Systems and methods for multimedia content sharing

• US 8,909,810 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2008
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Isabella Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Isabella Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Caine, Michael E., Growney, Matthew I., Koeppel, Brent, Tagliabue, Roberto
• Primary Examiner(s): Pollack, Melvin H
• Application Number:
  US12/221,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20100036967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,316 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/206, 709/207, 709/219, 709/231, 709/236, 705/319, 370/230.1
• US Class Current: 709/236
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/274 Storing end-user multimedia data in response to end-user request , e.g. network recorder
• 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 21/47205 for manipulating displayed content, e.g. interacting with MPEG-4 objects, editing locally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/475 End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

The invention provides, in one aspect, a multimedia content sharing system that includes (i) a shared content server which stores items of content (such as still, moving images and audio) and (ii) a plurality of nodes, each of which is in communications with the shared content server via cellular telephone and/or other data networks. The shared content server transmits items of content to a first set of the nodes “automatically,” e.g., without requests by users of those nodes for the items. At least one node in that first set displays the content of received items (e.g., on an LCD screen) and accepts user feedback in regard to those items. That feedback—which may be, for example, a command to copy an item into an “album”, to rotate an item on the display, to block another node from displaying the items, and/or to block a sender (or creator) of the item from sending further items of content from presenting—is transmitted back to the shared content server for distribution to other nodes, which alter their own respective displays of the items accordingly.

Claims

1. A multimedia content sharing system, comprising

A. a shared content server storing a plurality of items of content, where the stored items of content are any of still, moving images and audio,

B. a plurality of nodes, each in communication coupling with the shared content server via one or more networks,

C. the shared content server transmitting, via the one or more networks,

i. a first set of one or more of the plurality of items of content stored on the server to each node in a first set of said nodes without a request by any user of that node for such item, where the first set comprises one or more of the plurality of nodes, and wherein each node in the first set of said nodes stores the first set of one or more of the plurality of items in a local store associated therewith,

ii. a second set of one or more of the plurality of items of content stored on the server to each node in a second set of said nodes without a request by any user of that node for such item, where the second set comprises one or more of the plurality of nodes and where the second set of items may overlap the first set of items, where the second set of nodes may overlap the first set of nodes, and wherein each node in the second set of said nodes stores the second set of one or more of the plurality of items in a local store associated therewith,

D. at least one said node (“

first peer node”

) in at least one of the first and second sets of nodes, (i) presenting any of visually and/or aurally the content of at least one item of content received from the shared content server, (ii) accepting user feedback with respect to that item of content, the user feedback reflecting user input regarding the item of content, and (iii) transmitting that user feedback to the shared content server,

E. the shared content server transmitting the user feedback to at least one node (“

second peer node”

) that is in the set of nodes to which the first peer node belongs without retransmission of the article of content with respect to which the user feedback was accepted, which second peer node alters a presentation on that node of that item of content as stored on the local store associated therewith based on that user feedback.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the step of accepting user feedback with respect to the item of content includes one or more of (i) copying the at least one item of content to an album, (ii) rotating the at least one item of content, (iii) requesting that a further node be blocked from presenting the at least one item of content, (iv) requesting that a sender of the at least one item of content be blocked from transmitting one or more items of content.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first peer node receives via a cellular modem at least one of the items from the shared content server.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first peer node alters a presentation on that node of the item of content with respect to which the user feedback was accepted.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first peer node responds to at least selected interaction by a user of that node by adding, deleting or otherwise changing information pertaining to an item presented by that node.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first peer node responds to at least selected user interaction by messaging users of one or more of the other nodes.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first peer node responds to at least selected user interaction by forwarding an item of content to one or more other nodes.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of nodes comprise any of mobile phones, personal digital assistants, network-enabled digital picture frames, personal computers, and third-party servers.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein one or more of the third-party servers comprises any of a photo-sharing web site, a digital media company, and/or other repository of content.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the third-party server provides one or more items of content to the shared content server any of (i) at an initiative of that third-party server, (ii) at a request of the shared content server, and (iii) at a request of a user a node.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein one or more of the third-party servers receive content from the shared content server.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein one or more of the servers that receives content from the shared content server comprises a printing service.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said shared content server comprises one or more servers that are coupled for communication with one another over one or more networks.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein one or more of the servers that make up the shared content server comprise a central store with records and/or other structures for storing the items of content and related information.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the related information comprises one or more of a thumbnail of an item of content, one or more versions of an item of content, supplementary information regarding acquisition of an item of content and/or its transfer to the one or more servers.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more networks include (i) a cellular network, and (ii) zero, or more Internets, metropolitan area networks (MANs), wide area networks (WANs), local area networks, personal area networks (PANs).

