Abstract: A system and method for providing orientation into digital information is provided. A plurality of evergreen indexes for subject areas are maintained. The evergreen indexes include digital information and are each organized by topics that include a topic model matched to the digital information. A user interest within the digital information is determined. The topic models for the evergreen indexes are evaluated against the user interest and those topics models that best match the user interest are identified. Access to the digital information is provided via at least one of the topic models in at least one of the evergreen indexes.

Abstract: A system and method for performing discovery of digital information in a subject area is provided. Each of topics in a subject area, training material for the topics, and a corpus comprising digital information are designated. Topic models for each of the topics are built. The topic models are evaluated against the training material. The digital information from the corpus is organized by the topics using the topic models into an evergreen index.

Abstract: A portable digital media player and method for providing convenient music logging is provided. A music collection is maintained and includes music stored in digital media form on a portable digital media player. A music sample is recorded from an ambient environment and is encoded in digital media form. Information is added to the music recommendation to describe the music sample, to identify the recommender, to capture a context of the music sample, and to optionally specify a rating. A sampling event is saved, which includes the music sample and the information, in a log file on the player. At least part of the information from the sampling event is integrated into a display of the music collection on the player. The information is displayed as integrated. Action upon the music sample is facilitated through playback or addition of the music to the music collection through an external source.

Abstract: A portable digital media player and method for providing convenient music recommendation are presented. A collection of music is maintained and includes a multiplicity of music stored in digital media form. A music recommendation is automatically generated in response to a recommender input. An identifier for a recipient is provided. Music to be recommended is identified from one of the music collection and a sample of music in an ambient environment. Information to the music recommendation to describe the music to be recommended, to identify the recommender, to capture a context of the recommendation, and to specify a rating for the music to be recommended is ascertained and added to the music recommendation. The music recommendation is sent for electronic receipt by the recipient.

Abstract: A portable digital media player and method for providing convenient music discovery are presented. Music is maintained and includes a multiplicity of music stored in digital media form on a portable digital media player. A music recommendation is displayed to a recipient. A message included is processed for information to describe the music recommended, to identify the recommender, to capture a context of the recommendation, and to specify a rating for the music recommended. At least part of the information is integrated into a display of the music on the portable digital media player. The information is displayed to the recipient as integrated. Action upon the music recommended is facilitated through one or more of playback and addition of the music to the music on the portable digital media player through an external source.

Abstract: Methods and systems for enabling the collaborative exchange and analysis of information are provided. Exemplary embodiments provide for the editing of information maintained in associated information units that may be distributed in parallel to a plurality of collaborative users. The information units may be distributed and retrieved with lightweight transport protocols. The information units obtained from multiple sources are automatically aligned and combined. Editing and display methods and systems further provide organizational and filtering tools. The information units may be redistributed and further collected in an iterative fashion.