Online playback system with community bias

• US 20030046399A1
• Filed: 07/10/2001
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Beaupre, Todd, Veilleux, John-Paul, Boulter, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 7,454,509 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/435 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation

Abstract

A method for entertaining individuals according to a community having similar tastes. Information derived from user accounts form the basis of a community and collateral preferences allow other subscribing individuals to enjoy the benefit of wider-ranging tastes according to the preferences expressed by the other members of the community. Additionally, assuming that individuals sharing one preference in common may be likely to share others, the present method allows those who choose to listen to the “fan station” the ability to enjoy similar music or other data streams according to preferences expressed by the fan community as a whole.

Claims

1. A method for providing transmission of a data stream according to preferences of a community, the steps comprising:

providing a first community, said first community expressing preferences regarding content in first data streams;

determining characteristics of said preferences with regard to said first data streams to provide determined characteristics;

biasing an individual data stream according to said determined characteristics so that said individual data stream is biased according to said expressed preferences; and

transmitting said individual data stream;

whereby

said individual data stream has more content that said community likes and less content that said community dislikes.

2. A method for providing transmission of a data stream according to preferences of a community as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of biasing an individual data stream further comprises:

biasing an individual data stream according to said determined characteristics so that said individual data stream is biased for positive preferences of said community and biased against negative preferences of said community.

3. The method for providing transmission of a data stream according preferences of a community as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of providing a community further comprises:

providing a second community, said second community expressing preferences regarding content in second data streams;

evaluating said preferences of said second community; and

determining said first community from said second community with members of said first community having a preference in common;

whereby

said first community arises from a larger second community, said first community determined by having a preference in common.

4. The method for providing transmission of a data stream according preferences of a community as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of biasing an individual data stream further comprises:

biasing said individual data stream so that it complies with the DMCA.

5. The method for providing transmission of a data stream according preferences of a community as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting said individual data stream further comprises:

transmitting said individual data stream on a voluntary or selectable basis thereby allowing an individual to receive said individual data stream on a voluntary or selectable basis.

6. A method for providing transmission of a data stream according to preferences of a community, the steps comprising:

providing a first community, said first community expressing first preferences regarding content in first data streams;

providing a second community, said second community second expressing preferences regarding content in second data streams;

evaluating said second preferences of said second community; and

determining said first community from said second community with members of said first community having a first preference in common, so that said first community arises from a larger second community, said first community determined by having a first preference in common;

determining characteristics of said first preferences with regard to said first data streams to provide determined characteristics;

biasing an individual data stream according to said determined characteristics so that said individual data stream is biased according to said determined characteristics so that said individual data stream is biased for positive first preferences of said first community and biased against negative first preferences of said first community; and

transmitting said individual data stream on a voluntary or selectable basis thereby allowing an individual to receive said individual data stream on a voluntary or selectable basis;

whereby

said individual data stream has more content that said community likes and less content that said community dislikes.