Abstract: A system, method and computer product for extracting an activity from recordings. The method comprises searching for signals representing plural versions of a track, determining feature representations of the plural versions of the track identified in the searching, aligning the feature representations determined in the determining, and extracting a time varying activity signal from the feature representations aligned in the aligning.

Abstract: An example system for playing media content with a media playback device in a vehicle can be programmed to obtain a sound measurement indicative of a sound level associated with playback of the media content by the media playback device in the vehicle. The example system also can determine a deviation in an expected sound level based upon the sound measurement. Finally, the system can modify playback of the media content by the media playback device (110) based upon the deviation.

Abstract: A first device receives a voice command from a first user of a second device. The first device determines, from content in the voice command, one or more characteristics of a target device and media content to be played on the target device. The first device identifies, using the characteristics of the target device, a third device. In response to identifying the third device: the first device modifies account information for the third device to associate the third device with the first user and transmits instructions to the third device to play the media content.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include systems and methods for distributed control of media-playback components of a webcast. In an example, a webcast presenter's device can include a webcast compositing engine for creating a webcast from a variety of data sources, a media-playback engine for playing media content items, and a message processing engine for processing messages sent from audience members to the presenter. The message processing engine can obtain the messages and parse the messages for tokens indicative of a requested media content item. The message processing engine, having identified the requested media content item, can then cause the media-playback engine to play the requested content or add it to a queue.

Abstract: Systems, devices, apparatuses, components, methods, and techniques for a user interface for media content playback, such as during travel, are provided. An method of media playback by a media playback device, the method comprising: playing a media content item of a selected playlist of a selected group of playlists; generating a user interface displaying a graphic associated with the media content item that is playing; when an input associated with a first dimension is received into the user interface, playing another media content item of the selected playlist; when an input associated with a second dimension is received into the user interface, playing another media content item of another selected playlist of the selected group of playlists; and when an input associated with a third dimension is received into the user interface, playing another media content item of another selected playlist of another group of playlists.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns the providing of media, and more particularly to the streaming of media. In one example embodiment of a method for streaming an audio content item to an electronic device, the method comprises: receiving a first data message comprising instructions from an electronic device to return a preview segment associated with a selected audio content item, the preview segment being a portion of the selected audio content item; retrieving said selected audio content item from a first storage; analyzing audio content of the retrieved audio content item to locate a portion of the selected audio content item to be used as the preview segment; extracting the located portion of the selected audio content item from the retrieved audio content item; and transmitting the extracted portion of the selected audio content item unencrypted to the electronic device.

Abstract: A system for multi-track playback of media content includes: a media device; a user interface, provided at the media device, which displays a visual array of media options, a playback logic, provided within the media device, which is configured so that, while a selected point or region is determined by the user interface as being moved in response to user input, within the visual array of media options, the system determines media options that are proximate to the selected point or region, and adjusts playback parameters for corresponding media content items, by crossfading or otherwise combining playback to reflect the media options relative distances from the selected point or region; and a tempo logic, provided within the media device, which is configured to provide or receive a selected tempo and provide the one or more media content items associated with the selected tempo.

Abstract: A system of playing media content items determines transitions between pairs of media content items by determining desirable locations in which transitions across the pairs of media content items occur. The system uses a plurality of track features of media content items and determines such track features of each media content item associated with each of transition point candidates, such as beat positions, of that media content item. The system determines similarity in the plurality of track features between the transition point candidates of a first media content item and the transition point candidates for a second media content item being played subsequent to the first media content item. The transition points or portions of the first and second media content items are selected from the transition point candidates for the first and second media content items based on the similarity results.

Abstract: A system and method for early media buffering using prediction of user behavior. In accordance with an embodiment, a user interface displays a plurality of media options from which particular options can be selected. A click determination logic is configured so that a first event associated with a particular option, such as a click event, is passed singly to a media application without trapping for the possibility of a double-click. The media application interprets the first event as a likely selection by a user of the particular option, and uses information associated with the likely selection to begin buffering a corresponding media content. If a second event associated with the particular option is received within a subsequent time interval, then the second event is treated, like a double-click, as confirmation of the user's selection, and the corresponding media content is streamed from its media content buffer.

