Media sequencing method to provide location-relevant entertainment

• US 9,031,939 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2008
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gotham Studios, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Peter Neal Nissen
• Inventors: Nissen, Peter Neal
• Primary Examiner(s): Leroux, Etienne
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAYE, CHELCIE L
• Application Number:
  US12/286,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20090094257A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,413 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/724, 701/207, 701/211, 701/431, 701/468
• US Class Current: 707/724
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/387 using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/437 Administration of user profiles, e.g. generation, initialisation, adaptation, distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/444 Spatial browsing, e.g. 2D maps, 3D or virtual spaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/487 using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/732 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/738 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/78 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/787 using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/69 using geographic information, e.g. room number
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A media player application residing on a location-aware handheld device, in-vehicle navigation system, or in-airplane entertainment system responds to location signals and plays a plurality of location-relevant media assets that are automatically selected and sequenced to create the impression of a cohesive entertainment program. From the user'"'"'s direction and speed, the application creates a forecast of assumed motion, plans the media program accordingly, and changes the program if the motion changes. The application filters and prioritizes assets of various lengths and with various degrees of geographic specificity, ranging from very specific such as announcements about Points of Interest (POIs) to very broad such as songs about states. POIs are announced with a notation that identifies the distance to the POI and an indication whether it is on the left or right. The audio describing relative location (prefix) is grafted to the audio describing the location (suffix) in a way that creates the impression that the narrator says it as one sentence. The assets reside on a central server and cached locally and are transmitted when needed to the vehicle as required by the user'"'"'s location.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

determining current location information;

determining whether an object is moving, wherein determining includes comparing the current location information with previous location information;

calculating future location information;

filtering, on a computing device, one or more points of interest using the future location information;

matching one or more media assets to the filtered one or more points of interest;

determining a current score for each matched media asset, wherein determining a current score includes determining a window in which the matched one or more media assets are geographically relevant and appropriate to the future location information, and wherein determining a current score includes updating matched media asset scores when the future location information changes;

dynamically generating an ordered playlist according to the future location information, wherein dynamically generating an ordered playlist includes repeatedly prioritizing and sequencing the one or more matched media assets according to the current score for each matched media asset; and

playing the ordered playlist.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining current location information includes calculating a buffer that corresponds to the current location information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein filtering includes using the future location information to determine an area of visibility, and prioritizing when one or more points of interest within the area of visibility are played.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein filtering includes calculating a buffer corresponding to a geometric shape or a line.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying one or more predetermined preferences to each matched media asset.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

periodically receiving updated location information;

determining whether the object is moving; and

calculating updated future location information when the object is moving.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the ordered playlist is displayed.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein matched media assets are concurrently playable.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein played matched media assets are recorded.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more points of interest are stored.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more points of interest are received.

10. A computer-implemented system, comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums containing instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including;

determining current location information;

determining whether an object is moving, wherein determining includes comparing the current location information with previous location information;

calculating future location information;

filtering, on a computing device, one or more points of interest using the future location information;

matching one or more media assets to the filtered one or more points of interest;

determining a current score for each matched media asset, wherein determining a current score includes determining a window in which the matched one or more media assets are geographically relevant and appropriate to the future location information, and wherein determining a current score includes updating matched media asset scores when the future location information changes;

dynamically generating an ordered playlist according to the future location information, wherein dynamically generating an ordered playlist includes repeatedly prioritizing and sequencing the one or more matched media assets according to the current score for each matched media asset; and

playing the ordered playlist.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein determining current location information includes calculating a buffer that corresponds to the current location information.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein filtering includes determining an area of visibility using one or more geometric calculations.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein filtering includes calculating a buffer corresponding to a geometric shape or a line.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:

applying one or more predetermined preferences to each matched media asset.

15. The system of claim 10, further comprising instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:

periodically receiving updated location information;

determining whether the object is moving; and

calculating updated future location information when the object is moving.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the ordered playlist is displayed.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein matched media assets are concurrently playable.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein played matched media assets are recorded.

30. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more points of interest are stored.

31. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more points of interest are received.

19. A computer-program product, tangibly embodied in a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, including instructions configured to cause a data processing apparatus to:

determine current location information;

determine whether an object is moving, wherein determining includes comparing the current location information with previous location information;

calculate future location information;

filter, on a computing device, one or more points of interest using the future location information;

match one or more media assets to the filtered one or more points of interest;

determine a current score for each matched media asset, wherein determining a current score includes determining a window in which the matched one or more media assets are geographically relevant and appropriate to the future location information, and wherein determining a current score includes updating matched media asset scores when the future location information changes;

dynamically generate an ordered playlist according to the future location information, wherein dynamically generating an ordered playlist includes repeatedly prioritizing and sequencing the one or more matched media assets according to the current score for each matched media asset; and

play the ordered playlist.

20. The computer-program product of claim 19, wherein determining current location information includes calculating a buffer that corresponds to the current location information.

21. The computer-program product of claim 19, wherein filtering includes determining an area of visibility using one or more geometric calculations.

22. The computer-program product of claim 19, wherein filtering includes calculating a buffer corresponding to a geometric shape or a line.

23. The computer-program product of claim 19, further comprising instructions configured to cause a data processing apparatus to:

applying one or more predetermined preferences to each matched media asset.

24. The computer-program product of claim 19, further comprising instructions configured to cause a data processing apparatus to:

periodically receive updated location information;

determine whether the object is moving; and

calculate updated future location information when the object is moving.

25. The computer-program product of claim 19, wherein the ordered playlist is displayed.

26. The computer-program product of claim 19, wherein matched media assets are concurrently playable.

27. The computer-program product of claim 19, wherein played matched media assets are recorded.

32. The computer-program product of claim 19, wherein the one or more points of interest are stored.

33. The computer-program product of claim 19, wherein the one or more points of interest are received.