Media management system and method

• US 7,720,871 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2006
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rogers, Ian, Brown, David E., Heyman, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Stevens, Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/361,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20060195514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,544 Days
• Field of Search: 707/5, 707/100, 707/102, 707/104.1, 709/3, 709/203, 709/209
• US Class Current: 707/802
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/273 Asynchronous replication or reconciliation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3344 using natural language analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4393 Multimedia presentations, e.g. slide shows, multimedia albums
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/637 Administration of user profiles, e.g. generation, initialization, adaptation or distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6236 between heterogeneous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/0038 System on Chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2216/01 Automatic library building
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2113 Multi-level security, e.g. mandatory access control
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/386 using messaging services or messaging apps using mobile network messaging services for payment, e.g. SMS G06Q20/3255
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 : Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 : Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 : applying security measures for digital rights management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 : Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0263 : Rule management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 : Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 : Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 : Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 : for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 : specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 : Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 : Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 : Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 : Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; 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 21/4126 : The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 : embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 : Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• 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 21/47214 : for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 : Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 : comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 : involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/913 : Multimedia

Abstract

A media management system for managing a user'"'"'s media files and information related to such media files and a method of the same. In one aspect, the system and method are operable on a user'"'"'s computing device. In one aspect, the system comprises a storage management component, a server communication component, a media player component, an instant messaging component, and a media engine component. In one aspect, the method allows a user to browse and/or exchange media files with other users via a network using an instant messaging component.

Claims

1. A media management system comprising:

a processor;

a storage management component implemented at least in part on said processor storing at least a portion of a user'"'"'s media files and information related to said user'"'"'s media files on a storage device;

a server communication component for permitting communication by said system with a media server on a network and other servers on said network, said server communication component receiving from said media server server-based media files and information related to said server-based media files, said files and said information either stored by said user in said storage device or associated with said user at said media server;

a media player component for rendering a media file into a user cognizable form;

an instant messaging component through which said system intercommunicates with an instant messaging server on said network and with instant messaging users accessible via said network, wherein user'"'"'s media files and messaging users'"'"' media files and information related to said user'"'"'s media files and said messaging users'"'"' media files are exchanged with each other; and

a media engine component for managing said user'"'"'s media files and said information related to said user'"'"'s media files, said media engine component comprising;

a subcomponent for identifying one or more locations at which said user'"'"'s media files are stored or accessible;

a subcomponent for communicating said locations to said server communication component for transmission to said media server as location data;

a subcomponent for intercommunication with said messaging component for permitting communication among said media engine component and said messaging server and said instant messaging users;

a subcomponent for handling playing of a selected media file to be played by said media player component, which playing subcomponent utilizes said identified locations to determine from where said selected media file should be accessed from and played by said media player component, such that said system can automatically select which location shall act as a source to render said selected media file, said automatic selection based at least in part on a correlation between said information related to said user'"'"'s media files and said messaging users'"'"' media files, and said identified locations, said automatic selection determining whether said media file should be accessed from said storage device or from said media server or from another location on said network or from another user'"'"'s computing device, so as to automatically select whether said selected media file, if not located in said storage device, should be received via said server communication component or via said instant messaging component or some combination thereof.

2. The media management system of claim 1 wherein each of said components and said subcomponents comprises a software component.

3. The media management system of claim 1 further comprising a subcomponent for organizing said user'"'"'s media files in accordance with selected information related to said media files and for saving said organization as organization data.

4. The media management system of claim 1 further comprising a subcomponent for permitting said user to organize certain media files into a playlist, said playlist represented by playlist data, said playlist data being passed to said media server.

5. The media management system of claim 1 further comprising a subcomponent for permitting said user to save certain media files onto a portable medium.

6. The media management system of claim 1 further comprising a digital rights management component for determining whether a user has adequate rights to experience a selected media file.

7. The media management system of claim 6 wherein said adequate rights are based on said user'"'"'s permission level associated with a subscription to a media service.

8. The media management system of claim 1 wherein said location data at said media server may be accessed by said user from said network so that said user may access said user'"'"'s media files from another computing device on said network operating said media management system.

9. The media management system of claim 1 further comprising a media file streamer component for streaming media files to said user'"'"'s computing device over said network.

10. The media management system of claim 9 wherein said media file is streamed from said media server.

11. The media management system of claim 9 wherein said media file is streamed from a computing device associating with one of said messaging users.

12. The media management system of claim 1 further comprising a subcomponent for receiving from said user, preference data related to one or more of said user'"'"'s media files, said preference data being passed to said media server.

13. The media management system of claim 12 wherein said preference data is associated with a unique identifier, said unique identifier associated with said user.

14. The media management system of claim 13 wherein said unique identifier and associated information are passed to said media server.

15. The media management system of claim 12 wherein said user preference data comprises a user applied rating associated with a media file.

16. The media management system of claim 1 wherein said media player component is a subcomponent of said media engine component.

