Media Device Presence Management

• US 20080195621A1
• Filed: 02/14/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Tedesco, Megan Lesley, Asmi, Yasser, Leichtling, Ivan J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,204,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2105 Dual mode as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 the source of the received data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users

Abstract

A media player may be adapted to manage presence information distribution and access to facilitate media communication between compatible devices. Devices connecting in an ad-hoc or other network topology include a plurality of presence settings that determine how or if the device appears to be available for communication to other devices over the network. Additionally, the presence settings identify other, specific devices or groups of devices that may communicate with a device. By comparing the presence settings of a sending device with the settings of a receiving device, the receiving device may determine a presence state for all devices within communication range.

Claims

1. A method of organizing and manipulating media object communication between a first media device and a second media device, the method comprising:

blocking media object communication from the first media device to the second media device when the first media device is a member of a second media device blocked list;

approving media object communication from the first media device to the second media device when a first media device media object characteristic matches a second media device preference; and

allowing media object communication from the first media device to the second media device when the first media device is a member of a second media device trusted list.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing media object communication from the first media device to the second media device if a first media device unique identifier does not match a second media device blocked list member.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second media device trusted list includes at least one first media device unique identifier.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first media device media object characteristic comprises first media device metadata including at least one a group comprising an object name, an object size, a transfer time, an origin descriptor, an object creation time, an object type, a number of prior transfers, a virtual card, a user likes and dislikes, a top-ten list, favorites, an email address, an address, a phone number, a private email address, contact information, a song name, an artist name, an album name, a music genre, a release date, a title, a television video type, a movie video type, video credits, a family rating, a release date, a duration release date, a playing duration, a folder name, a thumbnail version of a photo, a media type, artist descriptors, object running time, playlist membership, a rating, and artwork data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second media device preference includes second media device metadata.

6. A first media device for use with bundled media content comprising:

a network card for wirelessly transmitting communications and data from the first media device and wirelessly receiving communications and data from a second media device;

a memory coupled to the network card for storing first media device preferences and communications and data from the second media device;

a processor coupled to the network card and memory for determining if the communications and data match the first media device preferences.

7. The first media device of claim 7, wherein the communications and data include a second media device unique identifier and bundled media content having second media device media content metadata;

and

wherein the first media device preferences include media content characteristics and a trusted list having at least one media device unique identifier.

8. The first media device of claim 7, further comprising a processor coupled to the network card and the memory for determining if the media content characteristics match the second media device media content metadata and the at least one media device unique identifier matches the second media device unique identifier.

9. A method for managing presence data for a first and second media device comprising:

sending an announcement message from the second media device, the announcement message including a second media device unique identifier, a second media device characteristic, and a second media device presence preference;

receiving the announcement message at the first media device;

comparing the second media device unique identifier to entries on a first media device list to determine if the second media player unique identifier is acceptable or is blocked;

comparing the second media device characteristic to a first media device presence preference;

sending an acknowledgement message from the first media device to the second media device;

the acknowledgement message including a first media device unique identifier, a first media device characteristic, and a first media device presence preference;

receiving the acknowledgement message at the second media device;

comparing the first media device unique identifier to entries on a second media device list to determine if the first media device unique identifier is acceptable or is blocked;

comparing the first media device characteristic to a second media device presence preference; and

communicating a media data file from the second media device to the first media device if at least one of the second media device unique identifier is on the acceptable list of the first media device or does not match one of the entries on the blocked list of the first media device, and the second media device characteristic matches the first media device presence preference.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising communicating the media data file from the second media device to the first media device if at least one of the first media device unique identifier does not match one of the entries on the second media device blocked list or the first media device unique identifier does match one of the entries on the second media device acceptable list, and the first media device characteristic matches the second media device presence preference.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

communicating an announcement message from a second media device to a first media device, wherein the first device is on a second media device trusted list; and

communicating the media file from the second media device to the trusted first media device.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the first and second media device unique identifier includes a globally unique identifier based on the respective first and second device network interface card address and time stamp.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first and second media device presence preference includes the first and second device metadata.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein if the first or second media device unique identifier is one of the entries on the respective second or first media device blocked list, optionally removing the entry from the first or second media device blocked list.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein transmitting the media data file from the second media device to the first media device comprises:

playing the media data file on the second media device;

streaming the media data file from the second media device to the first media device.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the acknowledgement message from the first media device and the announcement from the second media device includes a presence state.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the presence state includes at least one of a group comprising sleeping, busy, blocked, listening to music, listening to a radio station, watching a video, reading print media, playing a game, listening to or reading a message, or viewing a photo.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising requesting a second media device media object from the first media device when the second media device presence state is at least one of a group comprising listening to music, listening to a radio station, watching a video, reading print media, playing a game, listening to or reading a message, or viewing a photo.

19. The method of claim 9, further comprising exploring a second media device media library from the first media device upon communicating the media data file from the second media device to the first media device.