00000
`
`
`
`37513
`
`a2) United States Patent
`Rogersetal.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,375,131 B2
`Feb. 12, 2013
`
`(54) MEDIA TOOLBAR AND
`AGGREGATED/DISTRIBUTED MEDIA
`ECOSYSTEM
`
`8/2006 McLaughlin ............... 707/104. 1
`2006/0173910 AL*
`6/2008 Madriz Ottolina.
`............. 705/10
`2008/0133311 Al*
`2008/0263579 Al* 10/2008 Mearsetal. .....00c0. 725/9
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors:
`
`Ian C. Rogers, Santa Monica, CA (US);
`Matthew Kozlov, Santa Monica, CA
`(US)
`
`JP
`JP
`KR
`
`(73) Assignee: Yahoo! Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US)
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the termof this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 437 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 11/962,747
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Dec. 21, 2007
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2009/0164641 Al
`Jun, 25, 2009
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`G06F 15/16
`(52) U.S.CL ........ 709/227; 709/228; 709/229; 705/346;
`707/710; 725/9
`(58) Field of Classification Search.......... 709/227—-229,
`715/738; 726/35, 705/346; 707/710; 725/9
`See application file for complete searchhistory.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2005-33 1681
`12/2005
`2007-172091
`7/2007
`1020060062967
`6/2006
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`PCT/US2008/085909—Notification of Transmittal of The Interna-
`
`tional Search Report And The Written Opinion of the International
`Searching Authority, Or The Declaration dated Jun. 29, 2009; 12
`pages.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner — Ario Etienne
`Assistant Examiner — Michael C Lai
`
`(74) Attorney, Agent,
`‘Technology Group, LLP
`
`or
`
`Firm—FBerkeley Law &
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A method and network architecture through which user-spe-
`cific mediaprofile data can be made availableto third parties.
`A browseris optionally enhanced to facilitate playback and
`control of one or more media players, thereby allowing the
`user to play content via the browser. As the user plays content
`in the browser or any ofthe media players, information is
`collected about the content and stored in a database. By
`monitoring all media-related interactions made by the user
`within the browser, the collected content information can
`
`encompass information from a wide range of sources. User-
`specific profile data is then determined based onthe collected
`data and suchuser-specific profile data is made available to
`third parties. The user-specific profile data can be used, for
`example, for social networking purposes, and may also be
`used to drive advertisements or other content to the user.
`
`20 Claims, 13 Drawing Sheets
`
`EX1045
`Roku V. Media Chain
`U.S. Patent No. 9,715,581
`
`‘eitNewortBesa |-~
`Application and Collect
`
`“iivesia
`
`™
`}
`-
`meena| 7
`Conmenption Infarenatioe
`
`
`ap
`
`
`oe |~
`ae
`eee
`=o
`Publish User Profile Data
`te the User
`KeeetifyContentofInterest id
`
`................. 709/200
`2/2007 Martin etal.
`7,181,488 B2*
`3/2008 Salzingeretal.
`. 705/26.43
`7,346,552 Bl*
`3/2008 Wong....
`vee 709/203
`7,346,649 BL”
`1/2002 Janik .........
`vee 109/231
`2002/0013852 Al*
`1/2003 Cassin etal. ..
`vee 704/201
`2003/0023427 Al*
`....
`7/2003 Novellietal.
`vere 105/26
`2003/0144918 AL*
`1/2004 Plastinaetal. ....
`vee 709/217
`2004/0019658 Al*
`5/2004 Hagan etal.
`..
`wee 709/203
`2004/0088355 Al”
`2006/0085429 AL™ 4/2006 Wener etal. ..
