120
or from other sites or servers 380. Preferably, once a user has
chosen to access the "my music" tab 222, a list of all of the media
that is available to the user either via the user media files 110,
local device 114, through the media database 120, or other sites or
servers 380 is listed in the right-most pane 231. The list is
sorted into columns representing information about each respective
media file including, for example, Song Title 202, Artist 204,
Album 206, Duration 210 and Genre 212 and can be arranged in any
other order that the user wishes, (e.g., alphabetically by Artist).
The media engine 106 is able to locate this information from the
metadata relating to each particular item of media that it has
previously acquired and stored as was discussed above. Pane 231
provides the user the ability to view all available media in one
location and sort that media in a user-friendly format by sorting
by column in a manner known in the art.
[0116] Via pane 201, the user is also able to separately view the
media stored in media database 120 by clicking the network media
site tab 224. This information once again is available to media
engine 106 based on the information received from media server 118
as was discussed above with reference to FIG. 4. If the user clicks
on tab 224 a display will appear in pane 231 that will display the
media available from media database 120 as will be discussed below
in reference to FIG. 33. In order to compile this list, the media
engine 106 queries media server 118 for all the available
user-related media information and for media files located in media
database 120 and populates pane 231 with the appropriate metadata
in the same manner as was discussed above. Search functionality is
also preferably provided to permit a user to search media database
120 for desired items of media, for example, by searching for
artists, song titles, genres or other media criteria.
[0117] In one embodiment, media database may contain media files
available for lease or purchase, in which case the media server 118
would include a commerce component that gives the user an option to
search for and purchase, lease, rent or otherwise obtain authorized
versions of media located through media database 120. For example,
if the site or server 380 accessed through tab 224 is a music
seller, user can click tab 224 to be taken to a commerce site to
purchase music or media to be added to user's collection, which
could then be managed by the media engine. Additionally, user
preference information gained through the user's interaction with
the media engine may be made available to the commerce site to
present recommended purchases.
[0118] It should be appreciated that although various embodiments
are discussed in terms of a "my music" collection or "my music"
tab, the title of this tab or collection can be anything and the
"my music" nomenclature is used herein for ease of explanation.
[0119] In this exemplary embodiment, the user is also able to
access an Internet Radio provider site 380 that may be available
via a button or links displayed in pane 201. For example, if a user
clicks upon Internet Radio Tab 226, an Internet Radio available
from media server 118 or other site 380 will open allowing the user
to experience various radio stations via the media engine 106.
Similar to the commerce feature, user preference information gained
through the user's interaction with the media engine may be made
available to the radio station to influence music selections
presented by the radio station. One such radio station is
Launchcast, available from Yahoo! Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif.
[0120] Alternatively, in a similar manner, the user may also be
able to view a comprehensive list of the songs available on a local
device 114 which can be accessed for example via compact disc tab
228 or MP3 player tab 230. This information is once again utilized
by media engine 106 from the information earlier acquired by the
media engine at the time of initiation, installation, or thereafter
as discussed above in reference to FIG. 4. Moreover, the user is
also able to list songs in a particular playlist list 232, which
will be discussed in more detail below. The updating of information
available through media engine 106 can occur at a user selected
time, or automatically upon certain events occurring, e.g., a CD is
placed in a drive or MP3 device plugged into processor 103, can be
initiated at program start or install, or can be programmed to
occur at intervals, or under instruction from media server 118,
other network site 380, or other program or processor 103 or on
network 300.
[0121] An embodiment also preferably allows the user the added
ability to use a rating tool shown in column 208 to rate a
particular song from within pane 231. For example, a user may rate
a particular song that he or she really likes with four stars while
giving zero stars to a song that the user does not particularly
care for. Once rated, the user would be able to view his or her
list of songs ordered by a particular rating. Thus a song a user
particularly enjoys may be listed at the top of the list while a
song that the user does not particularly care of may be moved
further down.
[0122] In another embodiment, the ratings applied by a user are
associated with a user identification. The user id and associated
rating is stored in the user information database located on the
media server. Thus, the user is able to view and access this rating
from multiple processors and locations.
[0123] In further embodiments, other items may be associated with a
user's identification and similarly stored in the user information
database or other database residing on the media server wherein the
item is accessible by the user at any location where they have a
media engine and can connect to the system.
[0124] The user information database 122 is preferably made
available to any application with proper access to the system, to
leverage the user information and to enhance the user's experience
with all aspects of the system 100/300.
[0125] By organizing and storing user information and making it
available to multiple applications on system 100/300, a user need
only rate a song or artist or album once, and that rating will be
made available to any application or feature or function of system
100/300 that can utilize user rating data. Thus, for example, if a
user "rips" a song from a CD using client side music engine 106,
and rates it using the user interface, e.g., pane 231, that rating
will be passed to user database 122 on media server 118. When the
user subsequently selects their radio station to listen to from
pane 201, the radio station application (not shown) would access
user database 122 and obtain that song rating and incorporate it
into any programming algorithms used to program radio content for
that user. The same process would apply in reverse if the user
rated the song while listening to the radio. Thus, a user's
preferences can be stored by and/or incorporated into various
features and functions and applications available on system 100/300
without the need for the user to rate the song more than once.
[0126] Additionally, the user information may be centrally
maintained or distributed, such as by maintaining all or a portion
of the user information on user information database 8410 (FIG. 84)
on processor 103, in addition to or as an alternative to user
database 122.
[0127] As will be discussed further herein, the ratings chosen by a
user will allow the system to better classify music in terms of a
user's particular likes or dislikes and greatly enhance a user's
experience. As will also be discussed later, a user may also view
or listen to other users' music by clicking on tab 234, or another
user may adopt a user's ratings or preferences.
[0128] Once the user chooses a particular item of media to
experience, e.g., a song, a window containing a media player 240
opens within user interface 200 (or it may be always present), to
grant the user control of playing the media. The title for the
particular song being played 242, as well as the artist 244, the
album 246, are preferably displayed. From within this media player
240, the user has the ability to control the media by rewinding,
fast forwarding or pausing a particular song by using controls 250
that are common to known media players. Moreover, as the song is
playing, the user has the ability to rate the song, artist and/or
album by clicking on the rating tool sequence 252 and that rating
will preferably be incorporated as part of the user's preferences
in the user information database 122 as was discussed above.
[0129] A user 102 may also incorporate a plug-in program into the
media engine 106. Access to this plug-in program may be available
via a newly created tab 236 from Pane 201. These plug-ins may be
programmed using known programming techniques for the purpose of
making the media engine more robust in the actions that can be
performed from within the media engine. Plug-ins may be provided by
the provider of the media engine or a third party. In other words,
the user interface and functionality according to one embodiment of
the present invention can be based on different plug-ins, designed
in various locations, designed by different people including users
or operators of the Network 300 to enhance the user interface, the
functionality it provides and the interaction with the media
engine.
[0130] When the user has a compact disc or any other form of
removable media located in device 114, the system has the ability,
as can be seen in FIG. 5, to identify and list the songs located on
the removable media by, for example, clicking on tab 228 and the
user can choose to import those songs into their "my music"
collection. For example, by clicking on the compact disc tab 228,
user 102 may be given a list of all songs and/or other media
available on the removable media in pane 500. This list may contain
the title of the track, the duration of the song, the artist, as
well as the genre. From this list, the user may be able to either
play the CD by clicking on the play CD icon 502, eject the CD from
the CD player by clicking on the eject CD icon 504 or of adding any
or all of the songs from the CD into his or her "my music"
collection by clicking box 510 next to the particular song that the
user wishes to include in the "my music" collection and then
clicking on the add to "my music" icon 506. Alternatively, the
media engine 106 may prompt the user when the CD is inserted into
the CD drive, whether the user wishes to import the songs into
their "my music" collection. As can be seen in FIG. 5, once the
system recognizes a CD or other removable media that is located in
device 114, the title of the removable media will populate compact
disk tab 228 in pane 201. Additionally, the name of the album and
in one embodiment the cover of the album will be shown in pane 520.
In general, in order to obtain this information about the CD, the
media engine is able to identify any digitized content that resides
on a compact disc or MP3, determine what the digitized content is,
and confirm the identify of the CD, i.e., the actual title, artist,
content, etc. In one embodiment, a verification database is created
from a set of master CDs. It should be noted that although this
example is discussed in terms of CDs, a similar method would apply
to different mediums as well. The verification database contains
records of CDs and a corresponding table-of-contents as well as
corresponding selected audio data from the CD. Once the
verification database is created, verification of a CD to the
master CD may be performed. First the CD is identified by matching
the table-of-contents from the CD against the verification
database. Using the table-of-contents data, the media engine
identifies one or more master CDs with a similar table-of-contents.
The identified CD is then authenticated by matching selected audio
data from the CD against the verification database created from a
set of master CDs. In other embodiments, the identity of the CD or
other media is captured through known techniques including looking
at the waveform of the specific media content, as well as
associated metadata or bit size to help identify the content. Once
identified, the identity is passed along to media server 118 along
with the location where the media could be found.
[0131] In another embodiment the user will be given the ability to
create a playlist with the album or add the album to an existing
playlist. In this embodiment, the media engine 106 will also access
information it might have about the album to offer the user similar
albums in pane 530. Once the user has chosen to import the
particular songs to his or her "my music" collection, the song(s)
from the compact disc or other removable media will be copied or
"ripped" by the media engine 106 to local storage or processor 103
or portable device 114, in a user selected format, or format
automatically chosen, or the media file may be made available to
media server 118 so that the files and/or metadata information
about the media may be stored with the files relating to the user's
other media. Thus these song(s) along with any other media that is
in the user's "my music" collection can be accessed from any
location that the user can access the media server 118 with a media
engine 106. Once media server 118 has a list of all the user's "my
music" collection as well as some or all of the metadata connected
with the media and the location of that media, media server 118 is
able to locate and provide access to those media files wherever
they may reside on the network to that user at any location where
the user is located. Thus, a user can easily add any media file to
their "my music" collection and, assuming that proper
authorization, adherence to DRM practices and other ownership or
custodial issues are considered, make the media file accessible at
any other location that has a media engine 106.
[0132] An alternative way, according to another embodiment, to
import music from removable media device such as a compact disc
into the user's "my music" collection is to click upon the
displayed song title of the actual song that the user wishes to
include in their "my music" collection from pane 500.
[0133] Thus, with described embodiments, a user need not
continuously transport his or her media files and/or removable
media to different locations since that media will be available via
media engine 106, media server 118, network 300, and components and
functions described herein. Additionally a user need not
refamiliarize themselves with the media they liked that was
available from media database 120 and to select media that they
have previously listened to and wish to listen to again. Rather all
of the media the user has chosen will reside on or be available via
their media engine 106 and be available to a particular user as
part of his or her media collection any time or anywhere that the
user wishes.
[0134] In practice according to one embodiment of the present
invention, a virtual collection of media is created for each user
102. As can be seen with reference to FIG. 6, and as was discussed
above with reference to FIG. 4 above, the media engine 106 searches
each user's processor 103 and/or device 114 and identifies media
files. After all the media is identified, a user can choose which
media he or she wishes to add to their "my music" collection. Step
610. When a user wishes to add a particular media file to their "my
music" collection a virtual collection is created of one or more
media files by which each particular piece of media is "bookmarked"
for future use by the user. Step 620. In one embodiment, the book
marking of particular media file is accomplished by storing an
identifier for each user's bookmarked media in user information
database 122. Step 630. In addition to the other information about
a user stored in information database 122, the media server 118
also stores information about a particular user's bookmark for
later retrieval. Thus, when a user identifies a particular piece of
media to be bookmarked for later use, an identifier for that
particular piece of media is stored together with the user's 102
other identifying information stored in user information database
122, and a virtual collection of all the media in a user's "my
music" collection is created. Thus, user information database 122
will contain for each user a listing of identifiers that refer to
particular media that has been flagged by a particular user. So for
example even though two users may access the system utilizing the
same processor, each user will be able to obtain easy access to his
or her "bookmarked" media, to the exception of the other user who
will have access to their own "bookmarked" media.
