Abstract: The present invention relates to a multimedia file playing back method for playing audio and video contents for more effective language learning, and to a multimedia player.

Abstract: A control unit in a first playback system connected to a musical piece searching unit via a path having the highest data transfer rate includes a determining unit for discriminating between a request for musical piece information from the first playback system and a request for musical piece information from a second playback system, a temporary storage unit for holding data information acquired in response to the request from the second playback system, and a musical piece information transmitting unit for transferring the musical piece information read from the temporary storage unit to the second playback system according to the data transfer rate of a path connecting with the second playback system, and each of the first and second playback systems makes a request of the musical piece searching unit for musical piece information via the control unit, and acquires the data information satisfying the request.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention provides a method, comprising: (a) maintaining a database of known fraudsters, wherein each fraudster has a voice signature and metadata associated therewith; (b) performing a screening operation to match a candidate with a fraudster in the database based on matching a voice signature and metadata for the candidate with a voice signature and metadata for the fraudster in the database.

Abstract: A system and method for providing conditional background music for user-generated content and broadcast videos. The method includes: detecting that a particular song is specified to serve as background music for a particular media content; searching for the particular song to serve as background music for the particular media content; and checking whether an end user of the particular media content has rights to the particular song and that the particular song is available. When the particular song is available, the particular song is returned for playback as the background music to the particular media content. When the particular song is not available, searching is conducted for another song as a substitute song based upon preferences of both an author and the end user of the particular media content. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for receiving user input that defines a search query, and providing the search query to a server system. Information that a search engine system determined was responsive to the search query is received at a computing device. The computing device is identified as in a first state, and a first output mode for audibly outputting at least a portion of the information is selected. The first output mode is selected from a collection of the first output mode and a second output mode. The second output mode is selected in response to the computing device being in a second state and is for visually outputting at least the portion of the information and not audibly outputting the at least portion of the information. At least the portion of information is audibly output.

Abstract: A method for non-text-based identification of a selected item of stored music. The first broad portion of the method focuses on building a music identification database. That process requires capturing a tag of the selected musical item, and processing the tag to develop reference key to the same. Then the tag is stored, together with the reference key and an association to the stored music. The database is built by collecting a multiplicity of tags. The second broad portion of the method is retrieving a desired item of stored music from the database. That process calls for capturing a query tag from a user, and processing the query tag to develop a query key to the same. The query tag is compared to reference keys stored in the database to identify the desired item of stored music.

Abstract: Keyword based audio data comparison. A method comprises extracting at least one feature from audio content of an audio data set to form feature arrays. The feature arrays may comprise a pitch array and a rhythm array. A set of keywords is formed for each feature array by performing the following for each feature array. Keywords are formed from overlapping sequences of values in the feature array, wherein each successive keyword comprises at least one value of a previous keyword and further comprises at least one value from the feature array that is not in the previous keyword. Another aspect audio is keyword-based audio data searching. Search keywords are formed from audio content. An index comprising sets of keywords formed from audio content of respective ones of audio data sets is searched using the search keywords formed from audio content of the specified audio data to identify audio data having similar audio content.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to automatically construct a database of contents data which are distributed over plural reproducing apparatuses and search this database on the basis of user's fragmentary memory. A contents sharing management system practiced as one embodiment of the invention comprises an episode server installed at user's home and plural reproducing apparatuses including a component stereo set, portable player, portable wireless terminal, and MD player, which are interconnected in a wireless manner based on wireless communication technologies such as Bluetooth. The episode server wirelessly connects to the portable player for example to get the episode information stored therein and organizes the retrieved episode information into a database. The episode server also searches the database upon request from the portable player to identify a source apparatus in which desired contents data are stored and supplies the retrieved contents data to the requesting portable player.

