Media echoing and social networking device and method

A methods and apparatus for echoing media via a mobile device are disclosed herein. According to an embodiment, the method can include displaying automatically to a user, on the mobile device, a list of one or more respective identifiers of one or more other users experiencing respective media within a selectable geographic area. The user is then allowed to select whether to play one or more of the respective media on the mobile device, and can connect with the one or more other users via a social networking site. As a result, the user can network with previously unknown people, based on a common taste in music or other media, for example, as well as a geographic location.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This relates generally to media echoing and social networking methods and devices, for use with mobile systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Existing media providers, such as Pandora®, Google Play and Spotify, Ltd., allow listeners to wirelessly stream music on mobile devices. In the case of Spotify, Ltd., for example, a user can choose to display his or her music selections on social networking websites, such as Facebook®, and can instantly share music with his or her Facebook “friends” who also subscribe to the media provider.

However, the existing media providers fail to support a mechanism for allowing a user to share, or echo, music, or otherwise connect to other users, who are not currently “friends” via social networking. That is, the existing technology lacks the ability to allow users to establish social interactions with strangers within a predetermined, selectable geographic area, based on a shared interest in chosen media.

Therefore, there exists a need for methods and systems capable of allowing a user to designate a geographic area within which a list of identifiers of other users playing media can be displayed on a user's device, such that the user can select to play (e.g., stream), the same media as one or more of the listed other users. Accordingly, the user can network with previously unknown people, based on a common taste in music, for example.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to solving one or more of the problems presented in the prior art, described above, as well as providing additional features that will become readily apparent by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

One embodiment is directed to a method of echoing media via a mobile device. The method can include displaying automatically to a user, on the mobile device, a list of one or more respective identifiers of one or more other users experiencing respective media within a selectable geographic area; and allowing the user to select whether to play one or more of the respective media on the mobile device.

Another embodiment is directed to an apparatus for echoing media. The apparatus includes a display configured to display automatically to a user, on a mobile device, a list of one or more respective identifiers of one or more other users experiencing respective media within a geographic area defined by the user; and a selection unit configured to allow the user to select whether to play one or more of the respective media on the mobile device.

Yet another embodiment is directed to a system configured to echo media on a mobile device. The system includes a positioning unit configured to determine respective distances of a plurality of mobile devices, with respect to a first mobile device; a processor configured to compare the distances between each of the plurality of mobile devices and the first mobile device to a preselected distance selected by a first user of the first mobile device; a transmitter configured to transmit, to the first mobile device, a list of one or more other of the plurality of mobile devices, automatically when any one of the one or more other of the plurality of mobile devices moves within the preselected distance from the first mobile device used by the first user. According to certain embodiments, the list includes personalized and reconfigurable identifiers, respectively, of each user of the one or more other of the plurality of mobile devices that moves within the preselected distance, and the list includes respective media currently being streamed from a centralized server by each user of the one or more other of the plurality of mobile devices that moves within the preselected distance. The system further includes a display unit configured to display automatically, to the first user, the list such that the first user selects whether to stream one or more of the respective media from the centralized server; and a transmitter configured to transmit an indication to the centralized server indicating that the first user has selected to stream one or more of the respective media. According to certain embodiments, the centralized server is further configured to indicate to at least one of the one or more other of the plurality of mobile devices that the first user has selected to stream one or more of the respective media. The indication from the centralized server can include a personalized identifier designated by the first user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description of embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which it is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments can be used and structural changes can be made without departing from the scope of the disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 1illustrates a mobile radio channel operating environment, according to one embodiment of the present invention. The mobile radio channel operating environment may include a base station (BS)102, one or more mobile stations (also referred to as MS, mobile device, or the like)100, and global positioning system (GPS) satellites120. As described in further detail below, the respective locations of the mobile devices100can be determined based on GPS satellites120or other known mechanisms and systems for detecting relative proximities of mobile devices100, performed by hardware and software within mobile devices100themselves.

The exemplary mobile station100inFIG. 1is a mobile phone; however, alternately, mobile station100may be n automobile, MP3 player or other similar portable device. According to some embodiments, mobile station100may be a personal wireless computer such as a wireless notebook computer, a wireless palmtop computer, tablet, or other mobile computer devices.

The base station102can be a centralized server unit having a memory module, processor module and transceiver module, configured to store and distribute media to mobile stations100. Accordingly to an embodiment, base station102can be another mobile device100, as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Mobile stations100can include any conventional GPS receiver modules, which are not depicted.

