as) United States
`a2) Patent Application Publication co) Pub. No.: US 2008/0133551 Al
`(43) Pub. Date: Jun. 5, 2008
`
`Wensleyet al.
`
`US 20080133551A1
`
`(54) SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER
`PROGRAMPRODUCT FOR MANAGING
`RIGHTS OF MEDIA IN COLLABORATIVE
`ENVIRONMENTS
`
`(52) US. CMe ceecccsssccrsseessssseeessee 707/100; 707/E17.005
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A system, method, computer program product, and propa-
`gated signalofthis collaborative system are adaptedto track
`metadata relating to an online digital asset that captures each
`user’s or group’s interest in the asset and thus, in the aggre-
`gate, defines a collective interest in the asset and self-selects
`a relevant market based upon the nature of the asset, the
`distribution, and the collective group. Further, the system,
`method, computer program product, and propagated signal
`implementa rights managerto providefordigital rights man-
`agementin collaborative systems. The system includes a plu-
`rality of communication clients, inter-communicated by a
`network, each for initiating a collaborative concurrent pro-
`cessing of a resource file; and a rights manager, coupled to
`each the plurality of communicationsclients, for authorizing
`the processingof the resourcefile responsiveto a rights man-
`agement tag associated withthe resourcefile, the rights man-
`ager securing the rights managementtag with the resourcefile
`to produce a digital resource and the rights manager decrypt-
`ing the digital resource to produce the resource file and the
`rights management tag. The method includesinitiating a col-
`laborative concurrent processing of a resource file by a par-
`(21) Appl.No.;—11/564,843
`ticular one communication clientof a plurality of communi-
`cation clients,
`inter-communicated by a network; and
`authorizing the processing of the resourcefile by a rights
`manager, the authorizing responsive to a rights management
`tag associated with the resourcefile, the rights manager secur-
`ing the rights management tag with the resourcefile to pro-
`duce a digital resource and the rights manager decrypting the
`digital resource to produce the resourcefile and the rights
`managementtag.
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors:
`
`Paul Wensley, Mill Valley, CA
`(US); Jon M. Bloodworth, Santa
`Fe, NM (US); Robert M.
`Goldstein, Los Angeles, CA (US)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`PATENT LAW OFFICES OF MICHAEL E.
`WOODS
`19 Vista Marin Drive
`San Rafael, CA 94903-5205
`
`(73) Assignee:
`
`AVA Mobile, Inc., Santa Fe, NM
`(US)
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Nov. 30, 2006
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51)
`
`Int.Cl.
`G06F 1730
`
`(2006.01)
`
`
`CLIENT \
`RIGHTS
`(
`SA11057
`
`
`
`
`
`1100\
`
`USER
`Database
`
`
`
`
`SERVER
`RIGHTS
`MANAGER
`
`
`
`|
`ASSET
`PROVIDER
`ae/
`
`fom
`
`APPLE 1111
`APPLE1111
`
`1
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 5, 2008 Sheet 1 of 12
`
`US 2008/0133551 Al
`
`100
`
`a NETWORK
`
`2
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 5, 2008 Sheet 2 of 12
`
`US 2008/0133551 Al
`
`HOUWSS|L—=yGLE
`~7I|Z3NIONS
`
`WAY
`
`YaAdAs
`
`Ore
`
`Ste
`
`Oe?
`
`00¢c
`
`I
`
`LNAIND
`
`|
`
`OLZ
`
`SFE
`
`‘yo
`
`VAY
`
`Sle
`
`OzC
`
`GEE
`
`6Old
`
`SSG
`
`ALIS
`
`daACIAA
`
`dDV¥dDAM
`
`QTHOM
`
`:SIs
`
`ADvdFAA
`
`ose
`
`oO9¢
`
`VAY
`
`aDIAaa
`
`O42
`
`AOwNoOSsAd
`
`VAY
`
`QyIHL
`
`ALYVd
`
`ssa90udd
`
`S9C
`
`3
`
`
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 5, 2008 Sheet 3 of 12
`
`US 2008/0133551 Al
`
`GHI
`
`f
`aan
`
`
`
`
`260d
`
`JKL
`
`260b
`
`
`
`DEF
`
`wos!
