Method and apparatus for multimedia collaboration using a social network system

• US 8,924,480 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2013
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Guzman, Carlos, Agraharam, Sanjay
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHIU, HO T
• Application Number:
  US13/919,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20130282826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/185 with management of multicast group membership
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal

Abstract

In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for multimedia collaboration using a social network system. In one embodiment, a method for using a social network to establish a collaborative multimedia interaction includes receiving a request from a user to establish the collaborative multimedia interaction, where the user has established the social network, and notifying one or more members of the social network of the collaborative multimedia interaction using, in some embodiments, information about the members'"'"' current or last known digital presence and a customizable set of notification rules.

Claims

1. A method for using a social network to establish a collaborative multimedia interaction, comprising:

notifying, by a processor, a device of a member of the social network of the collaborative multimedia interaction, wherein the collaborative multimedia interaction is established by a conferencing system in response to receiving a request from a user device to establish the collaborative multimedia interaction, wherein the social network is hosted separately from the collaborative multimedia interaction by a social network system, wherein the notifying comprises;

retrieving contact information for the member from the social network;

determining a physical location of the device of the member, wherein the determining the physical location is based upon a past network usage pattern associated with the member;

determining a rule pertaining to when to notify the device of the member; and

sending a notification in accordance with the physical location of the device of the member and in accordance with the contact information, for inviting the device of the member to join the collaborative multimedia interaction, wherein the notification is sent at a time in accordance with the rule pertaining to when to notify the device of the member.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

opening the collaborative multimedia interaction in response to the request.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

joining the device of the member to the collaborative multimedia interaction.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the joining is performed automatically.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the joining is performed manually.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the rule is inferred.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the rule is configured via the user device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the rule is specific to a location.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the rule is based on a time zone of the device of the member.

10. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium containing an executable program for using a social network to establish a collaborative multimedia interaction, where the executable program, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

notifying a device of a member of the social network of the collaborative multimedia interaction, wherein the collaborative multimedia interaction is established by a conferencing system in response to receiving a request from a user device to establish the collaborative multimedia interaction, wherein the social network is hosted separately from the collaborative multimedia interaction by a social network system, wherein the notifying comprises;

retrieving contact information for the member from the social network;

determining a physical location of the device of the member, wherein the determining the physical location is based upon a past network usage pattern associated with the member;

determining a rule pertaining to when to notify the device of the member; and

sending a notification in accordance with the physical location of the device of the member and in accordance with the contact information, for inviting the device of the member to join the collaborative multimedia interaction, wherein the notification is sent at a time in accordance with the rule pertaining to when to notify the device of the member.

11. A system for using a social network to establish a collaborative multimedia interaction, comprising:

a processor of a notification system; and

a non-transitory computer readable medium in communication with the processor, storing an executable program which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

notifying a device of the member of the social network of the collaborative multimedia interaction, wherein the collaborative multimedia interaction is established by a conferencing system in response to receiving a request from a user device to establish the collaborative multimedia interaction, wherein the social network is hosted separately from the collaborative multimedia interaction by a social network system, wherein the notifying comprises;

retrieving contact information for the member from the social network;

determining a physical location of the device of the member, wherein the determining the physical location is based upon a past network usage pattern associated with the member;

determining a rule pertaining to when to notify the device of the member; and

sending a notification in accordance with the physical location of the device of the member and in accordance with the contact information, for inviting the device of the member to join the collaborative multimedia interaction, wherein the notification is sent at a time in accordance with the rule pertaining to when to notify the device of the member.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a network usage module interfaced to the notification system for providing usage information about the device of the member.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the notification system is a rules based system containing the rule pertaining to when to notify the device of the member.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the rule is inferred.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the rule is configured via the user device.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the rule is specific to a location of the social network system.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the rule is based on a time zone of the device of the member.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the conferencing system further supports a delivery of data content.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the data content is based on a profile of the user, the profile being maintained by the social network system.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the social network system indicates usage information associated with the user and with the member.