Rules-based user preferences for stream switching in an internet radio player

Abstract

An internet radio player provides more personalized streaming audio content by assigning play amounts to different stream sources, and then playing streams from the different sources at a playback device for play times corresponding to the respective play amounts. The play time for a given stream is calculated as a user-defined percentage for the associated stream source multiplied by an expected listening period. The different stream sources can include different musical genres, news, sports, weather, or traffic. Play amounts are automatically adjusted based on user selection of the currently-playing stream source for increased or decreased play. A particular stream can also be played at a predetermined clock time, and the streams can further be ordered for play according to user preference. The present invention accordingly provides a richer listening experience than that attained by listening to a single internet radio stream, even if the single stream already reflects a user's preferences.

1 . A method of personalizing streaming media content, comprising:
 assigning respective play amounts to a plurality of different stream sources connected to a network; and   successively playing a plurality of streams from the different stream sources at a playback device, wherein the plurality of streams are played for play times which generally correspond to the respective play amounts.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the streaming media content is audio content, the playback device includes an audio output device, and said playing reproduces audible output at the audio output device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising automatically adjusting the play amounts based on a user selection of one of the stream sources for increased or decreased play. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the different stream sources include at least two different musical genres. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the play time for a given stream is calculated as a user-defined percentage for the stream source associated with the given steam multiplied by an expected listening period. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the streams is played at a predetermined clock time. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the streams are ordered for play according to a user preference. 
     
     
         8 . A playback device comprising:
 one or more processors which process program instructions;   a network device connected to said one or more processors for communication with a network;   a memory device connected to said one or more processors;   a media output device connected to said one or more processors; and   program instructions residing in said memory device for personalizing streaming media content by assigning respective play amounts to a plurality of different stream sources connected to the network, and successively playing a plurality of streams from the different stream sources at the media output device, wherein the plurality of streams are played for play times which generally correspond to the respective play amounts.   
     
     
         9 . The playback device of  claim 8  wherein the streaming media content is audio content, and the media output device is an audio output device. 
     
     
         10 . The playback device of  claim 8  wherein said program instructions further automatically adjust the play amounts based on a user selection of one of the stream sources for increased or decreased play. 
     
     
         11 . The playback device of  claim 8  wherein the different stream sources include at least two different musical genres. 
     
     
         12 . The playback device of  claim 8  wherein said program instructions calculate the play time for a given stream as a user-defined percentage for the stream source associated with the given steam multiplied by an expected listening period. 
     
     
         13 . The playback device of  claim 8  wherein at least one of the streams is played at a predetermined clock time. 
     
     
         14 . The playback device of  claim 8  wherein the streams are ordered for play according to a user preference. 
     
     
         15 . A digital program product comprising:
 a machine-readable storage medium; and   program instructions residing in said medium for personalizing streaming media content by assigning respective play amounts to a plurality of different stream sources connected to a network, and successively playing a plurality of streams from the different stream sources at a media output device, wherein the plurality of streams are played for play times which generally correspond to the respective play amounts.   
     
     
         16 . The digital program product of  claim 15  wherein the streaming media content is audio content, and the media output device is an audio output device. 
     
     
         17 . The digital program product of  claim 15  wherein said program instructions further automatically adjust the play amounts based on a user selection of one of the stream sources for increased or decreased play. 
     
     
         18 . The digital program product of  claim 15  wherein the different stream sources include at least two different musical genres. 
     
     
         19 . The digital program product of  claim 15  wherein said program instructions calculate the play time for a given stream as a user-defined percentage for the stream source associated with the given steam multiplied by an expected listening period. 
     
     
         20 . The digital program product of  claim 15  wherein at least one of the streams is played at a predetermined clock time. 
     
     
         21 . The digital program product of  claim 15  wherein the streams are ordered for play according to a user preference. 
     
     
         22 . A method of customizing streaming audio content, comprising:
 providing an audio receiver with a plurality of audio selections, the plurality of audio selections having individually-selectable, network-based audio sources;   receiving listener selections of more than one of the individually-selectable, network-based audio sources for the audio receiver;   associating the listener selections with network addresses that correspond to the individually-selectable, network-based audio sources;   receiving a listener exposure metric, indicating a rule-based exposure parameter selected by the listener; and   successively switching the audio receiver to the individually-selectable, network-based audio sources in response to the listener selections and the listener exposure metric to provide a customized audio stream to the audio receiver.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the listener exposure metric is received real-time during playing of audio content from one of the individually-selectable, network-based audio sources by the audio receiver. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the rule-based exposure parameter is a duration that an audio selection is played by the audio receiver. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the individually-selectable, network-based audio sources include at least two sources having different radio station formats. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the plurality of audio selections include at least two different audio selections from the group consisting of: music, sports, news, weather, traffic, and focused advertising.