Data compilation system and method

• US 7,617,296 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2005
• Issued: 11/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: RealNetworks, Inc.
• Inventors: Bank, Bryna L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng; David Y
• Application Number:
  US11/112,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20060241955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,663 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 707/102
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A method, computer program product, client, and server application configured to store information associated with a subset of users of a media distribution service in a memory. At least one distribution history data set is compiled for each member of the subset of users. The at least one distribution history data set for each member of the subset of users are combined to form a combined distribution history data set. Information from the combined distribution history data set is transferred to a user electronic device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a computing device associated with a media distribution service, a query from a user electronic device, the query representing at least one entry from a first user in at least one of a plurality of fields of a query screen;

generating at the computing device, in response to the query, a result set including a subset of users of the media distribution service, the subset of users corresponding to the at least one entry;

storing media preference information associated with each member of the subset of users of the media distribution service in a memory of the computing device, wherein the media preference information comprises a history of media played by each member of the subset of users and a history of media distributed to each member of the subset of users by the media distribution service;

compiling, at the computing device, at least one distribution history data set for each member of the subset of users that includes the media preference information associated with each of the subset of users;

combining, at the computing device, the at least one distribution history data set for each member of the subset of users to form a combined distribution history data set;

generating a combined list of media for the first user based on the combined distribution history data set; and

transferring information from at least one of the distribution history data set and the combined distribution history data set to the user electronic device, the information in a format editable by the first user, the information including a list including each member of the user subset and the combined list of media.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein storing media preference information includes storing media preference information in a memory of a server device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein transferring information includes transferring ranked information from the combined distribution history data set.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein transferring information includes transferring random information from the combined distribution history data set.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein storing the media preference information includes at least one of:

storing top album information associated with the subset of users;

storing top artist information associated with the subset of users; and

storing top track information associated with the subset of users.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein transferring information includes at least one of:

transferring information via a wireless connection;

transferring information via a wired connection;

transferring information via a universal serial bus port; and

transferring information via a firewire port.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the distribution history data set for each member of the subset of users is compiled by one or more of:

the computing device, wherein the computing device is a server device; and

the user electronic device.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the combined distribution history data set is compiled by one or more of:

the computing device, wherein the computing device is a server device; and

the user electronic device.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the list of media is chosen from the group consisting of:

a top album data set;

a top artist data set; and

a top track data set.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein transferring information includes serving a web page that illustrates the combined distribution history data set.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the subset of users includes a single member.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the media preference information includes data representing media requested by each member of the subset of users.

13. A computer readable storage medium storing a computer program for distributing media information, the computer program comprising a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the following:

receive, at a computing device associated with a media distribution service, a query from a user electronic device, the query representing at least one entry from a first user in at least one of a plurality of fields of a query screen;

generate, in response to the query, a result set including a subset of users of the media distribution service, the subset of users corresponding to the at least one entry;

store media preference information associated with each member of the subset of users of the media distribution service in a memory, wherein the media preference information comprises a history of media played by each member of the subset of users and a history of media distributed to each member of the subset of users by the media distribution service;

compile, at the computing device, at least one distribution history data set for each member of the subset of users that includes the media preference information associated with each member of the subset of users;

combine, at the computing device, the at least one distribution history data set for each member of the subset of users to form a combined distribution history data set;

generate a combined list of media for the first user based on the combined distribution history data set; and

transfer information from at least one of the distribution history data set and the combined distribution history data set to the user electronic device, the information in a format editable by the first user, the information including at least one of a list including each member of the user subset and the combined list of media.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the computer readable medium and the processor are included within a server device.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the instructions for storing media preference information include instructions for storing media preference information in a memory of a server computer.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the instructions for transferring information include instructions for transferring ranked information from the combined distribution history data set.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the instructions for transferring information include instructions for transferring random information from the combined distribution history data set.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the instructions for storing media preference information include instructions for at least one of:

storing top album information associated with each member of the subset of users;

storing top artist information associated with each member of the subset of users; and

storing top track information associated with each member of the subset of users.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the instructions for transferring information include instructions for at least one of:

transferring information via a wireless connection;

transferring information via a wired connection;

transferring information via a universal serial bus port; and

transferring information via a firewire port.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the distribution history data set for each member of the subset of users is compiled by one or more of:

a server device; and

the user electronic device.

21. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the combined distribution history data set is compiled by one or more of:

a server device; and

the user electronic device.

22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the list of media is chosen from the group consisting of:

a top album data set;

a top artist data set; and

a top track data set.

23. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the instructions for transferring information include instructions for:

serving a web page that illustrates the combined distribution history data set.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the subset of users includes a single member.

25. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the media preference information includes data representing media requested by each member of the subset of users.

