USOO7966362B2
`
`(12) Unlted States Patent
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 7,966,362 B2
`
`Neumann et al.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Jun. 21, 2011
`
`(54) MANAGEMENT OF PODCASTS
`.
`-
`Inventors 3:316 :éxrencgNeumgnn’ Egrggfild’
`(U ),
`13116
`”Fess mm.
`1
`5*
`CA (US); Mlke Wlese, Cupemno, CA
`(US); David Heller, San Jose, CA (US)
`
`(75)
`
`'
`.
`~
`(73) ASSlgnee‘ Apple Inc" Cupertmo, CA (Us)
`( * ) Notice:
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`
`................. 725/1
`1/2002 Srikantan et a1.
`2002/0010917 A1*
`2/2002 Lahr
`...................
`709/231
`2002/0023164 A1*
`5/2002 Srikantan et a1.
`..... 725/87
`2002/0056126 A1*
`
`.....
`5/2002 Belfiore et a1.
`2002/0059425 A1 *
`709/226
`6/2002 Sim et a1.
`........
`2002/0078174 A1 *
`709/219
`2004/0199587 A1 * 10/2004 McKnight ..................... 709/206
`2004/0268451 A1
`12/2004 Robbin et al.
`2005/0021478 A1
`1/2005 Gautier et a1.
`2005/0050345 A1
`3/2005 Dowdy et a1.
`2005/0278377 A1
`12/2005 Mirrashidi et a1.
`388388133: :1
`55882 gggiglrdéteglél'
`2006/0089949 A1
`4/2006 Robbin et 31.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 11/477,156
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Jun. 27, 2006
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2007/0299978 A1
`Dec. 27, 2007
`,
`,
`Related U'S' Appllcatlon Data
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/805,449, filed on Jun.
`21, 2006.
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`G06F 15/16
`(52) U.s. Cl.
`........................................ 709/201; 709/225
`(58) Field of Classification Search .................. 709/201,
`709/225
`hh't.
`1s ory
`
`(51)
`
`56
`
`)
`
`(
`
`S
`
`lt
`It filf
`ee app 1ca 1on
`e or comp e e searc
`References Cited
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`*
`$1333 gilllteitneta145751/i/51055
`j’ggg’fig : *
`
`7/1990 Gillett et 31. ........... 710/108
`4:941:083 A *
`
`9/2001 Mattis et a1. ........... 707/203
`6,289,358 B1 *
`
`9/2001 Mattis et a1.
`..
`6,292,880 131*
`~ 711/216
`
`5/2002 DeMoney .....
`6,385,673 131*
`“5332/32
`5/2002 Eyal
`..........
`6,389,467 131*
`. 709/229
`1/2004 Dutta ........
`6,684,254 131 *
`4/2008 Duttaetal.
`705/57
`7,363,277 131*
`2001/0047400 A1* 11/2001 Coates et a1.
`................. 709/219
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`“PodcastnetiThe Podcast Directory”, www.podcast/show/45816,
`downloaded May 13, 2005, p. l.
`
`d
`C t‘
`( onlme )
`Primary Examiner 7 Joseph E Avellino
`Assistant Examiner 7 Marshall McLeod
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Improved techniques that facilitate the use of podcasts are
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`d1sclosed. The 1mproved techmques can pertam to publ1sh-
`mg, 1:10.59“? “@551“? sugscfibinga Eanagling; “gagging:
`seam “.153
`rowsmg’
`rang “mg: an or P .aymg 130.0?”
`Accordmg to one aspect, tags are embedded mto synd1cat1on
`feeds (e. g., RSS feeds) that may be made available for distri-
`.
`.
`.
`..
`but1on by an onlme med1a store to fac1l1tate the management
`of podcasts. Such tags can include .a block tag that may be
`embedded mto a synd1cat1on feed to 1nd1cate whether the feed
`is to be blocked from being included in the online media store.
`5
`According to another aspect management ofpodcasts may be
`facilitated by other mechanisms. In accordance with one
`embodiment, a user may challenge the ownership ofa podcast
`to block or remove a podcast from the online media store. In
`accordance with another embodiment, images may be stored
`to allow efiicient retrieval ofthe corresponding episode(s) of
`aPOdcaSt~
`
`24 Claims, 23 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`summ- um.mumin
`
`<mmuno by Inold
`um. In pane-u mul-
`“anIM In Mull
`
`mum-«u61man
`
`
`man-comm(0.11..
`lam) l-flilbdwill!
`old URL
`
`
`
`2:0
`
`Apple Exhibit 4449
`
`Apple v. SightSound Technologies
`CBM2013-00023
`
`Page 00001
`
`Apple Exhibit 4449
`Apple v. SightSound Technologies
`CBM2013-00023
`Page 00001
`
`

`

`US 7,966,362 B2
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`8/2006 Gurvey ............................. 705/1
`2006/0173701 A1*
`8/2006 Mayerhofer et a1.
`......... 709/231
`2006/0190616 A1 *
`11/2006 Neumann et al.
`2006/0265409 A1
`11/2006 Jones et a1.
`2006/0265503 A1
`11/2006 Marriott et a1.
`2006/0265637 A1
`3/2007 Moore
`2007/0061393 A1
`4/2007 Ott et al.
`2007/0078884 A1
`4/2007 Tsang et al.
`2007/0088832 A1
`5/2007 Houh et a1.
