Method and system for providing listener-requested music over a network

• US 7,720,686 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2002
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pandora Media LLC (Liberty Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Reed, Erik, Volk, Andrew R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes; John W
• Assistant Examiner(s): JOSEPH, TONYA S
• Application Number:
  US10/416,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20040019497A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,722 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 709/219
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• 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: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• 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 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format

Abstract

A system and method for providing personalized music playback over a network. Via a browser, a user computer may be connected to a server and the user may tune to one of a plurality of radio stations. The user may receive a playlist of songs in the musical style of the radio station selected by the user. The playlist includes a plurality of unique identifiers for each song that indicate a location on the Internet from which the song may be streamingly transmitted to a media player for playback on the user'"'"'s computer. Additionally, each user may submit requests for songs which that user desires to be included on a future playlist. For each radio station, requests from a plurality of users are aggregated over a predetermined time period to determine which songs are most requested. A user request for a song may be time-delayed or satisfied in real-time.

Claims

1. A method of providing content to a user over a network comprising the steps of:

(a) transmitting a current playlist to the user over a first time period having a start time and an end time, the current playlist having been previously compiled;

(b) determining a user input time period;

the user input time period having a start time at or after the first time period'"'"'s start time and an end time at or before said first time period'"'"'s end time, said user input time period being a single predetermined time period;

(c) collecting, by a station server computer, input from the user during said user input time period, the input being content desired by the user over the network;

(d) compiling, by the station server computer, a new content playlist based on the collected user input received during the user input time period, said new content playlist being compiled subsequent to expiration of said user input time period; and

(e) transmitting the new content playlist to each of a plurality of users.

2. A method as recited by claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of users has a computer having a media player installed thereon and operable in connection with a processor thereof, and wherein said method further comprises the step of providing computer software code to each of the plurality of users for receiving a plurality of Web pages and for receiving the content playlist, the computer software causing the media player to request and receive each of the plurality of content in the content playlist.

3. A method as recited by claim 1, further comprising filtering the content prior to including it in the new content playlist and prior to transmitting the new content playlist to each of the plurality of users, said filtering determining whether content may be added to the new content playlist in accordance with content license restrictions.

4. A method as recited by claim 1, wherein said step (d) comprises compiling a new content playlist having a predetermined play duration.

5. A method as recited by claim 4, wherein the predetermined play duration is equal to or less than one hour.

6. A method as recited by claim 4, wherein the predetermined play duration is equal to or greater than one hour.

7. A method as recited by claim 1, wherein the content is a plurality of songs and wherein the new content playlist comprises a plurality of unique identifiers for each of the plurality of songs in the new content playlist.

8. A method as recited by claim 7, wherein each of said plurality of unique identifiers includes a url identifying a location from which each of the plurality of songs may be streamed to each of the plurality of users.

9. A method as recited by claim 7, wherein the content is also an advertisement and wherein the new content playlist further comprises a unique identifier for the advertisement.

10. A method as recited by claim 9, wherein each of said unique identifiers for the advertisement includes a url identifying a location from which the advertisement may be streamed to each of the plurality of users.

11. A method as recited by claim 1, wherein said step (e) comprises simultaneously transmitting the new content playlist to each of the plurality of users.

12. A method as recited by claim 1, wherein said step (e) comprises transmitting the new content playlist to each of the plurality of users for automatic playback by each user.

13. A method as recited by claim 1, wherein each user input is a user request for a song.

14. A method as recited by claim 1, further comprising the step of continuously performing steps (b) through (e).

15. A method as recited by claim 1, wherein said step (d) is carried out upon expiration of the predetermined time period of said step (b).

16. A method as recited by claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting to each of the plurality of users information regarding an item of content requested by a requesting user; and

providing each of the plurality of users a link for communicating with the requesting user.

17. A method of providing content to a user based upon input received from a plurality of users, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) determining a user input time period;

the user input time period having a start time at or after a first time period'"'"'s start time and an end time at or before said first time period'"'"'s end time, said user input time period being a single predetermined time period;

(b) aggregating, by a station server computer, during said user input time period, user input received from the plurality of users in connection with a playlist provided over said first time period;

(c) compiling, by the station server computer, a new content playlist based on the aggregated user input, said new content playlist being compiled subsequent to expiration of said user input time period; and

(d) transmitting said new content playlist to each of the plurality of users.

18. A method as recited by claim 17, wherein each input from the plurality of users is a user request for a song.

19. A method as recited by claim 17, further comprising the step of continuously performing steps (b) through (d).

20. A method as recited by claim 17, wherein said step (c) is carried out upon expiration of the predetermined time period of said step (a).

21. A method as recited by claim 17, wherein said first time period has a duration that is variable.

22. A method as recited by claim 17, wherein the first time period has a duration that is equal to or less than one hour.

23. A method as recited by claim 17, wherein the first time period has a duration that is equal to or greater than one hour.

24. A method as recited by claim 17, wherein the new content playlist comprises a plurality of unique identifiers for identifying each of a plurality of songs.

25. A method as recited by claim 24, wherein each of said plurality of unique identifiers includes a url identifying a location from which each of the plurality of songs may be streamed to the user.

26. A method as recited by claim 24, wherein the new content playlist also comprises a unique identifier for identifying an advertisement.

27. A method as recited by claim 26, wherein said unique identifier for identifying the advertisement includes a url identifying a location from which the advertisement may be streamed to the user.