`
`ABC
`
`260a
`
`
`
`SERVER
`
`
`
`NETWORK
`DEVICES
`
`10
`
`
`
`MNP
`
`260e
`
`AVA
`
`FIG. 3
`
`4
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 5, 2008 Sheet 4 of 12
`
`US 2008/0133551 Al
`
`Lev‘\
`
`
`
`WPIAI/AVIN
`
`Wow
`
`WdAg|ds!q
`
`peddAeysnAls
`
`60
`
`LOF
`
`Lp
`
`CLPSIP
`
`SOc
`
`\
`
`X09
`
`6LY
`
`abeuw|I
`
`einjdeyg
`
`€or
`
`8||J}2|OAUON
`
`sIQeAQWAaY
`
`vyOld
`
`5
`
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 5, 2008 Sheet 5 of 12
`
`US 2008/0133551 Al
`
`COMMUNICATIONS
`
`305
`
`\
`
`
`
`
`DATA
`FUNCTIONSK>
`COMMUNICATION
`FUNCTIONS
`910
`
`
`
`COMMAND
`
`INTERPRETER
`
`305
`
`
`
`NETWORK
`FUNCTIONS
`
`935
`
`DATA
`SECURITY
`FUNCTIONS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
` USER
`
`WORKSPACE
`FUNCTIONS
`515
`
` STORAGE
`
`FUNCTIONS K—_>
`520
`
`6
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 5, 2008 Sheet 6 of 12
`
`US 2008/0133551 Al
`
`STATE
`MACHINE
`
`655
`
`WORKSPACE
`FUNCTIONS
`610
`
`PEN/STYLUS
`FUNCTIONS
`615
`
`TOOLBOX
`FUNCTIONS
`620
`
`USER
`INTERFACE
`FUNCTIONS
`
`COMMAND
`
`a
`
`UY
`
`NETWORK
`FUNCTIONS
`670
`
`BITMAP
`DATA
`AND
`FUNCTIONS K_)
`SECURITY
`660
`GRAPHICS
`FUNCTIONS
`
`INTERPRETER
`
`PROTOCOL
`
`ANNOTATION
`FUNCTIONS K_}
`665
`
`
`
`830
`
`GENERATOR
`
`605
`
`INSTANT
`MESSAGE
`FUNCTIONS
`
`USER
`FUNCTIONS
`
`
`
`STORAGE
`FUNCTIONS
`
`
`
`845
`FIG. 6
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`840
`
` Uy FUNCTIONS
`
`
`
`
`
`aso!
`
`
`
`LOCAL
`
`WORKSPACE
`
`675
`
`
`
`
`
`7
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 5, 2008 Sheet 7 of 12
`
`US 2008/0133551 Al
`
`705
`
`735
`
`740
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FOLDER_1
`
`FOLDER_2
`
`FOLDER_3
`
`FOLDER_n
`
`FIG. 7
`
`8
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 5, 2008 Sheet 8 of 12
`
`US 2008/0133551 Al
`
`00
`
` | FOLDER,
`
`ot
`i. ae
`
`
`
`‘
`
`a
`|wunnnernnnnne ELA
`|| FOLUER
`3
`FoUbER
`¥
`[oa
`
`ENS
`&
`ei
`
`ih
`.
`
`\.
`.
