Relationship discovery engine

• US 20030229537A1
• Filed: 03/26/2003
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dunning, Ted E., Kindig, Bradley D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,005,724 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/335 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles filtering in web context G06F16/9535, G06F16/9536
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/337 Profile generation, learning or modification
• 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: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0627 using item specifications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product discover relationships among items and recommend items based on the discovered relationships. The recommendations provided by the present invention are based on user profiles that take into account actual preferences of users, without requiring users to complete questionnaires. An improved binomial log likelihood ratio analysis technique is applied, to reduce adverse effects of overstatement of coincidence and predominance of best sellers. The invention may be used, for example, to generate track lists for a personalized radio station.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of generating a playlist, comprising:

accepting user input specifying at least one track;

selecting, from a corpus of tracks, a set of tracks responsive to relative degree of co-occurrence with the specified at least one track;

arranging the set of tracks in a sequence; and

outputting the sequence.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein selecting the set of tracks comprises:

selecting a set of tracks responsive to relative degree of co-occurrence with the specified at least one track, in play logs for a plurality of users.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein selecting the set of tracks comprises:

selecting a set of tracks responsive to learned relationships among tracks.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein selecting the set of tracks comprises:

selecting a set of tracks responsive to parameters provided by the user.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein each track comprises a music track.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein each track comprises a video track.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising playing the sequence.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein selecting the set of tracks further comprises:

selecting tracks responsive to relative frequency with which the tracks have been played for the user.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein selecting the set of tracks further comprises:

selecting tracks responsive to relative frequency with which the tracks have been played for other users.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein selecting the set of tracks further comprises:

selecting tracks responsive to overall popularity.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein selecting the set of tracks further comprises:

selecting tracks responsive to popularity of tracks within the user'"'"'s demographic group.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein selecting the set of tracks further comprises:

selecting tracks responsive to how recently the tracks have been played for the user.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein selecting the set of tracks further comprises:

selecting tracks responsive to how recently the tracks have been played for other users.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein selecting the set of tracks further comprises:

selecting tracks that have not yet been played for the user.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein selecting the set of tracks further comprises:

selecting tracks that have not been played for the user within a predefined period of time.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein selecting the set of tracks further comprises:

selecting tracks responsive to the user'"'"'s indicated preferences.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein selecting the set of tracks further comprises:

selecting tracks responsive to the user'"'"'s indicated genre preferences.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein selecting the set of tracks further comprises:

selecting tracks responsive to detected user action with respect to the tracks.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein the detected user action comprises changing a volume level during playback of a track.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein the detected user action comprises skipping at least a portion of a track.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein the detected user action comprises repeating at least a portion of a track.

22. A computer-implemented method of generating a playlist, comprising:

accepting user input specifying at least one artist;

selecting, from a corpus of artists, a set of artists responsive to relative degree of co-occurrence with the specified at least one artist; and

outputting the set of artists.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein selecting the set of artists comprises:

selecting a set of artists responsive to relative degree of co-occurrence with the specified at least one artist, in play logs for a plurality of users.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein selecting the set of artists comprises:

selecting a set of artists responsive to learned relationships among artists.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein selecting the set of artists comprises:

selecting a set of artists responsive to parameters provided by the user.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein each artist comprises a musical artist.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists responsive to relative frequency with which tracks by the artists have been played for the user.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists responsive to relative frequency with which tracks by the artists have been played for other users.

29. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists responsive to overall popularity.

30. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists responsive to popularity of artists within the user'"'"'s demographic group.

31. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists responsive to how recently tracks by the artists have been played for the user.

32. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists responsive to how recently tracks by the artists have been played for other users.

33. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists having tracks that have not yet been played for the user.

34. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists having tracks that have not been played for the user within a predefined period of time.

35. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists responsive to the user'"'"'s indicated preferences.

36. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists responsive to the user'"'"'s indicated genre preferences.

37. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists responsive to detected user action with respect to tracks by the artists.

38. The computer-implemented method of claim 37, wherein the detected user action comprises changing a volume level during playback of a track.

39. The computer-implemented method of claim 37, wherein the detected user action comprises skipping at least a portion of a track.

40. The computer-implemented method of claim 37, wherein the detected user action comprises repeating at least a portion of a track.

41. A computer-implemented method of generating a playlist, comprising:

accepting user input specifying at least one artist;

selecting, from a corpus of artists, a set of artists responsive to relative degree of co-occurrence with the specified at least one artist;

selecting, for each of at least a subset of the artists, at least one track;

arranging the selected tracks in a sequence; and

outputting the sequence.

42. The computer-implemented method of claim 41, wherein selecting the set of artists comprises:

selecting a set of artists responsive to relative degree of co-occurrence with the specified at least one artist, in play logs for a plurality of users.

43. The computer-implemented method of claim 41, wherein selecting the set of artists comprises:

selecting a set of artists responsive to learned relationships among artists.

44. The computer-implemented method of claim 41, wherein selecting the set of artists comprises:

selecting a set of artists responsive to parameters provided by the user.

