Shared playlist management for open overlay for social networks and online services

• US 20070282949A1
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Fischer, Donald, Penington, Havoc, Clark, Bryan, Taylor, Owen, Walters, Colin
• Granted Patent: US 9,165,282 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems that allow users to share information about their recent activities with other users. In particular, as users receive and/or share multimedia content with other users, information that indicates the locations of this content, such as a website, playlist, or file, is passively tracked and logged. This information may be formatted into a viewable form, such as a web site or web log, and cooperatively shared with other users. Users may then incorporate the multimedia content played by other users into their own library. Users may also elect to synchronize their multimedia content with other users. For convenience, multiple locations for the same multimedia content may be determined when it is logged and tracked. Users may obtain the multimedia content using one or more of their existing accounts with a provider at their own discretion.

Claims

1. A method of sharing a playlist of multimedia content, said method comprising:

providing information that indicates a playlist of a first user;

determining available formats for items on the playlist; and

providing at least a portion of the playlist of the first user to a second user including links to the available formats for items on the playlist.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing information that indicates the playlist of the first user comprises providing information that indicates items recently played by the first user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein providing information that indicates the playlist of the first user comprises providing information that indicates preferred by the first user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining available formats for items on the playlist comprises querying a set of providers.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining available formats for items on the playlist comprises querying a set of providers subscribed to by the second user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining available formats for items on the playlist comprises querying a set of providers subscribed to by the first user.

7. An apparatus comprising means that are configured to perform the method of claim 1.

8. A computer readable medium comprising executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein providing information that indicates the playlist of the first user comprises providing information that indicates items recently played by the first user.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein providing information that indicates the playlist of the first user comprises providing information that indicates preferred by the first user.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein determining available services for items on the playlist comprises querying a set of providers.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein determining available services for items on the playlist comprises querying a set of providers subscribed to by the second user.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein determining available services for items on the playlist comprises querying a set of providers subscribed to by the first user.

15. An apparatus comprising means that are configured to perform the method of claim 1.

16. A computer readable medium comprising executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

9. A method of sharing a playlist of multimedia content, said method comprising:

providing information that indicates a playlist of a first user;

determining available services for items on the playlist; and

providing at least a portion of the playlist of the first user to a second user including links to the available services for items on the playlist.