[0135] When a user wishes to retrieve a particular piece of media
that has been bookmarked, the media server would access the media
identifier from user information database 122 and then use that
identifier to stream or otherwise make available the particular
media file to the user. Step 640. Thus, it should be appreciated
that a user can easily identify particular media that he or she
wishes to make available at various locations and the media server
can easily retrieve that media based on the information stored
about the particular user in user information database 122. There
is, therefore, no need for the media server to begin searching for
the particular media file but rather once the identifier for the
media file is stored and attached to a particular user's
information, media server 118 can easily make available the
bookmarked media as if it was locally stored. Information database
122 may also contain several alternate locations on the network
where a media file may be located, thus providing alternate sources
if one particular source is unavailable for some reason.
[0136] As can be seen in FIG. 7, according to one embodiment of the
present invention, when a request is made to media engine 106 to
play back a certain piece of media, the media engine 106 goes
through a process to assure that the media is being played back
and/or streamed to the user in the most efficient way possible.
When a request for a particular media to be played back is made,
the media engine 106 first searches to see if that particular media
file is located locally on the user's processor 103. Step 701. If
located locally the media engine will play that file from the local
location. Step 702. If the media file is not located locally, the
media engine will then search user's 102 processor 103's cache to
see if the media file is located there. Step 703. If the media file
is located in the processor's cache, then the media engine will
play the media file from the cache location. Step 704. If however
the media file is not located within the cache, media engine 106
will then query media server 118 to see if media server 118 is
capable of retrieving the file from an alternate authorized source
on the network. One example of a primary or alternate source of a
file is for the media server 118 or other server 130 to provide a
tethered download for the user. Step 705. A tethered download is a
portable file that contains a time-based DRM that expires after a
certain amount of time. In other words, for example, if a user is
part of a subscription service and has the rights to obtain the
rights to a certain media file for a certain length of time, a
tethered download of that media file is loaded onto the user's
processor and the user will be able to play that file for a certain
length of time (e.g., 30 days). At the end of the predetermined
length of time, the file becomes unusable and can no longer be
played by the user. Media server 118 can therefore search
throughout the network 300 to see if the tethered download is
available for the particular media file that is requested. A
tethered download would be the next preferable option for media
engine 106 since a tethered download downloads a local copy to the
user's processor and allows the user to play the media file without
needing to access media server 118.
[0137] If media server 118 is able to locate a tethered download
for the particular media file, media server 118 retrieves the
tethered download and downloads it to the user's processor 103
cache or local storage. Once the tethered download is acquired,
media engine 106 plays the media file for the user. Step 706. If no
tethered download is available, media engine 106 queries media
server 118 to see if the particular media file is available to the
particular user from the media database 120. Step 707. Preferably,
access to media in the media database 120 can be based on a tiered
membership or based on different subscription fees. Therefore,
media available in the media database may not be available to each
particular user based on the subscription that the user had within
the network 300. If the media file is available within media
database 120 and the particular user requesting the file has a
subscription or authorization level that permits access to the
media file, the file is streamed by media server 118 from media
database 120 to the user's processor 103 and is played with the
media engine 106. Step 708. If however the media file requested is
not available to the particular user, the media server could
optionally stream to the user's processor 103 a sample of the media
file. Step 709. In one embodiment a message may be displayed to the
user indicating that this media file is unavailable because of the
user's subscription or membership and information can be given to
the user with instructions explaining how to enhance their
subscription or membership.
[0138] Additional features of the user interface 200 will now be
discussed with reference to FIG. 8. From within the user interface
200, a user has the ability to browse and view different albums
that have songs from the user's "my music" collection. As can be
seen in FIG. 8, in order to view a song by album, a user may choose
browse by album from drop-down menu 802. After choosing browse by
album, the user is given a collection of albums 801 that are
available for the user to listen to. In addition to the names of
the listed albums, the album covers for each individual album are
displayed for the user to view. The album covers are preferably
stored as a .gif image together with the media and metadata stored
on media engine 106 and/or media server 118, although the structure
and organization of the storage and retrieval of media and
associated metadata can be implemented in multiple ways, in
distributed or centralized fashion across one or many servers or
locations. If an album cover is not stored with a particular media
file, the system can be configured to search the network to try and
find the cover image. Although discussed in terms of a .gif image
any file format that displays images such as .jpg, .tif or any
other image file format heretofore and hereinafter known can be
used to display the album cover.
[0139] In one embodiment of the present invention, one or more
images are stored in an image database 370. These images can be
stored in any image format heretofore and hereinafter known. These
images can for example be images of album covers, artists, or other
images related to a piece of media. Along with the media stored in
media database 120, a URL or other pointer is stored that links or
points to an image in the image database 370. Therefore in this
embodiment, when a user chooses a particular piece of media, the
media engine 106 is able to retrieve any associated images (e.g.,
album cover, artist picture) and display those images for the
user.
[0140] It should also be appreciated that the display of the album
covers for the user offers an enhanced experience wherein the user
is both able to listen to the music as well as view the album cover
as if the user actually was holding the compact disc or other media
in their hands. Once the user chooses an album from the interface
801, all of the songs on that album may be displayed as can be seen
in FIG. 9 with all of the details relating to that song in pane
812. As with previous embodiments, in this embodiment the user has
the ability to play the song in media player 240 by clicking on a
song name in pane 812. In this embodiment, the user has the added
ability to browse through music in a more efficient way (e.g., via
album), which leads to an enhanced experience for the user.
[0141] In another embodiment the user is able to browse through the
songs in his or her "my music" collection by genre. For example, as
can be seen in FIG. 10, the user has the ability to explore
different genres (e.g., blues, folk, jazz, rock) via interface 1000
by, for example, choosing "browse by genre" from drop-down menu
802. This is once again made possible by the metadata information
acquired and stored by media engine 106. Genre information may be
obtained and utilized by the system through human operators adding
genre information, or the genre information may be supplied as
metadata by the original source of the media file, e.g., a record
label. Similar to the way a user browses their "my music"
collection via album covers, the user is able to choose a
particular genre and display all of the songs available in his or
her "my music" collection that fits that particular genre. Once
again as seen in FIG. 11, if a user picks for example the "Rock/Pop
genre" from pane 1002, all those songs that meet the "Rock/Pop"
genre criteria that are located in the user's "my music" collection
will be displayed in pane 812.
[0142] To further enhance a user's experience, a user may pick a
particular artist in the selected genre from pane 1004 to view
songs from the particular artist. For example, as can be seen in
FIG. 12, if a user clicks on "Peter Gabriel" from the artist pane
1004, only songs by "Peter Gabriel" will be displaced in pane 812.
A user may then further narrow the songs by clicking on a
particular album from album list pane 1006. For instance, as is
shown in FIG. 13, if a user clicks on the album "Security" by Peter
Gabriel, only songs on that album will be displayed in pane 812. If
the user then clicks on a particular song such as "Shock the
Monkey", the chosen song is then played in media player 240. It
should be noted that the above-discussed browsing by a particular
criteria is discussed in terms of browsing for music in the user's
"my music" collection. In one embodiment, this browsing can be
performed on all media located anywhere throughout the network 300.
Additionally, in another embodiment a user can also search through
another user's "my music" collection as will be discussed later in
reference to FIG. 50.
[0143] In another embodiment, the user may browse the media
available in his or her "my music" collection by searching for a
song and/or album via the song and/or album's artist as is shown in
FIG. 15. In this embodiment, a user can access interface 1500 to
explore all the artists of the media that are in the user's "my
music" collection by choosing to "browse by Artist" from drop-down
menu 802. Once again, similar to previous embodiments, a user may
pick a particular artist from the list of artists in pane 1502 to
view songs from that particular artist. For example, as can be seen
in FIG. 16, if a user clicks on "The Clash" from the artist pane
1502, only songs from "The Clash" will be displayed in pane 1504,
and only albums from "The Clash" will be displayed in pane 1506.
The user then can further narrow the songs by selecting a
particular album from album list pane 1506. For example, if a user
chooses the album "Give 'em Enough Rope" from the album list pane
1506, only songs from the album "Give 'em Enough Rope" will be
displayed in pane 1504 as can be seen in FIG. 17. As in previous
embodiments and as can also be seen in FIG. 17, if the user wishes
to listen to any of the songs in pane 1504, the user need only
highlight that song in pane 1504 and the song will be played for
the user by interface 240. In one embodiment, an icon 1702 may
appear next to the song being played to indicate that it is being
played.
[0144] As was discussed earlier in reference to FIG. 2, through
media engine 106, a user has the ability to rate a particular song,
artist and/or album depending on whether or not the user likes or
dislikes that particular song artist or album. This ability to rate
the song is preferably available to the user for any stage of the
"my music" interface discussed heretofore or hereafter.
Additionally, user 102 may choose a new song that is available from
media database 120 and apply ratings to that song by indicating
their likes or dislikes for a particular song, artist and/or album.
In an embodiment of the present invention the system may
automatically assign a predetermined rating to songs that are
located on a user's processor 103 or on a peripheral device 114. It
should be understood that rating songs, albums and artists allow
the media engine the ability to organize and group songs by a
particular like and/or dislike. The more songs that have been
rated, the more the system will be able to choose which particular
song, album and/or artist the particular user enjoys. For example,
when creating playlists or streaming music via an internet radio
station, the media engine, using the information obtained through
user ratings, can filter or play songs in accordance with what a
particular user is more likely to enjoy. Preference information
from the radio station can be utilized by the media engine alone or
acting together with the media server or other servers to
personalize commerce offerings, influence playlist creation or
system recommendations. In like manner, the media engine and/or
servers can utilize and pass to other servers/applications user
preference information to enhance the user experience in all
respects, regardless of which particular component or functionality
is being utilized by the user.
[0145] In one embodiment, the system may automatically rate songs
that are located locally with a predetermined rating initially when
the details of the particular songs are acquired and stored by
media engine 106. For example, if a piece of media is located on a
user's processor 103, the system may automatically rate that song
with, for example, a rating of 3 on a scale of 1 to 4. It should be
understood that this will give the media that is located locally on
a user's processor an automatic high rating even before the user
themselves rates the song album and/or artist manually. This is
because it is fairly safe to assume that, in most situations, if a
particular piece of media is located locally on a user's processor,
the user tends to like that particular media. Automated rating can
also be based on other factors such as the user's frequency of
play, rating of the genre or artist, how often the media is skipped
or repeated, or other factors. The user will preferably have the
ability to re-rate the media at other times, to give the media a
higher or lower rating if they wish to better reflect their
preferences. Additionally, in one embodiment if a user has already
rated a particular song artist and/or album manually, that rating
will not be overwritten by any automatic rating. Moreover, each
user preferably also has the ability to decide not to incorporate
any automatic ratings and rather only utilize their manual ratings.
Thus, as can be seen from the previously discussed embodiments, the
media engine enables the loading of user's media as well as
classifying that media with a more personalized classification
every time the user accesses the media engine. Also, the user is
able to combine both his or her manual ratings and indications of
likes or dislikes in media available through the media server with
the local media located on the user's processor without having to
manually key in the ratings for that local media, subject to later
fine tuning by the user.
[0146] In one exemplary embodiment of an automatic rating scheme,
the following factors are used to create an automated rating for a
user when a user adds music to his or her "my music" collection.
