SYSTEM AND METHOD OF SHARING MEDIA CONTENT

• US 20090228938A1
• Filed: 03/05/2008
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: White, Scott, Scott, Charles, Cansler, James JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,595,757 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/87
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method of sharing media content is disclosed. A request is received at a network-connected media recorder to send a recording including media content to one or more users. At least one subscriber in the one or more users is identified, where the at least one subscriber is authorized to display the media content. At least one media device associated with the at least one subscriber is determined. The recording is sent to the at least one media device associated with the authorized subscriber.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a request at a network-connected media recorder to send a recording including media content to one or more users;

identifying at least one subscriber in the one or more users, wherein the at least one subscriber is authorized to display the media content;

determining at least one media device associated with the at least one subscriber; and

sending the recording to the at least one media device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the media content is recorded at the network-connected media recorder prior to receiving the request.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the request is sent from a user different than the one or more users, wherein the user is authorized to record the media content at the network-connected media recorder.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying at least one non-subscriber in the one or more users, wherein the at least one non-subscriber is not authorized to display the media content;

determining at least one media device associated with the at least one non-subscriber; and

sending a promotional recording including a portion of the media content to the at least one non-subscriber, the promotional recording including a link to purchase a subscription to display the media content.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the promotional recording includes at least one of a portion of the media content, an image based on the media content, an excerpt from a review of the media content, and an interview of an actor.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the portion of the media content is determined based on a user input.

7. A method, comprising:

receiving a request to send a recording including media content to a first media device;

determining whether the first media device is authorized to display the media content; and

sending the recording to the first media device after determining that the first media device is authorized to display the media content.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the media content is recorded at the second media device prior to receiving the request.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising sending an advertisement associated with the media content to the first media device after determining that the first media device is not authorized to display the media content.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the advertisement includes a promotional recording promoting the media content.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the promotional recording is created at a media content server.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein a user input received at the second media device determines at least a portion of the media content to be used in the promotional recording.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein determining whether the first media device is authorized to display the media content comprises determining a subscription status of the first media device.

14. A computer-readable storage medium, comprising:

operational instructions, that when executed by a processor at an authorization server, cause the processor to receive from a first media device a request to send a recording including media content to a second media device, the recording accessible to the first media device;

operational instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine whether the second media device is authorized to display the media content; and

operational instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to selectively send a message to the first media device based on whether the second media device is authorized to display the media content.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the message causes the first media device to send the recording to the authorization server after a determination is made that the second media device is authorized to display the media content.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising operational instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive the recording from the first media device.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, further comprising operational instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send the recording to the second media device.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the message causes the first media device to send the recording to the second media device after a determination is made that the second media device is authorized to display the media content.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, further comprising operational instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send an advertisement associated with the media content to the second media device after determining that the second media device is not authorized to display the media content, the advertisement including a link to purchase a subscription authorizing the second media device to receive the media content.

20. A system, comprising:

an interface to receive a request from a user to send a recording including media content to a first media device;

an authorization module to determine whether the first media device is authorized to display the recording and to generate a message to the user after determining that the first media device is authorized to display the recording.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the recording is accessible to a second media device, and wherein the message authorizes the second media device to send the recording to the first media device.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the recording is accessible to the second media device, wherein the message requests the recording from the second media device, and wherein the authorization module is further adapted to receive the recording from the second media device and to send the recording to the first media device.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the recording is accessible to the interface and wherein the authorization module is further adapted to retrieve the recording and to send the recording to the first media device.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the authorization module is further adapted to send a promotional recording promoting a subscription service to the first media device after determining that a user of the first media device is not authorized to display the recording, the subscription service authorizing subscribers to display the media content.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the interface is configured to be coupled via a media content distribution network to the first media device and to the second media device.