Clusters for rapid artist-audience matching

• US 7,072,846 B1
• Filed: 11/16/2000
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Emergent Music LLC
• Original Assignee: Emergent Music LLC
• Inventors: Robinson, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafiz, Tariq
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOFTIS, JOHNNA RONEE
• Application Number:
  US09/714,789
• Time in Patent Office: 2,056 Days
• Field of Search: 705/10, 705/7, 707/1, 707/3, 706/15, 706/45
• US Class Current: 705/7.32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0202 Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0203 Market surveys; Market polls
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0204 Market segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

The centerpiece of this invention is clusters. Clusters include taste signatures, which represent the tastes of a cluster. Users are enabled to find clusters that match their tastes, and artists are enabled to find the clusters where the users are who are likely be interested in their work. Clusters thus serve as hubs of activity for particular tastes; in most embodiments ratings of items of interest to those tastes can be viewed, and various embodiments may include various means for inter-user communication so that communities of people with similar tastes are formed.

Claims

1. A method upon a networked computer system including client and server computers for facilitating the creating and optimization of a database system for managing clusters representing a cluster of works, ordered so that the works represented in a given cluster are selected to be consistent with the tastes of a particular plurality of users having similar tastes to one another, said method comprising:

Displaying registration user interface elements for enabling individuals to register where, by becoming users, individuals have the ability to log on from remote client computers to a server computer;

Accepting input through said registration user interface elements whereby a database is updated with logon information for said users;

Displaying logon user interface elements for enabling said users to long on to said networked computer system;

Carrying out logon requests received through said logon user interface elements;

Creating new clusters in the database system, wherein said creating comprises specifying at least one work using at least one from the group consisting of automatically creating clusters in the database system by execution of a cluster creating software algorithm and creating clusters in the database system in accordance with input of logged on users obtained through cluster specification user interface elements;

Receiving suggestions from said users for changing the composition of said clusters such that, overall, individual clusters each better match the tastes of a particular plurality of users;

Executing a software algorithm which determines whether a suggested possible change in the clustering would, overall, better or worsen said clusters'"'"' ability to each match the tastes of a particular plurality of users who share similar tastes;

Implementing at least one of said changes in at least one database of the database system; and

Displaying selected attributes of selected ones of a plurality of clusters such that said displaying is viewable by a plurality of said users.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

Receiving additional suggestions that are a result of executing software embodying a clustering algorithm which determines potential changes and determines whether, overall, said clusters each better match a particular plurality of users who share similar tastes and which automatically creates clusters which maximize those criteria.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said software algorithm includes a step for using mutual information as the measure of the degree to which, overall, said clusters each better or worsen said clusters'"'"' ability to match the tastes of a particular plurality of users who share similar tastes.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

Collecting submissions of cluster names for said clusters and votes on said cluster names, thereby choosing said cluster names;

Displaying said cluster names for said users.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

Distributing processing for said clustering algorithm across multiple computers.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said suggestions are input by users through an HTML interface.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said HTML interface is instantiated by remote machines connected via the Internet to a central server computer.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

Supplying by users of cluster descriptions, where said cluster descriptions are generated by a cluster administrator.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

Searching said cluster descriptions in order to cause said clusters which are of interest to be displayed to said users.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

Calculating a goodness which reflects the degree to which users with affinity for a set of similar clusters comprising at least one cluster have particular affinity for particular works in said set of similar clusters, where goodness reflects said affinity.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

Displaying works of high values of said goodness as recommended works.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

Displaying names of said recommended works in the user interface of a physical device which has the ability to play said recommended works;

Thereby enabling a user to choose and play at least one of said recommended works.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said software algorithm is included in the source of said suggestions.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

Self-selected users interacting with user interface elements to register as members of said clusters.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

Internet chat communications between members of a particular cluster.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

Internet discussion group communications between members of a selected cluster.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

Displaying offers of reduced prices on selected works such that members of a selected cluster are informed that they may buy the works at said reduced prices;

Inputting acceptance of said offers of reduced prices.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said displaying occurs in the context of an email message.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein said user-interface elements comprise an HTML checkbox.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein said suggestions relative to particular said clusters are restricted such that said suggestions are only received from said members of said clusters.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

Receiving text reviews of works associated with selected said clusters wherein said receiving is restricted such that said text reviews are only received from members of said selected said clusters.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

Selected members receiving administrator privileges;

Receiving text reviews of works associated with selected said clusters wherein said receiving is restricted such that said text reviews are only received from at least one from the group consisting of members of said selected said clusters and administrators of said clusters.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein said cluster creating software algorithm executes in a distributed matter upon a set of computers comprising a plurality of said client computers.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein said cluster creating software algorithm executes on said server computers.