`2007/0112837 A1
`................... 726/27
`8/2007 Rensin et al.
`2007/0199076 A1 *
`2007/0255965 A1* 11/2007 McGucken ................... 713/193
`2007/0299873 A1
`12/2007 Jones
`2007/0299874 A1
`12/2007 Neumann
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Sample RSS feed entitled “ACC Tournament Podcast”, www.simple-
`easier.com/rss,acc,1.xml, downloaded May 13, 2005, p. 1.
`“Podcast.net 13 the Podcast Directory”, www.podcast.net, down-
`loaded May 13, 2005, pp. 1-2.
`Torrone, “How-To: Podcasting (aka How to get Podcasts and also
`make your own)”, www.engadget.com/entry/5843952395227141,
`Oct. 5, 2004, pp. 1-25.
`“The freshest podcasts in the known universe”, http://audio.weblogs.
`com, downloaded Jun. 10, 2005, pp. 1-4.
`Adam Curry, “iPodderiA brief History”, www. ipodder. org/hi story,
`Dec. 15, 2004, pp. 1-3.
`Podcasting”,
`is
`Dave Winer,
`“What
`whatIsPodcasting, Oct. 26, 2004, pp. 1-2.
`“RSS 2.0 Specification”, RSS at Harvard Law, http://blogs.law.
`harvard.edu/tech/rss, Jan. 30, 2005, pp. 1-10.
`
`www.ipodder.org/
`
`Danny Sullivan, “Search Engine Watch; Making an RSS Feed”,
`http://searchenginewatch.com/sereport/print.php/34721,
`21752471, Apr. 2, 2003, pp. 1-8.
`“RSS basics (Thunderbird)iMozillaZine Knowledge Base”, http://
`kb/mozillazine.org/Thunderbirdi:iFAQsi:iRSSiBasics,
`Apr.
`18, 2005, pp. 1-2.
`“Podcasting and iTunes: Technical Specification”, Oct. 6, 2005, pp.
`1-1 1 .
`“Apple Takes Podcasting Mainstream”, Press Release, Apple Com-
`puter, Inc., Jun. 28, 2005, p. 1.
`“Podcast Creation Guide”, Apple Computer, Inc., Fall 2005, pp. 1-31.
`U.S. Appl. No. 11/476,414 entitled “Podcast Organization and Usage
`at a Computing Device”, filed Jun. 27, 2006.
`US. Appl. No. 11/476,415 entitled “Browsing and Searching of
`Podcasts”, filed Jun. 27, 2006.
`Office Action for US. Appl. No. 11/476,4 14, mailed Aug. 18, 2009.
`Office Action for US. Appl. No. 11/476,415, mailed Aug. 18, 2009.
`Final Office Action for US. Appl. No. 11/476,415, mailed Mar. 16,
`2010.
`Advisory Action for US. Appl. No. 11/476,415, mailed May 28,
`2010.
`Office Action for US. Appl. No. 11/476,414, mailed Mar. 16,2010.
`Advisory Action for US. Appl. No. 11/476,414, mailed May 28,
`2010.
`Office Action for US. Appl. No. 11/476,415, mailed Aug. 31, 2010.
`Final Office Action for US. Appl. No. 11/476,414, mailed Feb. 4,
`201 1.
`Final Office Action for US. Appl. No. 11/476,415, mailed Feb. 15,
`201 1.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Page 00002
`
`Page 00002
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 21, 2011
`
`Sheet 1 of 23
`
`US 7,966,362 B2
`
`wov
`
`_,.O_..._
`
`Page 00003
`
`vow
`
`
`
`mafiahzwao
`
`€me0sz
`
`Dow
`
`Sow—2
`
`mehw
`
`mw>mww
`
`Now
`
`(.55
`
`xm0>>._.wz
`
`0:
`
`NE.
`
`o:
`
`Saws.
`
`thww/x
`
`mm<m<h<o
`
`
`
`m0_>moPZMEO
`
`
`
`EmzszaooEsows:
`
`3—.
`
`4.4.50.0
`
`(Ems.
`
`mw0<z<§
`
`Page 00003
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 21, 2011
`
`Sheet 2 of 23
`
`US 7,966,362 B2
`
`202
`
`Receive podcast
`(e.g.. RSS feed)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Parse podcast
`metadata content
`of the podcest
`
`
`
`
`
`Obtain new URL
`
`associated with
`the mew-feed-
`URL> tag
`
`Substitute the new URL for old
`URL in podcast database
`
`
`
`po- cos I
`nse
`
`tag> identifying the
`
`new feed into
`metadatalheeder of
`episodes of the
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 2A
`
`Page 00004
`
`Page 00004
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 21, 2011
`
`Sheet 3 of 23
`
`US 7,966,362 B2
`
`220
`
`222
`
`Download podcast
`(e.g.. RSS feed!
`URL) in response
`to client request or
`automatically
`
`
`
`
`
`Parse podcast
`
`
`metadata content
`
`
`of the podcast
`(9.9., XML file)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`content Include
`mew-feed-
`
`Obtain new URL
`
`228
`
`230
`
`
`
`(SEE FIG. 20)
`
`
`
`Substitute URL identified in
`
`
`<new-feed-URL> tag for old
`URL In podcast media
`database and in podcast
`metadatalheader of podcast
`
`
`media content (e.g..
