Abstract: Assembling streamed content for on-demand presentation is described. In embodiments, a media asset can be requested from a content distributor, and cacheable segments of the media asset are streamed to the requesting client device. The cacheable segments are received in an initial quality display format for uninterrupted playback of the media asset at the client device while the cacheable segments are being received. An asset matrix that correlates a bit rate and a time position for each cacheable segment in the media asset is also received. The cacheable segments of the media asset can be assembled according to the asset matrix to generate an assembled asset data file of the media asset. The assembled asset data file can then be back-filled with selected ones of the cacheable segments that are replaced with a highest quality display format for on-demand presentation of the media asset when selected for viewing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a user history based multimedia service system, wherein user history data include a multimedia consumption type and/or consumption behavior of the user. The consumption type data includes a start time or end time of the multimedia content consumption (i.e., simple view data), content recording time and format, content backup time and format, and content transfer time and format. The consumption behavior data includes a content access/play data such as a normal finish, skimmed, skipped, slowed, or replay, and a stopped data of the content access/play. The consumption type or consumption behavior data include information on program identification and information on access to the consumption type/consumption behavior data. The respective data is provided for each user and program.

Abstract: A method of resolving conflicts between revisions to a distributed virtual file system is implemented at a computing device that is communicatively connected to a plurality of storage devices. The virtual file system at the computing device has a first revision of the virtual file system. Upon receipt of a request to synchronize the first revision of the virtual file system with the storage devices, the computing device retrieves one or more blocks from the storage devices, which are associated with a second revision of the virtual file system. The computing device then merges a first component of the first revision with a corresponding component of the second revision if a first predefined condition is met or identifies a second component of the first revision as being conflicted with a corresponding component of the second revision if a second predefined set of conditions is met.

Abstract: A method of providing on-demand service through a virtual file system is implemented at a computing device. In response to receiving a request for a file associated with an instance of the virtual file system, the computing device checks the metadata of the requested file in the virtual file system to identify a first set of data blocks of the requested file that is not present at the computing device and retrieves the first set of data blocks from at least one of a plurality of storage devices associated with the virtual file system. The computing device generates a copy of the requested file using the retrieved first set of data blocks and returns the generated copy of the requested file to the requesting application or user.

Abstract: An online analytical processing (OLAP) specification system for specifying a new OLAP cube from an OLAP cube template including an OLAP cube template determination module determining the OLAP cube template and retrieve a corresponding template metadata file, the template metadata file including metadata defining the structure of the OLAP cube template. The OLAP specification system also includes a metadata copy module copying the template metadata file to create a base metadata file. The OLAP specification system also includes a viable options generation module generating and presenting viable options for modifying metadata in the base metadata file to define the new OLAP cube, where the viable options for modifying metadata in the base metadata file conforms with one or more predetermined rules.

Abstract: A computer system is used to create and distribute applications. An audience qualifier and a set of categories corresponding to the audience qualifier are selected. A master application template is selected. The master application template may be pre-certified. For each of the selected categories, an application instance is created from the master application template, where the modifications to the master application template for each category are determined at least in part by the characteristics of the category. Metadata describing the audience qualifier and category are associated with each application instance. The application instances may be certified. The application instances are distributed in accordance with the metadata.

Abstract: A computer system is used to create an application. An application is created using an authoring environment. The application is converted into a master application template by creating an application representation and creating associated metadata that define at least one allowable modification that may be made to the application representation. An application is created from the master application template, and the application and master application template are submitted to a certification body for certification. The certification process affirms that the application, with any modification to the application specified by the master application template metadata, meets all requirements for certification. The certified master application template is used to create a certified application.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for organizing media files in a database. Embodiments of the present invention provides a method to associate artwork to a media file. A plurality of first data artwork images is provided. A plurality of second data is generated based on the first data, each second data identifiers for the artwork images corresponding to a different first data of the plurality of first data. A plurality of third data media files is provided and each third data has at least one attribute and a reference field for storing a corresponding second data. Each third data is identified in the database by the at least one attribute and the reference field. And, a plurality of fourth data album titles each associated with a subset of the plurality of third data is provided.

