Patent Publication Number: US-2004044774-A1

Title: System for providing content sharing and method therefor

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] This invention relates in general to communication systems and more particularly to a communication system providing content sharing among a plurality of devices.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0004] The electronic age has facilitated the availability to consumers of a wide variety of digital content on a diverse array of electronic devices. The modern consumer, for example, can receive and utilize content on any number of electronic devices such as a dedicated pocket messaging assistant, a personal computer, an electronic pocket organizer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, or the like. Similarly, the modern consumer can receive and utilize content on various electronic communication devices such as a mobile cellular telephone, a mobile radio data terminal, a mobile cellular telephone having an attached data terminal, a personal computer having a communication means either built in or attached, or a two way messaging device.  
       [0005] One of the most popular techniques of obtaining content is through the Internet. The Internet is a collection of over 25,000 computer networks connected through a communication backbone (NSFNET backbone) funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and is currently managed by Advanced Network Systems (ANS). A subscriber obtains an account with an organization&#39;s host computer (server) that is connected to the Internet through one or more networks. Traditionally, the subscriber is connected to the server through telephone lines using a personal computer (PC) and a modem. As use of the Internet becomes more popular, different methods of accessing the Internet have been developed. For example, games, online quizzes, personalized Web pages, news and weather, sports scores, and other features are recently becoming available for download from the Internet to mobile cellular telephones.  
       [0006] One challenge to system and device designers is providing compatibility of the content with the variety of devices&#39; available resources and capabilities. Each electronic device, for example, can receive and process only certain content types and formats. Each electronic device has a set of available resources including display type, alert type, processing power, battery capacity, access to secondary networks, and the like. Some content servers today can determine the capability of a device. For example, the wireless application protocol (WAP) is an open, global specification that empowers mobile users with wireless devices to easily access and interact with information and services. WAP provides a method for a central server to tailor or select content based on the destination device.  
       [0007] Content translation within the electronic device to provide compatibility with the device resources is being addressed by such standards as 3GPP MMS (3rd generation partnership project multimedia messaging service). For example, multimedia messaging services centers (MMSC) are being deployed which provide a high-capacity, scalable service platform that brings the multimedia messaging capabilities of the Internet to mobile devices. MMSC can enable handset users to combine text, pictures, photos, animations, speech and audio all in the same message. The MMSC can also provide an external application interface for introducing a variety of add-on applications. MMSC can do content translation of an MMS-carried attachment. The MMSC typically checks each MMS and converts its format according to the recipient&#39;s device. One drawback to this approach, however, is the requirement that each device include the MMS software application and that the attachments be sent using the MMS format.  
       [0008] When a user views information (such as a ringer tone or picture) or runs a downloadable program (such as a Java game) on an electronic device such as a wireless communication device or a personal computer, the user would often like to send a copy of the information or program to another person or to another of the current user&#39;s devices. Incompatibility of the original device and the recipient device to be shared with can hinder or even prohibit the sharing of the content with the desired recipient device.  
       [0009] Sharing content between users and/or devices can further be subject to copyright and other restrictions applied by the content owner. The restrictions on content sharing can be as complete as a total block to as simple as a required fee payment. Digital Rights Management (DRM) systems conventionally focus on security and encryption as a means of solving the issue of unauthorized copying by locking the content and limiting its distribution to only those who pay a fee. This creates a barrier to the sharing of content among users. DRM systems typically control file access, altering, sharing, copying, printing, and saving. The implementing technologies can be contained within the operating system, program software, or in the actual hardware of a device. Many DRM systems will not allow a user to transfer content to portable devices, such as MP3 (MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group)-1 Layer 3) players. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0010] The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0011]FIG. 1 is an electronic block diagram of a system for providing content sharing in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0012]FIG. 2 is an electronic block diagram illustrating a wireless communication system for use within the system for providing content sharing of FIG. 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0013]FIG. 3 is an electronic block diagram illustrating a wireless communication device for use within the wireless communication system of FIG. 2 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0014]FIG. 4 is an electronic block diagram of a content management server for use within the system for providing content sharing in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0015]FIG. 5 illustrates exemplary content information for use within the system for providing content sharing of FIG. 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0016]FIG. 6 illustrates further detail of the system for providing content sharing in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0017]FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of the content sharing request for use within the system for providing content sharing in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0018]FIGS. 8 through 12 are flowcharts illustrating various embodiments of the operation of the system for providing content sharing in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)  
     [0019] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention.  
     [0020] The terms a or an, as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term coupled, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The terms program, software application, and the like as used herein, are defined as a sequence of instructions designed for execution on a computer system. A program, computer program, or software application may include a subroutine, a function, a procedure, an object method, an object implementation, an executable application, an applet, a servlet, a source code, an object code, a shared library/dynamic load library and/or other sequence of instructions designed for execution on a computer system.  
