Abstract: A device to device network allows an entity to seamlessly access content stored on various devices. Many devices can be registered on a network; however, an entity will only have access to devices for which the entity is authorized to access. In one embodiment, the entity can only access devices that have been authenticated with the same username. While using the device-to device network, an entity can transfer files, stream files, create and use play lists, send commands to various devices and explore the contents of various devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically generating targeting information for presentation of an offer via an online social network using affinity information collected concerning members of online social networks in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically targeting advertising on an online social network using affinity information collected concerning members of one or more online social networks in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes a targeting server configured to obtain data from at least one server that forms part of an online social network, where the obtained data describes member profiles of members of the online social network and activities performed on the online social network associated with the member profiles. In addition, the targeting server is configured to detect affinities between a member profile and keywords based upon data describing activities associated with the member profile and to provide the targeting keywords to a server that is part of the online social network so that the online social network displays the specific offer to online social network members targeted using the targeting keywords.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying and quantifying user activities within a social network and for generating affinity scores for activities that result in a desired outcome are described. One embodiment of the method of the invention includes receiving activity information at a server from user devices, building streams of activity information using the server, relating the streams of activity information to topic data using the server, assigning weights to specific types of activity information that are associated with an advertising campaign using the server, and calculating an affinity score with respect to the advertising campaign based upon the streams of activity information and the weights using the server.

Abstract: Systems and methods for retrieving social network messages and/or web pages in response to search queries are described. One embodiment of the invention includes generating a word list from at least a portion of the content of the web page using a web and message server system, generating an initial list of relevant terms based upon the word list using the web and message server system, identifying additional relevant terms using messages posted to at least one social network based upon the initial list of relevant terms, and creating an updated list of relevant terms by using the web and server system to combine terms in the initial list of relevant terms with the additional relevant terms identified using messages posted to at least one social network.

Abstract: Systems and methods of identifying and retrieving messages that satisfy a search query using the context of the message and term frequencies are provided. One embodiment includes identifying at least one category relevant to the search query, wherein a plurality of scored keywords are associated with each category, selecting at least one of the scored keywords that is relevant to an identified category, performing a plurality of searches of messages from a social networking messaging service to retrieve messages, where at least one search includes retrieving messages based on the original search query and one of the selected scored keywords, scoring the retrieved messages with respect to each of the at least one identified categories using at least the scored keywords relevant to each category, and returning at least the message with the highest score as the search result.

Abstract: A multimedia organization and playback system intelligently organizes media objects, such as music files, and plays back their contents. The system considers and analyzes multiple media object attributes to determine groups of similar songs. As a result, the system delivers a consistent selection of media to the listener despite wide variations in media characteristics and without overburdening the listener with complicated configuration input. The listener may play back grouped songs based on the similarities between songs. Successive selections may be more or less similar to a current selection based on the organization of the music objects.

Abstract: A multimedia organization and playback system intelligently organizes media objects, such as music files, and plays back their contents. The system considers and analyzes multiple media object attributes to determine groups of similar songs. As a result, the system delivers a consistent selection of media to the listener despite wide variations in media characteristics and without overburdening the listener with complicated configuration input. The listener may play back grouped songs based on the similarities between songs. Successive selections may be more or less similar to a current selection based on the organization of the music objects.

Abstract: Systems and methods of identifying and categorizing social network messages that are relevant to selected categories and text terms are provided. The frequency of text terms appearing in social network messages are calculated for multiple categories. Based on the calculated text term frequency, social network messages can be identified and/or categorized that match a provided set of text terms. Selecting and/or associating text terms and categories are determined by repeatedly analyzing social network messages.

Abstract: Activity systems and methods for social networks are provided in which user activities are gathered and matched with advertisers and/or publishers and displayed by publishers. Paid links or units can also be attached to these displayed user activities to provide revenue to the user, advertiser and/or publisher. The gathering and matching may be enhanced by a message classifier and an optimizer.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that provides access to a large amount of content using a traditional interface. The system has many applications, one of which is for providing access to audio/visual content. Examples of audio/visual content includes compressed digital music data and video data. In one embodiment, the system receives an indication of a first mode, accesses a first playlist for the first mode, and plays tracks according to the first playlist. In this embodiment, each mode is associated with a different attribute, each mode includes one or more playlists of tracks, and each playlist of a particular mode is based on a different value for the attribute associated with the particular mode. Examples of attributes include artist, album, genre, etc. Thus, there can be an artist mode, an album node, a genre mode, etc. For example, each playlist in the artist mode is associated with a particular artist. All tracks on a given playlist in the artist mode would be associated with the same artists.

