Patent ID: 8117281
Filing Date: 2012-02-14
Classification: G06F,G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for concurrently linking together content users into live social networks based on similarity of content presented at an internet linked device, comprising: storing device-readable instructions at a non-transitory data storage medium, wherein the instructions are configured when executed on a network-linked computing device to cause the device to: associate metadata with device-perceivable content; notify a user of the network-linked device when another user perceives content, wherein the user has directly or indirectly indicated an interest in that content or substantially similar content; link the user with the other user, the linking being substantially based upon a similarity between content accessed by the user and content perceived by the other user, wherein similarity is determined by analyzing one or more selected from the group consisting of the content, of metadata associated with the content, of a user-specified action relating to the content, and of a context associated with the content; concurrently present the content to the user and the other user at one or more selected from the group consisting of a window, a virtual environment, a display of an network-linked device, and a display of a device operatively coupled with a network-linked device; and present to the user a user-selectable mechanism configured when selected to enable the user and the other user to interact relative the concurrently perceived content, wherein the user anonymously polls a third-party server for access to links to one or more other users who have consented to be included in such access, and wherein the polling includes a request to link the user to one or more other users based upon one or more content-related activities selected from the group consisting of bookmarkinq, searching, mousing-over and/or clicking on content, dragging-and-dropping content, visiting an internet presence, viewing one or both of static and full motion visual images, purchasing, and accessing, creating, or altering a personal homepage; and providing the instructions to a user of a network-linked computing device in response to a request received from the user.