When a user adds music to their "my music" collection from for
example the media database 120, a peripheral device 114, a hard
drive located on Processor 103, and/or another user's "my music"
collection, the album and/or artist associated with that song or
group of songs is given a set rating based on the number of songs
from that album or artist that are already in the user's "my music"
collection. For instance, any album that has three or more tracks
in the user's "my music" collection will be given a rating of 70 on
a scale from 1-100. Similarly, any artist with greater than 10 and
less than 20 songs in the user's "my music" collection will be
given a rating of 70 on a scale from 1-100. Lastly, any artist with
greater than 20 songs in the user's "my music" collection will be
will be given a rating of 80 on a scale from 1-100. This rating
scheme assures that artists and/or albums that are most popular in
the use's "my music" collection will be rated higher than those
that are less popular. It should be noted that in different
embodiments, different automatic rating scales can be applied to
songs albums and/or artists when they are stored in a user's "my
music" collection. Additionally automatic ratings may be stored
separately or flagged differently in the ratings database 320 so as
to distinguish between the automatically and manually created
ratings.
[0147] Another feature according to one embodiment of the present
invention will now be discussed with reference to FIG. 18. With
reference to FIG. 18, user 102 has the ability to perform a search
function within interface 200 of all media that is available either
through the user's "my music" collection or that is available on
media server 118 via the media database 120 or elsewhere on network
300 or the Internet at large. As can be seen from FIG. 18, user
interface 200 contains a field 1801 wherein a search term may be
entered. For example, in FIG. 18, a display is shown where a user
has selected to search for the term "ou" throughout all of the
identifying characteristics of the media available in the user's
"my music" collection, or anywhere on the network, including song
name, artist, album, and genre, by choosing "All" from drop-down
menu 1802 and inserting the phrase "ou" in field 1801. Once the
user has entered the search term (e.g., ou), a list of artists for
those songs that match the criteria is shown in pane 1803 and all
of the songs that match the terms are displayed in pane 1805. Thus,
any song in the user's "my music" collection that has the term "ou"
in either its song name, artist, album or genre will all be
displayed in pane 1805. While the following examples describe
focused searches on specific criteria or media sources or media
categories, the searches conducted may be performed on multiple
sources at once, based on one search term, so that results are
returned from multiple sources, and preferably identified as such
in the search result. Thus, one search term would yield results
from local sources such as attached devices and/or local processor,
as well as server 118, media database 120, other servers 130, other
users 102, or any other source on network 300. The search may be
limited to only some of these sources to limit the size of the
result, or a matter of user choice or system design.
[0148] A user can further narrow the search results by clicking on
an artist in pane 1803. For example, if a user clicks on the artist
"The Clash" from pane 1803 as can be seen in FIG. 19 pane 1805 will
only show those songs that both match the criteria (i.e., contain
the ou string) and are from the artist "The Clash." The user can
further search results from a particular album by choosing that
album from pane 1804 as can be seen in FIG. 20. As can be seen in
FIG. 20, the user chose a particular album in pane 1804 ("Give "em
Enough Rope") and only songs for that particular album are
displayed in pane 1805.
[0149] In another embodiment, a user may search for songs within
their "my music" collection (or elsewhere on the network) by a
variable that is only in the album name of a song by selecting
album from drop-down menu 1802 and inserting the search criteria in
field 1801. As can be seen in FIG. 21, if a user chooses to search
album names from drop-down menu 1802 and populates, for example,
field 1801 with the search string "p", the media engine 106 will
return a list of artists in pane 1803, albums in pane 1804 and
songs in pane 1805 that match that particular criteria. The user
can then choose a song directly from pane 1805, or choose an artist
from pane 1803 or an album from pane 1804 to further narrow the
search to include only songs from that artist or album. As can be
seen, for example, in FIG. 22, if a user chooses to view only the
"American Idol Finalists" songs that have the search term "p" in
them, the user would select the "American Idol Finalists" from pane
1803 that would bring up all of the "American Idol Finalists"
albums in pane 1804 and all of the "American Idol Finalists" songs
in pane 1805. As can be seen further in FIG. 23, if the user
selects one of those albums in pane 1804, pane 1805 will only
display songs from that particular album.
[0150] Additional similar embodiments that can search a user's "my
music" collection (or elsewhere on the network) by artist, songs,
and/or genre will now be discussed with reference to FIGS. 24-30.
As can be seen in FIG. 24, a user can elect to search artist's
names from their "my music" collection by choosing Artist from the
drop-down menu 1802 and including a search term such as, for
example, "er" in field 1801. This will once again result in those
songs whose artist name has the term "er" within their name to be
displayed in pane 1805. As can be see in FIG. 25, once again, a
user can further narrow the search by choosing a particular artist
from pane 1803, in which case only those songs belonging to that
particular artist will be displayed in pane 1805. The user can once
again further narrow down the search by choosing an album from pane
1804 in which situation only songs matching that album and the
search criteria will be displayed in pane 1805, as can be seen in
FIG. 26.
[0151] In another embodiment, a user can search for a particular
term in a song name as can be seen in FIG. 27. Similar to above
embodiments, a user can select songs from drop-down menu 1802 and
enter a particular search criteria in field 1801. As can be seen in
FIG. 27, if the user chooses songs from the drop-down menu 1802 and
the string "ou" from field 1801, songs will be displayed in pane
1805 that have the string "ou" in their song name and a list of
artists and albums for those songs will be displayed in pane 1803
and 1804, respectively. This search can once again be narrowed as
can be seen in FIG. 28, if the user chooses a particular artist
from the artist pane 1803. As is shown in FIG. 28, only songs
matching the selected artist (Peter Gabriel) are shown in pane 1805
and only albums matching that artist are shown in pane 1804. The
search can be further narrowed if the user chooses an album from
pane 1804, as can be seen in FIG. 29, pane 1805 then only displays
those songs that match the criteria and are from the particular
album chosen by the user.
[0152] In another embodiment, as can be seen in FIG. 30, a user can
perform a search of his or her "my music" collection (or elsewhere
on the network) by genre, by choosing the term genre from the
drop-down menu 1802 and entering a search term into field 1801. As
can be seen in FIG. 30, if a user chooses the genre search from the
drop-down menu 1802 and enters a search term, for example, "pop"
into field 1801, pane 1805 will display all the songs that match
that criteria and pane 1803 will display the artists that match
those songs. In this particular embodiment, pane 1804 is not
populated with album names until an artist is selected, as will be
discussed with reference to FIG. 31. It should be appreciated that
in different embodiments, panes 1803, 1804 and 1805 may be
populated as soon as the initial search is performed or may remain
unpopulated until an additional criterion is selected. Similar to
previous embodiments, if a user wishes to narrow the search
further, he or she can choose a particular artist from pane 1803 as
can be seen in FIG. 31. If a user does choose a particular artist,
for example, "The Clash" from pane 1803, the albums that match that
particular artist and the criteria will be displayed in pane 1804
and songs belonging to that particular artist will be displayed in
pane 1805 as is shown in FIG. 31. Once again, the user can further
narrow the search by choosing a particular album from pane 1804, as
is shown in FIG. 32. If the user does choose that particular album,
then only songs that are in that particular album from that
particular artist matching the genre criteria chosen from field
1801 will be displayed in pane 1805.
[0153] In one embodiment, the search field 1801 would populate
automatically based on prior searches performed by the user, by for
example filling in the word "Jones", once the user types "JO". Once
again, as in previous embodiments the user has the ability to play
any of the songs that are returned by the search by clicking on the
particular song in the list in pane 1805. Additionally, if the
album is already located in a user's "my music" collection, the add
button 526 may not appear and rather an empty box 527 or icon which
might for example say "already in my music" may appear instead.
These searches may be carried out either in the user's "my music"
collection, in the full collection available from the media
database 120 or anywhere throughout the network 300.
[0154] As was discussed above, in one embodiment of the present
invention, a user can access media files located in media database
120 via media server 118. Media engine 106 can generate for the
user a listing of the music located on media database 120 in a
similar way to the way the music located in a particular user's "my
music" collection is displayed. As can be seen in FIG. 33, when a
user selects the network media site tab 224, from pane 201, an
interface 3300 is generated for the user that lists songs that are
located on media database 120 that the operators of the media site
wish to either recommend to the user or inform the user about. This
recommendation is preferably, but not necessarily, based upon
preference information stored in user information database 122 or
on the user's processor or elsewhere on the network, as preference
information, for the purposes of personalizing a user's experience,
may be stored at, and accessed from the location or locations on
the network where such information may be stored. For example, as
can be seen in pane 3305, the media engine generates a listing of
recommended songs that are located on media database 120 but are
not in the user's "my music" collection. Additionally, as can be
seen in listing 3310, the media engine can also generate a listing
of albums that were recently released that the user might find
interest in. Additionally, in one embodiment, the media engine can
also generate a list of particular albums or songs that were just
added to the database as is shown in listing 3315. It should be
noted, that in different embodiments the media engine 106 can
generate different listings and groupings of songs and/or albums
located on media database 120. For example, as can be seen in FIG.
34, the media engine 106 can generate a most popular artists
section 3410, which includes a listing of the most popular artists
from within the database 120 as well as a .gif image 3420 of those
particular artists. Once again, these .gif images can be stored
together with the media and metadata stored on media engine 106
and/or media server 118. Although discussed in terms of a .gif
image, any file format that displays images such as .jpg, .tif, or
any other image file format heretofore and hereafter known to
display the picture of the artist.
[0155] In an additional embodiment, a user may search through songs
located on media database 120 or elsewhere on the network for a
particular term located in either the song name, artist name, or
album name. For example, as can be seen in FIG. 35, user 102 has
the ability to perform a search function within interface 3300 of
all media that is available either on media database 120 and/or
located in the user's "my music" collection or elsewhere. As can be
seen from FIG. 35, user interface 3300 contains a field 3504
wherein a criterion may be selected to search a particular search
variable which can be entered into field 3502. For example, in FIG.
35, a display is shown where a user has selected to search for the
term "combine" in all song names of songs located on the media
database 120. This is because the user has selected "song" from
drop-down menu 3504, and entered the word "combine" in field 3502
as well as chosen to search the media database from drop-down menu
3506. Once the user has entered the search terms and the search has
been performed, a list of those songs that match the criteria will
be displayed in pane 3508. These listings may include song titles
3510, artist name 3512, and album names 3514. In one embodiment,
the listing will also include a "my music" column 3516, which can
include a button 3518 next to a particular song that the user can
click upon to add to his or her "my music" collection. For example,
as can be seen in FIG. 36, if a user wishes to add the song
"Combine" by "Pino Colony," he or she would click on button 3518
and the song will automatically be added to the user's "my music"
collection. Access to songs in media database 120 can be based on a
tiered membership, or based on differing subscription fees.
Therefore, certain users may be allowed to add certain songs to
their "my music" collection while other users may not. Therefore,
"my music" column 3516 displays to the user which songs can be
added to the particular user's "my music" collection.
Alternatively, the "my music" column 3516 may also include a button
3520, which can indicate that the particular song is already
located in a particular user's "my music" collection. Thus, from
this display, a user can readily ascertain which songs he or she
may wish to add to their "my music" collection and/or which songs
he or she may already have in their "my music" collection.