Abstract: Provided are a recording device, a recording method and a program capable of recording a plurality of types of data files and reproducing, even when data recording is interrupted, data that have been recorded before the interruption. The recording device includes a recording medium control unit 170 for controlling recording and reproduction of data on a recording medium 150 including a data area in which data rows can be recorded as files and a specific area in which management information for the files can be recorded, and a recording control unit 110 for time-divisionally recording, through the recording medium control unit 170, a first data row as a first file and a second data as a second file.

Abstract: A land mark used as a key for organizing images captured by, e.g., a digital camera is adequately selected. A association degree adding section (107) weights each landmark according to the degree of association between the captured still image and the landmark by using the distance between the landmark and the imaging place received from a landmark distance calculating section (105) and the distance HL between the imaging place and the address of the residence of the imaging person received from a parameter acquiring section (106). A landmark specifying section (108) specifies one or more landmarks added to the still image from among the landmarks weighted by the association degree adding section (107) and writes them at predetermined positions of the image data on the still image.

Abstract: A system manages a file directory containing data that is exposed by a file-server. The system provides a block-device layered on top of a network share that treats the underlying network share as read-only but allows local file-system semantics to operate on top of the network share. The end-result is a virtual disk containing a locally recognizable file-system that can read and write from the perspective of the operating system but where the data is store in the cloud as network shares. The virtual disk appears to be a fully functional local disk with all the expected local disk semantics.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for processing video is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes storing a plurality of transcripts in a memory along with information identifying an associated video content unit, receiving a search request comprising one or more keywords originating from a user, searching at least some of the plurality of transcripts for the one or more keywords, determining search results that comprises a plurality of video content units that satisfy a similarity threshold with the search request, wherein the plurality of video content units that satisfy a similarity threshold with the search request comprise video content units having a transcript that includes at least some of the one or more keywords, and transmitting information identifying at least some of the video content units of the search results to a remote device for presentation to the user.

Abstract: A system and method for enterprise search includes one or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed on one or more processors that perform acts including extracting one or more of term data, personal data and metadata from one or more predetermined resources; retrieving a set of information derived from the extracted term data, personal data and metadata responsive to a query; and receiving feedback responsive to the set of information, the feedback augmenting at least one of the one or more predetermined resources.

Abstract: Systems and methods have been developed for displaying contextually relevant advertisements to users as media objects are being rendered. One or more data sources with contextual information for different portions of each media object are maintained. From this contextual information, keywords may be generated and used to locate contextually-related advertisements. The advertisements are selected based on contextual information about the media object in order to match or otherwise be contextually relevant with the media content being rendered. As the subject matter of the media object changes during rendering, different advertisements related to the new context are provided that replace the prior advertisement. The advertisements are displayed in an area that could be used for other purposes when the rendering device is not rendering media objects.

Abstract: A system for recording and playing back a data stream includes an internet radio receiver, a decoder, a recorder, and a player. The internet radio receiver is configured to receive a data stream of internet radio. The decoder is configured to decode the data stream into an audio stream and a metadata stream. The recorder is configured to store audio of the audio stream into an audio file and store metadata from the metadata stream that correspond to a plurality of segments of the audio stream and corresponding reception times of each segment into subsequent data rows of a metadata file. The player is configured to play the audio file and display the metadata for a data row of the metadata file when an elapsed time matches the reception time of the data row.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically presenting a media file on a mobile device based on an analysis of metadata associated with the media file. The system evaluates a media file's metadata to determine whether the media file is relevant to a mobile device user based on time, date, location, subject matter, or other criteria. If the media file is relevant to the user, the system automatically displays the media file on the mobile device. By presenting the media file to a mobile device user, the system reminds the user of fond memories associated with past dates, people, events, or places. In some embodiments, the system may also prompt a user of the mobile device to take an action related to the media file presented on the mobile device, such as prompting the user to place a telephone call to a person pictured in the image.

Abstract: Tools and techniques for synchronizing metadata and document content across client systems using different communication channels are provided. These tools may define logical communication channels between client software components, and may allocate one of these channels to synchronizing updates to the contents of documents shared between these client components. These tools may allocate another one of the communication channels to synchronizing metadata between the client components, with the metadata describing activity pertaining to the shared documents. The client components may receive indications of activity made by users to the document contents, and may create metadata representing the activity. These client components may then transmit this metadata, using the further communication channel, to any number of other client components automatically in real time with the updates.

