Method, apparatus, and computer program product for content use assignment by exploiting social graph information

An apparatus for automatically assigning content information may include a processor. The processor may be configured to receive content information, and identify the usage type and the sub-usage type of the content information. The content information may comprise an indicator for a usage type and a sub-usage type. The processor may be further configured to automatically assign the received content information to the at least one user contact based on the sub-usage type, and to perform a specified function, based on a usage type. Associated methods and computer program products may also be provided. Another method, apparatus, and computer program product for providing content information may also be provided.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to providing and receiving information and, more particularly, relate to a method, apparatus and a computer program product for providing and assigning content information based at least in part on social connections.

BACKGROUND

The modern communications era has brought about a tremendous expansion of wireline and wireless networks. Computer networks, television networks, and telephony networks are experiencing an unprecedented technological expansion, fueled by consumer demand. Wireless and mobile networking technologies have addressed related consumer demands, while providing more flexibility and immediacy of information transfer.

Current and future networking technologies continue to facilitate ease of information or content transfer along with convenience to users by expanding the capabilities of mobile and other electronic devices (as used herein, “information” and “content” may be used interchangeably). For example, electronic devices, such as, for example, mobile terminals, can access and transfer content information via networking technologies such as the Internet, store, organize and customize a selection of contacts. However, despite the ease of information transfer, the process of customizing contacts or groups, such as, for example, assigning content to contacts or groups of contacts, remains a manual and extensive process, requiring the performance of various steps.

Further, in this information age, there has been a tremendous expansion in the amount of information available to users via networking technologies such as the Internet. In this regard, there has been a tremendous expansion in the providers of content and the monetization of the content, more particularly in the field of mobile communication. However, service providers do not maximize their revenues because they do not always offer the information or content in the proper format. Moreover, the information or content may not always be offered to the proper audience and for the proper setting. Further, the amount of information or content may be overwhelming to the audience and as a result, there may be a loss of sales because the audience may not be able to make a proper decision or make any decision.

In light of the above, it would be desirable to provide mechanisms for automatically assigning information or content to the proper usage and the user's contact(s) or group(s). Further, it would be desirable to provide the relevant information in the appropriate context, and tailoring the provided information or content for use in customizing user contacts.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A method, apparatus and computer program product are therefore provided that may enable providing and automatic assigning of content information based at least in part on social connections. In this regard, example embodiments of the present invention may maintain a selection of content information. The content information may be maintained on a network element, e.g. a server, or the like and may comprise an indicator for a usage type and/or a sub-usage type of the content. Various embodiments may receive user contacts associated with a user. The user contacts may be received from a server, a mobile terminal, or the like. Various embodiments may also query the information to identify social connections between the user contacts and the user. Some embodiments may compare the selection of content information with the social connections of the user contacts to identify content information corresponding to the user contacts. Other embodiments may provide for a transmission of the identified content information.

In one example embodiment, a method for providing content information is described. The method may include maintaining a selection of content information. In various embodiments, the content information may comprise a usage type and/or a sub-usage type, and receive a selection of user contacts associated with a user. The method may further include querying the selection of user contacts to identify social connections associated with the user contacts. In various embodiments, each user contact may have at least one social connection with the user. The method may also include comparing the selection of content information with at least one social connection of at least one user contact to identify content information corresponding to the at least one user contact. The method may additionally include providing for transmission of the at least one identified content information to the user.

In another example embodiment, a computer program product for providing content information is described. The computer program product may include at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein. The computer-readable program code portions may include first, second, third, fourth, and fifth program code portions. The first program code portion may be configured to maintain a selection of content information. In various embodiments, the content information may comprise a usage type and/or a sub-usage type, and receive a selection of user contacts associated with a user. The second program code portion may be configured to receive a selection of user contacts associated with a user. The third program code portion may be configured to query the selection of user contacts to identify social connections associated with the user contacts. In various embodiments, each user contact may have at least one social connection with the user. The fourth program code portion may be configured to compare the selection of content information with at least one social connection of at least one user contact to identify content information corresponding to the at least one user contact, and the fifth program code portion may be configured to provide for transmission of the at least one identified content information to the user.

In another example embodiment, an apparatus for providing content information is described. The apparatus may include a processor. The processor may be configured to maintain a selection of content information. In various embodiments, the content information may comprise a usage type and/or a sub-usage type, and receive a selection of user contacts associated with a user. The processor may further be configured to query the selection of user contacts to identify social connections associated with the user contacts. In various embodiments, each user contact may have at least one social connection with the user. The processor may also be configured to compare the selection of content information with at least one social connection of at least one user contact to identify content information corresponding to the at least one user contact, and provide for transmission of the at least one identified content information to the user.

In one example embodiment, an apparatus for providing content information is described. The apparatus may include means for maintaining a selection of content information. In various embodiments, the content information may comprise a usage type and/or a sub-usage type. The apparatus may further include means for receiving a selection of user contacts associated with a user, and means for querying the selection of user contacts to identify social connections associated with the user contacts. In various embodiments, each user contact may have at least one social connection with the user. The apparatus may also include means for comparing the selection of content information with at least one social connection of at least one user contact to identify content information corresponding to the at least one user contact, and means for providing for transmission of the at least one identified content information to the user.

Further example embodiments of the present invention may receive content information to be assigned to at least one user contact. The content information may be received from a server, a mobile terminal or the like and may comprise an indicator for a usage type and/or a sub-usage type. Various embodiments may identify the usage type and/or the sub-usage type of the content information. Other embodiments may automatically assign the received content information to the user contact(s), based at least in part on the sub-usage type, to perform a specified function, based at least in part on the usage type. As used herein, the term “automatically” may be used to refer to without manual intervention or involvement. In other embodiments, manual user intervention may be possible.

In one example embodiment, a method for automatically assigning content information is described. The method may include receiving at least one content information comprising an indicator for a usage type and/or a sub-usage type to be assigned to at least one user contact, and identifying the usage type and/or the sub-usage type of the at least one content information. The method may further include automatically assigning the received at least one content information to the at least one user contact, based at least in part on the sub-usage type, to perform a specified function, based at least in part on a usage type.

In another example embodiment, a computer program product for automatically assigning content information is described. The computer program product may include at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein. The computer-readable program code portions may include a first, second, and third program code portions. The first program code portion may be configured to receive at least one content information to be automatically assigned to at least one user contact. In various embodiments, the content information may comprise an indicator for a usage type and/or a sub-usage type. The second program code portion may be configured to identify the usage type and/or the sub-usage type of the at least one content information. The third program code portion may be configured to automatically assign the received at least one content information to the at least one user contact, based at least in part on the sub-usage type, to perform a specified function, based at least in part on a usage type.

In another example embodiment, an apparatus for automatically assigning content information is described. The apparatus may include a processor. The processor may be configured to receive at least one content information, and identify the usage type and/or the sub-usage type of the at least one content information. In various embodiments, the content information may comprise an indicator for a usage type and/or a sub-usage type. The processor may be further configured to automatically assign the received at least one content information to the at least one user contact based at least in part on the sub-usage type, to perform a specified function, based at least in part on a usage type.

In one example embodiment, an apparatus for automatically assigning content information is described. The apparatus may include means for receiving at least one content information, and means for identifying the usage type and/or the sub-usage type of the at least one content information. The apparatus may further include means for automatically assigning the received at least one content information to the at least one user contact, based at least in part on the sub-usage type, to perform a specified function, based at least in part on a usage type.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1illustrates a block diagram of a mobile terminal10that may benefit from embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the mobile terminal illustrated and hereinafter described is merely illustrative of one type of electronic device that may benefit from embodiments of the present invention and, therefore, should not be taken to limit the scope of the present invention. While several embodiments of the electronic device are illustrated and will be hereinafter described for purposes of example, other types of electronic devices, such as mobile telephones, mobile computers, portable digital assistants (PDAs), pagers, laptop computers, desktop computers, gaming devices, televisions, and other types of electronic systems, may employ the present invention.

