Abstract: A method and system for previewing a media item recommendation queue. A server receives a request from a first device for at least a portion of a media item recommendation queue associated with a second device. The server provides to the first device a plurality of recommendation queue entries from a top portion of the media item recommendation queue associated with the second device. The order of the plurality of recommendation queue entries in the media item recommendation queue is based on a plurality of priority indicators associated with the second device. The server receives a request from the first device to couple the second device to the first device and couples the second device to the first device, wherein media item recommendations generated by the second device are directed to the first device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for obtaining secondary indications of locations of users for use by a location-based service. In one embodiment, a secondary indication of a location of one or more users is obtained from a source of secondary indications of locations of users. The secondary indication includes a location of the one or more users and timing information defining when the one or more users were or will be located at the location. The secondary indication of the location of the one or more users is then stored and utilized to provide the location-based service. In one embodiment, the secondary indication is utilized to store historical aggregate user profile data by location and/or to provide aggregate user profile data for crowds of users formed via a spatial crowd formation process.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for maintaining a historical record of anonymized user profile data for mobile device users and serving historical requests. In one embodiment, a central system, which includes one or more servers, operates to obtain current locations and user profiles for users of mobile devices. The central system processes the current locations and the user profiles of the users over time to maintain a historical record of anonymized user profile data by location. By anonymizing the user data, privacy of the users of the mobile devices is maintained. The central system may then use the historical record of anonymized user profile data to respond to historical requests. The historical requests may be made by users of the mobile devices, subscribers, and/or third-party services.

Abstract: A system and method for bandwidth sharing in a distributed wireless client application using inverse multiplexing termination. The system includes: a group of collocated client playback devices having wide area network (WAN) and local area network (LAN) connectivity, and a centralized inverse multiplexing (IMUX) server which optimizes shared bandwidth of both the WAN via inverse multiplexing and the LAN using either broadcast or multicast of all virtual multiplexing paths to all other client playback devices of the group of collocated client playback devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for creating a user profile for a subject user based on historical aggregate profile data for locations at which the subject user was previously located. In one embodiment, one or more location and time period pairs are determined for the subject user, each defining a previous location of the subject user and a time period during which the subject user was at the location. For a plurality of location and time period pairs, a plurality of historical aggregate profiles for a corresponding plurality of sub-bands within the time period defined by each location and time period pair in the plurality of location and time period pairs is obtained. A user profile for the subject user is created based on the plurality of historical aggregate profiles for the corresponding plurality of sub-bands based on relevancy ratings for the plurality of sub-bands.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for maintaining a historical record of anonymized user profile data for mobile device users. In one embodiment, a central system, which includes one or more servers, operates to obtain current locations and user profiles for users of mobile devices. The central system processes the current locations and the user profiles of the users over time to maintain a historical record of anonymized user profile data by location. By anonymizing the user data, privacy of the users of the mobile devices is maintained. The central system may then use the historical record of anonymized user profile data to respond to historical requests. The historical requests may be made by users of the mobile devices, subscribers, and/or third party services.

Abstract: Devices are disclosed for providing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for representing a reference item and a number of items of interest. In one embodiment, each item of interest is assigned to one of a number of concentric regions in a two-dimensional geographic space based on the location and one or more attributes of the item of interest. The concentric regions in the two-dimensional geographic space are centered at a location in the two-dimensional space that corresponds to the reference item. A GUI is generated includes concentric display regions that correspond to the concentric regions in the two-dimensional geographic space, where a select concentric display region provides an expanded view of the items of interest located within the corresponding region in the two-dimensional geographic space and the remaining concentric display region(s) provide collapsed view(s) of the items of interest in the corresponding region(s) of the two-dimensional geographic space.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for representing a reference item and a number of items of interest. In one embodiment, each item of interest is assigned to one of a number of concentric regions in a two-dimensional space based on one or more attributes of the item of interest. The concentric regions in the two-dimensional space are centered at a location in the two-dimensional space that corresponds to the reference item. A GUI is then generated such that the GUI includes concentric display regions that correspond to the concentric regions in the two-dimensional space, where a select concentric display region provides an expanded view of the items of interest located within the corresponding region in the two-dimensional space and the remaining concentric display region(s) provide collapsed view(s) of the items of interest in the corresponding region(s) of the two-dimensional space.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for creating a user profile for a subject user based on historical aggregate profile data for locations at which the subject user was previously located. In one embodiment, one or more location and time period pairs are determined for the subject user, each defining a previous location of the subject user and a time period during which the subject user was at the location. For a plurality of location and time period pairs, a plurality of historical aggregate profiles for a corresponding plurality of sub-bands within the time period defined by each location and time period pair in the plurality of location and time period pairs is obtained. A user profile for the subject user is created based on the plurality of historical aggregate profiles for the corresponding plurality of sub-bands based on relevancy ratings for the plurality of sub-bands.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for maintaining a historical record of anonymized user profile data for mobile device users. In one embodiment, a central system, which includes one or more servers, operates to obtain current locations and user profiles for users of mobile devices. The central system processes the current locations and the user profiles of the users over time to maintain a historical record of anonymized user profile data by location. By anonymizing the user data, privacy of the users of the mobile devices is maintained. The central system may then use the historical record of anonymized user profile data to respond to historical requests. The historical requests may be made by users of the mobile devices, subscribers, and/or third party services.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for creating a user profile for a subject user based on historical aggregate profile data for locations at which the subject user was previously located. In one embodiment, one or more location and time period pairs are determined for the subject user. Each location and time period pair defines a previous location of the subject user and a time period during which the subject user was at the previous location. Historical aggregate profile data is obtained for the location and time period pairs. For each location and time period pair, the historical aggregate profile data is generally an aggregation of user profiles of a number of users relevant to the location and time period pair. A user profile for the subject user is then created based on the historical aggregate profile data for the one or more location and time period pairs.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for maintaining a historical record of anonymized user profile data for mobile device users. In one embodiment, a central system, which includes one or more servers, operates to obtain current locations and user profiles for users of mobile devices. The central system processes the current locations and the user profiles of the users over time to maintain a historical record of anonymized user profile data by location. By anonymizing the user data, privacy of the users of the mobile devices is maintained. The central system may then use the historical record of anonymized user profile data to respond to historical requests. The historical requests may be made by users of the mobile devices, subscribers, and/or third-party services.