`
`
`episodes) associated with
`old URL
`
`
`230
`
`234
`
`Substitute URL
`
`
`
`
`Check if user
`
`subscribed to the
`
`podcast (3.9.. RSS
`
`feed/URL) that has
`been downloaded
`
`
`
`
`236
`
`Use!
`
`
`subscribed to
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
` Tag episodes of
`
`the old feed URL
`
`in media database
`
`
`as belonging to the
`
`new feed URL
`
`
`
`
`
`240
`
`
`
`tag> ldentlfying the
`
`
`new URL Into
`metadata/header of
`
`
`
`episodes of the
`podcas that have
`1,2: 1.1.-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 23
`
`FIG. 20
`
`Page 00005
`
`Page 00005
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 21, 2011
`
`Sheet 4 of 23
`
`US 7,966,362 B2
`
`.N
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`NELKewfimtnymwutfflafi..H«@93,3“£9bun.“Marduk
`
`
`
`,.UvmmfifiN”U“Kamflw—UfiflfifimgnfimflH
`
`
`
`
`
`3mmEmchmwfi5,mmummnN?“OEarW..EmaEnfiuwfiaxifiazflwukmwfiflmmtammumpm
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`.1.5..”.mHWNumbnMEXmCDmE”mafia
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ABummeé3,.”.Ea.xuumflxuwnvia.:3memV
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`‘..UL,§NEN1§WNmMflUanwfiuimcsfiwrhav«Nagu,“«“me
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SmfiEgoumjzumfi353%m.Emmufianfi
`
`
`
`Huhfiufi‘uflvmmfiuvfiwwwfiHE...@553fixfiUEHQEN
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`:.“SEGSMW54.0%giant“muaflufl«fin:u
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`3&3“.sumwE.9“3m“:.fiwfifl;amt.
`
`
`
`
`
`“:3cEquE“E.rNEE?»D
`
`
`
`sgmzwfivBE,““35%
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`.2K...“AUumvn—flnuk‘i.Mung.mfiawwm—ufiwmficwrwhn—tfi N;“an.vmnhwuipwam“am.wmafiwxwauCNS—ufiflnflma.263Egg§EmgmfinamBENV
`
`
`
`
`
`mm...“3.
`
`$3NAM
`
`Maxmfiw
`
`£5.52
`
`3mm
`
`Wm";WE.memama,
`
`63may
`
`.._..wg,w.p.muo§§Em
`63$#3533$
`
`Wm...“.33
`
`Mag":2
`
`m:Em
`
`mN.“W3an:
`
`.n
`31
`
`mg:nmw
`
`mewnmxm
`
`33mm
`
`mmxmmxm
`
`3E?
`
`mmfimmmm
`
`me?
`
`gummmm
`
`53mg
`
`@3me
`
`mmxmww
`
`
`
`3mm....3“.
`
`8mm?
`
`mwmmmw
`
`wag?
`
`gamma
`
`wmwhmmm
`
`we.»mmwm
`
`.uxo
`
`,.,75‘s.:
`
`m 0
`
`E
`
`Page 00006
`
`wmwfimRENEEwand“
`
`fivxflm33xmmuQF
`
`aamwmflwsu
`
`
`
`
`
`«,0qufigmw
`
`EfimmfinmmuwmH
`
`33%EN.
`
`€32W.
`
`Hag\.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`mm”A$83musfiuflmma5%353%s
`uflum‘flw559$mNEEQE355).:
`
`
`
`5333,qu“wadSawmufi«Rafiuu\\\..
`
`
`
`,mu.%%&:3.,myrgmfimfi\\H.
`
`afiwmwafiEERE3&3awnFE\”
`
`
`may...3...£33.whfiux\.
`
`“SEEESEHucmuumfi&
`mDa.U§w656$mfinmzart;xv.“.
`
`Eggm0.6.meUs\\.
`.m“$33.”,nmsm
`
`Eggxuflm”Saw—UV“RAW
`
`EQEmg,33.3\\\.
`SwaziN55xx,
`5“:sz\\x.
`4,:chESE:£52351
`
`
`
`
`
`.,nn._,“.Eu“$3.3«33%“33.3.Eafififi,xy6
`
`\\
`
`Page 00006
`
`
`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 21, 2011
`
`Sheet 5 of 23
`
`US 7,966,362 B2
`
` 402
`
`
`(e9-. some»
`Including podcaet
`metadata content
`
`and podcast Mia
`
`content (9.g...
`
`
`
` indicator indicating
`
`that the podcast
`
`media content
`does not include
`
`
` Determine value of
`
`
`
`
`the explicit tag
`
` the explicit tag is
`
`associated with
`the podcest or an
`
`episode of the
`
`
`
`
`Associate an
`‘
`Associate an
`‘
`
`_
`.
`indicator of the
`
`
`
`IndIcator of the
`value with the
`
`
`episode of the
`value wrth the
`podmst
`
`
`
`podcast
`
`
`visual Indicator
`
`indicating whether
`
`the podcast media
`
`
`
`
`content lndudes
`
`podcest. insert notation
`into metadatalheadar of
`
`
` it server is hosting
`podcast media content
`
` More explicit
`tags?
`
`
`
`FIG. 4A
`
`Page 00007
`
`Page 00007
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 21, 2011
`
`Sheet 6 of 23
`
`US 7,966,362 B2
`
`
`ecerve po- .~,_ -
`
`
`
`including podcast
`metadata content
`
`
`and podust media
`content (8.9..
