Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing a collection digest summarizing a shared media collection for presentation to a user. In one embodiment, a user device of a user joins a media sharing system including the user device and one or more other users devices, each associated with a sharing user and hosting a shared media collection of the sharing user. The user device obtains a collection digest from at least one of the other user devices that summarizes the shared media collection hosted by the at least one of the other user devices and presents the collection digest to the user. The collection digest may be used to assist the user in determining whether to access the shared media collection.

Abstract: Systems and methods for presenting information identifying a media item associated with a geographic area are disclosed. In one embodiment, a user device comprises a media player adapted to interact with a media item. The user device comprises a communication interface adapted to provide media item information identifying the media item, and to provide location information identifying a geographic location associated with the user device at which the media item was interacted with. The user device comprises a location determination component adapted to receive an identification of a geographic area. The communication interface is further adapted to receive information that identifies a second media item, wherein location information associated with the second media item is associated with the identified geographic area. The user device further comprises a user interface adapted to present, via the user device, the information that identifies the second media item.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for aggregating a local media collection of a user with one or more shared media collections shared with the user to provide an aggregate media collection for the user. In general, one or more shared media collections shared with the user are first discovered. Optionally, the user may select one or more of the shared media collections for aggregation with the local media collection of the user. The shared media collections selected by the user, or alternatively all of the shared media collections, are then aggregated with the local media collection of the user to provide an aggregate media collection for the user.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for matching participants in a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) recommendation network that is loosely coupled to a subscription music service. In general, the system includes a central server and a number of peer devices. For each of the peer devices, an associated user is either a subscriber to the subscription music service or a non-subscriber. When a user of a peer device desires to identify new friends with which to exchange recommendations in the P2P recommendation network, a friend recommendation function of the central server identifies new friends for the user of the peer device based on the user's status as either a subscriber or a non-subscriber to the subscription music service.

Abstract: A device and server for participating in a network for sharing media consumption activity is disclosed. For example, the device receives information identifying a media item as a result of playing the media item on a second user device associated with a friend of the plurality of friends and the friend of a plurality of friends. The device presents information identifying the media item selected for play on the second user device and the friend associated with the second user device and identifying a plurality of other media items and a subset of the plurality of friends. The device obtains a selection of a second media item for play, the second media item, and initiates play of the media item. The device provides, as a result of playing the second media item, information identifying the second media item and the user for sharing with the plurality of friends of the user.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system are provided for visually indicating a replay status of media items on a media device. Aspects of the method and system include displaying in a graphical user interface (GUI) of the media device a representation of a first media item; displaying a profile score of the first media item that is based on user preferences; and displaying a replay score for the first media item that affects replay of the first media item.

Abstract: A method and system for constructing and presenting a consumption profile, a rating profile, or both a consumption profile and a rating profile for a media item are provided. In general, consumption of a media item by a number of first users is tracked. Thereafter, before and/or during playback of the media item by a second user, a consumption profile for the media item is constructed and presented to the second user. In addition to or as an alternative to tracking consumption of the media item by the first users, ratings for the media item may be obtained from all or a subset of the first users. Thereafter, before and/or during playback of the media item by the second user, a rating profile for the media item is constructed and presented to the second user.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system are provided for replaying media items. Aspects of the method and system include in response to one of the media items being played, calculating a respective replay score for the media item that affects replay of the corresponding media item; and using the replay score to sort the media items for playing.

Abstract: Media management graphical user interfaces (GUIs) are disclosed herein. For example a media management GUI method is disclosed. A media item playlist for managing a plurality of media items is presented. The media item playlist includes information associated with the media items. The information includes score information representing a score for at least one of the plurality of media items. The score is based on at least one preference associated with the at least one of the plurality of media items. A first selector is presented; the first selector is operable to establish a first threshold score. The first threshold score is received. A media item is automatically downloaded if the score associated with the media item is at least as high as the first threshold score.

Abstract: A system and method for providing media recommendations, such as music recommendations, based on information identifying media recently played by a select group of heavy influencers for a subscription fee are provided. The group of heavy influencers may be a group of one or more celebrities or other persons whose media selections may heavily influence media selections of the users of the system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for presenting information identifying a media item associated with a geographic area are disclosed. In one embodiment, a user device comprises a media player adapted to interact with a media item. The user device comprises a communication interface adapted to provide media item information identifying the media item, and to provide location information identifying a geographic location associated with the user device at which the media item was interacted with. The user device comprises a location determination component adapted to receive an identification of a geographic area. The communication interface is further adapted to receive information that identifies a second media item, wherein location information associated with the second media item is associated with the identified geographic area. The user device further comprises a user interface adapted to present, via the user device, the information that identifies the second media item.