As shown, the mobile terminal10may include an antenna12in communication with a transmitter14and a receiver16. The mobile terminal may also include a controller20or other processor that provides signals to and receives signals from the transmitter and receiver, respectively. These signals may include signaling information in accordance with an air interface standard of an applicable cellular system, and/or any number of different wireless networking techniques, comprising but not limited to Wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi), wireless LAN (WLAN) techniques such as IEEE 802.11, and/or the like. In addition, these signals may include speech data, user generated data, user requested data, and/or the like. In this regard, the mobile terminal may be capable of operating with one or more air interface standards, communication protocols, modulation types, access types, and/or the like. More particularly, the mobile terminal may be capable of operating in accordance with various first generation (1G), second generation (2G), 2.5G, third-generation (3G) communication protocols, fourth-generation (4G) communication protocols, and/or the like. For example, the mobile terminal may be capable of operating in accordance with 2G wireless communication protocols IS-136 (TDMA), GSM, and IS-95 (CDMA). Also, for example, the mobile terminal may be capable of operating in accordance with 2.5G wireless communication protocols GPRS, EDGE, or the like. Further, for example, the mobile terminal may be capable of operating in accordance with 3G wireless communication protocols such as UMTS, CDMA2000, WCDMA and TD-SCDMA. The mobile terminal may be additionally capable of operating in accordance with 3.9G wireless communication protocols such as LTE or E-UTRAN. Additionally, for example, the mobile terminal may be capable of operating in accordance with fourth-generation (4G) wireless communication protocols or the like as well as similar wireless communication protocols that may be developed in the future.

Some Narrow-band Advanced Mobile Phone System (NAMPS), as well as Total Access Communication System (TACS), mobile terminals may also benefit from embodiments of this invention, as should dual or higher mode phones (e.g., digital/analog or TDMA/CDMA/analog phones). Additionally, the mobile terminal10may be capable of operating according to Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) protocols.

It is understood that the controller20may comprise the circuitry desirable for implementing audio and logic functions of the mobile terminal10. For example, the controller20may comprise a digital signal processor device, a microprocessor device, an analog-to-digital converter, a digital-to-analog converter, and/or the like. Control and signal processing functions of the mobile terminal may be allocated between these devices according to their respective capabilities. The controller may additionally comprise an internal voice coder (VC)20a, an internal data modem (DM)20b, and/or the like. Further, the controller may comprise functionality to operate one or more software programs, which may be stored in memory. For example, the controller20may be capable of operating a connectivity program, such as a Web browser. The connectivity program may allow the mobile terminal10to transmit and receive Web content, such as location-based content, according to a protocol, such as Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), and/or the like. The mobile terminal10may be capable of using a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) to transmit and receive Web content across Internet50.

The mobile terminal10may also comprise a user interface including a conventional earphone or speaker24, a ringer22, a microphone26, a display28, a user input interface, and/or the like, which may be coupled to the controller20. Although not shown, the mobile terminal may comprise a battery for powering various circuits related to the mobile terminal, for example, a circuit to provide mechanical vibration as a detectable output. The user input interface may comprise devices allowing the mobile terminal to receive data, such as a keypad30, a touch display (not shown), a joystick (not shown), and/or other input device. In embodiments including a keypad, the keypad may comprise conventional numeric (0-9) and related keys (#, *), and/or other keys for operating the mobile terminal.

As shown inFIG. 1, the mobile terminal10may also include one or more means for sharing and/or obtaining data. For example, the mobile terminal may comprise a short-range radio frequency (RF) transceiver and/or interrogator64so data may be shared with and/or obtained from electronic devices in accordance with RF techniques. The mobile terminal may comprise other short-range transceivers, such as, for example an infrared (IR) transceiver66, a Bluetooth™ (BT) transceiver68operating using Bluetooth™ brand wireless technology developed by the Bluetooth™ Special Interest Group, and/or the like. The Bluetooth transceiver68may be capable of operating according to Wibree™ radio standards. In this regard, the mobile terminal10and, in particular, the short-range transceiver may be capable of transmitting data to and/or receiving data from electronic devices within a proximity of the mobile terminal, such as within 10 meters, for example. Although not shown, the mobile terminal may be capable of transmitting and/or receiving data from electronic devices according to various wireless networking techniques, including Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), WLAN techniques such as IEEE 802.11 techniques, and/or the like.

The mobile terminal10may comprise memory, such as a subscriber identity module (SIM)38, a removable user identity module (R-UIM), and/or the like, which may store information elements related to a mobile subscriber. In addition to the SIM, the mobile terminal may comprise other removable and/or fixed memory such that the computer readable storage medium is a non-transitory memory medium. In this regard, the mobile terminal may comprise volatile memory40, such as volatile Random Access Memory (RAM), which may comprise a cache area for temporary storage of data. The mobile terminal may comprise other non-volatile memory42, which may be embedded and/or may be removable. The non-volatile memory may comprise an EEPROM, flash memory, and/or the like. The memories may store one or more software programs, instructions, pieces of information, data, and/or the like which may be used by the mobile terminal for performing functions of the mobile terminal. For example, the memories may comprise an identifier, such as an international mobile equipment identification (IMEI) code, capable of uniquely identifying the mobile terminal10.

Referring now toFIG. 2, an illustration of one type of system that could support communications to and from an electronic device, such as the mobile terminal ofFIG. 1, is provided by way of example, but not of limitation. As shown, one or more mobile terminals10may each include an antenna12for transmitting signals to and for receiving signals from a base site or base station (BS)44. The base station44may be part of one or more cellular or mobile networks each of which may comprise elements desirable to operate the network, such as a mobile switching center (MSC)46. In operation, the MSC46may be capable of routing calls to and from the mobile terminal10when the mobile terminal10is making and receiving calls. The MSC46may also provide a connection to landline trunks when the mobile terminal10is involved in a call. In addition, the MSC46may be capable of controlling the forwarding of messages to and from the mobile terminal10, and may also control the forwarding of messages for the mobile terminal10to and from a messaging center. It should be noted that although the MSC46is shown in the system ofFIG. 2, the MSC46is merely an exemplary network device and embodiments of the present invention are not limited to use in a network or a network employing an MSC.

The MSC46may be coupled to a data network, such as a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), and/or a wide area network (WAN). The MSC46may be directly coupled to the data network. In one embodiment, however, the MSC46may be coupled to a gateway (GTW)48, and the GTW48may be coupled to a WAN, such as the Internet50. In turn, devices such as processing elements (e.g., personal computers, server computers or the like) may be coupled to the mobile terminal10via the Internet50. For example, as explained below, the processing elements may include one or more processing elements associated with a computing system52(two shown inFIG. 2), origin server54(one shown inFIG. 2) or the like, as described below.

As shown inFIG. 2, the BS44may also be coupled to a signaling General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) support node (SGSN)56. As known to those skilled in the art, the SGSN56may be capable of performing functions similar to the MSC46for packet switched services. The SGSN56, like the MSC46, may be coupled to a data network, such as the Internet50. The SGSN56may be directly coupled to the data network. Alternatively, the SGSN56may be coupled to a packet-switched core network, such as a GPRS core network58. The packet-switched core network may then be coupled to another GTW48, such as a GTW GPRS support node (GGSN)60, and the GGSN60may be coupled to the Internet50. In addition to the GGSN60, the packet-switched core network may also be coupled to a GTW48. Also, the GGSN60may be coupled to a messaging center. In this regard, the GGSN60and the SGSN56, like the MSC46, may be capable of controlling the forwarding of messages, such as NMS messages. The GGSN60and SGSN56may also be capable of controlling the forwarding of messages for the mobile terminal10to and from the messaging center.

In addition, by coupling the SGSN56to the GPRS core network58and the GGSN60, devices such as a computing system52and/or origin server54may be coupled to the mobile terminal10via the Internet50, SGSN56and GGSN60. In this regard, devices such as the computing system52and/or origin server54may communicate with the mobile terminal10across the SGSN56, GPRS core network58and the GGSN60. By directly or indirectly connecting mobile terminals10and the other devices (e.g., computing system52, origin server54, etc.) to the Internet50, the mobile terminals10may communicate with the other devices and with one another, such as according to the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and/or the like, to thereby carry out various functions of the mobile terminals10.

Although not every element of every possible mobile network is shown inFIG. 2and described herein, it should be appreciated that electronic devices, such as the mobile terminal10, may be coupled to one or more of any of a number of different networks through the BS44. In this regard, the network(s) may be capable of supporting communication in accordance with any one or more of a number of first-generation (1G), second-generation (2G), 2.5G, third-generation (3G), fourth generation (4G) and/or future mobile communication protocols or the like. For example, one or more of the network(s) may be capable of supporting communication in accordance with 2G wireless communication protocols IS-136 (TDMA), GSM, and IS-95 (CDMA). Also, for example, one or more of the network(s) may be capable of supporting communication in accordance with 2.5G wireless communication protocols GPRS, Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), or the like. Further, for example, one or more of the network(s) may be capable of supporting communication in accordance with 3G wireless communication protocols such as E-UTRAN or a Universal Mobile Telephone System (UMTS) network employing Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) radio access technology. NAMPS, as well as TACS, network(s) may also benefit from embodiments of the present invention, as should dual or higher mode mobile terminals (e.g., digital/analog or TDMA/CDMA/analog phones).

