SYSTEM, METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SHARING OF PLAYLISTS OF AUTHORIZED CONTENT WITH OTHER USERS

• US 20120233120A1
• Filed: 03/10/2011
• Published: 09/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nijim, Yousef Wasef, Lee, Terry Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 9,563,703 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/626
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/735 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• 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 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists

Abstract

A system, method and device for sharing of playlists of authorized content with other users. A user interface is displayed on a media viewing device for creating a playlist of content. The playlist is generated by a user via the user interface and a name is associated with the playlist of content. The playlist is stored using the name. Parameters for sharing the playlist with contacts of the user are configured. At a viewing device of a contact, notification of a playlist created by a user is received. Privileges of the contact associated with content identified in the playlist are determined. Action is taken, by the contact, regarding content identified in the playlist created by the user based on the determined privileges of the contact.

Claims

1. A method for sharing, by a user, playlists of authorized content with contacts of the user, comprising:

displaying a user interface on a media viewing device for creating a playlist of content by a user;

generating a playlist of content by a user via the user interface displayed on the media viewing device;

associating, by the user, a name for the playlist of content generated by the user;

storing the generated playlist using the name associated with the playlist; and

configuring parameters for sharing the playlist with contacts of the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating the playlist of content further includes identifying content the user has purchased, subscribed to or that is freely accessible.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating the playlist of content further includes creating the playlist using one selected from the group consisting of:

a set top box;

a web portal;

a smart device; and

a personal computer.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising modifying the generated playlist by adding and removing content from the playlist and saving the modified playlist.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the storing the playlist comprises storing the playlist on a server in a backend system.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the configuring parameters for sharing the playlist with contacts of the user comprises directly linking contacts to the playlist stored on the server in the backend system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuring parameters for sharing the playlist with contacts of the user comprises selecting sharing criteria based on a contact list having contact information for the contacts.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising synchronizing the playlist among access platforms of the user.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the synchronizing the playlist among access platforms of the user further comprises sharing the playlist with other members of the household via the access platforms.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying a user interface on a media viewing device further comprises displaying the user interface via a program guide.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying a user interface on a media viewing device further comprises displaying the user interface via a program running on a mobile device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying the user interface via a program running on a mobile device further comprises accessing the stored playlist through a portal displayed by the user interface provided by the program running on the mobile device.

13. A method for accessing content in a playlist by a contact associated with the playlist, comprising:

receiving, at a viewing device of a contact, notification of a playlist created by a user;

determining, by the contact, privileges of the contact associated with content identified in the playlist created by the user; and

taking action, by the contact, regarding content identified in the playlist created by the user based on the determined privileges of the contact.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the taking action comprises accessing content in the playlist created by the user when the determined privileges of the contact indicate the contact is able to access content in the playlist created by the user.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the determining privileges of the contact comprises determining the contact is a subscriber to content in the playlist created by the user.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising acknowledging the receipt of the playlist created by the user by the contact.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising selecting content in the playlist created by the user for addition to a playlist created by the contact.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising displaying the playlist created by the user as a separate playlist with the same title that the user used to create the playlist.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the taking action by the contact further comprises receiving the playlist, wherein the contact maintains the title of the received playlist created by the user and tags the received playlist with an identification of the user that created the playlist.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the taking action by the contact further comprises receiving the playlist, wherein the contact changes the title of the received playlist.

21. The method of claim 13 further comprising displaying on a viewing device of the contact a subscription interface for subscribing to content in the playlist created by the user when the contact determines the privileges of the contact do not provide accessibility to the content in the playlist created by the user.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the receiving, at a viewing device of a contact, notification of a playlist created by a user further comprises receiving a file for viewing the playlist created by the user remotely when the contact is not within the service area of a network providing access to the content.

23. The method of claim 13 further comprising searching content provided by the network of the contact to determine whether content in the playlist created by the user is available for separate access through the network of the contact and making arrangements for accessing the content when content in the playlist created by the user is available for separate access through the network of the contact.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein the making arrangements for accessing the content further comprises recording the content for later access.

25. A computer readable medium including executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, provides for sharing, by a user, playlists of authorized content with contacts of the user, by:

displaying a user interface on a media viewing device for creating a playlist of content by a user;

generating a playlist of content by a user via the user interface displayed on the media viewing device;

associating, by the user, a name for the playlist of content generated by the user;

storing the generated playlist using the name associated with the playlist; and

configuring parameters for sharing the playlist with contacts of the user.

26. A computer readable medium including executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, provides for accessing content in a playlist by a contact associated with the playlist, by:

receiving, at a viewing device of a contact, notification of a playlist created by a user;

determining, by the contact, privileges of the contact associated with content identified in the playlist created by the user; and

taking action, by the contact, regarding content identified in the playlist created by the user based on the determined privileges of the contact.

27. A system for sharing playlists of authorized content with contacts of a user creating the playlist, comprising:

memory for storing data; and

a processor, coupled to the memory, the processor displaying a user interface on a media viewing device for creating a playlist of content by a user, receiving input from the user for generating the playlist of content via the user interface, receiving input associating a name for the playlist of content generated by the user, storing the generated playlist using the name associated with the playlist and configuring parameters for sharing the playlist with contacts of the user.