Personalization content sharing system and method

Abstract

A method includes enabling a user to define his/her buddies from among members of a community and enabling the user to select media content to be played on devices of his/her buddies. Another method includes providing media content chosen by a first user to be played by a media player on a device of a second user in response to an identification of the first user.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a novel media content sharing system, constructed and operative in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustration of the method used by the system of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C are illustrations of data files used by the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary mobile device forming part of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of an alternative embodiment of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a further alternative embodiment of the system of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of a multi-platform embodiment of the system of FIG. 1.

Claims

1. A method comprising: providing media content chosen by a first user to be played by a media player on a device of a second user in response to an identification of said first user.

2. The method according to claim 1 and wherein said identification is a caller ID.

3. The method of claim 1 and wherein said identification is associated with a triggering event.

4. The method according to claim 3 and wherein said triggering event is associated with a telephone communication.

5. The method according to claim 4 and wherein said triggering event is one of the following events: call initiation, call ringing, end of call, a busy signal, a “fast busy” signal, and a call waiting signal.

6. The method according to claim 3 and wherein said triggering event is one of the following events: the timing, length, and contents of said communication, an identity of the initiating entity and a presence state of said initiating entity.

7. The method according to claim 3 and wherein said triggering event is an identifier in an instant message.

8. The method according to claim 1 and wherein said media content comprises at least one of: a video clip, an image, an audio clip, a program, and an invocation of a program.

9. The method according to claim 1 and wherein said device is one of: a soft phone, a mobile telephone, a device capable of at least of voice communication, media playing and local storage, and a device capable of at least instant messaging, media playing and local storage, and a device capable of at least identifying another party of a communication, media playing and local storage.

10. The method according to claim 1 and wherein said device is one of the following devices: a mobile telephone, a smart phone, a programmable device, a device that allows instant messaging, a Skype device, an IM session, an outside screen on a laptop, an IP (internet protocol) phone with a media screen, and a caller id pop up on a television.

11. The method according to claim 1 and also comprising previously downloading said media content from a server.

12. The method according to claim 11 and also comprising downloading an association of said media content with one of a plurality of first users.

13. The method according to claim 1 and wherein media content chosen by said second user is played for said second user prior to, concurrent with, or after playing of said media content of said first user.

14. The method according to claim 1 wherein said providing comprises: identifying a triggering event and a buddy associated with said triggering event; andselecting said media content of said identified buddy for said identified triggering event.

15. The method according to claim 14 and wherein said identifying comprises: monitoring the status of said device to determine when said triggering event occurs; anddetermining said identification associated with said triggering event.

16. The method according to claim 1 wherein said playing comprises: previously downloading said media content and an indication that it is to be associated with said first user; andpassing said downloaded media content to said device as the media content to be associated with said first user.

17. A method comprising: enabling a user to define his/her buddies from among members of a community; andenabling said user to select media content to be played on devices of his/her buddies.

18. The method according to claim 17 and wherein said device is one of the following devices: a mobile telephone, a smart phone, a programmable device, a device that allows instant messaging, a Skype device, an IM session, an outside screen on a laptop, an IP (internet protocol) phone with a media screen, and a caller id pop up on a television.

19. The method according to claim 17 and wherein said media content is to be played in response to at least one triggering event related to said user and one of said user's buddies.

20. The method according to claim 17 and also comprising downloading said selected media content to devices of said user's buddies.

21. The method according to claim 19 and wherein said at least one triggering event is associated with a telephone communication.

22. The method according to claim 21 and wherein said at least one triggering event is one of the following events: call initiation, call ringing, end of call, a busy signal, a “fast busy” signal and a call waiting signal.

23. The method according to claim 19 and wherein said at least one triggering event is one of the following events: the timing, length, and contents of said communication, an identity of the initiating entity and a presence state of said initiating entity.

24. The method according to claim 19 and wherein said at least one triggering event is an identifier in an instant message.

25. The method according to claim 17 and wherein said second enabling comprises enabling said user to select separate media content for different triggering events.

26. A device comprising: a media content storage unit to store media content associated with buddies of a user of said device; anda media player to play media content of one buddy upon a triggering event related to said user and said one buddy.

27. The device according to claim 26 and also comprising means for receiving a download of at least one media content of at least one buddy.

28. The device according to claim 26 and also comprising: a triggering event unit to identify a triggering event and the buddy associated with said triggering event; anda play initiator to select said media content of said identified buddy for said identified triggering event and to provide said selected media content to said media player.

29. The device according to claim 26 and also comprising: a downloading unit to download said media content and an indication of which buddy it is to be associated with; andan indicator to pass said downloaded media content to said device as the media content to be associated with said first user.

30. The device according to claim 26 which is one of the following devices: a mobile telephone, a smart phone, a programmable device, a device that allows instant messaging, a Skype device, an IM session, an outside screen on a laptop, an IP (internet protocol) phone with a media screen, and a caller id pop up on a television.

31. The device according to claim 26 which is one of: a soft phone, a mobile telephone, a device capable of at least of voice communication, media playing and local storage, and a device capable of at least instant messaging, media playing and local storage, and a device capable of at least identifying another party of a communication, media playing and local storage.

32. A device comprising: an instant messaging client to enable at least a textual conversation with at least one buddy of a user of said device;a media content storage unit to store media content associated with buddies of said user; anda media player to play media content of said at least one buddy upon receipt of a triggering event from said client during said conversation.

33. A method comprising: enabling a user to define his/her buddies from among members of a community;enabling a user to have a chat with one of his/her buddies; andenabling said user to select media content to be played on a device of his/her buddy in response to at least one triggering event during said chat.