System and method for selecting internet media channels

• US 20050131731A1
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Moon Glow, Series 82 of Allied Security Trust I (Allied Security Trust)
• Original Assignee: Napster LLC (MelodyVR Group Plc)
• Inventors: Labio, Wilburt J., Brydon, Robert B., Le, Phong H., Doan, Son N., Barram, Diane E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,356,556 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A system and method provide for selecting Internet media channels. Generally speaking, the selection involves choosing target channels based on user preferences. In one example embodiment, the system and method receive a user preference relating to a data item available from at least one of a plurality of media providers, augment the user preference with at least one additional preference that is related to the user preference, and select one or more media providers from the plurality of media providers, wherein the selection is based on the frequency with which the selected media provider provides the user preference or the augmenting additional preference.

Claims

1. A method of selecting one or more internet media channels from a plurality of internet media channels, the method comprising:

a. receiving a first data item from a user through the user'"'"'s computer;

b. incorporating one or more second data items with the first data item, wherein the one or more second data items have an affinity relationship with the first data item;

c. determining a first frequency value based on how often each internet media channel in the plurality plays the first data item in a predetermined period of time;

d. determining a second frequency value based on how often each internet media channel in the plurality plays each of the one or more second data items in the predetermined period of time;

e. calculating a channel score for each internet media channel, wherein the channel score is calculated by summing the first frequency value and the second frequency value; and

f. selecting one or more internet media channels based on the channel score within a predefined range.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising

a. collecting a playlist corresponding to each internet media provider, wherein the playlist includes programming characteristics of the corresponding internet media provider;

and

b. storing the playlist in a channel database, wherein the playlist is configured in a format such that the first frequency value and the second frequency value can be determined.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising multiplying the first frequency value with a first weighting value, wherein the weighted first frequency value is used to calculate the channel score.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising multiplying the second frequency value with a second weighting value, wherein the weighted second frequency value is used to calculate the channel score.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising normalizing the first frequency value and the second frequency value.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first data item includes one or more first properties, further wherein the one or more first properties are weighted by a predetermined value.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the one or more second data items include one or more second properties, further wherein the one or more second properties are weighted by a predetermined value.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first data item is selected from a group consisting of a song name, an artist name, a genre, an era and a tempo.

9. The method according to claim 6 wherein the one or more second data items incorporated is selected from a group consisting of a song name, an artist name, a genre, an era and a tempo which is associated with the first data item.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first data item is one or more objective properties.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the one or more second data items is an objective property.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein the one or more second data items are stored in an objective database.

13. The method according to claim 2 further comprising updating the channel base when new data pertaining to the internet media channel is available.