17. The media management system of claim 1 wherein said instant messaging component is a subcomponent of said media engine component.

18. The media management system of claim 1 wherein one of said locations comprises a compact disk player.

19. The media management system of claim 1 wherein one of said locations comprises a portable media player.

20. The media management system of claim 1 wherein one of said locations comprises a local hard drive on a processor.

21. The media management system of claim 20 wherein said processor is associated with said user.

22. The media management system of claim 20 wherein said processor is associated with one of said messaging users.

23. The media management system of claim 1 wherein one of said locations comprises a database located on said storage management component.

24. The media management system of claim 1 wherein one of said locations is identified by a pointer.

25. The media management system of claim 1 wherein one of said locations is identified by a universal resource locator.

26. The media management system of claim 1 wherein said information is associated with a unique identifier, said unique identifier associated with said user.

27. The media management system of claim 26 wherein said unique identifier and said associated information is passed to said media server.

28. The media management system of claim 1 wherein said information comprises a location associated with one of said media files.

29. The media management system of claim 1 wherein said information comprises a genre related to one of said media files.

30. The media management system of claim 1 wherein said information comprises an artist related to one of said media files.

31. The media management system of claim 1 wherein said information comprises an album related to one of said media files.

32. The media management system of claim 1 wherein said information comprises a song name related to one of said media files.

33. The media management system of claim 1 wherein said information comprises a track number on a compact disk related to one of said media files.

34. The media management system of claim 1 wherein said information comprises the duration of one of said media files.

35. The media management system of claim 1 wherein said information comprises a rating related to one of said media files.

36. The media management system of claim 1 wherein said instant messaging component further allows said users to exchange messages with each other.

37. The media management system of claim 1 wherein said media files are exchanged by streaming said media files from said user'"'"'s computing device to a computing device associated with one of said messaging users.

38. The media management system of claim 1 wherein said media files are exchanged by streaming said media files from a computing device associated with one of said messaging users to said user'"'"'s computing device.

39. The media management system of claim 1 wherein said instant messaging component allows said users to browse each others'"'"' respective media files.

40. The media management system of claim 1 wherein said instant messaging component allows said users to search each others'"'"' respective media files.

41. The media management system of claim 1 wherein said instant messaging component allows said users to search each others'"'"' respective media files using search criteria.

42. The media management system of claim 1 wherein said instant messaging component allows said users to exchange an id associated with one of said user'"'"'s media files if said user'"'"'s computing device and a computing device associated with one of said messaging users are not directly connected to each other.

43. The media management system of claim 42 wherein said id allows said first user to obtain said media file from a media service.

44. The media management system of claim 1 wherein said instant messaging component allows said users to exchange an id associated with one of said user'"'"'s media files and a pointer associated with said media file if said user'"'"'s computing device and a computing device associated with one of said messaging users are directly connected to each other.

45. The media management system of claim 1 wherein said media player component and said instant messaging component allow said user to play a media file associated with one of said messaging users at said user'"'"'s computing device.

46. The media management system of claim 45 wherein either one or both of said media player component and said messaging component is in communication with a digital rights management component for determining whether said user has adequate rights to experience said media file.

47. The media management system of claim 46 wherein said digital rights management component also determines, based upon at least said user'"'"'s rights, which one of said media file locations acts as a source from which said media file can be obtained or experienced.

48. The media management system of claim 47 wherein said media file is obtained by streaming said media file from a computing device associated with one of said messaging users to said user'"'"'s computing device.

49. The media management system of claim 47 wherein said media file is obtained by copying said media file from a computing device associated with one of said messaging users to said user'"'"'s computing device.

50. The media management system of claim 47 wherein said media file location comprises said media server wherein said media file is streamed from said media server to said user'"'"'s computing device.

51. The media management system of claim 47 wherein said media file location comprises a computing device associated with one of said messaging users wherein said media file is streamed from said messaging user'"'"'s computing device to said user'"'"'s computing device.

52. The media management system of claim 47 wherein said adequate rights are based on said user'"'"'s permission level associated with a subscription to a media service.

53. The media management system of claim 1 further comprising an affinity engine component for storing relationship data among media files.

54. The media management system of claim 53 wherein said affinity engine uses said relationship data to generate a list of recommended media files, said list of recommended media files being available on said media server, but not located at said user'"'"'s storage device.

55. The media management system of claim 53 wherein said affinity engine uses said relationship data to generate a list of similar users within said network, each of said similar user being similar to said user.

56. The media management system of claim 1 further comprising a media file verification database component for identifying and verifying media file contents of a portable device.

57. The media management system of claim 1 further comprising a subcomponent for searching for media files on said network.