`ks
`‘n
`Sheet |
`
`
`FIG 8
`:
`
`9
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 5, 2008 Sheet 9 of 12
`
`US 2008/0133551 Al
`
`x
`
`Attach Client
`To Server
`
`Locally Process a Resource in a Local
`Workspace
`
`Receiving Message(s)
`
`905
`
`910
`
`915
`
`920
`
`925
`
`Generate Process-Result Recreation
`Message(s)
`
`
`
`Route Recreation Message(s)to All
`Other Attached Local Workspacesin
`real-time
`
`Recreate Result(s) of Local
`Processing in All Local Workspaces
`
`FIG. 9
`
`10
`
`10
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 5,2008 Sheet 100f12
`
`US 2008/0133551 Al
`
`USER
`Database
`
`
`
`
`1010
`
`AVA SERVER /
`
`Me/é
`
`
`
` AOA
`
`1025
`
`
`
`LesserTRACKER
`
`Qa
`
`102
`
`
`
`C PROLIDER
`
`
`
`FIG. 10
`
`11
`
`11
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 5,2008 Sheet 110f12
`
`US 2008/0133551 Al
`
`
`
`m\
`
`
`
`CLIENT
`RIGHTS
`MANAGER
`
`
`
`| FOLDER_|
`
`4
`3
`FOLDER|
`
`
`
`
`Database
`
`
`SERVER
`RIGHTS
`MANAGER
`
`
`
`
`PROVIDER
`
` ASSET TRACKER
`
`FIG. 11
`
`12
`
`12
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 5, 2008 Sheet 12 of 12
`
`US 2008/0133551 Al
`
`nN
`
`1025
`
`USER
`Database
`
`
`
`[FOLDER]
`.
`
`"\
`Aes
`iO/
`/=
`
`
`
`
`
`PROVIDER
`
`iXy‘
`ve
`\-
`|
`
`AVA SERVER /
`
`FIG. 12
`
`13
`
`
`
`TRACKER/
`RIGHTS
`MANAGER
`
`
`
`
`13
`
`

`

`US 2008/0133551 Al
`
`Jun. 5, 2008
`
`SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER
`PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR MANAGING
`RIGHTS OF MEDIA IN COLLABORATIVE
`ENVIRONMENTS
`
`
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`
`
`APPLICATIONS
`
`
`
`[0001] This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent
`application Ser. Nos. 11/164,645 filed 30 Nov. 2006 entitled
`“SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM
`PRODUCT FOR CONCURRENT COLLABORATION OF
`
`
`MEDIA,”11/309,529filed 18 Aug. 2006entitled “SYSTEM,
`
`METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT
`
`FOR CONCURRENT COLLABORATION OF MEDIA,”
`and U.S. patent application Ser. No.
`(Attorney
`Docket 20043-7005) filed concurrently entitled “SYSTEM,
`METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT
`FOR TRACKING DIGITAL MEDIA IN COLLABORA-
`
`TIVE ENVIRONMENTS,” all hereby expressly incorpo-
`rated in their entireties by reference forall purposes.
`
`
`
`
`
`These implementations can be called “screen scraping” as
`they just send the display data, without any understanding of
`the mediathat is being displayed(including in the new Webex
`implementation noted above). Moreover,
`they are not
`designed to work on portable electronic devices.
`[0006] A well-known,butvery limited in termsof features
`and user options, media sharing/collaboration solution is the
`sharing, choosing, and selecting of mediafiles by sending
`emails with digital media attachments. The user loses control
`overthe media,as real (i.e., full) copies are sentto the other
`users, who then havefull control over them. Someattempts to
`control this, via watermarking images, or sending just “down
`sampled”or proxyversions, corruptthefiles and do not allow
`for full examination of the full data. Additional drawbacks
`
`include a recognition that media files may be verylarge, and
`manyemail solutions are incapable of exchanginglargefiles
`(e.g., incapable in the sense that the system administrators/
`developers may impose size and/or content and/orfile type
`restrictions). Also, the solutions are not in “real-time” and
`thereis little in the way of feedback from oneparticipantthat
`the others are active in the “collaboration.”
`
`
`
`BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION
`
`Further, it is a problem among conventional mes-
`[0007]
`saging systems that two or more users are unable to unam-
`biguouslycollaborate in the rendering of a media resource,
`such that any userat anytime may set a renderingofthe media
`resource to a desired reference on all participating clients.
`[0008] Digital rights management addresses an existing
`solutionto a perceived problem ofexchanging copyrightedor
`other rights-restricted digital data by, among, between, and
`[0003] The developmentofdigital computer networks have
`across
`systems. Digital Rights Management
`(generally
`allowed the high-speed delivery of media files, including
`abbreviated to DRM)is anyof several technologies used by
`images, video and audio, to personal computers and mobile
`publishers (or copyright owners) to control access to and
`devices. Traditionally, access to these networks has been
`usage of digital data (such as software, music, movies) and
`througha“web browser”, suchas Microsoft Internet Explorer
`hardware, handling usagerestrictions associated with a spe-
`and the like emploving hypertext markup language (HTML)
`cific instance of a digital work. The term often is confused
`protocols.
