(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2005/0262204 A1
`
`Szeto et al.
`(43) Pub. Date:
`NOV. 24, 2005
`
`US 20050262204A1
`
`(54) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENHANCED
`MESSAGING
`
`(52) US. Cl.
`
`.............................................................. 709/206
`
`(76)
`
`Inventors: Christopher T. Szeto, Sunnyvale, CA
`(US); Vinod P. Dhomse, Milpitas, CA
`E323, Eggienggge’Clfiigncgiiles’ch
`(US),
`’
`y’
`
`Correspondence Address:
`GREENBERG TRAURIG LLP
`MET LIFE BUILDING ’
`200 PARK AVENUE
`NEW YORK, NY 10166 (US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`10/831,004
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Apr. 23, 2004
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A system and method for enhancing the experience of a user
`using a communication program over the Internet or other
`network. The system and method according to one embodi-
`ment utilizes a user’s status indicator in a communication
`program to share content such as music or videos among
`users. One system and method according to the present
`invention allows a user to display an indicator and to set an
`actionable status message which indicates to other users the
`media content that the first user is experiencing. In another
`embodiment, a user is given the ability to access content that
`other users are listening to or viewing at that time. The
`system and method in an alternate embodiment broadcast
`metadata about the user’s content to other users and the other
`
`users are able to utilize that metadata to receive and expe-
`rience the same or similar content that the first user is
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.7 ..................................................... G06F 15/16
`
`experiencing.
`
`4.02
`
`
`USER A USTENS TO
`MEDIA WITHIN
`MESSAGING CLIENT
`
`
`
`4.04
`
`
`
`MEDIA SERVER(S)
`SEND METADATA
`
`To IM SERVER
`
`405
`
`IM SERVER CHECKS IF
`
`USER A WISHES TO SHARE
`INFORMATION ABOUT MEDIA
`
`
`
`
`407
`
`
`
`OTHER USERS RECEIVE
`
`STATUS INDICATOR WITH
`
`
`INFORMATION ABOUT USER
`A's SONG/
`
`PLAYLIST/STATION/GENRE
`
`410
`
`'
`
`USER B CLICKS
`ON USER A's
`
`STATUS INDICATOR
`
`
`'
`MEDIA SERVER(S) STREAM
`SAME 0R SIMILAR CONTENT
`T0 THAT WHICH
`
`
`USER A IS. LISTENING T0,
`T0 USER B
`
`
`
`
`USER B LISTENS TO SONG/
`PLAYLIST/STATION/GEN RE
`
`THAT USER A IS USTENING T0
`
`412
`
`414
`
`415
`
`
`
`
`
`NO
`IM SERVER
`
`
`
`
`INFORMATION
`SENDS AUGMENTED
`
`IS SHARED
`STATUS INDICATOR
`
` TO OTHER USERS
`
`
`Page 1 of 12
`
`LG EXHIBIT 1006
`
`Page 1 of 12
`
`LG EXHIBIT 1006
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Nov. 24, 2005 Sheet 1 0f 4
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`Page 2 of 12
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`Page 2 of 12
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`
`
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Nov. 24, 2005 Sheet 2 0f 4
`
`US 2005/0262204 A1
`
`
`
`Messenger
`Messenger
`
`
`
`>_l-_le|p
`
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`Page 3 of 12
`
`Page 3 of 12
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Nov. 24, 2005 Sheet 3 0f 4
`
`US 2005/0262204 A1
`
`515
`
`510
`
` Messen . er
`
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`\_flew
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`
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`
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`© Adrian— We Michael—Faith—
`
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`© Moe — www,yahoo.com
`
`590 J
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`rate
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`
`LAUNCHcast Radio
`
`Page 4 of 12
`
`Page 4 of 12
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`

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`Page 5 of 12
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`Page 5 of 12
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`US 2005/0262204 A1
`
`Nov. 24, 2005
`
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENHANCED
`MESSAGING
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0001]
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`[0002] The present invention relates generally to a system
`and method for messaging.
