Community networking using networked audio devices

A computing system for gathering media status information and other information about contacts in a user's contact list includes a server, a user device, and one or more contacts (or contact devices). The user device communicates with the server and requests media status information regarding the contacts. Media status information may include information about the media content currently (or most recently) accessed by the contacts. The server receives the request from the user device, collects the information and sends it to the user device. The server may else send connection information to the user device. The user device receives the information and displays it to the user. The user device may include a message service such that messages can be sent to and received from the contacts. Also, the user may request particular media content accessed by the contacts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. The Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to social network methods and systems for interacting with contacts in a network. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for collecting media status information for contacts identified in a user contact list of an electronic media device.

2. The Relevant Technology

Numerous forms of personal portable media devices are proliferating today. One example is satellite radio, or Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS), which is the broadcast of digital audio programming via satellites directly to users. Through satellite radio, subscribers can receive high quality, uninterrupted, digital data such as radio over more than one hundred radio channels. The digital data may include, for example, digital quality music, talk radio, sports, news, weather, and the like. Often, a user of satellite radio has a small portable device they use to receive the digital data stream. Other examples of portable media players are portable digital audio devices, often referred to as MP3 players, portable CD players, portable DVD players, notebook computers, and the like.

Regardless of the type of portable media device, users often desire to know the media content accessed (e.g., viewed and/or listened to) by their friends, family, and acquaintances (also referred to collectively as “contacts”) on the contacts' portable media players. This desire may arise from a user's mere curiosity about the contacts' interests, from a user's desire to discover new content that may be of interest to the user, or for other reasons. For instance, a friend having a taste in music similar to that of the user may be a good source for the user to turn to if the user wishes to discover new music that may be of interest to the user.

Whether the user desires to know the media content accessed by the user's contacts out of curiosity, to discover new music, or for any other reason, current methods of providing such information to the user are cumbersome and time consuming. For instance, unless a user is with a contact while the contact is accessing particular media content, the user would typically have to call, stop by, or otherwise communicate with the contact to determine the particular media content being accessed by the contact. For a user desiring to discover this information many times a day, this method could be both cumbersome to the user and annoying to the contact.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other limitations are overcome by embodiments of the present invention, which include an electronic media device. The electronic media device comprises a graphical display, a user interface, a wireless internet connection, a media player, and a contact list module. According to embodiments of the invention, the graphical output device displays media content to the user and displays a list of contacts from the contact list module.

The electronic media device (also referred to as a “user device”) can be used to obtain media status information for one or more contacts in the contact list. According to one embodiment, the user device communicates with a server capable of communicating with the user device and one or more other devices associated with the one or more contacts. The user device sends a request for media status information for the one or more contacts to the server, which the server receives. The server creates a session contact list including one or more contacts and a device identifier for the user device. The server also collects the information requested by the user device and sends it to the user device, which the user device receives. The user device can then display the received media status information to the user in the graphical display of the user device.

The media status information may include the type and name of media content currently being accessed by the one or more contacts. In one embodiment, the user device may include a messaging service, enabling messages to be sent to and/or received from the one or more contacts. In another embodiment, the user device may receive user input requesting particular media content currently being accessed by at least one of the one or more contacts. In response to the user input, the user device may access and play the particular media content or download the particular media content from a digital media provider.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention relate to social network methods and systems for interacting with friends or contacts in a network using multimedia devices. The invention includes an electronic media device which is capable of gathering media status information for one or more friends, family members, and other acquaintances included in a contact list maintained by a user of the electronic media device. The media status information may include the types and names of media content that are currently being accessed by each of the user's contacts, the most recent media content that was accessed by the user's contacts, as well as other types of information regarding the media content associated with the user's contacts. The gathered media status information is displayed for the user of the electronic media device so that the user can quickly assess what types of media content are being accessed by the user's contacts.

In an alternative embodiment, the electronic media device further includes a communication mechanism for transferring messages to and from one or more of the contacts located within the user's contact list. For example, the electronic media device may allow the user to directly communicate with his or her contacts using an Internet Protocol (IP) based messaging protocol, such as Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), instant messaging (IM), or the like, as well as other messaging protocols such as short messaging service (SMS), multimedia messaging service (MMS), and the like. The electronic media device of the present invention facilitates a user's ability to expand his or her media experience by providing media status information for individuals contained within the user's contact list, and by providing a convenient communication medium for discussing media content as well as other topics.

FIG. 1illustrates an embodiment of a device100that can receive content including digital media from one or more sources. Examples of the device100may include, by way of example, a satellite radio device, a portable audio player (e.g., MP3 player or ipod), a portable DVD or CD player, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and the like or any combination thereof.

