Media Content Search Based on Metadata

• US 20140156641A1
• Filed: 12/04/2012
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Abhishek Kumar
• Inventors: TRIPOLI, Ben, KUMAR, Abhishek
• Granted Patent: US 10,055,491 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/722
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/43 Querying
• 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: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/78 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques

Abstract

Embodiments are provided for querying a media server for media content based on user-selected metadata associated with first media while the first media is being experienced by a user. In one embodiment, at least one metadata associated with the first media may be displayed for the user to review while the first media is being experienced by the user. The user may then select a displayed metadata to initiate a search for media content based on the selected metadata. The search for media content may be performed by querying a media server associated with a selection of media content services. The user may then review the results of the media query, select media content from the results, and initiate further action, such as adding the media content to a digital repository, or purchasing the media content.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

while a first media is being rendered, receiving data indicating a selection of an item corresponding to a metadata associated with the first media;

querying one or more media servers for one or more second media based on the corresponding metadata, wherein the one or more media servers is associated with at least one media service in a plurality of media services; and

providing the one or more second media for display.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein querying one or more media servers for one or more second media based on the corresponding metadata comprises:

receiving service selection data indicating a selection of the at least one media service in the plurality of media services;

identifying a media server in the one or more media servers associated with the selected media service; and

querying the identified media server for the one or more second media based on the corresponding metadata.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the service selection data indicates a stored selection of one or more media services.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first media is provided by a media service different from the selected media service.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving service selection data indicating a selection of the media services in the plurality of media services comprises:

providing for display a list of the plurality of media services; and

receiving from a user experiencing the rendering of the first media, the service selection data indicating the selection of the media service.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of media services comprises media services accessible by a user experiencing the rendering of the first media.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first media is automated streaming audio.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to receiving data indicating a selection of an item corresponding to a metadata associated with a first media, retrieving the metadata associated with the first media; and

providing the retrieved metadata associated with the first media for display.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein retrieving the metadata associated with the first media comprises:

providing characterization data associated with at least a portion of the first media to a server; and

receiving from the server, metadata associated with the first media based on the characterization data associated with at least a portion of the first media.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the one or more second media for display comprises:

ordering the one or more second media according to a relevancy metric, the relevancy metric indicating an estimated level of interest in each of the one or more second media by a user experiencing the rendering of the first media; and

providing the one or more second media display according to the ordering of the one or more second media.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata is indicative of one or more of the following:

(a) artist name, (b) track title, (c) album name, (d) genre, and (e) year of release.

12. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;

a non-transitory computer readable medium; and

instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium and executable by the at least one processor to perform functions comprising;

while a first media is being rendered, receiving data indicating a selection of an item corresponding to a metadata associated with the first media;

querying a media server for one or more second media based on the corresponding metadata, wherein the media server is associated with a media service in a plurality of media services; and

providing the one or more second media for display.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein instructions for querying a network of media servers for one or more second media based on the corresponding metadata further comprises instructions executable by the at least one processor to perform functions comprising:

receiving service selection data indicating a selection of the media service in the plurality of media services;

identifying the media server associated with the selected media service; and

querying the identified media server for the one or more second media based on the corresponding metadata.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first media is provided by a media service different from the selected media service.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein instructions for receiving service selection data indicating a selection of the media service in the plurality of media services further comprises instructions executable by the at least one processor to perform functions comprising:

providing for display a list of the plurality of media services; and

receiving from a user experiencing the rendering of the first media, the service selection data indicating the selection of the media service.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of media services comprises media services accessible by a user experiencing the rendering of the first media.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a computing device to cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

while a first media is being rendered, receiving data indicating a selection of an item corresponding to a metadata associated with the first media;

querying a media server for one or more second media based on the corresponding metadata, wherein the media server is associated with a media service in a plurality of media services; and

providing the one or more second media for display.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein instructions for querying a media server for one or more second media based on the corresponding metadata further comprises instructions to cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

receiving service selection data indicating a selection of the media service in the plurality of media services;

identifying the media server associated with the selected media service; and

querying the identified media server for one or more second media based on the corresponding metadata.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, further having stored thereon instructions to cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

prior to receiving data indicating a selection of an item corresponding to a metadata associated with a first media, retrieving the metadata associated with the first media; and

providing the retrieved metadata associated with the first media for display.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein instructions for retrieving the metadata associated with the first media further comprises instructions to cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

providing characterization data associated with at least a portion of the first media to a server; and

receiving from the server, metadata associated with the first media based on the characterization data associated with at least a portion of the first media.