Media object metadata association and ranking

Abstract

Metadata may be associated with media objects by providing media objects for display, and accepting input concerning the media objects, where the input may include at least two different types of metadata. For example, metadata may be in the form of tags, comments, annotations or favorites. The media objects may be searched according to metadata, and ranked in a variety of ways.

1 . An apparatus for providing information for use by an ad server, the ad server for associating an advertisement with a media object, the apparatus comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer readable instructions for:
 providing the media object for presentation to at least one user;   accepting metadata from a plurality of users concerning the media object; and   statistics logic for determining a metric based at least in part upon the frequency with which at least one metadatum is assigned to the media object, wherein the at least one metadatum is available to the ad server.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the ad server for associating the advertisement with the media object based at least in part upon the at least one metadatum. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one metadatum and the metric are available to the ad server, the ad server for associating the advertisement with the media object based at least in part upon the metadatum and the metric. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the statistics logic is operable to determine the metric based at least in part upon the frequency with which a first metadatum and a second metadatum are commonly assigned to the media object, wherein the first and second metadata are available to the ad server. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one metadatum comprises at least one tag. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the media object is an image. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the media object is an audio media object. 
     
     
         8 . A computer-implemented method for providing information for use by an ad server, the ad server for associating an advertisement with an image, the method comprising:
 providing the image for display to at least one user;   accepting metadata from a plurality of users concerning the image;   determining a metric based at least in part upon the frequency with which at least one metadatum is assigned to the image, and   making the at least one metadatum available to the ad server.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising making the metric available to the ad server, the ad server for associating the advertisement with the image based at least in part upon the metadatum and the metric. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , determining comprising determining the metric based at least in part upon the frequency with which a first metadatum and a second metadatum are commonly assigned to the image, wherein the first and second metadata are available to the ad server. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one metadatum comprises at least one tag. 
     
     
         12 . A computer-implemented method for providing information for use by an ad server, the ad server for associating an advertisement with an audio media object, the method comprising:
 providing the audio media object for playback to at least one user;   accepting metadata from a plurality of users concerning the audio media object;   determining a metric based at least in part upon the frequency with which at least one metadatum is assigned to the audio media object, and   making the at least one metadatum available to the ad server.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising making the metric available to the ad server, the ad server for associating the advertisement with the audio media object based at least in part upon the metadatum and the metric. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , determining comprising determining the metric based at least in part upon the frequency with which a first metadatum and a second metadatum are commonly assigned to the audio media object, wherein the first and second metadata are available to the ad server. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one metadatum comprises at least one tag. 
     
     
         16 . A computer program product including computer-executable program code for providing information for use by an ad server, the ad server for associating an advertisement with an image, the product comprising program code for:
 providing the image for display to at least one user;   accepting metadata from a plurality of users concerning the image;   determining a metric based at least in part upon the frequency with which at least one metadatum is assigned to the image, and   making the at least one metadatum available to the ad server.   
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , further comprising program code for making the metric available to the ad server, the ad server for associating the advertisement with the image based at least in part upon the metadatum and the metric. 
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , determining comprising determining the metric based at least in part upon the frequency with which a first metadatum and a second metadatum are commonly assigned to the image, wherein the first and second metadata are available to the ad server. 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one metadatum comprises at least one tag. 
     
     
         20 . A computer program product including computer-executable program code for providing information for use by an ad server, the ad server for associating an advertisement with an audio media object, the product comprising program code for:
 providing the audio media object for playback to at least one user;   accepting metadata from a plurality of users concerning the audio media object;   determining a metric based at least in part upon the frequency with which at least one metadatum is assigned to the audio media object, and   making the at least one metadatum available to the ad server.   
     
     
         21 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , further comprising program code for making the metric available to the ad server, the ad server for associating the advertisement with the audio media object based at least in part upon the metadatum and the metric. 
     
     
         22 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , determining comprising determining the metric based at least in part upon the frequency with which a first metadatum and a second metadatum are commonly assigned to the audio media object, wherein the first and second metadata are available to the ad server. 
     
     
         23 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one metadatum comprises at least one tag.