28. A method as recited by claim 17, wherein said step (d) comprises simultaneously transmitting said new content playlist to each of the plurality of users.

29. A method as recited by claim 17, wherein said step (d) comprises transmitting said new content playlist to each of the plurality of users for automatic playback by each user.

30. A method as recited by claim 17, further comprising:

transmitting to the user information regarding an item of content provided in step (b) requested by a requesting user; and

providing the user a link for communicating with the requesting user.

31. A system for compiling a playlist of a plurality of content and for providing the playlist to a user having a computer connectable to a network, said system being connectable to the network and comprising:

a server having a processor operable in connection with software loaded on said server for;

providing over a network to each of a plurality of users, each user having a user computer, a plurality of Web pages and a current content playlist, the current content playlist having been previously compiled, the current content playlist being provided over a first time period, the first time period having a start time and an end time;

receiving a plurality of inputs from each or the plurality of users via one or more of the plurality of Web pages, each input being related to specific content;

aggregating the plurality of inputs for the same specific content over a predetermined time period, the predetermined time period having a start time at or after the first time period'"'"'s start time and an end time at or before the first time period'"'"'s end time, said aggregating ending with expiration of the predetermined time period;

compiling a new content playlist based on the aggregated input from the plurality of users, said new content playlist being determined upon expiration of the predetermined time period, the predetermined time period being a single predetermined time period, and the content included in the new content playlist is determined using the user input received in the single predetermined period of time; and

transmitting the new content playlist to the user.

32. A system as recited by claim 31, wherein said system further comprises a content server connectable to the network, said content server providing content to the user based on the content playlist.

33. A system as recited by claim 31, wherein said processor is further operable in connection with the software on said server for providing computer software code to each of the plurality of users for receiving a plurality of Web pages and for receiving the content playlist, the computer software causing a media player on each user'"'"'s computer to request and receive each of the plurality of content in the content playlist.

34. A system as recited by claim 32, wherein said processor is further operable in connection with the software on said server for providing computer software code to each of the plurality of users for receiving a plurality of Web pages and for receiving the content playlist, the computer software causing a media player on each user'"'"'s computer to request and receive each of the plurality of content in the content playlist from said content server.

35. A system as recited by claim 31, wherein said processor is further operable in connection with the software on said server for compiling the new content playlist comprising a plurality of unique identifiers for identifying each of a plurality of songs.

36. A system as recited by claim 35, wherein each of said plurality of unique identifiers includes a url identifying a location from which each of the plurality of songs may be streamed to the user.

37. A system as recited by claim 35, wherein the new content playlist also comprises a unique identifier for identifying an advertisement.

38. A system as recited by claim 37, wherein said unique identifier for identifying the advertisement includes a url identifying a location from which the advertisement may be streamed to the user.

39. A system as recited by claim 31, wherein said server has a data storage device and wherein said system further comprises a plurality of databases stored on said data storage device.

40. A system as recited by claim 39, wherein said plurality of databases include a song database, a user database, and a station database.

41. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein the server is effective to

transmit to the user information regarding an item of content requested by a requesting user;

and

provide each of the plurality of users a link for communicating with the requesting user.

42. A method of providing audio content over a network to a user comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a plurality of Web pages to the user and a current content playlist the current content playlist having been previously compiled, the current content playlist being provided over a first time period, the first time period having a start time and an end time;

(b) receiving a plurality of requests for audio content from a plurality of users via one or more of the plurality of Web pages;

(c) aggregating, by a station server computer, the plurality of requests for audio content over a predetermined time period, the predetermined time period having a start time at or after the first time period'"'"'s start time and an end time at or before the first time period'"'"'s end time, said aggregating ending with expiration of the predetermined time period;

(d) compiling, by the station server computer, a new content playlist of certain of the plurality of requested audio content based on the aggregated plurality of requests, said new content playlist being determined upon expiration of the predetermined time period, the predetermined time period being a single predetermined time period, and the content included in the new content playlist is determined using the requests received from the plurality of users in the single predetermined period of time; and

(e) transmitting the new content playlist to the user.

43. A method as recited by claim 42, wherein the user has a computer having a media player installed thereon and operable in connection with a processor thereof, and wherein said method further comprises the step of providing computer software code to the user for receiving the new content playlist and for causing the media player to request and receive each of the audio content on the new content playlist.

44. A method as recited by claim 42, wherein the audio content is a plurality of songs and wherein the new content playlist comprises a plurality of unique identifiers for each of the plurality of songs in the playlist.

45. A method as recited by claim 44, wherein each unique identifier includes a url identifying a location from which each of the plurality of songs may be streamed to the user.

46. A method as recited by claim 44, wherein the audio content is also an advertisement and wherein the new content playlist further comprises a unique identifier for the advertisement.

47. A method as recited by claim 46, wherein said unique identifier for the advertisement includes a url identifying a location from which the advertisement may be streamed to each of the plurality of users.

48. A method as recited by claim 42, wherein said step (e) comprises simultaneously transmitting the new content playlist to a plurality of users.

49. A method as recited by claim 42, wherein said step (e) comprises transmitting the new content playlist to a plurality of users for automatic playback by each user.

50. A method as recited by claim 42, further comprising the step of continuously performing steps (b) through (e).

51. A method as recited by claim 42, further comprising:

transmitting to the user information regarding an item of audio content requested by a requesting user; and

providing the user a link for communicating with the requesting user.