Patent Application
20150326620
The present technology pertains to sharing media content, and more specifically pertains to methods of presenting the shared media content including providing additional information for and interacting with shared media content.
Social networks enable users to collaborate and share information. Many of these social networks enable users to comment on items, send each other messages, and communicate through chat features. Although these social networks often facilitate direct communication between users, there is a need for improved features for facilitating communication between users as a first user presents media to one or more second users.
Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or can be learned by practice of the herein disclosed principles. The features and advantages of the disclosure can be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or can be learned by the practice of the principles set forth herein.
The disclosed technology addresses the need in the art for facilitating communication between users while viewing media. In at least one embodiment, a content management system (CMS) providing cloud storage services can additionally provide, among other such services, a forum that allows users to share media items (e.g., images, videos, documents, etc.) with other users. For example, a first user can share an image with a second user to create a virtual shared space between the first and second user. In one example, this virtual shared space is not public and is only accessible by the first and second user until the first or second user invites a third user to join the virtual shared space. Accordingly, the virtual shared space is, in one example, a private media sharing forum between selected or otherwise invited users.
In at least one embodiment, a user could create and share a slideshow of images with other users in the virtual shared space. In addition to enabling users to provide comments to specific images or to the slideshow in general, the slideshow could include a presentation mode where a first user presents the slideshow to the other users in the virtual shared space. In one example, the presentation mode could include establishing a shared screen session for simultaneous viewing where what is being displayed on a first computing device is also being displayed on a second computing device. Further, in this example, interactions with the images of the slideshow by each computing device could be shown on each device. For example, if a first user zooms in on an object, a second user will see a magnification of the object. Additionally, if the second user subsequently zooms out, the first user will see a minimization of the object.
There are, however, instances where simultaneous viewing in the presentation mode may not be convenient for users. Therefore, in another example, a user could provide an audio message describing one or more images of the slideshow for playback at a later time by other users of the virtual shared space.
The above-recited and other advantages and features of the disclosure will become apparent by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the principles herein are described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
Various embodiments of the disclosure are discussed in detail below. While specific implementations are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the art will recognize that other components and configurations may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
The disclosed technology addresses the need in the art for facilitating communication between users while viewing shared media. In at least one embodiment, a forum allowing users to share media items (e.g., images, videos, documents, etc.) with other users is disclosed. For example, a first user can share an image or other media item with a second user to create a virtual shared space between the first and second user. In one example, this virtual shared space is private between the first and second user and is only accessible by additional users upon invitation.
In at least one embodiment, a user can create and share a slideshow of images with other users in the virtual shared space. For example, the slideshow can include a presentation mode where a first user can present the slideshow to other users of the virtual shared space. In one example, the presentation mode can include establishing a shared screen session for simultaneous viewing where what is being displayed on a first computing device is also being displayed on a second computing device. Alternatively, a user could record an audio message to accompany the slideshow for playback at a later time by the other users of the virtual shared space.
Various other functions and advantages are described and suggested below as may be provided in accordance with the various embodiments.
Accordingly,
Additionally, mom 202 may have the option of forwarding image 104 to other users by selecting forward icon 114. In one example, mom 202 could forward image 104 and, as a result, create a new virtual shared space, she could forward image 104 to a user which mom 202 already connected with via an existing virtual shared space, or mom 202 could invite an additional user to join virtual shared space 106 between her and Jane 102. In one example, virtual shared space 106 is not public and is only accessible by Jane 102 and mom 202 until either of them invites another user to join virtual shared space 106.
In response to Jane 102 selecting slideshow icon 308, an application window enabling photo selection can be displayed.
In addition to enabling users to provide comments to specific images or to the slideshow in general, slideshows could be presented using a presentation mode where a first user presents the slideshow to the other users via the virtual shared space.
Further, while in a shared screen mode, actions that one user takes with respect to the images of slideshow 324 can be viewed on each computing device (100, 200). For example,
There are, however, instances where simultaneous viewing in the presentation mode may not be convenient for users. Therefore, in another example, a user could provide an audio message describing one or more images of a slideshow for playback at a later time by other users of a respective virtual shared space.