Abstract: In conventional retrieval techniques for narrowing down a candidate when there are a plurality of candidates as retrieval results, a method results in a huge number of candidates in order to prevent omission of candidates, whereby the administration cost is increased, and another method involves always processing all candidates, whereby the processing time becomes longer and the response performance is lowered.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for matching media files stored in a media player device to media files stored in a computing device. In one embodiment, a method includes scanning a media player device for one or more media files, detecting an identifier associated with each media file stored on the media player device, wherein identifiers are generated by a media management application, and checking if detected identifiers associated with media files stored in the media player device correspond to identifiers associated with media files stored in the computing device. The method may also include determining one or more graphical indicators for a user interface of the media management application based on said checking. According to another embodiment, a user interface may be provided for a media management application by a computing device.

Abstract: A method and a system are provided for recommending a media item (e.g., movie and/or television program). In one example, the system receives a seed media item (e.g., seed movie and/or seed television program). A seed media item is an audio-visual recording that is identified as being of interest to a user. The system recognizes one or more recognized audio tracks (e.g., audio tracks and/or songs) from the seed media item. A recognized audio track is an audio recording that is contained in the seed media item. The system retrieves audio track metadata associated with at least one of the recognized audio tracks from the seed media item. Audio track metadata are data that describes an audio recording. The system recommends one or more recommended media items based on the audio track metadata. A recommended media item is an audio-visual recording (e.g., movie and/or television program).

Abstract: An information providing system (100) comprises an information providing device (110) and a communication terminal (120). The communication terminal (120) extracts a phrase included in the speech of a user and transmits information on the phrase and information on the position of the own device to the information providing device (110). The information providing device (110) searches a wide area network (130) for information on the periphery of the position of the communication terminal (120) on the basis of the position information and the phrase information and transmits the searched information to the communication terminal (120). The communication terminal (120) outputs the information transmitted from the information providing device (110).

Abstract: An electronic dictionary searches for an entry word in dictionary data, and further conducts a search based on a keyword associated with image data. The electronic dictionary first searches for a keyword as described above, then extracts an image ID associated with the keyword found by the search, extracts an entry word associated in the dictionary data with the extracted image ID, and thereafter provides the entry word.

Abstract: A system for management of multimedia content having a processor and memory configured to execute software instructions for implementing a content management component operative to upload the multimedia content and to create at least one compilation from the multimedia content, a market management component operative to assign market-specific data to the compilation, and a store builder resource component operative to generate one or more online stores for promotion of the compilation having the assigned market-specific data.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, a system (101) and a computer program product to identify a particular data object of a data type in a database (104) that comprises data objects of the data type. The system (101) comprises a query composition unit (102) to compose a search query to identify a candidate data object being a candidate for the particular data object. A search unit (103) identifies the candidate data object in the database (104) based on the search query. A presentation unit (105) presents the candidate data object to the user. A feedback receiving unit (106) receives user feedback on the relevance or irrelevance of a segment of the candidate data object. The search unit (103) further identifies an improved candidate data object in response to the received user feedback. The improved candidate data object is an improved candidate for the particular data object.

Abstract: Audio fingerprinting and other media matching technologies can be used to identify media, such as movies, television shows, and radio broadcasts. A user device can record image, audio, and/or video information and upload information to a matching service that is able to use matching technology to identify the media and provide supplemental content or information to the user. The user then can share this information with other users, such as by uploading to a social networking site or passing the information to peers on a peer network as part of a container. Users can have the ability to add tagged content, provide comments and ratings, and otherwise interact based at least in part upon the tagged media content.

Abstract: There is provided a method for accessing at least one audio file from a collection comprising more than one audio file stored within or accessible with an electronic device. The method includes generating one index comprising of information entries obtained from each of the more than one audio file in the collection, with each audio file in the collection information being linked to at least one information entry; receiving an input during an input reception mode; converting the input into a digital signal using an analog-digital converter; analysing the digital signal using either frequency spectrum analysis or melody contour analysis into discrete portions; and comparing the discrete portions with the entries in the index. It is advantageous that the audio file is accessed when the discrete portions substantially coincide with at least one of the information entries in the index. The discrete portions may be musical notes, melody contours or waveforms.

