Thomas Lee Conrad

US Patent:

7962482, Jun 14, 2011

Filed:

Apr 27, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/380563

Inventors:

Etienne F. Handman - Dublin CA, US
Thomas J. Conrad - Oakland CA, US
Joseph J. Kennedy - Danville CA, US
Timothy B. Westergren - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

Pandora Media, Inc. - Oakland CA

International Classification:

G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707733, 707751

Abstract:

Systems and methods of generating and modifying a playlist using contextual information are disclosed. For example, a user may provide an input seed such as a song name or artist name. The input seed is compared to database items and a playlist is generated as a result. In some examples, the contextual information is used to enhance the comparison and to select better content objects for a user's playlist. Meanwhile, in some examples the content objects in the playlist may be arranged in an enhanced order using ranking and/or contextual information.

US Patent:

8306976, Nov 6, 2012

Filed:

May 16, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/108184

Inventors:

Etienne F. Handman - Dublin CA, US
Thomas J. Conrad - Oakland CA, US
Joseph J. Kennedy - Danville CA, US
Timothy B. Westergren - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

Pandora Media, Inc. - Oakland CA

International Classification:

G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707733, 707751

Abstract:

Systems and methods of generating and modifying a playlist using contextual information are disclosed. For example, a user may provide an input seed such as a song name or artist name. The input seed is compared to database items and a playlist is generated as a result. In some examples, the contextual information is used to enhance the comparison and to select better content objects for a user's playlist. Meanwhile, in some examples the content objects in the playlist may be arranged in an enhanced order using ranking and/or contextual information.

US Patent:

20060206478, Sep 14, 2006

Filed:

Dec 6, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/295339

Inventors:

William Glaser - San Francisco CA, US
Timothy Westergren - San Francisco CA, US
Etienne Handman - Dublin CA, US
Thomas Conrad - Oakland CA, US

Assignee:

Pandora Media, Inc. - Oakland CA

International Classification:

G06F 17/30
G06F 7/00

US Classification:

707005000

Abstract:

Methods of generating a playlist for a user are disclosed. For example, an input seed from the user associated with one or more items in a database is received. The input seed may be a song name or artist name. Characteristics that correspond to the input seed are identified. One or more focus traits based on the characteristics are also identified. Based on the identification of the one or more focus traits, a weighting factor is assigned to at least some of the characteristics. The weighted value of the characteristics that correspond to the input seed and characteristics of items in the database are compared. Based on the comparison, items for the playlist are selected.

US Patent:

20060212442, Sep 21, 2006

Filed:

Apr 13, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/279567

Inventors:

Thomas Conrad - Oakland CA, US
Daniel Lythcott-Haims - Palo Alto CA, US
Neil Mix - Appleton WI, US
Joseph Kennedy - Danville CA, US
Etienne Handman - Dublin CA, US
Timothy Westergren - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

Pandora Media, Inc. - Oakland CA

International Classification:

G06F 17/30
G06F 7/00

US Classification:

707005000

Abstract:

Methods of presenting and providing content to a user are disclosed. For example, a user may provide an input seed such as a song name or artist name. The input seed is compared to database items and a playlist is generated as a result. The playlist has an identifier corresponding to one of the database items. A first graphic element associated with the input seed is displayed. A second graphic element associated with the identifier is displayed. As another example, a plurality of database items are compared and a playlist is generated as a result. The playlist has a first identifier corresponding to a first database item. A first graphic element associated with the first identifier is displayed. A first content object corresponding to the first identifier is provided to the user.

US Patent:

20130179439, Jul 11, 2013

Filed:

Nov 5, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/669412

Inventors:

PANDORA MEDIA, INC. - Oakland CA, US
Thomas J. Conrad - Oakland CA, US
Joseph J. Kennedy - Danville CA, US
Timothy B. Westergren - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

PANDORA MEDIA, INC. - Oakland CA

International Classification:

G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707723, 707722

Abstract:

Systems and methods of generating and modifying a playlist using contextual information are disclosed. For example, a user may provide an input seed such as a song name or artist name. The input seed is compared to database items and a playlist is generated as a result. In some examples, the contextual information is used to enhance the comparison and to select better content objects for a user's playlist. Meanwhile, in some examples the content objects in the playlist may be arranged in an enhanced order using ranking and/or contextual information.