Systems and methods for managing electronic requests for photographs and multimedia content, and enabling electronic social sharing thereof

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for managing electronic requests for photographs and other multimedia content by receiving, from a first user's mobile application, a request to receive multimedia content from a second user's mobile application, adding the request to receive multimedia content from the mobile application of the second user device to a queue of pending requests associated with the second user, the queue of pending requests including any requests for multimedia content received by the mobile application of the second user device from one or more other users, and prompting a second user device to include generated or retrieved multimedia content either in response to the request or one of more of the pending requests in the queue. The first or second user mobile application may enable managing electronic requests using a user interface displaying a list of requested, sent, and/or received multimedia content.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system for managing one or more requests for multimedia content between mobile devices, the system comprising:
 a first user device configured to generate and display a first user interface enabling a first user to perform the functions of:
 inputting a request to receive, from a second user device, multimedia content that is presently unknown to the first user and that is requested to be created by the second user using the second user device, the request including an identifier of the first user device and an identifier of the second user device; and 
 receiving the multimedia content that is presently unknown to the first user and was requested to be created by the second user using the second user device, over an electronic network, 
 seeing, listening to, and/or playing the generated or retrieved multimedia content using the first user device; and 
   a second user device configured to generate and display a second user interface enabling a second user to perform the functions of:
 viewing a queue of pending requests associated with the second user device, the queue of pending requests including (1) the request from the first user to receive multimedia content that is presently unknown to the first user and that was requested to be created by the second user using the second user device, and (2) any one or more other pending requests in the queue, from users other than the first user, to receive multimedia content that was requested to be created by the second user using the second user device; 
 selecting a subset of requests from the queue of pending requests on the second user device, the subset of requests including (1) the request from the first user to receive multimedia content from the second user device, and (2) any one or more other pending requests in the queue, from users other than the first user, to receive multimedia content from the second user device; and 
 generating a multimedia content using the second user device, in response to the selected subset of pending requests. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the second user is enabled, using the second user interface on the second user device, to perform functions that further comprise:
 sending, to the first user device, the generated multimedia content in response to the selected subset of pending requests to receive multimedia content, the subset of pending requests including the request from the first user.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a server for managing one or more requests for multimedia content between mobile devices, and
 wherein the second user is enabled, using the second user interface on the second user device, to perform functions that further comprise:
 sending, to the server for managing one or more requests for multimedia content between mobile devices, the generated multimedia content in response to the selected subset of pending requests to receive multimedia content, the subset of pending requests including the request from the first user; and 
   wherein the server for managing one or more requests for multimedia content between mobile devices is configured for:
 sending the generated multimedia content, over an electronic network, to the user devices associated with the selected subset of pending requests, the user devices including the first user device. 
   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein, the server is further configured for:
 adding the request by the first user to receive multimedia content that is presently unknown to the first user and that is requested to be created by the second user to a queue of pending requests associated with the second user device,   wherein the queue of pending requests includes any requests received, from user devices other than the first user device, to receive multimedia content from the second user device, and wherein the queue also now includes the added request from the first user device to receive the multimedia content generated from the second user device.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein generating and displaying a first user interface on a first user device enables a first user to perform functions that further comprise:
 viewing notifications related to the requested, generated, sent, or received multimedia content, at least, as a list of the notifications related to requested, generated, sent, or received, multimedia content; and   wherein the second user is enabled, using the second user interface on the second user device, to perform functions that further comprise:
 viewing notifications related to the requested, generated, sent, or received multimedia content, at least, as a list of the notifications related to requested, generated, sent, or received, multimedia content. 
