System and method for enhanced media distribution
First Claim
1. A method of searching for media items from a network of users using a media management application and an instant messenger platform, comprising:
- receiving via said application and said instant messaging platform, from a first user having a group of messenger friends that said first user communicates with, a search request for a media item;
identifying a plurality of other users of said instant messaging platform to form a list of candidate users that comprises at least one user from said group of messenger friends, each user in said candidate list utilizing another instance of said application and said messaging platform at the time the identification takes place;
searching media items associated with each candidate user to develop a search result that fulfills said search request; and
returning to said first user said search result comprising information identifying which candidate user is associated with a media item source that can act as a source of a media item identified in said search result.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and a computer readable medium for searching for media items from a network of users using a media management application and an instant messenger platform and a system for handling searches such searches. In one aspect, the method comprises receiving from a user having a group of messenger friends, a search request for a media item, identifying other users of the instant messaging service to form a list of candidate users, searching media items associated with each candidate user to develop a search result that fulfills the search request, and returning to the searching user the search result comprising information identifying which candidate user is associated with a media item source that can act as a source of a media item identified in the search result.
388 Citations
88 Claims
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1. A method of searching for media items from a network of users using a media management application and an instant messenger platform, comprising:
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receiving via said application and said instant messaging platform, from a first user having a group of messenger friends that said first user communicates with, a search request for a media item;
identifying a plurality of other users of said instant messaging platform to form a list of candidate users that comprises at least one user from said group of messenger friends, each user in said candidate list utilizing another instance of said application and said messaging platform at the time the identification takes place;
searching media items associated with each candidate user to develop a search result that fulfills said search request; and
returning to said first user said search result comprising information identifying which candidate user is associated with a media item source that can act as a source of a media item identified in said search result. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A computer readable medium comprising software code for a media management application and an instant messenger platform, the code configured to implement functions comprising:
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receiving, via said application and said instant messaging platform from a first user having a group of messenger friends that said first user communicates with, a search request for a media item;
identifying a plurality of other users of said instant messaging platform to form a list of candidate users that comprises at least one user from said group of messenger friends, each user in said candidate list utilizing another instance of said application and said messaging platform at the time the identification takes place;
searching media items associated with each candidate user to develop a search result that fulfills said search request; and
returning to said first user said search result comprising information identifying which candidate user is associated with a media item source that can act as a source of a media item identified in said search result. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A system for handling searches for media items from a network of users comprising:
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a media management application and an instant messaging platform for performing functions comprising;
receiving a search request for a media item from a first user having a group of messenger friends that said first user communicates with;
identifying a plurality of other users of said instant messaging platform to form a list of candidate users that comprises at least one user from said group of messenger friends, each user in said candidate list utilizing another instance of said application and said messaging platform at the time the identification takes place;
searching media items associated with each candidate user to develop a search result that fulfills said search request; and
returning to said first user said search result comprising information identifying which candidate user is associated with a media item source that can act as a source of a media item identified in said search result. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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71. A method of searching for media items from a network of users using a media management application and an instant messenger platform, comprising:
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sending from a first user utilizing said application and said instant messaging platform, a search request for a media item to a server; and
receiving a search result comprising information identifying at least one candidate user associated with a media item source that can act as a source of a media item identified in said search result wherein said candidate user is selected from a list of candidate users that comprises at least one user from a group of messenger friends that said first user communicates with, each user in said candidate list utilizing another instance of said application and said instant messaging platform at the time said at least one candidate user is identified. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88)
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Specification