As depicted inFIG. 2, the mobile terminal10may further be coupled to one or more wireless access points (APs)62. The APs62may comprise access points configured to communicate with the mobile terminal10in accordance with techniques such as, for example, radio frequency (RF), Bluetooth™ (BT), infrared (IrDA) or any of a number of different wireless networking techniques, including wireless LAN (WLAN) techniques such as IEEE 802.11 (e.g., 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, etc.), Wibree™ techniques, WiMAX techniques such as IEEE 802.16, Wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi) techniques and/or ultra wideband (UWB) techniques such as IEEE 802.15 or the like. The APs62may be coupled to the Internet50. Like with the MSC46, the APs62may be directly coupled to the Internet50. In one embodiment, however, the APs62may be indirectly coupled to the Internet50via a GTW48. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the BS44may be considered as another AP62. As will be appreciated, by directly or indirectly connecting the mobile terminals10and the computing system52, the origin server54, and/or any of a number of other devices, to the Internet50, the mobile terminals10may communicate with one another, the computing system, etc., to thereby carry out various functions of the mobile terminals10, such as to transmit data, content or the like to, and/or receive content, data or the like from, the computing system52. As used herein, the terms “data,” “content,” “information” and similar terms may be used interchangeably to refer to data capable of being transmitted, received and/or stored. Thus, use of any such terms should not be taken to limit the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Although not shown inFIG. 2, in addition to or in lieu of coupling the mobile terminal10to computing systems52and/or origin server54across the Internet50, the mobile terminal10, computing system52and origin server54may be coupled to one another and communicate in accordance with, for example, RF, BT, IrDA or any of a number of different wireline or wireless communication techniques, including LAN, WLAN, WiMAX, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), Wibree™, UWB techniques and/or the like. One or more of the computing systems52may additionally, or alternatively, include a removable memory capable of storing content, which may thereafter be transferred to the mobile terminal10. Further, the mobile terminal10may be coupled to one or more electronic devices, such as printers, digital projectors and/or other multimedia capturing, producing and/or storing devices (e.g., other terminals). Like with the computing systems52, the mobile terminal10may be configured to communicate with the portable electronic devices in accordance with techniques such as, for example, RF, BT, IrDA or any of a number of different wireline or wireless communication techniques, including USB, LAN, Wibree™, Wi-Fi, WLAN, WiMAX and/or UWB techniques. In this regard, the mobile terminal10may be capable of communicating with other devices via short-range communication techniques. For instance, the mobile terminal10may be in wireless short-range communication with one or more devices51that are equipped with a short-range communication transceiver80. The electronic devices51may comprise any of a number of different devices and transponders capable of transmitting and/or receiving data in accordance with any of a number of different short-range communication techniques including but not limited to Bluetooth™, RFID, IR, WLAN, Infrared Data Association (IrDA) or the like. The electronic device51may include any of a number of different mobile or stationary devices, including other mobile terminals, wireless accessories, appliances, portable digital assistants (PDAs), pagers, laptop computers, motion sensors, light switches and other types of electronic devices.

Referring now toFIG. 3, an example apparatus300for providing service invitations is described. Apparatus300may be embodied as a network element, e.g. a server, or other network device including, for example, a mobile terminal, such as mobile terminal10ofFIG. 1. The apparatus300may include or otherwise be in communication with a processor305, a user interface315, a communication interface320, and a memory device310. The memory device310may include, for example, volatile and/or non-volatile memory (e.g., volatile memory40and/or non-volatile memory42). The memory device310may be accessed via a local network, or available remotely. In other embodiments, the memory device310may be separate from apparatus300but may be accessed by apparatus300via a local network, or available remotely. The memory device310may be configured to store information, data, applications, instructions, or the like for enabling the apparatus to carry out various functions in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention. For example, the memory device310could be configured to buffer input data for processing by the processor305. Additionally or alternatively, the memory device310could be configured to store instructions for execution by the processor305. As yet another alternative, the memory device310may be one of a plurality of databases that store information in the form of static and/or dynamic information, for example, in association with user contacts, a selection of content information that is to be provided to the user, or the like.

The processor305may be embodied in a number of different ways. For example, the processor305may be embodied as a microprocessor, a coprocessor, a controller (e.g., controller30fromFIG. 1), or various other processing means or elements including integrated circuits such as, for example, an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) or FPGA (field programmable gate array). In an example embodiment, the processor305may be configured to execute instructions stored in the memory device310or otherwise accessible to the processor305.

The user interface315may be in communication with the processor305to receive an indication of a user input at the user interface315and/or to provide an audible, visual, mechanical, or other output to the user. As such, the user interface315may include, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, a touch screen display, a conventional display, a microphone, a speaker, or other input/output mechanisms. In an example embodiment in which the apparatus300is embodied as a server, the user interface315may be limited, or even eliminated.

The communication interface320may be embodied as any device or means embodied in either hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software that is configured to receive and/or transmit data from/to a network and/or any other device or module in communication with the apparatus300. In this regard, the communication interface320may include, for example, an antenna, a transmitter, a receiver, a transceiver, a network card, network adapter, network interface card and/or supporting hardware or software for enabling communications with network325, which may be any type of wired or wireless network. The communication interface320may enable the receipt and transmission of communications with remote devices (e.g., the contacts server340, the user platform345, and/or the user platform350, or the like). As used herein, “communications” and “communication events” may be used interchangeably and may include, but are not limited to, phone calls, short message service (SMS) messages, multimedia messaging service (MMS) messages, e-mails, Internet Protocol communication and/or the like, and transfer or other sharing of files between the apparatus300and the remote devices. Sometimes as used herein, the generic term “messages” may be used to refer to SMS messages, MMS messages, e-mails, and file transfers. As such, via the communication interface320and the network325, the apparatus300may communicate with the contacts server340, the user platform345, and/or the user platform350.

The contacts server340may be any type of computing device for storing, retrieving, computing, transmitting, and receiving data. The contacts server340may include a memory device, a processor, and a communication interface for communicating with the network325. In some embodiments, the contacts server340may be a web server, database server, file server, or the like. According to various embodiments, the contacts server340may be a storage location for user contacts. In this regard, a user may upload one or more user contacts to the contacts server340via, for example, network325. For example, one or more user contacts associated with the user platform345and/or the user platform350may be uploaded to the contact server340via network325. Conversely, a user may update one or more user contacts maintained on the contacts server340via, for example, network325, and download/transfer to the user platform345, via, for example, network325. For example, user contacts associated with the user platform345and/or the user platform350maintained on the contacts server340may be updated and then downloaded back to the user platform345and/or the user platform350. Similarly, a user may exchange or share one or more user contacts with another user, using respective user platforms345and350, in other words uploading or updating one or more user contacts between the user platforms, via, for example, network325. As such, and as described below, one or more user contacts may be synchronized with, for example, contacts server340and/or between user platforms345and/or350. Further, one or more user contacts may be received from the contacts server340by various network entities including apparatus300.

The user platforms345,350may also be any type of device for storing, retrieving, computing, transmitting and receiving data. In some embodiments, user platforms345,350may be embodied as a mobile terminal10ofFIG. 1or the like. User platforms may be associated with one or more user contacts such that a user contact may be used to direct communications to the user platforms and a user of the user platform. In some embodiments, user contacts may direct communications to a central holding location (e.g., a server) that may be accessed by a user via user platforms345,350. For example, email may be directed by a user contact to a server for holding until a user can access the server via a user platform and retrieve the email. In the alternative, email may be directed to a server holding by a user contact and subsequent transferred to a user platform. User platforms345,350are representative of a plurality of user platforms, and as such any number of user platforms may be included inFIG. 3. In some embodiments, via the user platforms345,350, a user may access an example online service such as, but not limited to, a website, a social networking website, a blog website, a web feed, a widget, or the like, using a browser, a dedicated application, or the like.

User platform350, as well as any other user platform, may also be associated with a phonebook355. The phonebook355may include data including user contacts and additional associated information. The phonebook355may be stored on a memory device that is included with the user platform355or external to the user platform350, similar to contact server340. As described below, the data within the phonebook355may be synchronized with, for example, contacts server340. Similarly, user platform345, as well as any other user platform, may also be associated with an address book360.

