Abstract: A system and method for voice control of a media playback device is disclosed. The method includes receiving an instruction of a voice command, converting the voice command to text, transmitting the text command to the playback device, and having the playback device execute the command. An instruction may include a command to play a set of audio tracks, and the media playback device plays the set of audio tracks upon receiving the instruction.

Abstract: A descriptive playlist search solution is provided to allow a user to search for playlists based on descriptions even if such descriptions do not typically appear in playlist metadata. The descriptive playlist search solution uses descriptions of a playlists (e.g., a playlist title or other descriptive text) to label tracks of the playlist. Playlists having the same or similar tracks are then labeled with the same or similar descriptions. The descriptive playlist search solution establishes a descriptive search database using the labeled playlists. The descriptive search database is then searched responsive to the user's descriptive search request is conducted. One or more playlists matching the description are obtained responsive to conducting the search. The playlists are then presented at a media playback device.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for human-machine interfaces for improving machine understanding and fulfillment of utterance-based requests provided via the interfaces. Multiple candidate understandings from multiple stages of a natural language processing flow are preserved for arbitration and choosing by an arbitrator that applies arbitration rules to the plurality of candidates and chooses a single candidate for initiation of a corresponding service. In an embodiment, the arbitrator uses a media content taste profile to choose a candidate understanding for initiation of a corresponding service.

Abstract: A request to play a media content item is received. It is determined whether the play request is ambiguous. Responsive to determining that the play request is ambiguous, then it is determined whether to play a suspended media content item or an alternate media content item. The determination can be made based on a length of time that the suspended media content item has been suspended, a media content item type, or a state, among other factors. Responsive to the determination, playback of the suspended or alternate media content item is initiated.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for using a selected cohort of content consumers to rate a media object is provided by identifying a media object, determining a first value, where the first value is equal to a number of content consumers who belong to a cohort and who have played the media object, determining a second value. The second value is equal to a total number of content consumers who played the media object. A rating is computed using the first value and the second value.

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: A system and method for voice control of a media playback device is disclosed. The method includes receiving an instruction of a voice command, converting the voice command to text, transmitting the text command to the playback device, and having the playback device execute the command. An instruction may include a command to play a set of audio tracks, and the media playback device plays the set of audio tracks upon receiving the instruction.

Abstract: A system and method for voice control of a media playback device is disclosed. The method includes receiving an instruction of a voice command, converting the voice command to text, transmitting the text command to the playback device, and having the playback device execute the command. An instruction may include a command to play a set of audio tracks, and the media playback device plays the set of audio tracks upon receiving the instruction.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for using a selected cohort of content consumers to rate a media object is provided by identifying a media object, determining a first value, where the first value is equal to a number of content consumers who belong to a cohort and who have played the media object, determining a second value. The second value is equal to a total number of content consumers who played the media object. A rating is computed using the first value and the second value.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for clustering pages into headline clusters are provided by collecting web data, identifying pages from the web data, tokenizing unique words in each page, recognizing unique entities in each page, detecting media links in each page, and constructing a plurality of vector representations of each page. A first dimension of each vector representation includes the unique words tokenized in each page, a second dimension of each vector representation includes the unique entities recognized in each page, and a third dimension of each vector representation includes the media links detected in each page. The vector representations are, in turn, clustered.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for predicting breakout artists and media content. Web content is scraped to identify web pages that include the name of an artist or media item and clusters the web pages into one or more headlines. The number of headlines for the artist or media item that occurred during a first time period and the number of content consumers who played the artist or media item during the first time period and during a second time period are counted. A breakout value is, in turn, calculated for the artist or media item using the number of headlines over the first time period, the number of content consumers during the first time period and the number of content consumers during the second time period.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for using a selected cohort of content consumers to rate a media object is provided by identifying a media object, determining a first value, where the first value is equal to a number of content consumers who belong to a cohort and who have played the media object, determining a second value. The second value is equal to a total number of content consumers who played the media object. A rating is computed using the first value and the second value.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for clustering pages into headline dusters are provided by collecting web data, identifying pages from the web data, tokenizing unique words in each page, recognizing unique entities in each page, detecting media links in each page, and constructing a plurality of vector representations of each page. A first dimension of each vector representation includes the unique words tokenized in each page, a second dimension of each vector representation includes the unique entities recognized in each page, and a third dimension of each vector representation includes the media links detected in each page. The vector representations are, in turn, clustered.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for predicting breakout artists and media content. Web content is scraped to identify web pages that include the name of an artist or media item and clusters the web pages into one or more headlines. The number of headlines for the artist or media item that occurred during a first time period and the number of content consumers who played the artist or media item during the first time period and during a second time period are counted. A breakout value is, in turn, calculated for the artist or media item using the number of headlines over the first time period, the number of content consumers during the first time period and the number of content consumers during the second time period.

Abstract: Embodiments of the knee brace disclosed herein provide a combination of external ligament support and/or relief from pain caused by osteoarthritis with patellofemoral support. The brace includes a rigid frame and a flexible strap configured to extend across the wearer's patella to provide anterior loading thereto. The strap is operatively secured at either end to components of the rigid frame, thereby providing maximum leverage for applying force to the wearer's patella. In some embodiments, the strap includes a removable and adjustable buttress for directly contacting the wearer's patella. The patellar strap provides dynamic loading to the patella through the wearer's range of motion for relief of patellofemoral dysfunction, such as patellar shift, subluxation and dislocation, and malalignments such as patella alta, patella baja, tilt and glide.

Abstract: Embodiments of the knee brace disclosed herein provide a combination of external ligament support and/or relief from pain caused by osteoarthritis with patellofemoral support. The brace includes a rigid frame and a flexible strap configured to extend across the wearer's patella to provide anterior loading thereto. The strap is operatively secured at either end to components of the rigid frame, thereby providing maximum leverage for applying force to the wearer's patella. In some embodiments, the strap includes a removable and adjustable buttress for directly contacting the wearer's patella. The patellar strap provides dynamic loading to the patella through the wearer's range of motion for relief of patellofemoral dysfunction, such as patellar shift, subluxation and dislocation, and malalignments such as patella alta, patella baja, tilt and glide.