System and method for allowing a user to opt for automatic or selectively sending of media

• US 9,049,243 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2009
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Photobucket Corporation (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Shapiro, Daniel J., Arcuri, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): BILGRAMI, ASGHAR H
• Application Number:
  US12/569,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20100016003A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,072 Days
• Field of Search: 709/238, 709/203, 379/88.13, 379/265.09, 379/908
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72439 for image or video messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/64 file transfer between terminals download of applications H04M1/72406; transfer of messages, e.g. SMS, e-mail or MMS H04M1/7243

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system and method which allows for the seamless integration of the sending mechanism with the media acquiring mechanism of a portable device. In this manner the end-user has instant access to media sharing with complete control over how the media is shared. This integration is accomplished by presenting to the user a series of screens that are available directly from the media creation applications (e.g. cameras or audio recorders) and media viewing applications (e.g. photo galleries or screen savers) on the device. When a photo (or other media) is captured or viewed, a series of pre-established processing options, including on-device uses for the media, internet services and accounts, email addresses and/or phone numbers to which the media can be sent are presented to the user. Some options require no further user interaction. Defaults are also available which require no user interaction at all, combining together the manual selection of certain processing options or destinations with the automatic selection of other processing options or destinations. Thus, the sending process becomes essentially a selection process allowing the user to override defaults by either selecting from choices tailored to the user including already known address information of potential recipients or to allow the media to be automatically sent to a previously identified location according to the current “default” user preferences. In the situation where a new address or phone number is desired, the user can add such information in a simple and straight-forward manner.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the processing of media presented on a wireless device, said method comprising:

displaying to a user of said device certain media contained on said device;

wirelessly sending said certain media, by said device, to a pre-selected remote processor, wherein said sending occurs without said user initiating said sending;

presenting to said user a list of processing options for each of said certain displayed media while said media is so displayed, said list presented to said user while said media is so displayed on said device, allowing said user to select more than one of said options simultaneously while said media is so displayed on said device; and

concurrently processing each said identified media in accordance with selected ones of said options.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said locations are selected from the list of:

email addresses, mobile devices, internet services, internet accounts.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

delivering said media for processing at external locations via a wireless link to a server intermediate between said device and said external locations, said server known to said device at a point in time prior to said displaying.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said server is known to said device independent of input from said user.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said list of processing options contains options for sending said captured media to external locations without regard to the type of location and without regard to a protocol necessary for delivering said media to said external locations.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein at least one of said options is a location for distribution of said media.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said processing options comprise two or more of the following categories:

pre-identified location particular to the user;

a phone number, an internet destination, a specific account on an internet destination, a computing device such as a PC, an email inbox, a function implemented on the local device such as “

make this my background,”

an existing address list particular to said user.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said processing can be either internal to said device or external thereto.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

delivering said media to an external location via an internet protocol when possible and via a MMS network when said internet protocol is not available.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein when neither is possible, delivering only a link to and/or excerpt of said data which may be available elsewhere.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said options is selected from the list of:

distribution of said media to a social network;

online photo-album website, web-based online service;

e-mail address;

a particular computer, pre-identified location particular to the user;

a phone number, an internet destination, a specific account on an internet destination, a computing device such as a PC, an email inbox, a function implemented on the local device such as “

make this my background,”

an existing address list particular to said user.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein at least one of said options is to format said media at said device in preparation for delivery of said media to a particular internet destination.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said media comprises documents selected from the list of photos, videos, audio files, social network messages, email, documents, arbitrary files, text.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein one of said options is a SAVE option which sends documents to a pre-identified location;

and

wherein one of said options is a SEND option which allows said user to select other of said options.

15. A media capturing device, comprising:

a viewer for displaying objects whose image a user desires to capture;

a processor for wirelessly sending said certain media, by said device, to a pre-selected remote processor, wherein said sending occurs without said user initiating said sending;

a processor operable upon capture of an image for causing image delivery options to be displayed on said viewer;

said processor further operable for concurrently controlling delivery of said captured media in response to a plurality of delivery options selected by said user from said displayed options;

said processor further operable for wirelessly sending said certain media to a processor for concurrent processing in accordance with the selected ones of said options.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein one of said options is a SAVE option and wherein said SAVE option results in said captured media being automatically sent wirelessly to at least one pre-established location separate from said device;

and wherein one of said options is a SEND option and wherein said SEND option results in said captured media being delivered to one or more locations presented in a list to said user as part of said SEND option.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein said list contains user options selected from at least one of the following:

a pre-established set of destinations;

last-set of destinations used by this user;

a set of interne destinations;

address information from an address list;

address information obtained from remote services;

destinations of sites recently communicating with said device local processing options.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein said list contains user options selected from at least two of the following:

a pre-established set of destinations;

last-set of destinations used by this user;

a set of internet destinations;

address information from an address list;

address information obtained from remote services;

destinations of sites recently communicating with said device, local processing options.