`
`[0003]
`
`2. Description of Related Art
`
`[0004] The expansion of the Internet and the worldwide
`web (“web”) has provided computer users with an enhanced
`ability to communicate with one another, such as by e-mail,
`chat and instant messaging, to name a few methods. Instant
`messaging has become a popular form of communication in
`recent years. In an instant messaging system, two users are
`able to communicate with each other in real time or near real
`
`time by passing messages as well as other information, such
`as files, over the Internet. In an instant messaging system,
`the messages are generated and displayed using an instant
`messaging client software program that resides on each
`user’s computer. In some instant messaging systems, other
`information about the user, such as a profile or his or her
`status (e.g., whether the user is online, offline, busy) can be
`shared with other users of the instant messaging system.
`
`[0005] Although instant messaging has become popular, it
`still does not utilize the global reaches of the Internet to the
`fullest extent possible. Although useful in exchanging text
`messages and files, current instant messenger platforms do
`not have the capability of sharing other practical information
`among users. While a user is utilizing their instant messag-
`ing program, they can also be doing numerous other things
`both at their computers and over the Internet. Current instant
`messaging programs do not allow users to easily share this
`experience with other instant messaging users.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0006] When one user is making use of a particular
`application on a computer or over the Internet, it would be
`advantageous if he or she could let other users know what
`application they were using and easily share that experience
`with other users. Thus, for example, if a user were experi-
`encing a particular item of media, for example a song or
`video clip, via a media player, it would be advantageous if
`another user could obtain information about the music being
`listened to and even listen to the same song, playlist, radio
`station or genre of music. This would create an additional
`level of shared experience between users that would allow
`for enhanced communication that goes far beyond the mere
`sharing of text messages and the like.
`
`invention provides a system and
`[0007] The present
`method for enhancing the experience of a user using a
`communication program over the Internet or other network.
`In one embodiment, the experience of an instant messaging
`user is enhanced by utilizing a user status indicator in an
`instant messaging system to facilitate the sharing of the
`experience of content such as music or videos. One system
`and method according to one embodiment of the present
`invention allows a user to display an indicator and/or to set
`an actionable status message which alerts other users to
`media content that the first user is experiencing.
`
`In one embodiment a user is given the ability to
`[0008]
`access the same or similar content
`that other users are
`
`Page 6 of 12
`
`listening to or viewing or otherwise experiencing at a
`particular time. In operation, the instant messaging system
`makes available data or metadata about the content a user is
`
`experiencing at a given time. Other users are then able to
`utilize that data or metadata to receive and experience the
`same or similar content that the user is experiencing or get
`more information related to the media or content. In one
`
`embodiment, a the system performs a check to discern
`whether the other user making the request should be granted
`access to the particular content taking into consideration the
`appropriate digital rights.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustrating an exemplary
`system architecture of one embodiment of the present inven-
`tion;
`
`[0010] FIG. 2 is an exemplary user interface of an exem-
`plary instant messaging client according to one embodiment
`of the present invention;
`
`[0011] FIG. 3 is an exemplary user interface portion of an
`exemplary instant messaging client according to one
`embodiment of the present invention; and
`
`[0012] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustrating an exemplary
`process workfiow according to one embodiment of the
`present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`In general the present invention relates to a system
`[0013]
`and method for enhancing an experience among intercom-
`municating users to thereby engender affinity between users
`and a provider of the system and/or method. In certain
`exemplary embodiments, a system and method is described
`which enhances the user’s experience by allowing improved
`interrelationships and activity sharing between users of an
`instant messaging system.
`
`[0014] Certain embodiments of the present invention will
`now be discussed with reference to the aforementioned
`
`figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like com-
`ponents. Referring now to FIG. 1, the architecture of one
`embodiment of the present invention is shown in schematic
`form. As can be seen in FIG. 1, a system 100 according to
`one embodiment of the present
`invention is shown.
