Sharing on-line media experiences

Abstract

A lead user may share an on-line media content experience with one or more followers by identifying content of interest being experienced on the lead user system, identifying one or more followers with whom to share the content of interest, inviting the followers to experience the content of interest, and enabling the followers to access the content of interest.

1 . A computer implemented method for enabling a lead user to share an on-line media content experience with one or more followers, the method comprising:
 identifying content of interest being experienced on a lead user system;   identifying one or more followers with whom to share the content of interest;   inviting the followers to experience the content of interest; and   enabling the followers to access the content of interest.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein identifying the content of interest comprises detecting streaming media content. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein identifying the content of interest comprises automatically identifying the content at the lead user system. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein identifying content of interest comprises receiving an indication that content of interest is being experienced on the lead user system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein identifying one or more followers comprises selecting the one or more followers from a list of followers. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein selecting the one or more followers comprises selecting the one or more followers based on a matching between the content and an interest of the follower. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein selecting the one or more followers comprises selecting the one or more followers at the lead user system. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein selecting the one or more followers comprises selecting the one or more followers by a host system. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein inviting comprises generating a personalized invitation for one or more of the followers. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein inviting comprises automatically generating an invitation at the lead user system. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein inviting comprises automatically generating an invitation by a host system. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising sending an invitation using one of an instant message, a chat room, and an e-mail message. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising sending an invitation without user intervention in a machine-to-machine communication. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising receiving an indication of acceptance of an invitation by the followers. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein enabling the followers to access the content of interest comprises enabling the followers to access the content of interest automatically based upon a machine-to-machine communication without intervention by a follower. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing an indication to the lead user of whether the followers are experiencing the on-line media experience of the lead user. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing an indication to the follower of whether the follower is sharing the on-line media experience of the lead user. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 identifying the content of interest comprises identifying a change in the content of interest being experienced on the lead user system; identifying one or more followers comprises identifying one or more updated followers with whom to share the changed content of interest; and 
 
       enabling the followers to access the content of interest comprises enabling the updated followers access the changed content of interest. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein identifying the change in content of interest comprises having the lead user system automatically detect the change in content. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein identifying the change in content of interest comprises receiving an indication that changed content of interest is being experienced on the lead user system. 
     
     
         21 .- 51 . (canceled)