Method and System For Centralized Storage of Media and for Communication of Such Media Activated By Real-Time Messaging

• US 20080207233A1
• Filed: 02/28/2007
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: nGageLabs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: nGageLabs, Inc.
• Inventors: Stone, Eric T., Waytena, William L.
• Application Number:
  US11/680,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20080207233A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability

Abstract

An apparatus and methodology are provided that initiates on-demand communication of media content in response to receipt of text-based messages. The text-based messages can have a plurality of diverse messaging formats. Each text-based message encapsulates text conforming to a predefined syntax that includes a content text field representing an identifier for media content to be accessed as part of the on-demand communication and preferably at least one target text field representing a recipient of the on-demand communication. Database storage stores identifiers and associated references to media content and preferably short names and associated contact information (e.g., telephone numbers and IM user names). The content text field and the target text field(s) are expected to match the identifiers and short names, respectively, stored in the database. The text is extracted from each received text-based message and parsed to identify the content text field and the at least one target text field therein. The database is accessed to retrieve references to media content associated with the identifier corresponding to the content text field. The database is also preferably accessed to retrieve contact information associated with a short name corresponding to the at least one target text field. The on-demand communication is established utilizing the media content references (and the contact information) retrieved from the database. The diverse messaging formats supported by the system preferably include SMS-type text-based messages, IM-type text-based messages, and IP-type text-based messages that are addressed to a reserved IP address.

Claims

1. An apparatus for establishing on-demand communication of media content, the apparatus comprising:

at least one database that stores a plurality of identifiers each associated with at least one media content item;

interface means for receiving text-based messages communicated over at least one communication network, each text-based message encapsulating text conforming to a predefined syntax that includes a content text field representing an identifier stored in the at least one database;

message processing means, operably coupled to the interface means, that extracts text from each received text-based message;

a text parsing engine, operably coupled to the message processing means, for parsing the extracted text of a given received text-based message to identify the content text field of the given received text-based message;

means for accessing the at least one database to retrieve at least one reference to a particular media content item associated with the identifier corresponding to the content text field; and

means for establishing communication to at least one receiving party, including means for initiating communication of the particular media content that is referenced by the retrieved reference to the at least on receiving party.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the at least one database stores short names and associated contact data;

the predefined syntax includes at least one target text field representing a short name stored in the at least one database;

the text parsing engine parses the extracted text of a given received text-based message to identify the at least one target text field of the given received text-based message;

the means for accessing the at least one database is adapted to retrieve contact data whose short name corresponds to the at least one target text field of the given text-based message; and

the means for establishing communication to at least one receiving party utilizes the retrieved contact data for initiating communication of the particular media content to the at least on receiving party.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the particular media content comprises particular audio content;

the contact data comprises a telephone number associated with a given short name that matches a given target text field of the received text-based message; and

the means for initiating communication of the particular media content retrieves the particular audio content from the at least one database and invokes an audio player that plays the retrieved audio content over a peer-to-peer voice call to the telephone number associated with the given short name.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

the means for establishing communication of the particular media content comprises a central telephony facility that initiates the peer-to-peer voice call to the telephone number associated with the given short name.

5. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the particular media content comprises particular video content;

the contact data comprises contact information associated with a given short name that matches a given target text field of the received text-based message; and

the means for initiating communication of the particular media content retrieves the particular video content from the at least one database and streams the retrieved video content over a peer-to-peer video conference session established utilized the contact information associated with the given short name.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

the means for establishing communication of the particular media content comprises a central videoconferencing facility that initiates the peer-to-peer video conference session to the contact information associated with the given short name.

7. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the contact information associated with the given short name comprises an IM user name and service provider.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for accessing and updating the at least one database in accordance with user input communicated over an Internet connection.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

the means for accessing and updating the at least one database comprises an Internet-connected server that provides for user input through user interaction with a web browser.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the text-based messages have a plurality of diverse messaging formats.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:

the plurality of diverse messaging formats include at least SMS-type text-based messages and IM-type text-based messages.

12. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:

the plurality of diverse messaging formats include IP-type text-based messages that are addressed to a reserved IP address.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the at least one database stores playlists for a plurality of users, each playlist including at least an identifier and associated references to audio content uploaded by a given user.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein:

permissions are used to dictate access control to the audio content uploaded by a given user.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the at least one database stores playlists each including at least an identifier and associated references to audio content controlled by the service.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein:

permissions are used to dictate access control to the audio content controlled by the service.

17. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the at least one database stores contact lists for a plurality of users, each contact list including at least short names and associated telephone numbers for contacts of a given user; and

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein:

the database stores information for each one of a plurality of users, the information including calendar information for a given user.

19. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said predefined syntax includes at least one command text field representing a predefined command; and

the text parsing engine parses the extracted text of each received text-based message to confirm it includes the at least one command text field therein.

20. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said predefined syntax includes at least one field specifying a date and time;

the text parsing engine parses the extracted text of a given received text-based message to identify the at least one field specifying a date and time and generates data corresponding thereto; and

the means for establishing communication to the at least one receiving party utilizes the data corresponding to the specified date and time in order to establish such communication on the specified date and time.

21. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

each text-based message is addressed to a predetermined identifier.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein:

the predetermined identifier is at least one of the following;

a reserved telephone number for SMS-type text-based messages, a reserved IM short name and IM Service Provider for IM-type text-based messaging, and a reserved IP address and port for IP-type text-based messages.

