Abstract: A computer system receives a definition of a group that includes an indication of a hierarchal rank of group members, a plurality of content items that correspond to the group, and identifying information indicating at least one group member that corresponds to a content item. A search input by a first user is detected and an indication of a hierarchal rank for the first user is stored. Determining a weight to assign to a search result includes comparing a hierarchal rank of at least one group member that corresponds to the first content item with the hierarchal rank of the first user.

Abstract: A computer system receives a definition of a group that includes an indication of a hierarchal rank of group members, a plurality of content items that correspond to the group, and identifying information indicating at least one group member that corresponds to a content item. A search input by a first user is detected and an indication of a hierarchal rank for the first user is stored. Determining a weight to assign to a search result includes comparing a hierarchal rank of at least one group member that corresponds to the first content item with the hierarchal rank of the first user.

Abstract: A computer system receives a definition of a group that includes an indication of a hierarchal rank of group members, a plurality of content items that correspond to the group, and identifying information indicating at least one group member that corresponds to a content item. A search input by a first user is detected and an indication of a hierarchal rank for the first user is stored. Determining a weight to assign to a search result includes comparing a hierarchal rank of at least one group member that corresponds to the first content item with the hierarchal rank of the first user.

Abstract: A computer system receives data that includes indications of a plurality of agenda items that correspond to the group event. During the group event, the system captures, by a media recording device, media data, converts the captured media data to a searchable version of the media data and searches the searchable version of the media data to determine a first time frame of the media data that corresponds to a first agenda item of the plurality of agenda items. The system displays, in a user interface that is accessible to at least one user associated with the group event, the representation of the media data. A first portion of the representation of the media data that corresponds to the first time frame is visually distinguished from at least a portion of the representation of the media data that does not correspond to the first time frame.

Abstract: A computer system receives data that includes indications of a plurality of agenda items that correspond to the group event. During the group event, the system captures, by a media recording device, media data, converts the captured media data to a searchable version of the media data and searches the searchable version of the media data to determine a first time frame of the media data that corresponds to a first agenda item of the plurality of agenda items. The system displays, in a user interface that is accessible to at least one user associated with the group event, the representation of the media data. A first portion of the representation of the media data that corresponds to the first time frame is visually distinguished from at least a portion of the representation of the media data that does not correspond to the first time frame.

Abstract: A computer system receives a definition of a group that includes an indication of a hierarchal rank of group members, a plurality of content items that correspond to the group, and identifying information indicating at least one group member that corresponds to a content item. A search input by a first user is detected and an indication of a hierarchal rank for the first user is stored. Determining a weight to assign to a search result includes comparing a hierarchal rank of at least one group member that corresponds to the first content item with the hierarchal rank of the first user.

Abstract: A computer system receives a definition of a group that includes an indication of a hierarchal rank of group members, a plurality of content items that correspond to the group, and identifying information indicating at least one group member that corresponds to a content item. A search input by a first user is detected and an indication of a hierarchal rank for the first user is stored. Determining a weight to assign to a search result includes comparing a hierarchal rank of at least one group member that corresponds to the first content item with the hierarchal rank of the first user.

Abstract: A computer system generates an action based on a first task includes receiving a definition of a group, stores the definition, and receives task information for the task that corresponds to the group. The task information includes a milestone corresponding to the task and identifying information for the task. The task information is stored, a milestone status is determined, and a prompt is displayed for generating the action. The prompt includes the identifying information for the task and eligible action participants. The eligible action participants include at least a subset of the group members. An indication of selected eligible action participants is received. Action information corresponding to the action is transmitted to the selected eligible action participants.

Abstract: A computer system receives a definition of a group that includes an indication of a hierarchal rank of group members, a plurality of content items that correspond to the group, and identifying information indicating at least one group member that corresponds to a content item. A search input by a first user is detected and an indication of a hierarchal rank for the first user is stored. Determining a weight to assign to a search result includes comparing a hierarchal rank of at least one group member that corresponds to the first content item with the hierarchal rank of the first user.

Abstract: A computer system receives data that includes indications of a plurality of agenda items that correspond to the group event. During the group event, the system captures, by a media recording device, media data, converts the captured media data to a searchable version of the media data and searches the searchable version of the media data to determine a first time frame of the media data that corresponds to a first agenda item of the plurality of agenda items. The system displays, in a user interface that is accessible to at least one user associated with the group event, the representation of the media data. A first portion of the representation of the media data that corresponds to the first time frame is visually distinguished from at least a portion of the representation of the media data that does not correspond to the first time frame.

Abstract: Systems and techniques, including computer program products, for generating sequences of program items. A specification of a sequence is received. A specification of multiple sets, where each set includes one or more program items, is also received. An output sequence of program items is generated by selecting program items from the sets based on the specified sequence. In some implementations, program items are selected by assigning each program item a score, and identifying the program item with the best score. An attribute can be associated with each program item. The attributes can be used to group the program items into sets, to determine the scores of the program items, and to select program items to be placed in the generated output sequence. The rules and the set sequence can be adjusted dynamically, and the generated output sequence can be modified by adding, removing, or replacing program items.

