Connecting devices to a media sharing service

• US 20070299737A1
• Filed: 10/13/2006
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Plastina, Daniel, Jones, David, Haveson, Ryan Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 8,145,532 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

Sharing media content between entities. A computing device detects and connects to another computing device within a predefined proximity. Media content items and associated metadata are selected and exchanged between the connected computing devices. A subsequent purchase opportunity is provided to the users to purchase the exchanged media content items.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting a computing device within a predefined proximity, said computing device being associated with a user;

establishing a wireless connection to the detected computing device;

transmitting one or more media content items to the detected computing device via the established wireless connection responsive to said detecting the computing device;

transmitting metadata associated with the transmitted media content items to the detected computing device via the established wireless connection; and

providing a subsequent purchase opportunity to the user to purchase the transmitted media content items via the transmitted metadata, said subsequent purchase opportunity being provided independent of the predefined proximity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device comprises one or more of the following:

a mobile telephone, a personal data assistant, a portable digital media player, a laptop, and a personal computer.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising authenticating the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the subsequent purchase opportunity comprises providing the subsequent purchase opportunity outside of the predefined proximity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the wireless connection comprises establishing a peer-to-peer connection with the computing device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the media content items to the detected computing device comprises streaming the media content items to the detected computing device, and wherein the computing device renders the transmitted media content items to the user while the computing device is within the predefined proximity.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating a digital rights management policy with the media content items, and wherein transmitting the media content items to the detected computing device comprises transmitting the media content items with the associated digital rights management policy associated therewith to the computing device for storage thereon.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising deleting the transmitted media content items from the computing device in accordance with the digital rights management policy, wherein the user subsequently purchases one or more of the media content items via the transmitted metadata.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the user synchronizes the transmitted metadata with another computing device, and wherein the user purchases one or more of the transmitted media content items via the synchronized metadata on the other computing device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the predefined proximity is associated with an operator, and further comprising rewarding the operator responsive to the purchase by the user of the one or more of the transmitted media content items.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined proximity is associated with an operator, and wherein the transmitted media content items include one or more advertisements from the operator.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the computing device comprises detecting, via a device local to the computing device, the computing device within the predefined proximity, and wherein providing the media content items to the detected computing device comprises providing, via the device local to the computing device, the media content items to the detected computing device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the wireless connection to the detected computing device comprises:

transmitting a list of the one or more media content items to the detected computing device; and

responsive to a request received from the detected computing device, establishing the wireless connection to the detected computing device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more computer-readable media have computer-executable instructions for performing the method recited in claim 1.

15. A method for sharing media content, said method comprising:

detecting, by a first computing device, a second computing device within a predefined proximity, said first computing device being associated with a first user, said second computing device being associated with a second user, said first user being subscribed to a media content service;

establishing, by the first computing device, a peer-to-peer wireless connection to the second computing device responsive to detecting the second computing device;

determining if the second user is subscribed to the media content service;

sharing one or more media content items and associated metadata from the first computing device to the second computing device via the established wireless connection as a function of said determining if the second user is subscribed to the media content service; and

providing a subsequent purchase opportunity to the second user to purchase the shared media content items via the metadata, said subsequent purchase opportunity being provided independent of the predefined proximity.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein sharing the one or more media content items and associated metadata comprises streaming the one or more media content items and associated metadata to the second computing device for rendering by the second computing device.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein sharing the one or more media content items and associated metadata comprises downloading the one or more media content items and associated metadata to the second computing device for storage thereon.

18. A media content purchasing system comprising:

a memory area associated with a media service, said memory area storing a plurality of media content items and associated metadata;

a media server connected to the media service via a data communications network;

a portable computing device associated with a user; and

a processor associated with the portable computing device, said processor being configured to execute computer-executable instructions for;

establishing a connection to the media server when the media server and the portable computing device are within a predefined proximity;

transmitting digital content distribution criteria to the media server via the established connection;

receiving, responsive to transmission of the digital content distribution criteria, promotional copies of one or more of the media content items and associated metadata from the memory area via the media service, said one or more of the media content items being identified by the media server based on the transmitted digital content distribution criteria; and

purchasing, when the media server and the portable computing device are outside the predefined proximity, at least one of the one or more of the media content items from the memory area via the media service, said purchasing occurring via the metadata associated with said at least one of the one or more of the media content items.

19. The media content purchasing system of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to execute computer-executable instructions for authenticating the media server prior to transmitting the digital content distribution criteria.

20. The media content purchasing system of claim 18, further comprising means for providing the purchase opportunity.