23. An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein:

the interface means comprises means for receiving SMS-type text-based messages addressed to the reserved telephone number for SMS-type text-based messages.

24. An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein:

the interface means comprises means for receiving IM-type text-based messages addressed to the reserved IM short name and IM Service Provider for IM-type text-based messages.

25. An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein:

the interface means comprises means for receiving IP-type text-based messages addressed to the reserved IP address and port for IP-type text-based messages.

26. A method for establishing on-demand communication of media content, the method comprising:

storing in at least one database a plurality of identifiers each associated with at least one media content item;

receiving text-based messages communicated over at least one communication network, each text-based message encapsulating text conforming to a predefined syntax that includes a content text field representing an identifier stored in the at least one database;

extracting text from each received text-based message;

parsing the extracted text of a given received text-based message to identify the content text field of the given received text-based message;

accessing the at least one database to retrieve at least one reference to a particular media content item associated with an identifier corresponding to the content text field; and

initiating communication of the particular media content that is referenced by the retrieved reference to the at least on receiving party.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein:

the at least one database stores short names and associated contact data;

the predefined syntax includes at least one target text field representing a short name stored in the at least one database;

the parsing of the extracted text of a given received text-based message identifies the at least one target text field of the given received text-based message;

the at least one database is accessed to retrieve contact data whose short name corresponds to the at least one target text field of the given text-based message; and

communication is established to at least one receiving party utilizing the retrieved contact data for initiating communication of the particular media content to the at least on receiving party.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein:

the particular media content comprises particular audio content;

the contact data comprises a telephone number associated with a given short name that matches a given target text field of the received text-based message;

communication to the at least one receiving party is established by a peer-to-peer voice call to the telephone number associated with the given short name; and

initiation of communication of the particular audio content is realized by retrieving the particular audio content from the at least one database and invoking an audio player that plays the retrieved audio content over the peer-to-peer voice call.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein:

communication to the at least one receiving party is established by a central telephony facility that initiates the peer-to-peer voice call to the telephone number associated with the given short name.

30. A method according to claim 27, wherein:

the particular media content comprises particular video content;

the contact data comprises contact information associated with a given short name that matches a given target text field of the received text-based message;

communication to the at least one receiving party is established by a peer-to-peer video conference session utilizing the contact information associated with the given short name; and

initiation of communication of the particular media content is realized by retrieving the particular video content from the at least one database and streaming the retrieved video content over the peer-to-peer video conference session.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein:

communication to the at least one receiving part is established by a central videoconferencing facility that initiates the peer-to-peer video conference session to the contact information associated with the given short name.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein:

the contact information associated with the given short name comprises an IM user name and service provider.

33. A method according to claim 26, further comprising:

accessing and updating the at least one database via user input communicated over an Internet connection.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein:

the user input is accomplished by user interaction with a web browser.

35. A method according to claim 26, wherein:

the text-based messages have a plurality of diverse messaging formats.

36. A method according to claim 35, wherein:

the plurality of diverse messaging formats include at least SMS-type text-based messages and IM-type text-based messages.

37. A method according to claim 35, wherein:

the plurality of diverse messaging formats include IP-type text-based messages that are addressed to a reserved IP address.

38. A method according to claim 26, wherein:

the at least one database stores playlists for a plurality of users, each playlist including at least an identifier and associated references to audio content uploaded by a given user.

39. A method according to claim 38, wherein:

permissions are used to dictate access control to the audio content uploaded by a given user.

40. A method according to claim 26, wherein:

the at least one database stores playlists each including at least an identifier and associated references to audio content controlled by the service.

41. A method according to claim 40, wherein:

permissions are used to dictate access control to the audio content controlled by the service.

42. A method according to claim 27, wherein:

the at least one database stores contact lists for a plurality of users, each contact list including at least short names and associated telephone numbers for contacts of a given user; and

43. A method according to claim 42, wherein:

the database stores information for each one of a plurality of users, the information including calendar information for a given user.

44. A method according to claim 26, wherein:

said predefined syntax includes at least one command text field representing a predefined command; and

the parsing of the extracted text of each received text-based message confirm it includes the at least one command text field therein.

45. A method according to claim 26, wherein:

said predefined syntax includes at least one field specifying a date and time;

the parsing of the extracted text of a given received text-based message identifies the at least one field specifying a date and time and generates data corresponding thereto; and

communication to the at least one receiving party is established utilizing the data corresponding to the specified date and time in order to establish such communication on the specified date and time.

46. A method according to claim 26, wherein:

each text-based message is addressed to a predetermined identifier.

47. A method according to claim 46, wherein:

the predetermined identifier is at least one of the following;

a reserved telephone number for SMS-type text-based messages, a reserved IM short name and IM Service Provider for IM-type text-based messaging, and a reserved IP address and port for IP-type text-based messages.

48. A method according to claim 47, further comprising:

receiving SMS-type text-based messages addressed to the reserved telephone number for SMS-type text-based messages.

49. A method according to claim 47, further comprising:

receiving IM-type text-based messages addressed to the reserved IM short name and IM Service Provider for IM-type text-based messages.

50. A method according to claim 47, further comprising:

receiving IP-type text-based messages addressed to the reserved IP address and port for IP-type text-based messages.