System And Method For Creating Thematic Listening Experiences In A Networked Peer Media Recommendation Environment

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing a thematic playback experience in a media recommendation system are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A central system comprising:
 a communication interface; and   a control system associated with the communication interface and adapted to:
 receive a request for a thematic playback session from a first device in a media recommendation system; 
 receive information from the first device that identifies one or more users in the media recommendation system that are permitted to join the thematic playback session; 
 receive a message from one or more second devices of the one or more users indicating that the one or more users desire to join the thematic playback session; 
 receive, from the first device, a media recommendation for one or more media items; 
 send the media recommendation to at least one of the one or more second devices; 
 receive, from at least one of the one or more second devices, a second media recommendation for one or more media items; and 
 insert the one or more media items of the second media recommendation into at least one playlist of the thematic playback session. 
   
     
     
         2 . The central server of  claim 1  wherein the control system is further adapted to:
 receive, from another device, a first media recommendation to be sent to the first device; 
 determine whether the other device is part of the thematic playback session; and 
 if the other device is not part of the thematic playback session, performing a predetermined action with the first media recommendation. 
 
     
     
         3 . The central system of  claim 2  wherein the predetermined action comprises deleting the first media recommendation. 
     
     
         4 . The central system of  claim 2  wherein the predetermined action comprises sending the first media recommendation to the first device after the thematic playback session has been completed. 
     
     
         5 . The central system of  claim 1  wherein the media recommendation includes a reference to the one or more media items. 
     
     
         6 . The central system of  claim 5  wherein the reference enables the one or more media items to be obtained. 
     
     
         7 . The central system of  claim 5  wherein the reference enables the media item to be streamed. 
     
     
         8 . The central system of  claim 1  wherein the one or more users are enabled to continue the thematic playback session even after a user of the first device has exited the thematic playback session. 
     
     
         9 . The central system of  claim 1  wherein the media item recommended by the media recommendation from the first device is available from a content server and satisfies parameters for the thematic playback session. 
     
     
         10 . The central system of  claim 1  wherein the media item recommended by the media recommendation from the first device is available from a media collection and satisfies parameters for the thematic playback session. 
     
     
         11 . A central system comprising:
 a communication interface; and   a control system associated with the communication interface and adapted to:
 receive a request for a thematic playback session from a first device in a media recommendation system; 
 receive information from the first device that identifies one or more users in the media recommendation system that are permitted to join the thematic playback session; 
 receive a message from one or more second devices of the one or more users indicating that the one or more users desire to join the thematic playback session; 
 receive, from the first device, a media recommendation for one or more media items; 
 identify at least one of the one or more users for which the media recommendation is intended; 
 send the media recommendation to at least one of the one or more second devices of the at least one of the one or more users; 
 receive, from one of the one or more second devices, a second media recommendation for one or more media items; and 
 insert the one or more media items of the second media recommendation into at least one playlist of the thematic playback session. 
   
     
     
         12 . The central system of  claim 11  wherein the media recommendation includes a reference to the media item. 
     
     
         13 . The central system of  claim 12  wherein the reference enables the media item to be obtained. 
     
     
         14 . The central system of  claim 12  wherein the reference enables the media item to be streamed. 
     
     
         15 . The central system of  claim 11  wherein the one or more users are enabled to continue the thematic playback session even after a user of the first device has exited the thematic playback session. 
     
     
         16 . The central server of  claim 1  wherein the control system is further adapted to:
 receive, from another device, a third media recommendation to be sent to the first device; 
 determine whether the other device is part of the thematic playback session; and 
 if the other device is not part of the thematic playback session, performing a predetermined action with the third media recommendation. 
 
     
     
         17 . The central system of  claim 16  wherein the predetermined action comprises deleting the third media recommendation. 
     
     
         18 . The central system of  claim 16  wherein the predetermined action comprises sending the third media recommendation to the first device after the thematic playback session has been completed. 
     
     
         19 . The central system of  claim 11  wherein the media item recommended by the media recommendation from the first device is available from a content server and satisfies parameters for the thematic playback session. 
     
     
         20 . The central system of  claim 11  wherein the media item recommended by the media recommendation from the first device is available from a media collection and satisfies parameters for the thematic playback session. 
     
     
         21 . A computer readable medium storing software for instructing a computing device operating as a central system in a media recommendation system to:
 receive a request for a thematic playback session from a first device in a media recommendation system;   receive information from the first device that identifies one or more users in the media recommendation system that are permitted to join the thematic playback session;   receive a message from one or more second devices of the one or more users indicating that the one or more users desire to join the thematic playback session;   receive, from the first device, a media recommendation for one or more media items;   send the media recommendation to at least one of the one or more second devices;   receive, from at least one of the one or more second devices, a second media recommendation for one or more media items; and   insert the one or more media items of the second media recommendation into at least one playlist of the thematic playback session.   
     
     
         22 . A computer readable medium storing software for instructing a computing device operating as a central system in a media recommendation system to:
 receive a request for a thematic playback session from a first device in a media recommendation system;   receive information from the first device that identifies one or more users in the media recommendation system that are permitted to join the thematic playback session;   receive a message from one or more second devices of the one or more users indicating that the one or more users desire to join the thematic playback session;   receive, from the first device, a media recommendation for one or more media items;   identify at least one of the one or more users for which the media recommendation is intended;   send the media recommendation to at least one of the one or more second devices of the at least one of the one or more users;   receive, from one of the one or more second devices, a second media recommendation for one or more media items; and   insert the one or more media items of the second media recommendation into at least one playlist of the thematic playback session.   
     
     
         23 . A method of operation of a central system in a media recommendation system comprising:
 receiving a request for a thematic playback session from a first device in a media recommendation system;   receiving information from the first device that identifies one or more users in the media recommendation system that are permitted to join the thematic playback session;   receiving a message from one or more second devices of the one or more users indicating that the one or more users desire to join the thematic playback session;   receiving, from the first device, a media recommendation for one or more media items;   sending the media recommendation to at least one of the one or more second devices;   receiving, from at least one of the one or more second devices, a second media recommendation for one or more media items; and   inserting the one or more media items of the second media recommendation into at least one playlist of the thematic playback session.   
     
     
         24 . A method of operation of a central system in a media recommendation system comprising:
 receiving a request for a thematic playback session from a first device in a media recommendation system;   receiving information from the first device that identifies one or more users in the media recommendation system that are permitted to join the thematic playback session;   receiving a message from one or more second devices of the one or more users indicating that the one or more users desire to join the thematic playback session;   receiving, from the first device, a media recommendation for one or more media items;   identifying at least one of the one or more users for which the media recommendation is intended;   sending the media recommendation to at least one of the one or more second devices of the at least one of the one or more users;   receiving, from one of the one or more second devices, a second media recommendation for one or more media items; and   inserting the one or more media items of the second media recommendation into at least one playlist of the thematic playback session.