Hierarchical playlist generator
First Claim
1. A playlist generator apparatus comprising:
- a first selector device connected all the time with at least one database source of material of an Internet-based environment, wherein the first selector device accesses and searches the at least one database source of material and provides therefrom a first subset of identifications of items within the at least one database source of material at a highest hierarchical level, based on a first set of parameters corresponding to a first set of user preferences, further wherein the first selector device accesses and searches the at least one database source of material on a weekly basis to maintain the first subset of identifications of items up to date, the first subset of identifications of items being stored in a database of the playlist generator, anda second selector device operatively coupled subsequent to the first selector device via the database of the playlist generator, wherein the second selector device searches the first subset of identifications stored in the database of the playlist generator at a lower hierarchical level based on a second set of parameters corresponding to a second set of user preferences, and provides at an output of the second selector device a second subset of identifications of items within the at least one database source of material, wherein the second subset corresponds to a playlist that is used by a rendering device for a subsequent rendering of the items identified in the second subset.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A playlist generator implements a net-based playlist generation process that comprises a multi-stage, hierarchical process. At a highest hierarchical level, the playlist generator applies parameters corresponding to a user'"'"'s “general” preferences, wherein the parameters are relatively constant. At a lower level of the hierarchy, the playlist generator applies parameters corresponding to the user'"'"'s “specific” preferences, wherein the parameters are dynamic time-dependent or event-dependent. The playlist generator uses the high-level parameters to generate a subset of material from a global collection of material, and applies the lower-level preferences to this subset of material in response to a change in the user'"'"'s immediate preferences.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A playlist generator apparatus comprising:
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a first selector device connected all the time with at least one database source of material of an Internet-based environment, wherein the first selector device accesses and searches the at least one database source of material and provides therefrom a first subset of identifications of items within the at least one database source of material at a highest hierarchical level, based on a first set of parameters corresponding to a first set of user preferences, further wherein the first selector device accesses and searches the at least one database source of material on a weekly basis to maintain the first subset of identifications of items up to date, the first subset of identifications of items being stored in a database of the playlist generator, and a second selector device operatively coupled subsequent to the first selector device via the database of the playlist generator, wherein the second selector device searches the first subset of identifications stored in the database of the playlist generator at a lower hierarchical level based on a second set of parameters corresponding to a second set of user preferences, and provides at an output of the second selector device a second subset of identifications of items within the at least one database source of material, wherein the second subset corresponds to a playlist that is used by a rendering device for a subsequent rendering of the items identified in the second subset. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system comprising:
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a playlist generator apparatus that provides a set of identifications of select items within at least one database source of material of an Internet-based environment, and a rendering device, operably coupled to the playlist generator apparatus, wherein the rendering device renders the select items in response to the set of identifications of the select items; wherein the playlist generator apparatus includes; a first selector device connected all the time with the at least one database source of material of the Internet-based environment, wherein the first selector device accesses and searches the at least one database source of material and provides therefrom a first subset of identifications of items within the at least one database source of material at a highest hierarchical level, based on a first set of parameters corresponding to a first set of user preferences, further wherein the first selector device accesses and searches the at least one database source of material on a weekly basis to maintain the first subset of identifications of items up to date, the first subset of identifications of items being stored in a database of the playlist generator, and a second selector device operatively coupled subsequent to the first selector device via the database of the playlist generator, wherein the second selector device searches the first subset of identifications stored in the database of the playlist generator at a lower hierarchical level based on a second set of parameters corresponding to a second set of user preferences, and provides at an output of the second selector device the set of identifications of the select items. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of generating a playlist in an entertainment system, comprising:
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accessing and searching via a first selector device, connected all the time with at least one database source of material of an Internet-based environment, the at least one database source of material at a highest hierarchical level based on a first set of parameters corresponding to a first set of user preferences to provide thereby a first subset of identifications of items within the at least one database source of material, wherein accessing and searching further include accessing and searching the at least one database source of material on a weekly basis to maintain the first subset of identifications of items up to date, the first subset of identifications being stored in a database of the entertainment system, and generating the playlist from the first subset of identifications of items stored in the database of the entertainment system, wherein generating includes searching via a second selector device, coupled subsequent to the first selector device via the database of the entertainment system, the first subset of identifications at a subsequent hierarchical level based on a second set of parameters corresponding to a second set of user preferences, and to provide at an output of the second selector device a second subset of identifications of items within the at least one database source of material, wherein the second subset corresponds to the playlist that is used by a rendering device for a subsequent rendering of the items identified in the second subset. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification