Selection of items based on user reactions

• US 20030236582A1
• Filed: 06/25/2002
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Inventors: Moon, Richard, Martin, Keith D., Greenberger, Hal P., Zamir, Lee
• Application Number:
  US10/180,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20030236582A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2516 Hard disks
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2529 Mini-discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/107 of operating tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; 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 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

In some specific implementations, tracks of music make up a body of tracks available for playing. Metadata about the track may indicate relationships among the tracks, for example that they are jazz. Information about explicit and implicit reactions of a user to the playing of one or more of the tracks is stored. All of the available tracks are scored either directly as a result of the user reaction information or based on the relationships of the tracks to one another. The scoring is updated every time a user provides explicit or implicit reaction to a played track. Tracks are selected automatically for play based on the ratings or scores at the time of the selection and on a probabilistic technique that assures that every track has some possibility of being played at any time.

Claims

1. A method comprising

providing a user interface for controlling an audio system in a vehicle, the user interface exposing available features that provide and/or receive information concerning operation of the audio system, and

altering the availability of at least one of the features depending on a motion state of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the available features both provide and receive information concerning operation of the audio system.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the operation of the audio system includes a choice of audio items to be played based on preferences of the user.

4. The method of claim 3 in which the user interface features include a way for the user to indicate his preferences about audio items.

5. The method of claim 1 in which fewer features are made available when the vehicle is moving than when it is stopped.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the features include sub-features related to user preferences for audio items to be played, and fewer of the user preference subfeatures are provided when the vehicle is moving than when it is stopped.

7. The method of claim 6 in which the sub-features related to user preferences include indicating a level of favorable or unfavorable reaction to an audio item and controlling configuration of software that uses the indications of preference to determine audio items

8. The method of claim 1 in which the features include displaying to the user;

when the vehicle is not moving, a state of a configuration of the audio system.

9. The method of claim 1 in which the features include receiving information about whether or not a user likes an audio item being played.

10. The method of claim 1 in which the user interface comprises at least one of voice recognition and voice synthesis.

11. Apparatus comprising

an audio system in a vehicle, the audio system having

a user interface that includes input devices and/or output devices to provide and/or receive information concerning operation of the audio system,

the level of information that is provided and/or received being altered depending on a motion state of the vehicle.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 in which the user interface includes both input devices and output devices that both provide and receive information.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 in which the audio system includes a selector to choose audio items to be played based on preferences of users expressed through the user interface.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 in which the user interface includes a way for the user to indicate his preferences about audio items.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 in which less information is made available when the vehicle is moving than when it is stopped.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 in which the level of information includes an indication of favorable or unfavorable reaction to an audio item.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 in which the level of information includes, when the vehicle is not moving, a state of a configuration of the audio system.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 in which the user interface comprises at least one of voice recognition and voice synthesis.

19. A medium bearing instructions capable of causing a machine to provide a user interface for an audio system in a vehicle, the user interface making available features that provide and/or receive information concerning operation of the audio system, and

alter the availability of at least one of the features depending on a motion state of the vehicle.

20. The medium of claim 19 in which the available features both provide and receive information concerning operation of the audio system.

21. The medium of claim 19 in which the operation of the audio system includes a choice of audio items to be played based on preferences of the user.

22. The medium of claim 21 in which the user interface features include a way for the user to indicate his preferences about audio items.

23. The medium of claim 19 in which fewer features are made available when the vehicle is moving than when it is stopped.

24. The medium of claim 19 in which the features include subfeatures related to user preferences for audio items to be played, and fewer of the user preference subfeatures are provided when the vehicle is moving than when it is stopped.

25. The medium of claim 19 in which the subfeatures related to user preferences include indicating a level of favorable or unfavorable reaction to an audio item and controlling configuration of software that uses the indications of preference to determine audio items to be played.

26. The medium of claim 19 in which the features include displaying to the user, when the vehicle is not moving, a state of a configuration of the audio system.

27. The medium of claim 19 in which the features include receiving information about whether or not a user likes an audio item being played.