`In
`general, the system 100 allows users 102 to communicate
`with each other through the Internet utilizing an instant
`messaging platform as well as to share different information
`and data amongst themselves.
`
`[0015] Each user 102 has a processor 103, such as a
`personal computer (PC), web enabled cellular telephone,
`personal digital assistant (PDA) or the like, coupled to the
`Internet 104 by any one of a number of known manners.
`Furthermore, each processor 103 preferably includes an
`Internet browser (not shown), such as that offered by
`Microsoft Corporation under the trade name INTERNET
`EXPLORER, or that offered by Netscape Corp. under the
`trade name NETSCAPE NAVIGATOR, and a media player
`(not shown), such as that offered by Microsoft Corporation
`under the trade name WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER, or that
`offered by Real Networks Corp. under the trade name REAL
`PLAYER, or the software or hardware equivalent of the
`aforementioned components that enable intercommunica-
`
`Page 6 of 12
`
`

`

`US 2005/0262204 A1
`
`Nov. 24, 2005
`
`tion between users and service providers, among users, and
`that provide the ability to convert digital information or data
`into a perceptible form. In the described embodiment, pro-
`cessor 103 runs an instant messaging client software pro-
`gram 112 that
`is used to communicate with an instant
`messaging server 106 and exchange messages between
`users. One such example of an instant messaging client is
`Yahoo! Instant Messenger, or any other instant messaging
`client now known or hereafter to become known. It should
`
`be appreciated that although this embodiment is described in
`terms of an instant messaging client, it can also utilize other
`forms of communication over the Internet heretofore or
`
`hereafter known. It should also be understood that although
`the present embodiment
`is described in terms of media
`content and specifically audio content, it is within the scope
`of the present invention to utilize any content or media
`format heretofore or hereafter known. Furthermore, it is to
`be understood that although the present embodiment
`is
`described within the context of streaming media, the present
`invention is applicable to digital content other than stream-
`ing media as well and could be an Internet destination
`reached via a URI or URL.
`
`[0016] As will be discussed in greater detail below, the
`system 100 includes instant messaging (IM) server(s) 106 as
`well as media server(s) 108. Other servers 110 may also be
`accessible. The IM servers 106 act to exchange messages
`between users 102, as well as to pass along other informa-
`tion to both the users 102 and the media server 108. In
`
`addition to exchanging information with IM server(s) 106,
`media server(s) 108 store music content as well as stream
`various forms of music content to be received by users 102.
`Other servers 110 make other content and services available,
`and may provide administrative services such as managing
`user logins, service access permissions, digital rights man-
`agement, storing user profile and preference information,
`and other services made available by a service provider. It
`should be appreciated that although some embodiments of
`the invention are described in terms of music, the embodi-
`ments can also encompass any form of streaming or non-
`streaming media including but not limited to news, enter-
`tainment, sports events, or any other webpage or perceptible
`audio or video content.
`
`the users 102, the IM
`[0017] As illustrated in FIG. 1,
`server(s) 106 and media server(s) 108 and other servers 110
`are communicatively connected via the Internet 104. In
`alternate embodiments, different components of the system
`may be coupled differently, for example, each may be
`coupled directly to each other wirelessly or via an intranet or
`wide-area network (WAN) or the like.