Abstract: A system and method for bandwidth sharing in a distributed wireless client application using inverse multiplexing termination. The system includes: a group of collocated client playback devices having wide area network (WAN) and local area network (LAN) connectivity, and a centralized inverse multiplexing (IMUX) server which optimizes shared bandwidth of both the WAN via inverse multiplexing and the LAN using either broadcast or multicast of all virtual multiplexing paths to all other client playback devices of the group of collocated client playback devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for bandwidth sharing in a distributed wireless client application using inverse multiplexing termination. The system includes: a group of collocated client playback devices having wide area network (WAN) and local area network (LAN) connectivity, and a centralized inverse multiplexing (IMUX) server which optimizes shared bandwidth of both the WAN via inverse multiplexing and the LAN using either broadcast or multicast of all virtual multiplexing paths to all other client playback devices of the group of collocated client playback devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for tracking crowds of users are provided. In one embodiment, a central system, which includes one or more servers, operates to obtain current locations for users of mobile devices. Based on the current locations of the users, the central system forms crowds of users. As a result of movement of the users and corresponding location updates, the crowds move and change over time. In order to track at least some of the crowds, crowd snapshots for those crowds are created over time and stored. The crowd snapshots preferably maintain anonymity of the users in the crowd at the time the crowd snapshots are created. Thereafter, the crowd snapshots may be used to generate crowd tracking data for select crowds.

Abstract: A method for recording a media item. A first media controller records a first portion of a media item. The first media controller receives a request to view a second media item. The first media controller directs a second media controller to record a second portion of the media item, and couples the first portion to the second portion.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for representing a reference item and a number of items of interest. In one embodiment, each item of interest is assigned to one of a number of concentric regions in a two-dimensional space based on one or more attributes of the item of interest. The concentric regions in the two-dimensional space are centered at a location in the two-dimensional space that corresponds to the reference item. A GUI is then generated such that the GUI includes concentric display regions that correspond to the concentric regions in the two-dimensional space, where a select concentric display region provides an expanded view of the items of interest located within the corresponding region in the two-dimensional space and the remaining concentric display region(s) provide collapsed view(s) of the items of interest in the corresponding region(s) of the two-dimensional space.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating new crowds of users are disclosed. In one embodiment, a number of geographically relevant Points of Interest (POIs) within a geographic bounding region in which the new crowd is to be created are identified. A POI for the new crowd is then selected from the geographically relevant POIs based on a crowd profile defined for the new crowd. Users to attract to the new crowd at the POI selected for the new crowd are selected based on the crowd profile defined for the new crowd, and the selected users are then attracted to the new crowd at the POI selected for the new crowd.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed in which a location update for a user is utilized as a location update for the user and one or more additional users that have been location-synchronized to the user. In general, a location update is received for a first user. One or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user are then identified. A location reported by the location update for the first user is recorded, or stored, as a current location of the first user and a current location of each of the one or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user. A location-based service, such as a social location-based service, may then be provided based on the current locations of the first and one or more second users.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for obtaining secondary indications of locations of users for use by a location-based service. In one embodiment, a secondary indication of a location of one or more users is obtained from a source of secondary indications of locations of users. The secondary indication includes a location of the one or more users and timing information defining when the one or more users were or will be located at the location. The secondary indication of the location of the one or more users is then stored and utilized to provide the location-based service. In one embodiment, the secondary indication is utilized to store historical aggregate user profile data by location and/or to provide aggregate user profile data for crowds of users formed via a spatial crowd formation process.