EP3682318A1

EP3682318A1 - Method and server for determining a popularity-ranking list

Info

Publication number: EP3682318A1
Application number: EP18769997.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Minesh Patel; Jean-Claude CHARNIER; Michael BYLÉHN
Original assignee: Amplified Global Ltd
Current assignee: Amplified Global Ltd
Priority date: 2017-09-13
Filing date: 2018-09-13
Publication date: 2020-07-22
Also published as: WO2019053152A1; SE1751109A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method carried out by a server (100) for determining a popularity-rankinglist of media items. The method comprises the following steps: generating (310) a user vote list comprising a plurality of media item slots; providing (320) the user vote list to each of the user devices; generating (330) at least one playlist comprising at least one media item; providing (340) said at least one playlist to a plurality of user devices; monitoring (350) duration of presence of each of the media items at each of the media item slots in each of the user vote lists during a period of time; determining (360), based on duration of presence of each of the media items at each of the media item slots in each of the user vote lists, a popularity-ranking list of the media items; providing (370) the popularity-ranking list of the media items to each of the user devices. Further, the invention relates to a server for determining a popularity-ranking list of media items; a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; a method carried out by a user device (200A, 200B) for determining a popularity-ranking list of media item; and a media application (250A, 250B) for a user device.

Description

METHOD AND SERVER FOR DETERMINING A POPULARITY-RANKING LIST

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a method carried out by a server for determining a popularity-ranking or indexing list of media items. Further, the invention relates to a server for determining a popularity-ranking or indexing list of media items. Yet further, the invention relates to a non- transitory computer-readable storage medium. Further, the invention relates to a method carried out by a user device for determining a popularity-ranking or indexing list of media items. Yet further, the invention relates to a media application for a user device.

BACKGROUND ART

Internet applications have grown rapidly over the years and so has the functionality provided to devices that access those applications. Media playback is increasing in popularity among consumers and mobile device users. Users may create playlists of media items to organise the media items for playback. However, manually adapting the content of a certain playlist is time- consuming and there is a risk that the user fails to discover new popular songs. There have been attempts to create user voting in order to create optimized playlists.

US 2016/162125 Al teaches an approach for organizing media items in a playlist for playback on the first device based on selection of media items in the second device. The approach involves generating a playlist of one or more media items for playback on a first device. The approach also involves initiating a preview of the one or more media items, one or more other media items, or a combination thereof on one or more second devices, wherein the one or more second devices control a streaming of the playlist to the first device. The approach further involves receiving a voting input for identifying a selected media item from among the one or more media items, the one or more other media items, or a combination thereof based on the preview. The approach also involves modifying the playlist for playback on the first device based on the selected media item. WO 2008/097917 discloses a method for collaboratively ranking digital content by utilising users of a website who wish to participate in ranking the content. A plurality of ranking votes are received for each digital content item, whereby the received user ranking votes are tallied for each digital content item in the set. This is followed by calculation of a ranking score by applying an algorithm, which includes the number of user ranking votes to each digital content item. As a final step in the method, the ranking is updated for each digital content item in the set.

