Abstract: The method of reproducing a human perceptual signal comprises the steps of selecting (7) a human perceptual signal in dependency of a pace of a person (3), adapting (8) the human perceptual signal in dependency of a physical state of the person (3), and reproducing (9) the human perceptual signal. An adaptation of the human perceptual signal is limited to a certain maximum. The electronic device of the invention comprises electronic circuitry operative to perform the method of the invention. The software of the invention enables a programmable device to perform the method of the invention.

Abstract: The method of reproducing a human perceptual signal comprises the steps of selecting (7) a human perceptual signal in dependency of a pace of a person (3), adapting (8) the human perceptual signal in dependency of a physical state of the person (3), and reproducing (9) the human perceptual signal. An adaptation of the human perceptual signal is limited to a certain maximum. The electronic device of the invention comprises electronic circuitry operative to perform the method of the invention. The software of the invention enables a programmable device to perform the method of the invention.

Abstract: The method of reproducing a human perceptual signal comprises the steps of selecting (7) a human perceptual signal in dependency of a pace of a person (3), adapting (8) the human perceptual signal in dependency of a physical state of the person (3), and reproducing (9) the human perceptual signal. An adaptation of the human perceptual signal is limited to a certain maximum. The electronic device of the invention comprises electronic circuitry operative to perform the method of the invention. The software of the invention enables a programmable device to perform the method of the invention.

Abstract: Techniques are presented for selecting one or more items from a collection of items. To select the one or more items, an interface is provided that is adapted to allow a user to define one or more weights. Each weight corresponds to one of a number of similarity criteria. Each item also corresponds to the number of similarity criteria. The one or more weights define a similarity function. The similarity function is applied to the one or more similarity criteria corresponding to the one or more weights and to each of the items in order to select one or more items from the collection of items. The interface can comprise movable markers corresponding to similarity criteria. Locations of the movable markers can be used to weight similarity criteria when creating the similarity function.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing audio for playback to provide a smooth transition between a beginning region of an audio track and an end region of a previous audio track is disclosed. A quantity representative of a chromagram is calculated for each of the audio tracks and the mixing points for the beginning and end regions of each audio track are identified. A quantity representative of a chromagram at the mixing point of the beginning region of the audio track and a quantity representative of a chromagram at the mixing point of the end region of the previous audio track are correlated to determine an order of audio tracks for playback and/or to determine the duration of the mix transition.

Abstract: An apparatus with a speech control unit includes a microphone array having multiple microphones for receiving respective audio signals, and a beam forming module for extracting a speech signal of a user, from the audio signals. A keyword recognition system recognizes a predetermined keyword that is spoken by the user and which is represented by a particular audio signal and is arranged to control the beam forming module, on basis of tie recognition. A speech recognition unit creates an instruction for the apparatus based on recognized speech items of the speech signal. As a consequence, the speech control unit is more selective for those parts of the audio signals for speech recognition which correspond to speech items spoken by the user.

Abstract: A playlist generator implements a net-based playlist generation process that comprises a multi-stage, hierarchical process. At a highest hierarchical level, the playlist generator applies parameters corresponding to a user's “general” preferences, wherein the parameters are relatively constant. At a lower level of the hierarchy, the playlist generator applies parameters corresponding to the user's “specific” preferences, wherein the parameters are dynamic time-dependent or event-dependent. The playlist generator uses the high-level parameters to generate a subset of material from a global collection of material, and applies the lower-level preferences to this subset of material in response to a change in the user's immediate preferences.

Abstract: Multi-user playlist generation is provided. Users submit their playlists; a pie chart (3-1) is displayed (S3) representing the multi-user playlist generated from the plurality of playlists, such that m the pie chart each user playlist is represented as a piece of the pie (3-11, 3-12); a first piece of the pie is selected as the user playlist from which a selection is next chosen by displaying (S5) a spinning effect with respect to the pie for a random or a pseudorandom period of time; and choosing (S7) the selection from the determined user playlist and playing the selection chosen. The selection may include a song, a piece of music, a picture, a video, a film, or a TV program. The user playlists may be provided by a user as a list of songs, a genre, an artist, or a user preference profile.

Abstract: A method of classifying a set of content items, each content item including at least one signal (11) for rendering in perceptible form on a presentation system (1,2) of content items, includes obtaining an at least one-dimensional feature vector for each content item comprised in the set, at least one co-ordinate of the feature vector comprising a parameter value characterizing the content item. The method also includes providing at least one query to a system (14-17) configured to collect information descriptive of content items, each query including at least one of data identifying a content item of the set and data identifying an attribute common to the content items in the set, using results of each provided query to determine a sub-set of the set of content items, and classifying at least one content item in the set according to a measure of similarity between its feature vector and feature vectors obtained for content items in the sub-set.

Abstract: A musical composition system, includes a plurality of tokens (5-7) of visibly distinct types, each representing aspects of at least a fragment of a musical composition, wherein the tokens are configured for placement by at least one user in a spatial configuration; a system for determining respective locations and types of an assembly of tokens (5-7) placed in a spatial configuration by the user(s); a system (13-16;44-46) for translating a spatial ordering of the tokens (5-7) in the spatial configuration into a temporal ordering; a system (13,18,40;44-46) for translating the types of the tokens (5-7) into respective aspects of at least a fragment of a musical composition; and a system (13,18-20;44-46) for generating at least one signal representing a synthesis of the respective aspects of fragments of a musical composition in accordance with the temporal ordering, the signals being suitable for audible reproduction.

