MEDIA CONTENT PROGRAMMING, DELIVERY, AND CONSUMPTION

• US 20090282093A1
• Filed: 05/06/2008
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Estrada, Julio, Allard, James E., Andrews, Anton O.
• Granted Patent: US 8,275,880 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A media content programming, delivery, and consumption model is provided by which consumers can receive programming that is personalized to their tastes and interests and discover new media content that they will likely enjoy, without having to put in a lot of effort or needing to be technically adept. The received media content programming can then be played on a PC or portable media player. Consumers can access the media content programming from a cloud-based service with the same ease as tuning to a radio station, and then may simply enjoy the programming without needing to take any additional steps. However, unlike traditional linear programming, the programming here is curated so that the delivered content is highly relevant to the consumer. Navigation within a programmed sequence is enabled by skipping ahead or going back in a playlist, and consumers can learn more about particular content by interacting with rich metadata.

Claims

1. A method for programming media content into a playlist for online delivery by a service to a remote client, the method comprising the steps of:

collecting statistics pertaining to a community of users of the service, the statistics including identity of media content and associated consumption by the community of users;

collecting information that is specific to a user, the information comprising one of social graph of the user, user profile, media content collected on the remote client, or preferences of the user;

creating a curated experience for the user by selecting media content for inclusion into the playlist responsively to the statistics and information; and

delivering the playlist to the remote client via an online interface, the delivering being subject to terms of use between the user and the service.

2. The method of claim 1 including a further step of providing metadata associated with the media content in the playlist to the client via the online interface.

3. The method of claim 2 including a further step of configuring the metadata to include information pertaining to at least one of artist, album, group, album artwork, production, composer, label, lyrics, liner notes, interviews, discographies, remixes, alternative versions, commentary, reviews, ratings, or dedications.

4. The method of claim 2 including a further step of configuring the metadata to include information pertaining to at least one of actor, director, producer, studio, outtakes, bloopers, alternative endings, director cuts, special editions, unrated versions, interviews, commentary, reviews, ratings, making of documentaries, behind-the-scene footage, or deleted scenes.

5. The method of claim 1 including a further step of receiving manual input to the step of creating to adjust or fine tune the playlist.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the terms of use support one of advertising-based business model or subscription-based business model.

7. The method of claim 1 in which the terms of use reflect licensing terms with one or more owners of the media content, or reflect DRM restrictions that are applicable to one or more pieces of media content in the playlist.

8. The method of claim 1 in which the terms of use include a limitation on a number of playlists to which the user subscribes, or a limitation on a number of playlists which are delivered to the client.

9. A computer-readable medium containing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors disposed in an electronic device, implements a client arranged for interacting with media content received from a service, the client performing a method comprising the steps of:

receiving the media content arranged in a form of one or more playlists, each of the one or more playlists comprising a linear programmed sequence in which the media content is renderable by the electronic device, and the one or more playlists being programmed by the service in a curated manner to personalize the one or more playlists to consumers of the service;

storing the received media content on a persistent storage medium disposed in the electronic device;

accepting user input received by a user interface, the user input indicating commands for navigating within the linear programmed sequence, the navigating including skipping ahead to a first point in the linear programmed sequence or going back to a second point in the linear programmed sequence; and

executing the navigation commands so that the electronic device renders the media content from either the first point or the second point in the linear programmed sequence.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 in which the method includes a further step of enforcing limitations of terms of use between a provider of the service and a consumer of the service.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 in which the method includes a further step of enforcing limitations of digital rights management or licensing schemes that pertain to the media content.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 in which the method includes a further step of accepting user input from the user interface that flags media content for purchase.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 in which the method includes a further step of providing a portal to a facility for effectuating the purchase.

14. A portable media player, comprising:

an interface for operatively communicating with a networked host device, the host device being configured for receiving media content that is programmed into a playlist from a service over a network, the service programming the playlist using a programming, delivery, and consumption model that curates the playlist to a targeted group of users;

a cache arranged for caching the playlist to enable the portable media player to render the media content in the playlist when the portable media player is disconnected from operative connection with the host device;

a user interface arranged for receiving navigation commands input by a user of the portable media player for navigating forwards or backwards to a preset navigation point in the playlist; and

a client configured for i) transferring the playlist from the host device, ii) writing the playlist to the cache, and iii) executing the navigation commands so that the portable media player renders media content from the playlist from the preset navigation point.

15. The portable media player of claim 14 in which the host device is one of PC, game console, set-top box, or network access point.

16. The portable media player of claim 14 in which the targeted group comprises casual users.

17. The portable media player of claim 14 in which the programming, delivery, and consumption model provides an unattended user experience by which the media content from the playlist plays in a linear programmed sequence.

18. The portable media player of claim 14 including further functionality provided by one of PDA, smart phone, mobile phone, MP3 player, multimedia player, game device, or handheld computer.

19. The portable media player of claim 14 in which the interface comprises a communications interface selected from one of wired interface or wireless interface.

20. The portable media player of claim 14 in which the media content comprises one of audio or video, the audio being selected from a group consisting essentially of music, audio book, podcast, news, or commentary, the video being selected from the group consisting essentially of television program, music video, video clip, movie, or feature film.