Abstract: Large media libraries containing songs, movies, or images, can be organized as a graphical media map. Depending on the contents of a particular large media library, the media map can have empty cells that do not correspond to a media item in the media library. To fill these cells with meaningful recommendations based on media items that are already in the library, a recommendation system provides a recommendation of a media item for a particular cell based on the media items corresponding to cells proximate to the cell. The recommendation is generated using metadata tags describing the nearby media items and media items that are not currently part of the media library. The recommendations can be updated based on changes made to the media map.

Abstract: Libraries containing numerous media items such as movies, music, and still images can be difficult to organize in a meaningful and accessible way. To more efficiently and aesthetically organize media items in a library, media maps are generated from hierarchical trees. The media maps are displayed to a user via a user display device. The user can quickly navigate through the media maps to discover connections and similarities between media items previously unknown to the user. The user can further make changes to the media map by interacting with the media map via a user interface. The media map is then re-generated to reflect the changes made by the user. The user can thus personalize the automatically generated media map to reflect his own media preferences and opinions.

Abstract: Increasingly, large libraries of digital media items such as music, movies, and images are maintained. One way to consume the media items is via playlists. Playlists are an ordered list of some of the media items according to a theme or a progression from one theme to another theme. Systems and methods described herein allow a user to request generation of a playlist via a media map of the media library. The request can be in a variety of forms including: an identification of a region, identifications of starting and ending points, identification of a defined area of the media map, a gesture identifying a path through the media map, and an identification of a metadata tag associated with some of the media items within the media library. Further, branching playlists can be generated from a currently presented media item, which may itself be from a generated playlist.