All of the presently known systems and methods for ranking of digital content are based on active collaborative participation of users. Unless users decide to interact, such as above by means of numerous clicks on a website interface, the input to applied ranking algorithms will be at least limited. Modern users of social media tend to both expect and accept a minimum of manual interaction to be necessary, which is evidenced also by the attempts from service providers at simplifying e-commerce applications to require an absolute minimum of interaction from customers during the checkout phase of a purchase. One of the objects of the present invention is therefore to alleviate the need for excessive active user participation, which by experienced users of social media applications may be perceived as tedious and a waste of time. Moreover, users of traditional promotional and/or interactive services often engage once, often merely out of curiosity or to evaluate the service. However, in case the service by the user for some reason is perceived as unattractive, the interaction is not repeated over time but instead, the participants may decide to partly or completely abandon the service. Hence, the functionality of traditional applications requiring active participation tend to limit the value and usefulness of prior art systems and/or methods for ranking popularity of or otherwise indexing media items.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method carried out by a server for determining a popularity-ranking list or indexing of media items. The method comprises the following steps: Generating a user vote list comprising a plurality of media item slots, wherein each of the media item slots is configured to accept one media item at a time, wherein each of the media item slots can be updated during a period of time; providing the user vote list to each of the user devices, wherein the media item slots of each of the user vote lists is configured to be updated on each of the user devices separately; generating at least one playlist comprising at least one media item for playback on user devices; providing said at least one playlist to a plurality of user devices; monitoring duration of presence of each of the media items at each of the media item slots in each of the user vote lists during a period of time; determining, based on duration of presence of each of the media items at each of the media item slots in each of the user vote lists, a popularity-ranking list of the media items; providing the popularity-ranking list of the media items to each of the user devices. Thus, the position of a media item in the popularity-ranking list is based on duration of presence of media items in the user vote lists, i.e. how long each of the media items is present in each user vote list. The popularity-ranking list can be extracted and sent to the user devices at any time. Further, updated versions of the popularity-ranking list can be provided to the user devices at any time. An advantage is that a more flexible way of determining the popularity- ranking list is obtained.

According to one example, the step of monitoring further comprises monitoring behavioural data of users relating to the frequency of interactions and/or the total time of interaction the user has with the server. By means of this information about an individual user's behaviour, i.e. for example if the user displays only a sporadic user pattern or if the user is interacting on a daily or even hourly basis, characteristics can be retrieved, evaluated and utilized to provide the individual user with a tailored user experience. Also offerings and campaigns can be chosen and preferably even customized to the individual user's interests and needs.

The invention thus provides a tool for service providers to gain a deeper understanding or in what way and for what reason, i.e. how and why, users of various categories having particular attributes, choose to interact with a certain technology or with content provided by means of the technology. The extension of that deeper understanding of users of a service through their behaviour could be useful in the generation of leads, i.e. in filtering out particular users in a large group of users, the particular users displaying a user pattern that is indicative of certain interest in a particular type of information, physical product, event, treat or experience. In other words, besides enhancing the acceptance among users of a certain ranking mechanism, the present invention also provides a new and different way of increasing the accuracy and efficiency in which marketing efforts or provision of services can be deployed within a group of potential users or customers that value and appreciate them.

As mentioned, determining the popularity of a media item and individually ranking the media item in a list to be further distributed is one of the measurable quantities or data according to the invention. However, not only the popularity of a media item can be determined, also personal preference, type of emotional response, response time and/or the time to comprehend a certain message can be determined. A cognitive comprehension, i.e. determination of when a user reaction occurs, as opposed to the quality or kind of response, i.e. the nature of the user response, give rise to different data. By this distinction of feedback, it is possible to determine both the point in time of receipt of a certain piece of information, as well as another point in time when this piece of information has been understood, accepted and possibly even reacted to.

Depending of the type of media item, which could be for instance audio, video, text, but conceivably also tactile/sensory feedback or even fragrances, the user engagement could for example be playback or watching of a video clip or movie sequence, displaying of a picture or of an article, listening to a song or other audio clip, smelling a fragrance or sensing tactile indications, which in turn prompt movements of a user. The latter could be due to sensory feedback, but also reactions prompted by augmented reality, virtual reality or so-called mixed reality. The interpretation of media item is thus intended to be in the broadest possible meaning of media.

According to another example, the step of monitoring further comprises monitoring timing of presence for each of the media items at each of the media item slots in each of the user vote lists and wherein the step of determining the popularity-ranking list of the media items further is based on said timing. An advantage of monitoring timing of presence is that the popularity- ranking list can be based on presence during a particular time period. A further advantage of monitoring timing of presence is that presence during different time periods can be given different importance when determining the popularity-ranking list.