`wees FOT/EO
`2006/0161635 Al*
`7/2006 Lamkin etal. ................ 709/217
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`LoadMecitorag Code [4
`
`Sea
`
` %|,
`
`
`
`EX1045
`Roku V. Media Chain
`U.S. Patent No. 9,715,581
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 12, 2013
`
`Sheet1 of 13
`
`US 8,375,131 B2
`
`100
`
`106
`
`Processor(s)
`
`Application
`
`Software
`
`Operating System
`
`
` Output Ports
`
`Input Ports
`
`Network Ports
`
`Figure 1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 12, 2013
`
`Sheet2 of 13
`
`US 8,375,131 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`250
`
`Code
`
`
`
`
`
` Browser Media
`
`
`Browser
` Monitoring
`214 Playlist Identification
`
`
`
`User Computer
`240
`
`
`
`Data Server
`
`260
`
`Media Consumption 261
`
`User ID
`
`262
`
`Database
`
`Media Profile
`
`263
`
`264
`
`Media Identification and
`
`Transmission
`265
`
`and Transmission
`
`266
`
`Profile Publication
`
`267
`
`268
`
`Profile/Profile
`Information for
`First User
`
`244
`
`Media/Content Server
`
`Media/Content Server
`
`230
`
`Advertisement
`
`Advertisement
`
`Figure 2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 12, 2013
`
`Sheet3 of 13
`
`US 8,375,131 B2
`
`we
`Load Monitoring Code
`
`
`
`Obtain Media
`Consumption Information
`from Media Players
`
`;
`;
`Monitor User Interaction
`with Network Browsing
`Application and Collect
`Media Consumption
`Information
`
`Aggregate Media Player
`and Browser Media
`Consumption Information
`
`
`
`Associate Aggregated
`Information with User
`
`Store Collected
`Information in Database
`
`
`
`Determine User Profile
`Data
`
`Publish User Profile Data
`
`300
`
`310
`
`320
`
`330
`
`340
`
`350
`
`360
`
`370
`
`380
`
`Identify Content ofInterest
`
`to the User
`
`Figure 3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 12, 2013
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`Sheet4 of 13
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`US 8,375,131 B2
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 12, 2013
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`Sheet5 of 13
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`US 8,375,131 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 12, 2013
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 12, 2013
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 12, 2013
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`US 8,375,131 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 12, 2013
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`Feb. 12, 2013
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 12, 2013
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 12, 2013
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 12, 2013
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`US 8,375,131 B2
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`

`US 8,375,131 B2
`
`1
`MEDIA TOOLBAR AND
`AGGREGATED/DISTRIBUTED MEDIA
`ECOSYSTEM
`
`to
`This application includes material which is subject
`copyright protection. The copyright ownerhas no objection to
`the facsimile reproduction by anyoneof the patent disclosure,
`as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office files or
`records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatso-
`ever.
`
`FIELD
`
`The instant disclosure relates to enhancements to tradi-
`tional network browsing applications.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`The instant disclosure is directed to a media toolbar and
`
`ageregated/distributed media ecosystem that substantially
`obviates one or more of the problems duetolimitations and
`disadvantages of the related art. Features and advantages
`thereof will be set forth in the description which follows, and
`in part will be apparent from this disclosure, or may be
`learned bypractice ofthe invention. The objectives and other
`advantages of the inventionwill be realized and attained by
`the structure particularly pointed out in this written descrip-
`tion, including any claims contained herein and the appended
`drawings, and equivalents thereof.
`More specifically, the instant disclosure is directed to a
`method and network architecture through whichuser-specific
`media profile data can be obtained, withthe user’s consent, by
`observing the media played by a user. Theuser-specific media
`profile data can then be used by those practicing other aspects
`ofthe disclosure to, by way of nonlimiting example, identify
`contentthat is likely to be ofinterest to the user and to allow
`the user to access the identified content. In addition, some
`aspects of the disclosureare directed to allowingthird parties
`to access and makeavailable the media profile data, and to
`identify media potentially of interest to the third parties based
`on a comparisonofthe user’s media profile and a particular
`third party’s mediaprofile.
`In some embodiments, a browser is enhanced to facilitate
`playback and control of one or more media players, thereby
`allowing the user to play content via the browser, The browser
`may be enhanced through theinstallation ofa browser helper
`object, suchas, without limitation, a browser toolbar or other
`“plug-in”; a stand-alone application that interfaces with the
`browser; by running browser executable scripts, such as,
`without limitation, those written in JavaScript or VBScript:
`by the browser running object code, such as, without limita-
`tion, that writtenin Flashor Java, or the like. In some embodi-
`ments, the appropriate functionality may be integrated into a
`browser.
`As the user plays content in the browser, informationis
`collected about the content and is stored in a database. By
`monitoring all media-related interactions made by the user
`within the browser, the collected content information can
`encompass information from a wide range of sources. User-
`specific media profile data is then determined based on the
`collected information and such user media profile data is
`made available to third parties. The user media profile data
`canbe used, for example, for social networking purposes, and
`may also be used to drive advertisements or other content to
`the user andto identify and make availableto the user content
`that may beof interestto the user.
`
`2
`It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
`description and the following detailed description are exem-
`plary and explanatory and are intended to provide further
`explanation of the disclosed media toolbar and aggregated/
`distributed media ecosystem.