17. A multimedia content sharing system, comprising

A. a shared content server storing a plurality of items of content, where the stored items of content are any of still images, moving images and audio,

B. a plurality of nodes, each in communication coupling with the shared content server via one or more networks,

C. the shared content server transmitting, via the one or more networks, one or more of the plurality of items of content stored on the server to each node in a first set of said nodes without a request by any user of that node for such item, wherein each node in the first set of said nodes stores the one or more of the plurality of items in a local store associated therewith

D. at least one said node (“

first peer node”

) in the first set of nodes, (i) presenting any of visually and/or aurally the content of at least one item of content received from the shared content server, (ii) accepting user feedback with respect to that item of content, the user feedback reflecting user input regarding the item of content, and (iii) transmitting that user feedback to the shared content server,

E. the shared content server transmitting the user feedback to at least one other node (“

second peer node”

) that is in the first set of nodes without retransmission of the article of content with respect to which the user feedback was accepted, which second peer node alters a presentation on that node of that item of content as stored on the local store associated therewith based on that user feedback.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the user feedback includes commands for one or more of (i) copying the at least one item of content to an album, (ii) rotating the at least one item of content, (iii) requesting that a further node be blocked from presenting the at least one item of content, (iv) requesting that a sender of the at least one item of content be blocked from transmitting one or more items of content.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the first peer node alters a presentation on that node of the item of content with respect to which the user feedback was accepted.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the first peer node receives via a cellular modem at least one of the items from the shared content server.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the first peer node alters a presentation on that node of the item of content with respect to which the user feedback was accepted.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the first peer node responds to at least selected interaction by a user of that node by adding, deleting or otherwise changing information pertaining to an item presented by that node.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the first peer node responds to at least selected user interaction by messaging users of one or more of the other nodes.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the first peer node responds to at least selected user interaction by forwarding an item of content to one or more other nodes.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein one or more of nodes comprise any of mobile phones, personal digital assistants, network-enabled digital picture frames, personal computers, and third-party servers.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein one or more of the third-party servers comprises any of a photo-sharing web site, a digital media company, and/or other repository of content.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the third-party server provides one or more items of content to the shared content server any of (i) at an initiative of that third-party server, (ii) at a request of the shared content server, and (iii) at a request of a user a node.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein one or more of the third-party servers receive content from the shared content server.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein one or more of the servers that receives content from the shared content server comprises a printing service.

30. The system of claim 17, wherein said shared content server comprises a set of one or more servers that are coupled for communication with one another over one or more networks and comprise a central store with records and/or other structures for storing the items of content and related information.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the related information comprises one or more of a thumbnail of an item of content, one or more versions of an item of content, supplementary information regarding acquisition of an item of content and/or its transfer to the one or more servers.

32. The system of claim 17, wherein the one or more networks include (i) a cellular network, and (ii) zero, or more Internets, metropolitan area networks (MANs), wide area networks (WANs), local area networks, personal area networks (PANs).

33. A method of multimedia content sharing, comprising

A. transmitting from a shared content server, via a first set of one or more networks, a first set of one or more items of content stored on the server to each node in a first set of one or more nodes without a request by any user of that node those one or more items, wherein each node in the first set of one or more nodes stores the first set of one or more items in a local store associated therewith,

B. transmitting from the shared content server, via a second set of one or more networks, a second set of one or more items of content stored on the server to each node in a second set of one or more nodes without a request by any user of that node those one or more items, where (i) the second set of items may overlap the first set of items, (ii) the second set of nodes may overlap the first set of nodes, and/or (iii) the second set of networks may overlap the first set of networks, wherein each node in the second set of one or more nodes stores the second set of one or more items in a local store associated therewith,

C. with at least one said node (“

first peer node”

) in at least one of the first and second set of nodes, performing the steps of (i) presenting any of visually and/or aurally the content of at least one item of content received from the shared content server, (ii) accepting user feedback with respect to that item of content, the user feedback reflecting user input regarding the item of content, and (iii) transmitting that user feedback to the shared content server,

D. with the shared content server, transmitting the user feedback to at least one node (“

second peer node”

) that is in the set of nodes to which the first peer node belongs without retransmission of the article of content with respect to which the user feedback was accepted, which second peer node alters a presentation on that node of that item of content as stored on the local store associated therewith based on that user feedback.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the items of content are any of still images, moving images and audio.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein one or more of nodes comprise any of mobile phones, personal digital assistants, network-enabled digital picture frames, personal computers, and third-party servers.