26. A client computing device, configured to receive media distributed from a server computing device, the client computing device further configured to perform operations comprising:

enabling a user to define a subset of users having at least one member, the at least one member being chosen from a plurality of users of a media distribution service;

sending a query from a user electronic device, the query representing at least one entry from the user in at least one of a plurality of fields of a query screen, to the server computing device;

receiving a list of the subset of users and a list of media from the server computing device that includes information from a combined distribution history data set of the subset of users; and

enabling a user to view and edit the combined distribution history data set and a list of the subset of users, wherein the combined distribution history data set is a combination of at least one distribution history data set for each member of the subset of users, wherein the at least one distribution history data set for each member includes media played by the member and media distributed to the member by the media distribution service.

27. The client computing device of claim 26 further comprising:

a user interface configured for allowing a user to access the combined distribution history data set.

28. The client computing device of claim 26 wherein the client computing device is chosen from the group consisting of:

a client-side application,

a client computer,

a personal digital assistant,

a cellular telephone,

a television,

a cable box,

an internet radio, and

a dedicated internet device.

29. The client computing device of claim 26 wherein the list of media is chosen from the group consisting of:

a top album data set;

a top artist data set; and

a top track data set.

30. The client computing device of claim 26 wherein the media distributed by the server computing device is chosen from the group consisting of:

audio media,

video media; and

audio/video media.

31. A computer readable storage medium storing a computer program for distributing media information, the computer program comprising a plurality of instructions, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the following:

receive, at a computing device associated with a media distribution service, a query from a user electronic device, the query representing at least one entry from a first user in at least one of a plurality of fields of a query screen;

generate at the computing device, in response to the query, a result set including a subset of users of the media distribution service, the subset of users corresponding to the at least one entry;

store media preference information associated with each member of the subset of users in a memory, wherein the media preference information comprises a history of media played by each member of the subset of users and a history of media distributed to each member of the subset of users by the media distribution service;

compile, at the computing device, at least one distribution history data set for each of the subset of users that includes the media preference information associated with each of the members of the subset of users;

combine, at the computing device, the at least one distribution history data set for each member of the subset of users to form a combined distribution history data set;

generate a combined list of media for the first user based on the combined distribution history data set; and

transfer information from at least one of the distribution history data set and the combined distribution history data set to the user electronic device, the information in a format editable by the first user, the information including at least one of a list including each member of the user subset and the combined list of media.

32. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31 wherein storing media preference information includes storing media preference information in a memory of the server computing device.

33. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31 wherein transferring information includes transferring ranked information from the combined distribution history data set.

34. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31 wherein transferring information includes transferring random information from the combined distribution history data set.

35. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31 wherein storing media preference information includes at least one of:

storing top album information associated with the subset of users;

storing top artist information associated with the subset of users; and

storing top track information associated with the subset of users.

36. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31 wherein transferring information includes at least one of:

transferring information via a wireless connection;

transferring information via a wired connection;

transferring information via a universal serial bus port; and

transferring information via a firewire port.

37. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31 wherein the distribution history data set for each member of the subset of users is compiled by one or more of:

the server computing device; and

the user electronic device.

38. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31 wherein the combined distribution history data set is compiled by one or more of:

the server computing device; and

the user electronic device.

39. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31 wherein the list of media is chosen from the group consisting of:

a top album data set;

a top artist data set; and

a top track data set.

40. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31 wherein the media distributed by the server device is chosen from the group consisting of:

audio media,

video media; and

audio/video media.

41. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31 wherein transferring information includes:

serving a web page that illustrates the combined distribution history data set.

42. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31 wherein the media preference information includes data representing media requested by each member of the subset of users.

43. A method comprising:

receiving, at a computing device associated with a media distribution service, a query from a user electronic device, the query representing at least one entry from a first user in at least one of a plurality of fields of a query screen;

generating at the computing device, in response to the query, a result set including a subset of users of the media distribution service, the subset of users corresponding to the at least one entry;

storing media preference information associated with each member of the subset of users of the media distribution service in a memory of the computing device, wherein the media preference information comprises a history of media played by each member of the subset of users and a history of media distributed to each member of the subset of users by the media distribution service;

compiling, at the computing device, at least one distribution history data set for each member of the subset of users that includes the media preference information associated with each of the subset of users;

combining, at the computing device, the at least one distribution history data set for each member of the subset of users to form a combined distribution history data set;

generating a list of the subset of users based on the at least one entry that includes information from the combined distribution history data set; and

transferring information from at least one of the distribution history data set and the combined distribution history data set to the user electronic device, the information in a format editable by the first user.

44. The method of claim 43 further comprising receiving data representing the first user'"'"'s assigned name for each member of the subset of users and associating such name with each member of the subset of users.

45. The method of claim 43 further comprising receiving data representing the first user'"'"'s instruction to add or remove members from the subset of users.

46. The method of claim 43 wherein the the at least one entry comprises at least one of a name or identifier, a genre, an age or age range, a gender, an address or geographic location, and an email address.