Patent ID: 7958130

Claim:
A machine-implemented method for similarity-based content sampling of media content, the machine-implemented method comprising: assembling a query corresponding to feature vectors of media content played on a device, the query being assembled by a component located in the device that consumed the media content; performing a similarity search, based on the feature vectors corresponding to the query, for other media content; playing the other media content based on a result of the similarity search; and repeatedly performing acts comprising: transparently providing relevance feedback, with respect to the other media content played on the device, the transparently providing relevance feedback further comprising: providing a first relevance feedback as a result of a user purchasing an item of the other media content or an item of additional media content via the device, and providing a second relevance feedback as a result of interrupting a playing of an item of the other media content or an item of the additional media content on the device; performing a next similarity search for the additional media content based, at least in part, on the feature vectors of the media content played on the device and the relevance feedback, the performing a next similarity search comprising: determining at least one cluster of feature vectors based on the feature vectors of the media content played on the device and the relevance feedback, determining a feature vector corresponding to a center of the determined at least one cluster, determining a similarity between the feature vector corresponding to the determined at least one cluster and a feature vector included in each of a plurality of streams of media content, and informing the user of an other of the plurality of streams of media content when the other of the plurality of streams of media content includes the feature vector more similar to the feature vector corresponding to the determined at least one cluster than the feature vector of a currently playing one of the plurality of streams of media content; and playing the additional media content based on a result of the next similarity search, wherein: the media content is received via one of the plurality of streams of media content, and each of the plurality of streams of media content include the feature vector describing aspects of the media content.