Patent ID: 8335774
Filing Date: 2012-12-18
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method, comprising: storing, by a computing system, a master media file that includes media content at a first quality level; receiving, by the computing system, a first request to supply a first remote user device with a media file that includes media content that matches the media content included in the master media file; identifying, by the computing system, that a user of the first remote user device owns a version of the media content included in the master media file at a second quality level that is lower than the first quality level of the master media file; generating, as a consequence of receiving the first request and using the master media file, a first media file that includes media content that matches the media content included in the master media file and that is at the second quality level; sending the first media file for receipt by the first remote user device; identifying, by the computing system, that a matching media file of a second remote user device includes media content that matches the media content included in the master media file and that is of a third quality level that is higher than the first quality level and, as a consequence, storing the matching media file in place of the master media file as an updated master media file, wherein the identifying that the matching media file includes media content that matches the media content included in the master media file includes: (i) accessing data that indicates characteristics of the matching media file and which was generated by the second remote user device, or (ii) receiving the matching media file as an upload by the second remote user device; receiving, by the computing system and after the matching media file has been stored as the updated master media file, a second request to supply the first remote user device with a media file that includes media content that matches the media content included in the updated master media file; identifying, by the computing system, that the user of the first remote user device owns a version of the media content included in the updated master media file at the second quality level; generating, as a consequence of receiving the second request and using the updated master media file, a second media file that includes media content that matches the media content included in the updated master media file and that is at the second quality level; and sending the second media file for receipt by the first remote user device.