Method of sharing multi-media content among users in a global computer network

• US 8,209,618 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2008
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mindtrig.Com Limited Liability Company
• Original Assignee: Garfum Com Corporation
• Inventors: Garofalo, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, RUAY L
• Application Number:
  US12/146,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20090019375A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• Field of Search: 715/500, 715/753, 705/14.72, 705/26.41, 705/52, 386/278, 707/621, 707/758
• US Class Current: 715/753
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/287 Visualization; Browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0276 Advertisement creation

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for sharing multi-media content among a plurality of users in a computer network comprises creating a plurality of user accounts, each of said user accounts corresponding to one of the plurality of users, and having a plurality of interactive features including a first feature that permits the user to upload the multi-media content to the computer network; forming a user network including one or more of the plurality of user accounts in communication with one or more other user accounts and to the uploaded multi-media content via the computer network; categorizing the uploaded multi-media content in accordance with the subject matter of the uploaded multi-media content; organizing the uploaded multi-media content in a competitive format; and establishing a hierarchy for the uploaded multi-media content within the competitive format as a function of a competitive measurement system.

Claims

1. A method for sharing multi-media content among a plurality of users in a computer network consisting essentially of:

creating a plurality of user accounts, each of the user accounts corresponding to one of the plurality of users, and having a plurality of interactive features including a first feature that permits the user to upload the multi-media content to the computer network;

forming a user network including one or more of the plurality of user accounts in communication with one or more other user accounts and to the uploaded multi-media content via the computer network;

categorizing the uploaded multi-media content in accordance with the subject matter of the uploaded multi-media content;

organizing the uploaded multi-media content in a competitive format; and

establishing a hierarchy for the uploaded multi-media content within the competitive format by implementing a competitive measurement system;

wherein the competitive measurement system consists of;

enabling each user to designate a single point to one of a plurality of multi-media content for each one of a plurality of competitive rounds; and

ranking a position in the hierarchy for the uploaded multi-media content based on a summation of points.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a user interface for the users to access the user accounts within the user network, the user interface including a first interactive area for selecting from the uploaded multi-media content and a second interactive area for viewing the selected multi-media content.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the user interface includes a third interactive area for displaying one or more product advertisements.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the users access the user network using one or more computing devices selected from a computer, a mobile phone, a personal data assistant (PDA), and a television.

5. A method of facilitating an online contest within a computer network consisting essentially of:

creating a plurality of user accounts, each of the user accounts corresponding to one of the plurality of users, and having a plurality of interactive features including a first feature that permits the user to upload the multi-media content to the computer network;

providing a user interface for the users to access the first interactive feature, the user interface including an embedded multi-media player adapted for viewing the uploaded multi-media content;

categorizing the uploaded multi-media content in accordance with the subject matter of the uploaded multi-media content;

organizing the uploaded multi-media content in a competitive format having a plurality of competitive rounds based on the quantity of multi-media content being organized; and

applying a competitive measurement system to advance particular uploaded multimedia through the plurality of competitive rounds, the competitive measurement system consisting of;

enabling each user to designate a single point to one of a plurality of multi-media content for each one of a plurality of competitive rounds; and

ranking a position in the hierarchy for the uploaded multi-media content based on a summation of points.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the embedded multi-media player includes a video viewer, an audio player, and a picture viewer.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the embedded multi-media player includes one or more interactive portals that has a first portal that permits a first user to communicate with others of the users on the user network.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first portal transmits electronic messages.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the embedded multi-media player includes one or more interactive portals selected from a second portal that permits the first user to purchase one or more items, a third portal that permits the first user to transfer the uploaded multi-media content to a computing device, and a fourth portal that permits the first user to navigate within the user network.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the users access the user network using one or more computing devices selected from a computer, a mobile phone, a personal data assistant (PDA), and a television.