36. The method of claim 33, comprising providing one or more items of content to the shared content server from one or more of the nodes.

37. The method of claim 36, comprising (i) acquiring an item of content with a camera coupled to one of the nodes and transmitting that item of content to the shared content server, and (ii) transmitting that item of content to one or more of the other nodes via any of steps (A) and (B).

38. The method of claim 36, comprising (i) acquiring an item of multimedia content from any of a web site, networked computer, hard drive, memory stick, DVD, CD or other device or system, and (ii) transmitting that item of content to one or more of the nodes via any of steps (A) and (B).

39. The method of claim 36, comprising utilizing the shared content server to combine a said item of content received from a said node with supplementary information provided with that item of content and/or in connection with the transmission thereof from that node.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the supplementary information comprises any of (i) header information provided with transmission of the item of content, and (ii) metadata provided with the item of content.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein any of steps (A) and (B) include transmitting a said item of content, along with at least some of the respective supplementary information, to a said node.

42. The method of claim 39, comprising, with the shared content server, processing any of (i) an item of content received from a said node, (ii) supplementary information for that item of content.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the processing step includes generating any of (i) a thumbnail representing a said item of content received from a said node, and (b) one or more versions of such item of content optimized for presentation on one or more said nodes.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the processing step includes generating one or more of the optimized versions by any of adjusting resolution, adjusting color, adjusting contrast, cropping, and red-eye reduction.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein the processing step includes tagging an item of content received from a said node to facilitate categorization of such item into one or more sets defined by one or more users of the one or more nodes.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the tagging step includes tagging an item of content in accord with any of (a) a user designation, (b) supplementary information for that item of content, and (c) content of that item.

47. The method of claim 33, wherein any of steps (A) and (B) include transmitting a said item of content to a said node based on any of polling, scheduled transmission times, when one or more sensors in the node sense selected conditions thereof.

48. The method of claim 33, wherein any of steps (A) and (B) include transmitting to a said node a said item of content optimized for presentation on that node.

49. The method of claim 33, wherein step (C)(iii) includes presenting items of content received from the shared content server any of individually and/or in groups.

50. A method of multimedia content sharing, comprising

A. transmitting from a shared content server, via a first set of one or more networks, a first set of one or more items of content stored on the server to each node in a first set of one or more nodes without a request by any user of that node those one or more items, wherein each node in the first set of one or more nodes stores the first set of one or more items in a local store associated therewith,

B. with at least one said node (“

first peer node”

) in the first set of nodes, performing the steps of (i) presenting any of visually and/or aurally the content of at least one item of content received from the shared content server, (ii) accepting user feedback with respect to that item of content, the user feedback reflecting user input regarding the item of content, and (iii) transmitting that user feedback to the shared content server,

C. with the shared content server, transmitting the user feedback to at least one node (“

second peer node”

) that is in the first set of nodes without retransmission of the article of content with respect to which the user feedback was accepted, which second peer node alters a presentation on that node of that item of content as stored on the local store associated therewith based on that user feedback.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein step (A) includes transmitting the first set of items to the first peer node automatically upon activation of that node and its coupling to the one or more networks.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein step (A) includes transmitting the first set of items to the first peer node on one or more bases, including, any of (i) polling, (ii) scheduled transmission times, (iii) sensed activity of a user of the first peer node.

53. The method of claim 50, wherein step (A) includes transmitting the first set of items to the first peer node optimized based on the characteristics of that node.

54. The method of claim 50, wherein step (B)(i) includes presenting one or more items in the first set of images any of individually and/or in groups.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein step (B)(i) includes basing presentation of one or more items in the first set of items based on characteristics including any of tags, item sender, item subject, and/or time/date of image acquisition.

56. The method of claim 50, comprising the step of

D. acquiring one or more items of content via one or more of the nodes and transmitting that item to the shared content server for transmission to one or more of the other nodes.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein step (D) includes acquiring one or more items of content via the first peer node and transmitting that item of content to the shared content server for transmission to one or more nodes in the first set of nodes.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein step (D) includes acquiring an item of content using a camera that is any of built-in or attached to the first peer node.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein step (D) includes acquiring an item of content via download from one or more other devices and/or systems.