Typically, the device100includes a display102that can convey information to the user of the device. For example, when the device100renders digital audio data, the display102may indicate the song title, the artist, the album title, the track number, the length of the track, and the like or any combination thereof. The device100also includes a user interface104(such as control buttons, speakers, headphones) or other means of providing input to the device100or providing additional content to the user. The user interface104, by way of example, enables a user to navigate and activate the digital media and other content that is stored on the memory108of the device100or to navigate and perform any digital media or content that is received from an external source. The user interface104may enable a user to switch to another channel, such as in satellite radio, or otherwise select media content.

The content110represents different types of media including digital media that may be received by the device100. Examples of the content110include, but are not limited to, digital music, talk audio data, television data, movie data, podcasts, sports data, weather data, news data, Internet data, and the like or any combination thereof. The content110can be either digital or analog in nature.

The memory108of the device can be used to store content or other user and/or device data. The memory108, for example, may store digital music and/or video, graphics, play lists, user preferences, device settings, and the like or any combination thereof. Additionally, the memory108can store a contact list containing identities of one or more contacts.

Referring now toFIG. 2, a network200is provided which is configured for allowing a device202to gather media status information regarding contacts232included within a user's contact list212(also referred to as a “contact list module”). The network200includes a device202which communicates with a server220over a transmission medium216. The server220may also communicate with the contacts232located within the user's contact list212over a network230. The server220gathers information from each of the contacts232regarding the media activities they are engaged in. The gathered media status information is provided to the device202so that the device may display selected data regarding the media status information to the user of the device202.

The device202may include any of the features described previously in reference to the device100ofFIG. 1, as well as features described hereinafter and other features that will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. In one embodiment, the device202is a handheld electronic device having a wireless connection208for transmitting and receiving information over a wireless transmission medium216. For example, the wireless transmission medium216may include a satellite radio connection, WiFi (via a wireless hot spot), cellular networks, Bluetooth, and the like or any combination thereof.

The device202includes a media player210for playing at least one type of media content to the user via the user interface206and/or graphical display204. The media content played by the media player210may include audio, video, podcasts, streaming data, Internet data, and the like or any combination thereof.

The device202further allows a user to compile a contact list212(also referred to as “Messenger List”, “Buddy List”, “Allow List”, and the like). The contact list module212includes the identities of contacts232with which the user of the device202desires to exchange media status information. Furthermore, the contact list module212is configured to receive media status information associated with the contacts from the server220. The contact list212may be configured to be displayed on the graphical display204of the device202. Although theFIG. 2example illustrates the contact list212as being stored on the device202, the contact list may also be stored at the server220or other central location. In order to exchange media status information with the contacts232listed within the contact list212, the user of the device202may connect to a server220and may login to the server, typically by entering a username and password. Although different servers may vary in the information gathered from the device202upon logging in, the device202may, for example, send a message218to the server220providing connection information such as a device identifier (such as an IP address), along with the contacts232included in the contact list212, and requesting media status information regarding the contacts.

The server220may create a session or working contact list222having the user's contact list212, as well as other information such as the device identifier. In one embodiment, the session contact list is used by the server during the duration of the login session and can be generated from the contact list212received from the device. The session contact list can include as few as one or as many as all of the contacts from the contact list. Alternately or additionally, the session contact list can be generated from a contact list of the user that is stored permanently on the server.

The server220may also include a client database224for storing information regarding each client that participates in the service provided by the server220, among other information. After creating the session contact list222, the server220can determine if any of the contacts232in the contact list212are currently logged in. The contacts232may include individuals using other handheld wireless devices, personal computers, laptops, or other electronic devices. The server220may then send a message to the device202including necessary connection information of the contacts, such as whether each contact is online, offline, away, busy, and the like. Upon receiving this information, the device202may provide the connection information to the user via the graphical display204. The server220may also send connection information for the user of the device202to the user's contacts232.

Furthermore, in accordance with the present invention, the server220may collect media status information from each of the contacts232that are currently online. For example, the server220may collect media status information regarding media activities that each of the contacts232are currently engaged in. For instance, the media status information may include song information, video information, podcast information, website information, gaming information, streaming audio information, and the like or any combination thereof. The media status information collected from each contact232may be returned219to the device202, and the device may display the media status information for each contact on the graphical display204.

If a contact232is not currently engaged in any media activity, or if a contact is not online or is otherwise unavailable, the server220may provide the device202with other information regarding the media content associated with each contact232. For example, for contacts232for which no current media content status information is available, the server220may provide the device202with information regarding the most recent media activity engaged in by those contacts. Such information may be stored, for example, within the client database224on the server220. Thus, the present invention provides a method and system for allowing a user of a device202to quickly find out what type of media each of his friends, family, and other acquaintances included within his or her contact list212is currently engaged in, or has recently participated in.

