Sharing on-line media experiences

• US 7,386,798 B1
• Filed: 12/30/2002
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Frischling, William, Heikes, Brian, Love, John Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): SAX, STEVEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US10/330,552
• Time in Patent Office: 1,989 Days
• Field of Search: 715719-721, 715/723, 715722-726, 715748-749, 715/727, 715/738, 715/753, 715/811, 715/745, 715/752, 715/758, 709/205, 709/204, 709/227, 725/135, 725/143, 707/104.1, 705/10
• US Class Current: 715/752
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• 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

Abstract

A lead user may share an on-line media content experience with one or more followers by identifying content of interest being experienced on the lead user system, identifying one or more followers with whom to share the content of interest, inviting the followers to experience the content of interest, and enabling the followers to access the content of interest.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for enabling a lead user to share an on-line media content experience with one or more followers, the method comprising:

detecting multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by a lead user on a lead user system;

identifying at least one property associated with the detected multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system;

accessing a list of one or more followers associated with the lead user;

accessing, from electronic storage, information related to interests of one or more followers included on the accessed list;

comparing the at least one property associated with the detected multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system with the information related to the interests of one or more followers included on the accessed list;

based on comparison results;

determining whether or not to share the detected multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system with one or more followers included on the accessed list, and

identifying one or more followers included on the accessed list with whom to share the multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system conditioned on determining to share the detected multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system with one or more followers included on the accessed list;

inviting the identified followers to experience the multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system; and

enabling the identified followers to access the multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting the multimedia content of interest comprises detecting media content being streamed to the lead user system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting the multimedia content of interest comprises automatically detecting the multimedia content at the lead user system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting the multimedia content of interest comprises receiving an indication that multimedia content of interest is being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying one or more followers comprises selecting, without human intervention, the one or more followers from the accessed list based on comparison results.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein selecting, without human intervention, the one or more followers comprises selecting the one or more followers based on an electronic matching between the at least one property of the multimedia content and an interest of the follower.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein selecting the one or more followers comprises selecting the one or more followers at the lead user system.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein selecting the one or more followers comprises selecting the one or more followers by a host system.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein inviting comprises generating a personalized invitation for one or more of the followers.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein inviting comprises automatically generating an invitation at the lead user system.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein inviting comprises automatically generating an invitation by a host system.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending an invitation using one of an instant message, a chat room, and an e-mail message.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending an invitation without user intervention in a machine-to-machine communication.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein enabling the identified followers to access the multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system includes:

receiving an indication of acceptance of an invitation by the identified followers, and

enabling the identified followers to access the multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system conditioned on receipt of the indication of acceptance of the invitation by the identified followers.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein enabling the followers to access the multimedia content of interest comprises enabling the followers to access the multimedia content of interest automatically based upon a machine-to-machine communication without intervention by a follower.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user includes an on-line media experience of the lead user, further comprising providing an indication to the lead user of whether the followers are experiencing the on-line media experience of the lead user.

17. The method of claim 1 the multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user includes an on-line media experience of the lead user, further comprising providing an indication to the follower of whether the follower is sharing the on-line media experience of the lead user.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the identified followers include a first group of identified followers, further comprising:

identifying a change in multimedia content of interest being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system;

identifying a second group of one or more followers with whom to share the changed multimedia content of interest, the second group of identified followers being different than the first group of identified followers; and

enabling the second group of identified followers to access the changed multimedia content of interest.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein identifying the change in multimedia content of interest comprises having the lead user system automatically detect the change in multimedia content.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein identifying the change in multimedia content of interest comprises receiving an indication that changed multimedia content of interest is being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein identifying the change in multimedia content of interest comprises having a host system automatically identify the change in multimedia content.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein identifying the second group of one or more followers comprises:

identifying at least one property associated with the changed multimedia content of interest, at least one property associated with the changed multimedia content of interest being different than at least one property associated with the multimedia content of interest being experienced prior to the change;

comparing the at least one property associated with the changed multimedia content of interest with the information related to the interests of one or more followers included on the accessed list of one or more followers associated with the lead user; and

identifying the second group of one or more followers based on results of the comparison between at least one property associated with the changed multimedia content and interests of the second group of one or more followers.

