Abstract: A system and method for allowing a user to more effectively generate focused content results, including audio and/or video content. Content is dynamically filtered to generate content results in response to initial filtering settings or characteristics. The content results are provided to a user. Once the user finds and selects a content result of interest, additional filtering characteristics associated with the selected result are provided to the user as a suggestion for additional filtering. In this manner, the user is made aware of additional filtering settings or characteristics that can be used to focus the search results. Subsequent filter settings and filtering operations can be based on characteristics of previous relevant results in an iterative and dynamic manner. Focused results are more likely produced, because additional filtering settings are provided and adjusted according to characteristics of results deemed relevant by the user.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system are provided for populating the content repository of the media service based on real-time media recommendation network comprising a plurality of peer devices. Aspects of the method and system include receiving by a server a recommendation from one of the plurality of peer devices for a media item that is intended for a recipient; determining if the media item is present in the content repository; in response to determining that the media item is not present in the content repository, requesting that the peer device upload the media item; and in response to the media item being uploaded, storing the media item in the content repository.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for identifying one or more media items played within a geographic area selected by a user. In one embodiment, a media service tracks play histories for a number of users registered with the media service, where each play history identifies media items played by the corresponding user as well as the locations at which at least a subset of the media items were played by the corresponding user. The media service enables a requesting user to select or otherwise define one or more geographic areas of interest. Then, based on the play histories, the media service identifies one or more media items played within the one or more geographic areas of interest. The media service then provides data reflecting the one or more media items played within the one or more geographic areas of interest to a device of the requesting user.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for simulating recommendations for unavailable users in a social media recommendation network. In general, the social media recommendation network is formed such that each user in the social media recommendation network sends and receives recommendations from their friends. When one of the users in the social media recommendation network is unavailable, a recommendation simulator operates to simulate recommendations from the unavailable user. When the user once again becomes available, the recommendation simulator ceases simulation of recommendations from the user.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for place-shifting media items. In general, a media zone broker operates to enable place-shifting of media items shared with the media zone by associated users among user devices of the associated users in such a manner that each media item is played by at most a number (N) of the user devices at any one time. The number (N) is a function of collective rights to the media item of one or more of the users sharing the media item in the media zone. In one embodiment, the number (N) is the number of users sharing the media item in the media zone or a function of the number of users sharing the media item in the media zone.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for discovering new friends using recommendation paths in a media recommendation network. In general, media items are recommended among users in a media recommendation network. Use of media items by the users is monitored. If the use of a media item by a user exceeds a threshold, a determination is made as to whether the media item was recommended to the user. If so, that recommendation is identified as a highly valued recommendation for that user. Thereafter, when the user desires to identify new friends from which to receive recommendations and to which to send recommendations, a recommendation path for the highly valued recommendation is identified. Users in the recommendation path that are not already friends of the user are identified as potential new friends for the user.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for enabling a user to control or adjust importance levels assigned to tags by manipulating corresponding tag representations or a tag group representation displayed to the user. In one embodiment, tag representations for a number of tags are displayed to a user. The tags are generally any criterion used to describe or classify digital content. In one embodiment, the user is enabled to resize, or otherwise manipulate, the tag representations to thereby adjust the importance level of the corresponding tags. In another embodiment, tags are classified into at least one tag group. A tag group representation corresponding to the tag group is displayed to the user. The user is then enabled to resize, or otherwise manipulate, the tag group representation to thereby adjust an importance level of each of the tags in the tag group.

Abstract: A friends-based low-threat response service for subscribers in one or more mobile communications networks is provided. In general, in a low-threat situation, a subscriber initiates a request to the low-threat response service via the subscriber's mobile device. The low-threat response service identifies a friend of the subscriber or a friend-of-a-friend of the subscriber that is geographically proximate to the subscriber as a responder. The low-threat response service then establishes communication between the subscriber and the responder or notifies the subscriber that the responder is coming to provide assistance. The low-threat response service may also effect presentation of information at a mobile device of the responder directing the responder to the subscriber, information at the mobile device of the subscriber directing the subscriber to the responder, or both.

Abstract: A method and system for scoring media items are provided. In general, a number of media categories are defined. Each of the media categories is defined by at least one criterion such as at least one genre, at least one artist, or the like, or any combination thereof. For each of the media categories, weights are assigned to a number of time periods. Thus, a weight assigned to a particular time period, such as a decade, may vary between media categories. In one embodiment, the criteria defining the media categories and the weights assigned to the time periods within each of the media categories are user-defined. Media items are then matched to the media categories and scored as a function of the weights assigned to the time periods for the matching media categories.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for intelligently, or programmatically, assigning weights for one or more criterion utilized to score media content items based on an analysis of a group of media content items. In general, scoring criteria to be used to score media content items for a user are defined. A group of media content items associated with the user is then analyzed with respect to the criteria to provide results such as a number or percentage of media content items from the group of media content items that satisfy each of the scoring criteria. Based on the results of the analysis, a weight is assigned to each of the scoring criteria. Thereafter, media content items are scored for the user as a function of the weights assigned to the scoring criteria.

