WO2007072371A2

WO2007072371A2 - Apparatus, method and system for tracking shared information

Info

Publication number: WO2007072371A2
Application number: PCT/IB2006/054876
Authority: WO
Inventors: Natasha Kravtsova; Herman Ter Horst; Warner Ten Kate; Johannes H.M. Korst
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.; U.S. Philips Corporation
Priority date: 2005-12-20
Filing date: 2006-12-14
Publication date: 2007-06-28
Also published as: WO2007072371A3

Abstract

A computing arrangement having a processor and a memory for storing content and associated content data, the content data including an identifier indicating who has previously accessed the content. In response to a user's request to forward the content to a recipient, the processor queries the content data to determine if the recipient previously accessed the content as determined by the identifier. The processor forwards either the content or an invitation to access the content to the recipient only if the recipient has not accessed the content.

Description

APPARATUS, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRACKING SHARED INFORMATION

The present system relates to information distribution, and in particular, to a method, apparatus, and a system for efficient information tracking and tracking of recipients with whom the information is shared.

The Internet enables a diverse array of virtual communities. A broad variety of online communities exist, centered around an equally diverse range of interests, such as audio and visual content, audio/visual content, gaming, product reviews, shared interests, socialization, and commercialization or auctioning of goods and services. Usually, these virtual communities are administered using centralized server-based services that allow pooling the activity levels and reporting of current community status and activity.

The Internet also facilitates the direct exchange of content, being digital encoded content (e. g., music, text, audio, audio/visual, images, games, program content, etc.), between individuals. With the explosion of digital capture and encoding devices, such as digital cameras, computers, digital music players, etc., the volume of content that is or can be exchanged has dramatically increased in the last decade. The large volume of content poses challenges as far as accurately tracking when and with whom certain content is shared. With the introduction of peer-to-peer networks, this situation has only been exacerbated further in that people are exchanging content and an increasing rate.

It is an object of the present system to overcome disadvantages in the prior art. The present system provides methods and systems for efficient information tracking and tracking of recipients with whom the information is shared. The tracking may be irrespective of who is exchanging the information. Methods, systems, and apparatus for information tracking, are described herein. For example, methods, systems, and apparatuses for improved and efficient information tracking, information exchanged within e-communities or directly between individuals are described. The example methods, systems, and apparatuses described herein provide for desired characteristics, such as easy tracing of information exchange between users, such as within an e-community, in order to avoid unnecessary repetitive sharing of a same information. Furthermore, the methods, systems, and apparatus that are described herein are capable of operating in a wide range of communication exchange vehicles including over peer-to-peer networks, Internet, intranet, cellular, broadcast, plus any other suitable wired and/or wireless communication mediums and vehicles. In one embodiment of the present system, a computing arrangement includes a processor and a memory for storing files and corresponding file data. For example, the file data includes an identifier thereof. When a user requests to forward a file to at least one recipient, the processor reviews the file data to determine if the at least one recipient previously accessed the file. As a result, the processor may forward either the file or an invitation to access the file to the at least one recipient, only if the at least one recipient has not previously accessed the file. The file data, in addition to the already mentioned identifier, may further include rating information corresponding to a rating assigned by a recipient of the file. The file data further may include a timestamp indicative of a time of access of the file by recipient. In another embodiment of the present system, a method includes the steps of receiving a request for a user to forward a file to one or more recipients, reviewing the data to determine if the one or more recipients had accessed the file as a function of an identifier, and forwarding one of the file, or an invitation to any of the recipients that have not previously accessed the file. The file intended to be forwarded may be stored in a memory arrangement along with corresponding file data. The file data may include an identifier of a recipient that previously accessed the file. The data is reviewed to determine if the at least one recipient had accessed the file as a function of the stored identifier. The invitation to access the file to the at least one recipient is forwarded only if the at least one recipient has not previously accessed the file.