Abstract: A method is provided for creating a Universally Unique Identifier (UUID) for a web service. The UUID is stored in service metadata associated with the web service. The UUID can then be used to track services and correlate service information between multiple systems. In accordance with an embodiment, a method is provided for publishing Universal Description Discovery and Integration (UDDI) service information from a metadata repository to a service registry. In accordance with an embodiment, a method is provided for receiving Universal Description Discovery and Integration (UDDI) service information from a service registry into a metadata repository.

Abstract: Systems and methods for regularly updating portions of a merged index are provided. Initially, upon receiving an indication that modifications have occurred to content of web-based documents, dynamic update of index (DUI) objects that identify the documents and expose the modified content are composed by ascertaining relative positions of the modified content within the documents, and packaging identifiers of the documents, the relative positions, and metadata underlying the modified content into a message. The DUI objects are applied to an overloading index that maintains structured records of recent modifications. In particular, portions of the overloading index are targeted utilizing the document identifiers and the relative positions specified by the DUI object, thereby updating the targeted portions within the overloading index corresponding to the modified content without rewriting the entire overloading index.

Abstract: The currently existing ISO/AVC file format is modified by providing extensions to store and access video content currently being defined by the SVC standard. Specifically, extensions to the AVC file format are made to provide a new SVC file format that enables the storage and access of scalable video data. The scalable video data is stored as a single track within a media data section of the SVC file format. New extensions are defined for description entries and boxes within a metadata section of the SVC file format. These extensions provide means for extracting sub-streams or layers from the single track of scalable video data stored in the media data section.

Abstract: Method, apparatus and system for improving navigation using mobile devices by adding previously captured media to navigation maps provided by mobile device. Added media include still images and video clips. Media captured at the same location using various camera orientations are available in an image database. Images in database include metadata indicating location, orientation and other parameters associated with each image. User location and pose are matched against metadata indicating location and camera orientation of captured images. User motion may also be matched to metadata indicating camera motion of stored video clips. Other parameters like lighting, seasonal factors, and tasks of walking, biking or driving may also be matched. User pose may be derived from an accelerometer embedded in the mobile device. Some or all of user parameters desired by user may be directly input to mobile device by user instead of being automatically detected by mobile device.

Abstract: As an advertisement is presented to the user via a user terminal, the user terminal may generate voting information in response to a specific user input that bears on the user's interest in the advertisement or based on actions or behaviors of the user in association with the advertisement being presented. When specific user input is provided, the user is essentially providing direct feedback as to whether the advertisement is of interest. The voting information is provided to the targeted advertising system, which will update the preference information based on the voting information such that the user's interest in the various advertisements is reflected in the preference information. As new advertisements are selected for the user, the selection of the advertisements is based on the updated preference information, which is systematically updated as voting information is received from the one or more user terminals.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for visually processing instance data. A visual placeholder for a data instance is provided as part of the design experience. A runtime configurable metadata store is provided to maintain the mappings between types and designers. Thus, configurations can be altered at the runtime of the control, rather than a fixed set of potential templates being provided at design time. Item presenters render contained data instances of a type using a designer specified in the metadata store. Item presenters can be used when a data instance is exposed as a property on the containing type. As such, property values can be visually moved to and from other properties, potentially within multiple owning objects.

Abstract: A system and method for automated service recommendations. A request is received over a network, from a user for service recommendations, wherein the request comprises an identification of the user and at least one service selection criteria. A query is formulated so as to search, via the network, for user profile data, spatial data, temporal data, social data and topical data that is available via the network and relates to the requesting user, the service selection criteria and to a plurality of services available via the network so as to a identify a subset of the plurality of services available via the network that relate to the request. A list of the identified subset of services is transmitted, via the network, to the requesting user. A selection of at least one of the selected subset of services available received from the user and the user is enrolled in the selected service.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating receptivity cohorts. A receptivity cohort is identified. The receptivity cohort includes a set of members and conduct attributes for the set of members. Each conduct attribute in the set of conduct attributes describes at least one of a facial expression, vocalization, body language, and social interactions of a member in the set of members. Each conduct attribute is an indicator of receptiveness to a proposed future change in a set of circumstances associated with the set of members. Events metadata is received. The events metadata describes the set of circumstances associated with the set of members. The set of conduct attributes and the events metadata is analyzed to generate a receptivity score for the receptivity cohort. The receptivity score indicates a level of receptiveness of the set of members to the proposed future change in the set of circumstances.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods and apparatuses for managing objects (files and directories) in network file systems according to policies. Each policy may have one or more rules, each of which ties a condition to an action. Each condition can be expressed in terms of metadata harvested across file systems and stored in a metadata repository. The actions are user-programmable. Users can apply and/or enforce a policy by manipulating the metadata stored in the metadata repository. For example, suppose a policy prohibits storing MP3 files in corporate storage, a user can specify a rule that ties the condition “no MP3 files in volumes A-Z” to an action “delete MP3 files from volumes A-Z.” A file management application may apply a filter to the metadata repository to produce metadata records having values that meet the specified condition and take the corresponding action on managed objects associated with those metadata records.

