Appapatus and method for generating a collection profile and for communicating based on the collection profile

Abstract

An apparatus for generating a collection profile of a collection of different media data items has a feature extractor for extracting at least two different features describing a content of a media data item for a plurality of media data items of the collection, and a profile creator for creating the collection profile by combining the extracted features or weighted extracted features so that the collection profile represents a quantitative fingerprint of a content of the media data collection. This collection profile or music DNA can be used for transmitting information, which is based on this collection profile, to the entity itself or to a remote entity.

1 . An apparatus for generating a collection profile of a collection of different media data items, the media items being audio files, comprising:
 a feature extractor configured to extract at least two different features describing a content of a media data item from a plurality of media data items of the collection; and   a profile creator configured to create the collection profile by combining the extracted features or weighted extracted features for the plurality of media data items so that the collection profile represents a quantitative fingerprint of a content of the collection,   wherein the apparatus further comprises an input configured to receive information on a music taste of a user of the collection of different audio files, and   wherein the profile creator is configured to create a raw collection profile without information on a user behavior logged by the profile creator or information on a music taste, and to weight the raw collection profile using weights derived from the information on the music taste or the user behavior to acquire the collection profile,   wherein at least one of the feature extractor, the profile creator, and the input comprises a hardware implementation.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , in which the profile creator is configured to generate the quantitative collection profile using an addition, a subtraction, a multiplication or a division of the extracted features or the weighted extracted features. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , in which the collection is stored on a mobile device comprising a storage for media data items; and
 in which the profile creator is configured to add information on a manufacturer of the mobile device or information on a specific model of the mobile device or information on a communication service provider to the collection profile.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , in which each media data item of the plurality of media data items comprises a data portion and an associated metadata portion, the metadata portion comprising the at least two different features, and
 in which the feature extractor is configured to parse the metadata portion and to read the features from the metadata portion.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , in which the features describing the content comprise information on energy-strong, energy-mid, energy-low, color-bright, color-dark, tempo/beat, percussiveness, music color, vocal detection, aggressiveness, segmentation, key, mood, solo instrument or fingerprint. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , in which the profile creator is configured to analyze the extracted features for similar features or to exclude features comprising extreme values. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , in which the feature extractor is configured to detect a newly stored media data item in the collection, and in which the profile creator is configured to retrieve an earlier collected profile and to manipulate the earlier collected profile based on the features of the newly stored media data item to create an updated collection profile. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for generating a collection profile of a collection of different media data items, the media items being audio files, comprising:
 a feature extractor configured to extract at least two different features describing a content of a media data item from a plurality of media data items of the collection; and   a profile creator configured to create the collection profile by combining the extracted features or weighted extracted features for the plurality of media data items so that the collection profile represents a quantitative fingerprint of a content of the collection,   wherein the profile creator is configured to weight the extracted features using weights derived from the information on the music taste or the user behavior logged by the profile creator, and to combine the weighted extracted features to acquire the collection profile,   wherein at least one of the feature extractor, the profile creator, and the input comprises a hardware implementation.   
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for communicating information from a first entity to a second entity, comprising:
 a collection profile information generator configured to generate information on a first collection profile of a first collection at the first entity or for generating a second collection profile of a second collection at the second entity, the first or second collection profile representing a quantitative fingerprint of a content of the corresponding collection of metadata files at the first entity or at the second entity; and   an information handler configured to use the first collection profile or the second collection profile within a matching operation and for transmitting information based on the matching operation or a collection profile or for receiving a message based on a matching operation or the collection profile,   wherein at least one of the collection profile information generator, and the information handler comprises a hardware implementation.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 9 , in which the apparatus is a mobile device representing the first entity,
 in which the apparatus is configured to generate the first collection profile, and   in which the information handler is configured to send a message comprising information on the first collection profile to the second entity.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 9 , where the apparatus is a device representing the first entity, and where the apparatus is configured to determine information on the collection profile,
 in which the message handler is configured to retrieve information on a user group comprising users with a similar collection profile as the first collection profile and to send a message to the second entity requesting a joining to a user group, or   to retrieve information on a user comprising a similar profile and to send a message to the second user, the message comprising information on the first entity or a media data item from the collection, or   to retrieve information on an advertisement tailored to a product or service related to a collection profile and to send a message to the advertiser requesting advertisements tailored to the collection profile or to deliver an advertisement for a product to a different entity, or   to remotely analyze stored media data items for a matching profile and to selectively request a download of a media data item comprising the matching profile.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 9 , in which the collection profile information generator is configured to receive, via cable or via a wireless communication device, information on profiles of a plurality of entities located in a limited space around the second entity or being in a network user group,
 in which the information handler is configured to calculate a combined profile for the plurality of first entities,   in which the information handler is configured to select a media data item matching with the combined profile, and   in which the information handler is configured to cause a rendering of the selected media data item in the limited space or to cause a data streaming of the selected media data item to the network user group.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 9 ,
 in which the information handler is configured to calculate a result list from the matching operation, to map confidence measures for a selected group of media items from the result list, and to use a final result list comprising the mapped confidence measures for transmitting data to the user.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 9 ,
 wherein the collection profile information generator is configured to retrieve the collection profile of the first entity,   wherein the information handler is configured to modify the collection profile based on a current taste of a user of the first entity or based on an external situation,   wherein the information handler is configured to perform the matching operation with the modified profile in the media collection of the first entity, and   wherein the information handler is configured to play a result of the matching operation at the first entity or to generate a play list at the first entity based on the result of the matching operation.   
     
     
         15 . A method of generating a collection profile of a collection of different media date items, the media items being audio files, comprising:
 extracting at least two different features describing a content of a media date item from a plurality of media data items of the collection; and   creating, by a profile creator, the collection profile by combining the extracted features or weighted extracted features for the plurality of media date items so that the collection profile represents a quantitative fingerprint of a content of the collection,   wherein the method further comprises receiving, by an input, information on a music taste of a user of the collection of different audio files, and   wherein creating comprises: creating a raw collection profile without information on a user behavior logged by the profile creator or information on a music taste, and weighting the raw collection profile using weights derived from the information on the music taste or the user behavior to acquire the collection profile.   
     
     
         16 . A method of generating a collection profile of a collection of different media date items, the media items being audio files, comprising:
 extracting at least two different features describing a content of a media date item from a plurality of media data items of the collection; and   creating, by a profile creator, the collection profile by combining the extracted features or weighted extracted features for the plurality of media date items so that the collection profile represents a quantitative fingerprint of a content of the collection,   wherein creating comprises weighting the extracted features using weights derived from the information on the music taste or the user behavior logged by the profile creator, and combining the weighted extracted features to acquire the collection profile.   
     
     
         17 . A method of communicating information from a first entity to a second entity, comprising:
 generating information on a first collection profile of a first collection at the first entity or generating a second collection profile of a second collection at the second entity, the collection profile representing a quantitative fingerprint of a content of the corresponding collection of metadata files at the first entity or at the second entity;   using the first collection profile or the second collection profile within a matching operation; and   transmitting information based on the matching operation or a collection profile or receiving a message based on a matching operation or the collection profile.   
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon a computer program comprising a program code for performing a method in accordance with  claim 15 , when running on a computer. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon a computer program comprising a program code for performing a method in accordance with  claim 16 , when running on a computer. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon a computer program comprising a program code for performing a method in accordance with  claim 17 , when running on a computer