According to a further example, each media item slot in the user vote list has an internal ranking and wherein the step of determining the popularity-ranking list of the media items also takes into account the internal ranking of the media item in each of the user vote lists. An advantage is that different internal rankings can be given different importance when determining the popularity-ranking list. For example, the step of determining the popularity- ranking list may prioritise the media item slot at the first position, i.e. the media item slot corresponding to the most preferred media item, i.e. the best ranked media item.

According to another example, the internal ranking of each media item slot corresponds to a ranking weight factor, which is used in the step of determining the popularity-ranking list of the media items. An advantage is that the media item slots can be given different weight factors depending on the internal ranking of the media item slot. Thus, better information basis is provided in order to determine the popularity-ranking list of the media items.

According to a further example, the duration of presence of a particular media item in a user vote list corresponds to a duration weight factor, which is used in the step of determining the popularity-ranking list of the media items. An advantage is that a longer duration of a particular media item can be given a higher duration weight factor. Thus, better information basis is provided in order to determine the popularity-ranking list of the media items.

According to another example, the timing of presence of a particular media item in a user vote list corresponds to a timing weight factor, which is used in the step of determining the popularity-ranking list of the media items. An advantage is that different timing weight factors can be given for different time periods. Thus, better information basis is provided in order to determine the popularity-ranking list of the media items.

According to a further example, the step of determining the popularity-ranking list of the media items comprises using a combination of the ranking weight factor, the duration weight factor and the timing weight factor. Thus, a more flexible way of determining the popularity- ranking list is obtained using a plurality of different parameters. According to another example, the step of generating at least one playlist further comprises: setting, for each of the at least one playlist, a timing indicator for unlocking the playlist; and wherein the step of providing said at least one playlist to a plurality of user devices further comprises information on when the timing indicator is set for unlocking the playlist. An advantage of setting a timing indicator for unlocking each playlist is that it is possible to determine during which time period a playlist should be accessible.

Further, the disclosure relates to a server for determining a popularity-ranking list of media items. Yet further, the disclosure relates to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

Further, the invention relates to a method carried out by a user device for determining a popularity-ranking list of media items. The method comprises the following steps: receiving, from the server, a user vote list comprising a plurality of media item slots, wherein each of the media item slots is configured to accept one media item at a time, wherein each of the media item slots can be updated during a period of time; receiving, from a server, at least one playlist comprising at least one media item for playback; maintaining the user vote list by updating which media item that is present in the media item slots at any time during the period of time; receiving a popularity-ranking list of the media items from the server. An advantage is that a more flexible way of determining the popularity-ranking list is obtained. The invention thus allows for so-called multi-channel gamification of content. This

gamification engages audiences and the ranking of a list of media items is either carried out by means of sequential determination, weighted determination, frequency-based determination or the duration of which a certain media item has caught the attention of or been applied by a participating user. The gamification can further be described with reference to design examples in which certain inaccessible content can be unlocked over time, whereby multiple engagements of users is driven by encouragement, prompted by the technology according to the present invention.

Moreover, the content engagement as described above provides a deeper, richer engagement creating a stronger connection, by which long-term relationships are built with users of the service and accordingly also with customers and suppliers. Finally, audiences can be taken on a journey that captures their imagination through intrigue, but also by means of incentives and rewards for their loyalty or engagement, an engagement that can be encouraged for users that are active in sharing their content. The method and server according to the present invention forms a platform for curation of content using deep learning (machine learning) algorithms and artificial intelligence (Al) that may be based on user behaviour, interactive patterns and user interest in certain types of content and/or media items. By utilizing artificial intelligence and corresponding deep learning algorithms, the quality of media items that are fed to the server for further indexing in relation to its popularity among users or in relation to user behaviour can be further enhanced.