`
`[0018] Users 102 utilize the instant messaging client 112
`on their processors 103 to communicate with other users via
`the instant messaging server(s). As can be seen from FIG. 2,
`while using an instant messaging client, the user is given the
`ability to interact with other users, by, for example, typing
`messages or sending files to another user. In addition to
`enabling a user to perform different functions (e.g., sending
`messages and/or items to another user, accessing web sites)
`in one part of the instant messenger window 202, the instant
`messaging client also enables a user to compile a “list of
`friends”204 or in other words, other users with which the
`user is acquainted. The instant messaging client displays a
`list of these other user’s names, so that the user may easily
`access a group of other users with whom the user is in
`
`Page 7 of 12
`
`in a known manner, by
`frequent contact. For example,
`clicking on a friend’s user name, the user will be able to send
`an instant message to his or her friend. Additionally, when
`clicking on a friend’s user name, other data about the user
`such as hobbies, likes, dislikes, or other information that the
`user has provided to the system can be displayed or made
`accessible. In addition, a user can group his or her friends
`into further categories (e.g., family, friends, etc.).
`
`In certain known embodiments of instant messag-
`[0019]
`ing programs, each user is given an option to set their status.
`For example, possible status indicators may include “avail-
`able,”“idle,”“busy,”“be right back,”“not at my des ,”“on
`vacation,” or “out to lunch.” When a user chooses to set his
`or her status, the user’s id is flagged with a corresponding
`status indicator 224. Any other user that wishes to either
`instant message the first user or just wishes to obtain the first
`user’s status, will be informed of the status chosen by the
`first user. For example, if user Cris flags his status 224 as
`“busy,” any other user that has identified user Cris their
`respective “friends list” or who wishes to view Cris’s status
`or wishes to send an instant message to Cris will be advised
`through the status indicator 224 visible to the other user that
`Cris is “busy.” It is to be appreciated that the use of status
`indicators creates an atmosphere where each user can easily
`make available their status to other users without having to
`individually tell each user that, for example, he or she is
`busy. A user may set his status by choosing from a drop-
`down list or by using other widely known methods of
`selecting an item within a computer environment.
`
`In various different atmospheres, different known
`[0020]
`status indicators can include various indicators regarding
`location of the user (e.g., home, work), what the user is in
`the middle of doing (e.g., busy, on the phone), what mood
`the user is in (e.g., sad, happy) or other details about the user.
`In the alternative, the user may choose to identify his status
`as invisible which will hide the user from other users and it
`
`will appear to other users as if the first user is not connected
`to the system.
`
`In another known embodiment, the user may also
`[0021]
`personalize a particular status as opposed to choosing one
`provided by the system. For example, a user may set a
`personalized message (e.g., good day to you all) as his or her
`status. Additionally a status indicator might be a universal
`resource locator (URL) or a hyperlink to another application.
`For example, one user might provide a link to their favorite
`website as his or her status indicator. When another instant
`
`messaging user would click on the first user’s status indi-
`cator (e.g. the URL or link), the user will be directed to the
`website represented by that URL or link. In other embodi-
`ments additional applications and/or programs might be
`utilized through the status indicators. For instance, if a user
`has a web camera on their home computer, they may include
`a message in their status indicator that states for example,
`“view my web cam.” When another user clicks on that status
`message, the image from the web camera will be displayed.
`In other embodiments, pictures or icons 210 may be dis-
`played alongside the status indicator. For example, a picture
`of a camera can be displayed next to a status indicator that
`directs a user to another user’s web cam, or a bright smiley
`face may indicate that
`the user is on the system, or a
`time-clock may indicate that a user is idle. Other operations
`can be made available via buttons 224 or other interface
`
`options such as menus or hot links.
`
`Page 7 of 12
`
`

`

`US 2005/0262204 A1
`
`Nov. 24, 2005
`
`In operation of an embodiment of present inven-
`[0022]
`tion, the instant messaging client 112 on user 102’s com-
`puter 103 maintains a list of icons, messages or other
`information that can be displayed as a user’s status indicator,
`or can obtain such information or indicators from IM server
`
`saging window or screen portion in a separate window or
`screen portion. In one embodiment, the song 560 that the
`user “Mark” is experiencing through the media player is
`listed next to “Mark’s” name at 580 in the upper portion 312
`of IM window 302.
