Patent ID: 7603683
Filing Date: 2009-10-13
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A client device, comprising: a connection interface operable to connect to a server over a network; a receiver operable to receive content data; a data storage unit operable to store a plurality of icon identification data sets associated with a plurality of icons such that a given one of the plurality of icon identification data sets is associated with a specific one of the plurality of icons, and to store a plurality of passwords associated with a plurality of users of said client device such that a given one of the plurality of users is associated with a particular one of the plurality of passwords; a display unit operable to display selected content, to display a user list identifying the plurality of users of said client device, to receive a user-entered password in response to the given one of the plurality of users being selected, and in response to said client device verifying that the user-entered password corresponds to the particular one of the plurality of passwords that is associated with the given one of the plurality of users, to display content based on the received content data and display a plurality of plates, a portion of the plurality of plates being associated with a plurality of members of a buddy list of the given one of the plurality of users such that a given one of the portion of the plurality of plates is associated with a specific one of the plurality of members of the buddy list and includes a region providing an associated one of a plurality of visual clues which indicates an online status of another client device associated with that member of the buddy list, said display unit being further operable to display only the region providing the associated one of the plurality of visual clues in place of the given one of the plurality of plates, the plurality of plates including a group plate associated with a group that includes any of the members of the buddy list whose associated client device is displaying the selected content and which includes the plates associated with such members of the buddy list, the group plate including a message urging the given one of the plurality of users to invite the members of the buddy list to watch the selected content upon none of the members of the buddy list being included in the group; a selection unit operable to receive from the given one of the plurality of users a selection of a desired one of the plurality of plates, the display unit being operable to display a plurality of icon buttons in response to the desired one of the plurality of plates being selected, the plurality of icon buttons being respectively associated with the plurality of icons such that the invitation icon button is associated with an invitation icon, the invitation icon including a message asking the particular member of the buddy list to watch the selected content, and the selection unit being further operable to receive from the given one of the plurality of users a selection of a desired one of the plurality of icon buttons; and a transmitter operable to transmit a request to the server in response to the particular one of the plurality of members of the buddy list and the invitation icon button being selected, the request including an identification number of said client device, an identification number of the another client device associated with the particular member of the buddy list, identification data associated with the given one of the plurality of users, the icon identification data set associated with the invitation icon, and data associated with the selected content, the request causing the server to transmit a command to the another client device associated with the particular member of the buddy list, the command including the identification number of said client device, the identification data associated with the given one of the plurality of users, the icon identification data set associated with the invitation icon, and the data associated with the selected content and causing the further client device to execute the invitation icon and display an invitation to watch the selected content.