Further with respect to Al and the applicability of the same in the present invention is that a user profile can be built through content interaction in the vote list. As mentioned, the quality of content fed to the server can be further enhanced by using Al to recommend relevant content to the particular user profile. Since Al is applied, there is a constant learning process and an adaptation to user behaviour, as well as a constant learning process and an adaptation also to the behaviour of the audience, i.e. to users to whom the ranging list or indexing information is provided. Previous behaviour or previous popularity is taken into consideration and is undergo analysis prior to filter out as much noise as possible based on the proven records. Block chain technology is conceivable for use in connection with the present invention, either as a means for managing compensations of different kinds that are provided to users, or as a platform for the infrastructure, which is applied for the practical realisation and configuration of the technology.

Further, the invention relates to a media application for a user device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a system diagram for enabling access to media according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a diagram of components of the server according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of a method carried out by a server for determining a popularity- ranking list of media items.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of a method carried out by a user device for determining a popularity-ranking list of media items.

FIG. 5 shows a system flowchart of the method carried out both at the server side and at the user device side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a system diagram for enabling access to media according to an embodiment of the invention. Each of a plurality of user devices 200A, 200B is configured to run a media application 250A, 250B, which accesses media items provided by a server 100. Thus, the server is a service provider configured to provide media items to user devices. The server

functionality of the server 100 may comprise a plurality of servers. The server 100 is connected to a database 120. The media items are stored in the database 120. In one example, the database 120 is stored at the server 100. In another example, the database is a relational SQL database. In yet another example, the data is stored as files in a file system or other non-relational database management system. In one example, the media application 250A, 250B is a mobile app.

In another example, the media application 250A, 250B runs within a web browser. The media application 250A, 250B is configured to communicate with the server 100 over a network 150. The network 150 may include the Internet, other wide areas networks, one or more local networks, metropolitan networks, or combinations of these. The server 100 is connected with the media application 250A, 250B to provide a user of a user device 200A, 200B with media items, such as audio tracks or videos. The media application 250A, 250B is capable of receiving and displaying/playing back audio, video and the like. The user device 200A, 200B is any device or system that is capable of storing and presenting media items to a user. For example, the user device 200A, 200B can be a laptop computer, a desktop computer, tablet computer, mobile phone, etc. FIG. 2 shows a diagram of components of the server according to an embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the server 100 comprises a media item module 102, a playlist module 104, a vote list module 106, an interface module 108, a monitoring module 110 and a ranking module 112. The media item module 102 is configured to keep track of media items. In one example, the media items are audio files. The media item module 102 is connected to the playlist module 104. The playlist module 104 is configured to generate and keep track of playlists and media items comprised therein. New playlists may be generated at any time. The vote list module 106 is configured to generate and keep track of vote lists. Each vote list comprises a certain number of media item slots. In one example, the vote list comprises at least three media item slots. In another example, the vote list comprises at least six media item slots. In a further example, the vote list comprises at least ten media item slots. Each of the media item slots is configured to accept one media item at a time. The media item slots can be updated continuously.

The playlist module 104 is connected to the interface module 108. The interface module 108 is configured to provide the vote list and the playlists, including media items, to each of the user devices 200A, 200B. The interface module 108 may provide a playlist to all the user devices 200A, 200B. Alternatively, the interface module 108 may provide a playlist to a subset of the user devices 200A, 200B. Each user device 200A, 200B is in control if the content of its vote list. Hence, the vote list is a private space in which each user device 200A, 200B can control which media item is present at each of the media item slots of the vote list. Each user device 200A, 200B is configured to maintain its user vote list by updating which media item that is present in the media item slots at any time during the period of time.

The monitoring module 110 is configured to monitor how each of the user devices 200A, 200B is updating its vote list, through its media application 250A, 250B. In other words, the monitoring module 110 is configured to continuously monitor duration of presence of each of the media items at each of the media item slots in each of the user vote lists. The monitoring module 110 is connected to the ranking module 112. The ranking module 112 is configured to determine a popularity-ranking list of the media items based on duration of presence of each of the media items at each of the media item slots in each of the user vote lists. The ranking module 112 is connected to the interface module 108. The interface module 108 is configured to receive the popularity-ranking list from the ranking module 112. Further, the interface module 108 is configured to provide the popularity-ranking list of the media items to each of the user devices 200A, 200B. The popularity-ranking list comprises the media items most frequently present in the vote lists based on the duration of presence of the media items in the vote lists. The popularity-ranking list comprises a subset of all the media items. The popularity-ranking list may comprise any number of media items, such as the three, five, ten, fifteen or twenty most frequently present media items present in the vote lists.

