A new patent filing from Apple may be a sign of changes to the way Apple presents music recommendations at the iTunes store. That change was hinted at last December when Apple acquired the streaming music site, Lala.
The patent application lists Ryan Dixon, Digital Album Content Manager at iTunes, as the inventor, and provides a description of how such a recommendation system might work, along with the possibility of advertising in the streamed content. The patent filing is:
Personalized streaming digital content Invented by Ryan Graeme Dixon Assigned to Apple US Patent Application 20100049862 Published February 25, 2010 Filed August 21, 2008
Abstract
A method for generating personalized streaming content, the method including the steps of analyzing a digital library of a user associated with a user account, generating recommended digital media based on analysis of the digital library, generating personalized streaming content that includes digital media from the digital library and recommended digital media.
This streaming media system would personalize what someone would hear or view, beginning by analyzing a users digital library, including downloaded digital media and possibly digital media imported from DVDs and CDs.
It could also look at purchases as well as searches and listening and viewing habits, to identify trends and make recommendations.
The personalized streamed content might include:
- Digital media already purchased online by the user,
- Other digital media in the user’s library,
- Digital media recommended by the personalization algorithm, and;
- Advertisements.
The patent filing tells us that including advertisements in the streamed content “provides an opportunity for the online store to generate revenue from sources other than its users.”