Abstract: A machine may form all or part of a network-based system configured to provide media service to one or more user devices. The machine may be configured to define a station library within a larger collection of media files. In particular, the machine may access metadata that describes a seed that forms the basis on which the station library is to be defined. The machine may determine a genre composition for the station library based on the metadata. The machine may generate a list of media files from the metadata based on a relevance of each media file to the station library. The machine may determine the relevance of each media file based on a similarity of the media file to the genre composition of the station library as well as a comparison of metadata describing the media file to the accessed metadata that describes the seed.

Abstract: A clustering machine can cluster descriptive vectors in a balanced manner. The clustering machine calculates distances between pairs of descriptive vectors and generates clusters of vectors arranged in a hierarchy. The clustering machine determines centroid vectors of the clusters, such that each cluster is represented by its corresponding centroid vector. The clustering machine calculates a sum of inter-cluster vector distances between pairs of centroid vectors, as well as a sum of intra-cluster vector distances between pairs of vectors in the clusters. The clustering machine calculates multiple scores of the hierarchy by varying a scalar and calculating a separate score for each scalar. The calculation of each score is based on the two sums previously calculated for the hierarchy. The clustering machine may select or otherwise identify a balanced subset of the hierarchy by finding an extremum in the calculated scores.

Abstract: Techniques of content unification are disclosed. In some example embodiments, a computer-implemented method comprises: determining clusters based a comparison of a plurality of audio content using a first matching criteria, each cluster of the plurality of clusters comprising at least two audio content from the plurality of audio content; for each cluster of the plurality of clusters, determining a representative audio content for the cluster from the at least two audio content of the cluster; loading the corresponding representative audio content of each cluster into an index; matching the query audio content to one of the representative audio contents using a first matching criteria; determining the corresponding cluster of the matched representative audio content; and identifying a match between the query audio content and at least one of the audio content of the cluster of the matched representative audio content based on a comparison using a second matching criteria.

Abstract: A user of a network-based system may correspond to a user profile that describes the user. The user profile may describe the user using one or more descriptors of items that correspond to the user (e.g., items owned by the user, items liked by the user, or items rated by the user). In some situations, such a user profile may be characterized as a “taste profile” that describes an array or distribution of one or more tastes, preferences, or habits of the user. Accordingly, the user profile machine within the network-based system may generate the user profile by accessing descriptors of items that correspond to the user, clustering one or more of the descriptors, and generating the user profile based on one or more clusters of the descriptors.

Abstract: A clustering machine can cluster descriptive vectors in a balanced manner. The clustering machine calculates distances between pairs of descriptive vectors and generates clusters of vectors arranged in a hierarchy. The clustering machine determines centroid vectors of the clusters, such that each cluster is represented by its corresponding centroid vector. The clustering machine calculates a sum of inter-cluster vector distances between pairs of centroid vectors, as well as a sum of intra-cluster vector distances between pairs of vectors in the clusters. The clustering machine calculates multiple scores of the hierarchy by varying a scalar and calculating a separate score for each scalar. The calculation of each score is based on the two sums previously calculated for the hierarchy. The clustering machine may select or otherwise identify a balanced subset of the hierarchy by finding an extremum in the calculated scores.

Abstract: Techniques of content unification are disclosed. In some example embodiments, a computer-implemented method comprises: determining clusters based a comparison of a plurality of audio content using a first matching criteria, each cluster of the plurality of clusters comprising at least two audio content from the plurality of audio content; for each cluster of the plurality of clusters, determining a representative audio content for the cluster from the at least two audio content of the cluster; loading the corresponding representative audio content of each cluster into an index; matching the query audio content to one of the representative audio contents using a first matching criteria; determining the corresponding cluster of the matched representative audio content; and identifying a match between the query audio content and at least one of the audio content of the cluster of the matched representative audio content based on a comparison using a second matching criteria.

Abstract: A user of a network-based system may correspond to a user profile that describes the user. The user profile may describe the user using one or more descriptors of items that correspond to the user (e.g., items owned by the user, items liked by the user, or items rated by the user). In some situations, such a user profile may be characterized as a “taste profile” that describes an array or distribution of one or more tastes, preferences, or habits of the user. Accordingly, the user profile machine within the network-based system may generate the user profile by accessing descriptors of items that correspond to the user, clustering one or more of the descriptors, and generating the user profile based on one or more clusters of the descriptors.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for filtering at least one media content catalog based on criteria for a station library to generate a first list of candidate tracks for the station library, combining a similarity score and a popularity score for each track of the first list of candidate tracks to generate a total score for each track of the first list of candidate tracks, generating a list of top ranked tracks for the first genre, and returning the list of top ranked tracks of the first genre as part of the station library.

Abstract: A machine is configured to identify a media file that, when played to a user, is likely to modify an emotional or physical state of the user to or towards a target emotional or physical state. The machine accesses play counts that quantify playbacks of media files for the user. The playbacks may be locally performed or detected by the machine from ambient sound. The machine accesses arousal scores of the media files and determines a distribution of the play counts over the arousal scores. The machine uses one or more relative maxima in the distribution in selecting a target arousal score for the user based on contextual data that describes an activity of the user. The machine selects one or more media files based on the target arousal score. The machine may then cause the selected media file to be played to the user.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for filtering at least one media content catalog based on criteria for a station library to generate a first list of candidate tracks for the station library, combining a similarity score and a popularity score for each track of the first list of candidate tracks to generate a total score for each track of the first list of candidate tracks, generating a list of top ranked tracks for the first genre, and returning the list of top ranked tracks of the first genre as part of the station library.