`
`
`
`
`430
`
`434
`
`
`Store the podcast
`
`media content
`
`440
`
`Determine value of
`the explicit tag
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`indicator Indicating
`Store the at least a
`
`so to filter
`whether the
`portion of the
`
`
`
`podcast media
`podcast media
`explicit
`
`
`content
`
`content Includes
`-.1-I-: an -l
`
`Y
`
`438
`
`Provide notation in
`
`
`metadatalheader
`of podcast media
`content (e.g..
`
`
`episode(s))
`
`
`
`
`
`Prevent "‘9 POND!) 0f
`the MG“! media
`content from being
`
`
`
`
`d ”fem.
`own oa
`, or
`
`subscribed to
`
`
`visual indicator
`
`
`indicating that the
`
`
`podcast media
`
`
`content includes
`.' EI‘L'I
`I
`
`
`
`FIG. 48
`
`448
`
`452
`
`Page 00008
`
`Page 00008
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 21, 2011
`
`Sheet 7 of 23
`
`US 7,966,362 B2
`
`.is:«2%a
`
`
`
`xmfi.3&3.gt;afififiwkfijm3NV
`
`3“mee3a§n§a§§323me
`$3“quwfifiefifi$3m”.mmwwemmfi
`
`
`A:
`
`\\\\\\\\\§\\
`
`\\\\\\\\\N\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
`
`
`
`:anéfixa,.
`
`
`
`figscrfi“DERSEmumxamxxuwgu”a
`
`.}
`
`
`
`33%gmQ“Ma
`
`836,:83m
`
`
`
`magma838$
`
`
`
`
`
`smwwfigxwwfifigmséww
`
`gfifififi
`
`
`
`.xtaxman.“«ESQ,:.«.mu”afixfl»,
`
`
`
`
`
`Page 00009
`
`Page 00009
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 21, 2011
`
`Sheet 8 of 23
`
`US 7,966,362 B2
`
`502
`
`516
`
`Receive podcast
`metadata content
`for a podceet
`
`media content to
`determine whether
`the podmst media
`
`Provide indicator
`of the actual
`
`duration
`
`518
`
`Store the actual
`duration (e.g.,
`replace the value
`
`of the duration tag)
`508
`duration tag
`the duration tag
`
`Provide Indicator
`of the value of the
`
`
`
`510
`
`Store the value of
`
`
`
`512
`
`Ston'ng the at least
`a portion of the
`podcast media
`
`content
`
`514
`
`-
`
`
`
`
`
`. ng an
`.
`actual duration of
`the at least a
`portion of the
`podcast media
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 58
`
`Page 00010
`
`Page 00010
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 21, 2011
`
`Sheet 9 of 23
`
`US 7,966,362 B2
`
`602
`
`604
`
`podcast metadata
`content and
`podcast media
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Block tag?
`
`Parse the podcast
`metadata content to
`determine whether the
`podcest metadata
`content includes a
`
`block tag
`
`610
`
`Obtain vaiue of the
`
`block tag
`
`614
`
`if block status has
`
`
`
`
`changed. update
`database (e.g., modify
`statue to 'DO NOT
`BLOCK' or restore
`
` Value = block?
`
`
`podcaet media content)
`
`
`
`
` changed, update
`database (e.g..
`
`
`modify status to
`
`
`'BLOCK' or remove
`podcest media
`
`
`
`(SEE FIG. 7)
`
`616
`
`FIG. 6
`
`Page 00011
`
`Page 00011
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 21, 2011
`
`Sheet 10 of 23
`
`US 7,966,362 B2
`
`616
`
`
`
`Determine whether
`
`702
`
`
`
`
`
`block tag ls
`present at
`podcest/channel or
`episode level
`
`emov a
`
`
`: ~an I 9
`
`episodes of the
`episode of the
`
`
`
`podcast or mark
`podcast or mark an
`
`
`
`episodes of the
`the episode of the
`
`
`
`
`712
`
`FIG. 7
`
`Page 00012
`
`Page 00012
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 21, 2011
`
`Sheet 11 0123
`
`US 7,966,362 B2
`
`302
`Title
`Be er Weaver& Thomas
`
`
`
`Blocked? 806
`
`
`b ://www.bc crlaw.com
`
`
`h -://WWW-eba mm _
`
`_——
`
`
`
`Page 00013
`
`Page 00013
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 21, 2011
`
`Sheet 12 0f 23
`
`US 7,966,362 B2
`
`
`
`N§§§§§
`
`
`
`pmPride:330
`
`gag“Eu:#5
`
`
`
`59.«$6
`
`«muktmu
`
`“.5”..an
`
`EEK
`
`Page 00014
`
`Page 00014
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 21, 2011
`
`Sheet 13 of 23
`
`US 7,966,362 B2
`
`
`
`u
`
`
`
`xx},m\\\\~
`\\\.\\\\.
`
`
`
`xxxxx;.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`§w§m§§w§m§m
`
`{Axx,
`
`«SEED:dome».EU
`
`uaVfitaflfiEn...
`
`2“anEB.
`
`
`
`xkxxxxvv.,
`
`«av».
