System and methods for the automatic transmission of new, high affinity media

• US 7,505,959 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2004
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kaiser, Rolf, Carreno, Michael J., Bassman, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Wilson
• Assistant Examiner(s): XUE, BIN
• Application Number:
  US10/993,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20050097138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,579 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/435 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists
• 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 16/634 Query by example, e.g. query by humming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/637 Administration of user profiles, e.g. generation, initialization, adaptation or distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• 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 16/683 using metadata automatically derived from the content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A system and methods for the automatic transmission of new, high affinity media to a user are provided. In connection with a system that convergently merges perceptual and digital signal processing analysis of media entities for purposes of classifying the media entities, various means are provided to a user for automatically extracting media entities that represent a high (or low) affinity state/space for the user in connection with the generation of a high affinity playlist, channel or station. Techniques for providing a dynamic recommendation engine and techniques for rating media entities are also included are also included. Once a high affinity state/space is identified, the high affinity state/space may be persisted for the user from experience to experience.

Claims

1. A method for generating at least one playlist of high affinity media entities in a system comprising at least one processor and at least one memory communicatively coupled to said at least one processor, the method comprising:

receiving indication of a first selected media entity from a computing device;

analyzing the first selected media entity to extract a first set of classification mappings corresponding to the first selected media entity;

persisting in said at least one memory the first set of classification mappings corresponding to the first selected media entity;

searching a matching database stored in a storage device for a first set of media entities having similar mappings to the first selected media entity, wherein media entities in the matching database have been classified according to a classification scheme characterized by perceptual and digital signal processing classification techniques, said classification scheme comprising classification rules, each of said classification rules defining at least one relationship between a perceptual classification and a digital signal processing classification;

generating at said system a first playlist that includes a plurality of the first set of media entities, further comprising weighting each media entity of the first set of media entities based upon a comparison to a high affinity mapping of existing high affinity mappings or based upon a comparison to a low affinity mapping of existing low affinity mappings, wherein said weighting comprises weighting the media entity to be more likely to enter the first playlist when said each media entity matches the high affinity mapping and weighting the media entity to be less likely to enter the first playlist when said each media entity matches the low affinity mapping;

receiving indication of a second media entity from the computing device;

analyzing the second media entity to extract a second set of classification mappings corresponding to the second media entity;

persisting in said at least one memory the second set of classification mappings corresponding to the second media entity;

searching the matching database for a second set of media entities having similar mappings to the second media entity; and

generating a second playlist that includes a plurality of the second set of media entities having similar mappings to the second media entity; and

merging the second playlist with at least one playlist of a media station.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said persisting comprises storing at least one of the first set of classification mappings.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising accessing a network-enabled computing device, the network-enabled computing device configured to render media entities to a user.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first selected media entity and second media entity are songs.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first selected media entity is a media entity that is already familiar to a user that selects the first selected media entity.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first selected media entity is selected using a link corresponding to said first selected media entity.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said analyzing the first selected media entity, searching a matching database and generating at said system a first playlist occur automatically in response to said receiving indication of a first selected media entity.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second media entity is selected using one of a button and a link while the second media entity is rendered on a computing device.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising persisting the second set of classification mappings corresponding to the second media entity.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said persisting of the second set of classification mappings corresponding to the second media entity comprises storing the second set of classification mappings corresponding to the second media entity.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second media entity corresponds to a higher affinity to the user than the first selected media entity.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said analyzing, searching and generating in connection with the second media entity occur automatically in response to said receiving indication of the second media entity.

13. A method for generating at least one playlist of high affinity media entities in a system comprising at least one processor and at least one memory communicatively coupled to said at least one processor, the method comprising:

receiving as a base setting an indication of at least one media quality and at least one artist or genre, independent of creator or medium name, that represents a high affinity media space for a user;

analyzing the selected at least one media quality and the at least one artist or genre to extract a set of classification mappings corresponding to the received at least one media quality;

persisting in said at least one memory the set of classification mappings corresponding to the selected at least one media quality;

searching a matching database stored in a storage device for a set of media entities having similar mappings to the selected at least one media quality and the at least one artist or genre, wherein media entities in the matching database have been classified according to a classification scheme characterized by perceptual and digital signal processing classification techniques, said classification scheme comprising classification rules, each of said classification rules defining at least one relationship between a perceptual classification and a digital signal processing classification;

generating on said system at least one playlist that includes a plurality of the set of media entities, further comprising weighting each media entity of the set of media entities based upon a comparison to a high affinity mapping of existing high affinity mappings or based upon a comparison to a low affinity mapping of existing low affinity mappings, wherein said weighting comprises weighting the media entity to be more likely to enter the playlist when said each media entity matches the high affinity mapping and weighting the media entity to be less likely to enter the playlist when said each media entity matches the low affinity mapping; and

storing said at least one playlist in said at least one memory.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said persisting comprises storing at least one of the set of classification mappings.