     [0021] Referring to FIG. 1, an electronic block diagram of a system  10  for providing content sharing in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The system  10  for providing content sharing preferably includes a content management server  15  for receiving and managing the communication of a plurality of content  20  to one or more communication devices  50  within a plurality of communication systems  25 . The content management server  15 , for example, communicates at least one of the plurality of content  20  to a first communication device  40  operating within a first communication system  30 . Similarly, the content management server  15  communicates at least one of the plurality of content  20  to a second communication device  45  operating within a second communication system  35 . The content management server  15  can further perform any necessary billing and royalty operations related to the plurality of content  20 .  
     [0022] It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that while only two communication systems are shown by way of example, the plurality of communication systems  25  can include multiple communication systems interconnected in a manner well known to one of ordinary skill in the art for the transfer of electronic communication either directly between the communication systems and/or by using the content management server  15 . It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that, in accordance with the present invention, each of the plurality of communication systems  25  such as the first communication system  30  and the second communication system  35  can be a wireless communication system, a wired communication system, a broadcast communication system, or any other equivalent communication system. Similarly, each communication device  50  such as the first communication device  40  and the second communication device  45  can be a wireless communication device operating within a wireless communication system, a fixed network device operating within a wired communication system, a cable box operating within a broadcast communication system, or the like.  
     [0023]FIG. 2 is an electronic block diagram illustrating a wireless communication system  55  for use within the system  10  for providing content sharing of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention. The wireless communication system  55 , for example, can be one or more of the plurality of communication systems  25  such as the first communication system  30  and/or the second communication system  35 . The wireless communication system  55  includes a message input device for initiating messages into the wireless communication system  55 . It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the message input device can alternatively be external to the wireless communication system  55 . The message input device can be, for example, a telephone  60 , a computer  65 , or a desktop messaging unit  70 , connected through a conventional network  75  through a plurality of terminal links  80  to a system controller  90 . The terminal links  80 , for example, can be a plurality of twisted wire pairs, a fiber optic cable, or a multiplexed trunk line.  
     [0024] The system controller  90  is coupled to and oversees the operation of at least one radio frequency (RF) transmitter  95  and at least one radio frequency (RF) receiver  100  through one or more communication links  85 . The communication links  85  typically are twisted pair telephone wires, and additionally can include radio frequency (RF), microwave, or other communication links. The radio frequency transmitter  95  and the radio frequency receiver  100  typically are used with message store and forward stations that encode and decode inbound and outbound messages into formats that are compatible with landline message switched computers and personal radio addressing requirements, such as cellular messages, short messaging service, or other messaging protocols. The system controller  90  can also function to encode and decode wireless messages that are transmitted to or received by the radio frequency transmitter  95  or the radio frequency receiver  100 . Telephony signals are typically transmitted to and received from the system controller  90  by telephone sets such as the telephone  60  or a wireless communication device  125 . The system controller  90  encodes and schedules outbound messages such as a downlink message  115 . The system controller  90  then transmits the encoded outbound messages through the radio frequency transmitter  95  via a transmit antenna  105  to a plurality of wireless communication devices  120  such as the wireless communication device  125  on at least one outbound radio frequency (RF) channel  110 . The downlink message  115  can be, for example, a data message or a voice call. Similarly, the system controller  90  receives and decodes inbound messages such as an uplink message  145  received by the radio frequency receiver  100  via a receive antenna  135  on at least one inbound radio frequency (RF) channel  140  from one of the plurality of wireless communication devices  120 . The uplink message  145  can be, for example, a data message, a reply to a data message, a voice call, or a reply to a voice call.  
     [0025] It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the wireless communication system  55 , in accordance with the present invention, can function utilizing any wireless RF channel, for example, a two-way messaging channel, a mobile cellular telephone channel, or a mobile radio channel. Similarly, it will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the wireless communication system  55  can function utilizing other types of wireless communication channels such as infrared channels and/or Bluetooth channels.  
     [0026] It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that each of the plurality of communication systems  25  of FIG. 1 can alternatively function utilizing a wireline communication channel such as a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN) or a combination of both. The LAN, for example, can employ any one of a number of networking protocols, such as TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol), AppleTalk™, IPX/SPX (Inter-Packet Exchange/Sequential Packet Exchange), Net BIOS (Network Basic Input Output System) or any other packet structures to enable the communication among the devices and/or between the devices and the shared resources. The WAN, for example, can use a physical network media such as X.25, Frame Relay, ISDN, Modem dial-up or other media to connect devices or other local area networks. In the following description, the term “communication system” refers to any one or combination of the wireless communication systems or wireline communication systems mentioned above or an equivalent.  
     [0027] Similarly, it will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that each communication device  50  of FIG. 1 such as the first communication device  40  and/or the second communication device  45  can function as a wireless device such as the wireless communication device  125  of FIG. 2. The wireless communication device  125 , in accordance with the present invention, can be a mobile cellular telephone, a mobile radio data terminal, a mobile cellular telephone having an attached data terminal, a personal computer having a communication means either built in or attached, or a two way messaging device. Alternatively, each communication device  50 , such as the first communication device  40  and/or the second communication device  45  can operate on a wired network that uses a physical network such as ARCNET, Ethernet, Token-ring, Local Talk or other network media to connect the communication devices, which represent wired network nodes into the network. In the following description, the term “communication device” refers to any of the devices mentioned above or an equivalent.  
