SOCIAL-CHRONOGRAPHIC-GEOGRAPHIC MEDIA FILE BROWSING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20130151988A1
• Filed: 11/21/2012
• Published: 06/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RealNetworks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: RealNetworks, Inc.
• Inventors: Sorin, PETERSEN, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 10,084,828 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/753
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

Users are able to browse a digital-media content based on social-graph-related criteria, time-related criteria, and geolocation-related criteria. A social-chronographic-geographic media file browsing system builds a social-chronographic-geographic media query and retrieves digital-media content (and associated metadata) based on a given user'"'"'s search criteria. In accordance with various embodiments, the social-chronographic-geographic media file browsing system retrieves an interactive map from cartographic data provider and then places a graphical media control on the interactive map according to the provided geolocation-related criterion.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for browsing digital-media content, the method comprising:

identifying, by the computer, a remote user of a remote client device;

providing, by the computer to said remote client device for presentation to said remote user, an interactive map and a plurality of search-criterion controls including a social-graph-related selection control and a date and/or time selection control;

obtaining, by the computer from said remote client device via said plurality of search-criterion controls and said interactive map, a first search criterion associated with a social-graph of said remote user, a second search criterion associated with a date and/or time, and a third search criterion associated with a geographic location;

generating, by the computer, a media query based at least on said first search criterion, said second search criterion, and said third search criterion;

identifying, by the computer, a plurality of matching media files according to said media query; and

for each media file of said plurality of matching media files;

determining, by the computer, a geographic location associated with each media file;

generating, by the computer, a graphical media control associated with each media file; and

providing, by the computer, each graphical media control to said remote client device for placement on said interactive map according to each geographic location to enable said remote user to select and/or view each media file.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing said interactive map comprises obtaining, from a cartographic-data provider, an interactive map associated with said third search criterion.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said second search criterion indicates a date and/or time interval beginning and ending prior to a current date and/or time.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining an uploaded media file from said remote client device;

determining a geographic location and a date and/or time associated with said uploaded media file; and

associating said uploaded media file with said remote user, said determined geographic location, and said determined date and/or time in a searchable metadata data store.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein identifying said plurality of matching media files comprises querying said searchable metadata data store according to said media query.

6. A computing apparatus comprising a processor and a memory having stored therein instructions that when executed by the processor, configure the apparatus to perform a method for browsing digital-media content, the method comprising:

identifying a remote user of a remote client device;

providing, to said remote client device for presentation to said remote user, an interactive map and a plurality of search-criterion controls including a social-graph-related selection control and a date and/or time selection control;

obtaining, from said remote client device via said plurality of search-criterion controls and said interactive map, a first search criterion associated with a social-graph of said remote user, a second search criterion associated with a date and/or time, and a third search criterion associated with a geographic location;

generating a media query based at least on said first search criterion, said second search criterion, and said third search criterion;

identifying a plurality of matching media files according to said media query; and

for each media file of said plurality of matching media files;

determining a geographic location associated with each media file;

generating a graphical media control associated with each media file; and

providing each graphical media control to said remote client device for placement on said interactive map according to each geographic location to enable said remote user to select and/or view each media file.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein providing said interactive map comprises obtaining, from a cartographic-data provider, an interactive map associated with said third search criterion.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said second search criterion indicates a date and/or time interval beginning and ending prior to a current date and/or time.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, the method further comprising:

obtaining an uploaded media file from said remote client device;

determining a geographic location and a date and/or time associated with said uploaded media file; and

associating said uploaded media file with said remote user, said determined geographic location, and said determined date and/or time in a searchable metadata data store.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein identifying said plurality of matching media files comprises querying said searchable metadata data store according to said media query.

11. A non-transient computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions that when executed by a processor, configure the processor to perform a method for browsing digital-media content, the method comprising:

identifying a remote user of a remote client device;

providing, to said remote client device for presentation to said remote user, an interactive map and a plurality of search-criterion controls including a social-graph-related selection control and a date and/or time selection control;

obtaining, from said remote client device via said plurality of search-criterion controls and said interactive map, a first search criterion associated with a social-graph of said remote user, a second search criterion associated with a date and/or time, and a third search criterion associated with a geographic location;

generating a media query based at least on said first search criterion, said second search criterion, and said third search criterion;

identifying a plurality of matching media files according to said media query; and

for each media file of said plurality of matching media files;

determining a geographic location associated with each media file;

generating a graphical media control associated with each media file; and

providing each graphical media control to said remote client device for placement on said interactive map according to each geographic location to enable said remote user to select and/or view each media file.

12. The storage medium of claim 11, wherein providing said interactive map comprises obtaining, from a cartographic-data provider, an interactive map associated with said third search criterion.

13. The storage medium of claim 11, wherein said second search criterion indicates a date and/or time interval beginning and ending prior to a current date and/or time.

14. The storage medium of claim 11, the method further comprising:

obtaining an uploaded media file from said remote client device;

determining a geographic location and a date and/or time associated with said uploaded media file; and

associating said uploaded media file with said remote user, said determined geographic location, and said determined date and/or time in a searchable metadata data store.

15. The storage medium of claim 14, wherein identifying said plurality of matching media files comprises querying said searchable metadata data store according to said media query.