`
`
`
`\\\\\.RVAxVxR.\\AV\
`
`
`
`
`633‘$§fl§$§\va‘N‘
`
`Page 00015
`
`Page 00015
`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 21, 2011
`
`Sheet 14 of 23
`
`US 7,966,362 B2
`
`
`
`Obtain stored
`image associated
`with a podcast
`
`
`
`Obtain first
`
`
`signature
`
`
`calculated based
`upon the stored
`Image
`
`
`
`Obtain a current
`
`
`image associated
`with the podcaet at
`a URL of the
`podcast
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Calculate second
`signature based
`upon the current
`image
`
`1102
`
`"04
`
`1106
`
`1 108
`
`1110
`
`
`
`Compare the first
`signature with the
`
`
`second signature
`
`
`
`Replace the stored
`
`Signatures
`
`image with the
`equal?
`
`current image
`
`
`
`
`
`1114
`
`FIG. 1 1
`
`Page 00016
`
`Page 00016
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 21, 2011
`
`Sheet 15 of 23
`
`US 7,966,362 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`,......\:\.\..\..
`
`£5.51.finals.,HI..
`
`11.11:“Dmurmug
`
`Page 00017
`
`Page 00017
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 21, 2011
`
`Sheet 16 of 23
`
`US 7,966,362 B2
`
`o,\
`
`
`
`.m
`
`.mam\u
`
`Page 00018
`
`Page 00018
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 21, 2011
`
`Sheet 17 of 23
`
`US 7,966,362 B2
`
`\\
`
`,,,‘,,,,
`
`~\
`
`
`
`mmmm6%..fig
`
`
`
`mmmammama,,Aunw
`
`mmuchfinmmpg
`
`
`
`wmmggmmnw
`
`n‘
`
`Eu$.23a3%“can:
`
`
`
`wwwmmmsmmvsh
`
`
`
`x..xx.xx\
`
`mwufiwsmmuxcmv,
`
`““3a.“\
`
`fimxx.Rfi
`
`Y\\\\\\\\\\M
`
`4wESan:
`
`haAmt:
`
`
`
`NVVx“V
`
`
`
`\in‘.«\«Qfiy‘.kkwawi
`
`
`
`“S.......\..................1.................................................
`
`
`\xx.x.A..\a...xx\~.,\“$wi§§\tnx‘mewxx§x§§W§xxx\ww
`
`
`m.‘.....1..‘.mm\\‘...\\.....\‘...x\.....1....‘\‘.\..\\....\\....\\‘.‘........‘..‘...‘....\..\.“
`
`Page 00019
`
`Page 00019
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 21, 2011
`
`Sheet 18 of 23
`
`US 7,966,362 B2
`
`wfifiuiw
`
`.55.“.
`
`.d.»587$me
`
`\\\Y\\\:k\\‘m\\
`
`
`xxr.xk§x§wmfimn~\§\x\\%$\\%§\\x\\\\\\\\\\h\v\\\\\\\\\n\\\\%.\\\.&.\\\\\V\\\\\\\&x\\\\\%$\\\m\\\\...\\..\\x\\\\\kh\\\\\\\\\x\n\\\\%.¥M\nn&.\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\&\\\\\\\\\\\\V\«\\MV\\\\\\\\\W\3‘.
`
`
`
`
`
`Emu$00.
`
`
`
`mr.®_n_
`
`Page 00020
`
`Page 00020
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 21, 2011
`
`Sheet 19 of 23
`
`US 7,966,362 B2
`
`
`
`EfisngmuoE£553
`
`mwgowmwmnn,
`
`m
`
`
`
`Sagagram.n,
`
`mum».
`
`3:3me0cmEumm“O
`
`fifinngga,wmm.»o
`
`mmtmawzfihnSam:a
`
`$5.9“
`
`“I!!!“
`
`Qwfififi
`
`sawmunwo,
`
`$szvaEmmia
`
`m“H:G
`
`muaafiwfi”u
`
`A”.
`
`a.“:Emmu
`
`G
`
`O0
`
`n,
`
`$6M“...
`
`33,a
`
`$3:s
`
`x.1u1..1..u1u1u1..1..u1u1u1..1..u1u1u1..1..1.1u1u1..1..1.1u1u1..1..1.1u1u1..1..1.1u1u1..1..1.1u1u1..1..1.1u1u1..1..1.1u1u1..1..1.1mmmmnmmmmu \'
`
`Page 00021
`
`Page 00021
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 21, 2011
`
`Sheet 20 of 23
`
`US 7,966,362 B2
`
`Single category: 1702
`
`<itunea:category text="Audio Blogs" /> 1702
`
`Category with ampersand: 1704
`
`<ituneszcategory text="Movies 5amp; Television" />
`
`Category with Subcategory: 1706
`
`<itunes:category text="Arta &amp; Entertainment">
`<itunes:category text="Games" />
`</itune3:category>
`
`Entry with multiple categories: 1708
`
`<itune3:category text="Arts &amp; Entertainment")
`<itunea:category text="Games" />
`</itunes:category>
`<itunes:category text="Technology">
`<itunes:category text="Computers" />
`</itunes:category>
`
`FIG. 17
`
`Page00022
`
`Page 00022
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 21, 2011
`
`Sheet 21 of 23
`
`US 7,966,362 B2
`
`1802
`
`
`
`
`Receive podcest. the
`podcast including podcast
`
`
`metedata content and
`
`
`oodcast media content (9.0..