28. The medium of claim 19 in which the user interface comprises at least one of voice recognition and voice synthesis.

29. Apparatus comprising

a set of manually operable user controls for an audio, video, or multimedia system,

the set including at least one transport control and at least one reaction control for the user to indicate a reaction to an audio, video, or multimedia item being played,

the reaction control and the transport control being clustered within a space that is accessible by a human finger without hand motion.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 in which the set of controls includes

at least two transport controls each transport control permitting the user to switch from one audio, video, or multimedia item to another

31. The apparatus of claim 29 in which the set of controls includes

at least two reaction controls for the user to indicate different reactions to an item of content being played.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 in which the set of controls includes exactly two reaction controls, permitting the user to indicate a positive or negative reaction to an item being played.

33. The apparatus of claim 29 in which the set comprises mechanical push buttons.

34. The apparatus of claim 29 in which one of the reaction controls comprises a control to indicate a positive reaction to an item being played.

35. The apparatus of claim 29 in which one of the reaction controls comprises a control to indicate a negative reaction to an item being played.

36. The apparatus of claim 29 in which one of the transport controls comprises a forward control to indicate that the audio, video, or multimedia system should play a new item.

37. The apparatus of claim 29 in which one of the transport controls comprises a backward control to indicate that the audio, video, or multimedia system should play a previous item of content.

38. The apparatus of claim 29 in which there are two reaction controls arranged opposite one another and two transport controls arranged opposite one another.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 in which a line connecting the two reaction controls is perpendicular to a line connecting the two transport controls.

40. The apparatus of claim 38 in which the two reaction controls are arranged vertically and the two transport controls are arranged horizontally.

41. The apparatus of claim 29 in which there are two reaction controls to indicate respectively a positive reaction and a negative reaction, and the two reaction controls are configured to provide respective tactile sensations corresponding to positive and negative human reactions.

42. The apparatus of claim 41 in which the positive reaction control is larger than the negative reaction control.

43. The apparatus of claim 41 in which the positive reaction control is positioned above the negative reaction control.

44. The apparatus of claim 29 in which all of the controls comprise round buttons.

45. Apparatus comprising

four push buttons in a cluster, two of the buttons lying one above another for a user to indicate positive or negative reaction to an item of audio, video, or multimedia content being played, and the other two buttons lying side by side for the user to indicate that a next or previous item of audio, video, or multimedia content should be played next.

46. The apparatus of claim 45 in which the buttons are round.

47. The apparatus of claim 45 in which one of the upper reaction button is larger than the lower reaction button.

48. The apparatus of claim 45 in which the upper reaction button has a depressed contour and the lower reaction button has a raised contour.

49. The apparatus of claim 45 in which the four buttons are clustered to be reachable by a finger of a hand without moving the hand.

50. The apparatus of claim 45 in which the cluster has a circular perimeter.

51. The apparatus of claim 45 also including a support to hold the cluster on a steering wheel of a vehicle.

52. Apparatus comprising

at least two controls for a user to indicate respectively different reactions to an item of audio, video, or multimedia content being played, the two controls providing different tactile impressions to the user.

53. The apparatus of claim 52 in which the tactile differences comprise sizes of the controls.

54. The apparatus of claim 52 in which the tactile differences comprise relative positions of the two controls.

55. The apparatus of claim 52 in which the tactile differences comprise respective surface contours of the controls.

56. The apparatus of claim 52 in which the two controls also bear different visible indicia representative of the different reactions.

57. The apparatus of claim 56 in which the visible indicia comprise a plus sign and a minus sign.

58. The apparatus of claim 56 in which the visible indicia comprise a thumbs up and a thumbs down.

59. The apparatus of claim 56 in which the visible indicia comprise the text “

more like” and

“

less like”

or synonymous text.

60. Apparatus comprising

stored presets representing reactions to items of audio, video, or multimedia content to be played by an audio, video, or multimedia system, and

circuitry to receive a selection of one of the presets and to generate a probabilistic play sequence of items based on the selected preset.