`with copy protection and technical protection measures
`[0004] Applications that use a web browserto display and
`(TPM). These two termsrefer to technologies that control or
`manipulate mediafiles are limited to the capabilities of the
`restrict the use and accessof digital media content on elec-
`web browser. Most browser-based solutions provide limited
`tronic devices with such technologies installed, acting as
`built-in user interface solutions such as grid structures that
`components of a DRM design.
`force information into linear displays. The structure of web
`[0009] Digital Rights Managementis a controversial topic.
`browsers does not allowfor interactive two-way communi-
`cation between users or multi-directional communication
`Advocates argue DRM isnecessary for copyright holders to
`prevent unauthorized duplication of their work to ensure con-
`tinued revenue streams. Some critics of the technology,
`including the Free Software Foundation, suggest that the use
`of the word “Rights”is misleading and suggest that people
`instead use the term Digital Restrictions Management. The
`position put forth is that copyright holdersare attempting to
`restrict use of copyrighted material in ways already granted
`Someextensionsto the web browserparadigm, such
`[0005]
`bystatutory or common law applying to copyright.
`as implemented in a WebEx online meetingsolution available
`[0010] DRM istypicallya distribution and usecontrol sys-
`from WebEx Communications, Inc., 3979 Freedom Circle,
`tem, sometimes having rudimentary asset tracking attendant
`Santa Clara, Calif. 95054 (www.webex.com) provide a lim-
`to distribution control, cooperating with featuresbuilt into (or
`ited solution. These solutions try to implement “collabora-
`added onto) various operating systems, distribution mecha-
`tion”or “sharing” of a desktop in an attempt to capture some
`nisms, and “playing” applications.
`of the benefits of true multi-way multi-device concurrent
`[0011] Examples of DRM in portable electronic devices
`sharingofdigital resources. However, these implementations
`include iPod and the iTunes distribution system available
`are limited, in that they require one user (or in some newer
`from Apple Computers. iTunes includes a desktop compo-
`implementations multiple users may on a non-concurrent
`nent that serves as a vehicle for identifying desired copy-
`basis) to be the “presenter” and the othersto be the “audience”
`so they onlytruly capture one typeof online meeting, namely
`righted content and then receiving encrypted digitalfiles (au-
`
`the presentation. These solutions do not haveatrue collabo- dio or video) for that content. The content mayonly be played
`rative paradigm, where each user mayhave the samestatus for
`from the iTunesapplication or a user may transfer a copy of
`moving, marking, and commenting on the media, or other-
`this protected content to the iPod. This content may not be
`wiseinteracting with it (viewingandorplaying for example).
`transferred out of this system, and content is not available to
`
`[0002] The present invention relates generallyto real-time
`collaboration systems, and more particularly to a concurrent
`multi-user multi-way collaboration system capable of track-
`ing transfer or exchange among one or moreclient systems
`and methods.
`
`
`
`among multiple users. Some existing solutionsuse“plug-ins”
`or “applets” to extend the functionality of the browser to
`attempt somelimited type of bi-directional communication.
`However, these solutions are limited to a “presenter”anda set
`of clients which becomethe audience. Thereare no solutions
`for true real-time multi-directional communication.
`
`
`
`14
`
`14
`
`

`

`US 2008/0133551 Al
`
`Jun. 5, 2008
`
`digital asset that captures each user’s or group’s interest in the
`asset and thus,in the aggregate, defines a collective interest in
`the asset and self-selects a relevant market based upon the
`nature ofthe asset, the distribution, andthe collective group.
`In the context of digital works, what is needed is a rights
`manager
`for mediating and enforcing rights in digital
`resources in an online collaborative environment. as well as
`providing a rights system to aid users when introducing,
`using, and distributing digital resources of their own andas
`well as for digital resources in which a third party has an
`ownership interest.