The contact receiver330, the social connection retriever332, the content generator334and the content provider336of apparatus300may be any means or device embodied in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software that is configured to carry out the functions of the contact receiver330, the social connection retriever332, the content generator334and the content provider336, respectively, as described herein. In an example embodiment, the processor305may include, or otherwise control the contact receiver330, the social connection retriever332, the content generator334and the content provider336. In various example embodiments, the contact receiver330, the social connection retriever332, the content generator334and the content provider336may reside on a server, or other network device including a mobile terminal, such as mobile terminal10ofFIG. 1.

In some embodiments, the system ofFIG. 3may be utilized for synchronization of data amongst the various network platforms. In this regard, the network platforms (i.e., the apparatus300, the contacts server340, the user platforms345,350, etc.) may be used by a user to access data. In some embodiments, the network platforms may be used to access data associated with an online service account. Any type of data may be synchronized amongst the platforms and made available for access. Types of data may include status information, content, user profile information, shared files and applications (e.g., documents, photos, media content, etc.), user contacts, invitations, service membership information, relationship group information, or the like. For example, a contacts list may be accessed and/or synchronized (e.g., updated) via the user platforms345,350, the contact server340, or the apparatus300. Upon modifying the contacts list, the information or part of the information may be transmitted to a data storage device (e.g., the apparatus300or the contact server340) or otherwise made available to the various network platforms for subsequent access.

In this manner, data modified on one platform may be available to another platform. For example, the modified contact information may be automatically transmitted from the user platform345to the contact server340or the apparatus300for synchronization purposes. As such, the user may later access the modified contact information via user platform350and/or a browser.

In some embodiments, a user may set synchronization parameters, which may identify types of data that may be synchronized and types of data that need not be synchronized. For example, a user may set the synchronization parameters to synchronize the contact list, but may also set the synchronization parameters such that user profile information need not be synchronized. In various embodiments, various user contacts, invitations, service membership information, and/or relationship group information and/or additional associated information may or may not be synchronized.

In this regard, and referring now toFIG. 4, an example embodiment of a system. The system ofFIG. 4includes a service400, a web browser application410, an account management provider420, an application430, and a storage service440. The service400, the web browser application410, the account management provider420, the application430, and the storage service440may be interconnected via the illustrated network, which may operate in similar manner to network325.

The service400, the account management provider420, and the storage service440may collectively represent an embodiment of the apparatus300ofFIG. 3. In this regard, the service400may represent an internet or network service (e.g., a website, a social networking website, a blog website, a web feed, a widget, or the like) that may receive and interact with user contacts and/or the like in a manner described with respect to the contact receiver330, the social connection retriever332, the content generator334, the content provider336, and the processor305. The service400may be a content provider service and hence, mainly provide content services to user platforms. In other embodiments, the service400may be associated with a third party service provider such as, for example, a content service provider (e.g., a ringtone provider, a video ringtone provider, a screen saver or wallpaper provider, a theme provider, or the like), to provide content information to user platforms, as discussed below, in addition to other functionalities specific to the service400. As used herein, “information”, “content”, and “content information” may be used interchangeably to refer to ringtones, ringback tones, themes, wallpapers, screen savers, pictures, video, games or other applications, and/or the like. For example, a social networking website may, in addition to its social networking functionalities, provide ringtones, video ringtones, screen saver, wallpaper or the like, on a side bar/pane or an advertising section/pane of the site.

In this regard, and referring now toFIG. 5, an embodiment of a system in accordance with aspects of the present invention is illustrated. The system ofFIG. 5may include a service application500, a front-end service510, a back-end service520, a back-end storage device530, and a front-end storage service540. As such, the service application500, the front-end service510, the back-end service520, the back-end storage device530, and the front-end storage device540may collectively represent an embodiment of the service400. The service application500, the front-end service510, the back-end service520, the back-end storage device530, and the front-end storage device540may be interconnected via the illustrated network, which may operate in similar manner to network325. The front-end service510and the back-end service520, the back-end storage device530and the front-end storage device540, and the service application500may operate in similar manner to the service400, the storage device440, and the client application430, respectively, as discussed herein.

Via the service application500, the front-end service510and the back-end service520may interact with each other to send and receive data, such as user contacts, content information, etc. The service application500may also include authentication means to provide security features during the interaction between the front-end service510and the back-end service520. For example, the back-end service520may authenticate itself before exchanging information and/or access information maintained on the front-end storage device540, and vice versa. Upon verification, the back-end service may be provided with access to, and allowed to exchange information with the front-end service510, and vice versa. In some embodiments, the back-end storage device530and the front-end storage device540may be embodied in one storage device that may operate in similar manner to the storage device440.

Referring back toFIG. 4, various types of data, such as, but not limited to, one or more user contacts, may be synchronized with and/or otherwise transferred to and from the service400. The service400may utilize the storage service440for storage and retrieval of data by the service400. In various embodiments, the storage service440may operate in similar manner to the memory device310and/or the server340. Further, the account management provider420may operate together with the various other network entities to perform account management and security features. In some embodiments, login information and passwords may be directed to the account management provider420for verification. Upon verification, the account management provider420may provide access to, and allow communications between, various network entities using, for example, a token or other access key.

Client application430may be a software or hardware application residing and operating on a platform, such as a computer, mobile terminal, or the like, that may be used to interact with the service400. In some embodiments, the client application430may reside and operate on the apparatus300, the user platforms345,350, or the like, and may operate in similar manner to apparatus300, the user platforms345,350, or the like. The client application may be downloaded to and/or installed on the platform. In some embodiments, the client application430may be specifically tailored to interact with the service400. Via the client application430, the platform, and the user of the platform, may interact with the service400to send and receive data, such as user contacts, between the client application430and the service400. The client application430may facilitate the gathering and/or storage of usage attributes and/or user contacts for subsequent transmission to the service400.

Further, the application430may include an authentication means to provide security features during the interaction with the service400. The authentication means may include processor305, the service400, the web browser application410, the account management provider420, the application430, computer instructions or algorithms described herein and executed by one or more of the foregoing components to perform authentication when executed, and/or the like. For example, the apparatus300may authenticate itself before exchanging information and/or accessing information maintained on the user platform345and/or the user platform350and/or the contact server340, such as, but not limited to the user contacts, phonebook and/or address book, and additional associated information such as, but not limited to, phone calls log, emails and/or other communications log or the like. Upon verification, the apparatus300may be provided with access to, and allowed to exchange between and access information on the user platform345and/or the user platform350and/or the contact server340, and various network entities using, for example, a token or other access key

Similar to the application430, the web browser application410may be a software or hardware application residing and operating on a platform, such as a computer, mobile terminal, or the like, that may be used to interact with the service400. In this regard, the web browser application410may be a network communication application for interacting with various network entities, including the service400. In some embodiments, the web browser application410may reside and operate on the apparatus300, the user platforms345,350, or the like, and may operate in similar manner to the apparatus300, the user platforms345,350, or the like. Via the web browser application410, the platform, and the user of the platform, may interact with the service400to send and receive, as well as synchronize, data, such as usage attributes, between the web browser application410and the service400. The web browser application410may facilitate the gathering and storage of usage attributes for subsequent transmission to the service400. The web browser application410may also facilitate the retrieving and storage of the plurality of user contacts and additional associated information, as discussed. For example, a user may browse to the service400, using the user platforms345,350, whereupon, the service400may request to access the phonebook355and/or address book360, which may include data including user contacts and additional associated information such as, but not limited to, phone communication logs, short message service (SMS) message logs, multimedia messaging service (MMS) message logs, e-mail logs, file sharing logs, application sharing and execution logs, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) logs, instant messaging logs, other communication events log and/or the like. Further, and as mentioned above, the interaction of the platform or the user thereof with the service400may be regulated by an authentication means.

Referring back toFIG. 3, the contact receiver330may be configured to receive user contacts associated with a user. Means for receiving the user contacts may include the processor305, the contact receiver330, a receiver, algorithms for receiving the user contacts described herein and executed by one or more of the foregoing components, and/or the like. Means for receiving the user contacts may further include a contact retriever (not shown). In one embodiment, the contact retriever may be separate from the contact receiver. Means for retrieving the user contacts may include processor305, the contact receiver330, such as, but not limited to, a retriever, algorithms for retrieving the user contacts described herein and executed by one or more of the foregoing components, and/or the like. In this regard, the retriever means may be embodied by software written in a network application programming language or the like that exposes a user contacts application, such as, but not limited to, a phonebook and/or address book application program interface, in order to access the user contacts associated with the user and other content of the phonebook or additional information associated thereto. The network application programming language may comprise, but is not limited to, JavaScript, Java Server Pages (JSP), PHP, Perl, Active Server Pages (ASP), and Visual Basic (VB) Script or the like. Further, other programming languages may be used.

