METHODS AND SYSTEM TO SHARE MEDIA

• US 20130073584A1
• Filed: 09/21/2011
• Published: 03/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Kuper, Ron, Hoadley, Joni
• Granted Patent: US 9,286,384 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24562 Pointer or reference processing operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/44 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/635 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to share file(s)/recommendation(s) are disclosed. An example method includes verifying a first service used by a first user recommending a file and encoding a first service identification code with the file based on the first service, verifying a second service used by a second user upon receipt of a file request by the second user and/or detection of a mention of the second user in the file recommendation, searching for a second service identification code associated with the file based on the second service and encoding the second service identification code with the file, and providing the file recommendation with the first service identification code to the second user where the second service and the first service are the same or providing the file recommendation with the second service identification code to the second user where the second service and the first service are different.

Claims

1. A method of sharing a music file, the method comprising:

reading a music reference from a first user for a second user, the first user using a first music access service to access music;

identifying the music file associated with the music reference;

identifying a second music access service different than the first music access service used by second user to access music; and

using the second music access service to at least one of play, point to, or queue the music file.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising receiving a music request from the second user in response to the music reference prior to using the second music access service to at least one or play, point or queue the music file.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein using the second music access service to at least one or play, point or queue the music file comprises searching online and in a local storage for the music file.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising using a third music access service used by the second user to access music in place of the second music access service to at least one or play, point or queue the music file where the third music access service provides at least one of cheaper access to music than the second music access service or higher quality music files than the second music access service.

6. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein the first user specifies the second user in the file recommendation and the searcher automatically searches for the second service identification code associated with the file.

7. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the file is a music file.

8. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the encoder is to associate metadata with the file recommendation and the searcher is to locate the file based on the metadata when the second user does not use a second service.

9. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the database is to store a list of connections for the first user to form a social network.

10. A system as defined in claim 6 further comprising an updater to dynamically inform the first user of additional file recommendations recommended by the connections.

11. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein one of the first service or the second service is an online streaming music service.

5. A system comprising:

an interface to receive a file recommendation by a first user recommending a file;

a verifier to detect a first service used by the first user and to detect a second service used by a second user;

an encoder to associate a first service identification code with the file recommendation based on the first service used by the first user;

a searcher to search one or more of a local library or a network-accessible database for a second service identification code associated with the file based on the second service, the encoder to associate the second service identification code with the file;

a playback engine to provide the file recommendation with the first service identification code to the second user where the second service and the first service are the same service or to provide the file recommendation with the second service identification code to the second user where the second service and the first service are different services; and

a database to store a record associating one or more of the first service identification code or the second service identification code with the file recommendation.

12. A method comprising:

verifying a first service used by a first user upon receipt of a file recommendation by a first user recommending a file;

encoding a first service identification code with the file based on the first service;

verifying a second service used by a second user upon one or more of receipt of a file request by the second user or detection of a mention of the second user in the file recommendation;

searching one or more of a local library or a network-accessible database for a second service identification code associated with the file based on the second service;

encoding the second service identification with the file;

providing the file recommendation with the first service identification code to the second user where the second service and the first service are the same service or providing the file recommendation with the second service identification code to the second user where the second service and the first service are different services; and

storing a record associating one or more of the first service identification code or the second service identification code with the file.

13. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein the file is a music file.

14. A method as defined in claim 12 further comprising:

encoding metadata with the file recommendation; and

locating the file based on the metadata when the second user does not use a second service.

15. A method as defined in claim 12 further comprising storing a list of connections for the first user to form a social network.

17. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein one of the first service or the second service is an online streaming music service.

16. A method as defined in claim 16 further comprising dynamically informing the first user of additional file recommendations recommended by the connections.

18. A tangible machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

verify a first service used by a first user upon receipt of a file recommendation by a first user recommending a file;

encode a first service identification code with the file based on the first service;

verify a second service used by a second user upon one or more of receipt of a file request by the second user or detection of a mention of the second user in the file recommendation;

search one or more of a local library or a network-accessible database for a second service identification code associated with the file based on the second service;

encode the second service identification with the file;

provide the file recommendation with the first service identification code to the second user where the second service and the first service are the same service or providing the file recommendation with the second service identification code to the second user where the second service and the first service are different services; and

store a record associating one or more of the first service identification code or the second service identification code with the file.

19. A machine readable medium as defined in claim 22, wherein the file is a music file.

20. A machine readable medium as defined in claim 22 which, when executed, further cause a machine to:

encode metadata with the file recommendation; and

locate the file based on the metadata when the second user does not use a second service.