Abstract: Methods are provided for determining a customized voice to be used for an audio advertisement. Text of an advertisement is received, and it is determined that audio is to be generated from the text of the advertisement, and that the audio is to comprise a customized voice. The customized voice is selected by the advertiser. The audio is generated from the text of the advertisement, and the text, audio, and indications that the advertisement is voice-enabled and that a customized voice is to be used in association with the audio are stored in an advertisement storage. When a request is received for advertisements, at least one advertisement is communicated for presentation to the user, such that the text is visually presented to the user and audio comprising the customized voice is audibly presented to the user.

Abstract: A content search device 1 comprises: feature quantity computing means 10 for, for each piece of content data of multiple types, computing a feature quantity of at least any one of an image feature, an acoustic feature and a semantic feature included in the piece of content data, and storing feature quantity data 34a; unknown feature quantity computing means 14 for computing an unknown feature quantity of each feature type not associated with a content identifier in the feature quantity data 34a by use of the feature quantity of the feature type associated with the content identifier, and storing the unknown feature quantity as a feature estimated value in the feature quantity data 34a; distance computing means 15 for computing a distance indicating a similarity between each two pieces of content data based on the feature quantities and the feature estimated values stored in the feature quantity data 34a; and display means 16 for determining a display position of a thumbnail corresponding to each piece of cont

Abstract: According to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed in this application, a large audio database in a multiprocessor system may be searched for a target audio clip using a robust and parallel search method. The large audio database may be partitioned into a number of smaller groups, which are dynamically scheduled to available processors in the system. Processors may process the scheduled groups in parallel by partitioning each group into smaller segments, extracting acoustic features from the segments; and modeling the segments using a common component Gaussian Mixture model (“CCGMM”). One processor may also extract acoustic features from the target audio clip and model it using the CCGMM. Kullback-Leibler (KL) distance may be further computed between the target audio clip and each segment. Based on the KL distance, a segment may be determined to match the target audio clip; and/or a number of following segments may be skipped.

Abstract: An audio fingerprint is generated by transforming an audio sample of a recording to a time-frequency domain and storing each time-frequency pair in a matrix array, detecting a plurality of local maxima for a predetermined number of time slices, selecting a predetermined number of largest-magnitude maxima from the plurality of local maxima detected by said detecting, and generating one or more hash values corresponding to the predetermined number of largest-magnitude maxima.

Abstract: Articles such as compact discs are traded among a plurality of members who are registered in a common community. Each member has an account including a trading credit balance and a mailing address. A user interface is provided that allows a member to enter articles that the member owns and is willing to trade and articles that the member wants to own. The user interface also receives article trading instruction messages. An administration computer hosts the plurality of members and facilitates article trades among the members. The administration computer identifies matches between owned and wanted articles. For each identified match, an article trading instruction message is sent to the article owner requesting that the article owner mail the owned article to the mailing address of the member who wants to own the article.

Abstract: The invention pertains to song-related software applications. More specifically, the invention describes mapping songs being listened to in a given area, identifying users listening to those songs, and optionally selecting to follow the songs listened to by a specific second user. The invention allows charting the most popular songs according to geographical location. Additionally, the invention allows a user to select an internet radio station and be provided with the synchronized lyrics of the song playing. The invention allows translation of lyrics into various languages and synchronization of the translation during playback of the song. The invention also allows a user to synchronize subtitles of multimedia presentations, with the playback of the presentation.

Abstract: A data-encoding system includes a source of unencoded data, and a first encoder interoperably coupled to the source, wherein the first encoder is adapted to receive the unencoded data, encode the unencoded data, and output encoded data at a first data rate. The data encoding system further includes a second encoder interoperably coupled to the source, wherein the second encoder is adapted to receive the unencoded data, encode the unencoded data, and output encoded data at a second data rate in which the second data rate exceeds the first data rate. This Abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an Abstract that allows a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain subject matter of the technical disclosure. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A method for setting up a list of audio files and an audio re-production device utilizing the method for setting up the list of audio files are described.