`
`106. When the IM server 106 determines that a change of
`status indicator is appropriate, for example because a user
`has logged off the system or the user has notified the system
`that they are busy for example, the IM server 106 recognizes
`this change in status and passes this information along to the
`instant messaging client on the other user 102’s computer.
`The instant messaging client applies the applicable status
`indicator to the other user’s display, and in this manner each
`user is able to view the updated status of other users.
`
`In one embodiment of the present invention, (See
`[0023]
`FIG. 3) the user of the system is enabled to listen to music
`over the Internet through a user interface presented by the
`messaging client (or other streaming media application),
`which interface contains a messaging portion and a media
`player portion. This embodiment enables a user to share a
`music experience or the type of music that he or she is
`listening to with other users. In this embodiment, users are
`able to utilize a streaming media service (such as for
`example Yahool’s LaunchcastTM) within the media player
`portion of the instant messaging user interface. As can be
`seen from FIG. 3, an exemplary instant messaging user
`interface is divided into a media player section 304 and a
`messaging section 312 for the user to allow the user to
`control access to and the experiencing of streaming media
`via a media player application while at
`the same time
`maintaining instant messaging capabilities.
`
`[0024] The use of a media player and/or service such as
`LaunchcastTM within an instant messaging system will now
`be described in more detail. Referring to FIG. 3, a user that
`is utilizing an instant messaging (IM) client and wishes to
`listen to streaming media utilizing a media player within the
`instant messaging client is provided via known program-
`ming techniques with a media player within the user inter-
`face of the instant messaging client. In one embodiment, as
`seen in FIG. 2, access to the media player can be enabled by
`clicking the button or tab containing an icon depicting a
`media-related image such as headphones 220 at the lower
`portion of IM window 202 or some other user interface
`choice.
`
`[0025] Once the user (in the depicted example “Mark”)
`chooses to utilize the player within the instant messaging
`client, as seen in FIG. 3, the upper portion 312 of the instant
`messaging client 302 displays his friends list and provides
`“conventional” instant messaging functions to users (e.g.,
`chatting, Instant Messaging, seeing another user’s status,
`etc.) as well as new features described herein. The lower
`portion 304 of the IM window 302, however, is transformed
`into a media player through which a user may play or
`otherwise experience the streaming media that has been
`requested and sent from media servers 108 in known man-
`ners. It should be appreciated that this results in the added
`benefit of being able to combine a user’s instant messaging
`experience with a media playing experience. It should also
`be appreciated that all of this preferably transpires seam-
`lessly from the user’s perspective, further enhancing the
`instant messaging experience. In other embodiments,
`the
`player can be located in a different location within the instant
`messaging window or can be located outside of the mes-
`
`Page 8 of 12
`
`[0026] Thus, by way of further example as seen in FIG. 3,
`and further described herein, a user 500 is identified with a
`status indicator 525 that indicates that user 500 is listening
`to music, while the same or a different indicator preferably
`identifies the name 550 of the particular song that user 500
`is listening to. Thus, the user’s displayed status indicator is
`interconnected with and indicative of the user’s actual
`
`experience while using the inventive system and method.
`
`[0027] As can further be seen in FIG. 3, a user’s status
`indicator can be utilized to allow other users to view the title
`
`of a song that a particular user is listening to. For example,
`as can be seen in the upper portion 312 of the instant
`messaging display 302, if user “Adrian”500 is listening to
`the song “Faith” from the album “Faith” by George Michael,
`“Adrian’s” song status indicator 550 will show “George
`Michael—Faith-Faith” indicating the artist, song and album.