The contact receiver330or the processor305may be configured to store the plurality of user contacts and other additional information, as discussed above, on the memory device310. In other embodiments, the contact receiver330or the processor305may be configured not to store the plurality of user contacts and other additional associated information but may be configured to identify the plurality of user contacts associated with the user and other additional associated information. The plurality of user contacts and other additional information may already be organized in particular data structure format and stored in the memory device310. In another embodiment, the plurality of user contacts and other additional information may be organized in a different data structure preferable to the apparatus300by, for example, the network application programming language, before being stored on the memory device310. A user contact may include information for directing communications to a user contact entity (e.g., an individual or other entity). In this regard, information for directing communications to a user contact entity may include a phone number, a mailing address, an email address, a user identifier, a social networking account identifier, social networking account relation to the user (friends, family, business contact, etc.), a network account identifier or the like. A user may be associated with a list or other grouping of user contacts. The plurality of user contacts associated with a user may be representative of the user's friends, family members, business contacts, work associates, and/or other groups (e.g., work out friends, chess club, book club, and country club) or the like.

The user contacts may be received from the contact server340, the user platforms345,350, and/or the memory device310. In this regard, in some embodiments, the contact receiver330may transmit a request for user contacts directly to the user platforms345,350, the contact server340, and/or the memory device310in response to the user platforms345,350accessing apparatus300or the service400including one or more functionalities of apparatus300. The contact server340, the user platforms345,350, and/or the memory device310may respond by transmitting the user contacts and additional associated information back to the contact server340. Further, the contact receiver330(embodied in apparatus300and/or the service400by incorporation) may perform an authentication, as discussed above, before accessing and/or receiving the information. In some embodiments, user platform345or350may be embodied as a mobile terminal, such as mobile terminal10, and the user contacts may be received, directly or indirectly, from the mobile terminal. In other embodiments, the user contacts may be updated on a server, such as the contacts server340, using a user platform, such as a mobile or non-mobile terminal, and then downloaded from the server onto a different user platform, whereupon the user contacts may be transmitted to the contact receiver330.

For example, a user (e.g., the user associated with the user platform345) may access or browse to an online service (e.g., the service400) that may be a content service provider, using the user platforms345, whereupon, the online service may request access to the phonebook and/or address book associated with the user, which may include data including user contacts and additional associated information. The online service may include the services of a content service provider or the online service may be the content service provider, as discussed above. Further, and as mentioned above, the interaction of the platform or the user thereof with the service400may be regulated by an authentication means.

In embodiments where the user contacts are received from the contacts server340or memory device310, the contacts server340and/or the memory device310may have previously received the user contacts from a user platform, such as user platforms345,350. In this regard, a user may define the user contacts on the user platform and then upload one or more user contacts to the contacts server340and/or the memory device310. For example, a user may define user contacts on a user platform that is embodied as a mobile terminal, such as mobile terminal10, and upload one or more user contacts from the mobile terminal to the contacts server340or memory device310. Further, the contact receiver330(embodied in apparatus300and/or the service400by incorporation) may perform an authentication, as discussed above, before accessing and/or receiving the information.

Further, user contacts and additional associated information may be received from the service400. In this regard, the service400may be implemented in an embodiment that includes apparatus300and one or more of its functionalities, as discussed above and illustrated inFIG. 5. In some embodiments, the service400may be an online service which allows a user to store user contacts on a storage device associated with the online service, such as a social networking website that maintains user contacts and additional information associated with one or more users who may have subscribed to the service. For example, the user may subscribe to the social networking site, join or not join a group already existing on the social networking site, and/or create/submit a selection of user contacts to create a virtual social network. The user may create various groups and organize the submitted user contacts into the various groups. As another example, the user may upload a selection of user contacts and additional associated information maintained on a user platform such as the user platforms345,350and/or the contact server340onto the social networking site. The user contacts stored on the user platform may be organized according to a preference of the user. The user contacts may be stored on a storage device associated with the service400, such as the storage device440. In this regard, the contact receiver330may submit a request to the service400to access the user contacts associated with a user, for example, stored on the storage device440. Similarly to the discussion above, the contact receiver330(embodied in apparatus300and/or the service400by incorporation) may perform an authentication before accessing and/or receiving user contacts and additional associated information.

In other embodiments, the service400may be an online service that may not provide for the permanent storing of user contacts and/or additional associated information. In this regard, the contact receiver330may submit a request to the service400to request access to the user contacts associated with a user, for example, stored on a storage device associated with the user platforms345,350, or the contact server340. Similarly to the discussion above, the contact receiver330(embodied in apparatus300and/or the service400by incorporation) may perform an authentication before accessing and/or receiving user contacts and additional associated information.

In yet other embodiments, the service400may be an online service that may provide for the sending of communication from one user to another or other interactions between two or more users. As such, the online service may temporarily store the user contact(s) of a user, each time the user communicates or interacts with another user. For example, a user may access a text messaging site with a user platform, such as, the user platform345, submit a text message to another user, via the online service, such as the service400, whereupon the online service may temporarily store the contact information of the recipient. Similarly, the user may share an application, via a user platform, such as the user platform345, with one or more additional users, whereupon the online service may temporarily store the contact information of the one or more users with whom the user is interacting.

The social connection retriever332may be configured to retrieve/identify the social connections between each of the user contact(s) associated with a user and the user, and amongst the user contact(s). Means for retrieving/identifying the social connections between each of the user contact(s) and the user, and amongst the user contact(s) may include the processor305, the social connection retriever332, algorithms for retrieving/identifying the social connections described herein and executed by one or more of the foregoing components, and/or the like. There may be various social connections between the user contact(s) and the user, and amongst the user contact(s).

In this regard, and referring now toFIG. 6, an embodiment of a graph of social connections between the user contact(s) and the user, and amongst the user, retrieved/identified by the social connection retriever332in accordance with aspects of the present invention is illustrated. As used herein, a “social connection” may be used to refer the social relationship between the user and the user contact or amongst user contacts. For example, the user and the user contact may be friends, family members (i.e., siblings, parent(s) and child(ren)), co-workers, colleagues, acquaintances, members of a particular organization or group, and/or the like. As depicted inFIG. 6, the User may have several contacts, such as for example, Contact A-T. Some of the User's contacts may be organized into groups, such as for example, Family, Friends, and Work. The contacts assigned to various groups may or may not have the same social connections amongst themselves as with the User. For example, although Contact D and Contact E may be friends of the User, they may not be friends with each other. Some of the User's contacts may not be assigned to a group, namely Contact R-U, for various reasons. Contact S may be the spouse or the significant other of the user. Contacts R and U may be new contacts that the User has not had the time to assign to a group. Contact T may be a contact automatically saved by the user platform and as such, the User may be planning on deleting the contact.

Referring back toFIG. 3, in embodiments where the user contacts are not stored on the storage device310, the social connection retriever332may retrieve the social connections between each of the user contact(s) and the user, and amongst the user contact(s) by for example querying the contents of the phone book/address book stored on the user platform or the contact server, subsequent to the contact receiver330obtaining access and/or authenticating to the user platform and/or contact server as described above, and identifying the relationships between the user contacts and the user, and amongst the user contacts, as organized on the phone book/address. In other embodiments where the user contacts are stored on apparatus300or on the service400, the social connection retriever may retrieve the social connections by querying the contents of the storage device storing the user contacts, such as the storage device310or440, subsequent to the contact receiver330obtaining access and/or authenticating to the storage device310of440. In other embodiments, the social connections may be obtained from a graph of social connections of the service400or apparatus300. For example, an online service, such as a social networking website, may provide social connections based at least in part on groups (e.g. families, friends, colleagues), organizations (e.g. boat club, cooking club, yoga), and other types of information available on the site to which the user may belong. In some embodiments, some or all the user contact(s) may already be organized by groups and/or categories. For example, the user may have already organized the user contacts on the phonebook/address book or on the social networking website. As such, the social connection retriever332may retrieve the social connections as organized.

