CONTENT SHARING

• US 20100146115A1
• Filed: 12/10/2008
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: BEZOS, Jeffrey P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,972,496 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

Content can be shared between devices by transmitting an encoded signal that indicates, to each capable device within range, instructions for accessing the content. For example, a first device can emit an encoded audio signal that can be received by any capable device within audio range of the device. Any device receiving the signal can decode the information included in the signal and obtain a location to access the content from that information. Using such an approach, a first user can quickly and easily share content with several users at the same time without any of the receiving users having to determine or navigate to the content being shared. Further, using signals, such as audio signals, provides the ability for most existing devices to easily share content without significant hardware modification or additional expense.

Claims

1. A method of sharing information for accessing content on a computing device, comprising:

generating, on a first device, an encoded information signal, the information signal including information associated with accessing the content;

outputting the encoded information signal as an audible signal;

audibly receiving, at a second device, the encoded information signal;

decoding the information signal to identify the information associated with accessing the content; and

accessing the content with the second device utilizing at least part of the information associated with accessing the content, wherein the second device accesses the content from a source other than the first device.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

activating a listening mode on the second device to enable the second device to audibly receive the encoded information signal.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

receiving the information signal includes receiving a notification signal.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

verifying the accuracy of the information signal.

5. A method according to claim 4, further comprising:

if the information signal was not accurately received, transmitting an error signal; and

receiving a subsequent encoded information signal.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the information signal includes a location for accessing the content.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the information signal includes a repeater signal, wherein the repeater signal includes a request that the information signal be transmitted by the second device.

8. A method of enabling content access, comprising:

generating at a first device, an information signal, the information signal including information associated with accessing the content from a source other than the first device; and

transmitting from the first device the information signal as a sound based signal,

wherein the information signal is configured to be received by a second device within a detectable range of the transmitted information signal.

9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising:

encrypting the information signal.

10. A method according to claim 8, further comprising:

before transmitting the information signal, transmitting a notification signal indicating to the second device that an information signal is forthcoming.

11. A method according to claim 8, further comprising:

subsequent to transmitting the information signal from the first device, transmitting the information signal from at least one of the first device and the second device.

12. A method according to claim 8, further comprising:

receiving an error signal from the second device; and

in response to receiving the error signal, transmitting the information signal.

13. A method according to claim 8, wherein:

the information signal includes an authorization signal.

14. A method according to claim 8, further comprising:

generating sharing information at the first device, wherein the sharing information includes information associated with the content to be shared; and

transmitting the sharing information to a third device.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein:

the third device is a common network resource, the accessibility of which is known by the first device and the second device.

16. A method according to claim 8, further comprising:

generating, at the first device, control signals regarding interaction with the content to be shared; and

transmitting the control signals to a third device.

17. A computing device, comprising:

a processor;

a memory device including instructions operable to be executed by the processor to perform a set of actions;

a receiving element operable to receive an information signal audibly transmitted by a first device, wherein the information signal includes an alphanumeric identifier for accessing the content; and

a content access element operable to use the received information signal to access the content from a device other than the first device.

18. A computing device according to claim 17, wherein:

the information signal audibly transmitted by the first device is propagated over a telecommunications network.

19. A computing device according to claim 17, wherein:

the receiving element is further operable to receive a notification signal audibly transmitted by the first device, the notification signal informing the computing device that an information signal is forthcoming.

20. A computing device according to claim 19, wherein:

the computing device is configured to receive the notification signal while in a first state and transition to a second state in response to receiving the notification signal.

21. A computing device according to claim 17, further comprising:

an error correction element operable to determine whether the information signal was received without error.

22. A computer program product embedded in a computer-readable medium for managing access to content, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

receive, at a first device, sharing information transmitted from a second device, the sharing information including an identifier of the content;

generate, at the first device, an association between the identifier, the content, and the second device;

receive, at the first device, a request from a third device to access the content, the request including the identifier;

provide, to the third device, access to the content,

wherein the second device transmits the identifier to the third device via a sound based signal.

23. A computing program product according to claim 22, further including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

generate an association between the second device and the third device; and

communicate the association to at least one of the second device and the third device.

24. A computing program product according to claim 22, further including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

receive, at the first device, control signals transmitted by the second device; and

provide, to the third device, the control signals.

25. A computing program product according to claim 22, wherein the identifier of the content includes an identification of the content and a unique identifier generated by the second device.

26. A computing program product according to claim 22, wherein an expiration time is associated with the content, wherein access to the content is only available prior to the expiration time.