     [0028] Referring back to FIG. 1, in accordance with the present invention, each communication device  50  has an address  150  or identity assigned thereto which is a unique address in the system  10  for providing content sharing. For example, the first communication device  40  operating within the first communication system  30  has a first address  155  assigned thereto. Similarly, the second communication device  45  operating within the second communication system  35  has a second address  160  assigned thereto. Each address  150  enables the transmission of a message, such as the downlink message  115  of FIG. 2, only to the communication device  50  having the address  150 , and identifies the messages and responses received from the communication device  50  with the address  150 .  
     [0029]FIG. 3 is an electronic block diagram illustrating the wireless communication device  125  for use within the wireless communication system  55  of FIG. 2. Each communication device  50 , in accordance with the present invention, can be the wireless communication device  125 . For example, the first communication device  40  can be the wireless communication device  125  or an equivalent when the first communication system  30  is the wireless communication system  55  or an equivalent. Similarly, the second communication device  45  can be the wireless communication device  125  or an equivalent when the second communication system  35  is the wireless communication system  55  or an equivalent. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the wireless communication device  125  is illustrative of one embodiment of each communication device and that alternative embodiments such as fixed network devices or cable broadcast devices can be used in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0030] The wireless communication device  125 , as illustrated, includes a first antenna  165 , a second antenna  170 , a receiver  175 , a transmitter  180 , a clock  185 , a processor  190 , a memory  195 , an alert circuit  200 , a display  205 , a user interface  210 , a browser application  215 , and a content management application  220 . It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the content management application  220  and the browser application  215  can be a software program or an equivalent.  
     [0031] The first antenna  165  intercepts transmitted signals from the wireless communication system  55 . The first antenna  165  is coupled to the receiver  175 , which employs conventional demodulation techniques for receiving the communication signals transmitted by the wireless communication system  55  such as the downlink message  115  of FIG. 2.  
     [0032] Coupled to the receiver  175 , is the processor  190  utilizing conventional signal-processing techniques for processing received messages. The processor  190  decodes an address in the demodulated data of the received message, compares the decoded address with one or more addresses such as the address  150  stored in an address memory  225  of the memory  195 ; and when a match is detected, proceeds to process the remaining portion of the received message.  
     [0033] To perform the necessary functions of the wireless communication device  125 , the processor  190  is coupled to the memory  195 , which preferably includes a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), and an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM)(not shown). The memory  195  is comprised of the address memory  225 , a message memory  230 , a content memory  235 , and a resource memory  236  for storing a plurality of resource information  237 . The plurality of resource information  237  can include, for example, display type, alert type, processing power, battery capacity, access to secondary networks, and the like.  
     [0034] In accordance with the present invention, the content memory  235  preferably stores one or more active content  234 of the plurality of content  20  of FIG. 1 as received from the content management server  15 . In one embodiment, the content memory  235  further stores with each active content  234 , content information such as the content version, the content rights for the device user of the communication device  125 , and the like.  
     [0035] Once the processor  190  has processed a received message, it stores the decoded message in the message memory  230 . It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the message memory  230 , in accordance with the present invention, can be a group of memory locations in a data storage device or an equivalent.  
     [0036] Upon receipt and processing of a message, the processor  190  preferably generates a command signal to the alert circuit  200  as a notification that the message has been received and stored. The alert circuit  200  can include a speaker (not shown) with associated speaker drive circuitry capable of playing melodies and other audible alerts, a vibrator (not shown) with associated vibrator drive circuitry capable of producing a physical vibration, or one or more LEDs (not shown) with associated LED drive circuitry capable of producing a visual alert. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that other similar alerting means as well as any combination of the audible, vibratory, and visual alert outputs described can be used for the alert circuit  200 .  
     [0037] Upon receipt of a message, the processor  190  preferably also generates a command signal to the display  205  to generate a visual notification of the receipt and storage of the message. When the display  205  receives the command signal from the processor  190  that the message has been received and stored in the message memory  230 , a message indication is displayed. The message indication, for example can be the activation of one of a plurality of message icons on the display  205 . The display  205  can be, for example, a liquid crystal display, a dot matrix display, or an equivalent.  
     [0038] The wireless communication device  125  preferably further includes the clock  185 . The clock  185  provides timing for the processor  190 . The clock  185  preferably includes a current time  240  for use in the operation of the wireless communication device  125  such as for use by the content management application  220 . The clock  185  also provides a source for timing of feature enhancements such as active and inactive periods of operation or periods of alerting.  