[0156] In one embodiment, in addition to a user's ability to click
on button 3518 to automatically add the particular song to the
user's "my music" collection, the user also has the ability to
purchase a particular song for a pre-determined price via button
3524 in column 3522. For example, if the user enjoys a particular
song that is returned by the search, and wishes to purchase that
song, the user would click on button 3524. In one embodiment, the
user would be directed to a payment page (not shown) where, for
example the user can enter credit card information. From this page
for example a user can complete an e-commerce transaction in a
known manner to purchase a download and/or streaming rights, or
other access rights in the song and/or album including a tangible
copy. It should be appreciated that this combines the use of the
media engine and the experiencing of media files with the ability
to conduct commerce and purchase copies of and/or rights to the
media that a user is listening to. This pricing information can be
stored along with each media file metadata to make it easily
accessible to the media engine 106. In other words, when displaying
a song for a user, the media engine 106 knows whether the user
already has the media file on their computer and the media engine
106 also knows from the media server 118, using commerce functions
330 located on network 300 what the proper pricing for that song is
and which vendors may be selling that song. Thus, the user, through
a user-friendly interface and by the click of a mouse, is able to
purchase a particular song or album right from within the media
engine 106, obviating the necessity of "shopping around" for a
particular song or album. In another embodiment, as can be seen in
FIG. 36, in addition to both options listed in interface 3508, the
user may also right click on a particular song name to produce a
drop-down menu 3610 that would display a list of options available
to the user in relation to that particular song. For example, as
can be seen in FIG. 36, the user has the option to play the song in
which case the song will be played in music player 240, add the
particular song to his or her "my music" collection, add the song
to the music currently playing, add the song to a playlist, create
a similar song playlist as will be discussed below in relation to
FIGS. 46-47, or to buy the song and/or album, in which case the
user may be directed to a payment page where, for example, the user
can enter credit card information. Alternatively, from menu 3610,
the user may go to a song page, album page, or artist page, which
can be web pages with information about that particular song, album
or artist. In addition, other choices available to the user may
include sending the song to a friend either by a messaging program,
email or other communication software or to search network 300 for
the words or lyrics to that particular song. In one embodiment,
interface 3300, may also include pane 3620 which includes a listing
of other options that the user may wish to employ to perform
similar searches to those that he or she has already performed. For
example, as can be seen in FIG. 36, pane 3620 allows the user by a
click of the mouse to easily search other artists' albums, users
and/or the web for a particular search term that has already been
entered in field 5001. Alternatively, a choice can be given to view
similar artists or songs or albums based upon similarity data
stored at media server 118 or elsewhere on the network.
[0157] In another embodiment, the user may search for songs within
the media database 120 by a variable that is only in the song's
artist name by selecting artist from the drop-down menu 3504 and
entering the search term into field 3502. As can be seen in FIG.
37, if the user chooses to search artists names from drop-down menu
3504 and populates, for example, field 3502 with the search term
"jam," the media engine 106 will return a list of artists in pane
3710 that match that particular criteria Once again, the user may
choose to perform the search either in media database 120, in the
user's "my music" collection, or both, or elsewhere, by selecting
the particular location or locations from drop-down menu 3506.
Additionally, the image of the particular artist may also be
displayed next to the artist's name in pane 3710, as was discussed
above with reference to album covers and artist images. If a user
wishes to obtain additional information about a particular artist
listed in pane 3710, the user can click on that particular artist's
name and/or image and he or she will be directed to a display that
lists information about that particular artist, as can be seen in
FIG. 38. As is shown in FIG. 38, an interface 3810 about a
particular artist can include a biography about the artist, photos
of the artist, or a listing of the particular genre the artist's
music falls under. Additionally, the user may create a similar
artist playlist, as will be discussed with reference to FIG. 46, by
clicking on the create similar artist playlist button 3815. Once
again, in this embodiment, the user 102 can also rate the
particular artist by clicking on the rating tool button 3820. As
was discussed above, any ratings entered by a particular user helps
create an enhanced experience for the user as the media server
obtains additional information about the likes and dislikes of a
particular user. Additionally, in one embodiment, display 3825 may
include a listing of similar artists so that the user can explore
music by a similar artist as well. Additional albums by that
particular artist can also be displayed, as can be seen in display
3830. In another embodiment, as can additionally be seen in FIGS.
37-38, the user has the ability to navigate within displays, to go
forward or backward from one display to another by clicking on the
backward and/or forward buttons 3720, respectively. This enhances
the user's experience, allowing them to navigate between different
displays as one would be able to within a typical internet browser,
for example.
[0158] In another embodiment, a user may search for songs within
the media database 120 by a variable that is only in the album name
of a song by selecting album from drop-down menu 3504 and entering
the search criteria in field 3502. As can be seen in FIG. 39, if a
user chooses to search albums from drop-down menu 3504 and
populates, for example, field 3502 with the search string "crazy,"
the media engine 106 will return a list of albums in pane 3910 that
match that particular criteria. Once again, the user may choose
from drop-down menu 3506 whether to search for media located in the
media database, in the user's "my music" collection and/or both. In
addition to the album name, an image of the album cover may also be
displayed in pane 3910 along with the artist's name and in one
embodiment the year that the album was produced may also be
displayed. Similar to previous embodiments, a "my music" column may
also be shown to indicate whether any songs from the particular
album are located in a user's "my music" collection. Once again,
similar to previous embodiments, a user may access additional
information about a particular album by clicking on that particular
album name and/or image as can be seen in FIG. 40. As can be seen
in FIG. 40, a display that includes additional information about
the album is shown in pane 4010. Once again, from within the
display, the user may rate the particular album by clicking on the
rating tool 4015 or view the names of additional users who enjoyed
that particular album by clicking on the fans of this album button
4025. In one embodiment, pane 4020 may show a listing of all the
songs located on that particular album. Once again, a user can
navigate from this album page to any previously viewed pages by
clicking on forward or backward buttons 3720.
[0159] In another embodiment, the user is given the ability to
search for information related to another user of the media engine
106 to access songs that the other user prefers. As was discussed
above, different users 102 are distinctly identified by a user Name
or other identifier, which is also preferably associated with
various preferences for that user stored on the network. Thus, in
one embodiment, a user can search for another user's music by using
the other user's identifier, or by the system finding the user or
users that fit certain search criteria based on user preference
and/or user behavior. For example as can be seen in FIG. 41, if a
user populates field 3502 with a search term (e.g., John) and
chooses to search through a user Name from dropdown menu 3504, a
search result may be displayed in pane 4110 that shows all of the
users that have that particular search term (e.g., John) within
their user Name. If a user clicks upon a particular user from
within pane 4110 (e.g., john_g) a page as can be seen in FIG. 42
will be displayed in pane 4210 that shows additional information
about the user including artists, genres or albums that the chosen
user has rated highly. Alternatively, a song title may be entered,
and the drop down menu can contain an "all users" selection, to
initiate a search of users' media files for a particular song. As
another example, if the search is done instead on genres, a list of
users that like a particular genre would be returned, or by further
example, all users that like a particular song, artist, album or
the like.
[0160] The use and creation of playlists in connection with one
embodiment of the present invention will now be discussed with
reference to FIGS. 43-48. The use of a playlist allows the user to
listen to a number of media files organized by the user according
to some user preference or other criteria.
[0161] Utilizing the user's "my music" collection or other media
available through media server 118 or network 300, a user can
easily create a playlist by ordering songs in a way that the user
wishes to play them or some other order. This order of songs is
then stored in a playlist database 340, on processor 103, in both
locations, or other locations on network 300. For example, if a
user wishes to create a playlist of Song 6, Song 8 and Song 10 that
are each in the user's "my music" collection, the media engine 106
will create a file that will contain a list of pointers that point
to the location of Song 6, Song 8, and Song 10, respectively, and
send that file to the playlist database 340. This location
information is preferably made available as a result of the media
engine's 106 initial collection of information about each of the
user's available media files or may occur at the time the song is
selected for inclusion in the playlist. Thus when the user wishes
to access the newly formed playlist, the media engine is able to
locate and play those songs that are in the playlist. These
playlists can be accessed from any location from which a user may
run media engine 106.
[0162] The ability to create a more robust and versatile playlist
from a user's "my music" interface discussed above with reference
to FIG. 2, that can then be listened to by the user 102 from any
processor 103 that the user 102 is located at will now be discussed
in reference to FIG. 43. From a user's interface 200, user 102 is
able to create a playlist by selecting a particular song that the
user 102 wishes to add to create a new playlist. For example, as
can be seen in FIG. 43, the results of a search that is searching
for all media within this particular user's "my music" collection
that has the string "mo" in it is displayed in interface 4305. As
can further be seen in FIG. 43, the user then has the ability to
click on buttons 4306 or 4307 to create and refine his or her
playlist. For example, in FIG. 43, pane 4310 does not have any
songs in the playlist; however, instructions are displayed showing
the user how songs may be added to the playlist. As can be seen in
FIG. 44, if the user elects to add songs to a playlist, by clicking
on a select song and then clicking on the "add to playlist" button
4306, a new playlist is created for this particular user in pane
4410. This could also be accomplished through a drag and drop
method by dragging the song into pane 4310 or over to playlist tab
232. Thus, through this interface the user is able to create a
playlist that consists of all media available as part of a user's
collection that contains the string "mo". If for example the user
would then wish to remove one of the songs or all of the songs from
the particular playlist the user can click on the "remove from
playlist" button 4307 which would then remove those songs from the
playlist. After this playlist has been created, the user has the
ability to save the new playlist as a file by clicking on the "save
new playlist" button 4308. Once the user clicks on the save new
playlist button the user is preferably given the ability to name or
otherwise identify the playlist and can then access the user's
playlists at any time from the playlist list 232 in interface 201.
As was discussed earlier in reference to FIG. 2, the playlists that
are listed in pull down list 232 become available for the user to
access from any location where the user is located and using media
engine 106.
[0163] In another embodiment a user is able to easily create a
playlist consisting of songs with a particular search criteria by
manually selecting each song that the user wishes to include in the
particular playlist area. Thus, a user can manually utilize their
"my music" collection or the network at large to create a playlist
that incorporates those particular songs that the user wishes to
have in a particular playlist and can then access that playlist
from a variety of locations. This is facilitated once again by
media engine 106 and the information compiled by the media engine
about a user's available media. Similar to individual songs added
to a user's "my music" collection, these playlists become
accessible for the user from any location that the user has access
to media engine 106.
[0164] Another embodiment of the present invention used to generate
playlists will now be discussed with reference to FIG. 45 and the
interfaces depicted in FIGS. 46-48. In this embodiment, the system
can generate a playlist that is based on a relation of particular
songs, artists or albums to each other and any affinity that those
songs, artists or albums may have to each other. Different users
may have different likes and dislikes for different songs, artists
and/or albums. In general, however, users that like a particular
song, for example, will likely enjoy other songs by that artist or
songs that are similar to that particular song. Therefore, it is
possible to create an affinity relationship between songs, albums,
and/or artists by compiling a list of songs that are commonly liked
by one user. Thus, for instance, if a user likes song A and song B,
it is possible that the two songs are related in some way and that
is why the user likes both of the songs. If two users both like
song A and song B, the chance of the songs being similar or that
affinity to each other is stronger because now an additional user
has shown his or her like for both songs. Similarly, if 1,000 users
like both song A and song B, the chance of there being an affinity
or similarity in the songs is increased. In this embodiment,
factoring in the likes and dislikes of a particular user, the media
server utilizes an affinities engine 350 to generate a playlist
that matches affinity criteria and/or degree of similarity between
artist, albums or songs as desired by the user. As is depicted in
FIG. 45, the media engine 106 receives the criteria (e.g., a
particular artist or song) from user 102, step 4510. Once received
by the media engine 106, the criteria is passed along to media
server 118, step 4520 The media server then runs the criteria
through affinities engine 350, step 4530. For example, the system
may collect user information concerning listening patterns and
preferences, and process that information to develop a database of
relationship among items of media. Thus, for example, the system
may, through processing user information, or by direct input by
system administrators or operators, glean that many users that
listen to artist A also listen to artist B, and thus the system can
associate artist A and artist B as similar. The system can also
utilize user genre ratings, third party reviews, implicit or
explicit user behavior analysis, human editors or other information
sources in developing affinity relationships. By way of
non-limiting example, an exemplary formula processed by the
affinity engine to establish the affinity between songs, artist
and/or albums will be discussed below.
[0165] Once the affinity engine computes the affinities in
accordance with criteria selected by the user, the media server 118
creates a playlist based on those affinity results. Step 4540. The
media server then forwards a file containing pointers to the songs
in the newly created playlist to media engine 106. Step 4550. The
media engine then creates a user interface to display the songs in
the playlist and grant access to those songs for the user. Step
4560.
[0166] The creation of an affinity playlist from a user's
perspective will now be shown with reference to FIGS. 46 and 38. As
was discussed above with reference to FIG. 38, users have the
ability to create a playlist based on music that is similar to an
artist by, for example, choosing the "create a playlist of similar
artist" button 3815. When a user chooses to create a similar artist
playlist, the media engine 106 queries the media server 118 for the
results of the playlist for the particular artist and that playlist
is then displayed for the user 102 in pane 4610 as can be seen in
FIG. 46. As can be seen in FIG. 46 a new playlist called for
example "Like Pearl Jam" is added to the User's 102 playlist list
232 in pane 201 which can then be accessed by the user at any time.