Abstract: A system and method to enable product trials and, in particular, to dynamically collect information relating to the product trials. The system includes a tagging engine configured to tag one or more products, which are part of a product trial in a virtual universe. The system also includes a tracking engine configured to track information on the one or more products via a tag and a storage unit configured to collect the tracked information for marketing and/or advertising purposes.

Abstract: Methods and an apparatus are provided for identifying an attribute of digital media data within a digital media file. The digital media data having an associated metadata tag comprising at least one field. The apparatus comprises a storage device configured to store the digital media file and a processor coupled to the storage device. The processor is configured to detect a field within the metadata tag that is associated with an attribute category, and identify the attribute of the digital media data based on the content of the detected field.

Abstract: A tagged content inference system and method is provided. The system facilitates browsing of content with a pseudo-hierarchical feel using algorithmically-deduced relationships between items based on user applied tags. Based, at least in part, upon tagged content, an inference component can infer relationships between items (e.g., creating a pseudo-hierarchy) in order to facilitate browsing of the items. The system can further include a relationship display component that can provide a visual representation of tagged items based on relationship(s) inferred by the inference component. The visual representation can further be based, at least in part, upon user input (e.g., threshold quantity of tags to be displayed, threshold strength of relationship, color setting(s), etc.

Abstract: In the exchange of information in a peer-to-peer information system network, the problem of semantic interoperability of the communication system used by the agent associated with every peer is addressed not by imposing a universal pre-defined ontology over universally defined conceptual schemata, but instead using mechanisms, inspired from natural language, that enable each agent to develop a repertoire of grounded categories and labels for these categories and to negotiate their use and semantics with other agents. The communication system, as well as its semantics, is hence emergent and adaptive instead of predefined.

Abstract: Techniques are described for automatically determining which terms in a search query may be augmented by contextually similar terms such that more relevant results can be displayed to a user. Contextually similar words are determined based on training data, including a web corpus and a query log. Once contextually similar words are determined, they may be inserted into a search query and used to find more relevant results. Consequently, documents that contain helpful information but may not have exact word matches may be found more readily by a search engine.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for location and time based media retrieval. A media file of an event recorded through a multimedia recording device is retrieved. The location of the multimedia recording device is determined. A temporal measurement associated with the event is also determined. The location and the temporal measurement are associated with the media file. The media file may be searchable via the location and the temporal measurement.

Abstract: A method of generating integrated metadata. The method includes receiving metadata about second contents including content access information for accessing the second contents from one or more content providers, which provide the second contents generated by changing at least one of quality, viewing cost, viewing time, and content providing method of at least one piece of first content; and generating integrated metadata using the received metadata about the second contents.

Abstract: A log structured content addressable deduplicated data storage system may be used to store deduplicated data. Data to be stored is partitioned into data segments. Each unique data segment is associated with a label. The storage system maintains a transaction log. Mutating storage operations are initiated by storing transaction records in the transaction log. Additional transaction records are stored in the log when storage operations are completed. Upon restarting an embodiment of the data storage system, the transaction records from the transaction logs are replayed to recreate the state of the data storage system. The data storage system updates file system metadata with transaction information while a storage operation associated with the file is being processed. This transaction information serves as atomically updated transaction commit points, allowing fully internally consistent snapshots of deduplicated volumes to be taken at any time.