23. The method of claim 18 wherein identifying the second group of one or more followers comprises having the lead user system determine the second group of one or more followers.

24. The method of claim 18 wherein identifying the second group of one or more followers comprises having the host system determine the second group of one or more followers.

25. The method of claim 18 wherein enabling the second group of identified followers to access the changed multimedia content of interest comprises enabling the second group of identified followers to automatically access the changed multimedia content based upon a machine-to-machine communication without intervention by a follower.

26. The method of claim 18 further comprising providing an indication to the lead user of whether the second group of identified followers are experiencing an updated on-line media experience of the lead user.

27. The method of claim 18 further comprising providing an indication to an updated follower included in the second group of identified followers of whether the updated follower is sharing an updated on-line media experience of the lead user.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one property reveals a category to be associated with the detected multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the information related to interests of one or more followers included on the accessed list includes categories of multimedia content with which the one or more followers included on the accessed list are interested.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein comparing the at least one property associated with the detected multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system with the information related to the interests of one or more followers included on the accessed list includes matching the category of the detected multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system with the categories of multimedia content with which the one or more followers included on the accessed list are interested.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing information related to interests of one or more followers included on the accessed list includes accessing profile data for each of the followers included on the accessed list.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the accessed list includes a list of one or more followers included on an instant messaging buddy list associated with the lead user.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the list of one or more followers included on the instant messaging buddy list associated with the lead user includes a list of one or more followers included on the instant messaging buddy list associated with the lead user for which online presence has been detected.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the accessed list includes a list of one or more followers associated with the lead user for which online presence has been detected.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying at least one property associated with the detected multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system comprises identifying at least one characteristic of the detected multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing the list of one or more followers associated with the lead user comprises accessing the list of one or more followers associated with the lead user in response to detecting multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing the at least one property associated with the detected content of interest presently being experienced on the lead user system with the information related to the interests of one or more followers included on the accessed list includes comparing the at least one property associated with the detected content of interest presently being experienced on the lead user system with only information related to the one or more followers included on the accessed list.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing the at least one property associated with the detected content of interest presently being experienced on the lead user system with the information related to the interests of one or more followers included on the accessed list includes comparing the at least one property associated with the detected content of interest presently being experienced on the lead user system with information related interests of only followers included on the accessed list.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether or not to share the detected content of interest presently being experienced on the lead user system with one or more followers included on the accessed list includes making a determination with respect to only followers included on the accessed list.

40. An article comprising a computer-readable storage medium having encoded thereon software for enabling a lead user to share an on-line media content experience with one or more followers, the software including instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

detect multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by a lead user on a lead user system;

identifying at least one property associated with the detected multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system;

access a list of one or more followers associated with the lead user;

access, from electronic storage, information related to interests of one or more followers included on the accessed list;

compare the at least one property associated with the detected multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system with the information related to the interests of one or more followers included on the accessed list;

based on comparison results;

determine whether or not to share the detected multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system with one or more followers included on the accessed list, and

identify one or more followers included on the accessed list with whom to share the multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system conditioned on determining to share the detected multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system with one or more followers included on the accessed list;

invite the identified followers to experience the multimedia content of interest presently by the lead user on the lead user system; and

enable the identified followers to access the multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system.

41. The article of claim 40 wherein instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to detect the multimedia content of interest comprise instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to detect media content being streamed to the lead user system.

42. The article of claim 40 wherein instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to detect the multimedia content of interest comprise instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to automatically detect the multimedia content at the lead user system.

43. The article of claim 40 wherein instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to detect multimedia content of interest comprise instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to receive an indication that multimedia content of interest is being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system.