It should be noted that in alternative embodiments, the media
server 118 may recreate a Playlist that matches the chosen affinity
each time the affinity Playlist is requested. Once the Playlist has
been created, a User 102 can preferably also burn that Playlist to
a CD or move it to other removable media device by clicking on the
"Burn CD" button between 4601. This will cause actual media files
to be stored on an external device or burned onto a portable media
like a CD, or other storage medium now known or to become
known.
[0167] The issue of whether users have appropriate rights to
experience certain media can also be addressed by the media engine.
Media engine 106 preferably contains digital rights management
functionality to ensure that various copyright rights and media
rights of owner's licenses are respected. Thus, while there are
described herein embodiments that facilitate users sharing their
media experiences, adequate controls can be incorporated into the
system to frustrate unauthorized use of media. For example, media
engine 106 can incorporate software and/or hardware to recognize
digital rights management information that may be part of the media
file and/or media metadata, and respond to user's requests
accordingly by granting or denying access to the media based on
that user's rights. For example, as was described above, access to
the songs in the media database 120 can be based on a tiered
membership based on differing subscription fees. Certain users
therefore will be allowed access to certain media that other users
are not allowed access to. That being the case, the possibility
exists that one user will forward to another user songs that the
other user is not authorized to access. In such a situation,
according to one embodiment of the present invention the second
user would be alerted to this fact and be offered the ability to
sign up to the appropriate subscription service or to purchase
rights in the desired item of media.
[0168] In another embodiment, access, viewing capabilities, and
sharing rights between users preferably depend on certain
conditions being recognized by the media management systems of
media server 118. In one example, access, viewing, and sharing
capabilities are based upon the system first recognizing the
metadata associated with the media file and whether the particular
media file is available through the media management system's
services (e.g. subscription or not). If the system recognizes the
metadata associated with the media file and the media file is
within the system's services (e.g. available on media database 120
or other authorized service 130), or within the user(s)'
subscription, the media file may be shared, viewed, and accessed
among users. However, if the system does not recognize the metadata
of a media file and/or the media file is outside of the system's
authorized offerings, the receiving user will not be able to access
or view the particular media file. It is noted that these
conditions are merely exemplary and the system can base access and
sharing rights on other conditions such as whether the users are
within a subscription plan or other DRM parameter.
[0169] In an alternate embodiment similar playlists can also be
created for songs and/or artists in a similar manner. Namely as can
been seen in FIG. 47 if a user selects the "create a similar
playlist of songs" button 4715 from a song page 4700, the media
engine 106 will query the media server 118 for songs with a high
affinity to the song selected and will display such a playlist for
the user as can be seen in FIG. 48. Once again similar to what was
discussed above with reference to FIG. 46 the user can elect to
burn the created playlist to a CD by selecting "Burn CD" button
4802 or play the playlist from within their "my music" interface by
choosing the "like Yellow" playlist from their playlist list 232.
Alternatively from song page 4700, a user can play the song by
clicking on "Play Song" button 4705, add the song to his or her "my
music" collection by clicking on "In My Music" button 4710,
purchase the song by clicking on the "Buy Song" button 4720, send
the song to another user by clicking on the "Send to a Friend"
button 4725 or rate the song by clicking on the rating tool
4730.
[0170] As was discussed above with reference to FIG. 45, an
exemplary affinity engine is employed to develop identified and
stored affinities between songs, artists or albums or other
media-related information or metadata for use by the system. In one
embodiment, affinities are used to create playlists as described
above, but may also be used to present new media options to a user,
or to effect what may be presented by other services or network
300, e.g. radio stations, commerce sites and the like. By way of
non-limiting example, a formula preferably used by the affinity
engine for the calculation of an artist affinity is described
below, wherein:
[0171] A=the number of users who like artist A;
[0172] B=the number of users who like artist B; and
[0173] AB=the number of users who like artist A and artist B.
[0174] The affinity of artist A to artist B would equal
(AB/A).times.100, while the affinity of artist B to artist A equals
(AB/B).times.100. Through such a formula the system is able to
compute the affinity or relationship between two artists. Although
this formula is discussed in terms of artists, a similar formula
can be used in terms of album and/or song or other item of media.
Preferably, media rating data is sent to and compiled within media
server 118 so the system can use that rating data and create a
relationship between different media, artists, and/or albums. Once
this data is compiled using the formula above, an affinity is
determined between two different artists, albums, and/or songs.
Once this affinity is established and stored, a playlist can be
created based on that affinity. Depending on whether the user wants
to create a highly similar or divergent playlist, songs or other
media items can be compiled with a degree of variance based on the
degree of their affinity to each other. In addition to the
exemplary techniques set forth herein, other art-recognized
affinity determining applications or techniques can be used or
developed to identify affinities.
[0175] In an embodiment of the present invention, an additional
factor is preferably taken into account to create the affinity
playlist. This factor is the total number (N) of users 102 that are
using the system. This variable factors into account cases where
the affinity between one artist and another artist may be skewed by
artists that are very popular versus artists that are not popular
at all. For example using the above listed formula, an artist that
is popular with 95% of the users may have an affinity to many more
artists than an artist who is popular with only 5% of the users.
The artist that is popular with 95% of the users will therefore
appear to have a high affinity to nearly every other artist because
an artist that has a great popularity is invariably going to have
an overlap with another artist that was rated highly by many of the
users of the system. Therefore, in order to balance out this
equation, instead of using the equation, (AB/A).times.100, the
formula for determining an affinity from artist A to artist B,
taking into account the popularity of an artist is (AB/A)/(B/N) and
the formula for determining the affinity between artist B and
artist A factoring in the popularity of an artist is (AB/B)/(A/N).
This formula divides the relationship of artist A to B by the
number of total users that like artist A. This lowers the affinity
to an artist that is very popular while it raises the affinity to
an artist that is very unpopular. In other words, an artist that is
very popular will have to have a lot of users who like that artist
and another artist to have a strong affinity to that artist, while
an unpopular artist will need to have fewer users in common to have
the same affinity. Therefore, using the above mentioned exemplary
formulas, the system is capable of determining an affinity between
one artist, album or song and another artist, album or song based
on the likes and dislikes of other users. Based on affinity
calculations and criteria selected by a user, a playlist can be
created that will comprise artists, albums or songs that are most
or least similar to a particular artist, album or song thereby
enhancing a user's experience.
[0176] It should also be noted that affinity data can also be used
to automatically generate a list of similar albums, artists or
songs for a particular user. Thus, even without the creation of a
playlist, in one embodiment, a user can request a list of albums
similar to a particular album and based on the previously mentioned
affinities data, a list of similar albums can be complied.
Alternatively, the media engine 106 can also automatically
recommend similar albums to a user based on this affinity data. For
example, every time a user opens the media engine 106, the
interface can display a list of recommended albums based on the
albums' affinity to albums rated highly by the user. Thus in
addition to tracking the media available to a user, the media
engine 106, alone or in cooperation or combination with media
server 118, is also able to intelligently recommend other media to
the user based on other music that the media engine knows the user
prefers.
[0177] In another embodiment, the media engine is able to manage a
playlist in such a manner that the playlist is not merely played
back to the user in a particular pre-assigned order or random
order. Rather, the media engine and/or media server 118 is able to
generate an order for the songs in the playlist that better
reflects the user's likes and dislikes. Once again referring to
FIG. 48, a user interface that incorporates functionality that
provides a user the ability, in playing a playlist, to utilize a
randomize feature that is based on data acquired by the media
engine 106. In order to access such a randomized playing of the
media located in the playlist, the user would preferably select
smart shuffle button 4805. When selecting smart shuffle button
4805, the playlist will begin to play the songs in the playlist in
an order that is not completely randomly selected, but rather the
order of the playlist is based in part on data that the media
engine 106 and/or media server 118 has acquired about the user. In
other words as will be discussed in more detail below, the system
will consider various factors such as user ratings and/or other
factors such as frequency of play, time the song was last played,
whether or not the song has been burned by the user or recommended
to friend, what other artists are in the playlist, or other
factors. The smart shuffle feature factors in the system's
knowledge of the users' listening preferences to create a more
enhanced user experience. This is yet another use of the user data
garnered by media engine 106 and/or media server 118, which is
supplemented as the user continues to use the system in order to
create a more enhanced and personalized listening experience for
the user.
[0178] As can be seen with reference to FIG. 49, according to one
embodiment of the present invention, a process is carried out to
create a playlist whose order is based on various user preferences
so as to create a playlist whose order is more pleasing to user
102. In this exemplary embodiment, a list of media files to be
included in the playlist is selected by the user 102. Step 4901. It
should be noted that although discussed in terms of a user
selecting which media files are placed into the playlist, a
playlist can also be created using any or all media files located
anywhere throughout the network 300. Also, functionality and
processing may take place in various locations on the network, not
only as described. This processing and data storage can be
distributed across network components and not confined to a single
element on network 300. Once the list of songs for the playlist is
generated, media engine 106 queries media server 118 for
information about each particular media file to be sorted into the
playlist. Step 4903. This information includes any rating
information that is available for user 102 for this particular
media file as well as information about when the media file was
last played. Once the media engine 106 receives this information
from the media server 118, a score is generated for each particular
media file based on when the media file was last played by the user
102. Step 4905. This "last played score" according to one
embodiment is generated on a 1-100 scale with 100 being the most
recently played media file from the list of media files being
included in the playlist and 1 being the least recently played song
and all of the other songs containing a value between 1 and 100
based on their linear relation to most and least recently played
songs. Once a "last played score" is assigned for each media file
or song, the media engine 106 looks to the rating data available
for the particular song to see if the user 102 has rated this song.
Step 4907. If the user has rated the song, a "song rating score" is
assigned to the media file based for example on a 1-100 rating
scale, with 100 being the highest rating and 1 being the lowest
rating. Step 4908. If the song has not been rated by the user, the
media engine then looks to the rating information to determine if
the album that the song is associated with has been rated by the
user. Step 4909. If the album has been rated by the user 102, an
"album rating score" is assigned to a media file based on the
user's rating of the album associated with the song. Step 4910.
Once again, in one embodiment the score is based on a 1-100 scale
with 100 being the most highly rated album and 1 being the lowest
rated album. If the album has not been rated by the user, the media
engine 106 then reviews the rating information to see if the artist
associated with the album has been rated by the user. Step 4911. If
the artist has been rated by the user, an "artist rating score" is
generated by the media engine 106 based on the rating given by the
user 102. Step 4912. Once again, this score according to one
embodiment is preferably generated based on a 1-100 scale with 100
being the most highly rated artist and 1 being the lowest rated
artist. If the artist associated with this song also has not been
rated, a "default rating score" will be associated with the media
file. Step 4913. In one embodiment, this rating score would be a
score of 50. Once all the various scores have been assigned to the
particular media file or song, the scores are preferably weighted
so as to give the proper significance to each of the scores. In one
embodiment, this rating is accomplished by multiplying the "played
recently rating" by 0.17, and if available, the "song rating score"
by 0.83, the "album rating score" by 0.80, the "artist rating
score" and the "default rating score" by 0.77. Step 4915. Once all
the scores are computed and weighted, which computation may occur
on user processor 103 as part of media engine 106, or at media
server 118, or elsewhere on network 300, the weighted scores are
added to each other and compiled to create one "overall score" for
each media file in the list of files to be included in the
playlist. Once an "overall score" is computed for each of the media
files, a formula is run for each individual file to ascertain the
proper slot in the playlist for that media file. Step 4917.