`Determine whether the
`
`
`
`
`
`specialized category tagls)
`(e.g., <iTunestcategory>)
`
`podcast metadate content
`includes one or more
`
`Identify specialized
`categories
`
`
`
`identify standard
`RSS categories
`
`
`
`Store the podcest media content (e.g.,
`episcde(s)) of the podcast (e.g.. in ifunes
`
`
`database) in association with the podcast
`category or categories that have been
`identified by the specialized or standard
`
`category tagls)
`
` Store the identified
`
`category or categories in
`
`
`metedata/header of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`corresponding podcast
`media content (3.9.,
`episode(s)) of the
`podcast
`
`
`
`FIG. 18A
`
`Page 00023
`
`Page 00023
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 21, 2011
`
`Sheet 22 0f 23
`
`US 7,966,362 B2
`
`m7N‘99
`
`9.333%3A...33.3m“SARA..\.
`
`
`
`Eng:.AAA...
`
`
`
`
`
`$33EVA“...9%mAAAAwAAAAxmwfim..A\.
`
`Wm...QM.N...“.AQEW.aw.me.A..
`
`
`
`
`
`:\\\V
`
`§§§fifixxwx.
`
`NN\\\N\\\\\\NNNNN\N\
`
`mww.m:m
`
`m...Wm
`
`in-5x
`i‘»:1‘:Ch
`
`m3
`
`“a
`5?
`2b.
`N 55?
`m:(T)
`it§
`£5
`r“: #“
`
`a95:.
`w.«\
`h?
`
`25:33.
`NEW3:»A,
`ax}A.
`
`fix
`=1:f(\A
`
`«a3:
`W)Y\‘...
`
`a?!
`anN
`
`a:x:
`«‘1
`
`
`
`cm3......»3m5.”:3,m;wfim
`
`mX
`
`53“».
`
`
`
`w:.\¢w.xaSumwmx..vawwmwfi
`
`3AA.33.$38.$338“3....
`
`AA....AAANANKAAAAAAAAAAAASm..
`
`3:..AA3%....AAA..
`
`Agwé3....Km
`
`
`
`
`
`Egg...m3.»mwwwm3...»...
`
`
`
`3&3$.33.AAAAAAAA......3
`
`AAASAgu
`
`Page 00024
`
`
`\.w\.\N\Mx.\
`\\\\\\\x.\NA“.
`
`\\
`
`
`
`.\\\.“.V
`
`
`
`
`
`.A\\.a.
`
`\\\\\\\\\\M\.\\\\\.\\
`N§&§§§§§¥§
`
`&x\
`
`
`
`A;mmwmmAEhmum.“N...
`
`
`
`,wfimfiflfimm...“M33...“avg$3.3“A...
`
`
`
`$3.....A
`
`
`
`mm..
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`waWfiAAw.Rmxux\&...w...3...$.53.
`
`A§$§$E§
`wfifiw3&3
`
`\\..\\xx«\\,x\.\«x
`
`83mAAA
`
`$§A§A
`
`AAA»...
`
`ms...“AAA...3A.3
`
`AAAAAAAAAA.AAA.
`
`
`
`«MAME..Amwm.mmma...
`
`Page 00024
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 21, 2011
`
`Sheet 23 of 23
`
`US 7,966,362 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Obtain one or more
`
`keywords to search 9
`plurality of podcests.
`each of the plurality of
`podcasts having
`podceet media content
`and podcaet metadata
`
`
`
`Search the podcest
`metadata associated
`
`
`with the plurality of
`podcasts for the one or
`more keywords
`
`
`
`2
`
`19°
`
`Receive podcoet
`having podcast
`metadate content
`and podceet media
`content
`
`Parse the podcast
`metedate content
`to identify a 33‘ of
`one or more
`keywords
`
`1904
`
`1906
`
`Identify at least a
`pngréiancgfntge‘rodust
`associated with the one
`or more keyword tags
`
`‘908
`
`Store the set of
`keywords such that they
`are associated with the
`conesponding podcast
`media content
`
` 2002
`
`200‘
`
`2006
`
`2008
`
`media content
`
`having the one or
`more keywords
`
`
`
`Provide a list of
`the identified
`podcast media
`content
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 19
`
`FIG. 20
`
`Page 00025
`
`Page 00025
`
`

`

`1
`MANAGEMENT OF PODCASTS
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application claims priority from US. Provisional
`Application No. 60/805,449, entitled “MANAGEMENT
`AND ORGANIZATION OF PODCASTS”, filed on Jun. 21,
`2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
`This application is related to: (i) US. patent application
`Ser. No. 11/476,414, filed on Jun. 27, 2006 and entitled
`“PODCAST ORGANIZATION AND USAGE AT A COM-
`
`PUTING DEVICE”, which is hereby incorporated by refer-
`ence herein; and (ii) US. patent application Ser. No. 11/476,
`415, filed on Jun. 27, 2006 and entitled “BROWSING AND
`SEARCHING OF PODCASTS”, which is hereby incorpo-
`rated by reference herein.
`This application is also related to: (i) US. patent applica-
`tion Ser. No. 11/166,332, filed on Jun. 25, 2005 and entitled
`“ACQUISITION, MANAGEMENT AND SYNCHRONI-
`ZATION OF PODCASTS”, which is hereby incorporated by
`reference herein; (ii) US. patent application Ser. No. 1 1/166,
`333, and entitled “UTILIZATION OF PODCASTS ON
`PORTABLE MEDIA DEVICES”, which is hereby incorpo-
`rated herein by reference; (iii) US. patent application Ser.
