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: A system is provided for streaming media content in a vehicle. The system includes a personal media streaming appliance system configured to connect to a media delivery system and receive media content from the media delivery system at least via a cellular network. The media delivery system is configured to link a user media streaming account with a particular personal media streaming appliance to provide personalized media content to the appliance. Media contexts are assigned to multiple preset settings automatically so that the personal media streaming appliance system is configured to output personalized media content upon first use.

Abstract: An electronic device obtains a plurality of collections of media content items, each collection of media content items being associated with text generated by one or more users of the media-providing service. The electronic device determines a coincidence metric for a first descriptor and a first media content item, the coincidence metric corresponding to a likelihood that the first descriptor appears in the text associated with a respective collection of media content items that includes the first media content item. Based on the coincidence metric, the electronic device generates a new collection of media content items for a first user. The new collection of media content items corresponds to the first descriptor and includes the first media content item.

Abstract: A first device includes one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs configured to be executed by the one or more processors. The one or more programs include instructions for receiving, from a second device, audio mix information for a first audio item and receiving, from the second device, an indication that the first audio item is to be mixed with a second audio item distinct from the first audio item. In response to the indication, the one or more programs include instructions for transmitting to the second device an audio stream including the first audio item and the second audio item mixed in accordance with the audio mix information.

Abstract: An electronic device for a first session of a user, for each of a plurality of lists of media content items, determines a respective value for each objective of a first set of objectives and a second set of objectives by accessing contextual data for the first session of the user. The first set of objectives corresponds to the user and the second set of objectives corresponds to a second party distinct from the user. The electronic device, using a multi-arm bandit model, identifies a first list of media content items, from the plurality of lists of media content items, to present to the user, including: calculating a score for each list in the plurality of lists of media items; and probabilistically selecting the first list of media content items according to the respective scores corresponding to the respective lists in the plurality of lists of media items.

Abstract: A first electronic device is provided. While a media content item provided by a media-providing service is emitted by a second electronic device that is remote from the first electronic device, the first electronic device receives, from the media-providing service, data that includes an audio stream that corresponds to the media content item. The first electronic device detects ambient sound that includes sound corresponding to the media content item emitted by the second electronic device. The first electronic device generates a cleaned version of the ambient sound, which includes: using the data received from the media-providing service to align the audio stream with the ambient sound; and performing a subtraction operation to subtract the audio stream from the ambient sound. The first electronic device detects a voice command in the cleaned version of the ambient sound.

Abstract: An electronic device modifies a first media content item by superimposing a first set of data over a first accented musical event. The first accented musical event has a first audio profile. The first set of data has a second audio profile 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: The present disclosure relates to a method of providing media to a user based on analysis of an image. The method comprises analysing the image to obtain image information about what is depicted therein. The method also comprises, based on said obtained image information, selecting a first plurality of media items comprising audio, from a media database, said media items of the first plurality being associated with that which is depicted in the image according to the image information. The method also comprises filtering the first plurality of media items based on metadata associated with the user to obtain a plurality of seed media items. The method also comprises providing at least one media item from the media database to the user based on the obtained seed media items.

Abstract: An electronic device, for each media content item of a plurality of media content items, receives a respective score for each of a first set of objectives and a second set of objectives and generates a respective score between a user and the media content item. The generating includes applying a first ordered weighted average to the respective scores for the first set of objectives, to produce a first combined score for the first set of objectives, applying a second ordered weighted average to the respective scores for the second set of objectives, to produce a second combined score for the second set of objectives and applying a third ordered weighted average to the combined score for the first set of objectives and the second set of objectives. The electronic device provides media content to the user based on the respective scores between the user and the media content items.

Abstract: An electronic device receives a request, from a first device of a host user, to initiate a first shared playback session for the first device and one or more additional devices. The electronic device streams media content from a first playback queue to the first device and to the one or more additional devices, the first playback queue including one or more media content items corresponding to the first shared playback session. The electronic device determines that the first device of the host user has left the first shared playback session and, in response, maintains the first playback queue to be accessed by the one or more additional devices. After the host user has left the first shared playback session, the electronic device provides one or more media content items from the first playback queue to at least one of the one or more additional devices.