According to one exemplary embodiment, the formula that is used to
select the slot for the media file is:
i=[N*(R/N).sup.p].sup.0.94;
[0179] N=the # of items in the list
[0180] R=a random integer in the range [0, N]
[0181] p=a constant value used to increase the weighting on higher
scoring items
[0182] the chosen slot to insert the media file into.
[0183] Once the slot is determined for each particular media file,
a playlist is generated based on those results. Step 4919.
[0184] According to another embodiment of the present invention, an
additional factor that is utilized by the media engine 106 in
connection with generating a playlist is artist separation. This
factor allows media engine 106 to create a playlist that ensures
that whenever possible, songs from a particular artist are not
repeated within a playlist or at least not repeated too closely in
time. It should be appreciated that although this embodiment is
being discussed in terms of artist separation, a similar embodiment
is also envisioned where playlists are separated by song or album
separation and/or genre separation or any other factor associated
with a song or media file. In order to create the artist
separation, a list is tabulated by the media engine or media server
that totals the number of songs for each particular artist from
within songs chosen for a playlist. Once this task is completed, a
minimum separation number can also be generated for each song based
on the information garnered from this tabulated list. In order to
create a minimum separation number, the following formula is
used:
[0185] total number of songs
[0186] number of songs by the particular artist.
[0187] Thus, for each artist associated with a song in this list of
media files to be included in the playlist, a minimum separation
number will be generated. For example, if there are a total of 50
songs chosen by a user to be placed into a playlist, and a
particular artist X is associated with 10 of those songs, the
minimum separation number for artist X would be 50 divided by 10 or
5. When the playlist is generated, the media engine 106 keeps track
of the last slot occupied by media file for each particular artist,
the minimum separation number is then added to that slot number and
no song by that particular artist will then be placed in any slot
number higher than the slot number +the separation number. For
example, if a song by artist X is chosen to be placed in slot
number 3 in the playlist after the formula is run on that
particular media file, and the minimum separation number for that
particular artist is 5, when generating a playlist with artist
separation, no songs by artist A will be allowed to be placed in
slots 4, 5, 6, or 7, and the media engine will attempt to place
that song in slot 8 or later. If a slot is chosen for a particular
song that is not available, the media file will be placed in the
next available slot. In one embodiment, if the end of the playlist
is reached by going through this process of slot filling, the
process will begin once again from the first slot in the playlist.
It should be noted that any or all of the above discussed
preferences can be either set by the media engine 106 or be chosen
by each individual user for each individual playlist.
[0188] In another embodiment of the present invention, a playlist
may be generated automatically based on particular criteria. In
this embodiment, the system is able to create a playlist based on
specific user criteria. For example, the user is able to choose
different criteria such as artist, album, genre, date that the song
was added to the system, last time the song was played for this
particular user, rating, or other criteria, from a drop-down menu.
Based on the chosen criteria, a list of modifiers is given to the
user that is appropriate for those particular criteria. For
example, if the criteria chosen were "date added", the modifier
list would for example included "is", "is after", "is before", "on
or before", "on or after", "is not". All of these choices being
applicable to a specific date entered by the user. On the other
hand if the criteria chosen by the user were genre, then this
modifier list would include choices, such as "is" or "is not,"
these choices being applicable to the criteria of genre. After the
modifier is chosen, the user is prompted to insert a term that
would be applicable to the playlist wanted. For example, if a user
chose "genre" as their criteria, "is not" as their modifier" and
the word "disco" as the term, the system would automatically
generate a playlist of songs in which the genre was not disco. Once
again these playlists can then be accessible from any location
where the user is running the media engine 106.
[0189] In one embodiment of the present invention, there are
additional choices that may be given to a user in creating the
playlist. For example, a user may be given a choice to select
whether they wish to incorporate multiple conditions for their
playlist or whether they would prefer a playlist that only meets a
certain number of the conditions. Additionally, the user can select
how long the playlist should be and whether or not to limit the
playlist to a certain number of songs. Thus, if the conditions of a
playlist return 1,000 songs for example and the user only wishes to
have a playlist that is a length of 25 songs, the user would
alleviate this problem by choosing to limit the playlist to 25
songs. The 25 songs that would be used for the playlist can either
be chose at random by the media engine or can once again be
selected using user selected criteria. For example, a user may
further narrow the playlist by selecting that the 25 song playlist
should be the 25 most highly rated songs or the 25 most recently
listened to songs. Thus, the media engine can return a playlist
with numerous different tiers of criteria. This eliminates the
creation of a playlist that is larger than the one envisioned by
the user or larger than a particular size that the user's storage
medium can hold. Thus, in the previously discussed example a user
would have created a 25 song playlist of the most popular or most
recent songs matching the user's criteria.
[0190] Additional criteria that may be set by the user include
whether the user would like the system to continuously update the
playlist based on the criteria. A playlist created using this
option can periodically change based on the media that is added to
the system. So for example, if a playlist was created that
encompassed all media where the genre was "not disco," the
composition of the playlist would change every time an additional
piece of media, which was not disco, was added to the system. Thus,
if a user chooses the live updating feature, the media engine may
run the search criteria at fixed or variable times, or every time
that the playlist is requested, in order to incorporate any new
media that may have been added to the system since the last time
the search was run. Thus, the user can have the ability to listen
to a playlist of songs that match the conditions and criteria
selected but the playlist may not necessarily consist of the same
songs each time the playlist is requested. In other words, each
time the playlist is selected or requested, the media engine
creates the updated playlist based on the previous criteria
assigned to the playlist.
[0191] An example of a user interface used in connection with the
function of creation of the criteria of playlists discussed in the
previous embodiment is shown in FIG. 73. For example, from this
interface the user is able to select a criteria from the drop-down
list 7301, a modifier term from drop-down list 7302 and insert a
value into field 7303. Once all the conditions are set the user can
either click to generate a playlist button 7310 and/or save
criteria as button 7312. When clicked upon, the media engine 106
alone or in tandem with media server 118, or media server 118
itself, generates a playlist such as, for example, in the form
shown in user interface portion 7315. However, if the user does not
wish to generate a playlist for immediate viewing, he or she may
click on the "save criteria as" button 7312 that will save the
conditions selected and allow the user to easily create a playlist
matching those chosen conditions at a later point in time. Once the
playlist is created, the user preferably has various options as to
what to do with that playlist by clicking on the buttons located
below interface 7315. In this embodiment, the user can either play
the playlist by clicking on the play button 7316, or download the
playlist to their local device by clicking on the download button
7318. In addition, the user may add a song to, or entire playlist
to, another playlist by clicking on the "add to" button 7317 or
obtain more detailed information about the playlist or a particular
song by clicking on the information button 7319. The user may also
choose save the playlist by clicking on the "save list as" button
7320. In one embodiment, if the user elects to save the playlist,
the playlist will be saved in the form that it was generated. In
other words, the particular songs that were chosen by the system to
match the conditions set by the user will always reside in that
playlist. The file that is saved preferably only contains pointers
to the location of each of the individual songs in the playlist. In
contrast, however, if the user elects to only save the criteria of
the playlist, by clicking on the save criteria as button 7312, only
the particular criteria for generating the playlist may be saved to
a file on the user's processor and thus the next time this playlist
is run, the media engine will generate a playlist that may generate
a different list of songs that also match the criteria selected by
the user. Of course if the user elects to save the playlist on a
portable device or storage medium, the actual media files may be
stored.
[0192] The ability to create a criteria playlist allows the user to
generate a playlist based on specific criteria and then save that
playlist for later listening. Alternatively, the user can send the
criteria playlist to another user via e-mail, instant messaging,
peer networking, or any other communication channel known or to
become known. For example, if the user creates a criteria playlist
that includes the criteria, for example, of songs that were
uploaded after Sep. 1, 2004 with specific criteria, one user can
send the criteria to another user. The other user can use the same
criteria to create his or her own playlist based on the media
available to that other user. For example, if user A runs the
playlist on his or her "my music" collection the playlist may
return songs A, B and C, user 2 might run the same playlist
criteria and be returned songs D, E and F. On the other hand, a
user also has the ability to save the playlist as it was generated,
namely with the same songs and or media that was generated when the
user initially generated the playlist. Therefore, when
communicating such a playlist, the other user will receive a file
containing pointers to the location of those specific songs in
network 300.
[0193] The creation of an exemplary affinity playlist according to
another embodiment of the present invention will now be discussed
with reference to FIGS. 74 and 75. Looking to FIG. 74, users have
the ability to create a playlist based on music that is similar to
or not similar to an album or artist by, for example, choosing the
criteria from a drop-down menu 7401. Once the user has chosen
whether they wish music similar to a particular album and/or not
similar to a particular album, similar to a particular artist
and/or not similar to a particular artist, the user may choose an
artist and/or album from artist drop-down list 7402 or album
drop-down list 7403. Also, a degree of similarity may be chosen,
e.g. "not too similar," "very similar," etc. The system would then
adjust the algorithms utilized to find similarity between two or
more items by applying more or less stringent similarity factors,
as per a user's choice.
[0194] Additionally, a user is preferably given the option to
choose a level of obscurity by selecting the level of obscurity on
obscurity knob 7404. The obscurity of a particular song/artist or
album in a measure of the degree of affinity an item has with other
items in a chosen category. Obscurity is preferably determined by
the collective rating or listening patterns of that
song/artist/album among other users on the network, and/or through
system operator input. For example, if the user wishes to create a
playlist with very obscure songs, the media engine 106 will query
media server 118 to find songs that have not been rated by x number
of users in the last y number of days. Thus the resulting playlist
will consist of songs that are obscure relative to other songs
located on the network, meaning other users have not rated or
listened to the song often.
[0195] After choosing the obscurity, the user is preferably also
given the option to select whether they wish the playlist to be
generated with a wide variety of artists and/or albums or whether
the songs should mostly be from the same artist and/or album. Once
the user has selected the criteria, similar to the playlists
discussed previously, the user may have the option to either
generate a playlist by clicking on the generate playlist button
7406 or save the criteria as a file by clicking on the "save
criteria as" button 7407. Media engine 106 preferably forwards
criteria to media server 118. Once the playlist is generated, the
results of the playlist may be displayed in interface 7410.
Additionally, similar to the previously discussed playlists, a user
may be able to either play the playlist by clicking on the play
button 7416, download the playlist by clicking on button 7418, add
the playlist to another playlist by clicking on button 7417 or get
additional information about the playlist or any song in the
playlist by clicking on information button 7419. The user can save
the playlist as a file by clicking on "save list as" button
7420.
[0196] In another embodiment, as can be seen in FIG. 75, a playlist
can be generated based on similarity to an artist and/or a
particular song. Similar to the previously discussed embodiment,
the user will choose criteria as to whether they wish music that is
similar or not similar to a particular song by selecting criteria
from drop-down list 7401, the only difference being that in this
embodiment, the user would choose a song from drop-down menu 7403
instead of an album. Similar other options like artist, genre or
rating can also be utilized.
[0197] In one embodiment of the present invention as is shown in
FIG. 76, once a playlist is created, the user has various different
options as to what to do with the created playlist. For example a
user can either play the playlist as in previous embodiments by
clicking on the play playlist button 7630, or alternatively, the
user may burn the playlist onto a CD that is located in device 114
by clicking on the "burn a CD" button 7631. In one embodiment, when
a user clicks on the burn a CD button 7631, or save it to a
portable media player or other storage media. He or she is prompted
to insert a blank CD into device 114 so that the playlist can be
burned onto the CD. If the playlist is too long and/or too large
for the CD, the user is alerted to this fact and is offered the
option of either changing the media type or selecting which songs
from the playlist the user wishes to burn onto the CD.
Alternatively, the user can choose to copy the playlist to a
portable media storage device, such as by way of non-limiting
example an MP3 player or the like, so as to make a playlist
portable. In such embodiments, the playlist will not contain merely
pointers but will comprise the actual media file and optionally
associated metadata.