     [0039] In a preferred embodiment, the wireless communication device  125  includes the content management application  220 . The content management application  220  is programmed to process one or more active content  234  of the plurality of content  20  received by the receiver  175  and/or stored in the content memory  235 , and to identify personalized content to be displayed to the device user on the display  205 . The wireless communication device  125  performs content management functions within the content management application  220  using a processor command  245  sent from the processor  190 . The content management application  220  sends an application response  250  in reply to the processor command  245 . The content management application  220  can be hard coded or programmed into the wireless communication device  125  during manufacturing, can be programmed over-the-air upon customer subscription, or can be a downloadable application. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that other programming methods can be utilized for programming the content management application  220  into the wireless communication device  125 .  
     [0040] The content management application  220 , in response to the processor command  245 , preferably accesses the content memory  235  of the memory  195 . The content management application  220  is programmed with a set of rules for the management of the one or more active content  234  received by the receiver  175  and/or stored in the content memory  235 . The content management application  220 , accesses the resource memory  236  to identify available resources for processing the content stored in the content memory  235 . For example, the content management application  220  can identify the one or more active content  234  to be displayed on the display  205  based on the type and capabilities of the display  205 . The content management application  220  sends the application response  250  to the processor  190  including the one or more active content  234  and preferably one or more attributes for each active content  234 . The processor  190 , in response to receipt of the application response  250  sends a command signal to the display  205  identifying the content portion and the plurality of attributes for displaying on the display  205 . In a preferred embodiment, the content information is received in a manner that is non-obtrusive to the device user. The one or more active content  234  is received by the receiver  175  and forwarded by the processor  190  to the content memory  235  for storage and for later processing by the content management application  220 . The device user preferably is not alerted upon the receipt of each message containing the one or more active content  234 .  
     [0041] The content management application  220  is programmed to handle incoming active content  234  and expired content. The content management application  220  can be programmed, for example, to check expiration times in conjunction with the receipt of an incoming active content  234 , expiration of a timer, or other such events. Similarly, the content management application  220  can be programmed to update the display  205  with a newly received and stored active content  234  when a timer expires. Consequently, the content management application  220  can consider other pending events prior to updating the display  205  in order to present a more pleasing experience to the device user.  
     [0042] Preferably, the user interface  210  is coupled to the processor  190 , as shown in FIG. 3. The user interface  210  can be one or more buttons used to generate a button press, a series of button presses, a voice response from the device user, or some other similar method of manual response initiated by the device user of the wireless communication device  125 . In accordance with the present invention, the user interface can comprise a general user interface for general functionality and a separate user interface, which includes an item within a menu of a game or other software application for content sharing functionality. In one embodiment, the processor  190 , in response to the user interface  210 , initiates the processor command  245  to the content management application  220 . The content management application  220 , in response to the processor command  245  can alter the displayed active content  234  and/or perform other actions on the one or more active content  234 . For example, pressing a button of the user interface  210  can cause all the active content  234  to be updated and then the updated active content  234  displayed on the display  205 . Similarly, pressing a button on the user interface  210  can cause all expired content to be deleted and all newly received content to be stored in the content memory  235 . Preferably, the user interface  210  is used to scroll between various displayed active content  234 , to select various displayed content, and/or to select a URL for a displayed content portion to access further content located on the Internet associated with the content portion.  
     [0043] The transmitter  180  is coupled to the processor  190  and is responsive to commands from the processor  190 . When the transmitter  180  receives a command from the processor  190 , the transmitter  180  sends a signal via the second antenna  170  to the wireless communication system  55 . The signal, for example, can be the uplink message  145 . (see FIG. 2).  
     [0044] In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the wireless communication device  125  includes one antenna performing the functionality of the first antenna  165  and the second antenna  170 . Further, the wireless communication device  125  alternatively includes a transceiver circuit performing the functionality of the receiver  175  and the transmitter  180 . It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that other similar electronic block diagrams of the same or alternate type can be utilized for the wireless communication device  125  to handle the requirements of the wireless communication device  125 .  
     [0045] Referring back to FIG. 1, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the system  10  for providing content sharing includes the content management server  15 . The content management server  15  preferably manages the communication of the plurality of content  20  among the communication devices operating within the system  10  for providing content sharing. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that one or more content management servers can be utilized to provide the functions of the content management server  15 , and further that the one or more content management servers can alternatively be external to the system  10  for providing content sharing.  