`No. 11/ 166,331, and entitled “TECHNIQUES AND SYS-
`TEMS FOR SUPPORTING PODCASTING”, which is
`hereby incorporated by reference herein; (iv) US. patent
`application Ser. No. 11/114,914, filed Apr. 25, 2005, and
`entitled “PUBLISHING, BROWSING, RATINGAND PUR-
`CHASING OF GROUPS OF MEDIA ITEMS”, which is
`hereby incorporated herein by reference;
`(V) US. patent
`application Ser. No. 11/115,090, filed Apr. 25, 2005, and
`entitled “PUBLISHING, BROWSING AND PURCHASING
`OF GROUPS OF MEDIA ITEMS”, which is hereby incor-
`porated herein by reference; (Vi) US. patent application Ser.
`No. 10/832,984, filed Apr. 26, 2004, and entitled “GRAPHI-
`CAL USER INTERFACE FOR BROWSING, SEARCHING
`AND PRESENTING MEDIA ITEMS”;
`(Vii) US. patent
`application Ser. No. 11/138,004, filed May 25, 2005, and
`entitled “ON-LINE PURCHASE OF DIGITAL MEDIA
`
`BUNDLES”; (viii) US. patent application Ser. No. 10/832,
`812, filed Apr. 26, 2004, and entitled “METHOD AND SYS-
`TEM FOR SECURE NETWORK-BASED DISTRIBU-
`
`TION OF CONTENT”; (ix) US. patent application Ser. No.
`10/833,267, filed Apr. 26, 2004, and entitled “METHOD
`AND SYSTEM FOR NETWORK-BASED PURCHASE
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`AND DISTRIBUTION OF MEDIA”; and (X) US. patent
`application Ser. No. 11/221,351, filed Sep. 5, 2005, and
`entitled “PARENTAL CONTROL GRAPHICAL USER
`
`50
`
`INTERFACE,” which is hereby incorporated herein by refer-
`ence.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention relates to podcasts and, more par-
`ticularly, to acquiring, managing, and organizing podcasts.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`A media player stores media assets, such as audio tracks,
`that can be played or displayed on the media player. One
`example ofa portable media player is the iPod® media player,
`which is available from Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino,
`Calif. Often, a media player acquires its media assets from a
`host computer that serves to enable a user to manage media
`assets. In managing media assets, a user can create playlists
`for audio tracks. These playlists can be created at the host
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`US 7,966,362 B2
`
`2
`
`computer. Media assets within the playlists can then be cop-
`ied to the media player. As an example, the host computer can
`execute a media management application to create and man-
`age media assets. One example ofa media management appli-
`cation is iTunes® produced by Apple Computer, Inc.
`Podcasts are typically used to share content from websites.
`Podcasts are typically associated with Really Simple Syndi-
`cation (RSS) feeds, which use a lightweight XML format. A
`podcast can be organized into episodes much like a radio or
`television program. An interested person can subscribe to
`receive podcast episodes that are subsequently published.
`This is achieved by the interested person using their computer
`to access a podcast website that hosts the RSS feed. The
`interested person can then subscribe to the RSS feed such that
`their computer occasionally re-visits the podcast website to
`check for any new podcast episodes. Typically, if a new pod-
`cast episode is available, it is downloaded to the computer.
`Thereafter, the interested user can play the podcast episode at
`their computer in the same manner as other audio files (e. g.,
`MP3 files). A utility program can be used to download the
`audio files to a portable media player (e.g., MP3 player). One
`example of such a conventional utility program is “iPodder,”
`which is a small program that runs on one’s computer to
`download audio files to one’s portable media player.
`Unfortunately, podcasts are conventionally not easily man-
`aged. Podcasts often dynamically change as new episodes are
`released. Management of such dynamic media assets is com-
`plicated. Additionally, to the extent that a ho st computer
`desires to support a portable media player, the host computer
`needs to manage the transfer of podcast data to the portable
`media player. In addition, due to the increase in the number of
`podcasts that are available, it has become more difficult to
`manage and organize the podcasts.
`Thus, there is a need for techniques to manage and organize
`podcasts on computers.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The invention pertains to improved techniques that facili-
`tate the use of podcasts. The improved techniques can pertain
`to creating, publishing, hosting, accessing, subscribing, orga-
`nizing, managing, transferring, searching, browsing, and/or
`playing podcasts.
`The invention can be implemented in numerous ways,
`including as a method, system, device, apparatus (including
`graphical user interface), or computer readable medium. Sev-
`eral embodiments of the invention are discussed below.
`
`According to one aspect, one or more tags are embedded
`into syndication feeds (e.g., RSS feeds) that support the syn-
`dication of podcasts that may be made available for distribu-
`tion by an online media store. In accordance with one
`embodiment, the tags are embedded in the podcast metadata
`content of the syndication feed rather than the podcast media
`content (e.g., media file).
`According to another aspect, upon receiving a syndication
`feed, the podcast metadata content of the feed is parsed to
`identify the embedded tag(s) and corresponding value(s). In
`addition, the podcast media content that corresponds to the
`tag(s) is identified. Information associated with the parsed
`metadata content (e.g., tag value(s)) is then associated with
`the corresponding media content. This may be accomplished,
`for example, by storing this information in a table, database,
`or other suitable data structure. The tag values may also be
`embedded into metadata of the corresponding media content
`(e.g., media file) in order to enable a client device receiving
`the media file to obtain the pertinent metadata.