In yet another embodiment of the present system, a system comprises a server and a computing device. The server stores a file and corresponding file data, the data comprising an identifier of a recipient who accessed the file. The computing device communicates with the server. If a user of the device requests to forward the file to at least one recipient, the server reviews the data to determine if the at least one recipient had accessed the file as a function of the identifier. The server forwards one of the file, and/or an invitation to access the file to the at least one recipient only if the at least one recipient has not accessed the file. The present apparatus may include means for receiving a request from a user to forward a file to at least one recipient, the file being stored in a memory arrangement along with corresponding file data, the data comprising an identifier of a recipient that accessed the file. The apparatus further may include means for reviewing the data to determine if the at least one recipient had accessed the file as a function of the identifier, and means for forwarding one of the file, and an invitation to access the file to at least one recipient, only if the at least one recipient has not previously accessed the file.

The present system may be embodied on a machine-readable medium having executable instructions to cause a device to perform a method including receiving a request from a user to forward a file to at least one recipient, the file being stored in a memory arrangement along with corresponding file data, the data comprising an identifier of a recipient that accessed the file. The method further including reviewing the data to determine if the at least one recipient has accessed the file as a function of the identifier, and forwarding one of the file, and an invitation to access the file to the at least one recipient only if the at least one recipient has not previously accessed the file.

The following are descriptions of illustrative embodiments that when taken in conjunction with the following drawings will demonstrate the above noted features and advantages, as well as further ones. In the following description, for purposes of explanation rather than limitation, specific details are set forth such as the particular architecture, interfaces, techniques, etc., for illustration. However, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments that depart from these specific details would still be understood to be within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, for the purpose of clarity, detailed descriptions of well-known devices, circuits, and methods are omitted so as not to obscure the description of the present invention.

It should be expressly understood that the drawings are included for illustrative purposes and do not represent the scope of the present system.

FIG. 1 illustrates a network environment in accordance with an embodiment of the present system; FIG. 2 illustrates a computing arrangement, according to an embodiment of the present system;

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart providing illustrative acts for a method, in accordance with another embodiment of the present system; and FIG. 4 shows an illustrative system, according to an embodiment of the present system.

The present system will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for information tracking, are described herein. For example, methods, systems, and apparatuses for improved and efficient tracking of information exchanged between individuals within or outside e-communities are described. The example methods, systems, and apparatuses described herein provide for desired characteristics, such as easy tracking of information between multiple users including members of an e-community, peer-to-peer networks, newsgroups, etc., in order to avoid unnecessary repetitive sharing of information. Furthermore, the methods, systems, and apparatuses that are described are capable of operating in a wide range of communication exchange vehicles, including exchanges over the Internet, intranet, cellular network, and any other communication medium, be it wired or wireless.

References herein to "one embodiment", "an embodiment", "an example embodiment", etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. Further, the content described herein may be any type of content that may be shared, exchanged, etc. The terms content, file, digital files, and the like are used herein interchangeably and are intended to be interpreted as such unless noted otherwise.

FIG. 1 illustrates a communications environment in which the present system may be implemented including a network environment 100 hosted within or on top of a network 102, such as a Wide-Area Network (WAN), a Local- Area Network (LAN), etc. Illustratively, each device connected to network 102 may be logically coupled through the network 102 to any of the other devices on the network 102 to form the network environment 100. Each "device" may correspond to one or more physical devices. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the network environment 100 includes a plurality of devices 104A through 104N. Each device is capable of at least communication with one or more other devices present in network environment 100. The communication may include sharing computer resources and services by direct exchange between devices or by indirect exchange, though an intermediate device. The resources and services may include information exchange, processing cycles, cache and disk storage for files, among other examples, although all resources and services are not required to be present on each device. Therefore, each device 104 in network 102 may initiate a communication session in the network environment 100.

