FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to the search and discovery system and method in a network environment and, more particularly, to a digital music search and discovery system and method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The Internet is worldwide system of computers and networks. The Internet has millions of users for business, education, entertainment, and/or basic communication. Most of these networks have publicly accessible information. This information includes music, artists, programs, pictures, and the like. These databases and networks house a great deal of information that can benefit those that have the ability to access it. However, existing systems do not adequately provide a seamless delivery to a large number of recipients, nor do such technologies provide a fail-safe seamless playback of content upon failure across the network.
[0004] Music Search by Interactive Graphical Specification with Audio Feedback, U.S. Pat. No. 6,528,715, issued to Gargi on Mar. 04, 2003, describes a method and system for creating a musical query. The music query graphically generates a musical segment that represents a portion of a desired piece of music. A user receives audio feedback by playing the music segment. A music query generates based on the music segment. In addition, the graphical generation of the music segment and audio feedback are repeatable until the user acknowledges the acceptability of the music segment. Once the music segment is acceptable, the music query is generated.
[0005] Search Method and Apparatus for Locating Digitally Stored Content, such as Visual Images, Music and Sounds, Text, or Software, in Storage Devices on a Computer Network, U.S. Pat. No. 6,445,822, issued to Crill et al. on Sep. 3, 2002, describes a music searching and comparing method. This method allows a user of a software application and computer system to create, identify, select, provide, or otherwise produce one or more reference images for the user to search and compare. This includes searching for, retrieving, or providing one or more candidate images, comparing one or more candidate images; with one or more reference images; and indicating the results of the comparison. The result of the comparison provides a degree of correlation or matching between one or more of the candidate and reference images.
[0006] In Search Index for a Music File, U.S. Pat. No. 6,307,139, issued to Iwamura on Oct. 23, 2001, a music file is provided that has a search index and a formatted music data block. The formatted music data block is a complete formatted musical piece. The information in the search index includes a header data block, one or more melody data blocks, a lyrics data block, and an auxiliary data block. The header data block, lyrics data block, and auxiliary data block are plain text data. The melody data block further includes a melody that is in the formatted music data block. The melody data blocks are integer data, American Standard Code for Information Interchange data (ASCII), or Musical Instrument Digital Interface data (MIDI). Each data block in the search index also contains an identifier and a block size. In an alternate embodiment, the block size information is in the header data block. Finally, the search index data block directs the user to the musical piece.
[0007] In Music Searching Device with Time Dependent Search Function, U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,346, issued to Takagi et al. on Jun. 28, 1988, there is a music search device for a tape containing a number of pieces of music. If the search begins within a fixed period since the beginning of the currently played piece, the tape jumps back to the beginning of the preceding page. If the search begins after the fixed period, the tape jumps back to the beginning of the current piece of music.
[0008] Record Player with Automatic Music Search Function, U.S. Pat. No. 4,528,653, issued to Asano on Jul. 9, 1985, describes a record player equipped with a tone arm control. The tone arm control enables the record player to perform an automatic music search, that is, the pickup device of the tone arm automatically controls being set down at the beginning of a selected song. In one instance, the center of the record displaces slightly from the center of the turntable so that different angular segments of the recorded tracks lie at different radial distances from the turntable center. The tone arm control then compensates for this by detecting the radial and angular position of the beginning of the selected song. The tone arm control then sets down the pickup device at this position. The measurement of the radial position at the beginning of each song is along a radial reference detection line while the turntable is at rest at an initial angular position. Furthermore, while the turntable rotates the tone arm moves across the record until the pickup device reaches the measured radial position at the beginning of the selected song. The tone arm control detects the angular position of the turntable relative to its initial position. The tone arm control then determines the moment to set down so that the record rotates just enough to bring the reference line to the angular position of the pickup device. Consequently, the pickup device is set down at the angular position on the record at the measured radial position at the beginning of the song. The result is that play starts at the beginning of the song even when eccentricity of the record causes the track to be off-center.
[0009] Hand Held Electronic Music Encyclopedia with Text and Note Structure Search, U.S. Pat. No. 5,739,451, issued to Winksy et al. on Apr. 14, 1998, a hand-held electronic music reference machine is disclosed, which includes a platform having a keyboard and a display for displaying text. A removable or permanent database mounted to the platform has a memory that stores a multiplicity of songs selected lyrics, title, and identification information. The database has another memory that stores a segment from each of the songs. A user actuates the memory database where the songs are stored for display, permitting the user to select a song from a list of song titles shown on the display. This includes displaying of the lyrics. In addition, the user actuates an audio production element on the platform coupled to the selection component and the database. This enables for the selected song an audible reproduction of the segment stored in the other memory. Search filters allow the user to determine a song title from bits of ancillary information, including a series of relative note or pitch values, i.e., a melody line that is rising, falling or remaining at the same in pitch value.
[0010] Method for Editing a Playlist to Read Main Data in a Desired Reproduction Sequence, U.S. Pat. No. 6,542,445, issued to Ijichi et al. on Apr. 1, 2003, describes a method and apparatus for reproducing a plurality of main data recorded on an insertable recording medium. The user accomplishes this in the desired sequence specified by the playlist. The main data records on a record region of the recording medium. The user then selects a playlist that records in a management region of the recording medium.
