Method and Device for Selecting Multimedia Items, Portable Preference Storage Device

• US 20080294375A1
• Filed: 06/17/2005
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Van Breemen, Albertus Josephus Nicolaas
• Application Number:
  US11/571,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20080294375A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/181
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A method of automatically selecting an item (e.g. s₃) from a set (S) of items involves using item properties to determine weighing factors. The weighing factors are then used to produce a preference distribution having sections, the relative sizes of which correspond with the respective weighing factor. A random number may be used to point to a section of the preference distribution and thus select the associated item. The method may be used to select multimedia items, such as songs, stored in a mass storage device.

Claims

1. An electronically implemented method of automatically selecting multimedia items, the method comprising the steps of:

determining, for each item (s_i), a likelihood factor (p_i) on the basis of properties (v_ij) of the item,

cumulating the likelihood factors (p_i) for all items so as to produce a selection range (R) comprised of likelihood factors (p_i),

producing a selector number (r) within said range (R), and

comparing the selector number (r) with the cumulated likelihood factors (p_i) so as to determine which item (s_i) corresponds with the likelihood factor indicated by the selector number (r).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining a likelihood factor (p_i) involves determining a normalized weighing factor (q_ij) for each property (v_ij) of an item (s_i) using a normalization function (Q_j).

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of determining a likelihood factor (p_i) involves determining a product of all normalized weighing factors (q_ij) of an item (s_i) so as to produce an item specific weighing factor (q_i).

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of determining a likelihood factor (p_i) involves determining a ratio of an item specific weighing factor (q_i) and a sum of all item specific weighing factors.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein a normalization function (Q_j) reflects user preferences.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein a normalization function (Q_j) is time-dependent.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein a normalization function (Q_j) is user-controlled via user-interface interaction.

8. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of storing a normalization function (Q_j) and/or a weighing factor (q_i;

q_ij) and/or a likelihood factor (p_i) on a portable storage device (10).

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of storing a selection history, preferably on a portable storage device (10).

10. The method according to claim 9, in which the step of storing a selection history comprises a step of storing a function over time of properties (v_ij) of selected to be played or played multimedia items.

11. A computer program product for carrying out the method according to claim 1.

19. A multimedia system (20), arranged for carrying out the method according to claim 1.

12. A device for automatically selecting multimedia items, the device comprising:

means for determining, for each item (s_i), a likelihood factor (p_i) on the basis of properties (v_ij) of the item,

means for cumulating the likelihood factors (p_i) for all items so as to produce a selection range (R) comprised of likelihood factors (p_i),

means for producing a number (r) within said range (R), and

means for comparing the number (r) with the cumulated likelihood factors (p_i) so as to determine the likelihood factor (p_i) of which item (s_i) corresponds with the number (r).

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the means for determining a likelihood factor (p_i) are arranged for determining a normalized weighing factor (q_ij) for each property (v_ij) of an item (s_i) using a normalization function (Q_j).

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the means for determining a likelihood factor (p_i) are arranged for determining the product of all normalized weighing factors (q_ij) of an item (s_i) so as to produce a item specific weighing factor (q_i).

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the means for determining a likelihood factor (p_i) are arranged for determining a ratio of an item specific weighing factor (q_i) and a sum of all item specific weighing factors.

16. The device according to claim 13, wherein a normalization function (Q_j) reflects user preferences.

17. A device (10) for storing at least one normalization function (Q_j) and/or at least one weighing factor (q_i;

q_ij) and/or at least one likelihood factor (p_i) for use in the device according to claim 12.

18. A portable device (10) for storing a function over time of properties (v_ij) of selected to be played or played multimedia items.