`
`Page 00026
`
`Page 00026
`
`

`

`US 7,966,362 B2
`
`3
`According to another aspect, tags are embedded into syn-
`dication feeds that may be made available for distribution by
`an online media store to facilitate the management of pod-
`casts. These tags include, for example, a block tag (e.g.,
`<block> tag).
`According to one embodiment, a block tag may be embed-
`ded in a syndication feed to blockpodcast media content from
`appearing in an online media store. Similarly, a block tag may
`be used to request that particular podcast media content no
`longer be blocked from appearing in the online media store.
`More particularly, a block tag may be embedded in podcast
`metadata content at the feed and/or episode levels. Upon
`identifying the block tag, the corresponding value of the
`block tag may be ascertained. If the value of the block tag
`indicates that the corresponding media content
`is to be
`blocked, the podcast media content is removed from the
`online media store and/or blocked. Alternatively, if the value
`of the block tag indicates that the corresponding media con-
`tent is to be unblocked, the podcast media content may be
`restored in the online media store and/or unblocked. Blocking
`and unblocking may be accomplished by simply identifying
`the block status (i.e., block state) in a table or other suitable
`data structure. Removal of media content may be accom-
`plished by deleting the actual media file(s) and/or removing
`the corresponding URL at which the media file(s) are to be
`accessed or retrieved.
`
`According to another aspect, management ofpodcasts may
`be facilitated by other mechanisms that are not tag-based. In
`accordance with one embodiment, a user may challenge the
`ownership of a podcast to block or remove a podcast from an
`online media store. In accordance with another embodiment,
`images associated with a podcast may be stored to allow
`efficient retrieval of the episodes of the podcast and their
`corresponding images.
`In accordance with one embodiment, when a user chal-
`lenges the ownership of a podcast, the user is provided a code
`that is to be embedded at the URL at which the podcast is
`available. For instance, the user may be instructed to embed
`the code in a file located at the URL. Once the presence of the
`code and therefore the ownership ofthe podcast is confirmed,
`the podcast (or episode) may be blocked or removed from the
`media store as requested by the challenger.
`In accordance with another embodiment, images associ-
`ated with a podcast or episode may be stored or cached to
`enable the images to be efficiently rendered. Upon access of
`the podcast or episode, a first signature associated with the
`stored image is compared with a second signature calculated
`based upon the current image. If the signatures are equal,
`there has been no change to the image. However, if the sig-
`natures are not equal, the image has changed since it was
`previously stored, and therefore the stored image is replaced
`with the current image. A signature may be a Cyclic Redun-
`dancy Check (CRC) value, hash number or other value cal-
`culated based upon the content of the file.
`Other aspects and advantages ofthe invention will become
`apparent from the following detailed description taken in
`conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illus-
`trate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The invention will be readily understood by the following
`detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying
`drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like
`structural elements, and in which:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a media system according to
`one embodiment of the invention.
`
`4
`
`FIGS. 2A-2C are process flow diagrams illustrating meth-
`ods ofprocessing a new-feed-URL tag to move the location of
`an RSS feed in accordance with one embodiment of the
`invention.
`
`FIG. 3 is an exemplary screen shot illustrating the presen-
`tation of explicit indicators indicating that a podcast or epi-
`sode contains explicit content.
`FIGS. 4A-4B are process flow diagrams illustrating meth-
`ods ofprocessing an explicit tag to identify explicit content in
`an RSS feed in accordance with one embodiment of the
`invention.
`
`FIG. 5A is an exemplary screen shot illustrating the pre-
`sentation of a duration associated with a podcast episode.
`FIG. 5B is a process flow diagram illustrating a method of
`obtaining a duration associated with a podcast episode in
`accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
`
`FIG. 6 is a process flow diagram illustrating a method of
`processing a block tag to block access to a feed or episode in
`accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
`
`FIG. 7 is a process flow diagram illustrating a method of
`blocking access to a feed or episode as shown in FIG. 6.
`FIG. 8 is an exemplary table that may be used to identify
`those feeds or episodes that have been blocked.
`FIG. 9 is an exemplary graphical user interface enabling a
`user to report a concern.
`FIG. 10 is an exemplary screen shot that may be displayed
`to confirm receipt of a report submitted by a user.
`FIG. 11 is a process flow diagram illustrating a method of
`processing images associated with a podcast in accordance
`with one embodiment of the invention.
`
`FIG. 12 is an exemplary graphical user interface that may
`be presented to enable a user to browse an online media store.
`FIG. 13 is an exemplary graphical user interface enabling a
`user to select a category of podcasts.
`FIG. 14 is an exemplary graphical user interface enabling a
`user to search on the online media store.
`
`FIG. 15 is an exemplary graphical user interface enabling a
`user to search podcasts in the online media store.
`FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating exemplary categories that
`may be embedded in an RSS feed using category tags in
`accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
`
`FIG. 17 is exemplary computer-readable code for generat-
`ing multiple categories and nested categories in accordance
`with one embodiment of the invention.
`
`FIG. 18A is a process flow diagram illustrating a method of
`categorizing podcasts in accordance with one embodiment of
`the invention.
`
`FIG. 18B is an exemplary graphical user interface that may
`be used to display information associated with a podcast or
`episode.
`FIG. 19 is a process flow diagram illustrating a method of
`associating podcast media content with one or more key-
`words in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50