Abstract: A method and a system are provided for matching a fingerprint, for example, an audio fingerprint. In one example, the system receives, from a user device, a chapter and a query about the chapter. The chapter includes computer readable data generated from a waveform of an audio signal. The query is a request to receive data related to the chapter. The system generates, at a computer, a fingerprint of the chapter. The fingerprint includes at least a digital measure of certain properties of the waveform of the audio signal. The system generates, at a computer, a hash value of the fingerprint by applying a hash function to at least a portion of the fingerprint of the chapter. The hash value serves as an identifier for the fingerprint. The system looks up, in a database system, a matching hash value for the hash value of the fingerprint.

Abstract: Information about desired songs is collected on a portable memory device in communication with a radio tuner. The radio tuner may receive signals from a terrestrial or satellite digital radio transmission, or from an analog radio transmission. These transmissions may include text data about the current song being played. Upon activation by a user, song data is stored on the memory device. The memory device is then connected to a computer system, which uses software to extract the song data and uniquely identify the song. The identified songs are stored on the computer system, and can be used to allow the user easy access to the identified song through prior art techniques. If no textual data is stored about a song, the song is identified by identifying the radio station that played the song and the time at which the user activated the mechanism.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for assessing the quality of performance of agents engaged in customer-representative interaction-related sessions is provided. The method includes capturing screen events of a computational representative to form a captured event, wherein the screen event is a graphical user interface (GUI) element shown on a screen coupled to the computational device; parsing the captured event according to one or more criteria to obtain screen event data that contains text; triggering recording of screen data associated with the computational device, if the screen event data matches a user defined text search criterion; and performing computer-based automated quality measurement analysis based on the screen event data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an audio recording electronic book apparatus featuring a recording function to take an audio note, comprising a display module for displaying the contents of an electronic book; a memory unit for storing at least one electronic book file; a micro process unit for reading an electronic book file and displaying it on the display module; a recording/broadcasting module for inputting an audio note after startup and storing in the memory unit as an audio data file; and a correspondence table for recording the linkage relationship related to the audio data file and the electronic book file.

Abstract: A method for performing audio copy detection, comprising, providing a query audio data, the query audio data having a succession of frames and also providing a plurality of test audio data units, each test audio data unit including a succession of frames. For each test audio data unit the method generates a test fingerprint set. The generation of the test fingerprint test including computing similarity measurements between at least one frame of the test audio data and a plurality of frames of the query audio data. A test audio data unit is then selected as a match for the query audio data at least in part on the basis of the fingerprint sets.

Abstract: A method for analyzing content of multimedia files is presented. The method comprises processing messages from mail servers, determining a type of the message, executing a convert module and obtaining text content of the message when said type is audio, extracting text from the text content or the message, creating a text version of components from the text, dividing the text version into different files, and analyzing the different files. Further, the messages can be captured, sent to a pending folder, retrieved from the pending folder. Creating the text version and dividing the text version can be performed by a mail engine. Natural language processing can be performed on the files. The text can be examined for compliance and, if appropriate, marked with quarantine violations.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing audio asset information are presented. A media guidance system includes a data store containing audio asset information associated with a set of known audio assets. The media guidance system receives a number of requests to identify an audio asset embedded within a video program from a first group of users and stores an indication of the requested audio asset within the data store. The media guidance system then provides audio asset information associated with the requested audio asset to a second group of users.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for facilitating generation of media mixes for a program participant based at least in part on media library inventory information provided by a number of program participants. Those individuals that decide to be program participants are interested in organizing, maintaining and playing their music, based at least in part, on data derived from a population of other participants in the program. A program participant must send, and the system, receive, data representative of that program participant's media inventory. The system or program determines a relative similarity of each item from the collection of program participants as compared to each other item and from the similarity information clusters of similar items are identified. The clusters can be used to identify clusters of similar items in an individual program participant's media library and therefrom mixes of similar media items can be created.