61. The apparatus of claim 60 in which the each of the presets is based on a history of items played.

62. The apparatus of claim 60 in which each of the presets is associated with one user.

63. The apparatus of claim 60 in which at least some of the users are each associated with at least two of the presets.

64. The apparatus of claim 60 in which each of the presets is updated based on items played.

65. The apparatus of claim 60 in which each of the presets is updated as determined by the user.

66. The apparatus of claim 60 in which each of the presets is associated with a name.

67. A method comprising

receiving from a user a selection from among presets representing reactions to items of audio, video, or multimedia content previously played by an audio, video, or multimedia system,

selecting an item to play based on the selected preset, and

modifying the preset based on a user reaction to the selected item.

68. The method of claim 67 in which the user selection is from among presets associated with the user.

69. The method of claim 67 in which the user selection is from among presets associated with other users.

70. The method of claim 67 in which the preset is updated at times determined by the user.

71. The method of claim 67 in which the preset is updated every time a new item is played.

72. Apparatus comprising

a user interface for an audio, video, or multimedia system, the user interface including at least one control that enables a user to provide reaction information in connection with the playing of items of audio, video, or multimedia content,

stored presets representing reactions of the user to items of audio, video, or multimedia content previously played by the audio, video, or multimedia system,

the reaction control also providing an additional function of enabling the user to apply the presets to the playing of items of audio, video, or multimedia content by the audio, video, or multimedia system.

73. A method comprising

enabling a user to choose between at least two modes for selecting items to be played by an audio, video, or multimedia system,

in one of the modes playing an item directly selected by the user, followed by items located sequentially after the first item, as defined by the recording medium, and

in another mode playing items selected probabilistically by the audio, video, or multimedia system based on reactions of the user to previously played items.

74. The method of claim 73 also including

enabling a user to choose another mode in which the items are played in the order determined by a play list set by the user.

75. The method of claim 73 also including

enabling a user to choose another mode in which the items are played from predetermined groups of items.

76. The method of claim 75 in which the groups comprise tracks associated with compact discs.

77. The method of claim 73 in which the system reverts automatically to one of said modes after operating an another of said modes.

78. Apparatus comprising

a user interface to receive selections from a user of a mode for playing items of audio, video, or multimedia content, and

an audio, video, or multimedia system connected to the user interface and configured to play, in one mode, an item directly selected by the user through the user interface, and those items that follow the selected items in the sequence defined by an original recording medium, and to play, in another mode, items selected probabilistically by the audio, video, or multimedia system based on reactions of the user to previously played items.

79. The apparatus of claim 78 in which the system may also be configured to play only items selected in advance by the user.

80. A medium bearing instructions capable of causing a machine to

enable a user to choose between two modes for selecting items to be played by an audio, video, or multimedia system,

in one of the modes, play an item directly selected by the user, followed by items located after the selected item, as defined by an original recording medium, and

in the other of the modes, play items selected probabilistically by the audio, video, or multimedia system based on stored reaction information of the user derived in connection with previous playing of items of audio, video, or multimedia content.

81. The medium of claim 80 in which the instructions are also capable of causing a machine to play only items selected in advance by the user.

82. A method comprising

when operation of an audio, video, or multimedia system is initiated, automatically entering a mode in which items of audio, video, or multimedia content are played in an order determined by the audio, video, or multimedia system, the order being determined based on stored reaction information derived in connection with previous playing of items of audio, video, or multimedia content.

83. The method of claim 82 also including

enabling a user to terminate the automatically entered mode after the operation of the audio, video, or multimedia system is initiated.

84. The method of claim 82 in which the user may indicate a reaction with respect to each of the items played by the audio, video, or multimedia system, and the reaction is used to update the stored reaction information.

85. The method of claim 82 also including

while the audio, video, or multimedia system is operating in the automatically entered mode, enabling a user to directly specify an item to be played,

playing the directly specified item, and

after the directly specified item has been played, reverting to the automatically entered mode.

86. A medium bearing instructions capable of causing a machine to

when operation of an audio, video, or multimedia system is initiated, automatically entering a mode in which items of content are played in an order determined by the system, the order being determined based on stored reaction information derived in connection with user responses to previous playing of items of content.

