Method and system for allowing distributed importing of guest images in a peer-based photosharing network
First Claim
1. A method for allowing distributed importing of images in a peer-based photosharing network comprising a peer network server and a plurality of peer computers, the method comprising:
- allowing a peer computer owner of a destination peer computer to access the peer network server to set import authorization rights for the destination peer computer comprising a guest user identifier and a guest password that enables access to the destination peer computer via the peer network server from a guest computer, wherein the destination peer computer comprises one of a plurality of peer computers, each of the plurality of peer computers comprising peer node software adapted to provide images contained on a respective peer computer to ones of the other peer computers comprising the peer node software upon request and to communicate with the peer network server;
receiving at the peer network server from the guest computer the guest user identifier and the guest password, wherein the guest computer does not access the peer network server via the peer node software, and wherein the peer network server comprises a dynamic DNS server that maintains a dynamic list, wherein the dynamic list comprises a peer name and an open socket connection for each of the plurality of peer computers, and a fulfillment server for fulfilling a request for a print or a photo gift through a print service;
authenticating the guest computer at the peer network server based on the guest user identifier and the guest password;
allowing the guest computer to specify the destination peer computer for importing using a user ID of the peer computer owner, and to upload one or more images to the peer network server; and
transferring the images uploaded by the guest computer to the destination peer computer from the peer network server when the destination peer computer becomes available on the photosharing network, without request from the destination peer computer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and system for allowing distributed importing of images in a peer-based photosharing network comprising a peer network server and a plurality of peers. Aspects of the present invention include allowing a peer owner of a destination peer to access the peer network server to set import authorization rights for the destination peer that enables the import of images from a guest. The guest may then access the peer network server from a computer that is not a peer to specify the destination peer for importing using a user ID of the peer owner, and upload one or more images to the peer network server. The peer network server then transfers the uploaded images to the destination peer from the peer network server when the destination peer becomes available on the network, thereby enabling the peer owner to import the images from the guest.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for allowing distributed importing of images in a peer-based photosharing network comprising a peer network server and a plurality of peer computers, the method comprising:
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allowing a peer computer owner of a destination peer computer to access the peer network server to set import authorization rights for the destination peer computer comprising a guest user identifier and a guest password that enables access to the destination peer computer via the peer network server from a guest computer, wherein the destination peer computer comprises one of a plurality of peer computers, each of the plurality of peer computers comprising peer node software adapted to provide images contained on a respective peer computer to ones of the other peer computers comprising the peer node software upon request and to communicate with the peer network server; receiving at the peer network server from the guest computer the guest user identifier and the guest password, wherein the guest computer does not access the peer network server via the peer node software, and wherein the peer network server comprises a dynamic DNS server that maintains a dynamic list, wherein the dynamic list comprises a peer name and an open socket connection for each of the plurality of peer computers, and a fulfillment server for fulfilling a request for a print or a photo gift through a print service; authenticating the guest computer at the peer network server based on the guest user identifier and the guest password; allowing the guest computer to specify the destination peer computer for importing using a user ID of the peer computer owner, and to upload one or more images to the peer network server; and transferring the images uploaded by the guest computer to the destination peer computer from the peer network server when the destination peer computer becomes available on the photosharing network, without request from the destination peer computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A peer-based photosharing network, comprising:
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a plurality of peers, each peer including a web browser and peer node software for providing images contained on each respective peer to ones of the other peers comprising peer node software in the photosharing network and to communicate with at least one peer network server; a dynamic DNS server that maintains a dynamic list, wherein the dynamic list comprises a peer name and an open socket connection for each of the plurality of peers; a fulfillment server for fulfilling a request for a print or a photo gift through a print service; at least one guest, the guest comprising a registered user of the photosharing network and a guest computer that is not a peer in the photosharing network, wherein the guest has images to be imported to a destination peer; and a photosharing site on the photosharing network including the at least one peer network server, the at least one peer network server including functions for; allowing a peer owner of the destination peer to access the peer network server to set import authorization rights for the destination peer comprising a guest user identifier and a guest password that that enables access to the destination peer via the peer network server from the guest computer; receiving at the peer network server from the guest computer the guest user identifier and the guest password, wherein the guest computer does not access the peer network server via the peer node software; authenticating the guest computer at the peer network server based on the guest user identifier and the guest password; allowing the guest to specify the destination peer for importing using a user ID of the peer owner, and to upload one or more images to the peer network server; and transferring the images uploaded by the guest to the destination peer from the peer network server when the destination peer becomes available on the photosharing network, without request from the destination peer computer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A non-transitory medium containing program instructions for allowing distributed importing of images in a peer-based photosharing network comprising a peer network server and a plurality of peer computers, the program instructions for:
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allowing a peer owner of a destination peer computer to access the peer network server to set import authorization rights for the destination peer computer comprising a guest user identifier and a guest password that enables access to the destination peer computer via the peer network server from a guest computer, wherein the destination peer computer comprises one of a plurality of peer computers, each of the plurality of peer computers comprising peer node software adapted to provide images contained on a respective peer computer to ones of the other peer computers comprising the peer node software upon request and to communicate with the peer network server; receiving at the peer network server from the guest computer the guest user identifier and the guest password, wherein the guest computer does not access the peer network server via the peer node software, and wherein the peer network server comprises a dynamic DNS server that maintains a dynamic list, wherein the dynamic list comprises a peer name and an open socket connection for each of the plurality of peer computers, and a fulfillment server for fulfilling a request for a print or a photo gift through a print service; authenticating the guest computer at the peer network server based on the guest user identifier and the guest password; allowing the guest computer to specify the destination peer computer for importing using a user ID of the peer owner, and to upload one or more images to the peer network server; and transferring the images uploaded by the guest computer to the destination peer computer from the peer network server when the destination peer computer becomes available on the photosharing network, without request from the destination peer computer.