Abstract: A system and method for voice control of a media playback device is disclosed. The method includes receiving an instruction of a voice command, converting the voice command to text, transmitting the text command to the playback device, and having the playback device execute the command. An instruction may include a command to play a set of audio tracks, and the media playback device plays the set of audio tracks upon receiving the instruction.

Abstract: A system for supporting a user's repetitive motion activity operates to manage cadence-based playlists identifying one or more media content items having a tempo corresponding to a user's cadence. The cadence-based playlists can be categorized by different tempi or tempo ranges that cover all likely cadences during the user's activities. A media-playback device is provided to acquire a user's cadence and retrieve a cadence-based playlist associated with a tempo or a tempo range corresponding to the cadence.

Abstract: A media-playback device includes: a media-output device that plays media content items; a physiological measurement device programmed to measure at least one physiological measurement of a user of the media-output device; and a physiological control engine configured to: identify a current physiological measurement for the user; and cause the media-output device to modify playback of the media content items based upon the current physiological measurement.

Abstract: In one aspect, a first client device receives, from a second client device, a request to stream a media item from a first position within the media item. The first client device obtains, from a server, a seektable that identifies a plurality of segments into which content corresponding to the media item is divided, wherein each segment of the plurality of segments corresponds to multiple samples of the media item. The first client device consults the seektable to determine a segment of the media item to retrieve in response to the request, the segment including content at the first position. After consulting the seektable, the device retrieves, from the server, the segment of the media item. The first client device plays the content corresponding to the first position using the retrieved segment.

Abstract: An electronic device associated with a media-providing service assigns one or more characteristics of media items to at least one respective personality trait of a plurality of personality traits. The media items are provided by the media-providing service. The electronic device assigns one or more user behaviors to a first personality trait and tracks behavior of a user. The electronic device determines that a tracked behavior of the user corresponds to a first user behavior of the one or more user behaviors and assigns the first personality trait to the user based at least in part on determining that the tracked behavior of the user corresponds to the first user behavior. The electronic device provides personalized content to the user in accordance with a determination that the degree to which the tracked behavior of the user corresponds to the first user behavior satisfies a threshold.

Abstract: Systems, devices, apparatuses, components, methods, and techniques for generating and playing a selectable content depth media program are provided. Media content items are edited to produce selectable depth media segments which are assembled into selectable depth media programs. A media-playback device is configured to navigate and play the selectable depth media program through interaction by a listening user. The user selects the desired content depth for each media segment.

Abstract: Media content playback is based on an identified geographic location of a sound source. A geolocation of a target venue is determined. A first geolocation of a media playback device is determined. An indication that the media playback device is within a threshold distance of the target venue is received. Media content associated with the target venue is transferred to the media playback device, wherein one or more characteristics of the media content are dynamically modified to simulate audio originating from the target device. The one or more characteristics of the media content can include audio content characteristics associated with a timing filter, a loudness filter, and a timbre filter.

Abstract: Systems, devices, apparatuses, components, methods, and techniques for cadence and media content phase alignment are provided. An example media-playback device includes a content output device that operates to output media content, a cadence-acquiring device, a phase-delay calibration engine, a cadence-based media content selection engine, and a phase-aligned media playback engine. The cadence-acquiring device includes a movement-determining device and a cadence-determination engine configured to determine a cadence based on movement data captured by the movement-determining device. The phase-delay calibration engine configured to determine phase delay values for at least one cadence value. The cadence-based media content selection engine configured to identify a media content item based on the cadence determined by the cadence-acquiring device.

Abstract: An electronic device determines a first audio event of a first media content item and modifies the first media content item by superimposing a first set of data that corresponds to the first media content item over the first audio event. The first audio event has a first audio profile configured to be presented over a first channel for playback. The first set of data has a second audio profile configured to be presented over the first channel for playback. Playback of the second audio profile is configured to be masked by the first audio profile during playback of the first media content item. The electronic device transmits, to a second electronic device, the modified first media content item.

Abstract: Methods and a computer-readable storage device for detecting shared audio content between first audio content information and second audio content information is provided. The methods cluster similar fingerprints to lessen the impact that similar or repetitive sounds have on the final decision, thereby producing a more accurate final decision about whether the first audio content information shares audio content with the second audio content information.