System for Managing, Storing and Providing Shared Digital Content to Users in a User Relationship Defined Group in a Multi-Platform Environment

Abstract

A system for managing, storing and providing shared digital content to a group of users in a multi-platform environment, comprising a cloud storage component configured to store digital content items that are shared by members in a user relationship defined group, and a cloud service component configured to provide one of the digital content items to a first platform for a first member of the user relationship defined group in a format suitable for the first platform and to a second platform for a second member of the user relationship defined group in a format suitable for the second platform, wherein the first platform and the second platform are different platforms.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A user device comprising:
 a processor configured to cause the user device to join a family space, the family space providing access rights to digital content purchased by family members of the family space;   a transmitter coupled to the processor and configured to transmit a request to an administrator of the family space for purchase of user specified digital content; and   a receiver coupled to the processor and configured to receive the user specified digital content upon approval for the purchase by the administrator of the family space.   
     
     
         2 . The user device of  claim 1 , wherein the user specified digital content is specified by a family member designated as a child, and wherein the administrator providing approval for the purchase is a parent of the child. 
     
     
         3 . The user device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to obtain access to a shared calendar of at least one of the family members of the family space. 
     
     
         4 . The user device of  claim 1 , wherein the user device is configured to join the family space by receiving a notification of an update to the family space, the update adding a child user account as one of the family members of the family space. 
     
     
         5 . The user device of  claim 4 , wherein the user device receives access rights to all selected shareable digital content purchased by family members of the family space after receiving the update adding the child user account to the family space. 
     
     
         6 . A method implemented in a user device comprising:
 transmitting a request for creation of a family space on a server in response to input by an administrator of the family space, the family space providing access rights to digital content purchased by family members of the family space;   receiving a purchase request from a family member of the family space, the purchase request requesting purchase of specified digital content; and   transmitting an approval of the purchase of the specified digital content to direct payment.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the purchase request is received from a child family member via the family space, and wherein the approval is transmitted in response to receiving input from a parent of the child acting as the administrator. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising obtaining access to a shared calendar of at least one of the family members of the family space. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising transmitting a message to the family space to initiate an addition of a child of the administrator as one of the family members of the family space. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising receiving access rights to all selected shareable digital content purchased by each family member of the family space. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the approval causes delivery of the specified digital content to the family member of the family space. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 creating a family space in a cloud service, the family space providing access rights to digital assets purchased by family members of the family space;   adding a plurality of family members to the family space, such that the family space is accessible by the added family members; and   upon addition of a family member of the family space, providing one or more lists of digital assets available to the family member;   upon request of the family member, transmitting one or more requested digital assets to the family member; and   providing a shared payment account for family purchases.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of family members comprise an administrator. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein transmitting at least one available digital asset to the family member comprises:
 transmitting a first portion of the available digital asset to the family member on a first device;   receiving an indication from the first device that viewing of the available digital asset is paused; and   transmitting a second portion of the available digital asset to the family member on a second device,   wherein the second portion is a continuation of the first portion.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising providing a license for an available digital asset to the first family member, wherein the license renders a licensed digital asset as available for a predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising providing a license for an available digital asset to the first family member, wherein the license renders a licensed digital asset as available for a predetermined number of downloads. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising providing a license for an available digital asset to the first family member, wherein the license renders a licensed digital asset as available for a predetermined number of installations. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising synchronizing a calendar of a first device associated with at least one family member with a calendar of a second device associated with at least one family member. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each family member is associated with at least one user device, and wherein transmitting at least one of the available digital assets to the family member comprises transmitting the available digital assets to a user device associated with the family member. 
     
     
         20 . A user device comprising:
 a transmitter configured to transmit a first message to request to create a family space in a cloud service, the family space providing access rights to digital assets purchased by family members of the family space, wherein the user device is associated with an administrator of the family space, wherein digital assets purchased by family members of the family space are charged to a shared family payment account related to the administrator; and   a processor coupled to the transmitter and configured to cause the transmitter to transmit a second message to initiate an addition of at least one family member to the family space.   
     
     
         21 . The user device of  claim 20 , wherein the digital assets comprise music, video content, ebooks, or digital applications. 
     
     
         22 . The user device of  claim 20 , further comprising a receiver coupled to the processor, the receiver configured to receive purchase request from a child family member via the family space, the purchase request requesting purchase of a specified digital content, wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit an approval of the purchase of the specified digital content to direct payment for the purchase. 
     
     
         23 . The user device of  claim 20 , wherein the user device is further configured to obtain access to a shared calendar of at least one of the family members of the family space. 
     
     
         24 . The user device of  claim 20 , further comprising a receiver coupled to the processor, the receiver configured to receive a second portion of an available digital asset from the family space, wherein the second portion of the available digital asset is a continuation of a first portion of the available digital asset presented to another user device associated with one of the family members. 
     
     
         25 . The user device of  claim 20 , wherein the family members are associated by a common class in a school, by employment by a common enterprise, by residence in a common residential neighborhood, or by membership in a common online social media group.