87. A method comprising

playing items of audio, video, or multimedia content on an audio, video, or multimedia system in a sequence of played items determined by one mode of operation, and

when the one mode of operation terminates, causing the audio, video, or multimedia system to automatically enter a mode in which items of content are played automatically in an order determined by the system, the order being determined based on stored reaction information derived in connection with user responses to previous playing of items of content.

88. The method of claim 87 in which the one mode of operation includes a user directly specifying an item of audio, video, or multimedia content to be played by an audio, video, or multimedia system, that item to be followed by content following the user-specified item, in an order determined by the recording medium.

89. The method of claim 87 in which the one mode of operation includes a user specifying each item of audio, video, or multimedia content to be played.

90. A method comprising

identifying a user of an audio, video, or multimedia system in connection with a session of use of the audio, video, or multimedia system by the user, and

playing items of audio, video, or multimedia content on the system in a sequence determined probabilistically based on responses of the identified user to items played at a time prior to the session.

91. The method of claim 90 in which the user is identified automatically.

92. The method of claim 91 in which the user is identified biometrically.

93. The method of claim 92 in which the user is identified based on voice recognition, a fingerprint, or eye characteristics.

94. The method of claim 90 in which the user is identified in response to an action taken by the user.

95. A method comprising

enabling a user to indicate a reaction with respect to an item of audio, video, or multimedia content being played, and

if the reaction is negative, terminating the playing of the item of audio, video, or multimedia content, and storing the negative reaction to use later.

96. The method of claim 95 in which the user indicates his reaction by manually invoking a control that represents a negative reaction.

97. The method of claim 95 also including, after the playing of the item has been terminated, automatically selecting a next item to be played based on reactions previously indicated by the user with respect to played items of audio, video, or multimedia content.

98. A method comprising

enabling a user to advance an audio, video, or multimedia system from a first item being played to a next item to be played, and

advancing the audio, video, or multimedia system to the next item and storing the fact that the user has advanced the audio, video, or multimedia system for later use as an indicator of negative reaction to the first item.

99. The method of claim 98 in which the next item is selected by the audio, video, or multimedia system based on reactions previously indicated by the user with respect to played items of audio, video, or multimedia content.

100. The method of claim 98 in which the fact that the user has advanced the system is used to update reaction information associated with items of audio, video, or multimedia content belonging to a body of such items.

101. A method comprising

enabling a user to express any of more than one degree of negative reaction to an item being played by an audio, video, or multimedia system,

advancing the audio, video, or multimedia system to the next item, and

storing the degree of negative reaction that the user has expressed, for later use.

102. The method of claim 101 in which the next item is selected by the audio, video, or multimedia system based on reactions previously indicated by the user with respect to played items of audio, video, or multimedia content.

103. The method of claim 101 in which one of the degrees of negative reaction is expressed explicitly.

104. The method of claim 101 in which one of the degrees of negative reaction is expressed implicitly.

105. The method of claim 101 in which one of the degrees of negative reaction is expressed by invoking a manual input device that is associated with negative reaction.

106. The method of claim 101 in which one of the degrees of negative reaction is expressed by invoking a manual input device that is associated with controlling the operation of the system for purposes other than indications of reaction.

107. A method comprising

automatically selecting an item of audio, video, or multimedia content for playing on an audio, video, or multimedia system, the selection being based on reactions previously indicated by a user of the audio, video, or multimedia system with respect to previously played items of content, and

in connection with the playing of the item of audio, video, or multimedia content, indicating to the user information that represents the basis on which the item was selected for playing.

108. The method of claim 107 in which the information indicated to the user comprises an indicator of the extent to which the item matches the user'"'"'s previously indicated reactions.