Abstract: A method of operating an entertainment system includes computer-implemented steps including accessing a remote electronic collection of audio/video recordings. The collection is associated with a user of the entertainment system. The recordings in the collection are analyzed to thereby determine an audio/video preference profile of the user. Electronic audio/video options of the entertainment system that conform to the user's preference profile are selected and offered to the user.

Abstract: The invention can recognize any several languages at the same time without using samples. The important skill is that features of known words in any language are extracted from unknown words or continuous voices. These unknown words represented by matrices are spread in the 144-dimensional space. The feature of a known word of any language represented by a matrix is simulated by the surrounding unknown words. The invention includes 12 elastic frames of equal length without filter and without overlap to normalize the signal waveform of variable length for a word, which has one to several syllables, into a 12×12 matrix as a feature of the word. The invention can improve the feature such that the speech recognition of an unknown sentence is correct. The invention can correctly recognize any languages without samples, such as English, Chinese, German, French, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Cantonese, Taiwanese, etc.

Abstract: Musical sound data groups are recorded in nonvolatile memory banks by multiplexing the data without being compressed. A data reader reads the musical sound data in parallel from the plurality of nonvolatile memory banks according to reading instructions from an access module. In a musical sound generation system that cannot expect which pitch of the musical sound data is instructed to be read, since a plurality of pieces of data can be read in parallel from the plurality of nonvolatile memory banks, a sound production delay time can fall within an allowable time. Thus, by using a currently dominant large-capacity multi level NAND flash memory as a memory for the musical sound data, a high sound quality and compact musical sound generation system can be realized.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating an adaptive playlist on a computing device onboard a vehicle are provided. The system may include an onboard vehicle computing device configured to execute a media player program. The media player program may include a media storage module configured to store a plurality of media items, a user preference module having user media preferences, a contextual data module configured to receive dynamic contextual data from an onboard vehicle data source, and a playlist manager module. The playlist manager module may include a playlist generation engine configured to generate an adaptive playlist including user playlist media items, and a contextual media selection engine configured to select contextual media items based on the dynamic contextual data and interleave the selected contextual media items into the adaptive playlist.

Abstract: Construct a statistical model for a plurality of multimedia objects identified in response to a search query, the statistical model comprising a plurality of probabilities, wherein each of the multimedia objects uniquely corresponding to a different one of a plurality of sets of feature values, each of the feature values of each of the sets of feature values being a characterization of the multimedia object corresponding to the set of feature values, and each of the probabilities being calculated for a different one of the multimedia objects based on the set of feature values corresponding to the multimedia object. Rank the multimedia objects based on their corresponding probabilities, such that a multimedia object having a relatively higher probability is ranked relatively higher.

Abstract: Media, e.g., video, is played on a player that can store multiple items of video. Some video can be played using a stored key; other video needs to have an external key present. The key can decrypt the video or it can supplement the content of the video. If a request is made to play a video, that video can be automatically downloaded.

Abstract: A plurality of jukeboxes each having a display, input component, audio output, and controller are connected over a network. The controller is configured to play music data sets selected by a user and to store local affinity data uploadable to the network. The controller is further configured to store network popularity and affinity data received from the network. The controller causes the display to present menus and screens based on the data received from the network. The controller is also configured to perform searches over multiple identification categories and store collections of music data sets based on multiple identification categories.

Abstract: A system for salvaging information and storing the same comprises at least one non-dedicated input device for acquiring information, a nondedicated data storage capable of storing said acquired information, a buffer for storing said acquired information, a media file for storing all or portions of said acquired information of said buffer, a non-dedicated host, for communicating with said device(s) and said storage, capable of receiving said acquired information from said device(s) and storing said acquired information in said buffer, and capable of retrieving said portions of acquired information from said buffer and storing said portions in said media file; and dedicated software to operate said nondedicated device, data storage and host and to save data acquired by said at least one input device during a selected, previous period of time.