`
`
`
`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`
`
`be retrieved from the iPod. Thus sharing or collaboration is
`limited to multiple users listening/watching the contentasitis
`played from the iTunesor the iPod.
`[0012] Microsoft Corporation has announced a portable
`music player (the “Zune”) that assertedly includes an ability
`for a user to wirelessly transfer content directly to another
`Zune user. The recipientis slated to have limited abilities to
`use the content(e.g., play the content no more thanthree times
`within a limited period (e.g., three days).
`[0013] Also relevant to the present invention is the current
`interest in targeted advertising. Advertisers continue to search
`for new ways to focus their content and improve return for
`each advertising dollar spent. This is true across different
`media,print, television, radio, and the Internet. Interactivity is
`a word used frequentlyin the context of advertising and the
`distribution mediumof a particular advertisement. To date,
`one ofthe most successful interactive advertising systemsare
`pay-per-click in which advertisers pay whenever a user
`selects an advertisement presented in a web browser. Adver-
`iserstry to target users based upon keywordscorrelation, and
`receive “interaction” through “clicks”on the advertisement.
`[0014] While successful, this paradigm haslimitations that
`relate to the use of keywordsfor correlation andto the limi-
`ations of the web browseras an interactive client.
`
`[0018] Disclosed is a system, method, computer program
`product, and propagated signal for a real-time concurrent
`multi-user multi-way collaboration system that is able to
`incorporate one or more electronic devices including one or
`moreportable devices that permits distributed usersto easily
`and efficiently share both content andeditorial input on such
`content (of course, text messaging is not limited to editorial
`input on the content). Specifically, a real-time concurrent
`multi-user multi-way collaboration system, method, and
`computer program capable of operation providing two or
`more users to be able to unambiguously collaborate in the
`In the context ofdigital rights systems, an organiza-
`[0015]
`rendering of a media resource,such that anyuser at any time
`ion known as the Creative Commons (www.creativecom-
`may set a rendering of the media resource to a desiredrefer-
`nons.org) was founded in 2001 to provide a framework for
`ence onall participating clients. The system for transmitting
`defining bundlesofrights with respect to certain online digital
`a media resource and one or more collaboration messages
`resources. Creative Commonsreleases a set of copyright’
`over a communications network includesa pluralityofreal-
`licenses free for public use. Inspired in part from the Free
`time messaging clients coupled to the communicationsnet-
`Software Foundation’s GNU General Public License (GNU
`work, with each client of
`the plurality of clients including: a
`GPL), Creative Commonsdeveloped a Web application tha
`communications system for receiving the media resource and
`elps people dedicate their creative works to the public
`for receiving the one or more collaboration messages; and a
`domain—orretain their copyright while licensing them as
`renderizer system for producing a rendering of the media
`free for certain uses, on certain conditions. Unlike the GNU
`resource in substantial synchronization withother ones ofthe
`GPL, Creative Commonslicenses are not designedfor soft-
`real-time messaging clients; wherein a particular one of the
`ware, but rather for other kinds of creative works: websites,
`one or more collaboration messagesare transmitted by one of
`scholarship, music, film, photography,literature, courseware,
`the messaging clients, the one or more collaboration mes-
`and the like. Creatrve Commonsalso developed metadatatha
`sages including a desired referenceofthe rendering and each
`can be used to associate creative works with their public
`other ofthe messagingclients substantially synchronizing the
`domain or license status in a machine-readable way. This
`rendering ofthe media resourceat the desired reference using
`enabled people to begin to use Creative Common’s search
`the particular one collaboration message.
`application andotheronline applicationsto find, for example,
`[0019] The system, method, computer program product,
`photographs that are free to use provided that the original
`and propagated signal of this collaborative system are
`photographeris credited, or songs that may be copied, dis-
`adapted to track metadata relating to an online digital asset
`ributed, or sampled with norestrictions whatsoever. Various
`that captures each user’s or group’s interest in the asset and
`predefined licenses are defined and an owner may link a
`thus,in the aggregate, defines a collectiveinterest in the asset
`particular resourceto a particular license. Current DRM sys-
`and self-selects a relevant market based uponthe nature ofthe
`emsare, in general, incompatible with most standard Cre-
`asset, the distribution, and the collective group. Further, the
`ative Commonlicenses. That is, such DRM systems would
`system, method, computer program product, and propagated
`ot complywith the Creative Commonlicenses and therefore
`signal implementarights managerto providefordigital rights
`be in violation of the license terms, making use of DRM
`managementin collaborative systems. The system includes a
`systems improper to use with Creative Commonslicensed
`plurality of communication clients, inter-communicated by a
`naterial.