Each device 104 also may have the capability of identifying other devices 104 to communicate to, or initiate a relationship with and to discover devices entering and leaving the network environment 100. Further, each device 104 may have the capability of determining what communications protocol is available in the network environment 100. For example, communication 106 between devices 104 may occur over any suitable communication medium including a wire and/or wireless protocol, such as TCP/IP, Bluetooth, 802.11 x protocols, WiFi (Wireless Fidelity), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), and WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) using any suitable communication protocols and network systems, such as peer-to-peer networks. However, communication between other devices may require use of an alternate communication medium. The communication medium may include an exchange of data across mobile telephone networks, among other communication protocols that may be suitably applied. The plurality of devices 104 may include mobile devices, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile phones, portable computers, pagers, cameras, and portable music players (e. g. , MP3 player). Alternatively, devices 104 may include typical non-mobile devices, such as desktop computers, home entertainment systems, set-top box and a gaming systems. An embodiment populated with suitable devices is described further in this document in connection with FIGs. 2 and 4.

Each device may also include a processor, running among other processes, user history information processes. The user history information processes are utilized to attach, view, exchange and edit user history information characteristic of the exchanged content. In this way, the digital content may accumulate a history of the users of the digital content, which may be used to create a system log of all the digital data exchanged, transferred, solicited, etc. between devices 104.

The user history information may include among others a user identifier (e.g., the ID of a person using device 104, the identifier of an e-community that is used on device 104, the address of a portal housed on device 104, etc.), a user quality rating, a user's email address, and a user's comment(s). The user identifier identifies the true identity of a user of the digital content or identifies an ID name of a user of the digital content. The ID name or the true identity may or may not be known to other users of devices in network environment 100. The user quality rating is a subjective value assigned by a user of the digital content, which indicates a user's subjective assessment of the quality of the digital content. The user comment is a message that describes an opinion or description of the digital content according to the user.

It should be understood that the terminology used herein with respect to exchanging digital content implies to include a user sharing digital content without requiring an exchange of content from another user. Accordingly, a user may distribute digital content without seeking digital content in return.

User history information is associated with the digital content. The user history information may be associated by one device 104 in connection with digital content exchanged with another device 104 in the network. Examples of digital content include music, text, audio, audio/visual, images, games, program content, among other examples that would occur to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

User history information is associated with the digital content by a process that may include an editor. The user history information may be associated with the digital content in the natural format of the digital content or, for example, in a new or different file format. The user history information may be hidden/inaccessible or visible/accessible to all or a subset of users. In one embodiment, the user history information may only be accessible by a user that initiates forwarding of content or exchanges of content. Users may modify the user history information if desired but may be restricted from modifying the user history information of other users. The associated user history information of the content may take the form of metadata.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present system, as content is shared between devices, user history information is created or updated, including one or more ratings of the content, that may be individual ratings and/or combined ratings, and the sequence and/or occurrence of exchanges. In one embodiment, this user history information may be stored as metadata associated with the corresponding digital content. Alternately, a local or central database may be used to manage the rating history together or separate from the history of sharing, which may be accessible via information (e.g., an Uniform Resource Locator URL) stored and accessible to a user. The device user may also view a separate rating, or an aggregate rating of the content based upon an average rating, a weighed average rating, etc., of the previous users of the content. To some, the aggregate content rating may be more accurate or useful than any one user quality rating, which might include personal or subjective reflections. To others, a rating from known, perhaps trusted individuals may be more valuable. It should be understood that the content being shared might include an explicit and/or implicit content rating from the source. For example, an implicit content rating may be associated with content based on an amount of time a user accesses the content (e.g., a short period of time meaning the user disliked the content, a long period of time meaning the user liked the content), based on a number of times the content is accessed, and the like. An explicit content rating may be associated with content based on user's directly entering a subjective rating of the content. Other systems of creating a user history for the digital content are readily appreciable by those of ordinary skill in the art. Although a number of applications for attaching user history information to content have been described, it should be understood that the present system is not limited to those examples. In the network environment described in connection with FIG. 1, portals may be hosted, including family and friends portals, that facilitate sharing of content including digital content through these portals. Such portals help to stay in touch with and share experiences on an ongoing and spontaneous basis in a way that facilitates easy access. Illustratively, users may use "friends portal" to swap/listen to each other's music as well as publish other digital information, such as photos, music, blogs, newsgroups, etc. Users may have a plurality of portals, where each portal is intended by the user for sharing with different groups, including siblings, parents, grandparents, and different communities of friends, club members, acquaintances, etc. In a broader sense, e-communities may be created, with individual communications (the portals) and chat rooms/boxes/networks. The problem in the prior art of users not being able to keep track with whom a particular piece of content was already shared and with whom it was not is solved by the present system.

