METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MEDIA COLLECTION EXPANSION

• US 20090138502A1
• Filed: 11/22/2007
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kalaboukis, Chris, Fisher, Roberto
• Granted Patent: US 8,892,606 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/437 Administration of user profiles, e.g. generation, initialisation, adaptation, distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0876 Network utilisation, e.g. volume of load or congestion level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

Systems and methods have been developed for expanding collections of media objects that are stored remotely. More specifically, systems and methods have been developed for continuously monitoring and updating collections of media objects stored in a user'"'"'s media repository (e.g., a “media locker”).

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) identifying at least one media object accessible within a user media repository;

(b) compiling consumption data that corresponds to usage, by a user, of the at least one media object;

(c) generating user profile data based upon at least one of the identification of the at least one media object and the consumption data;

(d) identifying at least one promotional media object that corresponds to the user profile data and that is not within the user media repository; and

(e) permitting access to the at least one promotional media object within the user media repository.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (e) comprises delivering the at least one promotional media object to the user media repository.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein step (e) comprises delivering only a portion of the at least one promotional media object to the user media repository.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the portion of the at least one promotional media object comprises a beginning portion.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein step (e) comprises delivering, to the user media repository, a URI for accessing the at least one promotional media object.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein step (e) comprises delivering, to the user media repository, a license to access the at least one promotional media object.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises identifying metadata associated with the at least one media object.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the metadata comprises a name, title, track, album, or genre.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises:

identifying temporal or spatial data associated with the usage of the at least one media object.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises:

identifying an event associated with the usage of the at least one media object.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the event is a playback event.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises:

searching a network for the at least one promotional media object.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the network is the Internet.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein steps (a) through (e) are performed at a client.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(f) receiving compensation from the user or a third party for performing steps (d) and (e).

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the compensation is non-monetary.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(f) monitoring the media object repository and the usage of the at least one media object by the user;

(g) detecting a change in at least one of the user media repository or the usage by the user; and

(h) updating the user profile data based upon the change detected in step (g).

18. The method of claim 17 wherein detecting the change in the user media repository comprises detecting the addition or subtraction of a media object from the user media repository.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein detecting the change in the user media repository comprises detecting a change in metadata that is stored with the at least one media object within the user media repository.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the change is detected in both the user media repository and the usage by the user.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the generation of the user profile data is based upon both the identification of the at least one media object and the consumption data

22. A computer readable medium encoding or containing computer executable instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:

(a) identifying at least one media object accessible within a user media repository;

(b) compiling consumption data that corresponds to usage, by a user, of the at least one media object;

(c) generating user profile data based upon at least one of the identification of the at least one media object and the consumption data;

(d) identifying at least one promotional media object that corresponds to the user profile data and that is not within the user media repository; and

(e) permitting access to the at least one promotional media object within the user media repository.

23. A system comprising:

(a) a processor configured to identify a collection of media objects accessible to a user media repository, compile consumption data corresponding to usage, by a user, of at least one media object of the collection, and generate user profile data based upon the identification and the compilation;

(b) a user preference repository that stores the user profile data; and

(c) a communications module configured to communicate with a network to identify at least one media object that corresponds to the user profile data and that is not part of the collection of media objects and make accessible, to the user media repository, the at least one media object that corresponds to the user profile data.