Abstract: A machine is configured to identify a media file that, when played to a user, is likely to modify an emotional or physical state of the user to or towards a target emotional or physical state. The machine accesses play counts that quantify playbacks of media files for the user. The playbacks may be locally performed or detected by the machine from ambient sound. The machine accesses arousal scores of the media files and determines a distribution of the play counts over the arousal scores. The machine uses one or more relative maxima in the distribution in selecting a target arousal score for the user based on contextual data that describes an activity of the user. The machine selects one or more media files based on the target arousal score. The machine may then cause the selected media file to be played to the user.

Abstract: A clustering machine can cluster descriptive vectors in a balanced manner. The clustering machine calculates distances between pairs of descriptive vectors and generates clusters of vectors arranged in a hierarchy. The clustering machine determines centroid vectors of the clusters, such that each cluster is represented by its corresponding centroid vector. The clustering machine calculates a sum of inter-cluster vector distances between pairs of centroid vectors, as well as a sum of intra-cluster vector distances between pairs of vectors in the clusters. The clustering machine calculates multiple scores of the hierarchy by varying a scalar and calculating a separate score for each scalar. The calculation of each score is based on the two sums previously calculated for the hierarchy. The clustering machine may select or otherwise identify a balanced subset of the hierarchy by finding an extremum in the calculated scores.

Abstract: A clustering machine can cluster descriptive vectors in a balanced manner. The clustering machine calculates distances between pairs of descriptive vectors and generates clusters of vectors arranged in a hierarchy. The clustering machine determines centroid vectors of the clusters, such that each cluster is represented by its corresponding centroid vector. The clustering machine calculates a sum of inter-cluster vector distances between pairs of centroid vectors, as well as a sum of intra-cluster vector distances between pairs of vectors in the clusters. The clustering machine calculates multiple scores of the hierarchy by varying a scalar and calculating a separate score for each scalar. The calculation of each score is based on the two sums previously calculated for the hierarchy. The clustering machine may select or otherwise identify a balanced subset of the hierarchy by finding an extremum in the calculated scores.

Abstract: Techniques of content unification are disclosed. In some example embodiments, a computer-implemented method comprises: determining clusters based a comparison of a plurality of audio content using a first matching criteria, each cluster of the plurality of clusters comprising at least two audio content from the plurality of audio content; for each cluster of the plurality of clusters, determining a representative audio content for the cluster from the at least two audio content of the cluster; loading the corresponding representative audio content of each cluster into an index; matching the query audio content to one of the representative audio contents using a first matching criteria; determining the corresponding cluster of the matched representative audio content; and identifying a match between the query audio content and at least one of the audio content of the cluster of the matched representative audio content based on a comparison using a second matching criteria.

Abstract: A user of a network-based system may correspond to a user profile that describes the user. The user profile may describe the user using one or more descriptors of items that correspond to the user (e.g., items owned by the user, items liked by the user, or items rated by the user). In some situations, such a user profile may be characterized as a “taste profile” that describes an array or distribution of one or more tastes, preferences, or habits of the user. Accordingly, the user profile machine within the network-based system may generate the user profile by accessing descriptors of items that correspond to the user, clustering one or more of the descriptors, and generating the user profile based on one or more clusters of the descriptors.

Abstract: Techniques of content unification are disclosed. In some example embodiments, a computer-implemented method comprises: determining clusters based a comparison of a plurality of audio content using a first matching criteria, each cluster of the plurality of clusters comprising at least two audio content from the plurality of audio content; for each cluster of the plurality of clusters, determining a representative audio content for the cluster from the at least two audio content of the cluster; loading the corresponding representative audio content of each cluster into an index; matching the query audio content to one of the representative audio contents using a first matching criteria; determining the corresponding cluster of the matched representative audio content; and identifying a match between the query audio content and at least one of the audio content of the cluster of the matched representative audio content based on a comparison using a second matching criteria.

Abstract: A machine may form all or part of a network-based system configured to provide media service to one or more user devices. The machine may be configured to define a station library within a larger collection of media files. In particular, the machine may access metadata that describes a seed that forms the basis on which the station library is to be defined. The machine may determine a genre composition for the station library based on the metadata. The machine may generate a list of media files from the metadata based on a relevance of each media file to the station library. The machine may determine the relevance of each media file based on a similarity of the media file to the genre composition of the station library as well as a comparison of metadata describing the media file to the accessed metadata that describes the seed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for filtering at least one media content catalog based on criteria for a station library to generate a first list of candidate tracks for the station library, combining a similarity score and a popularity score for each track of the first list of candidate tracks to generate a total score for each track of the first list of candidate tracks, generating a list of top ranked tracks for the first genre, and returning the list of top ranked tracks of the first genre as part of the station library.

Abstract: A machine is configured to identify a media file that, when played to a user, is likely to modify an emotional or physical state of the user to or towards a target emotional or physical state. The machine accesses play counts that quantify playbacks of media files for the user. The playbacks may be locally performed or detected by the machine from ambient sound. The machine accesses arousal scores of the media files and determines a distribution of the play counts over the arousal scores. The machine uses one or more relative maxima in the distribution in selecting a target arousal score for the user based on contextual data that describes an activity of the user. The machine selects one or more media files based on the target arousal score. The machine may then cause the selected media file to be played to the user.

Abstract: An apparatus (a) groups descriptors into a cluster based on associating the descriptors with each of a first item and a second item, (b) accesses biometric data of a user, (c) determines a first activity of the user based on contextual data correlating the cluster with the biometric data, including determining whether the first activity represents an anomalous phase of the user based on a time period of the first activity being shorter than a threshold duration, and (d) generates a user profile based on the first activity of the user and the cluster, including (i) responsive to determining that the first activity represents the anomalous phase of the user, omitting a name of the cluster from the user profile, and (ii) responsive to a second activity of the user matching the first activity associated with the cluster, generating a recommendation including a third item based on the user profile.