The ranking module 112 may be configured to determine an internal ranking of each media item slot. Further, the ranking module 112 may be configured to determine the popularity- ranking list based on a ranking weight factor related to the internal ranking of each particular media item in a user vote list. Higher ranking weight factor is obtained for the media item slot corresponding to more preferred media item, i.e. the better ranked media item. The highest ranking weight factor is obtained for the media item slot at the first position, i.e. the media item slot corresponding to the most preferred media item, i.e. the best ranked media item.

The duration of presence of a media item at a media item slot is defined as the time between that the user device 200A, 200B is adding the media item to a media item slot and that the user device 200A, 200B is removing the media item from the media item slot. Further, the ranking module 112 may be configured to determine the popularity-ranking list based on a duration weight factor related to duration of presence of each particular media item in a user vote list. Thus, the longer the duration of presence of a particular media item, the higher the duration weight factor will be.

Timing of presence of a media item at a media item slot is defined as the timing at which the user device 200A, 200B is adding the media item to a media item slot or the timing at which the user device 200A, 200B is removing the media item from the media item slot. The ranking module 112 may be configured to determine the popularity-ranking list based on a timing weight factor related to the timing of presence of each particular media item in a user vote list. In one example, the later the timing of presence of a particular media item, the higher the timing weight factor will be. The ranking module 112 may combine any of the ranking weight factor, the duration weight factor and the timing weight factor to determine the popularity-ranking list of the media items.

Here follows an example illustrating an embodiment of the invention. However, the invention is not limited to the illustrated example. The illustrated example is merely presented for a reader to better understand a possible implementation of the invention. The vote list module 106 generates a vote list with two media item slots MIS1 and MIS2. In this example, MIS1 has an internal ranking corresponding to 4 points and MIS2 has an internal ranking corresponding to 2 points. The interface module 108 provides vote list VL1 to user device 200A and vote list VL2 to user device 200B, through their respective media application 250A, 250B. Further, the media item module 102 comprises three media items, Mil, MI2 and MI3. Further, the playlist module 104 generates one playlist PL1 comprising the media items Mil - MI3. The interface module 108 provides the playlist PL1 to each of the user devices 200A, 200B.

At timing 0: The user device 200A adds to vote list VL1: media item Mil to media item slot MIS1 and media item MI2 to media item slot MIS2. The user device 200B adds to vote list VL2: media item Mil to media item slot MIS1 and media item MI3 to media item slot MIS2.

At timing 1: The ranking module 112 determines by aggregating the results from the two vote lists, VL1 and VL2 that: Media item Mil has 4+4=8 points; MI2 has 2+0=2 points and MI3 has 0+2 points. Hence, at timing 1: Media item Mil is the most popular media item with 8 points; and media items MI2 and MI3 are sharing the position as the second most popular media item with 2 points.

Further, at timing 1: The user device 200A performs the following change to vote list VL1: Media item slots MIS1 replaces media item Mil by media item MI3. At timing 2: Now say that the duration weight factor = 1 if the media item is present from timing 0 to timing 2; and that the duration weight factor = 0,5 if the media item is present from timing 0 to timing 1; or from timing 1 to timing 2. Media item MI2 has not been amended and still has 2+0=2 points. Media item Mil, on the other hand, has been removed from vote list VLl and thus Mil only receives 0.5*4+4=6 points. Media item MI3, has been added to media item slot MISl of vote list VLl and receives 0.5*4+2=4 points. Now, at timing 2: Media item Mil is the most popular media item with 6 points; media item MI3 is the second most popular media item with 4 points; and media item MI2 is the third most popular media item with 2 points.