60. A method of multimedia content sharing, comprising

A. grouping one or more items of content stored on a shared content server into one or more groups,

B. transmitting to one or more nodes from the shared content server, via a first set of one or more networks, one or more items of content from a first such group of items stored on the server to each of one or more nodes in a first set of nodes having permissions in that group without a request by any user of that node for those one or more items, wherein each node in the first set of nodes stores the one or more items in a local store associated therewith,

C. with at least said node (“

first peer node”

) in the first set of nodes, performing the steps of (i) presenting any of visually and/or aurally the content of at least one item of content from the first group of items received from the shared content server, (ii) accepting user feedback with respect to that item of content, the user feedback reflecting user input regarding the item of content, and (iii) transmitting that user feedback to the shared content server,

D. with the shared content server, transmitting the user feedback to at least one node (“

second peer node”

) that is in the first set of nodes without retransmission of the article of content with respect to which the user feedback was accepted, which second peer node alters a presentation on that node of that item of content as stored on the local store associated therewith based on that user feedback.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein step (A) includes grouping a plurality of items of content on the shared content server into a plurality of groups.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein step (A) includes grouping the one or more items of content into groups based on the user feedback received accepted in step (C).

63. The method of claim 60, wherein step (A) includes grouping the one or more items of content into groups based on based on user-defined rules.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the rules are a function of tags and/or other information associated with the respective items of content.

65. The method of claim 60, wherein step (A) includes selectively transmitting the one or more items of content from the first group of items to one or more nodes in the first set of nodes.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein step (A) includes selectively transmitting the one or more items of content from the first group of items to one or more nodes in the first set of nodes based on preferences defined for the respective nodes.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein those preferences include blocking transmission of items of content from any of designated senders, nodes and/or selected groups.

68. The method of claim 60, comprising setting permissions for nodes in a group as a function of any of payment of a service fee, activation of a user account, action of a node user, and action of an administrator.

69. The method of claim 60, wherein the items of content are any of still images, moving images and audio.

70. The method of claim 60, wherein one or more of nodes comprise any of mobile phones, personal digital assistants, network-enabled digital picture frames, personal computers, and third-party servers.

71. The method of claim 60, wherein step (C)(ii) includes accepting as user feedback a command to identifying at least one item of content as belonging to one or more of the groups.

72. The method of claim 60, including the step of blocking from transmission to one or more nodes in the first set items of content from which those nodes have been excluded.

73. The method of claim 62, wherein the blocking step includes blocking from transmission to one or more nodes in the first set of node one or more items of content from which those nodes have been excluded by a user that provide such items of content.

74. The method of claim 60, comprising the step of

E. providing one or more items of content to the shared content server from one or more of the nodes.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein step (E) includes

(i) acquiring an item of multimedia content from any of a camera, web site, networked computer, hard drive memory stick, DVD, CD or other device or system coupled to one of the nodes and transmitting that item of content to the shared content server, and

(ii) transmitting that item of content to one or more of the nodes via step (B).

76. The method of claim 74, comprising utilizing the shared content server to combine a said item of content received from a said node with supplementary information provided with that item of content and/or in connection with the transmission thereof from that node.

77. The method of claim 76, comprising determining a grouping an item of content received from a said node in accord with any of (a) a user designation, (b) supplementary information for that item of content, and (c) content of that item.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein the supplementary information comprises any of (i) header information provided with transmission of the item of content, and (ii) metadata provided with the item of content.

79. The method of claim 77, wherein step (B) include transmitting a said item of content, along with at least some of the respective supplementary information, to a said node.

80. The method of claim 77, comprising, with the shared content server, processing any of (i) an item of content received from a said node, (ii) supplementary information for that item of content.

81. The method of claim 80, wherein the processing step includes generating any of (i) a thumbnail representing a said item of content received from a said node, and (b) one or more versions of such item of content optimized for presentation on one or more said nodes.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein the processing step includes generating one or more of the optimized versions by any of adjusting resolution, adjusting color, adjusting contrast, cropping, and red-eye reduction.

83. The method of claim 80, wherein the processing step includes tagging an item of content received from a said node to facilitate categorization of such item into one or more sets defined by one or more users of the one or more nodes.

84. The method of claim 60, wherein any of steps (B) and E(ii) include transmitting to a said node a said item of content optimized for presentation on that node.