After Jane 102 has recorded audio for all the images she desires, she can share slideshow 324 along with the corresponding audio messages via virtual shared space 106. Accordingly,
Accordingly, in this example, the slideshow and the audio message are posted 606 or provided for access in the virtual shared space. Providing the slideshow and the audio message for access enables the first and second user to view the images of the slideshow and listen to the audio message at a later time and more than once. Further, the audio message can be analyzed in order to identify keywords 608. For example, text of the message can be used to generate metadata for a respective image and the text metadata can be assigned to the respective image for text searching, automatic event tagging, sorting, and the like.
In at least one embodiment, the virtual shared space of various embodiments discussed herein can be provided by a content management system (CMS), which (among other services) can enable users to upload and save content items to one or more databases. CMS can, therefore, store a copy of these content items and enable the users to modify the content item from any number of computing devices through, for example, a personalized account. Each computing device, in this example, of the personalized account can include a client-side application that communicates with the CMS to synchronize a copy of each respective content item stored locally on each computing device with the universal copy of a respective content item stored with the CMS. Users can then later access these content items and/or share them with other users by sending a share link to a respective content item that can be generated by the CMS, for example.
Accordingly, the virtual shared space of various embodiments can be established through such a client-side application installed on each computing device belonging to a respective user. Further, media items shared by other users to a respective virtual shared space can be automatically synchronized to a user's personalized account with the CMS, among other such features.
In this example, a link between the first computing device and the second computing device through the client-side application of each device is established 708. In one example, the link can be established using virtual network computing (VNC), which enables graphical sharing by using a remote frame buffer protocol (RFB) to remotely control send instructions to each device. Accordingly, VNC can transmit actions performed by each user on a respective device to another, relaying the graphical screen updates back in the other direction, over a network. Other such methods for establishing shared screen or a remote desktop can also be used in accordance with various embodiments.
Accordingly, the link, in one example, is associated with a screen image mirror enabling each of the first and the second user to view the images of the slideshow and associated actions on each device 710. Further, the link can also be associated with establishing an audio connection between the first and second computing device. The audio connection, therefore, enabling the first and at least the second user to discuss the images of the slideshow as each of them are each viewing the slideshow.
An exemplary system configuration 800 for enabling access to content of a compressed content item from a variety of computing devices is shown in
In system 800, a user can interact with content management system 806 through computing devices 8021, 8022, . . . , 802n (collectively “602”) connected to network 804 by direct and/or indirect communication. Content management system 806 can support connections from a variety of different computing devices, such as desktop computers; mobile computers; mobile communications devices, e.g. mobile phones, smart phones, tablets; smart televisions; set-top boxes; and/or any other network enabled computing devices. Computing devices 802 can be of varying type, capabilities, operating systems, etc. Furthermore, content management system 806 can concurrently accept connections from and interact with multiple computing devices 802.
A user can interact with content management system 806 via a client-side application installed on computing device 802i. In some embodiments, the client-side application can include a content management system specific component. For example, the component can be a stand-alone application, one or more application plug-ins, and/or a browser extension. However, the user can also interact with content management system 806 via a third-party application, such as a web browser, that resides on computing device 802i and is configured to communicate with content management system 806. In either case, the client-side application can present a user interface (UI) for the user to interact with content management system 806. For example, the user can interact with the content management system 806 via a client-side application integrated with the file system or via a webpage displayed using a web browser application.
Content management system 806 can make it possible for a user to store content, as well as perform a variety of content management tasks, such as retrieve, modify, browse, and/or share the content. Furthermore, content management system 806 can make it possible for a user to access the content from multiple computing devices 802. For example, computing device 802i can upload content to content management system 806 via network 804. The content can later be retrieved from content management system 806 using the same computing device 802i or some other computing device 802j.
To facilitate the various content management services, a user can create an account with content management system 806. The account information can be maintained in user account database 850. User account database 850 can store profile information for registered users. In some cases, the only personal information in the user profile can be a username and/or email address. However, content management system 806 can also be configured to accept additional user information.