In one embodiment of the invention, the contacts included within the contact list212are divided into one or more groups. The groups may be hierarchically organized in accordance with criteria that may be established by the user. For example, a user may place certain contacts that have music tastes that are similar to those of the user into a first group, and other contacts having differing music tastes into a second group. Likewise, the user may create groups according to music genre, and organize the contacts into the groups according to the music genre each contact typically listens to. The groups created by the user can be ranked as to importance or hierarchically organized, so that the user can access the groups that are of particular interest at a given moment, and quickly assess the media content being accessed by the contacts included within those groups.

In one embodiment, in addition to collecting media status information for each of the contacts232contained within the user's contact list212, the network200also allows the user of the device202to access the media items associated with the contacts232located in the user's contact list212. For example, the graphical display204may provide the user with a list of the four contacts232, as well as media status information indicating the items being accessed by each contact. If the user is interested in accessing the media item that is being accessed by one of the contacts, the user is provided with a feature that allows the user to access the same media item being accessed by his or her contacts. For instance, the user may be able to provide user input requesting the media item.

In one embodiment, upon receiving user input requesting a media item being accessed by one of the contacts232, the device202and/or the server220determine if the requested media item is already contained within a media database215stored on the device202. If the media database215on the device202already contains the media item, the media player210is able to access the media item locally from the media database215in order to play the media item to the user. If it is determined that the requested media item is not already contained within the media database215, the requested media item may be downloaded via the connection216from a digital media provider. In one embodiment, a file containing the complete version of the requested media item is downloaded to the device202. In another embodiment, only a portion of the media item is downloaded to the device202for allowing the user of the device to hear or watch a sample of the media item prior to deciding whether to download the entire version of the media item. In one embodiment, the partial version of the media item may be downloaded to the device202in a low-resolution format. Downloading a partial version of the media item to the device202may help the user preserve the bandwidth of the device, and may also provide the user with a free sample of the media item in the event that the entire media item is only available for purchase.

The requested media item may be downloaded to the device202using a variety of digital media providers. For example, in one embodiment, the media item may be downloaded directly from the contact232who originally supplied the media status information regarding the requested media item. For example, a peer-to-peer file sharing protocol may be employed when downloading a media item directly from a contact's device. In another embodiment, the requested media content may be downloaded via a digital music service, such as iTunes, Napster, Amazon, and the like, and saved locally within a media database215located on the device202.

Alternatively, where the requested media content includes real time streaming data provided by a media source, such as an Internet web site, terrestrial radio, or the like, the device202may automatically establish a connection with the same media source supplying the media content to the contact232. Other digital media providers may also be employed for downloading the requested media content to the device202, as will be appreciated by one of skill in the art.

Although theFIG. 2example network200includes the use of a server220for providing a communication link between the device202and the contacts232, the server220is not always a necessary component of the network200. For example, interaction between users can be transmitted over local area networks using wireless access points, over the internet, in peer-to-peer communication in ad hoc wireless networks, and the like or any combination thereof.

In one embodiment, the device202further includes a messenger application214for allowing the user of the device to communicate directly with one or more of the user's contacts232. For example, the messenger application214may provide an IP-based connection for allowing the user of the device202to communicate with the user's contacts232via IM, VoIP, and the like. Likewise, other digital communication mechanisms may be employed, including SMS, MMS, email, and the like. Therefore, the device202may provide a user with media status information for contacts232contained within the user's contact list212, and may further allow the user to immediately contact another user to discuss various types of media, as well as other topics. Advantageously, when communicating using VoIP, the users of various devices may communicate without being required to type any information into a keypad, and without being required to subscribe to a traditional telephone or cellular service. The device may further include a microphone (not shown) for capturing the user's voice when participating in a VoIP conversation.

In one embodiment, the device202may further include pre-scripted messages that may be saved within the media database215or other storage device that may be sent to the contacts232included in the contact list212. Example pre-scripted messages may include: “Check out what I'm listening to”; or “You should watch this video”, and the like. A simple interface may be provided for allowing the user to select one or more of the pre-scripted messages to be sent to a user. The message may be configured to automatically include a description of or a link to the media item being accessed by the user when the message is sent.

When the user of the device202logs off, the server220terminates the user's session. The server220may also send messages to each of the user's contacts232to indicate that the user is no longer online. Then, the server220typically deletes the session contact list222.

Referring now toFIG. 3, an example media interface300is provided that may be employed for displaying media and contact information on the graphical display204of the device202ofFIG. 2. The interface300is provided by way of example, and it will be appreciated that various alterations can be made to the interface while maintaining the concept of allowing a user to access media status information regarding the contacts312located within a contact list304.