[0011] In Method for Creating, Modifying, and Playing a Custom Playlist, Saved as a Virtual CD, to be Played by a Digital Audio/Visual Actuator Device, U.S. Pat. No. 6,446,080, issued to Van Ryzin et al. on Sep. 3, 2003, a custom playlist is created via a human interface. The custom playlist is played by a digital audio/visual actuator device that is creatable and modifiable through use of an external device such as a personal computer. The tracks, easily identifiable by their track index identifier and the table of contents (TOC) of the digital storage device that stores the tracks, are selectable by the user or by an automated method and added to a playlist file. After creating the playlist file, the playlist file stores to a non-volatile memory of the digital audio/visual actuator device. The playlist then is modifiable by performing such functions as adding tracks, deleting tracks, and rearranging tracks of the playlist through the interface of the external device. The playlist is playable by the digital audio/visual actuator device at any time after creation. Finally, the digital audio/visual actuator device is controllable through a remote control unit to actuate the playlist.
[0012] Method and Apparatus for Optimizing a Playlist of Material, U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,071, issued to Morgan et al. on Jul. 13, 1999, a memory is disclosed that has data corresponding to a playlist. The playlist is controllable by an associated circuit that eliminates the problems created during playback by short data segments. The playlist is parsed to determine whether any segments in the playlist fail to exceed a threshold length. Such a segment is copied, along with all or part of the next segment, to create a new virtual segment that exceeds the threshold length. During the playback, the virtual segment replaces the original short segment.
[0013] Programmed Jukebox Capable of Calculating a Continuous Updated Playlist, U.S. Pat. No. 5,668,788, issued to Allison on Sep. 16, 1997, describes a system for playing performance recorded on a disc, tape, and records. This system includes video display terminals with a touch panel control for audience selection of particular played performances. The terminals not only list performances, but also the graphics and text on the album covers or disc jacket to enhance the selection process. A computer controller controls the apparatus that stores the recordings, and that selects, manipulates, and plays the various performances selected at the terminals. The controller creates the playlist based on the popularity of each performance indicatable by choices registered at the terminals, with a preset time interval delay before any performance is repeatable. When not used for selecting, the terminals display advertisements, games, and the like.
[0014] In Playlist Mechanism for Specification of Complex Memory Objects, U.S. Pat. No. 5,428,731, issued to Hancock et al. on Jun. 27, 1995, multimedia data objects in memory are disclosed that need not be processable serially from beginning to end. The multimedia data objects in memory are definable as algorithmically generated data streams. This functionality is through an architected application-programming interface with a mechanism for defining a method of composing a complex object for smaller objects. This is for defining a behavior of the complex object and for allowing that behavior to be variable based on external events.
[0015] In summary, while some content delivery technologies describe the delivery of streamed content across a network, the existing systems do not adequately provide a seamless delivery to a large number of recipients. In addition, these technologies do not provide a fail-safe seamless playback of content upon failure across the network.
[0016] Therefore, there is a need to provide a system and method that provides a seamless delivery of songs to a large number of recipients providing a fail-safe seamless playback of content upon failure across the network. The development of these content delivery systems is a major technological advance.
[0017] Furthermore, it would also be advantageous to provide a system and method that provides delivery of content as well as metadata to multiple distribution points having the capability of broadcasting content indefinitely, even if a database or content store fails.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] It is an aspect of this invention to provide a comprehensive and integrated music search and discovery tool that allows a user to find all music information available from a music source, in one place, for example by song or artist.
[0019] It is another aspect of this invention to provide the user with a set of tools that allow the user to receive a personalized experience including recommendations that leverage a user's music preferences.
[0020] It is yet another aspect of this invention to provide a comprehensive and integrated music search and discovery tool that is implementable for a wide variety of electronic content, such as, songs, dialog, discussion, video content, multimedia content, or any combination thereof.
[0021] It is still yet another aspect of this invention to provide a comprehensive and integrated music search and discovery tool in connection with personal computers, mobile devices, portable digital assistants (PDA's), or network enabled cell phones.
[0022] It is still yet another aspect of this invention to provide a comprehensive and integrated music search and discovery tool in connection with interaction between one or more user terminals and one or more radio sites, e.g. across as the Internet.
[0023] To accomplish these and other aspects of this invention, there is provided a system for music search and discovery. The presently preferred embodiment comprises a comprehensive and integrated music search on-line and a discovery tool that allows a user to find music information available from a music source, such as that provided by America On-line (AOL)™. Such music information is typically available in one place, by song or artist. This includes a mega indexer facility for versioning and bouncing of searchable runtime data structures across multiple systems that is atomic at the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) connection level. It further includes a DCI Today platform for integration of a Web server within a client process to provide a framework for secure client side Web applications, even while off line. Finally, it includes a server PreQueue for minimizing the overhead associated with waiting for remote resources in a multi-threaded input/output (IO) model.
[0024] A method for music search and discovery provides a comprehensive and integrated music search and discovery tool. This allows a user to find music information available from a music service in one place, by song or artist. It includes the step of engaging a mega indexer facility for versioning and bouncing of searchable runtime data structures across multiple systems that is atomic at the HTTP connection level. Another step includes engaging a DCI Today platform for integration of a web server within a client process providing a framework for secure client side web applications even while off line. A final step includes engaging a server PreQueue for minimizing the overhead associated with waiting for remote resources in a multi-threaded IO model.
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