     [0046]FIG. 4 is an electronic block diagram of the content management server  15  in accordance with the present invention. The content management server  15  preferably includes a server receiver  255 , a server processor  260 , a server memory  265 , a server transmitter  270 , and a server content management application  275 . In accordance with the present invention, the server receiver  255  functions by intercepting transmitted signals within the system  10  for providing content sharing. For example, the server receiver  255  can receive signals from the plurality of communication systems  25  of FIG. 1 such as the first communication system  30  and/or the second communication system  35 . Similarly, the server receiver  255  can receive signals including at least a content portion of the plurality of content  20  of FIG. 1. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the server receiver  255  can function by intercepting transmitted signals from any wireless radio frequency (RF) channel, for example, a one or two-way messaging channel, a mobile cellular telephone channel, or a mobile radio channel. Similarly, it will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the server receiver  255  can function by intercepting transmitted signals from other types of wireless communication channels such as infrared channels and Bluetooth channels. In another embodiment, the server receiver  255  functions by intercepting signals from a wired communication system, for example from a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN) or a combination of both. The server receiver  255  can operate by receiving signals from a network that uses a physical network such as ARCNET, Ethernet, Token-ring, Local Talk or other network media. The server receiver  255  can operate by receiving signals over a LAN that employs any one of a number of networking protocols, such as TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol), AppleTalk™, IPX/SPX (Inter-Packet Exchange/Sequential Packet Exchange), Net BIOS (Network Basic Input Output System) or any other packet structures. Further the server receiver  255  can operate by receiving signals over a WAN that uses a different physical network media such as X.25, Frame Relay, ISDN, Modem dial-up or other media to connect other computers or other local area networks. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the server receiver  255  can operate using any combination of the communication systems mentioned herein or an equivalent.  
     [0047] Within the content management server  15 , the server receiver  255  is coupled to the server processor  260 . The server processor  260  utilizes conventional signal processing techniques for processing received signals from the server receiver  255 . Preferably, the server processor  260  is similar to the MC68328 micro-controller manufactured by Motorola, Inc. of Schaumburg, Ill. It will be appreciated that other similar processors can be utilized for the server processor  260 , and that additional processors of the same or alternative type can be added as required to handle the processing requirements of the server processor  260 .  
     [0048] To perform the necessary functions of the content management server  15 , the server processor  260  is coupled to the server memory  265 , which preferably includes a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and/or a magnetic storage memory (for example a hard drive). The server memory  265  preferably includes storage locations for storage of information associated with a plurality of content users  330 . For each content user  335 , one or more user specific content  340  and one or more user specific devices  345  can be stored within the plurality of content user  330  storage. Preferably, the each of the one or more user specific devices  345  further includes the plurality of resources  237 . The plurality of resource information  237  for each of the user specific devices  345 , for example, can include display type, alert type, processing power, battery capacity, access to secondary networks, and the like.  
     [0049] The server memory  265 , in accordance with the present invention, further includes a plurality of content locations  315  for storage of one or more content  280  of the plurality of content  20 . The plurality of content  20  can include, for example, content associated with physical events such as sporting events, content associated with television or radio broadcasts, wireless content, Internet content, or an equivalent. Each of the plurality of content  20  can be separately designated within the system  10  for providing content sharing, or alternatively can be grouped within one or more topics. The plurality of content  20 , for example, can include separately designated content such as weather, traffic, events, restaurants, shopping, services, sports, and the like. Further, for example, a general topic can be the National Football League (NFL) and all events relating to the NFL such as a live NFL game via the Internet or a pay per view broadcasted NFL game can be grouped within the general topic.  
     [0050]FIG. 5 illustrates a content location  310  of the plurality of content locations  315  for the content  280  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the content location  310  includes a plurality of received content information  320  and a plurality of derived content information  325 . The plurality of received content information  320  includes information the server receiver  255  receives with the content  280  of the plurality of content  20 . As illustrated, the plurality of received content information  320  preferably includes a content type  285 , a content format  290 , a content encoding  295 , a content rights conditions  300 , and a plurality of content versions  305 . The plurality of content versions  305  can include one or more content versions suitable for one or more resource subsets. For example, one version may be more suitable for utilization on a mobile cellular telephone whereas another version may be more suitable for utilization on a personal computer. The plurality of derived content information  325  includes content information derived by the server content management application  275  and stored within the content location  320  for the content  280 .  
     [0051] Once received by the content management server  15 , the content  280  is preferably stored in the server memory  265  for further utilization by the server content management application  275  and for future transmission to one or more communication devices within the plurality of communication systems  25 . The server content management application  275  can be hard coded or programmed into the content management server  15  during manufacturing, can be programmed over-the-air upon customer subscription, or can be a downloadable application. It will be appreciated that other programming methods can be utilized for programming the server content management application  275  into the content management server  15 . It will be further appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the server content management application  275  can be hardware circuitry within the content management server  15 . The server content management application  275  is preferably coupled to the server processor  260  for managing a plurality of content management functions within the system  10  for providing content sharing.  
     [0052] Once the received content information  320  is stored in the server memory  265 , the content management application  275  is programmed to determine the derived content information  325  for each of the content  280  and to store the derived content information  325  in the content location  310  of the server memory  265 . The derived content information  325  is further illustrated in FIG. 5 as stored in the content location  310 . As illustrated, the derived content information  325  can include a content identification  350  and a plurality of content sending options  355 . The content identification  350  is a value uniquely assigned to the content  280  by the server content management application  275  and is carried with it using known Digital Rights Management technology. The content identification  350  facilitates the identification of all properties of the content  280  within the system  10  for providing content sharing.  