FIG. 2 illustrates a computing arrangement, according to an embodiment of the present system that solves the problem outlined above when incorporated in the network environment 102. Particularly, FIG. 2 shows a computing arrangement, according to an illustrative embodiment of the present system. Computing arrangement 200 comprises a processor 202 and a memory 204. Memory 204 stores a file 206 and corresponding file data, the file data comprising at least an identifier 210. In a case wherein a user 212 requests to forward a file 206 to at least one recipient 214, the processor 202 reviews the file data to determine if the recipient 214 has previously accessed the file as determined by the identifier 210. As a result, the processor 202 initiates the forwarding for the user 214 of the file 206, or an invitation 222 to access the file if the recipient 214 has not previously accessed the file.

Memory 204 may be structured to allow for expansion, since the amount of information that is shared may increase dramatically. Exemplary embodiments for file 206 are music, digital photos, text, video, and other content. Identifier 210 may be, by way of example, one of identification information of a person, identification information of an e- community, the address of a portal, etc. In one embodiment of the present system, in addition to the identifier 210, the file data may include rating information corresponding to a rating assigned by a recipient of the file 206 and a timestamp indicative of a time that a given recipient accessed file 206. The time stamp allows for accounting for the relevance, ancientness and frequency of access of the file 206.

In one illustrative embodiment of the present system, when the file 206 is shared with recipient 214 at one point in time, such as at the time of sharing the file, the system creates a log referred at times herein as the file data, content data, etc., of the data shared in the following format:

A shared with B during T, (1)

wherein A is for example, an identifier corresponding to the shared content, such as music, picture, video, audio, audio/visual, digital story, text, etc.; B is for example the ID of the recipient, the identifier of the e-community, the address of a portal, etc.; and T is a time stamp indicating when the content is shared with the recipient. The timestamp may also indicate a time interval between an offer to share and a time to recipient's response, such as and indication of "accessed in predetermined time interval".

In a further embodiment of the present system, the content data may include additional information relating to the type of content shared, etc. In this further illustrative embodiment, content 206 is shared with recipient 214 during a time period. In this instance, the system may create content data associated with the content shared in the following format:

A shared C with B during TO to T 1 , (2)

wherein A & B are user identifiers, C is a content identifier, and TO and Tl are start and stop timestamps of the period during which C was shared between A and B. This formula may be reduced into Equation (1) above, in a system where user B defaults to the owner of the content C (e.g., a possessor of the memory upon which C is stored) and TO-Tl are reduced to a typical timestamp representing/typical time for that interval. In a similar way, the formula may also be extended. For example, in a case of content, such as music, the content identifier may be a song identifier, while if the shared content is identified as a whole album, the content identifier C in the formula may then become an "album" identifier. A further identifier may be utilized in the formula that indicates the type of content (C).