19. The device of claim 17 wherein at least one of said delivery locations is accessible via identification information residing on said device and wherein said processor is further operable for presenting access to said stored numbers to said user via said viewer concurrently with displaying of said captured image.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein said identification information is obtained from at least one of the following:

an address list stored on said device;

information downloaded from a remote database;

information obtained from an internet location;

information obtained from a website;

information obtained from a prior communication to said device from a source external to said device.

21. The device of claim 15 wherein said viewer is operable for displaying to said user visual identifications of media recently received without the user'"'"'s explicit request to view such media at said device from locations remote from said device;

and wherein said processor is further operable for presenting to said user a list of processing options for each of said displayed recently received media, said list allowing said user to select one or more of said options, and

processing each said identified media in accordance with selected ones of said options.

22. The device of claim 15 wherein said viewer is operable for displaying to said user visual identifications of media recently captured without the user'"'"'s explicit request to view such media at said device;

and wherein said processor is further operable for presenting to said user a list of processing options for said displayed media, said list allowing said user to select one or more specific remote locations, and process said media in accordance with protocols unique to each said selected remote location.

23. Code contained on a non-transitory computer medium for controlling a processor on a wireless handheld device for performing the following method with respect to said device:

displaying to a user of said device certain media contained on said device;

wirelessly sending said certain media, by said device, to a pre-selected remote processor, wherein said sending occurs without said user initiating said sending;

presenting, on said device to said user, a list of processing options for each of said identified media, said list allowing said user to select more than one of said options at the same time, and

concurrently processing each said identified media in accordance with selected ones of said options.

24. The code of claim 23 wherein at least one of said options is a location for distribution of said media.

25. The code of claim 24 wherein said distribution locations can be either internal to said device or external thereto.

26. The code of claim 25 further comprising:

delivering said media to external locations via a wireless link to a server intermediate between said device and said external locations.

27. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

delivering said media directly to an external location via a wireless link without a server intermediate between said device and said external locations.

28. The code of claim 23 further comprising:

delivering said media to a remote location via an internet protocol when possible and via a MMS network when said internet protocol is not available.

29. The code of claim 23 wherein said certain media comprises media recently captured directly from said device.

30. The code of claim 23 wherein said certain media comprises media recently sent to said device from a location remote from said device.

31. The code of claim 23 wherein said certain media comprises a notification of media availability such that said user must take affirmative action to retrieve said media.

32. A method for storing media on a device, said method comprising:

displaying objects whose image a user desires to view;

wirelessly sending said certain media, by said device, to a pre-selected remote processor, wherein said sending occurs without said user initiating said sending;

displaying image delivery options to said user under control of a processor concurrently with viewed ones of said images;

allowing said user to select multiple delivery options simultaneously; and

concurrently processing selected ones of said delivery options.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein one of said options is a SAVE option and wherein said SAVE option results in said viewed media being automatically sent wirelessly to at least one pre-established location separate from said device;

and wherein one of said options is a SEND option and wherein said SEND option results in said viewed media being delivered to one or more locations presented to said user as part of said SEND option.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein said displayed options contains user options selected from at least one of the following:

a pre-established set of destinations;

last-set of destinations used by this user;

a set of internet destinations;

address information from an address list;

address information obtained from remote services;

destinations of sites recently communicating with said device.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein at least one of said destinations is accessible via identification information residing on said device and wherein said processor is further operable for presenting access to said stored numbers to said user via said viewer concurrently with viewing of said image.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein said identification information is obtained from at least one of the following:

an address list stored on said device;

information downloaded from a remote database;

information obtained from an interne location;

information obtained from a website;

information obtained from a prior communication to said device from a source external to said device.

37. The method of claim 32 wherein said displayed objects are of media recently received from remote locations without the user'"'"'s explicit request to display such media;

and wherein said processor is further operable for presenting to said user a list of processing options for each of said displayed recently received media, said list allowing said user to select one or more of said options, and

processing each said identified media in accordance with selected ones of said options.

38. The method of claim 32 wherein said options allow said user to select multiple categories of processor options.