`Some embodiments comprise a method, comprising col-
`lecting media consumption information froma plurality of
`media players installed on a computing device; monitoring
`media consumed by a user via a network browsing applica-
`tion installed on the computing device; aggregating the col-
`lected media consumption information and the monitored
`media consumption information; transmitting the aggregated
`media consumption information to a server; receiving from
`the server media recommendations based on the aggregated
`media consumption information: and, displaying the media
`recommendations to the user. Some embodiments may fur-
`ther comprise presenting a user interface elementin the net-
`work browsing application, the user interface element allow-
`ing a userto controla plurality of media player applications
`installed on the computer, thereby controlling playback of
`media consumed via the network browsing application. In
`some embodiments, the method may further comprise alter-
`ing a display regionof the network browsing application such
`that the user interface element is presented therein. In some
`embodiments, the method further comprises displaying the
`media recommendationsto the user via the network browsing
`application. The aggregated information may comprise a
`variety ofinformationincluding, without limitation, informa-
`tion determined from metadata associated with the media
`and/or by disambiguation of a uniform resource locator or
`other pointer to the media, information obtained by disam-
`biguation of one or more browser interpretable documents,
`ratings information provided by the user, a comment about
`the media provided bythe user, at least a partial history of the
`media played, and the like, as well as a request to add the
`media to a list of media associated with the user, such as,
`without limitation, one or more playlists, or one or more lists
`of favorite songs, movies, artists, commercials, or the like.
`In some embodiments, the method may further comprise
`monitoring, browser interpretable documents viewed by the
`user to determine when such documents comprise a playlist:
`and allowing the user to store the playlist as part of the
`aggregated information. In some embodiments, the method
`may further comprise receiving from a server an advertise-
`ment, or a pointer thereto, to be displayed to the user, and
`displaying the advertisement to the user. In some embodi-
`ments, the media consumption informationis collected, and
`the monitoring of the media consumed via the network
`browsing application occurs, only after the user has con-
`sented to such collection.
`
`Some embodiments comprise a method comprising receiv-
`ing user credential informationfroma first user; authenticat-
`ing the received user credentials against a server; recetving, in
`a first network browsing application, a request to view infor-
`mation from a web server; retrieving media profile informa-
`tion fora second user, the seconduser associated withthefirst
`user, the media profile information comprising information
`about media consumed by the second user via a plurality of
`media player applications and information about media con-
`sumed by the second user via a second network browsing
`application; and, displaying the retrieved media profile infor-
`mation. In some embodiments, the retrieved media profile
`information may be displayed as part of the information from
`the web server, and/or froma server other than the web server.
`In some embodiments, the media profile information com-
`prises a history of media consumed by the second user. The
`media profile information may comprise, without limitation,
`
`ay
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`US 8,375,131 B2
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`ay
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`3
`at least a subset of the media receiving the highest ratings by
`the seconduser, at least a subset of the media most frequently
`consumed by the second user, at least a subset of the media
`most recently consumed by the second user, at least one
`playlist, the media currently being consumed by the second
`user, and the like. In some embodiments,the instructions for
`retrieving media profile informationfor the second user com-
`prising a portion ofthe information received from the web
`server. In some embodiments, the mediaprofile information
`for the seconduseris retrievable only after the second user has
`indicatedthat the first useris allowed to access such informa-
`tion.
`Some embodiments comprise a system, comprising a mod-
`ule for receiving from a network browsing application infor-
`mation about media consumed on the computing device on
`which the network browsing applicationis running, the media
`consumption information comprising media consumption
`information from the network browsing application and from
`a plurality of media player applications; a module for storing
`J
`the received media consumptioninformation in a database; a 2
`module for receiving from a user a user identifier; a module
`for associating the received media consumption information
`with the received useridentifier and storing the association in
`the database: a module for determining media profile infor-
`mationfor the userassociated with the useridentifier based on
`the media consumption information stored in the database;
`and, a module for identifying at least one media item likely to
`be of interest to the user based on the determined media
`profile informationand transmitting the identified at least one
`media, or a pointer thereto, to the network browsing applica-
`tionfor display to the user. In some embodiments, the media
`information comprises a history of media consumed on the
`computing device. Some embodiments may further comprise
`module for receiving at least one playlist from the network
`browsing application and storing the at least one playlist in
`the database and for transmitting at least a portion ofthe at
`least one playlist to the network browsing application in
`responseto a user request therefor. In some embodiments, the
`media consumption information comprises information from
`metadata associated with the media, information obtained by
`disambiguating a uniform resource locator associated with
`the media, information comprising information obtained by
`disambiguating at least a portion ofa browserinterpretable
`document comprising media or a pointer to the media, or the
`like. Some embodiments further comprise a module for iden-
`tifying an advertisementlikely to be of interestto the user, the
`identification based, at least in part, on the media profile
`informationassociated withthe user, and for transmitting the
`advertisement, or a pointer thereto, to the network browsing
`application.