`network, each for initiating a collaborative concurrent pro-
`cessing of a resource file; and a rights manager, coupled to
`each the plurality of communicationsclients, for authorizing
`the processing ofthe resourcefile responsiveto a rights man-
`agementtag associated with the resourcefile, the rights man-
`ager securing the rights management tag with the resourcefile
`to produce a digital resource and the rights managerdecrypt-
`ing the digital resource to produce the resourcefile and the
`rights management tag. The method includesinitiating a col-
`laborative concurrent processing of a resource file by a par-
`ticular one communicationclientof a plurality of communi-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`[0016] There are otherinitiatives similar to Creative Com-
`nonsthat are designedto help facilitate controlled distribu-
`ion of material.
`
`[0017] Whatis neededis a real-time concurrent multi-user
`nulti-way collaboration system capable of operation incor-
`porating one or more electronic devices preferably including
`one or more portable devices to permit distributed users to
`easily and efficiently share, in real time, both content and
`nambiguous editorial input on such content. Further, what is
`eeded is a system to track metadata relating to an online
`
`15
`
`15
`
`

`

`US 2008/0133551 Al
`
`Jun. 5, 2008
`
`inter-communicated by a network; and
`cation clients,
`authorizing the processing of the resource file by a rights
`manager, the authorizing responsive to a rights management
`tag associated withthe resourcefile, the rights manager secur-
`ing the rights management tag with the resourcefile to pro-
`ducea digital resource andthe rights manager decrypting the
`digital resource to produce the resource file and the rights
`managementtag.
`[0020] The AVA media rights managerenforces rights man-
`agement of media content files from the moment they enter
`the AVA system andfor so long asthey remain within theAVA
`system, particularly as theyare exchanged from onedevice to
`another. Reporting capabilities of the media asset tracker
`include how manyusers have shared or exchanged a particu-
`lar mediafile with other AVA users, how manyusers received
`and viewed or played the mediafile, the frequency ofviewing
`or playing the mediafile, and the communication“trail”ofthe
`mediafile, includingassociations among users and with other
`mediafiles.
`
`
`
`[0021] The preferred embodimentsofthe present invention
`create a more natural “processing environment”for those that
`work or play with digital mediafiles, particularly when shar-
`ing/exchanging media content with others in any context.
`Oneapplicable paradigm, provided to facilitate understand-
`ing,
`is the real-world experience of working on the same
`tabletop with the otherusers, interacting, commenting and
`choosing media. Moreover, embodiments of the invention
`elps to keep digitalfiles secure, by controlling the access and
`ability to save them, among other rights management fea-
`tures. It is recognized that a modern workgroup cannot easily
`be at the same “tabletop”asall of the others, and that having
`the tools available on mobile devices is important for true
`interactivity. In the contextofdigital works, the embodiments
`provide a rights manager for mediating and enforcingrights
`in digital resources in an online collaborative environment, as
`well as providinga rights systemto aid users when introduc-
`ing, using, and distributing digital resourcesof their own and
`as well as for digital resources in whicha third party has an
`ownership interest.
