Digital media receiver for sharing image streams

Abstract

Some embodiments provide tools that allow a user to share content on one device with multiple other users using different devices. The content sharing tools allow the user to (1) create a shared stream that represents a set of shared content and (2) invite one or more recipients to subscribe to the shared stream. When a recipient subscribes to the shared stream, the set of content is streamed across one or more of his or her devices. In some embodiments, the content sharing tools are provided as part of an image application that executes on a digital media receiver or smart television.

Description

CLAIM OF BENEFIT TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61 / 657,806, filed Jun. 10, 2012, U.S. Provisional Application 61 / 657,883, filed Jun. 10, 2012, and U.S. Provisional Application 61 / 699,815, filed Sep. 11, 2012. U.S. Provisional Applications 61 / 657,806, 61 / 657,883, and 61 / 699,815 are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]Today, many different websites exists for sharing images. Typically, a person uses a web browser to navigate to a website. The person then logs on to the website and starts posting photos. In some cases, the person can also leave comments regarding those photos. The photos and comments may be viewed by everyone or by a group of people (e.g., friends, family, colleagues) that is associated with the person.[0003]There are a number of shortcomings with such image and comment sharing operations described above. As a first example, the person may take a photo with a smart phone having a camera. To sh...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]In the cross-platform system, each client may communicate with a control server. In some embodiments, the control server facilitates the sharing by managing control data associated with different shared photo streams. Examples of such control data include user data (e.g., a list of devices associated with a user) and photo stream data (e.g., a list of photo stream associated with the user, a list of individuals that can access a particular photo stream).

Problems solved by technology

As another example, the website might not provide any easy options to select certain people that can or cannot view a group of photos.

As such, there may be no easy way to specify a personal or mini social network that excludes one group of people (e.g., friends) while including another group of people (e.g., family).

Images