Abstract: Multi-user playlist generation is provided. Users submit their playlists; a pie chart (3-1) is displayed (S3) representing the multi-user playlist generated from the plurality of playlists, such that m the pie chart each user playlist is represented as a piece of the pie (3-11, 3-12); a first piece of the pie is selected as the user playlist from which a selection is next chosen by displaying (S5) a spinning effect with respect to the pie for a random or a pseudorandom period of time; and choosing (S7) the selection from the determined user playlist and playing the selection chosen. The selection may include a song, a piece of music, a picture, a video, a film, or a TV program. The user playlists may be provided by a user as a list of songs, a genre, an artist, or a user preference profile.

Abstract: A method of processing a set of content items, the method comprising the steps of: (150) selecting a particular one (sX, 210) of the set of content items, (160) selecting a first content item (sY, 220) on the basis of a first distance value (dXY, 211) representative of the distance between the particular content item and the first content item, and (180) selecting a second content item (sZ, 230) on the basis of a second distance value (dYZ, 221) representative of the distance between the first content item and the second content item. The particular, first and second content items may be sequentially included in a sequence of content items, e.g. for creating a playlist of content items. The invention also relates to a data-processing device for processing a set of content items, as well as to a distance data structure and a computer program product.

Abstract: Techniques are presented for selecting one or more items from a collection of items. To select the one or more items, an interface is provided that is adapted to allow a user to define one or more weights. Each weight corresponds to one of a number of similarity criteria. Each item also corresponds to the number of similarity criteria. The one or more weights define a similarity function. The similarity function is applied to the one or more similarity criteria corresponding to the one or more weights and to each of the items in order to select one or more items from the collection of items. The interface can comprise movable markers corresponding to similarity criteria. Locations of the movable markers can be used to weight similarity criteria when creating the similarity function.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dynamically generating a playlist to a user are provided. An on-screen user interface display is used for generating a display of a sequence of media desired by a user, in which an artist map having a large collection of music is displayed so that a user can selectively create a playlist path to generate the playlist according to a configuration of attribute values that corresponds to a specified position selected by a user on the artist map within the display. The artist map may include an overview of a large music collection based on the sound of music in such a way that similar artists are placed close together and provides at least one of the following: artist, album, style, mood, genre, tempo, and year of music.

Abstract: A playlist generator allows a user to identify a particular artist as the seed for a one-click playlist generation. When the user identifies the artist, a list of similar artists is presented for the user's approval or modification. When the user is satisfied with the list of artists, the user initiates the playlist generation. The system iteratively selects an artist from the list, and selects a song by that artist, based on the similarity of songs by the artist. The user may control the degree of variety among artists and among songs.

Abstract: The method of reproducing a human perceptual signal comprises the steps of selecting (7) a human perceptual signal in dependency of a pace of a person (3), adapting (8) the human perceptual signal in dependency of a physical state of the person (3), and reproducing (9) the human perceptual signal. An adaptation of the human perceptual signal is limited to a certain maximum. The electronic device of the invention comprises electronic circuitry operative to perform the method of the invention. The software of the invention enables a programmable device to perform the method of the invention.

Abstract: A playlist generator partitions the playlist generation process into a multi-stage, hierarchical process. At an example highest hierarchical level, the user's “general” preferences are applied. These general preferences reflect the user's “tastes”, and are relatively constant. At a lower level of the hierarchy, the user's “specific” preferences are applied. These specific preferences reflect the dynamic time-dependent or event dependent aspects of a user's entertainment preferences. The high-level preferences generate a subset of material from the global collection of material, and the lower-level preferences are applied to this subset of material as the user's immediate preferences change. By segregating the playlist generation process hierarchically, efficiency is gained by applying immediate preference changes to a smaller subset of material, and coherency is improved by limiting the subsequent selection processes to a given subset of the material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing audio for playback to provide a smooth transition between a beginning region of an audio track and an end region of a previous audio track is disclosed. A quantity representative of a chromagram is calculated for each of the audio tracks and the mixing points for the beginning and end regions of each audio track are identified. A quantity representative of a chromagram at the mixing point of the beginning region of the audio track and a quantity representative of a chromagram at the mixing point of the end region of the previous audio track are correlated to determine an order of audio tracks for playback and/or to determine the duration of the mix transition.

Abstract: The method of selecting content items of the invention comprises selecting (6) a subset of content items from a collection of content items in dependency of feedback gathered during a previous physical activity of a person (3). The subset is smaller than the collection of content items and the feedback comprises information regarding the previous physical activity. The electronic device of the invention comprises electronic circuitry operative to perform the method of the invention. The software of the invention enables a programmable device to perform the method of the invention.

Abstract: When playing back content identified on the playlist, it is determined if each of the content items is available. For a given content item that is not available, an additional content item (relevant content item) that is available and that corresponds to selection criteria is determined. The relevant content item and/or a new playlist is presented to a user for approval. The selection criteria is expanded to include a content item not previously identified if an additional content item is not available or is not approved.