`Some embodiments comprise a system comprising a mod-
`ule for establishing communications with, and receiving
`media consumptioninformationfrom, an application running
`ona user computing device,the application collecting media
`consumption information froma plurality of media players 5
`installed on the user computing device and collecting media
`consumption information from a network browsing applica-
`tion; a module for storing the received media consumption
`information in a database; a module for receiving a user
`identifier fromthe application running on the user computing
`device; a module for associating the received media con-
`sumption information with the received user identifier and
`storing the association in a database; a module for determin-
`ing media profile informationfor the user associated with the
`user identifier, based at least in part on the media consumption
`informationstored in the database; and, a module for publish-
`ing the media profile information such that at least a subset of
`
`40
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`45
`
`50
`
`60
`
`65
`
`4
`the media profile information is accessible to other users.
`Some embodiments further comprise a module for incorpo-
`rating the profile data into a network browsing application
`interpretable document such that other users can view the
`profile data. The profile data may comprising at least one of
`the current media being played, the most popular media for
`the user over a determined period, and the last five media
`played. In some embodiments, the collected information
`comprising ratings information, a comment about the media,
`a history of the media played, and thelike. In some embodi-
`ments, the application runs in a network browsing applica-
`tion. In some embodiments the system further comprises a
`module for receiving a playlist from the application andstor-
`ing the playlist as part of the collected informationassociated
`with the user, the playlist being made available as part ofthe
`profile data. In some embodiments, the profile data is made
`available to other users only after consentis received from the
`user.
`
`Some embodiments comprise computer readable media
`having computer-readable instructions stored thereon, the
`computer-readable instructions, when executed by a com-
`puter, comprising collecting information about media con-
`sumedby a user via a plurality of media player applications
`installed on a computer; collecting information about media
`consumed by the user via a network browsing application:
`transmitting the collected information to a server; receiving
`from the server media recommendations based on the col-
`lected information; and, displaying the media recommenda-
`tions to the user. In some embodiments, the computer read-
`able media further comprises presenting a user interface
`element in the network browsing application, the user inter-
`face element allowing a user to control a plurality of media
`player applications installed on the computer, thereby con-
`trolling playback of the media consumed via the network
`browsing application. In some embodiments, the computer
`readable media further comprises displaying the media rec-
`ommendationsto the user via the network browsing applica-
`tion.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The accompanying drawings, which are included to pro-
`vide a further understanding of the disclosed media toolbar
`and aggregated/distributed media ecosystem and are incor-
`porated in and constitutea part ofthis specification, illustrate
`various embodiments and, together with the description,
`serve to explainthe principles ofat least one embodiment of
`the disclosed media toolbar and aggregated/distributed media
`ecosystem.
`In the drawings:
`FIG, lisa block diagramofatraditional computing device.
`FIG. 2 isa block diagramofa network architecture through
`whichthe disclosed media toolbar and aggregated/distributed
`media ecosystem can be implemented.
`FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of implementing
`the disclosed media toolbar and aggregated/distributed media
`ecosystem.
`FIG. 4 is a screencaptureofa traditional browserinterpret-
`able document when interpreted by a network browsing
`application.
`FIG. Sis ascreen capture ofa web pagewithlinks to media.
`FIG. 6 is a screencapture of a social networking web page.
`FIG, 7 is a screen capture of a web page through which
`locally stored and remotely available media can be accessed.
`FIG. 8 is a screen capture of the web page of FIG. 7
`facilitating the playback of audio/visual media from a third
`party site.
`
`

`

`US 8,375,131 B2
`
`5
`FIG. 9 is a screen capture of the web page of FIG. 7
`facilitating the playback of audio media from a third party
`site.
`
`FIG. 10 is a screen capture of an alternative user interface
`through whichthe media player functionality can be imple-
`mented.
`FIG, 11 isa screen capture ofa third party application being
`used to view and interact with media.
`FIG, 12 is a screen capture of an exemplary social network-
`ing web page whichincorporates media profile data.
