Shared Playback Queue Reordering for User Satisfaction

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Solution Overview

Problem

In shared media playback sessions, users often feel dissatisfied when others dominate the content queue, leading to unfair distribution of media items, which existing systems fail to address effectively.

Innovation Solution

A method that determines user satisfaction by comparing media content items to user preferences represented as vectors, reordering the queue to maximize the satisfaction of the least satisfied users, ensuring a fair and cumulative satisfaction across all participants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If users can freely add media content items to the shared playback queue, then user autonomy and content variety are improved, but queue domination by individual users occurs leading to unfair distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser autonomy in adding contentVSAvoidqueue domination and unfair distribution

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors the composition of the shared playback queue and calculates satisfaction scores for each user based on their preferences. This feedback mechanism triggers automatic reordering of the queue when imbalances are detected, preventing any single user from dominating the content selection while maintaining user autonomy to add items.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the playback order parameter of the queue based on calculated satisfaction scores. By adjusting the ordering parameter rather than restricting content addition, the system allows users to freely add items while ensuring fair distribution through intelligent reordering that responds to changing queue conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the playback queue is ordered based on a single user's preferences, then that user's satisfaction is maximized, but other users' satisfaction deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser satisfaction consistencyVSAvoiddissatisfaction of other users

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the playback histories and preferences of multiple users to create a collective satisfaction metric. By combining individual preference profiles and calculating an aggregate satisfaction score for each queue item, the system determines an ordering that balances the preferences of all users rather than prioritizing a single user's tastes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the ordering parameter of the playback queue based on calculated satisfaction scores that reflect the collective preferences of all users. This parameter change ensures that the queue ordering adapts to maximize overall group satisfaction rather than favoring any individual user's preferences.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the system reorders the queue frequently to maximize user satisfaction, then user preference alignment is improved, but system complexity and processing overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser preference alignmentVSAvoidqueue management system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs partial reordering actions only when necessary - specifically when new items are added to the queue or when satisfaction thresholds are breached. Rather than continuously reordering the entire queue, the system applies selective reordering to maintain preference alignment while minimizing unnecessary processing and system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Measurement precision

If user profiles and playback histories are stored for all users, then personalized satisfaction calculation is improved, but data storage requirements and privacy concerns increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser preference measurement accuracyVSAvoiduser data storage volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential preference characteristics from complete user playback histories - specifically the genres and types of content each user prefers. By extracting these key preference parameters rather than storing entire playback histories, the system achieves accurate satisfaction calculation while minimizing data storage requirements and privacy concerns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12003822B2Methods and systems for interactive queuing for shared listening sessions based on user satisfaction

Publication Date: 2024.06.04 SPOTIFY

AI summary

An electronic device stores a shared playback queue for the shared playback session, the shared playback queue comprising one or more media content items, including a first media content item associated with a first user and a second media content item associated with a second user of the plurality of users. The device receives a request to adjust the shared playback queue. The device determines an order for the adjusted shared playback queue based at least in part on media preferences indicated in a profile of a third user of the plurality of users participating in the shared playback session, wherein the third user is distinct from the first user and the second user. The device provides the first media content item and the second media content item based on the order of the shared playback queue.