Social interaction in a media streaming service

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016357355-A1
Application number	US-201514871683-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 30, 2015
Priority date	Jun 5, 2015
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A streaming media service can permit artists or other users to create and upload “posts” to the service. Posts can include text, references to content items in the catalog of the streaming media service, and/or non-catalog media content items that are created by the artist and uploaded as part of the post. Posts can be presented to users as they browse the catalog of the streaming media service and/or in a dedicated feed. The rendering of a post on a user device can include graphical user interface controls that allow the user to access content items referenced by or included in the post.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method implemented at a server of a media streaming service that maintains a catalog of media content, the method comprising:
receiving, at the server, posting data from a source device associated with a user account having a posting privilege, the posting data including a content item and a posting identity, the posting identity indicating whether the posting data is to be associated with an artist identifier or with an individual member of a band associated with an artist identifier; and generating, at the server, a post based on the received posting data, wherein generating the post includes:
determining a background image for the post based at least in part on the posting identity included in the posting data;
determining an author identifier for the post based at least in part on the posting identity included in the posting data; and
generating post body data based at least in part on information from the content item, the post body data including data defining a user-operable control operable by a user to interact with the content item.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the content item includes a reference to a catalog entry in the catalog of media content and wherein the data defining the user-operable control includes data defining a link to the referenced catalog entry.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the referenced catalog entry includes at least one of:
an artist page in the catalog;
a single content item in the catalog;
an album in the catalog;
a playlist in the catalog; or
a radio station in the catalog.

4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the content item includes an uploaded media item and wherein the data defining the user-operable control includes data defining a user-operable control to play the uploaded media item.

5 . The method of claim 4 wherein the uploaded media item includes at least one of:
a video; or
an audio recording.

6 . The method of claim 4 wherein the uploaded media item includes a recorded song by an artist identified by the artist identifier.

7 . The method of claim 6 wherein the audio recording is a recorded song.

8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the content item includes an audio clip recorded by the artist during creation of the posting data and wherein the data defining the user-operable control includes data defining a user-operable control to play the audio clip.

9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the received posting data further includes a text field and wherein the post body data includes the text field.

10 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
transmitting information identifying the background image, the author identifier, and the post body data to a user device, wherein the user device renders the post based on the transmitted information.

11 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
transmitting instructions to render the generated post to at least one user device.

12 . The method of claim 11 wherein transmitting the instructions occurs in response to determining, by the server, that user device is playing a content item by an artist identified by the artist identifier.

13 . The method of claim 11 wherein transmitting the instructions occurs in response to receiving, by the server, a request from the user device to view an artist page from the catalog of media content, wherein the generated post is incorporated into the artist page.

14 . The method of claim 11 wherein transmitting the instructions occurs in response to receiving, by the server, a request from the user device to view a feed of posts, wherein the generated post is included in the feed.

15 . The method of claim 14 wherein the post is included in the feed based on a determination that a user of the user device is following an artist identified by the artist identifier.

16 . The method of claim 15 further comprising:
receiving, at the server, an instruction from the user device to follow the artist; and
storing, by the server, in response to the instruction, user account information identifying the user as a follower of the artist,
wherein the determination that the user is following the artist is based on the user account information.

17 . The method of claim 15 further comprising:
analyzing, by the server, a media-consumption history of the user;
automatically identifying, by the server, the user as a follower of the artist based on the analysis of the media-consumption history of the user; and
storing, by the server, in response to the instruction, user account information identifying the user as a follower of the artist based on the identifying,
wherein the determination that the user is following the artist is based on the user account information.

18 . The method of claim 14 wherein the post is included in the feed based on a determination that the artist should be recommended to a user of the user device, wherein the recommendation is based at least in part on a media-consumption history of the user.

19 . A server system comprising:
a user account data store to store user account information for a plurality of users; a catalog data store to store a catalog of media content; a social content data store to store posts generated by artists; a network interface; and a processing subsystem coupled to the user account data store, the catalog data store, the social content data store, and the network interface, the processing subsystem being configured to:
receive, via the network interface, posting data from a source device associated with a user account having a posting privilege, the posting data including a content item a text field, and a posting identity, the posting identity indicating whether the posting data is to be associated with an artist identifier or with an individual member of a band associated with an artist identifier; and
generate a post based on the received posting data, wherein generating the post includes:
determining a background image for the post based at least in part on the posting identity included in the posting data;
determining an author identifier for the post based at least in part on the posting identity included in the posting data; and
generating post body data based at least in part on information from the content item, the post body data including data defining a user-operable control operable by a user to interact with the content item.

20 . The server system of claim 19 wherein the content item includes at least one of:
a reference to a catalog entry in the catalog of media content;
an uploaded media item; or
an audio clip recorded by the artist during creation of the posting data.

21 . The server system of claim 19 wherein the processing subsystem is further configured to:
transmit, via the network interface, instructions to render the generated post to at least one user device.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Carrigan Taylor G
• Lind Shaun C
• Morag Ofer
• Gromek Monika E
• Bachman William Martin
• Robbin Jeffrey L
• Alsina Thomas
• Wismer Justin G
• Walsh Ryan D
• Gedikian Steve S
• Reznor Michael Trent
• Manwaring Brendon E

Classifications

• G06Q10/40 Primary

  Business processes related to social networking or social networking services · CPC title

• H04L67/306

  User profiles · CPC title

• H04L67/22

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04L65/403

  Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences (data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15) · CPC title

• G06F3/0481 Primary

  based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance · CPC title