At timing 2*: Now say that we also would have taken into account a timing weight factor and that the timing weight factor would weight a media item present from timing 1 to timing 2 as three times more important than from timing 0 to timing 1, since the final vote list should be given more importance. This would result in a total weight factor, duration weight factor * timing weight factor, for a media item present from timing 0 to timing 1 of 0,25; and for a media item present from timing 1 to timing 2 of 0,75. Consequently the popularity-ranking list would change as follows:

Media item MI2 has not been amended and still has 2+0=2 points. Media item Mil, on the other hand, has been removed from vote list VLl and thus Mil only receives 0.25*4+4=5 points. Media item MI3, has been added to media item slot MISl of vote list VLl and receives 0.75*4+2=5 points. Hence, at timing 2*: Media items Mil and MI3 are the most popular media item with 5 points; and media item MI2 is the third most popular media item with 2 points. In one example, playlists can be locked during a period of time. The playlist module 104, may be configured to set a timing indicator for unlocking each of the playlists. Hence, during the period of time when a playlist is locked, the user devices 200A, 200B cannot access the media items of the playlist. The timing indicator is configured in such a way that when the timing condition is fulfilled the user device 200A, 200B can access the media items of the playlist. The timing indicator may be set to unlock each playlist simultaneously on each user device 200A, 200B. Alternatively, the timing indicator is set to unlock a playlist at different timing for different user devices 200A, 200B. The above presented modules of the server 100 can be implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof. FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of a method carried out by the server 100 for determining a popularity-ranking list of media items. The method comprises the following steps:

generating 310 a user vote list comprising a plurality of media item slots, wherein each of the media item slots is configured to accept one media item at a time, wherein each of the media item slots can be updated during a period of time;

providing 320 the user vote list to each of the user devices, wherein the media item slots of each of the user vote lists is configured to be updated on each of the user devices separately; generating 330 at least one playlist comprising at least one media item for playback on user devices;

providing 340 said at least one playlist to a plurality of user devices;

monitoring 350 duration of presence of each of the media items at each of the media item slots in each of the user vote lists during a period of time;

determining 360, based on duration of presence of each of the media items at each of the media item slots in each of the user vote lists, a popularity-ranking list of the media items; providing 370 the popularity-ranking list of the media items to each of the user devices.

In one example, the steps of monitoring 350, determining 360 and providing 370 are repeated. Hence, the popularity-ranking list can be updated as often as required. In another example, new playlists can be generated at any time. FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of a method carried out by the user device 200A, 200B for

determining a popularity-ranking list of media items. The method comprises the following steps:

receiving 410, from a server 100, a user vote list comprising a plurality of media item slots, wherein each of the media item slots is configured to accept one media item at a time, wherein each of the media item slots can be updated during a period of time;

receiving 420, from the server 100, at least one playlist comprising at least one media item for playback; maintaining 430 the user vote list by updating which media item that is present in the media item slots at any time during the period of time;

receiving 440 a popularity-ranking list of the media items from the server 100. FIG. 5 shows a system flowchart of the method carried out both at the server side and at the user device side. FIG. 5 comprises both the method steps of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, illustrated such that it is easier to follow the time line and dependencies of the different steps on the server side versus user device side.

Claims

A method carried out by a server (100) for determining a popularity-ranking or indexing list of media items, comprising the steps of:

generating (310) a user vote list comprising a plurality of media item slots, wherein each of the media item slots is configured to accept one media item at a time, wherein each of the media item slots can be updated during a period of time;

providing (320) the user vote list to each of the user devices, wherein the media item slots of each of the user vote lists is configured to be updated on each of the user devices separately;

generating (330) at least one playlist comprising at least one media item for user engagement on user devices;

providing (340) said at least one playlist to a plurality of user devices; monitoring (350) duration of presence of each of the media items at each of the media item slots in each of the user vote lists during a period of time;

determining (360), based on duration of presence of each of the media items at each of the media item slots in each of the user vote lists, a popularity-ranking list of the media items; and

providing (370) the popularity-ranking list or the indexing of media items to each of the user devices.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of monitoring (350) further comprises monitoring behavioural data of users relating to the frequency of interactions and/or the total time of interaction the user has with the server (100).