109. The method of claim 108 in which the indicator comprises a set of icons.

110. The method of claim 109 in which the icons include a plus sign and a minus sign.

111. A method comprising

automatically selecting items of audio, video, or multimedia content to be played by an audio, video, or multimedia system in accordance with stored reaction information accumulated with respect to items being played,

interrupting the playing of items by the audio, video, or multimedia system,

after a period, restarting the playing of items by the audio, video, or multimedia system,

if the period is briefer than a predetermined time-out period, automatically selecting items of audio, video, or multimedia content to be played in accordance with the stored reaction information accumulated up to the time of the interrupting.

112. A method comprising

playing items of audio, video, or multimedia content from a mass storage medium of limited capacity,

storing items of audio, video, or multimedia content on the mass storage medium,

storing reaction information derived from a user based on the playing of items of content from the mass storage medium, and

when the mass storage medium becomes full, identifying an item of audio, video, or multimedia content to be deleted from the mass storage medium based on the stored reaction information.

113. The method of claim 112 in which the reaction information is stored on the mass storage medium.

114. The method of claim 112 in which the mass storage medium is transportable between machines.

115. The method of claim 112 in which items of audio, video, or multimedia content stored on the mass storage medium are scored according to the reaction information and the item is identified to be deleted based on its score relative to the scores of other items.

116. Apparatus comprising

a transportable mass storage medium bearing stored items of audio, video, or multimedia content and scoring information for all of the items, the scoring information being based on a user'"'"'s implicit or explicit reactions to the playing of one or more items of audio, video, or multimedia content from the mass storage medium.

117. The apparatus of claim 116 in which the reaction information comprises scoring of items on the medium.

118. The apparatus of claim 116 in which the reaction information is associated with user presets.

119. The apparatus of claim 116 in which the medium also bears metadata identifying characteristics of the items.

120. The apparatus of claim 116 in which the medium comprises a portable hard disk.

121. A medium bearing instructions capable of causing a machine to

play items of audio, video, or multimedia content from a mass storage medium of limited capacity,

store items of audio, video, or multimedia content on the mass storage medium,

store reaction information derived from a user based on the playing of items of audio, video, or multimedia content from the mass storage medium, and

when the mass storage medium becomes full, identify an item of audio, video, or multimedia content to be deleted from the mass storage medium based on the stored reaction information.

122. The method of claim 121 in which the reaction information is stored on the mass storage medium.

123. The method of claim 121 in which the mass storage medium is transportable between machines.

124. The method of claim 121 in which items of audio, video, or multimedia content stored on the mass storage medium are scored according to the reaction information and the item is identified to be deleted based on its score relative to the scores of other items.

125. Apparatus comprising

an audio, video, or multimedia system including a medium storing items of audio, video, or multimedia content, a player to play a sequence of the items in accordance with reaction information provided by a user in connection with previously played items, and a user interface to interact with a user concerning the playing of items of audio, video, or multimedia content,

the audio, video, or multimedia system being configured to provide suggestions to a user through the user interface of compilations of audio, video, or multimedia items for purchase.

126. The apparatus of claim 125 in which the compilations comprise compact discs, DVDs, cassette tapes, or records.

127. The method of claim 125 in which the user interface comprises at least one of voice recognition and voice synthesis.

128. A method comprising

enabling a user to indicate a reaction with respect to an item of audio, video, or multimedia content being played by an audio, video, or multimedia system,

using the reaction to influence a future sequence of items of audio, video, or multimedia content to be played, and

enabling the user to undo the indication of the reaction.

129. The method of claim 128 in which the undo is enabled by a manual user interface device.

130. A method comprising

identifying to a user of an audio, video, or multimedia system an item of audio, video, or multimedia content that is going to be played,

enabling the user to cause the audio, video, or multimedia system not to play the item,

storing information about the user'"'"'s causing the item not to be played, and

using the stored information in connection with selecting items to be played.

131. The method of claim 130 in which the item is identified to the user on a display.

132. The method of claim 130 in which the item is identified to the user by voice synthesis.

133. A method comprising

playing items of audio, video, or multimedia content to a user,

automatically selecting a sequence of the items to be played, the sequence reflecting reactions of the user,

adapting the sequence of items over a longer period of time based on the user'"'"'s reactions indicated in connection with the playing of items of audio, video, or multimedia content, and

temporarily adapting the sequence of items over a shorter period to reflect a short-term change of mood of the user as reflected in the indicated reactions.