Abstract: Systems for browsing media that is accessible via the Internet are described. In many embodiments, the system includes a browsing application that identifies media within pages retrieved via the Internet by performing document analysis. The document analysis identifies pieces of media referenced by the page and, in a number of embodiments, also identifies pieces of media referenced by pages linked to by the original page. The identified pieces of media can be used to generate playlists that can then be played for a user via a television. In several embodiments, the browsing application is configured to render a playback page that shows pieces of media queued in a playlist and facilitates user navigation to other sites using a typical television remote control.

Abstract: A multimedia organization and playback system intelligently organizes media objects, such as music files, and plays back their contents. The system considers and analyzes multiple media object attributes to determine groups of similar songs. As a result, the system delivers a consistent selection of media to the listener despite wide variations in media characteristics and without overburdening the listener with complicated configuration input. The listener may play back grouped songs based on the similarities between songs. Successive selections may be more or less similar to a current selection based on the organization of the music objects.

Abstract: A multimedia organization and playback system intelligently organizes media objects, such as music files, and plays back their contents. The system considers and analyzes multiple media object attributes to determine groups of similar songs. As a result, the system delivers a consistent selection of media to the listener despite wide variations in media characteristics and without overburdening the listener with complicated configuration input. The listener may play back grouped songs based on the similarities between songs. Successive selections may be more or less similar to a current selection based on the organization of the music objects.

Abstract: A vehicle sound system is disclosed that includes a set of speakers, a head unit and a disc changer. In addition to a radio, the head unit also includes a means for playing music downloaded from a computer. In one embodiment, the music downloaded from the computer is stored in a compressed format on a removable hard disk drive. The music can be organized using play lists. Software is used to program the head unit to communicate with the disc changer. In one embodiment, the software is replaceable so that the head unit can communicate with different disc changers. The head unit also includes a control panel for operating the head unit and the disc changer.

Abstract: An audio/visual server is described that can be used to store and play audio/visual data. A removable hard disk (or other media) is connected to a dock that is in communication with a computer. While the removable hard disk is connected to the dock, audio/visual data can be transferred from the computer to the hard disk. After the hard disk is removed from the dock and connected to the audio/visual server, the server can access and play the audio/visual data. In one embodiment, the audio/visual server stores and plays music, emulates a disc changer, and communicates with an automobile stereo head unit. The interface with the head unit is programmable so that multiple head units can be supported.

Abstract: An audio/visual server is described that can be used to store and play audio/visual data. A removable hard disk (or other media) is connected to a dock that is in communication with a computer. While the removable hard disk is connected to the dock, audio/visual data can be transferred from the computer to the hard disk. After the hard disk is removed from the dock and connected to the audio/visual server, the server can access and play the audio/visual data. In one embodiment, the audio/visual server stores and plays music, emulates a disc changer, and communicates with an automobile stereo head unit. The interface with the head unit is programmable so that multiple head units can be supported.

Abstract: A play list manager is disclosed that can be used to create and update play lists. The play lists can be used for audio information, visual information, or a combination of audio and visual information. The user of the play list manager creates a play list and specifies certain criteria for automatically adding tracks to the play list. When a new track is added to the environment, the system tests whether the track's properties satisfy the criteria for the play list. If so, the new track is automatically added to the play list. In one alternative, a user can select a predefined play list, whose criteria has already been created. Upon selection of the predefined play list, the play list manager accesses each track and adds the track to the play list if the track's properties satisfy the criteria for the predefined play list.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that provides access to a large amount of content using a traditional interface. The system has many applications, one of which is for providing access to audio/visual content. Examples of audio/visual content includes compressed digital music data and video data. In one embodiment, the system receives an indication of a first mode, accesses a first playlist for the first mode, and plays tracks according to the first playlist. In this embodiment, each mode is associated with a different attribute, each mode includes one or more playlists of tracks, and each playlist of a particular mode is based on a different value for the attribute associated with the particular mode. Examples of attributes include artist, album, genre, etc. Thus, there can be an artist mode, an album node, a genre mode, etc. For example, each playlist in the artist mode is associated with a particular artist. All tracks on a given playlist in the artist mode would be associated with the same artists.

Abstract: A device to device network allows an entity to seamlessly access content stored on various devices. Many devices can be registered on a network; however, an entity will only have access to devices for which the entity is authorized to access. In one embodiment, the entity can only access devices that have been authenticated with the same username. While using the device-to device network, an entity can transfer files, stream files, create and use play lists, send commands to various devices and explore the contents of various devices.