In yet another embodiment, rather than expand the stored formula (e.g., content data), the system may also be expanded with an ontology that describes the music domain, and in particular associates albums with the songs they contain. The formula (e.g., content data) associated with the content {e.g., shared album) may then become a set of formulas, each holding one of the song identifiers as resolved through the system ontology. Numerous other variations would readily occur to a person of ordinary skill in the art without varying from the spirit and scope of the present system. The system log created in this manner may be stored at a location on the users' computing arrangement and is accessible by the processor 202 at least at the time a new request from a user to transfer a file is received. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the memory 204 may be remote to a user (e.g., may be accessed over the network 102) but is accessible to the user at the time of a request to share the content. Further, the file data may also be transferred to the recipient of the file to aid the recipient in recalling or otherwise identifying where the file came from. In other embodiments, the file data may be constructed by the recipient some time before, during, or after the file transfer (e.g., when the recipient receives the file).

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart providing illustrative acts for a method, according to an illustrative embodiment of the present system. Method 300 comprises receiving a request from a user to forward content to at least one recipient during act 302, the content being stored in a memory arrangement along with associated content data. The content data includes an identifier of recipients that previously accessed the content. The content data is reviewed during act 304 to determine if the at least one recipient has previously accessed the file as determined by the identifier. Act 304 is followed by forwarding act 306 of at least one of the content 308, and an invitation to access the content 310 to the at least one recipient only if the at least one recipient has not accessed the file as determined during act 304. In a case wherein during act 304, it is determined that the recipient has previously accessed the content, the user may be notified during act 312 and the process is terminated during act 314. In an alternate embodiment, in place of forwarding the content directly, the recipient may instead be presented a table of contents (TOC) of the content. Further, the TOC may be altered further to account for a recipient's profile (e.g., type of content, preference to receiving content or invitation, etc.) that may also be stored similar as the content data. The nature of the invitation/content forwarded may be affected by the recipient's profile, as well as whether the content, etc., has been previously received by the recipient. In this way, the TOC acts as an invitation to receive the content as discussed above and may be affected by the recipient's profile in embodiments where the recipient's profile is present. The recipient may review the TOC and make a decision about which content to receive/accept. Again, the sharing action including an indication of the content that the recipient decides to receive and/or decides not to receive, is stored as a portion of the content data. In yet another embodiment, the sharer may make a request to forward an invitation that includes an identification of content previously shared/accepted, etc., with an invitation to share further similar identified (e.g., TOC) or not identified (e.g., content of a given type, such as other similar music, etc.) content. In any event, it should be clear that the kind of response from the recipient and the exact nature of the offer to share content may be dependent on the character of the request. Numerous alternate embodiments would readily occur to a person of ordinary skill in the art and should be understood to be within the scope of the present system as claimed.

FIG. 4 illustrates a system 400, according to an embodiment of the present system. System 400 includes server 402 operably coupled to computing device 404. Server 402 may store content, such as a file 206 and corresponding file data 208, the data including an identifier 210 of any recipients that previously accessed file 206. In a case wherein a user 212 of the computing device 404 sends a request 216 to forward the file to at least one recipient 214, the server reviews the file data to determine if the at least one recipient has previously accessed the file. The result of the review is that the server forwards one of the file, and/or an invitation to access the file to the at least one recipient only if the at least one recipient has not accessed the file.

By use of the present system, it is readily apparent to a user what other users have already accessed the users pictures/videos/music. In response to a request to share content, the system first checks whether the user already shared this information with a given portal/address/user.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present system, the content identifier may also identify to a recipient which user forwarded corresponding content as stored in memory portion 220 (see, FIG. 2). In this way, the present system may also respond to a recipient's request to identify a source of the content. A further embodiment may also include ratings in the memory 204, to reflect and exploit evaluations of the shared information by the recipients and sharers of the content. In accordance with the present system, the ratings may be maintained as indications of individual's evaluations and/or may be combined to produce an overall rating. The server 402 in one embodiment may associate a given users request with the file data, so that file data for a particular user is queried at the time of the request to share the file. In an embodiment wherein the server is an e-community server, any request from a member of the e-community may be compared to member file data to facilitate community sharing of the file without duplication. While various embodiments of the present system have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present system. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present system should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