134. The method of claim 133 also including maintaining reaction information with respect to the items, the reaction information including longer term reaction information and shorter term reaction information.

135. A method comprising

playing items of audio, video, or multimedia content in a sequence determined by reactions of a user of an audio, video, or multimedia system, the reactions being expressed in connection with the previous playing of items, and

automatically adapting the sequence to reactions expressed over time, the adapting being done without requiring the use of metadata that defines the styles and artists of the items available for play.

136. A method comprising

playing items of audio, video, or multimedia content from a body of items of audio, video, or multimedia content using an audio, video, or multimedia system,

automatically selecting a next item to be played based on reaction information previously provided by a user in connection with the playing of items from the body of items, and

each of the items of audio, video, or multimedia content having a finite, non-zero probability of being selected.

137. The method of claim 136 in which the probability of items being selected is determined by scores associated with the respective items.

138. The method of claim 136 in which the probability of selecting an item having a relatively lower score varies with a risk factor.

139. The method of claim 138 in which the risk factor is determined by a user reaction expressed for a recently played item.

140. The method of claim ′

139 in which the risk factor is increased if the user reaction is positive.

141. The method of claim 139 in which the risk factor is decreased if the user reaction is negative.

142. A method comprising

playing an item of audio, video, or multimedia content for a user from a body of items of audio, video, or multimedia content available on an audio, video, or multimedia system,

receiving reaction information from a user in connection with the playing of the item,

automatically updating, for each of the items in the body, the probability that the item will be selected for playing.

143. The method of claim 142 including selecting items for playing based on the updated probabilities.

144. The method of claim 142 in which the reaction information comprises explicit information about whether the user liked or disliked the item.

145. The method of claim 142 in which the reaction information comprises implicit information about whether the user liked or disliked the item.

146. A method comprising

in connection with playing an item of audio, video, or multimedia content on an audio, video, or multimedia system, receiving from a user an indication of a reaction to the item, and

enabling the user to indicate the reaction either explicitly, implicitly, or both.

147. The method of claim 146 in which the user is enabled to indicate the reaction to the item by activating a user interface control that is designated to receive explicit reaction.

148. The method of claim 146 in which the user is enabled to indicate the reaction to the item by activating a user interface control that is designated for a function other than the receipt of a user'"'"'s explicit reaction.

149. The method of claim 148 in which the user interface control is designated for transport control.

150. The method of claim 146 in which the reaction comprises affinity for the item.

151. A method comprising

playing a sequence of items of audio, video, or multimedia content, the sequence being selected based on a probability distribution across a set of available items and on a risk factor representing a degree of risk to be taken in playing items that are assigned relatively lower probabilities in the distribution, and

altering the risk factor based on reactions indicated by a user.

152. The method of claim 151 in which the risk factor is increased if the reaction is positive.

153. The method of claim 151 in which the risk factor is decreased if the reaction is negative.

154. A method comprising

storing a distribution of probabilities assigned to items of audio, video, or multimedia content belonging to an available body of audio, video, or multimedia content items,

selecting items to be played on an audio, video, or multimedia system for a user, the selecting being based on the probability distribution, and

altering the probability distribution dynamically based on reactions indicated by a user in connection with the playing of the items.

155. A method comprising

enabling a user to control a sequence of items to be played by indicating his reactions in connection with the playing of items, the control being effected without requiring a display of any information to the user.

156. A method comprising

controlling the playing of items of audio, video, or multimedia content by an audio, video, or multimedia system to a user based on reactions previously indicated by a user in connection with the playing of items of audio, video, or multimedia content, the control being adapted dynamically beginning when the audio, video, or multimedia system is activated and without requiring pre-seeding of reaction information.

157. The method of claim 156 also including enabling the user to pre-seed reaction information before or during activation of the audio, video, or multimedia system.