[0198] Additionally, a user may choose to publish their playlist to
other users of the system by, for example, clicking on the publish
playlist button 7633. By electing to publish the playlist, a user
will be prompted to enter a name for the playlist. The playlist
will be saved on processor 103 and/or at media server 118 or other
location on the network 300. The user is preferably given the
option of making the published playlist public, thus allowing other
users to not only view the playlist but to listen to media listed
in the playlist as well. The ability to publish a playlist has the
added benefit of making the playlist completely portable by being
available to all users, as it will be residing on the media server
118 or other user accessible location(s) on the network.
[0199] The publishing of a playlist according to one embodiment of
the present invention will now be discussed with reference to FIG.
77. First the user creates the playlist. Step 7700. This playlist
can be created in any number of different ways (i.e., criteria
playlists; affinity playlists) as was discussed above. Once the
playlist is created, the user can elect to publish the playlist.
Step 7710. If the user chooses to publish the playlist, the media
engine 106 will query media server 118 to determine whether media
database 120 has available to it all the songs in the playlist.
Step 7720. If there are songs in the playlist that are not in the
media database 120, the media engine 106 will copy those songs to
media database 120. Step 7730. Once the media database 120 has all
of the songs in the playlist, the name and content of the playlist
is saved in the playlist database 120. Step 7740. Thus, if another
user requests that playlist, for example through the search
functions described elsewhere herein or through the "friends"
functionality also described elsewhere herein, the playlist can be
served to that user. Step 7750. The published playlist can contain
pointers that identify the network location(s) at which the media
file resides or may be accessed (a pointer may comprise a URL or
URI), metadata or actual media files, although preferably the
playlist contains pointers to avoid the need to store multiple
copies of the same media file on the network. Thus, a playlist can
be made available to a user by publishing the playlist via the
network.
[0200] According to another embodiment in the present invention, as
is depicted in FIG. 50, a user is able to utilize the media engine
106 to identify and communicate with other users that are connected
to the system via an instant messaging program. As was discussed
above, each user preferably has a messaging program 108 on their
processor 103 through which they can communicate with other users
utilizing the messaging platform. The messaging program 108 may be
presented as a stand-alone feature for just messaging and/or be
integrated into the media engine 106 functionality when expanded
media-related functions are desired. Core messaging functionality
can be utilized by multiple applications on processor 103,
depending on user requirements. Within the messaging program,
information is preferably stored about the user's messaging
preferences. This information can include, for example, a list of
"friends" or other users with which that user is acquainted in some
way. This list is compiled by each individual user and can include
co-workers, family or classmates, for example. From within the
messenger client, this list of "friends" allows a user to easily
interact with other users that he or she wishes to interact with on
a regular basis. According to one embodiment of the present
invention, media engine 106 may utilize this information from the
messaging program 108 to improve a user's media listening
experience. For example, the media engine 106 can use the "friends"
information from the messaging program to share media information
and experiences among users. As was noted above, media engine 106
preferably compiles and stores information about each user's
particular available media files. In this embodiment the media
engine utilizes the messaging program to allow each user to view
and/or access media available to their friends.
[0201] One exemplary user interface in connection with this
functionality is depicted in FIG. 50. As can be seen in FIG. 50, if
a user accesses the messenger button 234 from pane 201, a list of
the user's "friends" 5005 are displayed in pane 5010. As can be
seen in FIG. 51, in one embodiment, the user may also see a
drop-down list of its "friends" 5106 in pane 201 by clicking on the
arrow 5104 next to messenger button 234. Through the user
interfaces discussed in FIGS. 50-54, the user will be able to
display media files that one of his or her "friends" have in their
"my music" collection. Media engine 106 can generate a user
interface that displays information about the media of another user
who is both running a media engine 106 as well as a messaging
program 108. Similar to a user's "my music" collection, a user will
also have the ability, preferably with proper rights management
permissions, to explore and listen to any of its "friend's" music
as well as playlists and/or other preferences of the particular
"friend". For example, as is depicted in FIG. 52, if a user
highlights a particular friend from list 5106 (e.g., JohnB), pane
5220 will populate a list with all songs in JohnB's "my music"
collection. Similar to the embodiments discussed above in relation
to a user's "my music" collection interface, a list of all songs in
JohnB's "my music" collection will be listed in the right,
bottom-most pane 5220. This list is sorted in columns representing
information about each respective song, including, for example,
song title 5222, duration 5224, artist 5226, album 5228, track
5230, and the last time this particular song was played 5232. It
should be noted that these columns are only exemplary and columns
including other information about a particular song, such as genre
or the ability to rate a particular song with a rating tool as was
discussed above in reference to FIG. 2, can also be included in the
listing in pane 5220. Additionally, a full listing of all of the
artists' songs in JohnB's "my music" collection will preferably be
displayed in pane 5240. In addition to information about media
files located in a "friend's" "my music" collection, a user may
also access additional information about the "friend" from within
interface 5000. Information from user to user is preferably passed
through messaging program 108, but may be passed in any data
transfer methodology now known or to become known. For example, a
user may access profile information about his or her "friend," that
can indicate, for instance, hobbies and/or likes or dislikes of the
"friend" as well as access the "friend's" internet radio station
from pane 5210. This profile information about each user each user
is stored in User Information Database 360 as was discussed above
with reference to FIG. 3. User preference data is also storable and
exchangeable. Media Engine 106 obtains this profile information and
allows a user to access it from within pane 5210. In one
embodiment, a user can also select to add his or her "friend" as an
"influencer" for their radio station. If a user chooses to add his
or her "friend" as an "influencer", when the media server 118
streams music via an Internet Radio to the user it will stream
songs with a bias toward songs preferred by the "influencer" or
when providing recommendations to a user those recommendations will
be based on songs rated highly by the "influencer". In other words
the songs streamed or recommended by the media server 118 will be
songs rated highly by the "friend" chosen as an influencer. The
amount of influence can be altered by the user or system, or both,
based on predetermined or calculated factors such as implicit or
explicit user behavior or other preference-based techniques
discussed herein.
[0202] As can be seen in FIG. 53, the user may further narrow his
or her view of the "friend's" "my music" listing by clicking on a
particular artist (i.e., Emmylou Harris) from the artist listing in
pane 5240. The user can then see a listing of albums in pane 5310
for that particular artist. Additionally, only songs by that
particular artist that are in the "friend's" "my music" collection
will be displayed in pane 5220. A user may further narrow the view
in pane 5220 by selecting an album from the listing in pane 5310 as
can be seen in FIG. 54. By choosing a particular album from pane
5310, a user is given a listing of only songs from that album in
the particular "friend's" (i.e., JohnB) "my music" collection.
Additionally as can be seen in FIGS. 50-54, similar to the way a
user can browse his or her own "my music" collection by either
artist, album, genre, or song, as was discussed above in reference
to FIGS. 2-3 the user can similarly browse a "friend's" "my music"
collection by selecting which criteria to browse from the drop-down
menu 5201. Media items can then be selected for playing, storing,
adding to playlists and the like, in the same or similar manner as
that described elsewhere herein. In short, a user's friend's "my
music" collection becomes an extension of that user's "my music"
collection.
[0203] Similar to the embodiments discussed in reference to FIGS.
18-32 above, in another embodiment to the present invention, a user
may search through another user's media collection. As can be seen
in FIG. 55, user interface 5500 contains field 5501 wherein a
search term may be entered and drop-down menu 5502 wherein a
category to search for the search term may be selected. For
example, in FIG. 55, a display is shown where a user has selected
to search for the term "John" throughout all artists in JohnB's "my
music" collection. Once the user has selected the search term
(e.g., John), a list of artists for those songs that match the
criteria is shown in artist pane 5505. All the songs that match the
criteria are shown in pane 5515 as well. Additionally, a list of
albums matching the criteria is shown in pane 5510. A user can
further narrow search results by clicking on an artist in pane
5505. For example, if a user clicks on the artist John Coltrane
from pane 5505, as can be seen in FIG. 56, pane 5515 will display
only those songs from the artist John Coltrane. Similarly, only
albums matching the selected artist will be displayed in the album
pane 5510.
[0204] A user can further narrow search results, as can be seen in
FIG. 57, by choosing a particular album from pane 5510. If a
particular album is chosen from pane 5510, only songs from that
album will be displayed in pane 5515. In this embodiment, similar
to the way a user is able to browse and play songs from his or her
own "my music" collection, a user can browse and play songs from
his or her "friend's" "my music" collection. As can be seen in FIG.
58, if a user highlights and clicks on a particular song from pane
5515, that song will be played in media player 240. Additionally, a
user may add a song from a "friend's" "my music" collection into
his or her own "my music" collection. This can be done in one
embodiment by dragging and dropping the particular song from pane
5515 into the user's "my music" button 222. Similarly, songs from a
"friend's" "my music" collection may also be dragged and dropped
into a particular user's playlist by dragging and dropping a
particular song from pane 5515 into playlist list 232. It should be
noted, that this embodiment enables a user to perform any actions
on his or her "friend's" "my music" collection that he or she can
perform on his or her own "my music" collection, preferably while
taking into account proper digital rights or other authorization
considerations.
[0205] In another embodiment, a user may search for songs within
their "friend's" "my music" collection by a variable term that is
in the name of a song in their "friend's" "my music" collection by
selecting "song" from drop-down menu 5502 and inserting the search
variable in field 5501. As can be seen in FIG. 59, if a user
chooses to search song names from drop-down menu 5502 and
populates, for example, field 5501 with the search term "fin", the
media engine 106 will return a list of artists in pane 5505, albums
in pane 5510 and songs in pane 5515 that match that particular
criteria. The user can then choose a song directly from pane 5515
or choose an artist from pane 5505 or an album from pane 5510 to
further narrow the search to include only songs from that
particular artist or album. As can be seen, for example, in FIG.
60, if a user chooses to view only the "Roger Miller" song in
JohnB's "my music" collection, that has the term "fin" the user
would select Roger Miller from pane 5505 that would display all of
the Roger Miller albums in pane 5510 and all of the Roger Miller
songs in pane 5515. As can be seen further in FIG. 61, if user
selects one of those albums in pane 5510, pane 5515 will only
display songs from that particular album. Once again, a user can
play, store, transfer, etc. any particular song by selecting that
song from pane 5515.
[0206] In additional similar embodiments in which a user can search
a "friend's" "my music" collection by album and/or genre will now
be discussed with reference to FIGS. 62-70. As can be seen in FIG.
62, the user can elect to search for a particular search term in an
album name from their "friend's" "my music" collection by choosing
an album from the drop-down menu 5502 and including a search term,
such as, for example, "love" in field 5501. This will once again
result in the song in the particular "friend's" "my music"
collection whose album's name has the term "love" within their name
to be displayed in pane 5515. As can be seen in FIG. 63, once
again, a user can further narrow the search by choosing a
particular artist from pane 5505, in which case only those songs
from that particular artist will be displayed in pane 5515. The
user can once again further narrow the search by choosing an album
from pane 5510, in which situation only songs matching that album
and matching the search criteria will be displayed in pane 5515 as
can be seen in FIG. 64.
[0207] In another embodiment, a user can search for a particular
term in the genre of songs in a "friend's" "my music" collection as
can be seen in FIG. 65. Similar to the above embodiments, to
perform such a search, the user may select "genre" from drop-down
menu 5502 and enter a particular search criteria in field 5501. As
can be seen in FIG. 65, if the user chooses genre from drop-down
menu 5502 and the string "rock" from field 5501, songs will be
displayed in pane 5515 that have the string "rock" in their genre
name, and a list of artists and albums for those songs will be
displayed in pane 5505 and 5510, respectively. The search can be
further narrowed, as can be seen in FIG. 66, if the user chooses a
particular artist from artist pane 5505. As shown in FIG. 66, only
songs matching the selected artist "New York Dolls" are shown in
pane 5515 and only albums matching that artist are shown in pane
5510. The search can be further narrowed if the user chooses an
album from pane 5510. As can be seen in FIG. 67, pane 5515 will
then only display those songs which match the criteria and are from
the album chosen by the user.
