Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for processing or correcting metadata used to characterize content such as images, video, books, or music, where that metadata may be provided by a community of users or other source. The metadata may be searched as part of a process of identifying and accessing content of interest to a user or of sharing content among users of a network. The metadata is typically a string or strings of characters that is submitted by a community, so that the accuracy of specific data cannot be guaranteed and consistent formats and unambiguous descriptions may not be used by all members of the community.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method to assist in the discovery of music or other content by members of a social network. The present invention permits network members to network together and share information about their music collections and listening habits with a processing platform and with each other. The processing platform processes music library content and playback related data to produce similarity and compatibility measures between artists (that is, an artist-to-artist measure) and between network members (that is, a network member-to-network member measure). By combining the content and playback related data with filtering mechanisms, recommendation techniques (which may be based on the calculated measures), and set membership concepts, the present invention provides network members of the network with tools to discover artists and/or songs that are likely to be of interest to them.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method to assist in the discovery of music or other content by members of a social network. The present invention permits network members to network together and share information about their music collections and listening habits with a processing platform and with each other. The processing platform processes music library content and playback related data to produce similarity and compatibility measures between artists (that is, an artist-to-artist measure) and between network members (that is, a network member-to-network member measure). By combining the content and playback related data with filtering mechanisms, recommendation techniques (which may be based on the calculated measures), and set membership concepts, the present invention provides network members of the network with tools to discover artists and/or songs that are likely to be of interest to them.

Abstract: The present invention allows for the downloading of content regardless of a computing device's configuration. Computer software is executed on the computing device to accommodate multiple download protocols and techniques. The present invention also works through problems associated with proxies, firewalls, and internet accelerators to download content from the internet.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method to assist in the discovery of music or other content by members of a social network. The present invention permits network members to network together and share information about their music collections and listening habits with a processing platform and with each other. The processing platform processes music library content and playback related data to produce similarity and compatibility measures between artists (that is, an artist-to-artist measure) and between network members (that is, a network member-to-network member measure). By combining the content and playback related data with filtering mechanisms, recommendation techniques (which may be based on the calculated measures), and set membership concepts, the present invention provides network members of the network with tools to discover artists and/or songs that are likely to be of interest to them.

Abstract: The present invention allows for the downloading of content regardless of a computing device's configuration. Computer software is executed on the computing device to accommodate multiple download protocols and techniques. The present invention also works through problems associated with proxies, firewalls, and internet accelerators to download content from the internet.

Abstract: The multi-service federated content distribution network provides a flexible directory service to define a set of service providers which clients are permitted to use. The directory service interfaces with other computing devices of two types: Either the computing devices includes a group of service providers that want to provide their copyrighted material to users using the directory service; or, the computing devices includes a group of users who have connected to the service providers through web browsing and now desire to download content from the service providers. The directory service facilitates activities to both groups using a digital rights management (DRM) approach.

Abstract: Systems and methodologies are provided for a Digital Rights Management (DRM) that permits a service provider implementing DRM (the Service), to distribute and use digital contents to a plurality of devices designated by a user, via employing a registration component and a DRM component. The registration component can associate a user with a particular device among the plurality of devices, and also associate the device with its DRM challenge. The DRM component can issue licenses for content(s) used on the particular device. Such an arrangement facilitates users' ability to roam and use a digital content purchased across a number of devices designated by the user and approved by the Service.