     [0053] The plurality of content sending options  355  can include, for example, purchasing a license, performing billing operations, verifying existing subscriptions of both the sender and receiver, or other Digital Rights Management operations.  
     [0054] The server transmitter  270  is coupled to and receives one or more command signals from the server processor  260 , and in response to a command signal, communicates messages including at least one content portion of the plurality of content  20  within the system  10  for providing content sharing. In one embodiment of the present invention, the server transmitter  270  functions by sending signals via a wireless communication system. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the server transmitter  270  can function by sending signals via any wireless radio frequency (RF) channel, for example, a one or two-way pager channel, a mobile cellular telephone channel, or a mobile radio channel. Similarly, it will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the server transmitter  270  can function by sending signals via other types of wireless communication channels such as infrared channels and Bluetooth channels. In another embodiment, the server transmitter  270  functions by sending signals via a wired communication system, for example from a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN) or a combination of both. The server transmitter  270  can operate by sending signals via a network that uses a physical network such as ARCNET, Ethernet, Token-ring, Local Talk or other network media. The server transmitter  270  can operate by sending signals over a LAN that employs any one of a number of networking protocols, such as TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol), AppleTalk™, IPX/SPX (Inter-Packet Exchange/Sequential Packet Exchange), Net BIOS (Network Basic Input Output System) or any other packet structures. Further the server transmitter  270  can operate by sending signals over a WAN that uses a different physical network media such as X.25, Frame Relay, ISDN, Modem dial-up or other media to connect other computers or other local area networks. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the server transmitter  270  can operate using any combination of the communication systems mentioned herein or an equivalent.  
     [0055]FIG. 6 illustrates further detail of the system  10  for providing content sharing in accordance with the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 6 illustrates the interaction between two communication devices, the first communication device  40  and the second communication device  45 , and the content management server  15 . Preferably, the first communication device  40  stores a first plurality of active content  360  within a first content memory  365 . Each active content  370  is stored using a content version  375  compatible with a first plurality of resources  380  for the first communication device  40 , which is stored in a first resource memory  385 . Preferably the first communication device  40  stores content information such as the content version  375 , the content rights, the content attributes, and the like along with each of the first plurality of active content  360 . The first communication device  40  preferably communicates with the content management server  15  as described previously in FIG. 3 for the wireless communication device  125 . Similarly, the second communication device  45  includes a second content memory  420  for storing a second plurality of active content within the second communication device  45 . The second communication device  45  further stores a second plurality of resources  410  within a second resource memory  415 . The second communication device  45  preferably communicates with the content management server  15  as described previously in FIG. 3 for the wireless communication device  125 .  
     [0056] Preferably the content management server  15  manages the sharing of content between the first communication device  40  and the second communication device  45  in response to receiving a content sharing request  390  from either the first communication device  40  or the second communication device  45 . FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of the content sharing request  390  in accordance with the present invention. As illustrated, the content sharing request  390  preferably includes a content sharing tag  400  identifying the message as a content sharing request  390 , the first address  155  of the first communication device  40 , a content identification  405  of the active content  370  to be shared, the content version  375  of the active content  370  used by the first communication device  40 , and the second address  160  of the second communication device  45 . In one embodiment, the content sharing request  390  also includes a second content version  412  identifying the version of the active content  370  requested to be sent to the second communication device  45 . It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the second content version  412  can be equivalent to the content version  375  or alternatively can be different than the content version  375 . The second content version  412 , for example, can be an upgraded or variant version of a software program, smaller or larger pictures, more or less complex versions of a song or ring tone, and the like.  
     [0057]FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating various methods in which the content sharing request  390  can be initiated. The operation begins with Step  417 , in which the first communication device  40  operates using the first plurality of active content  360 . Next, in Step  420 , the process determines whether or not the first communication device  40  has received a user input requesting the sharing of at least one active content  370 . For example, a device user can provide a user input to a first user interface  395  such as a button press, a series of button presses, a voice response, or the like. When a user input requesting the sharing of the active content  370  is not received by the first communication device  40  in Step  420 , the process next, in Step  425  determines whether or not the second communication device  45  has received a user input requesting the sharing of at least one active content  370 . For example, a device user can provide a user input to a second user interface  396  such as a button press, a series of button presses, a voice response, or the like. When a user input requesting the sharing of the active content  370  is not received by the second communication device  45  in Step  425 , the process next, in Step  430  determines whether the second communication device  45  is a mobile device, and if so, whether the sharing of the active content  370  is initiated in response to detection of a movement of the mobile device. For example, the second communication device  45  can include a location-sensing means such as a Global Positioning Satellite receiver (not shown), and in response to the detection of a change of location, send the content sharing request  390 . When no device movement is detected or alternatively a device movement program is not included in the second communication device  45  in Step  430 , the process continues to Step  435  in which it is determined whether or not the sharing of the active content  370  is required/desired due to the activation of the second communication device  45  using an activation means, and if so whether activation of the second communication device  45  has been detected. When activation of the second communication device  45  is not an initiator of the content sharing or when the second communication device  45  is not activated in Step  435 , the process returns to Step  420  and continues checking for the various other methods in which the content sharing request  390  can be initiated. In Step  440 , when there is an affirmative answer to any of the previous Steps  420  to  435 , the content sharing request  390  is generated.  
