Algorithm for selecting audio content

• US 20030182316A1
• Filed: 03/22/2002
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Johnson, Richard Alan
• Granted Patent: US 7,003,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/635 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/916 Audio
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

An algorithm for selecting audio content including an audio database, a user preference learning routine, and an audio selection routine. The user preference learning routine is capable of explicitly learning by a manual entry made by the user concerning his/her favorite audio selections. The user preference learning routine is capable of implicitly learning by recording the selections made by the user through a preference input. The preference input queries the user whether he/she liked or disliked a particular audio selection. Initially, random selections are provided to the user. If the user does not like the audio selection it is skipped. If the user liked the selection it is recorded. As the user listens or doesn'"'"'t listen to audio selections, a profile is developed that identifies the user'"'"'s preferences. The audio selection routine chooses the next audio selection to be played for the user. There are at least two methods of making the audio selection. In the first method, a user sends his/her listening history to a central location. In the second method, a table of at least four items is used to determine the user listening preferences.

Claims

1. A method for selecting audio content for playback to a user comprising the steps of:

providing a database having a plurality of audio selections, each said audio selection having predetermined selection criteria selectively assigned thereto;

assigning an initial weighting factor to each one of said plurality of audio selections;

providing at least one table of selection criteria of said predetermined selection criteria;

playing audio selections from said database in a random order;

determining whether a user liked or disliked each played audio selection;

incrementing a weighting factor in said at least one table for each played audio selection if liked; and

decrementing the weighting factor in said at least one table for each played audio selection if disliked.

2. The method of selecting audio content for playback to a user of claim 1, wherein said step of providing provides a genre table having genre selection criteria of said predetermined selection criteria;

and wherein said steps of incrementing and decrementing comprise;

incrementing a genre weighting factor in said genre table for each played audio selection if liked; and

decrementing the genre weighting factor in said genre table for each played audio selection if disliked.

3. The method of selecting audio content for playback to a user of claim 1, wherein said step of providing provides an artist table having artist selection criteria of said predetermined selection criteria;

and wherein said steps of incrementing and decrementing comprise;

incrementing an artist weighting factor in said artist table for each played audio selection if liked; and

decrementing the artist weighting factor in said artist table for each played audio selection if disliked.

4. The method of selecting audio content for playback to a user of claim 1, wherein said step of providing provides a title table having title selection criteria of said predetermined selection criteria;

and wherein said steps of incrementing and decrementing comprise;

incrementing a title weighting factor in said title table for each played audio selection if liked; and

decrementing the title weighting factor in said title table for each played audio selection if disliked.

5. The method of selecting audio content for playback to a user of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

assigning selection criteria of said predetermined selection criteria from a predetermined external source for initially seeding selection criteria for at least one of said genre table, said artist table, and said title table.

6. The method of selecting audio content for playback to a user of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

selectively skipping to any of a next audio selection and a previous audio selection.

7. The method of selecting audio content for playback to a user of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

selecting audio selections for said step of playing based upon said selection criteria.

8. A method for selecting audio content for playback to a user comprising the steps of:

providing a database having a plurality of audio selections, each said audio selection having predetermined selection criteria selectively assigned thereto;

assigning an initial weighting factor to each one of said plurality of audio selections;

providing a genre table of genre selection criteria of said predetermined selection criteria;

providing an artist table of artist selection criteria of said predetermined selection criteria;

providing a title table of title selection criteria of said predetermined selection criteria;

playing audio selections from said database in a random order;

determining whether a user liked or disliked each played audio selection;

incrementing at least one weighting factor in at least one of said genre, artist and title tables for each played audio selection if liked; and

decrementing the at least one weighting factor in the at least one of said genre, artist and title tables for each played audio selection if disliked.

9. The method of selecting audio content for playback to a user of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

assigning selection criteria of said predetermined selection criteria from a predetermined external source for initially seeding selection criteria for at least one of said genre table, said artist table, and said title table.

10. The method of selecting audio content for playback to a user of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

selectively skipping to any of a next audio selection and a previous audio selection.

11. The method of selecting audio content for playback to a user of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

selecting audio selections for said step of playing based upon said selection criteria.

12. The method of selecting audio content for playback to a user of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

selectively skipping to any of a next audio selection and a previous audio selection.

13. The method of selecting audio content for playback to a user of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

selecting audio selections for said step of playing based upon said selection criteria.