In other embodiments, the social connection retriever332may derive social connections based at least in part on, for example, the user's online usage, and/or the user's pattern of communicating with each of the user contacts based at least in part on, but not limited to, the contents of the phone book/address book and additional associated information stored on the user platform, such as for example the user platform345or350. As discussed the additional associated information may comprise, but is not limited to, phone calls logs, short message service (SMS) message logs, multimedia messaging service (MMS) message logs, e-mail logs, file sharing logs, application sharing and execution logs, VoIP logs, instant messaging logs, games logs, online gaming event logs, communication events logs and/or the like. The online usage and/or the communications with user contacts may be analyzed to derive social connections. As such, and for example, user contact(s) belonging to the family group may be identified by analyzing the communication event logs and/or the like between the user and the user contact(s), such as emails (for example, the content thereof), appointment privacy flags, photo sharing attributes in online services or the like. As another example, work colleagues may be identified by the exchange of emails (for example, through the content thereof, the frequency, or the like), or the like.

The content generator334may be configured to generate a variety of content information and store the generated content information on a storage device such as storage device310. As such, the user contacts and the content information may be stored on the same storage device. In other embodiments, the content information and user contacts may be stored on separate storage devices but the storage devices may be similar to the storage device310. Means for generating content information may include the processor305, the content provider336, the storage device310, algorithms for generating content information described herein and executed by one or more of the foregoing components, and/or the like. Each generated content information may include a content type, a usage type, and a sub-usage type. A usage type may refer to the suggested/recommended function that may be performed by the content information or the purpose the content may be used for such as, but not limited to, ringtone, ringback tone, video tone, wallpaper, theme, alert tone, or the like. A sub-usage type may refer to the suggested/recommended group of user contacts or one or more user contacts to which the content information may be assigned.

Each content information may comprise an indicator that may identify the usage type and/or the sub-usage type. Each usage type and each sub-usage type may have a unique identifier or value. The identifier or value may be, but is not limited to, numerical, alpha or text based, symbols, or the like. For example, but not as a limitation, the indicator may be in the form of a container, may be in the meta-data of the file or media itself, such as but not limited to an ID3 tag, or may be in DRM (Digital Rights Management) headers or the like. In some embodiments, the content generator334may be configured to select a file, or a portion thereof, and assign a usage type and/or a sub-usage type. In an alternative embodiment, the content generator334may be configured to select a file or content, identify a relevant portion of the file, determine a usage type and/or a sub-usage type for the identified portion, generate a content information comprising the content or the relevant portion thereof and associate a usage type and/or a sub-usage type. As such, the same file or piece of content, in its entirety or various portions thereof, may have different usage types and sub-usage types and hence may be sold or utilized several times, thereby increasing the revenues of a content provider. For example, content information may be generated with a song about mothers, and may be assigned a usage type of ringback tone and a sub-usage type of mothers. Similarly, a portion of the same song about mothers may be assigned a usage type of ringtone and a sub-usage type of wives. Alternatively, the same song, in its entirety or a part of the song, may be assigned a usage type of alert tone and a sub-usage type of mother-in-law. Referring now toFIG. 7in this regard and as an example, the chorus portion of the song “Erase/Rewind” may be assigned a usage type of ringtone and a sub-usage type of the Marketing group. Similarly, the first verse of the same song, “Erase/Rewind” may be assigned a usage type of alert tone and a sub-usage type of the Marketing II group. In the alternative, the same chorus portion of the song “Erase/Rewind” may be assigned a usage type of ringback tone and a sub-usage type for telemarketers.

Referring back toFIG. 3, in some embodiments, the assignment of sub-usage type and/or usage type may be static. In this regard, the content generator334may generate content information with an assigned sub-usage type and/or usage type. As discussed above, the sub-usage type may be the suggested group of user contacts or user contact to which the content may be assigned. The sub-usage type may relate to common social connections such as family, work, business contacts, friends, significant other, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the assignment of sub-usage type and/or usage type may be dynamic. In this regard, the content generator334may generate content information with pre-assigned sub-usage type and/or usage type. However, the sub-usage type may be re-assigned to a particular user contact or a particular group of user contacts associated with a user, based at least in part on, for example the social connections of the user contacts associated with the user and additional associated information. For example, the user may receive a selection of one or more content information generated by the content generator334with sub-usage type of friends. However, the content generator334may re-assign the sub-usage to a particular user contact, namely user contact A, whose social connection to the user, best friend, is related to the pre-assigned sub-usage type of friends. As such, the content generator334may generate content information before receiving the user contacts associated with a user and additional associated information. Alternatively, the content generator334may generate new content information or modify existing ones based at least in part on the social connections of the user contacts associated with a user and additional associated information after receiving such.

In some embodiments, the content generator334may be separate from apparatus300and may a service provided by a third party content generator service provider. In this regard, apparatus300and the content generator service provider may be implemented in an embodiment similar to that illustrated inFIG. 5, wherein apparatus300may a front-end service and the content generator service provider may a back-end service.

The content provider336may be configured to provide for content information to the user matching or related to individual user contact(s) or a group of user contact(s) based at least in part on the social connections between the user and the user contact(s) or the group(s), and/or amongst the user contact(s) for download/transfer onto the user platform. Once downloaded or otherwise transferred to the user platform, the content information may be automatically assigned to the user contact(s) or group of user contact(s) without further intervention by the user based at least in part on the usage type and/or the sub-usage type of the content information, as will be discussed in more detail below. As used herein, the term “automatically” may be used to refer to without manual intervention or involvement. Nevertheless, manual intervention or involvement may also be possible. As such, when the user receives communications from the user contact(s) or group of user contact(s), the assigned content information may be retrieved to identify the user contact(s) or group. The one or more content information provided may be recommendations/suggestions by the content provider336based at least in part on the social connections. As such, the user would not be overwhelmed with a great amount of content information and may focus on relevant information. Means for providing for content information may include the processor305, the content provider336, the storage device310, algorithms for providing for content information described herein and executed by one or more of the foregoing components, and/or the like. In this regard, the content provider336may consider a user contact or a group of user contacts and the associated social connections, consider the content information stored in the storage device310, compare the content information (type, usage type, sub-usage type) with the social connection(s) associated with the user contact or group of user contacts to identify matching or related content information, and provide for the identified content information directed to or matching the user contact or the group of user contact based at least in part on the social connections to the user. In some embodiments, the content provider336may compare the sub-usage type of the content information with the social connection(s) of the user contact(s) or group of user contact(s).

For example, the user may be accessing information which may be related to user contact A on an online service, such as the service400, using a user platform, such as the user platform345or350. The content provider336may consider user contact A and determine that user contact A belongs to the Friends group of the user, based at least in part on the social connections retrieved/identified by the social connection retriever332. As such, the content provider336may compare the stored content information with the social connections associated with user contact A (in this example, friend of the user), retrieve, from a storage device such as the storage device310, and provide for one or more content information for download/transfer with at least a sub-usage type related to or matching friends and/or friendship, such as, but not limited to, ringtones and/or ringback tones of tunes related to friends, pictures of friends, wallpapers and/or screen savers with friends as a theme, and applications related to friends or the like. The user may then select the one or more content information for download or otherwise transfer to the user platform. Once downloaded or otherwise transferred, the content information may be automatically assigned to the user contact A as a ringtone, ringback tone, video ringtone, wallpaper or theme, or the like, without further intervention by the user after the initiation of the download based at least in part on the usage type and/or the sub-usage type of the content information. Similarly, user contact A may not belong to a particular group and may, for example, be a significant other or spouse of the user. As such, the content provider336may compare the stored content information with the social connection(s) of the user contact A (in this example, significant other), retrieve, from a storage device such as the storage device310, and provide for one or more content information related to significant others or spouses, such as, but not limited to, ringtones and/or ringback tones of tunes related to significant other or spouses, pictures of significant other or spouses, wallpapers and/or screen savers with significant other or spouses as a theme, and application related to significant other or spouses or the like.

In the alternative, the content provider336may provide for the content information in a bundle, as illustrated inFIG. 7. In this regard, the content generator may provide for multiple content information with different usage types to be assigned to a user contact or a group of user contacts. For example, the content provider336may provide for a ringtone that may be assigned for a user contact along with a corresponding picture, and/or game and/or alert tone, all in one bundle/package, to be downloaded to the user platform.

Content information may be provided to the user in various ways. In some embodiments, all matching or related content information may be provided. In other embodiments, the major categories (i.e., usage types) of matching or related content information may be provided. In this regard, upon selecting a category, all the content information under the category may be listed. The selection of content information may be downloaded to the user platform and automatically assigned to the viewed user contact. In embodiments where the user may have subscribed or belong to an online service maintaining the user contact(s), such as a social networking website, the user may be accessing the information or profile of a user contact associated with the user using the user platform. The content provider336may provide for a selection of content information related to or matching the user contact whose profile or information is being accessed by the user. Similarly, the user may also be accessing the information of a group created by the user or a group to which the user belongs. As such, the content provider336may provide for a selection of content information matching or relevant thereto to be downloaded and automatically assigned to the group on the user platform.

