System and method for managing distribution of media files
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for managing distribution of media files, the method being implemented by one or more processors and comprising:
- enabling a source computer that is part of a personal network of a user to allow a remote computing device that is external to the personal network to access and act upon a set of media files residing on the personal network, without uploading the set of media files to an intermediary server or computer, by configuring the source computer to perform steps comprising;
scanning the personal network of the user to identify media files that can be shared and acted upon by the remote computing device, the personal network of the user including the source computer and one or more other devices;
receiving a request from the remote computing device to access the set of media files;
sending data that corresponds to each media file in the set to the remote computing device using a network and without use of an intermediary server or computer;
enabling a user of the remote computing device to communicate with the source computer to specify one or more actions that are to be performed or initiated on the source computer for any of the one or more media files in the set; and
initiating performance of the one or more actions specified by the remote user;
wherein the one or more specified actions include sending at least portions of the selected media files to a particular network location specified by the user of the remote computing device, and wherein the particular network location is external to the personal network.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system, method and technique are provided for managing distribution of digital images and other media. A host computer may store a library of media files, including digital images, such as those captured by a digital camera of a user. One or more applications may run on the host computer, or on an Internet service that communicates with the host computer, in order to enable management, sharing and distribution of images stored on the host computer. A remote device may be operated by the user or guest to cause remotely viewed images that reside on the host computer to be transferred to a print service or other third-party service with a corresponding network location.
310 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for managing distribution of media files, the method being implemented by one or more processors and comprising:
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enabling a source computer that is part of a personal network of a user to allow a remote computing device that is external to the personal network to access and act upon a set of media files residing on the personal network, without uploading the set of media files to an intermediary server or computer, by configuring the source computer to perform steps comprising; scanning the personal network of the user to identify media files that can be shared and acted upon by the remote computing device, the personal network of the user including the source computer and one or more other devices; receiving a request from the remote computing device to access the set of media files; sending data that corresponds to each media file in the set to the remote computing device using a network and without use of an intermediary server or computer; enabling a user of the remote computing device to communicate with the source computer to specify one or more actions that are to be performed or initiated on the source computer for any of the one or more media files in the set; and initiating performance of the one or more actions specified by the remote user; wherein the one or more specified actions include sending at least portions of the selected media files to a particular network location specified by the user of the remote computing device, and wherein the particular network location is external to the personal network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for managing distribution of media files that are stored on a personal network of an end user, the system comprising:
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multiple machines of the end user that are interconnected by a network to form the personal network; multiple memory components provided by the multiple machines; wherein the multiple machines are each configured to present the multiple components as a combined memory for use on the personal network; wherein the multiple machines store a collection of media files amongst the plurality of memory components; a media manager module, executing on one or more of the multiple machines, the media manager module being configured to programmatically respond to a request from a remote device that is external to the personal network to act on a selected media file by; accessing any one of the memory components that form the combined memory to retrieve the selected media file; generating data corresponding to the selected media file; and causing the data to be transmitted from the one or more multiple machines, without uploading the one or more media files to an intermediary server or computer, to a location specified by a user of the remote device, wherein the location is external to the personal network. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification