INTERNET RADIO AND BROADCAST METHOD WITH SELECTABLE EXPLICIT LYRICS FILTERING

• US 20150106404A1
• Filed: 12/19/2014
• Published: 04/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pandora Media LLC (Liberty Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pandora Media Incorporated (Liberty Media Corporation)
• Inventors: BOULTER, Jeffrey R., BEAUPRE, Todd M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,299,104 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/793
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/635 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/686 using information manually generated, e.g. tags, keywords, comments, title or artist information, time, location or usage information, user ratings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/02 Knowledge representation; Symbolic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0282 Rating or review of business operators or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/82 using signals not modulated onto a carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/25 Arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 : for using the result on distributors' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/82 : the transmission system being the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/87 : accessed over computer networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/88 : which are wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 : Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 : for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 : for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 : based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 : Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 : involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 : OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• 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 21/454 : Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 : for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4756 : for rating content, e.g. scoring a recommended movie
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 : using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 : involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 : comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format

Abstract

Data streams are generally selected according to user preferences and transmitted to the user in general alignment with expressed preferences of the user. Such data streams may be music, including music videos. Users may indicate their general or specific preferences with regards to song, artists, or albums. Any other aspects or factors that might affect the user'"'"'s preferences can be taken into account. A playlist is created that combines all of these factors. The playlist then serves as the basis for feeding the data streams to the user. Each user is able to express his or her own preferences and receive music corresponding to those preferences on an on-going basis.

Claims

1. A method of providing a personalized Internet radio station with a selectable explicit lyrics preference, comprising:

receiving, in at least one server computer, a first user preference indicating whether a user desires to receive songs with explicit lyrics;

generating, at a playlist generator of the at least one server computer, a first song playlist created for a personalized Internet radio station based at least in part on the received first user preference regarding receiving songs with explicit lyrics;

providing, by the at least one server computer, access to songs of the first song playlist to a client device of the user;

receiving, in the at least one server computer, a second user preference indicating whether the user desires to receive songs with explicit lyrics;

generating, at the playlist generator of the at least one server computer, a second song playlist created for the personalized Internet radio station based at least in part on the received second user preference regarding receiving songs with explicit lyrics; and

providing, by the at least one server computer, access to songs of the second song playlist to the client device of the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user preference is a preference to not allow explicit lyrics and the second user preference is a preference to allow explicit lyrics.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first user preference is a preference to allow explicit lyrics and the second user preference is a preference to not allow explicit lyrics.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein songs with explicit lyrics are marked in a song database.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one server computer comprises at least one of a streaming server, a media server, a central server, and a HTTP server.

6. A method, comprising:

generating an individualized song playlist created for a personalized internet radio station for broadcast via a computer network to a computing device of a user, with the individualized song playlist corresponding to a sequence of songs chosen from a song database based on at least one musical preference of the user;

providing, by the at least one server computer, access to songs of the song playlist to the computing device of the user;

receiving an explicit lyrics preference selection indicating whether the user desires to change a preference to allow songs with explicit lyrics;

generating an adjusted song playlist for the user based on the explicit lyrics preference of the user and the at least one musical preference; and

providing, by the at least one server computer, access to songs of the adjusted song playlist to the computing device of the user.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving at least one song rating from the user, wherein the adjusted song playlist is generated based on the at least one musical preference, the at least one song rating, and the explicit lyrics preference.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the adjusted song playlist excludes songs with explicit lyrics in response to receiving a user preference to not allow songs with explicit lyrics.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the adjusted song playlist includes songs with explicit lyrics in response to a user preference to allow songs with explicit lyrics.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing a user interface for the user to select the explicit lyrics preference.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one musical preference includes at least one of a genre preference, a mood preference, an artist preference, and an album preference.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

a computing device including a computer, a display, and at least one communication interface to connect to the Internet; and

a player application to play songs of a song playlist on the client device, including;

at least one user interface for a user to input at least one musical preference for an Internet radio service to create a song playlist for a personalized Internet radio station, wherein access to songs of the song playlist is provided to the computing device; and

at least one user interface for a user to issue an explicit lyrics preference to the Internet radio service, wherein the song playlist is adapted based on the explicit lyrics preference.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein songs having explicit lyrics are excluded from the song playlist in response to a user preference to not allow songs with explicit lyrics.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein songs having explicit lyrics are included in the song playlist in response to a user preference to allow songs with explicit lyrics.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the computing device accesses the Internet radio service via a wireless link.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the computing device accesses the Internet radio service via a network connection.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the computing device accesses media files for individual songs of the song playlist from a media file library.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the computing device is configured for a user to switch back and forth between allowing songs with explicit lyrics and blocking songs with explicit lyrics.

19. A method, comprising:

receiving, by at least one server computer, an explicit lyrics preference indicating whether a user desires to allow or exclude songs with explicit lyrics;

generating a song playlist of a personalized internet radio station based on at least one musical preference of the user and the explicit lyrics preference of the user; and

providing access to songs of the song playlist to a client device of the user.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing a user interface for the user to enter the at least one musical preference and the explicit lyrics preference

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the user interface further comprises a ratings interface for the user to rate songs of the song playlist and generating the song playlist is based on the combination of the at least one musical preference, the explicit lyrics preference, and song ratings.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the user interface further comprises a song information interface to display song information for songs of the song playlist.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein generating the song playlist excludes songs having explicit lyrics from the song playlist in response to a user preference to exclude songs with explicit lyrics.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein generating the song playlist includes songs having explicit lyrics from the song playlist in response to a user preference to include songs with explicit lyrics.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein providing a user interface comprises providing a player to play songs of the song playlist.

26. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing access to a media file library to provide songs for the song playlist.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising marking songs in the media file library having explicit lyrics.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein the user interface includes an interface for the user to enter a genre preference as a musical preference.

29. The method of claim 20, wherein the user interface include an interface for the user to enter an artist preference a musical preference

30. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least one server computer comprises at least one of a streaming server, a media server, a central server, and a HTTP server.