System and method for delivering media content with music-styled advertisements, including use of tempo, genre, or mood

• US 10,134,059 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2014
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spotify AB (Spotify Technology SA)
• Original Assignee: Spotify AB (Spotify Technology SA)
• Inventors: Mishra, Kinshuk, Sarkesian, Alex, Kalia, Ajay, Becker, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheleheda, James R
• Application Number:
  US14/586,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20150319479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,421 Days
• Field of Search: 725 32, 725 34, 725 35, 725 46
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/75 Media network packet handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/756 adapting media to device capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

Described herein are techniques for streaming digital media content, such as music, video, or television content. In accordance with an embodiment, the system includes support for providing music-styled advertisement or other sponsor-directed content. Metadata describes media content that can be streamed or otherwise provided to a user'"'"'s media device. A media streaming logic and targeting service analyzes a playing media content, and selects advertisements for delivery in conjunction with that content. For example, the system can determine a genre, tempo, or mood of music being streamed during a session, and select advertisements targeted to a style of music. Information associated with the user, for example their location, can be used to predict their mood, and select appropriate advertisements. Advertisements can also be selected based on an analysis of, for example, a playlist description or a song lyrics.

Claims

1. A system for delivering advertisements associated with styles of media content, comprising:

a media server including a microprocessor, and a media server application executing thereon and adapted to receive requests from media devices for media content, wherein the media server is adapted to provide the media content in response to the requests from the media devices;

a media style repository that stores metadata associated with items of media content, the metadata comprising one or more analytical and descriptive data describing at least one of a tempo, genre, or mood of the media content to be provided to the media devices; and

wherein the media server, during streaming of a media stream which includes particular items of media content, from the media server to a media device,

evaluates in real time during a period of play, at least one of the metadata associated with the particular items of media content that

are being provided in the media stream to the media device, or

a context associated with the media device or the user thereof, and

uses an evaluation of the at least one of the metadata or context, to select a subject matter and a style of an advertisement or other sponsor-directed content to be delivered within the media stream in conjunction with the particular items of media content, based on one or more weighted characteristics associated with the at least one of the metadata or context, including one or more of a tempo or genre of the media content being provided during the period of play, including

wherein the subject matter is selected based on a first weighting applied to a first set of weighted characteristics associated with the at least one of the metadata or the context, and

wherein the style is selected based on a second weighting applied to one of

the first set of weighted characteristics associated with the at least one of the metadata or the context, or

a second set of weighted characteristics associated with the at least one of the metadata or the context.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more analytical and descriptive data that is stored in the media style repository describes one or more of a tempo, consonance, pitch, texture, genre, mood, lyrics, and keywords of the media content to be provided to the media devices.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the context associated with the user is based on a user profile that is used by the media server application in selecting a particular advertisement or other sponsor-directed content.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the context associated with the media device comprises information identifying a location of the media device that is updated as the location changes.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the media server is adapted to coordinate a location of the media device and user thereof, with information describing one or more events, places, and environmental conditions in proximity to the media device and the user, for use in selecting a particular advertisement or other sponsor-directed content.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the style of the advertisement or other sponsor-directed content comprises at least one of a volume or an energy level of the advertisement or other sponsor-directed content.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the subject matter of the advertisement or other sponsor-directed content to be delivered is selected based on a weighting applied to the first set of the one or more weighted characteristics associated with the at least one of the metadata or the context, and the style of the advertisement or other sponsor-directed content to be delivered is selected based on a different weighting applied to the first set of the one or more weighted characteristics.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the subject matter of the advertisement or other sponsor-directed content to be delivered is selected based on a weighting applied to the first set of the one or more weighted characteristics associated with the at least one of the metadata or the context, and the style of the advertisement or other sponsor-directed content to be delivered is selected based on a different weighting applied to the second set of the one or more weighted characteristics, wherein the first or second set of the one or more weighted characteristics includes at least one weighted characteristic that is not included within the other of the first or second set of the one or more weighted characteristics.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the context associated with the user is determined based on an entire streaming history of the user.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the context associated with the user is determined based on a recent streaming history of the user.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the media server is further adapted to, while a next item of media content is being streamed, determine an additional or substitute advertisement or other sponsor-directed content to be selected and inserted into the media stream, based on an aggregation of metadata that includes metadata associated with the next media content item being streamed.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein selecting the subject matter comprises applying the first weighting to a first weighted characteristic of the one or more weighted characteristics, and selecting the style comprises applying the second weighting different than the first weighting, to the first weighted characteristic.

13. A method for delivering advertisements associated with styles of media content, comprising:

providing, at a media server including a microprocessor, a media server application executing thereon and adapted to receive requests from media devices for media content, and to provide the media content in response to the requests from the media devices;

storing metadata associated with items of media content, the metadata comprising one or more analytical and descriptive data describing at least one of a tempo, genre, or mood of the media content to be provided to the media devices;

during streaming of a media stream which includes a selection of the media content, from the media server to a media device, evaluating in real time during a period of play, at least one of

the metadata associated with the particular items of media content that are being provided in the media stream to the media device, or

a context associated with the media device or the user thereof; and

using an evaluation of the at least one of the metadata or context, to select a subject matter and a style of an advertisement or other sponsor-directed content to be delivered within the media stream in conjunction with the particular items of media content, based on one or more weighted characteristics associated with the at least one of the metadata or context, including one or more of a tempo or genre of the media content being provided during the period of play, including

wherein the subject matter is selected based on a first weighting applied to a first set of weighted characteristics associated with the at least one of the metadata or the context, and

