System and method for leveraging media via user rating data

Abstract

A method and system for leveraging user media file rating data. In one aspect, the system comprises a component in communication with a plurality of media file related services, a rating storage, and a component for making the user rating data available to be used by plural services so that each respective service can use the rating data to tailor a user experience during interaction by the particular user with the respective service. In one aspect, the user preference rating is received from any of the media file related services. In one aspect the user preference rating information and the associated media file information are associated with a particular user regardless of the respective media file related service the preference rating was received from.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 657,222, filed Feb. 28, 2005, entitled A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DELIVERING MEDIA OVER A NETWORK, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 678,718, filed May 5, 2005, entitled A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DELIVERING MEDIA OVER A NETWORK, both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates generally to a method and system for leveraging user media file rating data.[0004]2. Background of the Invention[0005]The expansion of the Internet and the World Wide Web (“web”) has given computer users the enhanced ability to listen to and to watch various different forms of media through their computers. This media can be in the form of audio music, music videos, television programs, sporting events or any other form of audio or video media that a user wishes to watch or listen ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]In one embodiment, the present invention includes a system for leveraging user media file rating data, the system comprising: a first component in communication with a plurality of media file related services, the first component receiving from one or more of the plural services a user preference rating associated with information related to a media file capable of being experienced via a respective media file related service of the plurality; a rating storage for storing the user preference rating and associated media file information as user rating data so as to enable the user preference rating information and the associated media file information to be associated with a particular user regardless of the respective media file related service the preference rating was received from; and a second component for making the user rating data available to be used by any of the plural services so that each respective service can use the rating data to tailor a user experience during interaction by the particular user with the respective service.

[0011]In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for leveraging user media file rating data, the method comprising: communicating with a plurality of media file related services; receiving from one or more of the plural services a user preference rating associated with information related to a media file capable of being experienced via a respective media file related service of the plurality; storing in a storage the user preference rating and associated media file information as user rating data so as to enable the user preference rating information and the associated media file information to be associated with a particular user regardless of the respective media file related service the preference rating was received from; and making the user rating data available to be used by any of the plural services so that each respective service can use the rating data to tailor a user experience during interaction by the particular user with the respective service

[0012]In one embodiment, the present invention includes a system for leveraging user media file rating data, the system comprising: a media server in communication with a media management application service executed on a processor, a media file subscription service, and an internet radio station service, the media server receiving from one or more of the services a user preference rating associated with information related to a media file capable of being experienced via a respective service of the a media management application service executed on a processor, a media file subscription service, and an internet radio station service; a rating database for storing the user preference rating and associated media file information as user rating data so as to enable the user preference rating information and the associated media file information to be associated with a particular user regardless of the respective service the preference rating was received from; and a subcomponent of the media server for making the user rating data available to be used by any of the plural services so that each respective service can use the rating data to tailor a user experience during interaction by the particular user with the respective service.

Problems solved by technology

Although these devices are popular today, they do have numerous drawbacks in that a user is severely limited in the range of what type of media they can store on their portable device and the ease of storing such media.

This is because these devices only allow a user the capability of transporting media that is available locally on their computer as well as media that is available from a network service that offers such media.

What is lacking in each of the currently available systems is a system in which a user may utilize their own media player to communicate their likes or dislikes for a particular media item to another user.

In the past, the users who wished to transfer or transport media files between different locations would have to go through the cumbersome steps of either transferring the media files by hand (e.g., on a compact disc), emailing or instant messaging the media file to themselves and then opening the file at a second location, or attempting to locate the media file on a particular media network service and then once again loading that particular media at a second computer location.

Images