The media interface300may include a playlist area302and a contact list area304. The playlist area302may include the names306of each media item that is currently on the device, the play time308of each media item, the media type310of each media item, as well as other information regarding the media items306included within the playlist302. The contact list304may include a list of each contact name312included within the user's contact list. A status314may be provided for each contact, which may indicate whether each contact is online, offline, away, busy, and the like. The contact list304may also include media status information for each of the contacts312, such as a list of the media items currently being played316by each contact. As described above, if a particular contact is not currently engaged in any media activity or the media status information for a particular contact is currently unavailable, the currently playing list316may instead include the last media item that was accessed by the contacts.

The contact list304may also include an options menu318, which allows the user to select a feature that is available for each of the contacts312listed within the contact list304. For example, if the user would like to access the same media item that is being accessed by one of the contacts of312, the user may select an icon (e.g.,322or324) which allows the user to watch or listen to the same media item being accessed by the contact312. As described above, upon selecting one of the icons322or324, the user's device requests the appropriate media item and may download the media item through various digital media providers.

The content list304may also include a contact menu320, which allows the user to communicate directly with one or more of the contacts312. For example, upon requesting to communicate with one or more of the contacts312, the user's device may initiate a VoIP or IM session with the selected contacts. Other options and features may be provided within the contact list of304for providing the user with additional media status information, as well as providing further options for communicating with the contacts312.

FIG. 4illustrates one embodiment of a method400of generating media status information for one or more contacts. The method400may be practiced, for example, in a computing system including a server system, a user's device, and one or more electronic devices used by the user's contacts. The method400begins by the user's device requesting402media status information for the contacts included in a contact list located on the user's device. This may occur after the user's device connects to the server and/or logs in to the server.

Next, the user's device receives404the requested information from the server system for one or more of the contacts in the user's contact list. The media status information may include the types and names of media content that are currently being accessed by each of the user's contacts, the most recent media content that was previously accessed by the contacts, or other information regarding media content associated with the user's contacts, as previously described above. Optionally, the user's device can also receive connection information for one or more of the contacts, the connection information indicating whether the one or more contacts are online, offline, away, busy, and the like.

Once the media status information is gathered for the contacts included within the user's contact list, the media status information is displayed406to the user via a graphical display on the user's device. Optionally, the connection information may be displayed as well.

In one embodiment, the method may further include sending and receiving message data to and from the contacts located within the user's contact list using an IP-based messaging protocol. For example, the user of the device may communicate with one or more contacts using VoIP, IM, and the like. Optionally, the user can select and send pre-scripted messages.

In another embodiment, the user can request and/or access a media item currently being accessed or that was previously accessed by one of the user's contacts by providing a specified user input. Upon receiving the user input requesting the media item, the device and/or the server may determine whether the particular media item is already stored on local memory of the device. If so, the device can access and play the particular media item. If not, the device can download all or a portion of the particular media item from a digital media provider, as already described above.

FIG. 5illustrates another embodiment of a method500of generating media status information for one or more contacts. Similar to the method400ofFIG. 4, the method500may be practiced, for example, in a computing system including a server system, a user's device, and one or more electronic devices used by the user's contacts. The method500may begin after the user's device has logged into the server and requested information, including media status information, for the contacts included in a contact list located on the user's device, whereupon the server receives502the request for information from the user's device.

After receiving the information request, the server may create504a session contact list. The session contact list may include the contact list from the client device as well as a device identifier for the client device. In this manner, the server can coordinate and arrange the collection of information from the contacts (or more particularly, from devices associated with the contacts), and also transmit the collected information to the device.

The method500continues with the server collecting506the requested information. Collecting the requested information may include determining if the contacts are logged in to the server and if so, the particular media items being accessed by each contact. If a contact is not logged in to the server and/or if the contact is not accessing any media items, the server may determine a media item that was most recently accessed by the contact. The information that is collected can therefore include at least media status information. Once the requested information has been collected, it is sent508to the user's device. Additionally, the information collected and sent to the user's device can include connection information for each contact.

While the device is communicating with the server system (e.g., logged into the server system and/or online), the server may continue to collect media status and/or connection information and send it to the device at periodic and/or non-periodic intervals. When the device ceases to communicate with the server system, the server may delete510the session contact list. Alternately and/or additionally, upon determining that the user device is no longer communicating with the server, the server may send a message to the contacts of the user's device, the message including connection information for the user device (e.g., indicating that the user's device is no longer available).

With reference now toFIGS. 6A,6B and6C, various views of one embodiment of a device600are illustrated. The device600may correspond to the device100abstractly illustrated inFIG. 1. The device600includes a display610, which may correspond to the display102ofFIG. 1. The device600also includes a user interface605, comprising a click wheel, which may correspond to the user interface104ofFIG. 1.