Abstract: A system and method of allowing a recipient to control and customize filtering of recommenders in a media item recommendation system. Filtering recommenders allows the recipient to control from which recommenders media item recommendations can be received. Recommenders may be filtered using a tag associated by the recipient with the recommender. The tag may be any attribute. If the recommender is tagged with the attribute matching a current selection criterion established by the recipient, media item recommendations from the recommender may be sent to the recipient. If the recommender is not tagged with the attribute matching the current selection criterion, the recommender is filtered out and the media item recommendation from the recommender may not be sent to the recipient. The recipient may define the current selection criterion by setting a presentation channel.

Abstract: Systems and methods for allowing media recommendations to be hyped in a media recommendation system. Recommenders desiring to emphasize a particular media recommendations sent to recipients can “hype” the media recommendation. Hyping is a request for the media recommendation to be used or played sooner by the recipient that it otherwise would if the media recommendation were not hyped. Typically, hyping a media recommendation increases its priority or order of placement in a recipient's media queue, which controls the order of usage or play. The higher the placement, the sooner the media recommendation may be used or played by the recipient. A hype score may be calculated for a hyped media's recommendation to control the order of placement of hyped media recommendations in the recipient's media queue. The hype score may be a function of a hype value and a natural score as if the media recommendation were not hyped.

Abstract: A system and method of prioritizing the downloading of media items to different user devices in a media item recommendation system is disclosed. A media server prioritizes the downloading of a recommended media item according to when each user device needs to receive the recommended media item to satisfy a timing constraint. For example, the timing constraint may be the time before the media item is to be played in a playlist according to a media item recommendation scoring system. User devices having a more immediate timing need for receiving a media item download can be prioritized over user devices having a less immediate need for receiving a media item download. In this manner, the media server is more likely to provide timely media item downloads to all the different user devices.

Abstract: A system and method of contextually filtering content presented to a user on a mobile device based on contextual tagging. The user controls how content will be filtered by the mobile device by creating contextual tags and associating or tagging content with the contextual tags. The contextual tag includes a contextual behavior that is either satisfied or not based on the current context of the mobile device. During operation, content accessible to the mobile device is searched to determine which contextual tags are met based on the current context of the mobile device. Content tagged with contextual tags whose behavior is currently met based on the current context of the mobile device are filtered and presented to the user. This allows the automatic presentation of a more manageable subgroup of content to the user on the mobile device based on the current context of the mobile device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a peer-to-peer (P2P) network for providing real time media recommendations. The P2P network includes a central server interconnecting a number of peer devices. In operation, a proxy function of the central server receives media recommendations from one or more peer devices that are active and online as media presentations identified by the media recommendations are played by the peer devices. The one or more peer devices are included in a group of peer devices associated with a first peer device. The proxy function provides the media recommendations to the first peer device. An augmentation function of the central server monitors a recommendation level of the first peer device. If the recommendation level falls below a minimum recommendation level, the augmentation function augments the media recommendations provided to the first peer device to increase the recommendation level to or above the minimum recommendation level.

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.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for matching participants in a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) recommendation network that is loosely coupled to a subscription music service. In general, the system includes a central server and a number of peer devices. For each of the peer devices, an associated user is either a subscriber to the subscription music service or a non-subscriber. When a user of a peer device desires to identify new friends with which to exchange recommendations in the P2P recommendation network, a friend recommendation function of the central server identifies new friends for the user of the peer device based on the user's status as either a subscriber or a non-subscriber to the subscription music service.

Abstract: A media recommendation system for recommending media content that is historically related to seed media content is provided. The recommended media content may be songs, television programs, movies, or a combination thereof, and the seed media content may be a song, television program, or movie.

Abstract: A system and method for assigning user preference settings for fields in a category using selected settings for only a subset of the media category fields is disclosed. A subset of fields for a media category is defined. A base setting for each field in the subset of the category fields is established. The base setting may be a weight or preference value. The base setting may be established by the user selecting a base setting or may be a default base setting. Once a user selects the settings for the subset of category fields, a set weight for the fields in the category not in the subset is determined using the base setting. That is possible because the fields in the subset of category fields are chosen from fields that contain aspects and attributes of the other fields.

Abstract: A system and method for archiving a user's media collection are provided. In general, a central archiving system stores high-quality versions of a number of known media files and a number of known encoding algorithms. First, each media file in the user's media collection and an encoding algorithm used to encode each media file are classified as either known or unknown to the archiving server. For each known media file encoded with a known encoding algorithm, the archive includes information identifying the media file, information identifying the encoding algorithm for the media file, and optionally the one or more quality parameters such as bit rate, sampling frequency, and the like for the media file. For each unknown media file and/or media file encoded with an unknown CODEC or encoding algorithm, the archive includes the media file, which is uploaded and stored at the archiving system.