Linking users into live social networking interactions based on the users actions relative to similar content

Abstract

A system and method that uses internet content and/or content metadata as a means to establish social networks. Examples include linking internet users, searchers, viewers and/or listeners of the same and/or similar internet content to each other via a platform that enables any of the following in n-dimensional environments: social networking, communications, sharing, e-commerce, advertising, search, hosting and registry services, push and pull applications, anonymous communications, and rich presence.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for linking a first user of a mobile computing device into a live social network with a second user based on engagement by the first user and the second user with similar content, comprising:
 receiving from a first user's mobile computing device a request to connect with a server-hosted social network;   receiving from the first user's mobile computing device data indicating characteristics of content that is either stored on a non-transitory first storage medium of the first user's mobile computing device or that has been engaged with remotely by the first user via the mobile computing device;   determining that content engaged with by a second user is similar to the content that is either stored on the first storage medium or that has been engaged with remotely by the first user; and   linking the first user and the second user into a live social interaction within the social network.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing to the user coded instructions configured, when executed by a processor of the first user's mobile computing device, to cause a transmitter of the mobile computing device to transmit via a wireless signal the request to connect with the social network.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the user coded instructions are further configured, when executed by a processor of the first user's mobile computing device, to present to the first user a graphical user interface (GUI). 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the providing the coded instruction to the user comprises either of transmitting the instructions to the user's mobile computing device via a wireless signal or physically conveying to the first user a non-transitory second data storage medium at which are stored the coded instructions. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a capability for the first user and the second user to concurrently perceive content engaged with by either of the first user and the second user.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a mechanism configured when selected to enable the user and the second user to interact relative to the concurrently perceived content, wherein the interacting includes one or more of a verbal interaction, a visual interaction, and a textual messaging interaction.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the GUI presents to the first user a three-dimensional environment including at least a first content viewing portion displaying content with which the first user is engaged. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the three dimensional environment further includes at least a second content viewing portion displaying content with which the second user is engaged. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first user's mobile computing device is a telephone including a transmitter configured to transmit the request via one or more wireless signal technologies selected from the group consisting of satellite, cellular, WiFi, and Bluetooth. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a visual representation of either or both of the first user and the second user is depicted within the three-dimensional environment of the GUI. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 conveying an invitation from the first user to a third user to join into the social networking interaction between the first user and the second user.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein content similarity is determined based on similarity of metadata of the content engaged with by the second user to metadata of the content that is either stored on a non-transitory first storage medium of the first user's mobile computing device or that has been engaged with remotely by the first user. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 viewably depicting advertising content within the three dimensional environment.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the GUI is a persistent client window (PCW) including a content display portion, and further including one or more user-selectable controls configured, when selected by the first user, to affect playback of content displayed at the content display portion. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 registering unregistered content in response to detecting selection and placement of the unregistered content into the PCW by the first user.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the GUI is configured to alternatively present to the first user any of two or more three-dimensional environments, and wherein the user can selectively interact with the second user within a first of the presented environments or with a third linked user within a second of the presented environments. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the GUI is configured to enable the first user to invite the second user to move from the first presented environment into the second presented environment. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 linking the second user to the third user within the social networking interaction in response to the second user accepting the invitation.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the content engaged in by the first user is either a part of, or is accessed by, a program executing on the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the coded instructions are further configured to visually depict to the user an indicator of relatedness between the first user, the second user, and at least one other user, wherein the depicted indicator of relatedness is based upon relative levels of similarity between the content engaged with by the second user, content engaged with by the least one other user, and the content that is either stored on the first storage medium or that has been engaged with remotely by the first user.