Method for sharing a media collection in a network environment

• US 20060195902A1
• Filed: 12/21/2005
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brown, David E., Porter, Robert, Korman, Adam, King, Ryan Eric, Wilson, Kathleen, Upendran, Manish
• Granted Patent: US 8,601,572 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/21
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/273 Asynchronous replication or reconciliation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3344 using natural language analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4393 Multimedia presentations, e.g. slide shows, multimedia albums
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/637 Administration of user profiles, e.g. generation, initialization, adaptation or distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6236 between heterogeneous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/0038 System on Chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2216/01 Automatic library building
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2113 Multi-level security, e.g. mandatory access control
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/386 using messaging services or messaging apps using mobile network messaging services for payment, e.g. SMS G06Q20/3255
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 : Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 : Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 : applying security measures for digital rights management data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for commerce, e.g. marketing, shopping, billing, auctions or e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 : Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0263 : Rule management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 : Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 : Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 : Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 : for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 : specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 : Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 : Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 : Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 : Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 : The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 : embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 : Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 : Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 : for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 : communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 : using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 : Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 : comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 : involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/913 : Multimedia

Abstract

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides for the accessing and playing of media files having differing associated rights such as non-DRM media files, purchased and downloaded media files, subscription download files such as tethered downloads, and subscription streamed DRM files. In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method and user interface for sharing a media collection among computing devices in communication via a network. In one embodiment, the disclosed method allows access and playback, from each computing device on a network, of all media files in a media collection, regardless of their associated rights.

Claims

1. A method of sharing a media collection among computing devices in communication via a network, the method comprising:

requesting, from a first computing device operated by a first subscriber, access to a media collection associated with a second subscriber on a second computing device, the first and second computing device being capable of communication via said network, said first subscriber associated with a first level of authorization to interact with an online media service and said second subscriber associated with a second level of authorization to interact with said online media service;

receiving, at said first computing device, a set of media file identifiers from said second computing device, each identifier associated with a respective media file of said media collection;

displaying at least a portion of said set of identifiers; and

making said respective media files available for being experienced on said first computing device according to a set of rules and said first level and said second level of authorization, said respective media files capable of being acquired from a source either by streaming said respective media file from said source or downloading said respective media file as a tethered download from said source.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said set of rules comprises analyzing a user'"'"'s level of authorization to interact with said online media service.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said respective media files are available for being experienced on said first computing device if said first level of authorization matches said predetermined level of authorization.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said respective media files are prevented from being experienced on said first computing device if said first level of authorization does not match said predetermined level of authorization.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said first level and said second of authorization are a same level.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein said respective media files are available for being experienced on said first computing device if said first level of authorization matches said second level of authorization.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein said respective media files are prevented from being experienced on said first computing device if said first level of authorization does not match said second level of authorization.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein either one or both of said first level of authorization and said second level of authorization is associated with full access to all media files of said online media service.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein either one or both of said first level of authorization and said second level of authorization is associated with full access to all tethered media file downloads of said online media service.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein either one or both of said first level of authorization and said second level of authorization is associated with full access to all streaming media files of said online media service.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein either one or both of said first level of authorization and said second level of authorization is associated with preventing access to all media files of said online media service.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein either one or both of said first level of authorization and said second level of authorization is associated with allowing access to a portion of media files of said online media service.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said first level of authorization and said second level of authorization are similar.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said first level of authorization and said second level of authorization are dissimilar.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said set of rules permit said media files to be played by said first computing device if said first level of authorization and said second level of authorization are both associated with a subscription to said online media service.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said set of rules prevent said media files from being streamed to said first computing device if said second level of authorization is associated with a subscription to said online media service and said first level of authorization is not associated with said subscription.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein said set of rules prevent said media files from being downloaded to said first computing device if said second level of authorization is associated with a subscription to said online media service and said first level of authorization is not associated with said subscription.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said network is the internet.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein said network is a local area network.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein said network is constrained by the number of computing devices connected to said network.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein said media file identifier comprises a pointer to said respective media file.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein said media file identifier comprises a uniform resource locator.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein said media file identifier comprises a universal resource identifier.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein said source comprises a server.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein said source comprises said second computing device.

26. The method of claim 1 wherein said source comprises a plurality of sources.

27. The method of claim 1 wherein either one or both of said first computing device and said second computing device is a personal computer.

28. The method of claim 1 wherein said media collection comprises at least one media file.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said media file comprises an audio file.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein said media file comprises a video file.

31. The method of claim 1 wherein said media collection comprises a playlist.

32. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving, from said second subscriber, a setting associated with sharing said media collection.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein said setting comprises user-entered text representing a name of said second computing device as it appears to said first computing device.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein said setting comprises permitting said second computing device to stream media files to said first computing device.

35. The method of claim 32 wherein said setting comprises permitting said first computing device to only browse media files associated with said second computing device.

36. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving, from said second subscriber, a preference associated with sharing said media collection.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein said preference comprises permitting said entire media collection to be shared with said first computing device.

38. The method of claim 36 wherein said preference comprises permitting only a portion of media collection to be shared with said first computing device.

39. The method of claim 36 wherein said preference comprises permitting all playlists associated with said second subscriber to be shared with said first computing device.

40. The method of claim 36 wherein said preference comprises permitting only playlists designated as public by said second subscriber to be shared with said first computing device.

41. The method of claim 36 wherein said preference comprises permitting only user-selected playlists associated with said second subscriber to be shared with said first computing device.

42. The method of claim 36 wherein said preference comprises preventing all playlists associated with said second subscriber to be shared with said first computing device.

43. The method of claim 1 wherein said source comprises a first source if said respective media file is acquired by streaming said respective media file and said source comprises a second source if said respective media file is downloaded as a tethered download.