User account database 850 can also include account management information, such as account type, e.g. free or paid; usage information, e.g. file edit history; maximum storage space authorized; storage space used; content storage locations; security settings; personal configuration settings; content sharing data; etc. Account management module 824 can be configured to update and/or obtain user account details in user account database 850. The account management module 824 can be configured to interact with any number of other modules in content management system 806.
An account can be used to store content, such as digital data, documents, text files, audio files, video files, etc., from one or more computing devices 802 authorized on the account. The content can also include folders of various types with different behaviors, or other mechanisms of grouping content items together. For example, an account can include a public folder that is accessible to any user. The public folder can be assigned a web-accessible address. A link to the web-accessible address can be used to access the contents of the public folder. In another example, an account can include a photos folder that is intended for photos and that provides specific attributes and actions tailored for photos; an audio folder that provides the ability to play back audio files and perform other audio related actions; or other special purpose folders. An account can also include shared folders or group folders that are linked with and available to multiple user accounts. The permissions for multiple users may be different for a shared folder.
The content can be stored in content storage 860. Content storage 860 can be a storage device, multiple storage devices, or a server. Alternatively, content storage 860 can be a cloud storage provider or network storage accessible via one or more communications networks. Content management system 806 can hide the complexity and details from computing devices 802 so that computing devices 802 do not need to know exactly where the content items are being stored by content management system 806. In one variation, content management system 806 can store the content items in the same folder hierarchy as they appear on computing device 802i. However, content management system 806 can store the content items in its own order, arrangement, or hierarchy. Content management system 806 can store the content items in a network accessible storage (SAN) device, in a redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID), etc. Content storage 860 can store content items using one or more partition types, such as FAT, FAT32, NTFS, EXT2, EXT3, EXT4, ReiserFS, BTRFS, and so forth.
Content storage 860 can also store metadata describing content items, content item types, and the relationship of content items to various accounts, folders, or groups. The metadata for a content item can be stored as part of the content item or can be stored separately. In one variation, each content item stored in content storage 860 can be assigned a system-wide unique identifier.
Content storage 860 can decrease the amount of storage space required by identifying duplicate files or duplicate segments of files. Instead of storing multiple copies, content storage 860 can store a single copy and then use a pointer or other mechanism to link the duplicates to the single copy. Similarly, content storage 860 can store files more efficiently, as well as provide the ability to undo operations, by using a file version control that tracks changes to files, different versions of files (including diverging version trees), and a change history. The change history can include a set of changes that, when applied to the original file version, produce the changed file version.
Content management system 806 can be configured to support automatic synchronization of content from one or more computing devices 802. The synchronization can be platform agnostic. That is, the content can be synchronized across multiple computing devices 802 of varying type, capabilities, operating systems, etc. For example, computing device 802i can include client software, which synchronizes, via a synchronization module 832 at content management system 806, content in computing device 802i's file system with the content in an associated user account. In some cases, the client software can synchronize any changes to content in a designated folder and its sub-folders, such as new, deleted, modified, copied, or moved files or folders. The client software can be a separate software application, can integrate with an existing content management application in the operating system, or some combination thereof. In one example of client software that integrates with an existing content management application, a user can manipulate content directly in a local folder, while a background process monitors the local folder for changes and synchronizes those changes to content management system 806. Conversely, the background process can identify content that has been updated at content management system 806 and synchronize those changes to the local folder. The client software can provide notifications of synchronization operations, and can provide indications of content statuses directly within the content management application. Sometimes computing device 802i may not have a network connection available. In this scenario, the client software can monitor the linked folder for file changes and queue those changes for later synchronization to content management system 806 when a network connection is available. Similarly, a user can manually stop or pause synchronization with content management system 806.
A user can also view or manipulate content via a web interface generated and served by user interface module 822. For example, the user can navigate in a web browser to a web address provided by content management system 806. Changes or updates to content in the content storage 860 made through the web interface, such as uploading a new version of a file, can be propagated back to other computing devices 802 associated with the user's account. For example, multiple computing devices 802, each with their own client software, can be associated with a single account and files in the account can be synchronized between each of the multiple computing devices 802.