Abstract: Disclosed is a self-contained hardware-based authentication system that incorporates different authentication protocols for access to soft and/or hard assets with different security levels. The system embodiments include the use of a RFID device that comprises dual RFID tags operating under different frequencies. Specifically, one RFID tag operates on a public frequency and, when activated, transmits an identifier encrypted using a public key. The other RFID tag operates on a private frequency and, when activated, transmits a private key that can be used to decrypt the encrypted identifier. Upon receipt by a processor (e.g., a local processor or security server) of a request for access to a specific asset, a security level for the specific asset is determined. Then, depending upon the particular security level (e.g. low, medium or high) different authentication protocols are instituted using the RFID device. Also disclosed are embodiments of an associated authentication methodology.

Abstract: A user interface for navigating content to be reproduced by selecting a filtering condition according to a user's preference on the basis of a playlist, a method of navigating content using the user interface, an apparatus for reproducing content, and a computer-readable storage medium having embodied thereon a program for executing the method are provided. The user interface navigates content using a method including displaying a first playlist on the basis of all reproducible pieces of content; receiving at least one content filtering condition; displaying a second playlist according to the received content filtering condition; and receiving a desired content select signal on the basis of the first playlist or the second playlist. Accordingly, the depth of a menu can be reduced, a playlist reflecting a user's preference can be created, and whether the content to be navigated exists can be more accurately perceived during content navigation.

Abstract: A generic Internet based system for viewing supply chain data is provided. The system includes an Internet based data viewing engine and a data store that holds both viewable data and metadata associated with the viewable data. The metadata can be employed by the Internet based data viewing engine to control the presentation of the viewable data. The generic Internet based supply chain data viewing engine may be employed in a virtual private supply chain (VPSC). A VPSC includes a data acceptor that can receive supply chain data items from supply chain members, a supply chain data store that can store transformed, validated supply chain data items received from the supply chain members and a data accessor operable to selectively present supply chain data items stored in the supply chain data store to viewing supply chain members. One example of the data accessor is the generic Internet based viewing engine.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for regularly updating a web index with new or updated content, such as meta words or meta streams, for a particular web page address, such as a URL. Web page addresses and associated updated information, such as meta words, meta streams, values, and locations in the web index for those meta words are received. In order to update a web index, which is used by search engines to search web documents, a document identification is retrieved and associated with the updated information. As information in the web index is stored by document identification and not by web page addresses, the document identification may replace the web page address. Each meta word received is matched with corresponding document identifications and associated updated information, which creates an inverted format of the information. The web index may now be updated and stored by the system.

Abstract: Storing audio data encoded in any of a plurality of different audio encoding formats is enabled by parametrically defining the underlying format in which the audio data is encoded, in audio format and packet table chunks. A flag can be used to manage storage of the size of the audio data portion of the file, such that premature termination of an audio recording session does not result in an unreadable corrupted file. This capability can be enabled by initially setting the flag to a value that does not correspond to a valid audio data size and that indicates that the last chunk in the file contains the audio data. State information for the audio data, to effectively denote a version of the file, and a dependency indicator for dependent metadata, may be maintained, where the dependency indicator indicates the state of the audio data on which the metadata is dependent.

Abstract: An image file for storing a still digital image and metadata related to the still digital image, the image file including digital image data representing the still digital image, and metadata that categorizes the still digital image as an important digital image, wherein the categorization uses a range of levels and the range of levels includes at least three different integer values.

Abstract: A method of conducting a survey by a wireless device having a memory circuit and a display screen, the wireless device being capable of wireless communication with a server during a connection period, is provided. The method involves: downloading from the server during the connection period a metadata variable; displaying on the display screen of the wireless device presentation information associated with the metadata variable; receiving user input in response to the presentation information; after receiving the user input, allocating memory of the memory circuit for storing the user input in association with the metadata variable; and storing the user input in the memory in association with the metadata variable. A system for conducting a survey by a wireless device includes a server and a plurality of the wireless devices.

Abstract: This application discloses a system for recording medical image data for production on a portable digital recording medium such as CDs and DVDs. This system includes a receiving module, a processing module and an output module, with viewing program for viewing medical image data stored on the portable digital recording medium. It also discloses a method of storing medical image data on a portable digital recording medium, including the steps of receiving the medical image data, processing the data and storing the data on the portable digital recording medium, with a viewing program for viewing medical image data stored on the portable digital recording medium.

