Heavy influencer media recommendations

• US 8,620,699 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2006
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Concert Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Napo Enerprises, LLC (Concert Technology Corporation)
• Inventors: Svendsen, Hugh
• Primary Examiner(s): SCOTT, RANDY A
• Application Number:
  US11/463,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20090083116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,702 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 705/14, 705/15, 705/13, 705/105
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/637 Administration of user profiles, e.g. generation, initialization, adaptation or distribution
• 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: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A system and method for providing media recommendations, such as music recommendations, based on information identifying media recently played by a select group of heavy influencers for a subscription fee are provided. The group of heavy influencers may be a group of one or more celebrities or other persons whose media selections may heavily influence media selections of the users of the system.

Claims

1. A method of operating a central server to provide media recommendations to a client media player of a user, comprising:

obtaining a user selection of one or more heavy influencers, the user selection based upon input from the user of the client media player;

determining user preferences and filter criteria associated with the user of the client media player;

receiving, from media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers, media identification information identifying one or more media presentations in response to the one or more media presentations being played by the media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers, each of the one or more media presentations being a song or a video;

filtering the media identification information based on the filter criteria to remove media identification information identifying media presentations that are not to be recommended;

after filtering the media identification information, the central server selecting a first recommended media presentation from the one or more media presentations played by the media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers based on the user preferences;

after selecting the first recommended media presentation, providing a first recommendation for the first recommended media presentation to the client media player of the user;

receiving, from the media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers, second media identification information identifying one or more second media presentations in response to the one or more second media presentations being subsequently played by the media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers, each of the one or more second media presentations being a song or a video;

filtering the second media identification information based on the filter criteria to remove second media identification information identifying second media presentations that are not to be recommended;

after filtering the second media identification information, the central server selecting a second recommended media presentation from the second media presentations identified by the second media identification information based on the user preferences; and

after selecting the second recommended media presentation, providing a second recommendation for the second recommended media presentation to the client media player of the user.

2. The method of claim 1 obtaining the user selection of the one or more heavy influencers comprises obtaining one or more individually selected heavy influencers as the user selection.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining the user selection of the one or more heavy influencers comprises obtaining one or more selected predefined groups of heavy influencers as the user selection.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the one or more heavy influencers is a person having substantial influence over media presentations played by other persons.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the of one or more heavy influencers is a celebrity.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the media identification information comprises receiving the media identification information in substantially real time as the one or more media presentations identified by the media identification information are played by the media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the central server is communicatively coupled to the media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers via a network, receiving the media identification information comprises receiving the media identification information at the central server, and selecting the first recommended media presentation comprises selecting the first recommended media presentation at the central server.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the client media player is communicatively coupled to the central server via the network, and the first recommended media presentation is selected and the first recommendation for the first recommended media presentation is provided to the client media player for a subscription fee.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the first recommendation comprises information identifying the first recommended media presentation.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the first recommendation comprises automatically providing the first recommendation to the client media player once a previous recommendation has expired.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the first recommendation comprises providing the first recommendation to the client media player upon request.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the first recommendation comprises a preview of the first recommended media presentation.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the first recommendation comprises the first recommended media presentation.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the first and second recommended media presentations comprises identifying media presentations stored on the client media player of the user and filtering the media identification information and second media identification information based on the media presentations stored on the client media player of the user.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the first and second recommended media presentations comprises selecting the first and second recommended media presentations without identifying media presentations stored on the client media player of the user.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the first and second recommended media presentations comprises selecting the first and second recommended media presentations based on media identification information from only the media players of the one or more heavy influencers.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the second recommendation to the client media player comprises providing the second recommendation to the client media player prior to the client media player completing playback of the first recommended media presentation corresponding to the first recommendation.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the second media identification information corresponds to the one or more second media presentations played by the media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers at a time later than the first recommended media presentation was selected.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the first recommended media presentation corresponds to the last media item played by the media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers at a time of selection of the first recommended media presentation.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the second recommended media presentation corresponds to the next media item played by the media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers after the first recommended media presentation was played by the media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more media presentations played by the media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers are played by the media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers without influence from the first or second recommendation.

22. A method of operating a central server to provide media recommendations to a client media player of a user, comprising:

obtaining a user selection of one or more heavy influencers, the user selection based upon input from the user of the client media player;

determining user preferences and filter criteria associated with the user of the client media player;

receiving, from media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers, media identification information identifying one or more media presentations in response to the one or more media presentations being played by the media players

associated with the one or more heavy influencers, each of the one or more media presentations being a song or a video;

filtering the media identification information based on the filter criteria to remove media identification information identifying media presentations that are not to be recommended;

after filtering the media identification information, the central server selecting a first recommended media presentation from the one or more media presentations played by the media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers based on the user preferences;

after selecting the first recommended media presentation, providing a first recommendation for the first recommended media presentation to the client media player of the user;

receiving, from the media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers, second media identification information identifying one or more second media presentations in response to the one or more second media presentations being played by the media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers, each of the one or more second media presentations being a song or a video;