Content management system 806 can include a communications interface 820 for interfacing with various computing devices 802, and can interact with other content and/or service providers 8091, 8092, . . . , 809n (collectively “609”) via an Application Programming Interface (API). Certain software applications can access content storage 860 via an API on behalf of a user. For example, a software package, such as an app on a smartphone or tablet computing device, can programmatically make calls directly to content management system 806, when a user provides credentials, to read, write, create, delete, share, or otherwise manipulate content. Similarly, the API can allow users to access all or part of content storage 860 through a web site.
Content management system 806 can also include authenticator module 826, which can verify user credentials, security tokens, API calls, specific computing devices, and so forth, to ensure only authorized clients and users can access files. Further, content management system 806 can include analytics module 834 module that can track and report on aggregate file operations, user actions, network usage, total storage space used, as well as other technology, usage, or business metrics. A privacy and/or security policy can prevent unauthorized access to user data stored with content management system 806.
Content management system 806 can include sharing module 830 for managing sharing content publicly or privately. Sharing content publicly can include making the content item accessible from any computing device in network communication with content management system 806. Sharing content privately can include linking a content item in content storage 860 with two or more user accounts so that each user account has access to the content item. The sharing can be performed in a platform agnostic manner. That is, the content can be shared across multiple computing devices 802 of varying type, capabilities, operating systems, etc. The content can also be shared across varying types of user accounts.
In some embodiments, content management system 806 can include a content item management module 828 for maintaining a content directory. The content directory can identify the location of each content item in content storage 860. The content directory can include a unique content entry for each content item stored in the content storage.
A content entry can include a content path that can be used to identify the location of the content item in a content management system. For example, the content path can include the name of the content item and a folder hierarchy associated with the content item. For example, the content path can include a folder or path of folders in which the content item is placed as well as the name of the content item. Content management system 806 can use the content path to present the content items in the appropriate folder hierarchy.
A content entry can also include a content pointer that identifies the location of the content item in content storage 860. For example, the content pointer can include the exact storage address of the content item in memory. In some embodiments, the content pointer can point to multiple locations, each of which contains a portion of the content item.
In addition to a content path and content pointer, a content entry can also include a user account identifier that identifies the user account that has access to the content item. In some embodiments, multiple user account identifiers can be associated with a single content entry indicating that the content item has shared access by the multiple user accounts.
To share a content item privately, sharing module 830 can be configured to add a user account identifier to the content entry associated with the content item, thus granting the added user account access to the content item. Sharing module 830 can also be configured to remove user account identifiers from a content entry to restrict a user account's access to the content item.
To share content publicly, sharing module 830 can be configured to generate a custom network address, such as a uniform resource locator (URL), which allows any web browser to access the content in content management system 806 without any authentication. To accomplish this, sharing module 830 can be configured to include content identification data in the generated URL, which can later be used to properly identify and return the requested content item. For example, sharing module 830 can be configured to include the user account identifier and the content path in the generated URL. Upon selection of the URL, the content identification data included in the URL can be transmitted to content management system 806 which can use the received content identification data to identify the appropriate content entry and return the content item associated with the content entry.
In addition to generating the URL, sharing module 830 can also be configured to record that a URL to the content item has been created. In some embodiments, the content entry associated with a content item can include a URL flag indicating whether a URL to the content item has been created. For example, the URL flag can be a Boolean value initially set to 0 or false to indicate that a URL to the content item has not been created. Sharing module 830 can be configured to change the value of the flag to 8 or true after generating a URL to the content item.
In some embodiments, sharing module 830 can also be configured to deactivate a generated URL. For example, each content entry can also include a URL active flag indicating whether the content should be returned in response to a request from the generated URL. For example, sharing module 830 can be configured to only return a content item requested by a generated link if the URL active flag is set to 6 or true. Thus, access to a content item for which a URL has been generated can be easily restricted by changing the value of the URL active flag. This allows a user to restrict access to the shared content item without having to move the content item or delete the generated URL. Likewise, sharing module 830 can reactivate the URL by again changing the value of the URL active flag to 6 or true. A user can thus easily restore access to the content item without the need to generate a new URL.