Abstract: A system and method for providing media recommendations, such as music recommendations, based on information identifying media recently played by a select group of heavy influencers for a subscription fee are provided. The group of heavy influencers may be a group of one or more celebrities or other persons whose media selections may heavily influence media selections of the users of the system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for generating and utilizing photo advertisements (“ads”). In one embodiment, a photo advertisement is posted as a status update for a user via a social networking service. A plurality of filler images representing one or more participants is associated with a photo ad template having one or more photo wells. A photo advertisement based on the photo ad template is generated by an electronic device such that the associated plurality of filler images are inserted into the one or more photo wells in the photo ad template. A status update that includes the photo advertisement for presentation with the status update is initiated responsive to generating the photo advertisement.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for aggregating a local media collection of a user with one or more shared media collections shared with the user to provide an aggregate media collection for the user. In general, one or more shared media collections shared with the user are first discovered. Optionally, the user may select one or more of the shared media collections for aggregation with the local media collection of the user. The shared media collections selected by the user, or alternatively all of the shared media collections, are then aggregated with the local media collection of the user to provide an aggregate media collection for the user. The aggregate media collection of the user may then be pruned or filtered based on user preferences of the user.

Abstract: The present invention provides a peer-to-peer (P2P) network for providing real time media recommendations. The P2P network includes a central server interconnecting a number of peer devices. In operation, a proxy function of the central server receives media recommendations from one or more peer devices that are active and online as media presentations identified by the media recommendations are played by the peer devices. The one or more peer devices are included in a group of peer devices associated with a first peer device. The proxy function provides the media recommendations to the first peer device. An augmentation function of the central server monitors a recommendation level of the first peer device. If the recommendation level falls below a minimum recommendation level, the augmentation function augments the media recommendations provided to the first peer device to increase the recommendation level to or above the minimum recommendation level.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing representative information for a geographic area of interest are disclosed. In one embodiment, a media service tracks media interaction histories (e.g., play histories) for a number of users registered with the media service, where each media interaction history identifies media items interacted with by the corresponding user as well as the locations at which at least a subset of the media items were interacted with by the corresponding user. The media service receives a request from a requesting user for representative information for a geographic area of interest. In response to receiving the request, the media service determines representative information for the geographic area of interest based on at least a subset of the media interaction histories of the users and effects presentation of the representative information to the requesting user.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for obtaining information defining a plurality of geographic shapes, each geographic shape corresponding to an approximate geographic outline of a respective geographic area and being assigned an importance level. A request is received from a requestor. One or more of geographic shapes in which the requestor is located is determined. One or more content items are selected based on the importance level assigned to the one or more geographic shapes in which the requestor is located. When a requestor is located in two or more geographic shapes, the one or more content items are selected based on a comparison of importance levels for the geographic shapes. Delivery of the one or more content items to the requestor is effected.

Abstract: A system for and method of per access-point streaming media customization and privacy protected feedback in a wireless network. The system is operative to: encrypt real time streamed media content from a streaming media source; multicast the streamed encrypted media content for availability to a user device for playback, the user device sending out unicast responses at the time of joining or dropping the multicast; aggregate the unicast responses in the form of a connect multicast state or a disconnect multicast state of the user device based on the joining or dropping of the multicast; and provide information back to the streaming media source based on the aggregated unicast responses.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for generating and utilizing photo advertisements (“ads”). In one embodiment, a photo advertisement is posted as a status update for a user via a social networking service. More specifically, first, one or more photo ad templates are obtained for the user, where each photo ad template includes one or more photo wells. A photo advertisement is then generated based on one of the photo ad templates such that a filler image of a different one of one or more participants identified for the photo advertisement is inserted into each of the one or more photo wells in the photo ad template. The photo advertisement is then used as a status update for the user. In another embodiment, the photo advertisement is stored and subsequently used to serve ad requests.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for generating and utilizing photo advertisements (“ads”). In one embodiment, a photo check-in process is performed for a user located within a geographic check-in zone which results in a photo advertisement that is utilized as a photo check-in for the user. In another embodiment, a photo advertisement is posted as a status update for a user via a social networking service. In another embodiment, photo advertisements are created by users and stored for subsequent use in serving ad requests.