FIG. 2shows an exemplary wireless communication system for transmitting and receiving data between mobile station100and base station102, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The mechanism may include components and elements configured to support known or conventional operating features that need not be described in detail herein. This system generally comprises a base station102with a base station transceiver module202, a base station antenna206, a base station processor module216and a base station memory module218. System200generally comprises a mobile station100with a mobile station transceiver module208, a mobile station antenna212, a mobile station memory module220, a mobile station processor module222, and a network communication module226. Of course both BS102and MS100may include additional or alternative modules without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Furthermore, these and other elements of the system may be interconnected together using a data communication bus (e.g.,228,230), or any suitable interconnection arrangement. Such interconnection facilitates communication between the various elements of the wireless system. Those skilled in the art will understand that the various illustrative blocks, modules, circuits, and processing logic described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented in hardware, computer-readable software, firmware, or any practical combination thereof. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability and compatibility of hardware, firmware, and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps are described generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware, firmware, or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Those familiar with the concepts described herein may implement such functionality in a suitable manner for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present invention.

In the exemplary system, the base station transceiver202and the mobile station transceiver208each comprise a transmitter module and a receiver module (not shown). Additionally, although not shown in this figure, those skilled in the art will recognize that a transmitter may transmit to more than one receiver, and that multiple transmitters may transmit to the same receiver.

The mobile station transceiver208and the base station transceiver202are configured to communicate via a wireless data communication link214. The mobile station transceiver208and the base station transceiver202cooperate with a suitably configured RF antenna arrangement206/212that can support a particular wireless communication protocol and modulation scheme. In the exemplary embodiment, the mobile station transceiver208and the base station transceiver202can be configured to support industry standards such as the Third or Fourth Generation Partnership Project Long Term Evolution (3GPP or 4GPP LTE), Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA), Wi-Fi, and the like. The mobile station transceiver208and the base station transceiver202may be configured to support alternate, or additional, wireless data communication protocols, including future variations of IEEE 802.16, such as 802.16e, 802.16m, and so on.

Processor modules216/222may be implemented, or realized, with a general purpose processor, a content addressable memory, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array, any suitable programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof, designed to perform the functions described herein. In this manner, a processor may be realized as a microprocessor, a controller, a microcontroller, a state machine, or the like. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a digital signal processor core, or any other such configuration. In practical embodiments the processing logic may be resident in the base station and/or may be part of a network architecture that communicates with the base station transceiver202.

The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in firmware, in a software module executed by processor modules216/222, or in any practical combination thereof. A software module may reside in memory modules218/220, which may be realized as RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. In this regard, memory modules218/220may be coupled to the processor modules218/222respectively such that the processors modules216/220can read information from, and write information to, memory modules618/620. As an example, processor module216, and memory modules218, processor module222, and memory module220may reside in their respective ASICs. The memory modules218/220may also be integrated into the processor modules216/220. In an embodiment, the memory module218/220may include a cache memory for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions to be executed by processor modules216/222. Memory modules218/220may also include non-volatile memory for storing instructions to be executed by the processor modules216/220.

Memory modules218/220may include a frame structure database (not shown) in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Frame structure parameter databases may be configured to store, maintain, and provide data as needed to support the functionality of system200in the manner described below. Moreover, a frame structure database may be a local database coupled to the processors216/222, or may be a remote database, for example, a central network database, and the like. A frame structure database may be configured to maintain, without limitation, frame structure parameters as explained below. In this manner, a frame structure database may include a lookup table for purposes of storing frame structure parameters.

The network communication module226generally represents the hardware, software, firmware, processing logic, and/or other components of the system that enable bi-directional communication between base station transceiver202, and network components to which the base station transceiver202is connected. For example, network communication module226may be configured to support internet or Wi-Fi traffic. In a typical deployment, without limitation, network communication module226provides an 802.3 Ethernet interface such that base station transceiver202can communicate with a conventional Ethernet based computer network. In this manner, the network communication module226may include a physical interface for connection to the computer network (e.g., Mobile Switching Center (MSC)).

FIG. 3shows an exemplary mobile device100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For exemplary purposes, the mobile device100is depicted as a wireless telephone; however, any mobile device may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, according to an embodiment, the mobile device100can be an on-board computing system within an automobile. As shown inFIG. 3, a list is displayed in display area310, which includes identifiers of three other mobile device100users who are currently playing media and are within a preselected geographic area selected by the user of the depicted mobile device100.

According to certain embodiments, GPS satellites120can provide an exact position to each mobile device100, which in turn transmit their respective positions to a centralized server (e.g., base station102). The centralized server can also store the preselected geographic area determined by the user (e.g., a radius of 100 yards), and can compare the distances between the depicted mobile device100and other mobile devices100who are playing media and are logged on to a particular website or application, for example. If any of the other mobile devices100are logged on and within the user's defined area, then the centralized server can automatically incorporate the identifiers of the users of those other mobile devices100into the list displayed in display area310of the depicted mobile device100. The user of the depicted mobile device100can change the desired geographic area within which to locate other users, via the “CHANGE AREA” icon320, which can allow the user to customize the searchable area.