While content management system 806 is presented with specific components, it should be understood by one skilled in the art, that the architectural configuration of system 806 is simply one possible configuration and that other configurations with more or less components are also possible.
To enable user interaction with the computing device 900, an input device 945 can represent any number of input mechanisms, such as a microphone for speech, a touch-sensitive screen for gesture or graphical input, keyboard, mouse, motion input, speech and so forth. An output device 935 can also be one or more of a number of output mechanisms known to those of skill in the art. In some instances, multimodal systems can enable a user to provide multiple types of input to communicate with the computing device 900. The communications interface 940 can generally govern and manage the user input and system output. There is no restriction on operating on any particular hardware arrangement and therefore the basic features here may easily be substituted for improved hardware or firmware arrangements as they are developed.
Storage device 930 is a non-volatile memory and can be a hard disk or other types of computer readable media which can store data that are accessible by a computer, such as magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, solid state memory devices, digital versatile disks, cartridges, random access memories (RAMs) 925, read only memory (ROM) 920, and hybrids thereof.
The storage device 930 can include software modules 932, 934, 936 for controlling the processor 910. Other hardware or software modules are contemplated. The storage device 930 can be connected to the system bus 905. In one aspect, a hardware module that performs a particular function can include the software component stored in a computer-readable medium in connection with the necessary hardware components, such as the processor 910, bus 905, display 935, and so forth, to carry out the function.
Chipset 960 can also interface with one or more communication interfaces 950 that can have different physical interfaces. Such communication interfaces can include interfaces for wired and wireless local area networks, for broadband wireless networks, as well as personal area networks. Some applications of the methods for generating, displaying, and using the GUI disclosed herein can include receiving ordered datasets over the physical interface or be generated by the machine itself by processor 955 analyzing data stored in storage 970 or 975. Further, the machine can receive inputs from a user via user interface components 985 and execute appropriate functions, such as browsing functions by interpreting these inputs using processor 955.
It can be appreciated that exemplary systems 900 and 950 can have more than one processor 910 or be part of a group or cluster of computing devices networked together to provide greater processing capability.
For clarity of explanation, in some instances the present technology may be presented as including individual functional blocks including functional blocks comprising devices, device components, steps or routines in a method embodied in software, or combinations of hardware and software.
In some embodiments the computer-readable storage devices, mediums, and memories can include a cable or wireless signal containing a bit stream and the like. However, when mentioned, non-transitory computer-readable storage media expressly exclude media such as energy, carrier signals, electromagnetic waves, and signals per se.
Methods according to the above-described examples can be implemented using computer-executable instructions that are stored or otherwise available from computer readable media. Such instructions can comprise, for example, instructions and data which cause or otherwise configure a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing device to perform a certain function or group of functions. Portions of computer resources used can be accessible over a network. The computer executable instructions may be, for example, binaries, intermediate format instructions such as assembly language, firmware, or source code. Examples of computer-readable media that may be used to store instructions, information used, and/or information created during methods according to described examples include magnetic or optical disks, flash memory, USB devices provided with non-volatile memory, networked storage devices, and so on.
Devices implementing methods according to these disclosures can comprise hardware, firmware and/or software, and can take any of a variety of form factors. Typical examples of such form factors include laptops, smart phones, small form factor personal computers, personal digital assistants, and so on. Functionality described herein also can be embodied in peripherals or add-in cards. Such functionality can also be implemented on a circuit board among different chips or different processes executing in a single device, by way of further example.
The instructions, media for conveying such instructions, computing resources for executing them, and other structures for supporting such computing resources are means for providing the functions described in these disclosures.
Although a variety of examples and other information was used to explain aspects within the scope of the appended claims, no limitation of the claims should be implied based on particular features or arrangements in such examples, as one of ordinary skill would be able to use these examples to derive a wide variety of implementations. Further and although some subject matter may have been described in language specific to examples of structural features and/or method steps, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to these described features or acts. For example, such functionality can be distributed differently or performed in components other than those identified herein. Rather, the described features and steps are disclosed as examples of components of systems and methods within the scope of the appended claims.