Abstract: A system to synchronize metadata for a plurality of applications. The system includes content administration rules programmed to define policies for updating metadata in the master database and policies for propagating updates in the metadata to the plurality of applications. The metadata describes at least one asset represented as data residing in at least one of the plurality of applications. A rules engine is programmed to apply at least a first set of the content administration rules to a metadata record received from a first application of the plurality of applications to control updating corresponding metadata stored in a master database. Changes in the corresponding metadata made to the master database can be propagated to at least one second application of the plurality of applications according to a second set of the content administration rules predefined for each of the at least one second application.

Abstract: An electronic data retrieving apparatus is provided that increases the retrieval accuracy without deteriorating the retrieval efficiency by reflecting differences between the numbers of word appearances due to genres of electronic data in the setting of the retrieval words. The electronic data retrieving apparatus according to the present invention sets the retrieval words of the electronic data not only as a word appearing on a retrieval word setting table of the recorded electronic data for a predetermined number of times (e.g., three times) or more but also a word appearing on the retrieval word setting table and appearing on a retrieval word setting reference table for a predetermined number of times (e.g., three times) or more.

Abstract: There is provided a distributed directory server to be used in a plurality of distributed directory servers connected to one another through a network and in a distributed directory system made up of a plurality of user devices, which includes a transmitting/receiving section to transmit or receive messages between user devices and other distributed directory servers, a use history notifying section to read a totalized information database and to provide notification for instructing the transmitting/receiving section to transmit data on the number of times of using Pushed data to the distributed directory server, and an evaluation function computing section to determine operation rules for Push distribution command and Pull search command to an index for every management unit.

Abstract: Methods and systems verify and control the quality of metadata associated with a media data file. The metadata may be used, for example, by media content recommendation systems. In one embodiment, a first attribute is selected from metadata associated with a media data file and an attribute dependency corresponding to the first attribute is determined. The metadata may be searched to determine whether it includes a second attribute that satisfies the dependency. If the dependency is not satisfied, the metadata is flagged for reevaluation. The metadata may also be flagged for reevaluation, for example, if the metadata includes inconsistent attributes, if the total number of assigned attributes within the metadata does not exceed a predetermined value, or if an expected attribute dimension is missing or does not include an expected number of defined attributes. In certain embodiments, user selections are controlled to provide consistent attribute combinations.

Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to an efficient multi-master synchronization infrastructure is provided enabling loosely coupled networked client and server devices, applications and services to efficiently convey and receive synchronization knowledge across interconnecting network(s). A set of synchronization methods and standardized interfaces are also provided that enable rich offline application experiences and collaboration among devices, applications and services predicated on the efficient synchronization infrastructure.

Abstract: Provided is a system and method for the de-duplication and modification detection of documents collected during document production. The disclosed technology provides a simple, legally defensible, rapid and cost-efficient system for collecting responsive electronic document sets, identifying and eliminating unnecessary documents by comparing a collected document to previously collected documents and copying only information that has not been duplicated. The disclosed technology provides a method for copying the unduplicated information without transmitting or storing the duplicated portions. In addition, the claimed subject matter provides a system for detecting whether or not a document being submitted to a project archive is a modification of a previously submitted document. A document being submitted that represents a modification of a previously submitted document is prevented from being added to the project document archive.

Abstract: Apparatus and computer-readable media for associating metadata with a geographic location are provided. The apparatus includes logic for detecting that a mobile device is present at a geographic location relevant to a user of the mobile device, logic for retrieving context information associated with the location, logic for selecting a program code module based upon a contextual relevancy of the location, logic for providing the program code module for execution, where the program code module is capable of performing processing specific to at least one aspect of the location, the processing is based upon the context information, and the program code module is further capable of receiving at least one input data item from the mobile device, where the at least one input data item describes an activity of the user at the location, and logic for associating the at least one input data item with the location.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for a personalization engine for providing a user preference matching score for a media content item. Any of a plurality of media processing applications can submit a request including identification of the media content item and associated meta-data, and receive in response the user preference matching score. The requesting application can take actions responsive to the received user preference matching score. The user preference matching score is derived from information, collected by the personalization engine from a plurality of sources, including data pertaining to a plurality of pre-define fields that reflect the user's expressed preferences and the user's previous usage of other media content items. In deriving the user preference matching score, different weighting factors can be assigned to data in each of the pre-defined fields based on, for example, the source of the data and weighting factors specified by the requesting application.