In interpreting the appended claims, it should be understood that: a) the word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of other elements or acts than those listed in a given claim; b) the word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements; c) any reference signs in the claims do not limit their scope; d) several "means" may be represented by the same item or hardware or software implemented structure or function; e) any of the disclosed elements may be comprised of hardware portions (e.g., including discrete and integrated electronic circuitry), software portions (e.g., computer programming), and any combination thereof; f) hardware portions may be comprised of one or both of analog and digital portions; g) any of the disclosed devices or portions thereof may be combined together or separated into further portions unless specifically stated otherwise; and h) no specific sequence of acts or steps is intended to be required unless specifically indicated.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A computing arrangement, comprising: a processor; and a memory configured to store a file and associated file data, the file data comprising an identifier, wherein in response to a user's request to forward the file to an intended recipient, the processor is configured to query the file data to determine if the intended recipient previously accessed the file as determined by the identifier, the processor further configured to forward one of (i) the file, and

(ii) an invitation to access the file to the intended recipient only if the intended recipient has not accessed the file.

2. The computing arrangement of Claim 1, wherein the file data further includes rating information corresponding to a rating assigned by an actual recipient of the file.

3. The computing arrangement of Claim 2, wherein the rating information is individual ratings of actual recipients of the file.

4. The computing arrangement of Claim 2, wherein the rating information is a composite rating of actual recipients of the file.

5. The computing arrangement of Claim 1, wherein the file is at least one of music, text, audio, audio/visual, image, game, and program content.

6. The computing arrangement of Claim 1, wherein the file data further includes a timestamp indicative of a time of access by an actual recipient of the file.

7. The computing arrangement of Claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to update the file data in response to one of the file and invitation being forwarded to the recipient.

8. A method of sharing content, the method comprising the acts of: receiving a request from a user to forward content to an intended recipient, the content being stored in a memory arrangement along with associated content data, the content data comprising recipient access history of the file; reviewing the content data to determine if the intended recipient has accessed the content as determined by the identifier; and forwarding one of (i) the content, and

(ii) an invitation to access the content to the intended recipient only if the intended recipient has not accessed the content.

9. The method of Claim 8, comprising the act of assigning rating information to the content data corresponding to a rating assigned by an actual recipient of the content.

10. The method of Claim 9, wherein the rating information corresponds to individual ratings of actual recipients of the content.

11. The method of Claim 9, comprising the act of determining a composite rating of actual recipients of the content.

12. The method of Claim 1, comprising the act of assigning a timestamp to the content data indicative of a time of access by an actual recipient of the content.

13. A system, comprising : a server configured to store content and associated content data, the content data comprising an identifier of a recipient who accessed the content; a computing device operably coupled to the server, wherein when a user of the device requests to forward the content to an intended recipient, the server is configured to review the content data to determine if the intended recipient had accessed the content as determined by the identifier, the server configured to forward one of the content, and an invitation to access the content to the intended recipient only if the intended recipient has not accessed the content.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the content data further includes rating information corresponding to a rating assigned by an actual recipient of the content.

15. The system of claim 13, the content data further including a timestamp indicative of access by an actual recipient of the content.

16. An application embodied on a computer readable medium, the application comprising: a portion configured to receive a request from a user to forward content to an intended recipient a portion configured to review content data associated with the content to determine if the intended recipient has previously accessed the content; and a portion configured to forward one of the content, and an invitation to access the content to the intended recipient only if the intended recipient has not previously accessed the content.

17. The application of Claim 16, comprising a portion configured to update the content data in response to one of the content and invitation being forwarded to the intended recipient.

18. The application of Claim 16, comprising a portion configured to forward an indication of the user and content to the recipient if the recipient is forwarded the content.

19. The application of Claim 16, comprising a portion configured to forward a timestamp to the user associated with the indication if the recipient is forwarded the content.

20. The application of Claim 19, wherein the timestamp indicates a time interval of access by the recipient.