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

• US 7,426,537 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Issued: 09/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Farnham, Shelly, Cheng, Lili, Lee, Oliver, Guo, Quji, Grossman, Joel K., Wentz, Brian D., Schwartz, Jordan L. K., Araman, Christopher J., Winjum, Randall Knight
• Primary Examiner(s): Burgess, Glenton B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): STRANGE, AARON N
• Application Number:
  US10/160,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20030225834A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,300 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709204-206, 709/205, 709/206, 709/227, 709/231, 709/245, 709230-235, 715/738, 715/739, 715/753, 715/758
• 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 the 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 online co-user account;

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

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

receiving via the communication path, information relating to a current audio experience at the inviter computer, wherein the information relating to the current audio experience at the inviter computer comprises information that pertains to utilizing a playlist with a link to each of a plurality of tracks, each track comprising a digital audio file resident on the inviter computer;

receiving a selection of one of the plurality of tracks by way of a selection of the corresponding link in the playlist; and

transcoding the audio file of the selected track at the inviter computer in accordance with information relating to the communication path, and only if one of (a) the audio file is not protected by a rights-management system at the inviter computer and (b) the audio file is protected by a rights-management system at the inviter computer and the rights-management system determines that the audio file can be transcoded, the transcoding comprising converting at least one of a format and a sampling rate of the audio file into a format and/or sampling rate that is efficient for transmission via the communications path.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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

5. 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.

6. The method of claim 1, 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.

7. 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.

8. 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;

communicating to the invitee computer, via the second communication path, information relating to a dynamic content experience at the inviter computer, wherein the information includes information related to a playlist;

receiving from the invitee computer, via the second communication path, information relating to a current audio experience at the invitee computer, wherein the information relating to the current audio experience at the invitee computer comprises information that pertains to utilizing a playlist with a link to each of a plurality of tracks, each track comprising a digital audio file resident on the invitee computer;

receiving a selection of one of the plurality of tracks by way of a selection of the corresponding link in the playlist; and

transcoding an audio file at the invitee computer in accordance with information relating to the second communication path, and only if one of (a) the audio file is not protected by a rights-management system at the invitee computer and (b) the audio file is protected by a rights-management system at the invitee computer and the rights-management system determines that the audio file can be transcoded, the transcoding comprising converting at least one of a format and a sampling rate of the audio file into a format and/or sampling rate that is efficient for transmission via the second communications path.

9. The method of claim 8, 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.

10. The method of claim 8, 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.

11. The method of claim 8, 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.

12. The method of claim 8, 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.

13. 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;

communicating to the inviter computer, via the second communication path, information relating to a dynamic content experience at the invitee computer, wherein the information includes information related to a playlist;

receiving from the inviter computer, via the second communication path, information relating to a current audio experience at the inviter computer, wherein the information relating to the current audio experience at the invitee computer comprises information that pertains to utilizing a playlist with a link to each of a plurality of tracks, each track comprising a digital audio file resident on the invitee computer;

receiving a selection of one of the plurality of tracks by way of a selection of the corresponding link in the playlist; and

transcoding an audio file at the invitee computer in accordance with information relating to the second communication path, and only if one of (a) the audio file is not protected by a rights-management system at the invitee computer and (b) the audio file is protected by a rights-management system at the invitee computer and the rights-management system determines that the audio file can be transcoded, the transcoding comprising converting at least one of a format and a sampling rate of the audio file into a format and/or sampling rate that is efficient for transmission via the second communications path.

14. The method of claim 13, 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.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

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

16. The method of claim 13, wherein establishing the second communication path comprises:

receiving a connection message from 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.

17. The method of claim 13, 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.

18. 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 online co-user account;

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

communicating, via the communication path to the invitee computer, information relating to a dynamic content experience at the inviter computer, wherein the information includes information related to a playlist;

receiving via the communication path, information relating to a current audio experience at the inviter computer, wherein the information relating to the current audio experience at the inviter computer comprises information that pertains to utilizing a playlist with a link to each of a plurality of tracks, each track comprising a digital audio file resident on the inviter computer;

receiving a selection of one of the plurality of tracks by way of a selection of the corresponding link in the playlist; and

transcoding the audio file of the selected track at the inviter computer in accordance with information relating to the communication path, and only if one of (a) the audio file is not protected by a rights-management system at the inviter computer and (b) the audio file is protected by a rights-management system at the inviter computer and the rights-management system determines that the audio file can be transcoded, the transcoding comprising converting at least one of a format and a sampling rate of the audio file into a format and/or sampling rate that is efficient for transmission via the communications path.

19. The computer storage medium of claim 18, the method further comprising:

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

20. The computer storage medium of claim 18, 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.

21. The computer storage medium of claim 18, 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.

22. The computer storage medium of claim 18, the method further comprising:

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

23. The computer storage medium of claim 18, 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.

24. The computer storage medium of claim 18, 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.

25. The computer storage medium of claim 18, wherein communicating the information relating to the audio experience at the inviter computer comprises communicating information that pertains to utilizing a playlist.

26. The computer storage medium of claim 25, 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.

27. The computer storage medium of claim 18, 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.

28. 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;

receiving from the invitee computer, via the second communication path, information relating to a current dynamic content experience at the invitee computer, wherein the information includes information related to a playlist;

receiving from the invitee computer, via the second communication path, information relating to a current audio experience at the invitee computer, wherein the information relating to the current audio experience at the invitee computer comprises information that pertains to utilizing a playlist with a link to each of a plurality of tracks, each track comprising a digital audio file resident on the invitee computer;

receiving a selection of one of the plurality of tracks by way of a selection of the corresponding link in the playlist; and

transcoding an audio file at the invitee computer in accordance with information relating to the second communication path, and only if one of (a) the audio file is not protected by a rights-management system at the invitee computer and (b) the audio file is protected by a rights-management system at the invitee computer and the rights-management system determines that the audio file can be transcoded, the transcoding comprising converting at least one of a format and a sampling rate of the audio file into a format and/or sampling rate that is efficient for transmission via the second communications path.

29. 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;

receiving from the inviter computer, via the second communication path, information relating to a current dynamic content experience at the inviter computer, wherein the information includes information related to a playlist;

receiving from the inviter computer, via the second communication path, information relating to a current audio experience at the inviter computer, wherein the information relating to the current audio experience at the invitee computer comprises information that pertains to utilizing a playlist with a link to each of a plurality of tracks, each track comprising a digital audio file resident on the invitee computer;

receiving a selection of one of the plurality of tracks by way of a selection of the corresponding link in the playlist; and

transcoding an audio file at the invitee computer in accordance with information relating to the second communication path, and only if one of (a) the audio file is not protected by a rights-management system at the invitee computer and (b) the audio file is protected by a rights-management system at the invitee computer and the rights-management system determines that the audio file can be transcoded, the transcoding comprising converting at least one of a format and a sampling rate of the audio file into a format and/or sampling rate that is efficient for transmission via the second communications path.