158. A method comprising

maintaining a history of items played automatically on an audio, video, or multimedia system,

maintaining scores for items belonging to a body of available items of audio, video, or multimedia content, and

updating the scores to reflect the history of items played, and

selecting items to be played probabilistically based on the scores.

159. The method of claim 158 in which the updating comprises penalizing the scores of recently played items.

160. The method of claim 159 in which the updating comprises reducing over time the extent to which the scores are penalized.

161. The method of claim 159 in which the scores incorporate other factors in addition to the history of items played.

162. Apparatus comprising

a manually-operable control mounted in a position in a vehicle that permits a user to operate the control while holding a steering wheel of a vehicle, and

circuitry coupled to the control and configured to interpret operation of the control as indicating a reaction of the user with respect to an item of audio, video, or multimedia material being performed for the user in the vehicle, and to use the reaction in determining items of audio, video, or multimedia material to be played in the future.

163. The apparatus of claim 162 in which the manually operable control is mounted on the steering wheel.

164. The apparatus of claim 162 in which the manually operable control comprises at least one button.

165. A method comprising

storing metadata associated with items to be selected from a body of items, the metadata implying relationships among the items,

in response to a request for items, providing an item from the body of items, the provided item being one that conforms to the request,

receiving reaction information from a user indicating a reaction with respect to the provided item, and

selecting another item probabilistically from the selected body of items based on the reaction information.

166. The method of claim 165 in which the body of items comprises a database.

167. The method of claim 165 in which the body of items comprises web pages.

168. The method of claim 165 in which each of the items in the body has a non-zero probability of being selected.

169. The method of claim 165 in which the reaction information is treated as short-term information and as long-term information in scoring items in the body for possible selection.

170. A method comprising

adding new items of audio, video, or multimedia content to a body of content items,

interactively receiving from a user an indication of a categorization of each of the new items,

receiving reaction information from a user during the performance of items of the content, and

selecting items for play based on the user reaction information and on the categorization information from the user.

171. A method comprising

selecting items of audio, video, or multimedia content from a body of content items for presentation to a user,

the selecting being based on a combination of reactions indicated by the user with respect to previously played items and on metadata that implies relationships among items of the content,

each of the items having a finite probability of being selected each time an item is selected.

172. A method comprising

during a playing of one item of audio, video or multimedia content that belongs to an album of items of audio, video, or multimedia content, the album is one of multiple albums of audio, video, or multimedia content stored on a mass storage medium-enabling a user to invoke a control to cause all of the other items that belong to the album to be played automatically following the one item.

173. The method of claim 172 also including, after completion of the automatic playing of the other items, reverting to a mode in which other items are automatically selected for playing from a body of items that includes items of other albums.

174. The method of claim 172 in which the one item is selected probabilistically by the audio, video, or multimedia system based on reactions of the user derived in connection with previous playing of audio, video, or multimedia content.

175. The method of claim 173 in which the other items from the body of items are automatically selected probabilistically by the audio, video, or multimedia system based on reactions of the user derived in connection with previous playing of items of audio, video, or multimedia content.

176. A method comprising

during the play of an item of audio, video, or multimedia content, receiving information from a user with respect to his reaction to the item being played, and

subsequently playing another item of audio, video, or multimedia content that is selected probabilistically from a body of items based in part on the reaction information from the user.

177. A method comprising delivering items of possible relevance from a database of patent materials to a user,

receiving information representing the user'"'"'s perception of the relevance of the items,

updating scores for the respective items based on the received information and on relationships among the items, and

probabilistically selecting items for delivery to the user based on the scores.

178. The method of claim 177 in which the items of possible relevance comprise patents and patent applications.

179. The method of claim 177 in which the relationships among the items are based on metadata about the items.

180. The method of claim 179 in which the metadata includes at least one of inventors, assignees, classifications, dates, and patent numbers.

181. The method of claim 177 also including enabling the user to receive the items and provide the information through an on-line connection.

182. The method of claim 177 in which each of the items has a non-zero probability of selection.

183. The method of claim 177 in which one or more than one of the items may be delivered to the user at one time.