Systems and methods for sharing dynamic content among a plurality of online co-users

• US 20030225834A1
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Cheng, Lili, Farnham, Shelly, Lee, Oliver, Araman, Christopher J., Wentz, Brian D., Schwartz, Jordan L. K., Grossman, Joel K., Guo, Quji, Winjum, Randall Knight
• Granted Patent: US 7,426,537 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

Systems and methods for establishing a shared dynamic content experience are disclosed. A method for sharing a dynamic content experience according to the invention includes an inviter computer communicating, via a first communication path between an invitee computer and a network based communication server, an invitation to establish a shared dynamic content experience between the inviter computer and the invitee computer. If the invitation is accepted, a content sharing communication path is established between and inviter computer and the invitee computer. Information relating to a current dynamic content experience at the inviter computer is communicated, via the content sharing communication path, to the invitee computer. Information relating to a current dynamic content experience at the invitee computer is communicated, via the content sharing communication path, to the inviter computer.

Claims

1. A method for providing a shared dynamic content experience, the method comprising:

determining from an online message service whether an online co-user account is currently active;

retrieving from the online message service, an address associated with an invitee computer associated with the pre-specified online co-user account;

establishing a communication path between and inviter computer and the invitee computer; and

communicating, via the communication path to the invitee computer, information relating to a dynamic content experience at the inviter computer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving via the communication path, information relating to a current audio experience at the invitee computer.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating to the inviter computer, via a communication path associated with the online message service, an invitation to establish a shared audio experience between the inviter computer and the invitee computer.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the inviter computer, via a communication path associated with the online message service, an acceptance of an invitation to establish a shared audio experience between the inviter computer and the invitee computer.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating at the inviter computer a media player that is adapted to process audio files.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating at the inviter computer a network browser via which a communication path between the inviter computer and the online message service can be established.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing an audio file at the inviter computer in accordance with the information relating to the audio experience at the invitee computer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating the information relating to the audio experience at the inviter computer comprises communicating information that pertains to utilizing a playlist.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein utilizing the playlist comprises at least one of loading the playlist, adding a track to the playlist, removing a track from the playlist, moving a track within the playlist, sorting tracks within the playlist, and clearing the playlist.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating the information relating to the audio experience at the inviter computer comprises communicating information that pertains to at least one of starting, playing, pausing, stopping, and skipping an audio track.

11. A method for providing dynamic content, the method comprising:

establishing a dynamic content sharing experience between a first client computer and a second client computer; and

providing a status display at the first client computer that provides a current status of the dynamic content sharing experience at the second client computer.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing a status display at the second client computer that provides a current status of the dynamic content sharing experience at the first client computer.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the status display includes status relating to at least one of starting, playing, pausing, stopping, and skipping an audio track at the second client computer.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the status display includes status relating to at least one of starting, playing, pausing, stopping, and skipping a video track at the first client computer.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the status display includes status relating to online messenger status.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the status display includes a friendly name associated with a pre-specified online co-user account associated with the invitee computer.

17. A method for establishing a shared dynamic content experience, the method comprising:

receiving from an invitee computer, via a first communication path between an inviter computer and a network based communications server, an acceptance of an invitation to establish a shared dynamic content experience between the inviter computer and the invitee computer;

establishing a second communication path between the inviter computer and the invitee computer; and

communicating to the invitee computer, via the second communication path, information relating to a dynamic content experience at the inviter computer.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving via the first communication path, an address associated with the invitee computer and an indication that an online co-user account is currently active on the invitee computer.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

sending to the invitee computer, via the first communication path, the invitation to establish the shared dynamic content experience between the inviter computer and the invitee computer.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving from the invitee computer, via the second communication path, information relating to a dynamic content experience at the invitee computer.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein establishing the second communication path comprises:

communicating a connection message to the invitee computer via the first communication path;

determining whether a reply from the invitee computer has been received; and

if a reply is received from the invitee computer, defining the second communications path to be established between the inviter computer and the invitee computer.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein establishing the second communication path further comprises:

receiving a connection message from the invitee computer via the first communication path;

sending a reply message to the invitee computer; and

defining the second communication path to be established between the invitee computer and the inviter computer.

23. A method for establishing a shared dynamic content experience, the method comprising:

receiving from an inviter computer, via a first communication path between an invitee computer and a network based communication server, an invitation to establish a shared dynamic content experience between the inviter computer and the invitee computer;

establishing a second communication path between the inviter computer and the invitee computer; and

communicating to the inviter computer, via the second communication path, information relating to a dynamic content experience at the invitee computer.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

sending to the inviter computer, via the first communication path, an acceptance of the invitation to establish the shared dynamic content experience between the inviter computer and the invitee computer.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

receiving from the inviter computer, via the second communication path, information relating to a dynamic content experience at the inviter computer.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein establishing the second communication path comprises:

receiving a connection message to the inviter computer via the first communication path; and

communicating to the inviter computer via the second communications path a reply to the connection message.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein establishing the second communication path further comprises:

communicating a connection message from the invitee computer to the inviter computer via the first communication path;

determining whether a reply message from the inviter computer has been received; and

defining the second communication path to be established between the invitee computer and the inviter computer.

28. A method for sharing digital audio, the method comprising:

determining, at an inviter computer, whether a pre-specified online co-user account is currently active on an invitee computer;

sending to the invitee computer, via an online message communication path, an invitation to establish a shared dynamic content experience between the inviter computer and the invitee computer;

receiving from the inviter computer, an acceptance of the invitation;

establishing a second communication path between the inviter computer and the invitee computer;

communicating to the invitee computer, via the second communication path, information relating to a current dynamic content experience at the inviter computer; and

receiving from the invitee computer, via the second communication path, information relating to a current dynamic content experience at the invitee computer.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

providing a status display at the inviter computer that provides a current status associated with the dynamic content experience at the invitee computer.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the status display includes status relating to at least one of starting, playing, pausing, stopping, and skipping an audio track at the invitee computer.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the status display includes online messenger status.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the status display includes a friendly name associated with the pre-specified online co-user account.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the status display includes status relating to at least one of starting, playing, pausing, stopping, and skipping a video track at the invitee computer.