Abstract: A method and a system are provided for recognizing a disc. In one example, the system receives a disc, such as, for example, a Blu-ray Disc. The disc includes a content certificate and data files. The content certificate includes a unique text file that certifies the disc complies with predetermined disc parameters. The data files are the actual audio and/or video content on the disc. The system reads the content certificate or reads the data related to the data files. The system generates a hash value by applying a hash function to the content certificate or to the data related to the data files. The hash value is a unique identifier for the disc.

Abstract: System and method in tangible computer-readable media are disclosed for facilitating community interaction with a playlist. A host system communicates with a plurality of portable devices to transmit information about the items in the playlist. Users of the portable device queue additional selections or vote on media items in the playlist. Based on user voting the playlist is rearranged to accommodate the preferences of the community. Both registered and guest users participate in managing the playlist. Such a system and method can be particularly useful in a variety of social gathering situations.

Abstract: The disclosure describes search systems and methods in which exact token searches, spelling suggestions, and split-token searches are used in conjunction to return search results to the user. Depending on the number and relevancy of results for the search query results from each of the steps the results are either merged or discarded into the final result set. The split-token search is adapted to generate two split-tokens from the token(s) of the search query in anticipation that the search token(s) is misspelled. As the location of the misspelling is unknown, the split-token search widens the scope of the results provided in response to the search. In an embodiment, the split-token search includes performing a prefix search for tokens matching a prefix split-token and a postfix search for tokens matching a postfix split-token. In an embodiment, the index is specially adapted to allow the postfix search to be performed more efficiently.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the use of audio, video and audiovisual content are provided. A data structure includes content usage rights for multiple release windows. The usage rights may be encoded in the content or otherwise bound to the content. Playback devices are configured to access the appropriate usage rights and control usage in accordance with the usage rights.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for facilitating online storage of files (e.g., audio tracks, video, etc.) for playback/access or sale/exchange by the owners of the files without violating copyrights that copyright holders have in the files. For example, by providing a playback service that does not store additional versions of an audio file when the file is transmitted to, and immediately played on, a user device without buffering, the present invention avoids violating copyright laws by not making copies of the file. Numerous other aspects are disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are techniques which offer an advantage of reduced time and reduced storage capacity required to calculate the feature value of AAC-format song data. A feature extraction unit includes: an MDCT coefficient extraction unit which extracts MDCT coefficients from AAC-format song data; a classification unit which locates the MDCT coefficients thus extracted by the MDCT coefficient extraction unit on Mel frequency regions so as to uniformly classify the MDCT coefficients into classes, the number of which is the same as that of a predetermined number of Mel filter banks; an integrating unit which extracts the MDCT coefficients classified by the classification unit by applying a predetermined window function, and integrates the MDCT coefficients thus extracted, in increments of the Mel filter banks; and a feature calculation unit which calculates the feature value by performing logarithmic cosine conversion of the integrated results obtained by the integrating unit.

Abstract: A search device and associated methods use music emotions to browse, organize and retrieve music collections. The search device comprises a processor and an interface. The processor uses machine learning techniques to determine music emotion according to music features and organizes music by emotions for browsing and retrieving music collections. The interface connects to the processor and allows a person to retrieve desired music from the processor. Methods associated with the search device comprise a processor initialization method, a method of loading new music into the search device and several methods of retrieving desired music from the search device.

Abstract: A system and method for managing an on board entertainment system is disclosed. The system and method can wirelessly receive music files from a computer and store those music files on an on board unit associated with a motor vehicle. The system and method can also include provisions to associate music information with a received music file and can include provisions to manage the music collection on board a motor vehicle.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for sharing media files. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. The system includes a file sharing application configured to initiate a communication session with a file server, where the file server manages download requests for media files listed on a dynamic list. Use of the media files is subject to a trial period that corresponds to a period that the media files remain on the dynamic list. The system further includes trial period checking logic configured to retrieve a new dynamic list and check whether a trial period for a media file has expired by determining whether the media file is listed on the new dynamic list and offer presentation logic configured to offer a user a license for continued use of a media file that has an expired trial period. Other systems and methods are also provided.