`
`
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is acomputer system that may function as a
`[0022]
`basic computer in implementingthe present invention;
`[0023]
`FIG. 2 is a generalized diagram of a portion of a
`network system(e.g., the Web or the Internet) to which a
`computercontrolled display terminal used for transmitting or
`receiving messages is connected;
`[0024]
`FIG. 3 is a generalized schematic of an AVA col-
`laboration system shownin FIG.2;
`[0025]
`FIG. 4 is a generalized block diagram of a generic
`computerof the system shown in FIG.3;
`[0026]
`FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the AVA
`server shown in FIG.2;
`[0027]
`FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the AVA
`client shownin FIG.2;
`[0028]
`FIG. 7 is a close-up of an AVA client supporting
`local workspace;
`[0029]
`FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a preferred
`embodiment for an AVA real-time collaboration system
`including a plurality of portable electronic devices each sup-
`porting anAVA client wirelessly communicating with anAVA
`server through a wireless-supported communications net-
`work;
`
`FIG. 9 is a preferred embodiment for a workspace
`[0030]
`recreation process implemented by a system (e.g., the system
`shownin FIG. 8);
`[0031]
`FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an asset tracking
`system;
`FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a rights manager
`[0032]
`system; and
`[0033]
`FIG. 12 is a block diagram ofan alternative rights
`manager system.
`
`
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`
`
`[0034] The present invention relates to a real-time concur-
`rent multi-user multi-waycollaboration system capable of
`operation incorporating one or more electronic network
`devicespreferablyincluding devices having wireless network
`connectivity to permit distributed users to easily and effi-
`ciently share both content and editorial input on suchcontent.
`Specifically, a real-time concurrent multi-user multi-waycol-
`laboration system, method, and computer program capable of
`operation providing two or more users to be able to unam-
`biguouslycollaborate in the rendering of a media resource,
`such that any userat anytime may set a renderingofthe media
`resource to a desired reference onall participating clients.
`Further, the system tracks metadata relating to an online
`digital asset that captures each user’s or group’s interest in the
`asset and thus,in the aggregate, defines a collective interest in
`the asset and self-selects a relevant market based upon the
`nature ofthe asset, the distribution, andthe collective group.
`The following description is presented to enable oneof ordi-
`nary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is
`provided in the context ofa patent application andits require-
`ments. Various modifications to the preferred embodiment
`and the generic principles and features described herein will
`be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the
`presentinvention is not intended to be limited to the embodi-
`ment shownbutis to be accorded the widest scope consistent
`with the principles and features described herein.
`[0035]
`FIG. 1is a computer system 100 that may function
`as a basic computer in implementing the present invention.
`Computer system 100 includes a central processing unit
`(CPU) 105, such as one ofthe PDA(personaldigital assistant)
`microprocessors, PC microprocessors or workstations, e.g.
`Intel™ PXA270 312 MHz processor used in a Treo™ 650
`portable electronic device or other microprocessoror micro-
`controller or controller,
`is provided and interconnected to
`various other components by a system bus 110. An operating
`system 115 runs on CPU 105, providescontrol and is used to
`coordinate the function ofthe various componentsof FIG.1.
`Operating system 115 maybe one ofthe commercially avail-
`able operating systems such as the Palm OSavailable from
`PalmSource, Inc.; Microsoft’s Windows, as well as UNIX
`and AIX operating systems, and the like. One or more appli-
`cation programs 120, controlled by the system, are moved
`into and out of a main memory RAM 125. These programs
`include the program of the present invention to be subse-
`quently described in combination with local or wide-area
`network systems, such as for example, the Internet. A read
`only memory (ROM) 130 is connected to CPU 105 via bus
`110 and includesthe Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) that
`controls the basic computer functions. RAM 125, an I/O
`adapter 135 and a communications adapter 138 arealso inter-
`connectedto system bus 110. I/O adapter 135 may be a Small
`Computer System Interface (SCSI) adapter that communi-
`cates with a disk storage device 140. Communications
`
`16
`
`16
`
`

`

`US 2008/0133551 Al
`
`Jun. 5, 2008
`
`
`
`adapter 135 interconnects bus 110 with an outside network
`enabling the data processing system to communicate with
`other such systems over a Local Area Network (LAN) or
`Wide Area Network (WAN), which includes, of course, the
`Internet, the WEB,intranets, extranets, and other public and
`private networks. The terms associated with the network are
`meantto be generally interchangeable and are so used in the
`present description of the distribution network. I/O devices
`are also connected to system bus 110 via a user interface
`adapter 145 and a display adapter 150. A keyboard 155 and a
`pointing device (e.g., mouse 160 or ajoystick, remote keypad,
`game controller, stylus, button navigations system, or the
`like) are all interconnected to bus 110 through user interface
`adapter 145. Display adapter 150 includesa framebuffer 165,
`whichis a storage device that holds a representation of each
`pixel on a monitor or display screen 170. Images may be
`stored in framebuffer 165for display on monitor 170 through
`various components,suchasa digital to analog converter (not
`shown) and the like. By using the aforementioned I/O
`devices, a user is capable of inputting information to the
`system through the keyboard 155 (or other input device) or
`mouse 160 (or other pointing system) and receiving output
`information from the systemvia display 170. The system also
`contains amemorycache 175 whichis illustrated as a dashed
`line outline andincludesa portion 180 ofa disk storage drive
`140 and a portion 185 of RAM125.