`FIG. 13 is ascreen capture ofan exemplary portal web page
`whichincorporates media profile data.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`Reference will now be madein detail to embodiments of
`the disclosed media toolbar and aggregated/distributed media
`ecosystem, examples of whichare illustrated in the accom-
`panying drawings. The disclosed media toolbar and aggre-
`J
`gated/distributed media ecosystem facilitates monitoring 2
`user interactions with, and discovering the identity of, disag-
`gregated media as the media is accessed, played, or otherwise
`“consumed” by a user. With the advent of the Internet, users
`are able to access content (including, without limitation,
`music, videos, text, images, or other media) from more and
`moresites across the Internet, and on their own computer. For
`example, to listen to music, a user might visit a variety of
`music blogs, and also listen to music provided by the Yahoo!
`Music service provided by Yahoo! Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif.;
`the Pandora system published by Pandora Media, Inc. of
`Oakton, Calif.; iTunes, published by Apple Computer,Inc. of
`Cupertino, Calif; and the Rhapsody service, provided by
`RealNetworks, Inc. of San Francisco, Calif. The same user
`may also view videos or other media provided by the Yahoo!
`Video service provided by Yahoo! Inc.; the YouTubeservice
`provided by YouTube,Inc, of San Bruno,Calif.; and the CNN
`Video service provided by Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
`of Atlanta, Ga. The instant system spans these and other
`media sources, recommending other material the user would
`likely enjoy and allowing the user to control and create play-
`lists from this media.
`In some embodiments, the disclosed media toolbar and
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`files. By way of example, without limitation, the media pro-
`file information may suggest to a user that, given the user’s
`propensity toward music by a Nine Inch Nails, that others
`with a similar propensity tend to alsolike music by Filter, and
`identifying one or more songs by Filter in which the user
`mightbe interested; or that those wholike moviesdirected by
`John Wu tend to also like movies starring Jackie Chan, and
`recommending one or more such movies.
`In addition to suggesting media and/or portions of a portal
`or othersite to the user, the information obtained from media
`player monitoring may also be used to target advertisements
`to the user. Such recommendations may be made by way ofa
`dialog box presented to the user whena pageis loaded or
`when the user hovers a pointer or other user interface device
`over a link to the content, by a notice appearing in a pop-up
`frame along the edge of the browser display area,
`in the
`browserstatus bar, integrated into the display area next to,
`above, or below links to the related content, integrated into a
`searchresults page, or via other such techniques.
`In some embodiments, the instant system can also power
`personalized World Wide Web
`(“web”) applets, browser
`interpretable code segments, widgets, or the like that can be
`embedded on any web property (e.g., those of social network-
`ing sites like MySpace and Facebook, as well as user blogs
`and other web sites) to automatically showa user’s favorite
`artists, songs, albums, videos, and the like, as well as the
`current media being played, or most recent media played by
`the user or the like, when a visitor visits that website.
`For the purposes ofthis disclosure, a computing device
`(also referred to herein as a “computer”) includes a processor
`and memory for storing and executing program code, data
`and software. Computing devices may be provided with oper-
`ating systems that allow the execution of software applica-
`tions in order to manipulate data. Personal computers, PDAs,
`wireless devices, cell phones,
`internet appliances, media
`players. home theater systems, and media centers are several
`non-limiting examples of computing devices.
`For the purposes of this disclosure a module is a software,
`hardware, or firmware (or combinations thereof), a system,
`process or functionality, or componentthereof, that performs
`or
`facilitates
`the processes,
`features, and/or
`functions
`described herein (with or without humaninteraction or aug-
`mentation). A module can include sub-modules.
`For the purposes ofthis disclosure an engineis a software,
`hardware,or firmware (or combinations thereof) system, pro-
`cess or functionality that performsorfacilitates the processes,
`features, and/or functions described herein (with or without
`humaninteraction or augmentation). A search engine, by way
`ofnon-limiting example, can accept searchcriteria, such as
`search terms and dates of publication, query a network for
`web pages meeting the search criteria, and return query
`results. An engine could, for example, include modules, or an
`engine could be a module or componentofa larger system.
`For the purposes ofthis disclosure, a server comprises
`software and/or hardware running on one or more computing
`devices whichreceives information requests from other serv-
`ers, user computers, or other computing devices, and
`responds to such requests. A number ofprogram modules and
`data files may be stored on a computer readable medium of
`the server. Such program modules may comprise instructions
`for performing one or more tasks. The program modules and
`data files may include an operating system suitable for con-
`trolling the operation ofa networked server computer, such as
`the WINDOWS VISTA, WINDOWS XP, or WINDOWS
`2003 operating systems published by Microsoft Corporation
`of Redmond, Wash., the Ubuntuoperating systemdistributed
`by Canonical Ldt. of Douglas, Isle of Mann.