`Therefore, other users will know that Adrian is currently
`listening to that song. In addition to the name of the song, the
`artist, and the album,
`the song status indicator 550 is
`preferably a hyperlink, or a separate hyperlink could be
`displayed near the status indicator. Thus, if a user utilizing
`the IM client displaying IM window 302 (in this instance
`“Mark”) wishes to listen to the same song that user “Adrian”
`is listening to, user “Mark” would click on that song name
`550 hyperlink. When “Mark” clicks on that hyperlink, he
`would then receive through his media player the song or
`portion of the song that “Adrian” is listening to, as will be
`explained in further detail with reference to FIG. 4. Alter-
`natively, an individual user can choose how their music
`status message appears. For example, instead of listing the
`song and the artist, a user may insert a personalized message
`or possibly no message at all, but rather just a link to the
`song.
`
`[0028] An exemplary method of effectuating the above-
`described embodiment will now be described. IM server 106
`stores, obtains and/or makes available data and/or metadata
`that is represented in whole or in part by status indicators
`525, 550, or a combination thereof. As used herein, data and
`metadata are used interchangeably. This “augmented” status
`indicator can represent the data associated with other status
`indicators such as for example a custom status message,
`category of status, and text for the status indicator.
`In
`addition to the data represented by the standard status
`indicator, the “augmented” status indicator also represents
`metadata related to the status. For example, in the case of an
`instant messaging user 500 who is listening to streaming
`media and wishes to share the listening experience with
`other users, the augmented status indicator will relate to and
`represent information such as, for example, a song identifier,
`which may comprise the identity of the artist, song title,
`album name, reviews, popularity information, or other infor-
`mation related to the song or item of media content, for
`example a user identifier, a popularity rating of a song or
`media item, or any other information that the player or
`messaging program would need or can utilize in order to
`stream the song or other media or provide additional infor-
`mation to the user. This relationship between data and the
`status indicator allows a user 500 to indicate to various other
`
`Page 8 of 12
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`

`

`US 2005/0262204 A1
`
`Nov. 24, 2005
`
`users, simultaneously, that song 550 is the song that he or
`she is listening to, and also in turn provides to those other
`users access to data and information associated with that
`
`indicator. Conversely, this also allows a single user to be
`able to view a list of the songs that his or her friends are
`listening to. A user need not install any new programs or
`plug-ins, nor does the user need to be running any additional
`software to find out what another user is listening to, but
`rather the user utilizes the instant messaging program and
`friend list functionality herein described to access this
`information. Further, each user 500 does not need to manu-
`ally adjust their song status indicator 550 to indicate the song
`that they are listening to, but rather the system displays that
`information automatically as the user receives and experi-
`ences each new song or other media item, as a result of data
`arriving from the servers to the client software. It should be
`understood that this embodiment easily allows each user the
`benefit of being able to utilize an instant messaging “friends
`list” to instantly access data and information about music
`being experienced by each of their listed friends. The status
`indicators change as the user’s listening experience changes.
`So, for example, referring again to FIG. 3, if user Adrian
`500 finishes listening to the song Faith and is now listening
`to the song Teen Angst by the group Cracker, Adrian’s status
`indicator would be updated to all users having Adrian on
`their friends list to reflect this new song title and artist. The
`amount of information contained in a status indicator is
`
`controllable either by the system provider, media provider,
`software provider, user, or some combination thereof, as is
`the amount of data represented by or accessible from that
`indicator.
`
`It should be appreciated that although the above
`[0029]
`discussion is described in terms of a particular song, the
`present
`invention can alternatively or
`simultaneously
`include the ability to listen to a variety of songs such as in
`a playlist. For example if the first user Todd 510 is listening
`to a particular playlist “Todd’s Rock” which includes a
`variety of songs in sequence or at random, a status indicator
`511 could display the name of Todd’s playlist and allow
`another user to click on that playlist and listen to any or all
`of the songs in Todd’s playlist. Once again, limits can be
`optionally set by the user or the messaging program provider
`as to how many songs in the playlist the second user is
`permitted to listen to (e.g., only the first song in the playlist,
`or only five songs from the playlist), or the order in which
`the songs are played, or other limits or manipulation of the
`playlist content.
