Desktop Extension for Readily-Sharable and Accessible Media Playlist and Media

• US 20120330760A1
• Filed: 08/30/2012
• Published: 12/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Media Forum, Inc. (Rakuten Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Media Forum, Inc. (Rakuten Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zito, Anthony, Hoff, Brandon, Lemon, Scott C.
• Application Number:
  US13/600,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20120330760A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.73
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement

Abstract

A system and method for distributing and providing access to media and for extending such access to a desktop environment is described. A media player in a webpage or in a desktop environment may reference a centralized location to access a playlist of media files. The playlist itself may reference remotely-located media files that may be streamed to the media player. The media player may be distributed in multiple environments, and updates to the playlist may be automatically distributed to all instances where the playlist is referenced due to the centralized reference in the media player. The embodiments of the media player may also be used in advertising as a mechanism for increasing user contact with an advertising entity and as a mechanism for distributing announcements and information by the advertiser.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A method of extending the sharing of media items and information shared over global computer networks to a desktop-based environment comprising:

providing a first instance of a media player, wherein the first instance of the media player has an appearance and a playlist controlled by a first party;

enabling a second party to copy the first instance of the media player;

permitting the second party to insert a second instance of the media player at a location accessible by the second party, wherein the second instance of the media player is substantially a copy of the first instance of the media player and has an appearance and a playlist, and wherein the appearance and the playlist of the second instance of the media player correspond to the appearance and the playlist of the first instance of the media player; and

enabling and permitting additional copying and insertion of additional instances of the media player from either of the first instance of the media player and the second instance of the media player.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first and second instances of the media player comprise media-based advertisements.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the first instance of the media player is located in a first webpage accessible over a global computer network, and wherein the second instance of the media player is inserted at a location selected from the group of:

a second webpage accessible over the global computer network; and

a computer desktop of the second party.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the first instance of the media player is located on a first computer desktop, and wherein the second instance of the media player is inserted at a location selected from the group of:

a webpage accessible over the global computer network; and

a second computer desktop.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the first and second instances of the media player comprise media-based advertisements, and wherein providing the first instance of the media player comprises:

providing a banner advertisement on a webpage accessible over a global computer network;

receiving an activating event from the second party at the banner advertisement; and

displaying the first instance of the media player to the second party.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein enabling the second party to copy the first instance of the media player comprises:

receiving a selection from the second party indicating the second party'"'"'s desire to obtain a copy of the first instance of the media player;

receiving a selection of a format for the second instance of the media player from the second party; and

providing the second party with means for copying the first instance of the media player and for inserting the second instance of the media player in the format selected by the second party.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the format selected by the second party is a desktop standalone program, and wherein the means for copying the first instance of the media player and for inserting the second instance of the media player comprises an executable program file.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the format selected by the second party is a desktop widget configured to run on a runtime provided by a third party, and wherein the means for copying the first instance of the media player and for inserting the second instance of the media player comprises a widget file configured to run on the third-party runtime.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the desktop widget is a Flash®

-based widget.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the format selected by the second party is a web-based format, and wherein the means for copying the first instance of the media player and inserting the second instance of the media player comprises HTML code for insertion into a webpage by the second party.

27. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving updates of the playlist of the first instance of the media player from the first party; and

automatically distributing the updates to the playlist and any associated media items to the second instance of the media player.

28. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

deleting one of the instances of the media player; and

permitting the remaining instance of the media player to continue existing regardless of the deletion of the other instance of the media player.

29. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving updates of the appearance of the first instance of the media player from the first party; and

automatically distributing the updates of the appearance to the second instance of the media player.

30-34. -34. (canceled)

35. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer program code for performing a method of extending the sharing of media items and information shared over global computer networks to a desktop-based environment, the method comprising:

providing a first instance of a media player, wherein the first instance of the media player has an appearance and a playlist controlled by a first party;

enabling a second party to copy the first instance of the media player;

permitting the second party to insert a second instance of the media player at a location accessible by the second party, wherein the second instance of the media player is substantially a copy of the first instance of the media player and has an appearance and a playlist, and wherein the appearance and the playlist of the second instance of the media player correspond to the appearance and the playlist of the first instance of the media player; and

enabling and permitting additional copying and insertion of additional instances of the media player from either of the first instance of the media player and the second instance of the media player.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein the first instance of the media player is located in a first webpage accessible over a global computer network, and wherein the second instance of the media player is inserted at a location selected from the group of:

a second webpage accessible over the global computer network; and

a computer desktop of the second party.

37. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein the first instance of the media player is located on a first computer desktop, and wherein the second instance of the media player is inserted at a location selected from the group of:

a webpage accessible over the global computer network; and

a second computer desktop.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein enabling the second party to copy the first instance of the media player comprises:

receiving a selection from the second party indicating the second party'"'"'s desire to obtain a copy of the first instance of the media player;

receiving a selection of a format for the second instance of the media player from the second party; and

providing the second party with means for copying the first instance of the media player and for inserting the second instance of the media player in the format selected by the second party.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 38, wherein the format selected by the second party is a desktop standalone program, and wherein the means for copying the first instance of the media player and for inserting the second instance of the media player comprises an executable program file.

40. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 38, wherein the format selected by the second party is a desktop widget configured to run on a runtime provided by a third party, and wherein the means for copying the first instance of the media player and for inserting the second instance of the media player comprises a widget file configured to run on the third-party runtime.

41. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 38, wherein the format selected by the second party is a web-based format, and wherein the means for copying the first instance of the media player and inserting the second instance of the media player comprises HTML code for insertion into a webpage by the second party.