`
`a
`ecosystem comprises
`aggregated/distributed media
`browser-based plug-in that interfaces with and controls a
`plurality of media players and online properties, including,
`with the user’s permission, collecting media play behavior,
`ratings, comments, and the like. Based on a variety of factors
`including, withoutlimitation, collected play andratings data,
`the instant system can also customize a homepage or deliver
`content (e.g.,a displayed portion ofone or more portal sites or 5
`portal site pages), including, without limitation, recommend-
`ing relevant media and information to the user. By way of
`example, without limitation, a user may watch one or more
`episodes ofthe television show 24 on iTunes, andthe instant
`system can recommendthatthe useralso visit a correspond-
`ing section ofa portal site, a fan website, or the like. Simi-
`larly, if the user creates a radio station based on the musical
`group The Kooks using the Pandora service, the instant sys-
`tem can utilize the radio station data, including feedback
`obtained from the user, to create a customized music station,
`playlist, or the like withina service providedbytheportal site.
`Still further, if the user were to watchor read a news story on
`Barack Obama, the instant system could recommend an
`appropriate portionoftheportal site to the user. In yet another
`example, user media profile information may be aggregated
`to determine trends, such as, without limitation, content that
`is likely to be of interest to users having similar media pro-
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`US 8,375,131 B2
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`For the purposesofthis disclosure an ad serveris software,
`hardware, or firmware (or combinations thereof) capable of
`searching a database or other repository of advertisements to
`find one or more ads to serve on web pages, and capable of
`storing data. An adserver may be a single serverora group of
`servers acting together. Anad serverselects ads to serve based
`onalgorithms meantto direct to the user those advertisements
`which are mostrelevantto the user. In some embodiments, the
`ad server functionality may be augmented to select media or
`other content whichis most relevant, or likely to be ofinterest,
`to the user. Such ad servers may be implemented by an adver-
`tiser, an ad serving company (e.g. YAHOO!, GOOGLE), an
`ad exchange, an ad network, content provider,or the like.
`For the purposes of this disclosure a media serveris soft-
`ware, hardware, or firmware (or combinations thereof) that
`facilitates access to media or other content. A media server
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`input ports 112 and output ports 110. Input ports 112 and
`output ports 110 can communicate with I/O devices such as
`mice, keyboards, modems, network interfaces, printers, scan-
`ners, video cameras and other devices. In addition, output
`port 110 can further communicate with a display.
`Interconnect 108 may also comprise one or more buses
`connected to one another throughvarious bridges, controllers
`and/or adapters. In some embodiments, input ports 112 and
`output ports 110 can include a USB (Universal Serial Bus)
`adapter for controlling USB peripherals, and/or an IEEE-
`1394 bus adapter for controlling IEEE-1394 peripherals.
`Inter-connect 108 canalsoinclude one or more network ports
`114, through whichthe user computing device can be com-
`municatively coupled with a communication network.
`In some embodiments, memory 106 may include ROM
`(Read Only Memory), and volatile RAM (Random Access
`Memory) and non-volatile memory, suchas hard drive, flash
`memory, computer-readable media, or the like. Volatile RAM
`is typically implemented as dynamic RAM (DRAM), which
`requires continuous powerto refresh or maintain the data in
`the memory. Non-volatile memory is typically a magnetic
`hard drive, flash memory, a magneto-optical drive, or an
`optical drive (e.g., a DVD RAM), or other type of memory
`system which maintains data even after power is removed
`from the system. Computer-readable media can include,
`without limitation, recordable and non-recordable type media
`such as volatile and non-volatile memory devices, read only
`memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM),
`flash
`memory devices, floppy and other removable disks, magnetic
`disk storage media, optical storage media (e.g., Compact
`Disk Read-Only Memory (CD ROMS), Digital Versatile
`Disks, (DVDs), etc.), or the like.
`In some embodiments, memory 106 can be a local device
`coupled directly to the other components or modules in the
`data processing system. A non-volatile memory that is remote
`fromthe system, such as a network storage device coupled to
`the data processing systemthrough a network interface such
`as a modemor Ethernet interface, can also be used.
`In some embodiments, routines executed to implement one
`or more embodiments may be implemented as part of an
`operating system 118 or a specific application, component,
`program, o