15. The method according to claim 13, further comprising accessing a network-enabled computing device, the network-enabled computing device configured to render media entities to a user.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the media entities are songs and the at least one media quality describes a song.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein said analyzing, searching and generating occur automatically in response to receiving said base setting.

18. A method for generating at least one playlist of high affinity media entities in a system comprising at least one processor and at least one memory communicatively coupled to said at least one processor, the method comprising:

receiving indication of at least one of a media quality, artist or genre that represents a high affinity media space for a user;

associating the at least one media quality, artist or genre with a media channel;

receiving for each of the at least one media quality, artist or genre an indication of a desired frequency of the at least one media quality, artist or genre, wherein said desired frequency represents a frequency with which said media channel returns media entities matching said at least one media quality, artist or genre;

processing and organizing said at least one media quality, artist or genre as a function of said desired frequency;

receiving a link associated with said media channel;

analyzing the received at least one media quality, artist or genre to extract a set of classification mappings corresponding to the selected at least one media quality, artist or genre of said media channel;

persisting in said at least one memory the set of classification mappings corresponding to the selected at least one media quality, artist or genre of said media channel;

searching a matching database stored in a storage device for a set of media entities having similar mappings to the extracted set of classification mappings, wherein media entities in the matching database have been classified according to a classification scheme characterized by perceptual and digital signal processing classification techniques, said classification scheme comprising classification rules, each of said classification rules defining at least one relationship between a perceptual classification and a digital signal processing classification;

generating at said system at least one playlist that includes a plurality of the set of media entities, further comprising weighting each media entity of the set of media entities based upon a comparison to a high affinity mapping of existing high affinity mappings or based upon a comparison to a low affinity mapping of existing low affinity mappings, wherein said weighting comprises weighting the media entity to be more likely to enter the playlist when said each media entity matches the high affinity mapping and weighting the media entity to be less likely to enter the playlist when said each media entity matches the low affinity mapping; and

storing said at least one playlist in said at least one memory.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said desired frequency is a measurement of at least one of the frequencies with which the media quality is to appear in the generated playlist and a weight accorded to the media quality relative to other weights assigned to other selected media qualities.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein said persisting comprises storing at least one of the set of classification mappings for the media channel.

21. The method according to claim 18, further comprising accessing a network-enabled computing device the network-enabled computing device configured to render media entities to a user.

22. The method according to claim 18, wherein the media entities are songs and the at least one media quality describes a song.

23. The method according to claim 18, wherein said analyzing, searching and generating occur automatically in response to said receiving of the link associated with said media channel.

24. A method for generating at least one playlist of high affinity media entities in a system comprising at least one processor and at least one memory communicatively coupled to said at least one processor, the method comprising:

tracking at said system a user'"'"'s decisions in connection with one of a rendering of media entities and a selection of media stations;

storing a historical record of the user'"'"'s decisions in said at least one memory;

receiving one of the user'"'"'s decisions from said historical record;

analyzing the decision to extract a set of classification mappings;

persisting in said at least one memory the set of classification mappings corresponding to the decision;

searching a matching database stored in a storage device for a set of media entities having similar mappings to the extracted set of classification mappings, wherein media entities in the matching database have been classified according to a classification scheme characterized by perceptual and digital signal processing classification techniques, said classification scheme comprising classification rules, each of said classification rules defining at least one relationship between a perceptual classification and a digital signal processing classification;

generating at said system at least one playlist that includes a plurality of the set of media entities, further comprising weighting each media entity of the set of media entities based upon a comparison to a high affinity mapping of existing high affinity mappings or based upon a comparison to a low affinity mapping of existing low affinity mappings, wherein said weighting comprises weighting the media entity to be more likely to enter the playlist when said each media entity matches the high affinity mapping and weighting the media entity to be less likely to enter the playlist when said each media entity matches the low affinity mapping; and

replacing a present media station playlist with said at least one playlist, wherein said present media station playlist is different from said at least one playlist.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein said decision comprises a link to a media entity and a media station.

26. The method according to claim 24, wherein said persisting comprises storing at least one of the set of classification mappings.

27. The method according to claim 24, further comprising accessing a network-enabled computing device, the network-enabled computing device configured to render media entities to a user.

28. The method according to claim 24, wherein said one of a media entity and a media station includes one of a song and a personalized radio station.

29. The method according to claim 25, wherein said analyzing, searching and generating occur automatically in response to said receiving of the link to said a media entity and a media station.