A method and computer readable medium for exploring similar users and items of a media service includes generating a user interface. The user interface displays a user selectable indicia representing a similar member function for allowing a user to search a media service for at least one other user. The one other user has a degree of similarity with respect to the searching user. Another method includes facilitating the search of such a similar user within a media service.

Systems and methods for managing digital identities. In some embodiments, a method is provided, comprising acts of: receiving a request to validate at least one statement about a user; identifying, from the request, a reference to a distributed ledger, the reference comprising an identifier for the distributed ledger and an identifier for a transaction recorded on the distributed ledger; identifying, based at least in part on the identifier for the distributed ledger, at least one node of a network of nodes managing the distributed ledger; and communicating with the at least one node to validate the at least one statement about the user.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture (e.g., physical storage media) to detect media watermarks in magnetic field data are disclosed herein. Example media monitors disclosed herein include a magnetic field estimator to determine first magnetic field data, the magnetic field estimator in communication with a magnetometer. Disclosed example media monitors also include a correlator to correlate the first magnitude field data with a reference sequence to determine second magnetic field data. Disclosed example media monitors further include a watermark decoder to process the second magnetic field data to detect an audio watermark encoded in an audio signal.

A multimedia file and methods of generating, distributing and using the multimedia file are described. Multimedia files in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can contain multiple video tracks, multiple audio tracks, multiple subtitle tracks, data that can be used to generate a menu interface to access the contents of the file and ‘meta data’ concerning the contents of the file. Multimedia files in accordance with several embodiments of the present invention also include references to video tracks, audio tracks, subtitle tracks and ‘meta data’ external to the file. One embodiment of a multimedia file in accordance with the present invention includes a series of encoded video frames and encoded menu information.

A method, computer program product and computing device for receiving a request to load at least one new media content item on a personal media device. The size of the at least one new media content item is compared with the amount of storage space remaining on the personal media device to determine if the personal media device has sufficient available storage space. If the personal media device does not have sufficient available storage space, a relative weight associated with at least one old media content item stored on the personal media device is ascertained, the relative weight corresponding to a likelihood that the at least one old media content item will be rendered on the personal media device.

A method, computer program product and computing device for selecting at least one playlist for transfer, the at least one playlist being stored on a first personal media device. The at least one playlist is converted to a common format, thus generating a first common format playlist. Communication is established with a second personal media device. The first common format playlist is transferred to the second personal media device.

A multimedia file and methods of generating, distributing and using the multimedia file are described. Multimedia files in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can contain multiple video tracks, multiple audio tracks, multiple subtitle tracks, data that can be used to generate a menu interface to access the contents of the file and ‘meta data’ concerning the contents of the file. Multimedia files in accordance with several embodiments of the present invention also include references to video tracks, audio tracks, subtitle tracks and ‘meta data’ external to the file. One embodiment of a multimedia file in accordance with the present invention includes a series of encoded video frames and encoded menu information.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture (e.g., physical storage media) to detect media watermarks in magnetic field data are disclosed herein. Example media monitors disclosed herein include a magnetic field estimator to determine first magnetic field data, the magnetic field estimator in communication with a magnetometer. Disclosed example media monitors also include a correlator to correlate the first magnitude field data with a reference sequence to determine second magnetic field data. Disclosed example media monitors further include a watermark decoder to process the second magnetic field data to detect an audio watermark encoded in an audio signal.

A content recording apparatus includes an obtaining unit which obtains a content having a variable-length packet structure, an encrypter which generates encrypted data by encrypting the content, and a recorder which records the encrypted data in a block unit having a fixed length in a recording medium. The encrypted data includes an invalidated region unnecessary for reproduction of the content. The recorder records a size of the invalidated region in the recording medium.

A multimedia file and methods of generating, distributing and using the multimedia file are described. Multimedia files in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can contain multiple video tracks, multiple audio tracks, multiple subtitle tracks, data that can be used to generate a menu interface to access the contents of the file and ‘meta data’ concerning the contents of the file. Multimedia files in accordance with several embodiments of the present invention also include references to video tracks, audio tracks, subtitle tracks and ‘meta data’ external to the file. One embodiment of a multimedia file in accordance with the present invention includes a series of encoded video frames and encoded menu information.