44. The article of claim 40 wherein instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to identify one or more followers comprise instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to select, without human intervention, the one or more followers from the accessed list based on comparison results.

45. The article of claim 44 wherein instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to select the one or more followers comprise instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to select the one or more followers at the lead user system.

46. The article of claim 44 wherein instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to select the one or more followers comprise instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to select the one or more followers by a host system.

47. The article of claim 40 wherein instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to invite comprise instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to automatically generate an invitation at the lead user system.

48. The article of claim 40 wherein instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to invite comprise instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to automatically generate an invitation by a host system.

49. The article of claim 40 further comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to send an invitation using one of an instant message, a chat room, and an e-mail message.

50. The article of claim 40 further comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to send an invitation without user intervention in a machine-to-machine communication.

51. The article of claim 40 wherein instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to enable the followers to access the multimedia content of interest comprise instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to enable the followers to access the multimedia content of interest automatically based upon a machine-to-machine communication without intervention by a follower.

52. The article of claim 40 wherein the multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user includes an on-line media experience of the lead user, further comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to provide an indication to the lead user of whether the followers are experiencing the on-line media experience of the lead user.

53. The article of claim 40 wherein the multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user includes an on-line media experience of the lead user, further comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to provide an indication to the follower of whether the follower is sharing the on-line media experience of the lead user.

54. The article of claim 40 wherein the identified followers include a first group of identified followers, further comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

identify a change in multimedia content of interest being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system;

identify a second group of one or more followers with whom to share the changed multimedia content of interest, the second group of identified followers being different than the first group of identified followers; and

enable the second group of identified followers to access the changed multimedia content of interest.

55. An electronic system comprising:

means for detecting multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by a lead user on a lead user system;

means for identifying at least one property associated with the detected multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system;

means for accessing a list of one or more followers associated with the lead user;

means for accessing, from electronic storage, information related to interests of one or more followers included on the accessed list;

means for comparing the at least one property associated with the detected multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system with the information related to the interests of one or more followers included on the accessed list;

means for, based on comparison results;

determining whether or not to share the detected multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system with one or more followers included on the accessed list, and

identifying one or more followers included on the accessed list with whom to share the multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system conditioned on determining to share the detected multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system with one or more followers included on the accessed list;

means for inviting the identified followers to experience the multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system; and

means for enabling the identified followers to access the multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system.

56. The electronic system of claim 55 wherein means for identifying the multimedia content of interest comprises means for detecting media content being streamed to the lead user system.

57. The electronic system of claim 55 wherein means for identifying one or more followers comprises means for selecting, without human intervention, the one or more followers from the accessed list based on comparison results.

58. The electronic system of claim 55 further comprising means for sending an invitation using one of an instant message, a chat room, and an e-mail message.

59. The electronic system of claim 55 further comprising means for sending an invitation without user intervention in a machine-to-machine communication.

60. The electronic system of claim 55 wherein means for enabling the followers to access the multimedia content of interest comprises means for enabling the followers to access the multimedia content of interest automatically based upon a machine-to-machine communication without intervention by a follower.

61. The electronic system of claim 55 wherein the multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user includes an on-line media experience of the lead user, further comprising means for providing an indication to the lead user of whether the followers are experiencing the on-line media experience of the lead user.

62. The electronic system of claim 55 wherein the multimedia content of interest presently being experienced by the lead user includes an on-line media experience of the lead user, further comprising means for providing an indication to the follower of whether the follower is sharing the on-line media experience of the lead user.

63. The electronic system of claim 55 wherein the identified followers include a first group of identified followers, further comprising:

means for identifying a change in multimedia content of interest being experienced by the lead user on the lead user system;

means for identifying a second group of one or more followers with whom to share the changed multimedia content of interest, the second group of identified followers being different than the first group of identified followers; and

means for enabling the second group of identified followers to access the changed multimedia content of interest.