     [0058]FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the content management server  15  for processing the received content sharing request  390 . Beginning in Step  445 , the content management server  15  receives the content sharing request  390 . Next, in Step  450 , the content management server  15  accesses the plurality of content users  330  stored in the server memory  265  to determine whether the second plurality of resources  410  for the second communication device  45  associated with the second address  160  are stored. When the second plurality of resources  410  for the second communication device  45  associated with the second address  160  are not stored, the content management server  15  queries the second communication device  45  for the second plurality of resources  410 . Next and when the second plurality of resources  410  for the second communication device  45  associated with the second address  160  are stored in the server memory  265  in Step  450 , the process moves to Step  460  in which the content management server  15  identifies the second content version  412  which is the replacement, basically equivalent, version of the active content  370  for the second communication device  45 . It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that alternatively to Steps  450  and  460 , the second content version  412  can be sent within the content sharing request  390 . Next, in Step  465 , the process determines whether a response to the first communication device  40  prior to content sharing is required. When a response is required, in Step  470 , the content management server  15  sends a response to the first communication device  40  including the second content version  412  and other content information such as the compatibility of the active content  370  with the second plurality of resources  410  of the second communication device  45 . For example, the active content  370  may be displayed with reduced resolution to be compatible with the second communication device  45 . Next, in Step  475 , the device user can determine using the first communication device  40  whether to accept the content sharing on the second communication device  45 . When the device user does not accept the content sharing in Step  475 , the process ends. In accordance with the present invention, upon acceptance by the device user, the first communication device  40  can send an acknowledgement to the content management server  15 . In Step  480 , when the device user does accept the content sharing in Step  475 , and when no response to the first communication device is required in Step  465 , the active content  370  is shared by sending the active content  370  using the second content version  412  to the second communication device  45 . As an incentive to share the content, the content management server  15  can further register a credit for the first communication device  40  and the device user of the first communication device  40  can receive a prize or kickback.  
     [0059]FIG. 10 illustrates further detail of the operation of the content management server  15  for processing the received content sharing request  390 . Specifically, FIG. 10 illustrates further detail of Step  460  in which the content management server  15  identifies the second content version  412 , which is the replacement, basically equivalent, version of the active content  370  for the second communication device  45 . The process begins with Step  490  in which the server content management application  275  of the content management server  15  identifies the content sending options  355  for the active content  370  as stored in the content location  310  for the active content  370  of the server memory  265 . Next, in Step  495 , the server content management application  275  of the content management server  15  identifies a first plurality of content rights of the active content  370  along with the first plurality of resources  380  available to the first communication device  40 . Next, in Step  500 , the server content management application  275  of the content management server  15  identifies a second plurality of content rights of the active content  370  along with the second plurality of resources  410  available to the second communication device  45 . Next, in Step  505 , the server content management application  275  determines whether sharing of the active content  370  is permitted. For example, the sending options  355  can indicate that sharing is permitted or alternatively not permitted. When sharing is not permitted, the process ends. In an alternative embodiment, (not shown) when sharing is not permitted because the device user of the first communication device  40  does not have the rights to share the content, and the content management server  15  detects it has a compatible version for the second communication device  45 , the device user of the first communication device  40  can be given the option to “tell a friend about the active content” which only informs the second communication device  45  of the existence of the active content  370 , or the device user of the first communication device  40  can be given the option to “buy a copy and send it” menu item which allows the device user to purchase a license to share the active content  370 .  
