Method and system for populating a content repository for an internet radio service based on a recommendation network

1. A computer-implemented method for operating a media service based on a media recommendation network comprising a plurality of devices, the method comprising:

receiving a recommendation of a media item from one of the plurality of devices for a media item that is intended for a recipient;

using metadata identifying the media item to perform license verification on the media item to determine whether the media item can be at least one of played and streamed;

determining if the media item is present in a content repository in response to receiving the recommendation of the media item;

requesting, in response to determining that the media item is not present in the content repository, upload of the media item;

storing, in response to the media item being uploaded, the media item in the content repository; and

if the media item fails at least one of a media item identification and a license verification:

moving the media item into a separate holding area for at least one of subsequent media item identification and license verification, and

notifying the device that sent the recommendation of the failure of the at least one of the media item identification and the license verification.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a request to stream the media item to a second device if the second device determines that the media item is not stored locally on the second device; and

streaming the media item to the second device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 further comprising recording performance of the streaming for royalty payment purposes.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising forwarding the recommendation to a second device.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further wherein the received recommendation includes a GUID of the media item and an acoustic fingerprint of the media item.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 further comprising sending the acoustic fingerprint to a metadata service to retrieve the metadata identifying the media item.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 further comprising if the metadata service fails to identify the media item, then moving the media item into a separate holding area for subsequent identification, and notifying the device that sent the recommendation of an identification failure.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 further comprising if the metadata service fails to identify the media item, then receiving a confirmation from a second device indicating that the media item should be streamed and streaming the media item to the second device.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising if the media item fails the license verification, then moving the media item into a separate holding area for subsequent license verification, and notifying the device that sent the recommendation of a license verification failure.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing software for instructing a controller of a computing device to:

receive a recommendation of a media item from one of the plurality of devices for a media item that is intended for a recipient;

use metadata identifying the media item to perform license verification on the media item to determine if the media item can be at least one of played and streamed;

determine if the media item is present in a content repository in response to receipt of the recommendation of the media item;

request, in response to determining that the media item is not present in the content repository, upload of the media item;

store, in response to the media item being uploaded, the media item in the content repository; and

if the media item fails at least one of a media item identification and license verification:

move the media item into a separate holding area for at least one of subsequent media item identification and license verification, and

notify the device that sent the recommendation of the failure of the at least one of the media item identification and the license verification.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 storing software for further instructing the controller of the computing device to:

receive a request to stream the media item to the second device if the second device determines that the media item is not stored locally on the second device; and

stream the media item to the second device.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 storing software for further instructing the controller of the computing device to record performance of the streaming for royalty payment purposes.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 storing software for further instructing the controller of the computing device to forward the recommendation to the second device.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 wherein the received recommendation includes a GUID of the media item and an acoustic fingerprint of the media item.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 storing software for further instructing the controller of the computing device to send the acoustic fingerprint to a metadata service to retrieve metadata identifying the media item.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 storing software for further instructing the controller of the computing device to:

if the metadata service fails to identify the media item, then move the media item into a separate holding area for subsequent identification, and notify the device that sent the recommendation of an identification failure.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 storing software for further instructing the controller of the computing device to:

if the metadata service fails to identify the media item, then receive a confirmation from the second device indicating that the media item should be streamed; and

stream the media item to the second device.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 storing software for further instructing the controller of the computing device to:

if the media item fails the license verification, then move the media item into a separate holding area for subsequent license verification; and

notify the device that sent the recommendation of a license verification failure.

19. A computer-implemented method for operating a media service based on a media recommendation network comprising a plurality of devices, the method comprising:

receiving, on a first device, a recommendation of a media item based on the playing of the media item on at least one of a plurality of other devices;

determining the media item is stored on the first device in response to receiving the recommendation of the media item;

playing the media item on the first device;

receiving, on the first device, a recommendation of a second media item based on the playing of the second media item on at least one of the plurality of other devices;

determining the second media item is not stored on the first device in response to receiving the recommendation of the second media item; and

using metadata identifying the second media item to perform license verification on the second media item to determine whether the second media item can be at least one of played and streamed;

sending, in response to determining that the second media item is not stored locally, a request to a media server to stream the media item to the first device from the media server in accordance with the license verification of whether the second media item can be at least one of played and streamed; and

if the media item fails at least one of a media item identification and license verification:

moving the media item into a separate holding area for at least one of subsequent media item identification and license verification, and

notifying the device that sent the recommendation of the failure of the at least one of the media item identification and the license verification.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19 further comprising recording performance of the streaming for royalty payment purposes.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing software for instructing a controller of a computing device to:

receive, on a first device, a recommendation of a media item based on the playing of the media item on at least one of a plurality of other devices;

determine the media item is stored on the first device in response to the receipt of the recommendation of the media item;

play the media item on the first device;

receive, on the first device, a recommendation of a second media item based on the playing of the second media item on at least one of the plurality of other devices;

determine the second media item is not stored on the first device in response to receipt of the recommendation of the second media item; and

using metadata identifying the second media item to perform license verification on the second media item to determine whether the second media item can be at least one of played and streamed;

send, in response to determining that the second media item is not stored locally, a request to a media server to stream the media item to the first device from the media server in accordance with the license verification of whether the second media item can be at least one of played and streamed; and

if the media item fails at least one of a media item identification and license verification:

move the media item into a separate holding area for at least one of subsequent media item identification and license verification, and

notify the device that sent the recommendation of the failure of the at least one of the media item identification and the license verification.

22. A device comprising:

a communication interface communicatively coupling the device to a media server; and

a control system associated with the communication interface and adapted to:

receive a recommendation of a media item based on the playing of the media item on at least one of a plurality of other devices;

determine the media item is stored on the first device in response to receipt of the recommendation of the media item;

play the media item on the first device;

receive, on the first device, a recommendation of a second media item based on the playing of the second media item on at least one of the plurality of other devices;

determine the second media item is not stored on the first device in response to receipt of the recommendation of the second media item;

using metadata identifying the second media item to perform license verification on the media item to determine whether the second media item can be at least one of played and streamed; and

send, in response to determining that the second media item is not stored locally, a request to a media server to stream the media item to the first device from the media server in accordance with the license verification of whether the second media item can be at least one of played and streamed; and

if the media item fails at least one of a media item identification and license verification:

move the media item into a separate holding area for at least one of subsequent media item identification and license verification, and

notify the device that sent the recommendation of the failure of the at least one of the media item identification and the license verification.