In this exemplary scenario, three other mobile devices have been determined to be within the bounds set by the user of the depicted mobile device100(e.g., “Blond with Red Sweatshirt,”312“Silver Pickup Truck,”314and “Jill S.”316). The identifiers are respectively designated by each of the users of the mobile devices100. Of course, one of ordinary skill in the art would realize that the users could change their respective identifiers at any time (e.g., via their own “OPTIONS” icon330), depending on what car they are driving, where they are located, what they are wearing, their appearance, a nickname, or any other identifying features they wish to show up on the other users' lists.

According to one embodiment, the list can include an identifier of what type of media is being experienced by the respective other users (e.g., “Jill S.”316is listening to song “ABC” by Band2). Alternatively, the other users may be watching video via YouTube, for example, like “Silver Pickup Truck”314. The user of the depicted mobile device100can select to play (or echo) any of the media that is being experienced by the other users on the list.

According to the depicted example, the user can select a “PLAY” icon, which will transmit a signal to the centralized server to request streaming of the identified media. The streaming can begin from the start of the particular song or video, for example, or can begin at a middle point in the song or video where the identified other user is currently at in real time.

In the depicted example, the number of times other users who are identified on the list have been “echoed” (i.e., the number of times other users have decided to experience the same media that they are currently experiencing) can be provided to the user of the depicted mobile device100. In this case, “Jill S.”316is identified as having 75 echoes.

Of course, the layout of the features and information presented on the list is merely one example, and is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure in any way. One of ordinary skill in the art would realize that various additional information and combinations thereof could be depicted in various ways. Moreover, a touchscreen cellular phone is depicted with icons that can execute various functions via the user's touch. However, any display device could be implemented with any type of scroll, highlight and/or selection mechanisms in conventional mobile devices.

Furthermore, it is not necessary for GPS satellites to be utilized in obtaining exact coordinates of each mobile device100. Using known techniques of detecting the presence of other mobile devices within a defined radius, each mobile device100could determine on its own that another mobile device100is within an acceptable range. That is, it would not be necessary for the centralized server to make the comparison between the respective distances and the desired area preselected by the user of the mobile device100. Within certain distances, mobile devices100could identify themselves are concurrently running an echoing application or logged on to a particular website, and could transfer identifiers and media information automatically via any conventional technique, such as Blutetooth®, etc. Then, if the user of the mobile device100depicted inFIG. 3decided to select one or more media on the list to play, a signal would be transmitted to the centralized server requesting to stream the particular media.

FIG. 4is an exemplary mobile device100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the depicted embodiment, display area310shows a layout of the screen if the user decides to select identifier “Jill S.”316for additional options, but does not immediately decide to echo the media by selecting “PLAY.” InFIG. 4, display area310shows the precise distance that between “Jill S.” and the depicted mobile device100(e.g., 100 ft.). The exemplary display area provides an option for the user to play the media (i.e., “PLAY”400) or purchase the song, for example (i.e., “PURCHASE”402). If the user selects to purchase the media, the mobile device100can automatically direct the user to a media distributer, such as iTunes, Amazon, etc.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the user of the depicted mobile device100can select “LINK REQUEST”410, which can send a signal to the centralized server, instructing the centralized server to send a friend request, for example, for connecting via social networking (e.g., a friend request via Facebook for Google+, or any other social networking outlet). Of course, it is possible that the request can be sent directly to the user of the other device (i.e., “Jill S.”) directly, if contact information is exchanged beforehand, using any conventional technique.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the user of the depicted mobile device100can select “SEND I.D.”420, which can send a signal to the centralized server, instructing the centralized server to send an identification message to the mobile device of one or more of the other users, which was echoed by the depicted mobile device100. Of course, the user of the depicted mobile device100can designate and personalize any identifier of his or her choosing to be displayed to the user of the echoed device. In this manner, the user of the echoed device can become aware that another user has echoed the media being played on his or her device, and can receive an identifier of the user who has echoed the media.

In accordance with the present disclosure, a user may be allowed to designate a geographic area within which a list of identifiers of other users playing media can be displayed on a user's device, such that the user can select to play (e.g., stream), the same media as one or more of the listed other users (a.k.a. echo). Therefore, as one exemplary advantage to embodiments described herein, the user can network with previously unknown people, based on a common taste in music or other media, for example, as well as a geographic location.

While various embodiments of the invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. Likewise, the various diagrams may depict an example architectural or other configuration for the disclosure, which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that can be included in the disclosure. The disclosure is not restricted to the illustrated example architectures or configurations, but can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Additionally, although the disclosure is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described. They instead can be applied alone or in some combination, to one or more of the other embodiments of the disclosure, whether or not such embodiments are described, and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.

In this document, the terms “computer program product”, “computer-readable medium”, and the like, may be used generally to refer to media such as, memory storage devices, or storage unit. These, and other forms of computer-readable media, may be involved in storing one or more instructions for use by processor to cause the processor to perform specified operations. Such instructions, generally referred to as “computer program code” (which may be grouped in the form of computer programs or other groupings), when executed, enable the computing system.