58. A method comprising:

storing at least a portion of a user'"'"'s media files and information related to said user'"'"'s media files on a storage device;

permitting communication by said system with a media server on said network and other servers on said network, and receiving from said media server server-based media files and information related to said server-based media files, which files and information either stored by said user or associated with said user at said media server;

rendering media file data so as to permit a user to experience media in a user cognizable form;

intercommunicating with an instant messaging server on said network and with instant messaging users accessible via said network, wherein messaging users'"'"' media files and information related to said messaging users'"'"' media files are exchanged between said user and said messaging users;

identifying one or more locations at which said user'"'"'s media files are stored or accessible; and

communicating said locations for transmission to said media server as location data, said location data providing functionality to automatically select which location shall act as a source to render said user'"'"'s media files, said automatic selection based at least in part on a correlation between said identified locations and said exchanged information between said user and said messaging users.

59. The method of claim 58 further comprising the step of:

organizing said user'"'"'s media files in accordance with selected information related to said media files and for saving said organization as organization data.

60. The method of claim 58 further comprising the step of:

permitting said user to organize certain media files into a playlist, said playlist represented by playlist data, said playlist data being passed to said media server.

61. The method of claim 58 further comprising the step of:

determining though a digital rights management component whether a user has adequate rights to experience a selected media file.

62. The method of claim 58 further comprising the step of:

determining through said digital rights management component, based on at least said users rights, which one of said media file locations acts as a source from which one of said user'"'"'s media files can be obtained or experienced.

63. The method of claim 62 wherein said media file is obtained by streaming said media file from a computing device associated with one of said messaging users to said user'"'"'s computing device.

64. The method of claim 62 wherein said media file is obtained by copying said media file from a computing device associated with one of said messaging users to said user'"'"'s computing device.

65. The method of claim 62 wherein said location comprises said media server wherein said media file is streamed from said media server to said user'"'"'s computing device.

66. The method of claim 62 wherein said location comprises a computing device associated with one of said messaging users wherein said media file is streamed from said messaging user'"'"'s computing device to said user'"'"'s computing device.

67. The method of claim 58 wherein said adequate rights are based on said user'"'"'s permission level associated with a subscription to a media service.

68. The method of claim 58 wherein said location data at said media server may be accessed by said user from said network so that said user may access said user'"'"'s media files from another computing device on said network.

69. The method of claim 58 further comprising the step of:

streaming media files from said user'"'"'s computing device over said network.

70. The method of claim 58 further comprising the step of:

receiving from said user, preference data related to one or more of said user'"'"'s media files, said preference data being passed to said media server.

71. The method of claim 70 wherein said preference data is associated with an unique identifier, said unique identifier associated with said user.

72. The method of claim 70 wherein said user preference data comprises a user applied rating associated with a media file.

73. The method of claim 58 wherein one of said locations comprises a compact disk player.

74. The method of claim 58 wherein one of said locations comprises a portable media player.

75. The method of claim 58 wherein one of said locations comprises a local hard drive on a processor.

76. The method of claim 58 wherein one of said locations comprises a database located on the storage management component.

77. The method of claim 58 wherein one of said locations is identified by a pointer.

78. The method of claim 58 wherein one of said locations is identified by a universal resource locator.

79. The method of claim 58 wherein said information is associated with a unique identifier, said unique identifier associated with said user.

80. The method of claim 58 wherein said information comprises a location of one of said media files.

81. The method of claim 58 wherein said information comprises a genre related to one of said media files.

82. The method of claim 58 wherein said information comprises an artist related to one of said media files.

83. The method of claim 58 wherein said information comprises an album related to one of said media files.

84. The method of claim 58 wherein said information comprises a song name related to one of said media files.

85. The method of claim 58 wherein said information comprises a track number on a compact disk related to one of said media files.

86. The method of claim 58 wherein said information comprises a duration of one of said media files.

87. The method of claim 58 wherein said information comprises a genre related to one of said media files.

88. The method of claim 58 wherein said information comprises a rating related to one of said media files.

89. The method of claim 58 wherein said instant messaging server allows said users to exchange messages with each other.

90. The method of claim 58 wherein said instant messaging server allows said users to exchange an id associated with one of said user'"'"'s media files if said user'"'"'s computing device and a computing device associated with one of said messaging users are not directly connected to each other.

91. The method of claim 90 wherein said id allows said user to obtain said media file from a media service.

92. The method of claim 58 wherein said instant messaging server allows said users to exchange an id associated with one of said user'"'"'s media files and a pointer associated with said media file if said user'"'"'s computing device and a computing device associated with one of said messaging users are directly connected to each other.

93. The method of claim 58 further comprising the step of:

storing relationship data among media files at an affinity engine.

94. The method of claim 93 wherein said affinity engine uses said relationship data to create an affinity playlist.

95. The method of claim 93 wherein said affinity engine uses said relationship data to generate a list of recommended media files, said list of recommended media files being available on said media server, but not located at said user'"'"'s storage device.

96. The method of claim 58 further comprising the step of:

identifying and verifying, at a media file verification database, the media file contents of a portable device.

97. The method of claim 58 further comprising the step of:

searching for media files anywhere within said network.