[0208] In another embodiment, a user can search through various
identifying characteristics of his or her "friend's" "my music"
collection (i.e., album name, song name, artist name, genre,
preference rating) for a particular search term all at once. As can
be seen in FIG. 68, if a user selects "all" from drop-down menu
5502, and a particular search term in field 5501 (e.g., "morn"),
the user interface will return all songs in the particular
"friend's" "my music" collection that have that criteria in pane
5515. Additionally, a list of all the artists that match those
criteria will be displayed in pane 5505 and all the albums that
match that criteria will be displayed in pane 5510. Similar to
previous embodiments, a user can further narrow the search by
selecting a particular artist from pane 5505 (e.g., "my morning
jacket") as can be see in FIG. 69. Once a user selects a particular
artist, only albums from that particular artist that match the
criteria will be displayed in pane 5510 and only songs that match
that particular artist and the criteria will be displayed in pane
5515. The search can be further narrowed as can be seen in FIG. 70
if the user selects a particular album from pane 5510. As can be
seen in FIG. 70, once a user selects a particular album from pane
5510, only songs from that particular album are displayed in pane
5515. Similar to the embodiment discussed above with reference to
FIGS. 18-32, in one embodiment search field 5501 can populate
automatically based on prior searches performed by the user, for
example filling in the word "mirror" once the user types "MI".
[0209] In another embodiment of the present invention with
reference to FIG. 71, various processors 103 that are connected to
the messaging platform 116 can be interconnected without making use
of the messaging platform 116 by being connected to the network
300. Use of a similar type network is disclosed in U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/715,694 entitled "Method and Apparatus for
Assisting With Playback of Remotely Stored Media Files" that was
filed on Nov. 18, 2003, has been assigned to the assignee of the
present application and is hereby incorporated by reference. In one
embodiment of the present invention for example, user A uses both
processor 7110 and processor 7140, with processor 7110 located at
user A's home, and processor 7140 located at user A's work
location. User B uses processor 7120 while user C uses processor
7130 and user D uses processor 7150 and processor 7160, processor
7150 being located for example at user D's home, and processor
7160, for instance located at user D's work location. All of these
processors can be interconnected without having to stay connected
via the messaging platform 116. Specifically, if all of the
processors are connected to the messaging platform 116, the
messaging platform 116 is capable of sensing and relaying
information between each of the processors. For example, if in
addition to being connected to the messaging platform, both of user
A's processors, namely processor 7110 and processor 7140 are
connected to each other via network 300, and both of user D's
processors namely processor 7150 and processor 7160 are connected
to each other via network 300, and processor 7120 is connected to
processor 7140 while processor 7150 is also connected to processor
7130, all of the processors displayed in FIG. 71 can be considered
as interconnected. This is because since processor 7110 maintains a
connection with both processor 7140 and processor 7130 it can also
use processor 7130 as a conduit to connect to processor 7120, 7150
or 7160. This conduit is preferably managed through messaging
program 108, but a separate peer networking software application
running on processor 102 may also be utilized, alone or in concert
with or as part of messaging program 108. Namely, if user A at
processor 7110 wishes to exchange a media file or other information
with processor 7150, it can do so by sending the file via its
connection with processor 7130 which will forward it on through its
connection with processor 7160 that will be able to transfer it to
link or point to the processor 7150 via their direct connection.
Alternatively, processor 7110 will receive a location of where the
particular media file or other information is located. Processor
7110 can then go and have it streamed from processor 7150, for
example. It should be noted once again that in certain embodiments,
a verification would first be performed to ascertain that the user
has the proper digital rights to have the particular song streamed
to them. In other words, as was discussed in other embodiments, the
system is preferably capable of managing digital rights so as to
avoid the unlawful distribution of media files between users.
[0210] In this exemplary embodiment, a network is created in which
a group of users utilizes their various interconnections to create
a network that can be used to exchange files and/or stream
information or media files between various processors. As can be
seen with reference to FIG. 72, a processor 103 connects to the
messaging platform 116 to obtain a listing of other processors 103
that the messaging platform 116 is aware of and that can act as a
member of the processor 103's extended network. Step 7201. In other
words, the messaging platform 116 will provide information to the
requesting processor 103 of all other processors that maintain a
connection with messaging platform 116 which may be available to
the requesting processor 103 by either a direct connection or
through another processor's connections. This list of processors
that is given by the messaging platform 116 is referred to as a
listing of all different "peers" that can be available to the
requesting processor through their "peer network." Step 7202. Once
processor 103 gains the list of "peers" from messaging platform 116
the processor 103 no longer needs to be connected to messaging
platform 116. Processor 103 then tries to initiate a connection
with each of the other processor 103's or peers passed to it by
messaging platform 116. Step 7203. This can be done by sending
messengers to each of the processors peers requesting information
about the processors availability. If the other processors are
available they will return a message indicating their availability.
Step 7204. Once processor 103 receives all the information back
regarding the availability of the other processor or peers in the
processor's network, it compiles information about the "peers"
including the time that it took for the message to be returned.
Step 7205. Thus, in addition to having a listing of available
processors within their peer network, the processor will also have
a listing of which connection responded faster and thus maintains a
faster connection between peers and which connections are the
slower ones. Next, if processor 103 wishes to search for a
particular media file (e.g., a song), the processor would send out
a search request to all of the processors listed in the peer
network. Step 7206. Each of the processors within the network
checks if they have the requested file and sends an appropriate
message back to the requesting processor indicating that they have
or do not have that file. Step 7207. Once the requesting processor
receives any or all responses from peers within the peer network,
the media file can then either be streamed or copied to the
requesting processor. Step 7208.
[0211] It should be noted when searching for a file within the
network, the processors searched can include two processors that
are directly connected such as processor 7110 and 7130 in FIG. 71
or include processors that are not directly connected to each other
but rather connected through another processor. For example
referring once again to FIG. 71, a peer network created from
processor 7130 can include processors 7160 and 7110 both of which
are directly connected to processor 7130. However, in searching for
a file or other information, processor 7130 may also in addition to
searching those processors that are within its peer network
(namely, processor 7110 and 7160) processor 7130 would also be able
to search within its peers' network, namely 7110's network and
7160's network. Therefore, processor 7130 would be able to also
search processors 7120, 7140, and 7150. This is because although
those processors are not directly within processor 7130's network,
they do fall in one of 7130's peers' network.
[0212] When querying message platform 116, for a listing of those
other processors that can act as peers to processor 103, the
messaging platform in one embodiment can also supply information
about the processors state or status such as whether they are
actually connected to the network at that point in time or whether
they are actively receiving messages. In another embodiment, the
messaging platform only supplies information that there exists
certain processors that the requesting processor can connect to but
not supply any information about the current state of that
processor. In such an embodiment, it would be up to the processor
to connect individually to each processor and/or peer and to obtain
the current state. Thus, through the use of messaging and/or peer
connectivity, the media engine 106 is able to incorporate a larger
universe of media for a specific user, expanding a user's media
file access options beyond that user's specific collection to that
user's friends' collections as well.
[0213] In another embodiment, through the user interface, the user
can utilize a similarity explorer function to generate a list of
similar users/members, albums, artists, songs, or genres. This
functionality may be performed in whole or in part by the affinity
engine 350, which generates the desired list based on the user's
ratings, preferences, play data, and/or explicit and/or implicit
user behavior. In further embodiments, the affinity engine
preferably applies a filter function or a threshold when generating
the list. The threshold preferably relates to a number or amount or
size of items or actions associated within each potential candidate
for the similarity list. In order for the potential candidate to
qualify as a suitable match for the similarity list, the candidate
must preferably meet the particular threshold.
[0214] In one exemplary embodiment of using the similarity explorer
function, the user can access a list of similar users or members in
the network. The affinity engine preferably generates the similar
members list based on the user's ratings, preferences, and/or play
data. Furthermore, the affinity engine can apply a threshold when
generating the similar members/users list. In one example, the
threshold can be set to a predetermined number of items
(genre/albums/artist/songs) a particular user has rated. For
example, a user must have rated at least 20 items, and the selected
as similar must have rated at least 100 items. Thus, members/users
who do not meet this threshold number will not be included in the
similar members/users list. As can be seen with reference to FIG.
78, the user interface allows the member to access and view a
similar members list. First, the user clicks the link associated
with the similar member's function 7810 located in particular pane
7815 of the user interface. Then, as depicted in FIG. 79, the user
is presented with a pane 7910 listing the similar members 7915
generated by the affinity engine 350. The generation may occur at
the time the list is requested by a user, or may be generated as a
background function or batch function performed periodically by
affinity engine 350. From this pane, the user can access
information about each listed member 7915. For example, the user
can access which artists a particular listed member rates highly
7925. In another example, a user can access which members 7920 a
listed member 7915 is considered similar with. This allows the user
to explore and expand to different degrees and branches of similar
members. In a further example, the user can browse each listed
member's 7915 avatar or other related information such as user
name, which artists the particular member 7915 likes, etc.
[0215] In another exemplary embodiment of using the similarity
explorer function, the user can access a list of similar artists.
Thus, in like manner to the user similarity explorer, the affinity
engine 350 generates a similar artist list based on aggregated
implicit or explicit user information, or information provided by
an operator of the system, but is preferably based at least in part
upon the user's ratings, preferences, and/or play data.
Furthermore, the affinity engine 350 can optionally apply a
threshold parameter when generating the similar artists list. Thus,
artists who do not meet this threshold will not be included in the
similar artists list. Examples of threshold parameters are how many
times a particular artist appears in a user's library or how many
times an artist appears along with a particular artist(s) in a
user's library. As can be seen with reference to FIG. 80, the user
interface allows the member to access and view a similar artists
list. First, the user clicks the link associated with the similar
artist function 8010 located in the user interface. A truncated or
abbreviated list of similar artists is displayed 8015 for the user.
The user can then click the "more" 8020 link to access more similar
artists and relevant detailed information. Then, as depicted in
FIG. 81, the user is presented with a pane 8110 listing the similar
artists 8115 generated by the affinity engine. From this pane, the
user can access information about each listed artist 8115. For
example, a user can access which artist 8120 a listed artist 8115
is considered similar to. Thus, if the user clicks the "similar
artists" 8120 link, the user is presented with a pane 8210 of
similar artists 8215 to one of the previously listed artists 8115
as depicted in FIG. 82. This allows the user to explore and expand
to different degrees and branches of similar artists through a
series of single clicks via a simple and intuitive user interface.
The user can perform as many interactions of selecting similar
artists as the user desires. At any time, the user is preferably
further capable of filtering or narrowing the display of similar
artists using a variety of parameters, for example, artists that
are more mainstream or popular versus artists that are more obscure
or less popular, in a manner described elsewhere herein, for
example, via an interface element 8226. As depicted in FIGS. 82 and
83, the user can elect to display all the similarity results 8220
or only the similarity results that are available to the user 8225
through system 100/300, based on subscription level, authorization
criteria, DRM adherence, or other limiting factor.
[0216] The explorer functionality described above may be applied to
other criteria as well, beyond user and artist, to yield similar
songs, albums, genres, or other criteria, utilizing a similar user
interface and the affinity engine 350.
[0217] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the method and
system of the present invention within the application may be
implemented in many manners and as such is not to be limited by the
foregoing exemplary embodiments and examples. In other words,
functional elements being performed by a single or multiple
components, in various combinations of hardware and software, and
individual functions can be distributed among software applications
at either the client or server level. In this regard, any number of
the features of the different embodiments described herein may be
combined into one single embodiment and alternate embodiments
having fewer than or more than all of the features herein described
are possible. Functionality may also be, in whole or in part,
distributed among multiple components, in manners now known or to
become known. Thus, myriad software/hardware/firmware combinations
are possible in achieving the functions, features, interfaces and
preferences described herein. Moreover, the scope of the present
invention covers conventionally known and features of those
variations and modifications through the system component described
herein as would be understood by those skilled in the art.
* * * * *