System and method for playlist management and distribution
A system and method for storing a playlist of media files that is accessible from various locations in a network. In one aspect, the playlist is accessible from multiple users of the network. A method is also described for arranging the media files of a playlist. In one aspect, the method for arranging the media files is based in part on implicit and/or explicit user behavior.
1 . A method of storing a playlist of media files accessible from various locations on a network comprising:
receiving, upon a user selection action to identify a created playlist, a list of media file identifiers wherein each identifier is associated with a media file said user has selected to include in said playlist;
identifying a media file source associated with each identifier; and
storing said list of media file identifiers in a storage on said network so that multiple users of said network, including said user, can access said playlist from various locations.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising sending, upon a request from one of said multiple users to access said list of media file identifiers, said list to said requesting user.
3 . The method of claim 1 further comprising sending, upon a request from said user to send said list of media file identifiers to one of said multiple users in said network, said list to said one of said multiple users.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein said user selection action to identify said created playlist comprises said user naming said playlist.
5 . The method of claim 4 wherein said user selection action to identify said created playlist further comprises saving said named playlist.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein one of said locations comprises said users local media library.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein one of said locations comprises a local media library associated with one of said multiple users of said network.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein one of said locations comprises a database located on said network.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein one of said locations comprises a database located on the internet.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein each of said media file identifiers comprises a pointer associated with each of said media files.
11 . The method of claim 1 wherein each of said media file identifiers comprises a universal resource locator associated with each of said media files.
12 . A system for storing a playlist of media files accessible from various locations on a network comprising one or more servers configured to:
receive, upon a user selection action to identify a created playlist, a list of media file identifiers wherein each identifier is associated with a media file said user has selected to include in said playlist;
identify a media file source associated with each identifier; and
store said list of media file identifiers in a storage on said network so that multiple users of said network, including said user, can access said playlist from various locations.
13 . The system of claim 12 further comprising said one or more servers configured to send, upon a request from one of said multiple users to access said list of media file identifiers, said list to said requesting user.
14 . The system of claim 12 further comprising said one or more servers configured to send, upon a request from said user to send said list of media file identifiers to one of said multiple users of said network, said list to one of said multiple users.
15 . The system of claim 12 wherein said user selection action to identify said created playlist comprises said user naming said playlist.
16 . The system of claim 15 wherein said user selection action to identify said created playlist further comprises saving said named playlist.
17 . The system of claim 12 wherein one of said locations comprises said user's local media library.
18 . The system of claim 12 wherein one of said locations comprises a local media library associated with one of said multiple users of said network.
19 . The system of claim 12 wherein one of said locations comprises a database located on said network.
20 . The system of claim 12 wherein one of said locations comprises a database located on the internet.
21 . The system of claim 12 wherein each of said media file identifiers comprises a pointer associated with each of said media files.
22 . The system of claim 12 wherein each of said media file identifiers comprises a universal resource locator associated with each of said media files.
23 . A method for arranging media files of a playlist comprising:
identifying at least one media file of said media files of a playlist;
accessing data associated with said identified media file, said data being collected from a user;
generating a first score based on a first portion of said data;
generating a second score based on a second portion of said data; and
determining, based in part on said first score and said second score, a position of said identified media file within said playlist.
24 . The method of claim 23 wherein said data comprises a rating associated with said identified media file.
25 . The method of claim 23 wherein said data comprises a date when said identified media file was last played.
26 . The method of claim 23 wherein said data comprises a frequency said identified media file has been played.
27 . The method of claim 23 wherein said data comprises whether said identified media file has been transferred to a portable media player.
28 . The method of claim 23 wherein said data comprises whether said identified media file has been transferred to a local media library associated with said user.
29 . The method of claim 23 wherein said data comprises whether said identified media file has been recommended by said user to another user.
30 . The method of claim 23 wherein said data is stored on a server.
31 . The method of claim 23 wherein said data is stored at a local processor associated with said user.
32 . The method of claim 23 wherein said first portion of said data comprises a date when said identified media file was last played.
33 . The method of claim 32 wherein said date is processed into a score to be used to determine said first score.
34 . The method of claim 23 wherein said second portion of said data comprises a rating associated with said identified media file.
35 . The method of claim 34 wherein said rating is processed into a score to be used to determine said second score.
36 . The method of claim 34 wherein said rating comprises a rating associated with an artist associated with said identified media file.
37 . The method of claim 34 wherein said rating comprises a rating associated with an album associated with said identified media file.
38 . The method of claim 34 wherein said rating comprises a rating associated with a genre associated with said identified media file.
39 . The method of claim 34 wherein said rating comprises a default rating.
40 . The method of claim 23 wherein said first score comprises a rating score associated with said identified media file and a last played scored associated with said identified media file.
41 . The method of claim 23 wherein the step of determining said position comprises aggregating said first score and said second score and weighting said first score and said second score against scores of said media files in said playlist.
42 . The method of claim 23 wherein said step of determining said position is based on the formula [N*(R/N) p ] 0.94 , wherein N is the number of said media files in said playlist, R is a random integer, and p is a constant value.
43 . The method of claim 23 further comprising generating a separation number so that an attribute associated with said media files in said playlist is not repetitive.
44 . The method of claim 43 wherein said attribute comprises an artist associated with said media files.
45 . The method of claim 43 wherein said attribute comprises an album associated with said media files.
46 . The method of claim 43 wherein said attribute comprises a genre associated with said media files.
47 . The method of claim 43 wherein said separation number is based on the formula T/N a , wherein T is the total number of said media files within said playlist, wherein N a is the number of media files with said attribute.