Abstract: A creative development platform includes an input interface that receives input data defining creative properties; a workflow definition store that stores creative generation workflow definitions defining a workflow related to generating a creative; a creative generation server, communicatively coupled to the workflow definitions store, to (i) receive the input data, (ii) retrieve at least one of the creative generation workflow definitions from the workflow definition store based on the input data, and (iii) generate the creative containing one or more media objects based on the input data and using the at least one workflow definition; and a network communications device operable to communicate the creative to target devices.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable products for selecting tracks. A plurality of request parameters are received from a client device. Based on those request parameters, plurality of bans, history track attributes, and artist identifiers are loaded from a database. A most recent discovery track is calculated based on the plurality of histories and the plurality of artist identifiers. An artist identifier is repeatedly selected from the plurality of artist identifiers along with a track type from a set of track types until a predetermined number of artist identifier and track type pairs have been selected. A plurality of candidate tracks for each selected artist identifier are loaded from a database. One track of the plurality of candidate tracks is repeatedly selected for each artist identifier and track type pair until one track has been selected for each pair of the predetermined number of artist identifier and track type pairs.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and/or devices for media context switching among electronic devices are described herein. In one aspect, a method is performed at a first electronic device. A first media item is played. While playing the first media item, a near-field-communication (NFC) channel is established with a second electronic device while the second electronic device is playing a second media item. First contextual data of the first electronic device is transferred via the NFC channel to the second electronic device, wherein the first contextual data corresponds to the first media item. A playback command for the second media item is received. In response to receiving the playback command for the second media item, the first electronic device plays the second media item.

Abstract: A method of recommending media items to a user is provided. The method includes receiving historical data for a user of a media providing service. The historical data indicates past interactions of the user with media items. The method includes generating a model of the user. The model includes a first set of parameters, each of the first set of parameters quantifying a predicted latent preference of the user for a respective media item provided by the media providing service. The method includes evaluating the predicted latent preferences of the user for the respective media items against the historical data indicating the past interactions of the user with the media items provided by the media providing service. The method includes selecting a recommender system from a plurality of recommender systems using the model of the user, including the first set of parameters. The method includes providing a media item to a second user using the selected recommender system.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns the playback of audio, e.g. in the form of music. More particularly, the disclosure concerns the playback of streamed audio. In one example embodiment, there is a method of operating an electronic device for playback of an audio stream. While an audio stream is being played, for example at a user interface of the electronic device, a first request to adjust an energy level (e.g., a tempo) of the played audio stream is received. In response to receiving the first request, the energy level (e.g., the tempo) of the played audio stream is adjusted.

Abstract: An electronic device associated with a media-providing service receives a first media item and a request, from a second device, for playback of the first media content item. The electronic device determines an insertion time within the first media content item for inserting a second media content item, and generates a queue indicating an order in which a first, second, and third file are to be provided. The first file corresponds to a portion of the first media content item from a start of the first media content item until the insertion time, the second file corresponds to the second media content item, and the third file corresponds to a portion of the first media content item starting at the insertion time. The electronic device generates the files, and queues the second electronic device to play back the first, second, and the third files in accordance with the queue.

Abstract: A descriptive media content search solution is provided to allow a user to search for media content that better matches a user's descriptive search request. The descriptive media content search solution utilizes an extensive catalog of playlists each having a playlist description, such as a playlist title or other descriptive text, and identifies additional descriptive information for media content items to be searched. The descriptive media content search solution can set up a descriptive search database and utilize the descriptive search database to conduct a descriptive search responsive to the user's descriptive search request.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs for generating a playlist of media content items without explicit content. A vector space is created that represents explicit and non-explicit tracks in the same playlists created by other users and then tracks are filtered based on cosine distance between the “seed tracks” and all the tracks in the aforementioned playlist. The explicit tracks are filtered out, and tracks are sorted based on the affinity of the user to the artist.

Abstract: A method for communicating a playback order for a plurality of media content items to a user device operating in an online mode, the method performed at a server system and comprising receiving an indication that the user device will enter an offline mode, generating a playback order for the plurality of media content items, and transmitting the generated playback order to the user device before the user device enters the offline mode.