Local area preference determination system and method

• US 7,302,468 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2004
• Issued: 11/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wijeratne, Viranga L
• Primary Examiner(s): Lebentritt; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): MUSTAPHA, ABDULFATTAH B
• Application Number:
  US10/980,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20060095516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 709/205, 709/206, 446/297, 455/3.01
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A preference determination system allows a music provider, like a band or disc jockey, to determine the musical preferences of the members at a gathering. As many members of a gathering use electronic devices, like cellular telephones, that include music and video players, these devices include a corresponding play list that includes information about the music or video. When at a gathering the music provider, for example, interrogates the devices of the members of the group and uploads their respective play lists. The music provider then compiles information about the music into a data compilation. The information may include artist, song title, release date, genre, etc. The music provider then sorts the data compilation to select information that is popular to a significant number of members in the group. The music provider then selects and plays music to the group consistent with the selected information. For example, if 50 people are at a gathering, and 30 have digital music by the Tom Waits on their devices, the music provider may decide to play “Innocent When You Dream” for the group.

Claims

1. A method of determining the preferences of members of a group, the method comprising the steps of:

uploading a plurality of play lists from a plurality of electronic devices belonging to the members of the group;

prioritizing a music selection from the plurality of play lists based upon a number of occurrences of the music selection in the plurality of play lists;

selecting either the music selection or a video selection present on at least two play lists from the plurality of play lists; and

audibly broadcasting the music selection from at least one loudspeaker to the members of the group.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein prioritizing the music selections from the plurality of play lists further includes categorizing the music selection from the plurality of play list from most occurring music to least occurring music.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the music selection present on the at least two play lists from the plurality of play lists consists of the most occurring music selection.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of uploading is accomplished by a local area wireless, electronic communication.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic devices are selected from the group consisting of cellular telephones, MPEG players, pagers, radios, personal computers, and personal data assistants.

6. A method of determining the musical tastes of members of a group, the method comprising the steps of:

uploading a plurality of song play lists from a plurality of electronic devices belonging to the members of the group;

compiling a list of songs from the plurality of song play lists;

categorizing the list based upon a song element associated with each song on the list of songs, wherein the song element is selected from the group consisting of song title, album, artist, genre, record label, release date, tempo, orchestral composition, lyrics, composer and theme;

prioritizing a song from the plurality of song play lists based upon a number of occurrences of the song in the plurality of play lists,

selecting a song element; and

playing from at least one loudspeaker an audible song having characteristics with the selected song element.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the selection of the song element comprises selecting a song element occurring multiple times within the compiled list of songs.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the selection of the song element comprises selecting a song element common to a majority of play lists from the plurality of play lists.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the, step of uploading is accomplished by a local area, wireless, electronic communication.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the electronic devices are selected from the group consisting of cellular telephones, MPEG players, pagers, radios, personal computers, and personal data assistants.

11. A method of determining what music to play at a gathering, the method comprising the steps of:

interrogating a plurality of electronic devices belonging to patrons of the gathering;

uploading a plurality of available lists of preferred music from the plurality of electronic devices;

compiling the plurality of available lists into a compilation;

prioritizing musical preferences from the compilation based upon a number of occurrences of the musical preference, wherein the musical preferences are selected from the group consisting of song titles, albums, artists, genres, record labels, release dates, tempos, orchestral compositions, lyrics, composers and themes;

selecting a recurring musical preference from the compilation; and

broadcasting a music having a characteristic common with the recurring musical preference.