filtering the second media identification information based on the filter criteria to remove second media identification information identifying second media presentations that are not to be recommended;

after filtering the second media identification information, the central server selecting a second recommended media presentation from a plurality of media presentations comprising the one or more media presentations identified by the media identification information and the one or more second media presentations identified by the second media identification information based on the user preferences; and

after selecting the second recommended media presentation, providing a second recommendation for the second recommended media presentation to the client media player of the user.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein each of the one or more heavy influencers is a celebrity.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein receiving the media identification information comprises receiving the media identification information in substantially real time as the one or more media presentations identified by the media identification information are played by the media associated with the one or more heavy influencers.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the central server is communicatively coupled to the media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers via a network, receiving the media identification information comprises receiving the media identification information at the central server, and selecting the first recommended media presentation comprises selecting the first recommended media presentation at the central server.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the client media player is communicatively coupled to the central server via the network, and the first recommended media presentation is selected and the first recommendation for the recommended media presentation is provided to the client media player for a subscription fee.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein the first recommendation comprises information identifying the first recommended media presentation.

28. The method of claim 22 wherein providing the first recommendation comprises automatically providing the first recommendation to the client media player once a previous recommendation has expired.

29. The method of claim 22 wherein providing the first recommendation comprises providing the first recommendation to the client media player upon request.

30. The method of claim 22 wherein the first recommendation comprises a preview of the first recommended media presentation.

31. The method of claim 22 wherein the first recommendation comprises the first recommended media presentation.

32. A central server for providing media recommendations comprising:

a communication interface communicatively coupling the central server to one or more media players associated with a plurality of heavy influencers and a client media player associated with a user; and

a control system associated with the communication interface and adapted to;

obtain a user selection of one or more heavy influencers of the plurality of heavy influencers, the user selection based upon input from the user of the client media player;

determine user preferences and filter criteria associated with the user of the client media player;

receive, from media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers, media identification information identifying one or more media presentations in response to the one or more media presentations being played by the media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers, each of the one or more media presentations being a song or a video;

filter the media identification information based on the filter criteria to remove media identification information identifying media presentations that are not to be recommended;

after filtering the media identification information, select a first recommended media presentation for the user from the one or more media presentations played by the media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers based on the user preferences;

after selecting the first recommended media presentation, provide a first recommendation for the first recommended media presentation to the client media player of the user;

receive, from the media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers, second media identification information identifying one or more second media presentations in response to the one or more second media presentations being played by the media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers, each of the one or more second media presentations being a song or a video;

filter the second media identification information based on the filter criteria to remove second media identification information identifying second media presentations that are not to be recommended;

after filtering the second media identification information, select a second recommended media presentation from the second media presentations identified by the second media identification information based on the user preferences; and

after selecting the second recommended media presentation, provide a second recommendation for the second recommended media presentation to the client media player of the user.

33. The central server of claim 32 wherein the user selection of the one or more heavy influencers includes one or more individually selected heavy influencers.

34. The central server of claim 32 wherein the user selection of the one or more heavy influencers includes one or more selected predefined groups of heavy influencers.

35. The central server of claim 32 wherein each of the plurality of heavy influencers is a person having substantial influence over media presentations played by other persons.

36. The central server of claim 32 wherein each of the plurality of heavy influencers is a celebrity.

37. The central server of claim 32 wherein the media identification information is provided to the central server in substantially real time as the one or more media presentations identified by the media identification information are played by the media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers.

38. The central server of claim 32 wherein the control system is further adapted to select the first recommended media presentation for the user from the one or more media presentations including the media presentations identified by the first media identification information and provide an associated recommendation to the client media player for a subscription fee.

39. A method of operating a central server to provide media recommendations to a client media player of a user, comprising:

obtaining a user selection of one or more heavy influencers, the user selection based upon input from the user of the client media player;

determining user preferences and filter criteria associated with the user of the client media player;

receiving, from media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers, media identification information identifying one or more media presentations in response to the one or more media presentations being played by the media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers, each of the one or more media presentations being a song or a video;

filtering the media identification information based on the filter criteria to remove media identification information identifying media presentations that are not to be recommended;

selecting a recommended media presentation from the one or more media presentations played by the media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers based on the user preferences; and

providing a recommendation for the recommended media presentation to the client media player of the user.

40. A central server for providing media recommendations comprising:

a communication interface communicatively coupling the central server to one or more media players associated with a plurality of heavy influencers and a client media player associated with a user; and

a control system associated with the communication interface and adapted to;

obtain a user selection of one or more heavy influencers of the plurality of heavy influencers, the user selection based upon input from the user of the client media player;

determine user preferences and filter criteria associated with the user of the client media player;

receive, from media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers, media identification information identifying one or more media presentations in response to the one or more media presentations being played by the media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers, each of the one or more media presentations being a song or a video;

filter the media identification information based on the filter criteria to remove media identification information identifying media presentations that are not to be recommended;

select a recommended media presentation from the one or more media presentations played by the media players associated with the one or more heavy influencers based on the user preferences; and

provide a recommendation for the recommended media presentation to the client media player of the user.