     [0060] In Step  510 , when sharing is permitted in Step  505 , the server content management application  275  determines whether content sharing is permitted only for demonstration purposes. In Step  515 , when content sharing of the active content  370  is permitted only for demonstration purposes, a demonstration version of the active content  370  is shared with the second communication device  45 . In Step  520 , when content sharing is not limited to demonstration purposes in Step  510 , the process compares the second plurality of resources  410  and the first plurality of resources  380  to determine if the two are compatible. In Step  525 , when the second plurality of resources  410  and the first plurality of resources  380  are compatible in Step  520 , the active content  370  can be sent to the second communication device  45  using the same version as the first communication device  40 . In other words, the second content version  412  is the same as the content version  375  used by the first communication device  40 . In Step  530 , when the second plurality of resources  410  and the first plurality of resources  380  are not compatible in Step  520 , the server content management application  275  identifies the second content version  412  of the active content  370  compatible with the second plurality of resources  410  that can be sent to the second communication device  45 . The second content version  412  can be substantially similar to the content version  375 , but compatible with the second plurality of resources  410 . For example, the second content version  412  may be a version which is increased or decreased in resolution, size, color depth, written in a different executable language, or the like. In accordance with the present invention, the content management server  15  can send a message to the first communication device  40  indicating the incompatibility of content versions. In response to receipt of the message, the user interface of the first communication device  40  can prompt the device user to send a message to the second communication device  45  for example, telling the device user of the second communication device  45  that if he had the same device as the first communication device  40 , he could have sent him the content. Alternatively, the content management server  15  can send a message to the second communication device  45  indicating the incompatibility of content versions. In one embodiment, (not shown) there is no version of the active content compatible with the second plurality of resources  410  of the second communication device  45 . In this case, preferably a notification is sent to the second communication device  45 . The notification includes a message informing the device user of the second communication device  45  that the second communication device  45  is incapable of activating the active content. Further, the message can inform the device user of the second communication device  45  of alternative devices that would be capable of utilizing the active content. The process continues to Step  535  upon completion of either Step  525  or Step  530 . In Step  535 , the server content management application  275  determines whether one or more content rights conditions  300  have been associated with the active content  370 . In Step  540 , when the active content  370  includes one or more content rights conditions  300 , licensing transactions and the like are executed to satisfy the one or more content rights conditions  300 . For example, a licensing transaction may first occur to obtain rights for the content. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the licensing transaction can include transmitting the associated content rights/license to the first communication device  40 , to the second communication device  45 , or a combination of both devices. Further, the associated content rights/license can be delivered along with the active content  370  or alternatively as a separate transaction/message delivery to the first communication device  40 , to the second communication device  45 , or a combination of both devices. It will be further appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that when the content sharing comprises sharing an upgraded version of the active content  370  with the second communication device  45 , the licensing transaction may comprise delivering an updated license to the second communication device  45 . Next, and when no content rights conditions  300  are associated with the active content  370 , in Step  480 , the content is shared with the second communication device  45 . As an incentive to share the content, the content management server  15  can further register a credit for the first communication device  40  and the device user of the first communication device  40  can receive a prize or kickback.  
     [0061]FIG. 11 illustrates further detail of the operation of the system for providing content sharing for processing the received content sharing request  390 . Specifically, FIG. 11 illustrates further detail of the sharing of information associated with the active content  370  rather than the actual active content  370  itself. After node A (equivalent to node A in FIG. 10) at Step  510 , the server content management application  275  of the content management server  15  determines whether content sharing is permitted and/or requests for demonstration purposes. In Step  515 , when a demonstration version is permitted and/or requested, a demonstration version of the active content  370  is shared between the first communication device  40  and the second communication device  45 . In Step  541 , when a demonstration version is either not permitted or not requested in Step  510 , the server content management application  275  of the content management server  15  determines whether a notification of the active content  370  is permitted and/or has been requested. When notification is not permitted and/or has not been requested, the process cycles back to node A. In Step  542 , when notification of the active content  370  is permitted and the notification has been requested via the content sharing request  390 , the second communication device  45  is notified of the active content  370 . For example, the second communication device  45  can receive a message from the content management server  15  including a notification of the existence of the active content  370 . Similarly, the second communication device  45  can receive a message from the content management server  15  offering the device user the ability to receive the active content  370 . In one embodiment, when the active content  370  includes one or more content rights conditions, the device user is given the ability to purchase a license for the active content  370 . After the demonstration version is shared in Step  515  and/or the second communication device is notified in Step  542 , in Step  543 , the process determines whether the device user of the second communication device  45  requests to purchase, upgrade, or any other equivalent acquisition of the active content  370 . When the device user of the second communication device  45  does not desire to acquire the active content  370 , the process cycles back to node A. In Step  544 , when the device user of the second communication device  45  requests to acquire the active content  370 , the process continues to node B (Step  520  of FIG. 10).  
     [0062]FIG. 12 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the present invention in which the content sharing decision-making is carried out within the first communication device  40  using the content management application  220  rather than within the content management server  15 . Beginning with Step  550 , the first communication device  40  identifies the active content  370  to be shared with the second communication device  45 . Next, in Step  555 , the first communication device  40  sends the content sharing request  390  to the content management server  15 . Next, in Step  560 , the first communication device  40  periodically checks for receipt of a response from the content management server  15  including the plurality of sending options  355  for the active content  370 . In Step  565 , when the first communication device  40  has received a response from the content management server  15  including the plurality of sending options  355  for the active content  370 , the device user selects the sending options to be used for the sharing of the active content  370  with the second communication device  45 . For example, the device user can select the second content version  412  to be used in sharing the active content  370  with the second communication device  45 . Next, in Step  570 , the first communication device  40  sends the selected options including the second content version  412  to the content management server  15 . Next, in Step  575 , the content management server  15  processes the content selection and sends the second content version  412  to the second communication device  45 . In accordance with the present invention, the content management server  15  validates that the second plurality of resources  410  of the second communication device  45  is compatible with the second content version  412  prior to sending it to the second communication device  45 .  
     [0063] The present invention as described herein provides a system for providing content sharing and method. Although the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various alterations and modifications can be made without departing from the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that all such alterations and modifications be considered as within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.