Peer-to-peer identity-based activity sharing

Abstract

A system and method to allow a user of instant messaging chat modules in a network to share identity-based activity of the certain user and / or related information with contacts. For example, the user's instant messenger contacts may view recent active content, ongoing and recent online activity, etc., of another user. A sender peer includes an application module to activate a media content file from a content repository, or perform online activities through an activity server. The sender peer also includes a chat module, which detects identity-based activity and sends related indications to a recipient peer. The recipient peer includes a chat module to display identity-based activity based on the indications and an application module to activate related content files. A content enhancement server provides supplemental content information for display at the recipient peer and content previews. The content enhancement server also enables a transaction related to the content file such as a purchase of an MP3 copy of the content.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 612,632, filed on Jul. 1, 2003, entitled “Peer-to-Peer Active Content Sharing,” from which priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. § 120 and which application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Filed of the Invention [0003] This invention pertains generally to chat networks, and more particularly, to sharing identity-based activity and related information with another peer. [0004] 2. Description of Related Art [0005] Instant messaging has recently emerged as a powerful communications model for both business and personal communications. Instant messaging software applications such as Apple Computer's iChat™, America Online's Instant Messenger™, Microsoft Corp.'s MSN Messenger™, and others allow users to communicate instantly with other users over a peer network. These applications permit users to track othe...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] The present invention meets these needs by allowing instant messaging applications to track and share identity-based activity of a user with the user's contacts. Advantageously, the present invention provides an enhanced communication experience between a user and remote contacts that includes entertainment and online activities.

Problems solved by technology

However, these instant messaging applications are limited to sharing simple and direct text communications between contacts whereas computer uses are expanding beyond the conventional text-based functions.

This content and activity, although potentially of interest to a contact, is not easily shared with those contacts.

Significantly, current instant messaging applications do not allow users of a peer to directly and easily share content active on a user's computer or other activities of a user on the Internet.

Thus, if a user is listening to a music file on his computer, those contacts he may be currently instantly messaging cannot hear the same file at the same time.

Further, neither approach provides the recipient with real time updates such as a change in active content, a list of recently activated content, nor synchronization.

Furthermore, there is no network architecture to automatically enhance the recipient's use active content and / or active content information.

More generally, there is no way for a user of an instant messaging application to retrieve supplemental information about the active content in use on another user's computer from a database.

Similarly, such instant messaging contacts of the user cannot today easily or directly purchase or preview a copy of the content within the instant messenger.

Furthermore, there is no way to track a user's activities within the instant messaging applications.

Nor can users share information regarding web activities such as recent content purchases, current online auctions, previews or downloads.

Another problem with existing messenger applications is that they are typically stand-alone applications that provide only messaging functionality.

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