`
`In another embodiment, a user of the system of the
`[0030]
`present invention is able to listen to a “radio station” that
`another user is listening to in addition to merely a particular
`song or video. As is known in the art, applications exist that
`permit a user to create a personalized “radio station” that can
`be set up to stream media to the user that conforms with the
`user’s selected preferences. An exemplary Internet website
`featuring the use of an Internet radio is that of Yahoo!
`Launch. Within the radio system, a user can set up a radio
`station that will,
`in accordance with a preprogrammed
`algorithm, conform to the preferences selected for that user’s
`station. For example, if a user desires to hear a particular
`genre of music (e.g., jazz or rock), or identifies artists or
`albums that he or she enjoys, then the algorithm applied to
`that user’s station will be influenced by the user’s prefer-
`ences.
`
`Page 9 of 12
`
`In one embodiment of the present invention, if user
`[0031]
`Peter 515 has utilized a service to create a radio station that
`
`plays music in accordance with Peter’s preferences, which
`Peter calls “Peter’s Station”, the status indicator 525 asso-
`ciated with Peter preferably also reflects the user’s radio
`station identity, i.e. Peter’s Station 575. Thus, when another
`user clicks on Peter’s status indicator 525, or the Peter’s
`Station indicator 575 which reflects the radio station 575
`
`being listened to by Peter 515, the same or similar algorithm
`to that which controls and serves media for Peter’s Station
`will be utilized to stream content to that other user. It should
`
`be appreciated that this has the added benefit of not only
`allowing a user to share a particular music experience in the
`form of a song that he or she is listening to with another
`instant messaging user, but it also provides added flexibility
`in allowing a user to share a particular radio station or, in
`other words, particular criteria that the user has already set
`up in a radio station he or she is currently listening to or
`simply wishes to share whether or not
`listening to that
`station at the time the second user selects it.
`
`[0032] Thus if another user clicks on the status indicator
`525 or the name 575 which indicates Peter’s radio station,
`the system will use Peter’s radio station preferences to
`choose songs for the other user and will pass along such
`songs to the user. Also, if the radio system is a subscription
`system and different users are allowed varying access to
`different stations, the particular station may or may not be
`available to a particular user. In such instance, the IM server
`106 or media server 108 or other server 110 or the client
`
`software can be configured to control access to the various
`available media so that users are restricted to media in
`
`accordance with preselected criteria such as subscription
`level, content restriction (adult versus minor), or other
`criteria selected by the user, content or service provider, or
`some combination of those entities.
`
`In alternate embodiments link 575 need not be a
`[0033]
`static URI or one related solely to media, but can be
`dynamically changing to indicate the URI of a webpage
`being viewed by a user. Thus, referring again to FIG. 3, if
`user “Moe”590 is currently viewing the homepage for
`website Yahoo!, “Moe’s” status indicator 595 can reflect the
`URI of that page. Status indicator 595 will change as “Moe”
`surfs to different pages and “Moe’s” friends can click along
`and share Moe’s browsing experience. In such instance the
`URI of a user can be tracked by the IM client, passed to the
`IM client by a browser, or made available in some other
`manner to be passed on to IM server 106 to enable updating
`of a user’s status indicator as that user “surfs” the web, in the
`same manner that a song, playlist or radio station status
`indicator changes
`in accordance with user’s listening
`changes.
`
`[0034] An exemplary method of sharing a media experi-
`ence by another instant messaging user according to one
`embodiment of the present
`invention is depicted in the
`flowchart of FIG. 4. For example if User A is listening to a
`song with a player 304 that is within their instant messaging
`client display 302, Step 402, the media server 108 passes
`metadata about the song (e.g., song ID, user ID or other data
`described herein) to IM server 106. Step 404. Once the IM
`Server receives the metadata about User A’s song, the IM
`server may optionally check User A’s settings to determine
`whether User A wishes to share information about the song
`that he or she is listening to with other users. Step 4