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of monitoring (350) further comprises monitoring timing of presence for each of the media items at each of the media item slots in each of the user vote lists and wherein the step of determining the popularity-ranking list of the media items further is based on said timing.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein each media item slot in the user vote list has an internal ranking and wherein the step of determining (360) the popularity-ranking list of the media items also takes into account the internal ranking of the media item in each of the user vote lists.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the internal ranking of each media item slot corresponds to a ranking weight factor, which is used in the step of determining (360) the popularity-ranking list of the media items.

6. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the duration of presence of a particular media item in a user vote list corresponds to a duration weight factor, which is used in the step of determining (360) the popularity-ranking list of the media items.

7. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the timing of presence of a particular media item in a user vote list corresponds to a frequency weight factor, which is used in the step of determining (360) the popularity-ranking list of the media items.

The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the timing of presence of a particular media item in a user vote list corresponds to a timing weight factor, which is used in the step of determining (360) the popularity-ranking list of the media items.

The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the step of determining (360) the popularity-ranking list of the media items comprises using a combination of the ranking weight factor, the duration weight factor, the frequency weight factor and the timing weight factor.

The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the step of generating (330) at least one playlist further comprises:

setting, for each of the at least one playlist, a timing indicator for unlocking the playlist; and

wherein the step of providing (340) said at least one playlist to a plurality of user devices further comprises information on when the timing indicator is set for unlocking the playlist.

11. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a playlist is unlocked for all of the user devices simultaneously.

12. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a playlist is unlocked at different timing for different user devices.

13. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the step of providing (340) said at least one playlist to a plurality of user devices comprises providing said at least one playlist to a subset of the user devices.

14. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the step of providing (340) said at least one playlist to a plurality of user devices comprises rewarding one user for sharing content with other users, the rewards being distributed in relation to distributed vote list or playlist data from the user, transactional data of such rewards preferably being distributed and stored using block chain technology.

15. A server (100) for determining a popularity-ranking or indexing list of media items, comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory storing one or more computer programs, which, when executed by the one or more processors causes the server to:

generate, by a vote list module (106), a user vote list comprising a plurality of media item slots, wherein each of the media item slots is configured to accept one media item at a time, wherein each of the media item slots can be updated during a period of time;

provide, by an interface module (108), the user vote list to each of the user devices, wherein the media item slots of each of the user vote lists is configured to be updated on each of the user devices separately;

generate, by a playlist module (104), at least one playlist comprising at least one media item for playback on user devices;

provide, by the interface module (108), said at least one playlist to a plurality of user devices;

monitor, by a monitoring module (110), duration of presence of each of the media items at each of the media item slots in each of the user vote lists during a period of time;

determine, by a ranking module (112), based on duration of presence of each of the media items at each of the media item slots in each of the user vote lists, a popularity-ranking list of the media items; and

provide, by the interface module (108), the popularity-ranking list of the media items to each of the user devices.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, storing one or more programs for execution by one or more processors of a server that determines a popularity- ranking list of media items, the one or more programs including instructions to carry out the method of any of the claims 1-14.

A method carried out by a user device (200A, 200B) for determining a popularity- ranking list of media items, comprising the steps of:

receiving (410), from a server (100), a user vote list comprising a plurality of media item slots, wherein each of the media item slots is configured to accept one media item at a time, wherein each of the media item slots can be updated during a period of time;

receiving (420), from the server (100), at least one playlist comprising at least one media item for playback;

maintaining (430) the user vote list by updating which media item that is present in the media item slots at any time during the period of time;

receiving (440) a popularity-ranking list of the media items from the server (100).

18. A media application (250A, 250B) for a user device comprising instructions which, when the application is executed by a user device, cause the user device to carry out the method of claim 17.