34. A method for sharing digital audio, the method comprising:

receiving from an inviter computer, via an online message communication path, an invitation to establish a shared dynamic content experience between the inviter computer and an invitee computer;

communicating to the inviter computer, an acceptance of the invitation;

establishing a second communication path between the inviter computer and the invitee computer;

communicating to the inviter computer, via the second communication path, information relating to a current dynamic content experience at the invitee computer; and

receiving from the inviter computer, via the second communication path, information relating to a current dynamic content experience at the inviter computer.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

providing a status display at the invitee computer that provides a current status associated with the dynamic content experience at the inviter computer.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the status display includes status relating to at least one of starting, playing, pausing, stopping, and skipping an audio track at the inviter computer.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the status display includes online messenger status.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein the status display includes a friendly name associated with a pre-specified online co-user account.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein the status display includes status relating to at least one of starting, playing, pausing, stopping, and skipping a video track at the inviter computer.

40. A computer storage medium storing thereon computer instructions for performing the following method for establishing a shared dynamic content experience, the method comprising:

determining from an online message service whether an online co-user account is currently active;

retrieving from the online message service, an address associated with an invitee computer associated with the pre-specified online co-user account;

establishing a communication path between and inviter computer and the invitee computer; and

communicating, via the communication path to the invitee computer, information relating to a dynamic content experience at the inviter computer.

41. The computer storage medium of claim 40, the method further comprising:

receiving via the communication path, information relating to a current audio experience at the invitee computer.

42. The computer storage medium of claim 40, the method further comprising:

communicating to the inviter computer, via a communication path associated with the online message service, an invitation to establish a shared audio experience between the inviter computer and the invitee computer.

43. The computer storage medium of claim 40, the method further comprising:

receiving from the inviter computer, via a communication path associated with the online message service, an acceptance of an invitation to establish a shared audio experience between the inviter computer and the invitee computer.

44. The computer storage medium of claim 40, the method further comprising:

initiating at the inviter computer a media player that is adapted to process audio files.

45. The computer storage medium of claim 40, the method further comprising:

initiating at the inviter computer a network browser via which a communication path between the inviter computer and the online message service can be established.

46. The computer storage medium of claim 40, the method further comprising:

processing an audio file at the inviter computer in accordance with the information relating to the audio experience at the invitee computer.

47. The computer storage medium of claim 40, wherein communicating the information relating to the audio experience at the inviter computer comprises communicating information that pertains to utilizing a playlist.

48. The computer storage medium of claim 47, wherein utilizing the playlist comprises at least one of loading the playlist, adding a track to the playlist, removing a track from the playlist, moving a track within the playlist, sorting tracks within the playlist, and clearing the playlist.

49. The computer storage medium of claim 40, wherein communicating the information relating to the audio experience at the inviter computer comprises communicating information that pertains to at least one of starting, playing, pausing, stopping, and skipping an audio track.

50. A computer storage medium storing thereon computer instructions for performing the following method for providing dynamic content, the method comprising:

establishing a dynamic content sharing experience between a first client computer and a second client computer; and

providing a status display at the first client computer that provides a current status of the dynamic content sharing experience at the second client computer.

51. A computer storage medium storing thereon computer instructions for performing the following method for providing dynamic content, the method comprising:

receiving from an invitee computer, via a first communication path between an inviter computer and a network based communications server, an acceptance of an invitation to establish a shared dynamic content experience between the inviter computer and the invitee computer;

establishing a second communication path between the inviter computer and the invitee computer; and

communicating to the invitee computer, via the second communication path, information relating to a dynamic content experience at the inviter computer.

52. A computer storage medium storing thereon computer instructions for performing the following method for establishing a shared dynamic content experience, the method comprising:

receiving from an inviter computer, via a first communication path between an invitee computer and a network based communication server, an invitation to establish a shared dynamic content experience between the inviter computer and the invitee computer;

establishing a second communication path between the inviter computer and the invitee computer; and

communicating to the inviter computer, via the second communication path, information relating to a dynamic content experience at the invitee computer.

53. A computer storage medium storing thereon computer instructions for performing the following method for sharing digital audio, the method comprising:

determining, at an inviter computer, whether a pre-specified online co-user account is currently active on an invitee computer;

sending to the invitee computer, via an online message communication path, an invitation to establish a shared dynamic content experience between the inviter computer and the invitee computer;

receiving from the inviter computer, an acceptance of the invitation;

establishing a second communication path between the inviter computer and the invitee computer;

communicating to the invitee computer, via the second communication path, information relating to a current dynamic content experience at the inviter computer; and

receiving from the invitee computer, via the second communication path, information relating to a current dynamic content experience at the invitee computer.

54. A computer storage medium storing thereon computer instructions for performing the following method for sharing digital audio, the method comprising:

receiving from an inviter computer, via an online message communication path, an invitation to establish a shared dynamic content experience between the inviter computer and an invitee computer;

communicating to the inviter computer, an acceptance of the invitation;

establishing a second communication path between the inviter computer and the invitee computer;

communicating to the inviter computer, via the second communication path, information relating to a current dynamic content experience at the invitee computer; and

receiving from the inviter computer, via the second communication path, information relating to a current dynamic content experience at the inviter computer.