45. The computer-implemented method of claim 41, wherein each track comprises a music track.

46. The computer-implemented method of claim 41, wherein each track comprises a video track.

47. The computer-implemented method of claim 41, further comprising playing the sequence.

48. The computer-implemented method of claim 41, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists responsive to relative frequency with which tracks by the artists have been played for the user.

49. The computer-implemented method of claim 41, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists responsive to relative frequency with which tracks by the artists have been played for other users.

50. The computer-implemented method of claim 41, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists responsive to overall popularity.

51. The computer-implemented method of claim 41, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists responsive to popularity of artists within the user'"'"'s demographic group.

52. The computer-implemented method of claim 41, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists responsive to how recently tracks by the artists have been played for the user.

53. The computer-implemented method of claim 41, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting tracks responsive to how recently tracks by the artists have been played for other users.

54. The computer-implemented method of claim 41, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists having tracks that have not yet been played for the user.

55. The computer-implemented method of claim 41, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists having tracks that have not been played for the user within a predefined period of time.

56. The computer-implemented method of claim 41, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists responsive to the user'"'"'s indicated preferences.

57. The computer-implemented method of claim 41, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists responsive to the user'"'"'s indicated genre preferences.

58. The computer-implemented method of claim 41, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists responsive to detected user action with respect to tracks by the artists.

59. The computer-implemented method of claim 58, wherein the detected user action comprises changing a volume level during playback of a track.

60. The computer-implemented method of claim 58, wherein the detected user action comprises skipping at least a portion of a track.

61. The computer-implemented method of claim 58, wherein the detected user action comprises repeating at least a portion of a track.

62. A computer-implemented method of generating a playlist, comprising:

accepting user input specifying at least one track;

determining at least one artist for the specified at least one track;

selecting, from a corpus of artists, a set of artists responsive to relative degree of co-occurrence with the determined at least one artist;

selecting, for each of at least a subset of the artists, at least one track;

arranging the selected tracks in a sequence; and

outputting the sequence.

63. The computer-implemented method of claim 62, wherein selecting the set of artists comprises:

selecting a set of artists responsive to relative degree of co-occurrence with the specified at least one artist, in play logs for a plurality of users.

64. The computer-implemented method of claim 62, wherein selecting the set of artists comprises:

selecting a set of artists responsive to learned relationships among artists.

65. The computer-implemented method of claim 62, wherein selecting the set of artists comprises:

selecting a set of artists responsive to parameters provided by the user.

66. The computer-implemented method of claim 62, wherein each track comprises a music track.

67. The computer-implemented method of claim 62, wherein each track comprises a video track.

68. The computer-implemented method of claim 62, further comprising playing the sequence.

69. The computer-implemented method of claim 62, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists responsive to relative frequency with which tracks by the artists have been played for the user.

70. The computer-implemented method of claim 62, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists responsive to relative frequency with which tracks by the artists have been played for other users.

71. The computer-implemented method of claim 62, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists responsive to overall popularity.

72. The computer-implemented method of claim 62, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists responsive to popularity of artists within the user'"'"'s demographic group.

73. The computer-implemented method of claim 62, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists responsive to how recently tracks by the artists have been played for the user.

74. The computer-implemented method of claim 62, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists responsive to how recently tracks by the artists have been played for other users.

75. The computer-implemented method of claim 62, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists having tracks that have not yet been played for the user.

76. The computer-implemented method of claim 62, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists having tracks that have not been played for the user within a predefined period of time.

77. The computer-implemented method of claim 62, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists responsive to the user'"'"'s indicated preferences.

78. The computer-implemented method of claim 62, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists responsive to the user'"'"'s indicated genre preferences.

79. The computer-implemented method of claim 62, wherein selecting the set of artists further comprises:

selecting artists responsive to detected user action with respect to tracks by the artists.

80. The computer-implemented method of claim 79, wherein the detected user action comprises changing a volume level during playback of a track.

81. The computer-implemented method of claim 79, wherein the detected user action comprises skipping at least a portion of a track.

82. The computer-implemented method of claim 79, wherein the detected user action comprises repeating at least a portion of a track.

83. A computer-implemented method of generating a playlist, comprising:

accepting, from a user, a set of user preferences;

selecting, from a corpus of tracks, a set of tracks responsive to the user preferences and responsive to descriptive information for the tracks;

arranging the set of tracks in a sequence; and

outputting the sequence.

84. The computer-implemented method of claim 83, wherein the user preferences comprise at least one selected from the group consisting of:

at least one genre;

at least one artist; and

at least one track.

85. The computer-implemented method of claim 83, further comprising:

determining demographic information for the user;

and wherein selecting the set of tracks further comprises selected the tracks responsive to the determined demographic information for the user.

86. The computer-implemented method of claim 83, wherein selecting the set of tracks further comprises selected the tracks responsive to relative frequency with which the tracks have been played for other users.

87. The computer-implemented method of claim 83, wherein selecting the set of tracks further comprises selected the tracks responsive to overall popularity.

88. The computer-implemented method of claim 83, wherein selecting the set of tracks further comprises selected the tracks responsive to overall popularity within the user'"'"'s demographic group.