`[0036] As noted above, preferred embodiments of the
`present invention may use a wide range of computing sys-
`tems. Oneparticular embodimentis mostpreferred, namely a
`use of one or more wireless-network-connected electronic
`
`devices(e.g., portable or mobile computing system) in com-
`munication with a server application and optionally one or
`more desktop/workstation personal computers. Client appli-
`cations are supportedbythe electronic device and communi-
`cate via a wireless network connection, as described in more
`detail herein. An example of a suitable portable electronic
`device is represented by a Treo 650 smartphone available
`from Palm, Inc. (http:/Awww-palm.com) and other similar
`devices. While the present invention contemplates use of
`virtually anysuitable network-compatible computing system
`having a display of reasonable resolution and color depth
`(preferably color) such as, to simplify the discussion the
`computing system described in the preferred embodiments
`will be the Treo 650-type device. Whena qualityofthe screen
`is poor (e.g., a relatively few number ofcolors or limited
`resolution) or when a bandwidth of the network communica-
`tions is limited, the quality of the experience is also more
`limited than would be the case with improved display and/or
`bandwidth. In some embodiments and implementations, cli-
`ent applications, or server functions when present, may con-
`vert content from one system to another in an appropriate
`form/format.
`
`[0037] The Treo™ 650 smartphone from Palm, Inc. com-
`bines a compact wireless mobile phone with email, organizer
`features, messaging, and web access. Also included is Blue-
`tooth® technologyso a user mayconnect wirelessly to other
`Bluetooth devices. Additional
`features include an MP3
`player, a digital camera that captures video, and a color screen
`thatis responsiveto a stylus for controlling the system (alter-
`natively a keypad mayalso be used for a system interface)—
`all in a devicethatis still small enoughtofit in a pocket of the
`user. In some implementations, a “smartphone” implementa-
`
`tion is not necessary by adapting the user interface elements
`consistent with the input and display features of the portable
`electronic device.
`
`[0038] Additionallyto simplify the following discussion,it
`is noted that the present invention contemplates use on many
`different communications networks, both public andprivate.
`In some implementations, multiple different types ofnetwork
`systems may be used together, and the server may, for
`example, bridge different communications networks and
`translate/convert between different protocols/formats to
`exchange messages between the devices and to exchange
`communications with any device. In the following example,
`use of the Internet accessed through wireless access points
`using is described as the preferred embodiment though other
`configurations are within the scopeof the present invention.
`[0039] Before going furtherinto details of specific embodi-
`ments, set forth below is a general perspective of the various
`elements and methods that maybe related to the present
`invention. Since a major aspect of the present invention is
`directed to network communications, preferably Internet
`communications using Internet and/or Web protocols, and
`use of data messaging similar to access of Web pages, an
`understanding of such networks and their operating prin-
`ciples may be helpful. The following does not go into great
`detail in describing the networks to which the present inven-
`tion is applicable. For details on Web nodes, objects andlinks,
`reference is madeto the text, Mastering the Internet, G. H.
`Cady etal., published by Sybex Inc., Alameda, Calif., 1996;
`or the text, Internet: The Complete Reference, Millennium
`Edition, Margaret Young etal., Osborne/McGraw-Hill, Ber-
`keley, Calif, 1999. Any data communication system that
`interconnectsorlinks computer controlled systems with vari-
`ous sites defines a communications network. Of course, the
`Internet or Webis a global network of a heterogeneous mix of
`computer technologies and operating systems. Higher level
`objects are linked to the lower level