In embodiments where the user may not have subscribed or not belong to an online service maintaining the user contact(s), such as a social networking website, the user may be accessing information that may relate to or include the name or title of a user contact or a group of user contacts associated with the user. For example, the user may be accessing information on an online service related to the game of chess using the user platform. Moreover, the user may have a selection of user contacts organized into a chess group on the user platform. As such, the content provider336may compare the information accessed by the user to the user contacts and identify a chess group in the user contacts. Accordingly, the content provider336may provide for a selection of content information related to or matching the user's chess group, such as chess games, chess wallpaper, or the like to be assigned to the user contacts belonging to the chess group. In other embodiments, the user may be sending communications to a user contact or a group of user contacts using an online service via the user platform. For example, the user may be using an online text messaging service to send a text message to a user contact. As such, the content provider may identify the user contact or group of user contacts and the associated social connections, compare the social connections with the stored content information to identify the content information that match or relate to the user contact or group of user contacts based at least in part on the social connections, and provide the identified content information to be assigned to the user contact or group of user contacts.

The content provider336may provide for content information in various embodiments. In this regard, the content information may be provided in the form of hypertext link, button, radio button, checkbox, widget or the like, all or some of which may directly activate the download of the content information onto the user platform for automatic assignment. The content provider336may be configured to detect the capability or compatibility of the user platform. In this regard, the content provider336may detect whether the user platform supports or is not compatible with the automatic assignment of content information functionality. As such, the content provider may provide for an alert to the user platform to notify the user that the user platform does not allow automatic assignment. In some embodiments, the content provider336may provide to the user platform for download/transfer an application that enables the user platform to support automatic assignment of content information and then offer the content information for download/transfer. In other embodiments, the content provider336may offer the selection of content information for download/transfer but notify the user that the content information may not be automatically assigned. In yet other embodiments, the content provider336may not offer the selection of content information for download/transfer.

Referring now toFIG. 8, the system800may include a user device802and a plurality of remote devices804configured to communicate with each other over a network806. The user device802and remote devices804may be any computing device capable of communicating with other computing devices. In an example embodiment, one or both of the user device802and remote devices804may be mobile terminals10. In other embodiments, the user device802may be, for example, the user platforms345or350, while the remote device804may be the contact server340, the apparatus300, and/or the user platform345or350. The network806may be configured to operate similarly to the network325ofFIG. 3.

The user device802may include a processor808, a memory810, a communication interface812, a user interface814, a communication monitoring unit816, and an automatic content assignment unit818. The processor808, the memory810, the communication interface812, and the user interface814may be configured to operate similarly to the processor305, the memory device310, the communication interface320, and the user interface315, respectively, ofFIG. 3. The memory810may comprise one of a plurality of databases that store information in the form of static and/or dynamic information, for example, in association with mobile terminal context information, internet service context information, user status indicators, user activities, or the like. In this regard, the memory810may store, for example, data records describing and/or associated with communication events and/or the like occurring between the user device802and the remote device804. The memory810may additionally store a list of contacts of the user of the user device802, also herein referred to as a “contacts list.” This stored information may be stored and/or used by the communication monitoring unit816during the course of performing their respective functionalities. The communication interface812may be in communication with the memory810, user interface814, and communication monitoring unit816.

The communication monitoring unit816may be embodied as hardware, software, firmware, or some combination thereof and may be embodied as or otherwise controlled by the processor808. In embodiments where the communication monitoring unit816is embodied separately from the processor808, the communication monitoring unit816may be in communication with the processor808. The communication monitoring unit816may provide means for monitoring communications with a remote device804and for storing a record of communications with a remote device804. Means for monitoring communications and storing record(s) of communications may include the processor808, the communication monitoring unit816, the memory310, algorithms for monitoring communications and storing record(s) of communications described herein and executed by one or more of the foregoing components, and/or the like. In this regard, the communication monitoring unit816may be configured to monitor all incoming and outgoing communications with a plurality of remote devices804and to store a record of such communications in memory810. The communication monitoring unit816may be configured for each communication event and/or the like to determine one or more of a communication type (i.e. phone call, sms message, emails, etc), whether the communication was incoming (i.e. received from a remote device804) or outgoing (i.e. sent or placed to a remote device804), a time at which the communication event and/or the like occurred, a length of the communication event and/or the like (if applicable), a data quantity and/or bandwidth consumption of the communication event, whether the communication event and/or the like was accepted or rejected, and a remote device804with which the communication event and/or the like occurred. In this regard, an accepted communication event and/or the like may be a phone call between a user device802and remote device804which was answered by the receiving device and thus has a length of time greater than 0 seconds. A rejected communication event and/or the like may be a phone call between a user device802and remote device804which was not answered by the receiving party either due to missing the phone call or due to purposely ignoring the phone call and thus has an identical start and end time and thus a total call length of 0 seconds.

The communication monitoring unit816may be configured to store a record of each communication event and/or the like. Such a record may comprise at least some of the above-mentioned information that may be determined about the communication event and/or the like. For example, the communication monitoring unit816may be configured to store records of communication events and/or the like in association with a remote device804and/or a user of a remote device804. Such records may be stored, for example, in association with a contact in a contacts list of the user device802, phone number, media access control (MAC) address, IP address, and/or e-mail address associated with the remote device804. In this regard, the communication monitoring unit816may be configured, for example, to store for each contact in a contacts list of the user device802a plurality of listings (also referred to as “tables” or “sheets”) comprising records of communication events and/or the like with the remote device804of the contact. The communication monitoring unit816may be configured to store one listing of communication events and/or the like for each type of communication with the contact. In this regard, the communication event records and/or the like stored by the communication monitoring unit816may correspond to the additional information associated with the user contacts discussed above, such as, but not limited to, phone calls log, emails and/or other communications log or the like

The automatic content assignment unit820may be embodied as hardware, software, firmware, or some combination thereof and may be embodied as or otherwise controlled by the processor808. In embodiments where the automatic content assignment unit820is embodied separately from the processor808, the automatic content assignment unit820may be in communication with the processor808. The automatic content assignment unit820may include or otherwise be in communication with a content type detector unit822, a content usage type detector unit824, a content usage type detector unit826, and an assigning unit828. Means for automatically assigning content may include the processor808, the automatic content assignment unit816, the memory310, algorithms for automatically assigning content described herein and executed by one or more of the foregoing components, and/or the like.

As discussed above, a selection of content information may be provided to the user for download. The content information may be received from various sources such as, but not limited to an online service, another user device, a server, and/or the like. Once downloaded or otherwise transferred to the user device, the automatic content assignment unit820may process the one or more downloaded content information and automatically assign the one or more downloaded content information to the user contact(s) or group of user contact(s) without further intervention by the user, based at least in part on the usage type and/or the sub-usage type of the content information. As such, when the user receives communications from the user contact(s) or a member of the group of user contact(s), the assigned content information may be retrieved to identify the user contact(s) or group. For example, once downloaded or otherwise transferred, content information may be automatically assigned to a user contact A as a ringtone, ringback tone, video ringtone, wallpaper or theme, or the like, without further intervention by the user after the initiation of the download based at least in part on the usage type and/or the sub-usage type of the content information. In other embodiments, the one or more downloaded content information may be automatically assigned as default to perform a function based at least in part on the usage type. For example, the one or more downloaded content information may be automatically assigned as a default ringtone, ringback tone, video call tone and/or the like. Content information may be automatically assigned immediately after download/transfer, after a time predetermined by the user or the user platform, or upon the user platform prompting the user to determine whether to proceed with the automatic assignment. In the event the content information is not automatically assigned immediately or shortly after download/transfer, the content may be temporarily stored on a storage device. The storage device may be internal to user platform, such as the memory810, or external thereto, in which, the storage device may be locally or remotely available, via, for example, a network.

The content type detector unit822may be embodied as any device or means embodied in either hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software that is configured to receive and/or transmit data from/to a network and/or any other device or module in communication with the automatic content assignment unit820. Means for detecting content type may include the processor808, the automatic content assignment unit816, the memory310, algorithms for detecting content described herein and executed by one or more of the foregoing components, and/or the like. The content type detector unit822may, for example, identify the type of the content information by examining the contents of a file and/or message. For example, a music file may be identified as music by analyzing the contents of the file.