wherein the style is selected based on a second weighting applied to one of

the first set of weighted characteristics associated with the at least one of the metadata or the context, or

a second set of weighted characteristics associated with the at least one of the metadata or the context.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more analytical and descriptive data describes one or more of a tempo, consonance, pitch, texture, genre, mood, lyrics, and keywords of the media content to be provided to the media devices.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the context associated with the user is based on a user profile that is used by the media server application in selecting a particular advertisement or other sponsor-directed content.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the context associated with the media device comprises information identifying a location of the media device that is updated as the location changes.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the media server is adapted to coordinate a location of the media device and user thereof, with information describing one or more events, places, and environmental conditions in proximity to the media device and the user, for use in selecting a particular advertisement or other sponsor-directed content.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein selecting the subject matter comprises applying the first weighting to a first weighted characteristic of the one or more weighted characteristics, and selecting the style comprises applying the second weighting different than the first weighting, to the first weighted characteristic.

19. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, including instructions stored thereon which when read and executed by one or more computer devices cause the one or more computer devices to perform the steps comprising:

providing, at a media server, a media server application adapted to receive requests from media devices for media content, and to provide the media content in response to the requests from the media devices;

storing metadata associated with items of media content, the metadata comprising one or more analytical and descriptive data describing at least one of a tempo, genre, or mood of the media content to be provided to the media devices;

during streaming of a media stream which includes a selection of the media content, from the media server to a media device, evaluating in real time during a period of play, at least one of

the metadata associated with the particular items of media content that are being provided in the media stream to the media device, or

a context associated with the media device or the user thereof; and

using an evaluation of the at least one of the metadata or context, to select a subject matter and a style of an advertisement or other sponsor-directed content to be delivered within the media stream in conjunction with the particular items of media content, based on one or more weighted characteristics associated with the at least one of the metadata or context, including one or more of a tempo or genre of the media content being provided during the period of play, including

wherein the subject matter is selected based on a first weighting applied to a first set of weighted characteristics associated with the at least one of the metadata or the context, and

wherein the style is selected based on a second weighting applied to one of

the first set of weighted characteristics associated with the at least one of the metadata or the context, or

a second set of weighted characteristics associated with the at least one of the metadata or the context.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the one or more analytical and descriptive data describes one or more of a tempo, consonance, pitch, texture, genre, mood, lyrics, and keywords of the media content to be provided to the media devices.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the context associated with the user is based on a user profile that is used by the media server application in selecting a particular advertisement or other sponsor-directed content.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the context associated with the media device comprises information identifying a location of the media device that is updated as the location changes.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the media server is adapted to coordinate a location of the media device and user thereof, with information describing one or more events, places, and environmental conditions in proximity to the media device and the user, for use in selecting a particular advertisement or other sponsor-directed content.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein selecting the subject matter comprises applying the first weighting to a first weighted characteristic of the one or more weighted characteristics, and selecting the style comprises applying the second weighting different than the first weighting, to the first weighted characteristic.

25. A system for delivering advertisements associated with styles of media content, comprising:

a media device including a microprocessor;

a user interface adapted to display media options corresponding to items of media content, and determine user inputs; and

wherein the media device is adapted to control playback of media content received from a media server, including receiving an advertisement or other sponsor-directed content to be delivered in conjunction with particular items of media content, based at least partly on metadata associated with those particular items of media content, and a user profile associated with the user;

wherein the media server, during streaming of a media stream which includes particular items of media content, from the media server to the media device,

evaluates in real time during a period of play, at least one of the metadata associated with the particular items of media content that

are being provided in the media stream to the media device, or a context associated with the media device or the user thereof, and

uses an evaluation of the at least one of the metadata or context, to select a subject matter and a style of an advertisement or other sponsor-directed content to be delivered within the media stream in conjunction with the particular items of media content, based on one or more weighted characteristics associated with the at least one of the metadata or context, including one or more of a tempo or genre of the media content being provided during the period of play, including

wherein the subject matter is selected based on a first weighting applied to a first set of weighted characteristics associated with the at least one of the metadata or the context, and

wherein the style is selected based on a second weighting applied to one of

the first set of weighted characteristics associated with the at least one of the metadata or the context, or

a second set of weighted characteristics associated with the at least one of the metadata or the context.

26. A method for delivering advertisements associated with styles of media content, comprising:

providing, at a media device including a microprocessor, a user interface adapted to display media options corresponding to items of media content adapted to be received from a media server, and determine user inputs; and

controlling playback of media content received from the media server, including receiving an advertisement or other sponsor-directed content to be delivered in conjunction with particular items of media content, based at least partly on metadata associated with those particular items of media content, and a user profile associated with the user;

wherein the media server, during streaming of a media stream which includes particular items of media content, from the media server to the media device,

evaluates in real time during a period of play, at least one of the metadata associated with the particular items of media content that

are being provided in the media stream to the media device, or a context associated with the media device or the user thereof, and

uses an evaluation of the at least one of the metadata or context, to select a subject matter and a style of an advertisement or other sponsor-directed content to be delivered within the media stream in conjunction with the particular items of media content, based on one or more weighted characteristics associated with the at least one of the metadata or context, including one or more of a tempo or genre of the media content being provided during the period of play, including

wherein the subject matter is selected based on a first weighting applied to a first set of weighted characteristics associated with the at least one of the metadata or the context, and

wherein the style is selected based on a second weighting applied to one of

the first set of weighted characteristics associated with the at least one of the metadata or the context, or

a second set of weighted characteristics associated with the at least one of the metadata or the context.