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17. A system for allowing distributed importing of images in a peer-based photosharing network comprising a peer network server and a plurality of peer computers, the system comprising:
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means for allowing a peer owner of a destination peer computer to access the peer network server to set import authorization rights for the destination peer computer comprising a guest user identifier and a guest password that enables access to the destination peer computer via the peer network server from a guest computer, wherein the destination peer computer comprises one of a plurality of peer computers, each of the plurality of peer computers comprising peer node software adapted to provide images contained on a respective peer computer to ones of the other peer computers comprising the peer node software upon request and to communicate with the peer network server; means for receiving at the peer network server from the guest computer the guest user identifier and guest password, wherein the guest computer does not access the peer network server via the peer node software, and wherein the peer network server comprises a dynamic DNS server that maintains a dynamic list, wherein the dynamic list comprises a peer name and an open socket connection for each of the plurality of peer computers, and a fulfillment server for fulfilling a request for a print or a photo gift through a print service; means for authenticating the guest computer at the peer network server based on the guest user identifier and the guest password; means for allowing the guest computer to specify the destination peer computer for importing using a user ID of the peer owner, and to upload one or more images to the peer network server; and means for transferring the images uploaded by the guest computer to the destination peer computer from the peer network server when the destination peer computer becomes available on the network, without request from the destination peer computer.
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18. A method performed on a peer network server for importing images to a peer computer in a peer-based photosharing network from a guest computer comprising:
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receiving, by the peer network server, from a first peer computer of a plurality of peer computers, wherein each of the plurality of peer computers comprises a peer node software module adapted to provide images contained on a respective peer computer to ones of the other peer computers comprising the peer node software module upon request and to communicate with the peer network server, import authorization rights comprising a guest user identifier and a guest password authorizing the guest computer to import images onto the peer network server that are destined for the first peer computer; receiving, by the peer network server, from the guest computer the guest user identifier and the guest password, wherein the guest computer does not access the peer network server via the peer node software module, and wherein the peer network server comprises a dynamic DNS server that maintains a dynamic list, wherein the dynamic list comprises a peer name and an open socket connection for each of the plurality of peer computers, and a fulfillment server for fulfilling a request for a print or a photo gift through a print service; authenticating the guest computer at the peer network server based on the guest user identifier and the guest password; receiving, by the peer network server, from the guest computer an identifier identifying the first peer computer; receiving, by the peer network server, one or more images from the guest computer destined for the first peer computer; determining, by the peer network server, that the first peer computer is available for image transfer; and transferring, by the peer network server, the one or more images to the first peer computer without request from the first peer computer. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A peer network server for importing images to a peer computer in a peer-based photosharing network from a guest computer comprising:
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a network interface adapted to communicate with a network; and a controller coupled to the network interface and adapted to; receive from a first peer computer of a plurality of peer computers, wherein each of the plurality of peer computers comprises a peer node software module adapted to provide images contained on a respective peer computer to ones of the other peer computers comprising the peer node software module upon request and to communicate with the peer network server, import authorization rights comprising a guest user identifier and a guest password authorizing the guest computer to import images onto the peer network server that are destined for the first peer computer; receive from the guest computer the guest user identifier and the guest password, wherein the guest computer does not access the peer network server via the peer node software module, and wherein the peer network server comprises a dynamic DNS server that maintains a dynamic list, wherein the dynamic list comprises a peer name and an open socket connection for each of the plurality of peer computers, and a fulfillment server for fulfilling a request for a print or a photo gift through a print service; authenticate the guest computer based on the guest user identifier and the guest password; receive from the guest computer an identifier identifying the first peer computer; receive one or more images from the guest computer destined for the first peer computer; determine that the first peer computer is available for image transfer; and transfer the one or more images to the first peer computer without request from the first peer computer.
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Specification