Abstract: Systems and techniques, including computer program products, for generating sequences of program items. A specification of a sequence is received. A specification of multiple sets, where each set includes one or more program items, is also received. An output sequence of program items is generated by selecting program items from the sets based on the specified sequence. In some implementations, program items are selected by assigning each program item a score, and identifying the program item with the best score. An attribute can be associated with each program item. The attributes can be used to group the program items into sets, to determine the scores of the program items, and to select program items to be placed in the generated output sequence. The rules and the set sequence can be adjusted dynamically, and the generated output sequence can be modified by adding, removing, or replacing program items.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product allow users to skip and/or to fast-forward through media items such as songs, while limiting the extent to which skipping is allowed in order to maintain conformance with sound performance complement restrictions such as those specified by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. If the user requests a skip that may result in a DMCA violation, the skip is disallowed and the request is denied. Playlists are constructed so that the sound recording performance complement limitations are applied to a longer time period than the period specified in the DMCA, the longer time period being defined by adding an “excess time” to the normal DMCA period. If the user attempts to skip a song or song portion that would cause the aggregated skipped amount to exceed the excess time, the skip is disallowed.

Abstract: Files are divided into parts and at least some of the parts are transmitted to a client using a communication channel. At least some of the transmitted parts are cached locally. This allows subsequent streaming playback of the file while using less bandwidth by transmitting the part of the file that hasn't been cached, and combining the cached parts with the transmitted parts. In some embodiments, files may be represented at a low quality level by a first data set, and at higher quality levels with additional data sets. Data sets are cached locally, so that during subsequent streaming playback of the file, the quality level of the playback may be improved by sending additional data sets using bandwidth that would otherwise be dedicated to transmitting the cached data sets.

Abstract: A camera has an image sensor mounted in a housing for receiving light and generating output signals representative of an image. A circuit processes the output signals in response to actuation of a shutter button mounted in the housing. A control circuit is connected to the processing circuit for selectively generating a first sequence of high resolution still image files or a second sequence of low resolution still image files and for executing firmware to convert the second sequence into a motion video sequence.

Abstract: An online music purchasing system and method is disclosed, in which a radio service operates on a user's computer and is configured for receiving and playing digital radio representations of media content in near real-time in a radio session. A content server is configured for serving the digital radio representations of media content to the radio service, and a radio sequence server is configured for serving a sequential list of currently-playing and previously-played media content of the radio session to the radio service. An account server is configured for receiving a signal indicative of a user's desire to purchase a file of one of a currently-playing or previously-played media content. A download manager is configured for downloading the file to the user's computer according to the signal indicative of the user's desire to purchase the file.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product allow users to skip and/or to fast-forward through media items such as songs, while limiting the extent to which skipping is allowed in order to maintain conformance with sound performance complement restrictions such as those specified by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. If the user requests a skip that may result in a DMCA violation, the skip is disallowed and the request is denied. Playlists are constructed so that the sound recording performance complement limitations are applied to a longer time period than the period specified in the DMCA, the longer time period being defined by adding an “excess time” to the normal DMCA period. If the user attempts to skip a song or song portion that would cause the aggregated skipped amount to exceed the excess time, the skip is disallowed.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product allow users to skip and/or to fast-forward through media items such as songs, while limiting the extent to which skipping is allowed in order to maintain conformance with sound performance complement restrictions such as those specified by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. If the user requests a skip that may result in a DMCA violation, the skip is disallowed and the request is denied. Playlists are constructed so that the sound recording performance complement limitations are applied to a longer time period than the period specified in the DMCA, the longer time period being defined by adding an “excess time” to the normal DMCA period. If the user attempts to skip a song or song portion that would cause the aggregated skipped amount to exceed the excess time, the skip is disallowed.

Abstract: Files are divided into parts and at least some of the parts are transmitted to a client using a communication channel. At least some of the transmitted parts are cached locally. This allows subsequent streaming playback of the file while using less bandwidth by transmitting the part of the file that hasn't been cached, and combining the cached parts with the transmitted parts. In some embodiments, files may be represented at a low quality level by a first data set, and at higher quality levels with additional data sets. Data sets are cached locally, so that during subsequent streaming playback of the file, the quality level of the playback may be improved by sending additional data sets using bandwidth that would otherwise be dedicated to transmitting the cached data sets.

Abstract: Files are divided into parts and at least some of the parts are transmitted to a client using a communication channel. At least some of the transmitted parts are cached locally. This allows subsequent streaming playback of the file while using less bandwidth by transmitting the part of the file that hasn't been cached, and combining the cached parts with the transmitted parts. In some embodiments, files may be represented at a low quality level by a first data set, and at higher quality levels with additional data sets. Data sets are cached locally, so that during subsequent streaming playback of the file, the quality level of the playback may be improved by sending additional data sets using bandwidth that would otherwise be dedicated to transmitting the cached data sets.