The content usage type detector unit824may be embodied as any device or means embodied in either hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software that is configured to receive and/or transmit data from/to a network and/or any other device or module in communication with the automatic content assignment unit820. Means for detecting content usage type may include the processor808, the automatic content assignment unit816, the memory310, algorithms for detecting content described herein and executed by one or more of the foregoing components, and/or the like. The content usage type detector unit824may locate the indicator of the content information, retrieve the usage type for the indicator, detect and identify the usage type of the content information. As discussed above, the indicator may be in the form of a container, the meta-data of the content, or the DRM headers. As such, the content usage type detector unit824may retrieve the usage type for the container, the meta-data of the content, or the DRM headers, depending on the form of the indicator. As discussed above, each usage type may have a unique identifier or value. The identifier or value may be, but not limited to, numerical, alpha or text based, symbols, or the like, or a mixture thereof. The content usage type detector unit824may maintain, in a data structure, a selection of the unique identifier or value and their corresponding usage type, and use this selection of unique identifier or value to identify the usage type. For example, a value of 1 may correspond to ringtone while a value of C may correspond to alert one. In the alternative, the usage type may simply indicate, for example, “video ringtone”. As such, upon retrieving the value or identifier of the usage type of the download content information, the content usage type detector unit824may match the value or identifier and determine the usage type. The content usage type detector unit824may communicate the determined usage type to the assigning unit828.

The content sub-usage type detector unit826may be embodied as any device or means embodied in either hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software that is configured to receive and/or transmit data from/to a network and/or any other device or module in communication with the automatic content assignment unit820. Means for detecting content sub-usage type may include the processor808, the automatic content assignment unit816, the memory310, algorithms for detecting content described herein and executed by one or more of the foregoing components, and/or the like. Similarly to the content usage type detector unit824, the content sub-usage type detector unit826may locate the indicator of the content information, retrieve the sub-usage type for the indicator, detect and identify the sub-usage type of the content information. As discussed above, each sub-usage type may have unique identifier or value. The identifier or value may be, but not limited to, numerical, alpha or text based, symbols, or the like, or a mixture thereof. The content sub-usage type detector unit826may maintain, in a data structure, a selection of the unique identifier or value and their corresponding sub-usage type, and use this selection of unique identifier or value to identify the usage type. For example, a value of 4 may correspond to friends while a value of A may correspond to colleagues. In the alternative, the usage type may simply indicate, for example, “chess group”. As such, upon retrieving the value or identifier of the usage type of the download content information, the content sub-usage type detector unit826may match the value or identifier and determine the sub-usage type. The content sub-usage type detector unit826may communicate the determined sub-usage type to the assigning unit828.

The assigning unit828may be embodied as any device or means embodied in either hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software that is configured to receive and/or transmit data from/to a network and/or any other device or module in communication with the automatic content assignment unit820. Means for assign content may include the processor808, the automatic content assignment unit816, the memory310, algorithms for detecting content described herein and executed by one or more of the foregoing components, and/or the like. The assigning unit828may receive the information pertaining to the usage type and/or sub-usage type from the content usage and/or sub-usage type detector units824and826, or retrieve that information from the units. Upon receipt or retrieval of the usage and sub-usage types, the assigning unit may assign the content information to the content information to the appropriate user contact(s) or group of user contact(s) to perform the appropriate function. For example, the assigning unit may assign the chorus of a song to the marketing group to perform the function of ringtone. In some embodiments, before proceeding with the automatic assignment, the assigning unit828may determine whether the same determined usage type has not already been assigned for the determined sub-usage. For example, the assigning unit may determine whether the marketing group does already have a ringtone. In the event the same determined usage type has already been assigned, the assigning unit may notify the user of the situation immediately upon download/transfer or at some later time, in which event the content may be stored in a storage device, as discussed above. In some embodiments, the user may request a replacement of the currently assigned content or a cancellation of the assignment. For example, the user may choose to proceed and replace the current ringtone of the marketing group or cancel the automatic assignment process and retain the current ringtone. In other embodiments, the assigning unit828may automatically proceed and replace the currently assigned content. In yet other embodiments, the assigning unit828may automatically cancel the assigning process. Similarly, and referring now toFIG. 3, the content provider336may also detect whether the user contact(s) or group(s) already have assigned content information based at least in part on the user contacts and the additional associated information.

Referring back toFIG. 8, in some embodiments, multiple content information may be assigned to the same user contact(s) or group of user contact(s) so long as the content information are of a different usage type, as discussed. For example user contact A may be assigned a ringtone, a ringback tone, a picture, and wall paper. However, user contact A may not be assigned two ringtones or two ringback tones, etc. As another example, the content may be offered in a bundle, such as, for example, a ringtone and a picture. In some embodiments, the assigning unit828may automatically assign each content information separately, one at a time. In other embodiments, the assigning828may automatically assign the content information simultaneously.

FIGS. 9 and 10are flowcharts of a system, method, and program product according to example embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block, step, or operation of the flowcharts, and combinations of blocks, steps or operations in the flowcharts, may be implemented by various means, such as hardware, firmware, and/or software including one or more computer program code portions, program instructions, or executable program code portions. For example, one or more of the procedures described above may be embodied by computer program code instructions. In this regard, the computer program instructions which embody the procedures described above may be stored by a memory device of the apparatus and executed by a processor in the apparatus. As will be appreciated, any such computer program instructions may be loaded onto a computer or other programmable apparatus (i.e., hardware) to produce a machine, such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus create means for implementing the functions specified in the flowcharts block(s), step(s), or operation(s). These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that may direct a computer, a processor, or other programmable apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function specified in the flowcharts block(s), step(s), or operation(s). The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, processor, or other programmable apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, processor, or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer, processor, or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the flowcharts block(s), step(s), or operation(s).

Accordingly, blocks, steps, or operations of the flowcharts support combinations of means for performing the specified functions, combinations of steps for performing the specified functions and program instruction means for performing the specified functions. It will also be understood that one or more blocks, steps, or operations of the flowcharts, and combinations of blocks, steps, or operations in the flowcharts, may be implemented by special purpose hardware-based computer systems which perform the specified functions or steps, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

In this regard, one example embodiment of a method for providing content information as illustrated inFIG. 9may include maintaining content information at900. The content information may be maintained on a server or the like. In some embodiments, each content information may include a usage type and/or a sub-usage type of the content information. In other embodiments, the usage type and/or the sub-usage type may be included in an indicator. Each usage type and each sub-usage type may have unique identifier or value. The identifier or value may be, but is not limited to, numerical, alpha or text based, symbols, or the like.

The example method ofFIG. 9may further include receiving a selection of user contacts associated with a user at910. The selection of user contacts may be received directly from a user platform, such as a mobile terminal. The selection of user contacts may also be received a contact server. In this regard, the contact server may have received the user contacts from one or more user platforms, one of which may have been a mobile terminal.

The example method ofFIG. 9may also include querying the selection of user contacts to identify the social connections associated with the user contacts at920. In some embodiments, each user contact may have at least one social connection with the user. In other embodiments, each user contact may also have a social connection with at least one other user contact.

The example method ofFIG. 9may additionally include comparing the content information with the social connection of a user contact to identify content information corresponding to the user contact at930. In some embodiments, the usage type and/or the sub-usage type of each content information may be compared to the social connection(s) of a user to identify content information corresponding to the user contact. In other embodiments, the sub-usage type of each content information may be compared.

The example method ofFIG. 9may further include providing for a transmission of the identified content information at940.

An example embodiment of a method for automatically assigning content information as illustrated inFIG. 10may include receiving content information at1000. In some embodiments, each content information may include a usage type and/or a sub-usage type of the content information. In other embodiments, the usage type and/or the sub-usage type may be included in an indicator. The content information may be received at a user platform, such as a mobile terminal.

The example method ofFIG. 10may further include identifying the usage type and/or the sub-usage type of the content information at1010. In some embodiments, the usage type and/or sub-usage type of the content information may be identified based at least in part on their respective unique identifier or value. In other embodiments, the usage type and/or sub-usage type may be identified based at least in part on their respective textual value.

The example method ofFIG. 10may also include assigning the content information to a user contact, based at least in part on the sub-usage type, to perform a specified function, based at least in part on a usage type. In some embodiments, multiple content information may be automatically assigned one at a time, based at least in part on a specified or arbitrary order. In other embodiments, multiple content information may be automatically assigned simultaneously.