Method, apparatus, network entity, system and computer program product for sharing content

• US 9,467,530 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2006
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Belimpasakis, Petros, Ionescu, Catalin
• Primary Examiner(s): DENNISON, JERRY B
• Application Number:
  US11/279,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20070239867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,836 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities

Abstract

A method, apparatus, network entity, system and computer program product are provided for content sharing. In particular, a technique is provided whereby an individual desiring to share content including, for example, photograph albums, music or video files, or the like, need only select the individual(s) with whom he or she would like to share the content, and the device on which he or she is operating will determine all of the necessary protocols, connectivity bearers, and the like, for sharing the content, as well as the appropriate device with which the content should be shared.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

accessing, by an apparatus associated with a content offering user, a resource file of a content offered user, said resource file of the content offered user comprising respective content processing capability information of each of a plurality of first devices of the content offered user, and the first devices having different content processing capabilities;

determining, by the apparatus, at least one of the first devices and a manner in which one or more content files stored at a plurality of second devices of the content offering user to be shared via a network with the at least one first device based, at least in part, on the content processing capability information;

causing, at least in part by the apparatus, a transmission via the network to the at least one first device an invitation to access the one or more content files with a reference to a resource file of the content offering user, the resource file of the content offering user comprising at least one internet address and at least one short range wireless communication address of the one or more content files; and

causing, at least in part by the apparatus, an update to the resource file of the content offering user with a relocation of at least one of the content files from one of the second devices to another one of the second devices, and one or more new addresses of the at least one content file in the another one of the second devices.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining protocols supported by the first devices based on the resource file of the content offered user,

wherein the manner in which to share the one or more content files is further based at least in part on the protocols, and

wherein the resource file of the content offered user further comprises one or more connectivity bearers supported by the first devices, one or more security settings supported by the first devices, or a combination thereof, and

wherein the at least one short range wireless communication address is associated with accessing via a wireless local area network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the relocation occurs periodically, and wherein the at least one internet address is a uniform resource locator.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the manner in which to share one or more content files comprises with which of the one or more first devices to share which of the one or more content files.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a selection by the content offering user of a contact entry associated with the content offered user, wherein the contact entry comprises an address at which the resource file of the content offered user can be accessed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the resource file of the content offered user is stored at at least one of the second devices of the content offering user, and synchronized with the resource file of the content offered user that is stored at at least one of the first device in a peer-to-peer basis, without user intervention.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the resource file of the content offered user, the resource file of the content offering user, or a combination thereof, are stored and updated at a presence server.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the resource file of the content offering user is stored at the at least one first device and synchronized with the resource file of the content offering user stored at at least one of the second device in a peer-to-peer basis, without user intervention.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the manner in which to share the one or more content files comprises is determined based at least in part on content of the one or more content files to be shared, and

wherein the apparatus is embedded in one of the second devices of the content offering user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the resource file of the content offering user further comprises a reference to the one or more content files stored on respective second devices, and wherein the manner in which to share the one or more content files comprises a manner in which to access at least one of the content files referenced in the resource file of the content offering user.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the resource file of the content offering user further comprises one or more protocols to use when accessing the one or more content files, one or more connectivity bearers to use when accessing the one or more content files, or a combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the resource file of the content offering user is automatically updated when a change occurs to at least one of the protocols to use when accessing the one or more content files, the connectivity bearer to use when accessing the one or more content files, or the address associated with respective content files referenced, without user intervention.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

establishing a first connection with at least one of the second device on which the one or more content files are stored; and

automatically establishing a second connection with the at least one of the second devices if the first connection is lost.

14. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

automatically updating the resource file of the content offered user, the resource file of the content offering user, or a combination thereof, when a change occurs to at least one of the different content processing capabilities or the one or more connectivity bearers that are associated with processing the one or more content files to be shared, without user intervention; and

determining at least another one of the first devices and another manner in which the one or more content files stored at the second devices to be shared with the at least another one first device based, at least in part, on the updated resource file of the content offered user.

15. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following;

store resource files each of which corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of users including a content offering user and a content offered user,

receive via a network a request by the content offering user to share one of more content files with the content offered user;

access one of the resource files that corresponds to the content offered user, wherein the resource file of the content offered user comprises respective content processing capability information of each of a plurality of first devices of the content offered user, and the first devices have different content processing capabilities;

determine at least one of the first devices and a manner in which the one or more content files stored at a plurality of second devices of the content offering user to be shared with the at least one first device based, at least in part, on the content processing capability information,

cause, at least in part, a transmission via the network to the at least one first device an invitation to access the one or more content files with a reference to a resource file of the content offering user, the resource file of the content offering user comprising at least one internet address and at least one short range wireless communication address of the one or more content files; and

cause, at least in part, an update to the resource file of the content offering user with a relocation of at least one of the content files from one of the second devices to another one of the second devices, and one or more new addresses of the at least one content file in the another one of the second devices.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein each of the respective resource files comprises one or more connectivity bearers supported by, one or more security settings supported by, or a combination thereof, of respective devices associated with the corresponding user.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is accessible via a wide area network, and wherein respective resource files stored in the apparatus have a corresponding address associated therewith.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus comprises a presence server, and wherein the memory further stores one or more presence documents associated with respective users, wherein respective presence documents comprise the resource file corresponding with the respective user.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is further configured, upon execution, to:

determine an identity associated with a user accessing at least one of the resource files; and

determine whether the user is authorized to access at least part of the at least one resource file.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the apparatus is further configured, upon execution, to:

modify the at least one resource file prior to providing access thereto.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein modifying the at least one resource file comprises encrypting the information included in the at least one resource file.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein modifying the at least one resource file comprises removing at least a part of the at least one resource file, where it is determined that the party is not authorized to access the part removed.

23. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus associated with a content offering user to perform at least the following;

cause, at least in part, an update to a presence document of the at least one content file with the relocation and one or more new addresses of the at least one content file in the another device;

access a resource file of a content offered user, said resource file of the content offered user comprising respective content processing capability information of each of a plurality of first devices of the content offered user, and the first devices having different content processing capabilities;

determine at least one of the first devices and a manner in which one or more content files stored at a plurality of second devices of the content offering user to be shared via a network with the at least one first device based, at least in part, on the content processing capability information;

cause, at least in part, a transmission via the network to the at least one first device an invitation to access the one or more content files with a reference to a resource file of the content offering user, the resource file of the content offering user comprising at least one internet address and at least one short range wireless communication address of the one or more content files; and

cause, at least in part, an update to the resource file of the content offering user with a relocation of at least one of the content files from one of the second devices to another one of the second devices, and one or more new addresses of the at least one content file in the another one of the second devices.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the resource file of the content offered user further comprises one or more connectivity bearers supported by the first devices, one or more security settings supported by the first devices, or a combination thereof.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the manner in which to share the one or more content files includes a combination of a protocol, a connectivity bearer and an address to use for sharing the one or more content files with the content offered user.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the manner in which to share the one or more content files includes with which of the first devices to share which of the one or more content files.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive a selection by the content offering user of a contact entry associated with the content offered user, wherein the contact entry comprises an address at which the resource file of the content offered user can be accessed.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive a selection by the content offering user of a contact entry associated with the content offered user; and

access a presence server for a presence document associated with the contact entry selected.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the presence document comprises the resource file of the content offered user.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the presence document comprises an address at which the resource file of the content offered user can be accessed.

31. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the manner is determined based at least in part on the one or more content files to be shared.

32. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the resource file of the content offering user further comprises a reference to the one or more content files stored on respective second devices, and wherein the manner in which to share the one or more content files comprises a manner in which to access at least one of the content files referenced in the resource file of the content offering user.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the resource file of the content offering user further comprises one or more protocols to use when accessing the one or more content files, one or more connectivity bearers to use when accessing the one or more content files, or a combination thereof.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the resource file of the content offering user is automatically updated when a change occurs to at least one of the protocols to use when accessing the one or more content files, the connectivity bearer to use when accessing the one or more content files, or the address associated with respective content files referenced, without user intervention.

35. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

establish a first connection with at least one of the second device on which the one or more content files are stored; and

automatically establish a second connection with the at least one of the second devices if the first connection is lost.

36. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

automatically update the resource file of the content offered user, the resource file of the content offering user, or a combination thereof, when a change occurs to at least one of the different content processing capabilities, or the connectivity bearers associated with processing the one or more content files to be shared, without user intervention.

37. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the apparatus is embodied in the form of an electronic device.

38. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus associated with a content offering user to at least perform the following steps:

causing, at least in part, an update to a presence document of the at least one content file with the relocation and one or more new addresses of the at least one content file in the another device;

accessing a resource file of a content offered user, said resource file of the content offered user comprising respective content processing capability information of each of a plurality of first devices of the content offered user, and the first devices having different content processing capabilities;

determining at least one of the first devices and a manner in which one or more content files stored at a plurality of second devices of the content offering user to be shared via a network with the at least one first device based, at least in part, on the content processing capability information;

causing, at least in part, a transmission via the network to the at least one first device an invitation to access the one or more content files with a reference to a resource file of the content offering user, the resource file of the content offering user comprising at least one internet address and at least one short range wireless communication address of the one or more content files, and

causing, at least in part, an update to the resource file of the content offering user with a relocation of at least one of the content files from one of the second devices to another one of the second devices, and one or more new addresses of the at least one content file in the another one of the second devices.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 38, the resource file of the content offered user further comprises one or more connectivity bearers supported by the first devices, one or more security settings supported by the first devices, or a combination thereof.

40. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 39, wherein the manner in which to share the one or more content files includes a combination of a protocol, a connectivity bearer and an address to use for sharing the one or more content files with the content offered user.

41. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 39, wherein manner in which to share the one or more content files includes with which of the first devices to share which of the one or more content files.

42. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 38, wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:

receiving a selection by the content offering user of a contact entry associated with the content offered user, wherein the contact entry comprises an address at which the resource file of the content offered user can be accessed.

43. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 38, wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:

receiving a selection by the content offering user of a contact entry associated with the content offered user; and

accessing a presence server for a presence document associated with the contact entry selected.

44. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 38, wherein the resource file of the content offering user further comprises a reference to the one or more content files stored on respective second devices, and wherein the manner in which to share the one or more content files comprises a manner in which to access at least one of the content files referenced in the resource file of the content offering user.

45. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 44, wherein the resource file of the content offering user further comprises one or more protocols to use when accessing the one or more content files, one or more connectivity bearers to use when accessing the one or more content files, or a combination thereof.

46. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 38, wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:

automatically updating the resource file of the content offered user, the resource file of the content offering user, or a combination thereof, when a change occurs to at least one of the different content processing capabilities or the one or more connectivity bearers that are associated with processing the one or more content files to be shared, without user intervention.

47. A system comprising:

a database comprising resource files each of which corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of users including a content offering user and a content offered user; and

an apparatus that is associated with the content offering user and configured to access one of the resource files that corresponds to the content offered user, wherein the resource file of the content offered user comprises respective content processing capability information of each of a plurality of first devices of the content offered user, and the first devices have different content processing capabilities,

to determine at least one of the first devices and a manner in which one or more content files stored at a plurality of second devices of the content offering user to be shared via a network with the at least one first device based, at least in part, on the content processing capability information,

to cause, at least in part, a transmission via the network to the at least one first device an invitation to access the one or more content files with a reference to a resource file of the content offering user, the resource file of the content offering user comprising at least one internet address and at least one short range wireless communication address of the one or more content files; and

to cause, at least in part, an update to the resource file of the content offering user with a relocation of at least one of the content files from one of the second devices to another one of the second devices, and one or more new addresses of the at least one content file in the another one of the second devices.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein each of the respective resource files comprises one or more connectivity bearers supported by, one or more security settings supported by, or a combination thereof, of respective devices associated with the corresponding user.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the manner in which to share the one or more content files comprises a combination of a protocol to use for sharing the one or more content files, a connectivity bearer to use for sharing the one or more content files, an address to use for sharing the one or more content files, and with which of the first devices to share which of the content files.

50. The system of claim 47 further comprising:

a server configured to store the database, wherein the server is accessible via a wide area network, and wherein respective resource files have a corresponding address associated therewith.

51. The system of claim 47 further comprising:

a presence server configured to store the database, wherein respective resource files are associated with the presence document associated with the corresponding user and stored on the presence server.

52. The system of claim 47, wherein the apparatus comprises an electronic device configured to store the database.