   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the first user interface or second user interface enables the first user or second user, respectively, to automatically arrange the list of notifications based on a chronological order, expiration of a multimedia content or request for multimedia content, the type of notification, the user device associated with a notification, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the first user interface or second user interface further enables the first user or second user, respectively, to perform the functions of one or more of:
 removing from the list of the notifications related to requested, generated, sent, or received multimedia content, any one or more notifications related to subsequent requests, by a first user device, to receive multimedia content from a second user device if the queue of pending requests associated with the second user device includes a previous request by the first user device to receive multimedia content from a second user device;   removing from the list of the notifications related to requested, generated, sent, or received multimedia content, any one or more notifications related to subsequent requests, by a first user device, to receive multimedia content from a second user device if the queue of pending requests associated with the second user device includes a previous request by the first user device to receive multimedia content from a second user device;   removing from the list of the notifications related to requested, generated, sent, or received multimedia content, any one or more notifications related to previously sent multimedia content that was generated or retrieved by the second user device, to a first user device, in response to a request to receive multimedia content from the first user device, if the first user device has received a subsequently sent multimedia content that was generated or retrieved by the second user device, in response to a request to receive multimedia content from the first user device; or   removing from the list of the notifications related to requested, generated, sent, or received multimedia content, any one or more notifications related to previously received multimedia content that was generated or retrieved by the second user device, to a first user device, in response to a request to receive multimedia content from the first user device, if the first user device has received a subsequently sent multimedia content that was generated or retrieved by the second user device, in response to a request to receive multimedia content from the first user device.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein, enabling a user of the second user device to generate a multimedia content includes automatically generating the multimedia content using the second user device. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein, the first user interface or the second user interface is configured so that one or more of the request to receive multimedia content or a generated multimedia content received in response to a request to receive multimedia content, has an “expiration time,” or any other parameter that optionally causes the request or multimedia content to be time limited or ephemeral in nature. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein, the first user interface or the second user interface is configured so that one or more of, the request to receive multimedia content, or a generated multimedia content sent in response to a request to receive multimedia content, may be withdrawn by the user of the first user device, so as to prevent the user of the second user device from knowing of the request for multimedia content or to prevent the user of the second user device from seeing, listening to, or playing the generated or retrieved multimedia content. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising, a means to rank, sort, and/or award users of a mobile application of user device based on the most sent requests to receive multimedia content, most received requests to receive multimedia content, and how often and/or how quickly users respond to requests to receive multimedia content. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the second user interface further enables the second user to respond to a request, by the first user, to receive multimedia content created by the second user, by blocking, silencing, ignoring, delaying, and/or muting the request to receive multimedia content from the first user. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein, adding the request, by a first user, to receive multimedia content from a mobile application of a second user device to a queue of pending requests associated with the second user device, further comprises:
 checking whether a user of the first user device has seen, listened to, and/or played all multimedia content that a user of the first user device is enabled to see, listen to, and/or play, the multimedia content having been received in response to a previous request to receive multimedia content from the second user device; and   if a user of a first user device has not yet seen, listened to, and/or played all multimedia content received in response to a previous request to receive multimedia content from the second user device, preventing the addition of the request, by a first user device, to receive multimedia content from the second user device to the queue.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first user interface further enables the first user to perform the function of:
 marking the received multimedia content with one or more special designations, including, but not limited to, a “like,” a “favorite,” a “heart,” a “star,” or a “tag.”   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein generating multimedia content may include accompanying the multimedia content with a speech or thought bubble that contains, one or more of, a text, photo, video, or a sound file. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein, the speech or thought bubble may be selected from a variety of emotive bubble designs, including, but not limited to, an explosive speech or thought bubble for conveying an angry speech or thought, a heart-shaped speech or thought bubble for a flirtatious speech or thought, or a default speech or thought bubble for a default speech or thought, and
 wherein the second user interface further enables the second user to perform the selecting of the speech or thought bubble.   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein, if the multimedia content is in the form of a photograph that includes a face, the first user interface or the second user interface further enables the first user or second user, respectively, to perform one or more of the functions of:
 aligning the tail end of the speech or thought bubble to the face, using facial feature recognition; or   selecting an appropriate emotive bubble design, using facial feature recognition.   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein, the first user interface or second user interface further enables the first user or second user, respectively, to perform the function of:
 aligning the first user interface or second user interface, respectively, according to a preference of the first user or the second user, respectively, by selecting a left-handed or right-handed layout for the first user interface or second user interface, and aligning icons, zoom feature, and/or option buttons on the user interface vertically along the left or right side of the user interface, depending on whether the first user or second user selected a left-handed or right-handed layout; or   aligning the first user interface or second user interface, respectively, according to a sensed or detected handedness of the first user or the second user, respectively, by sensing or detecting, by the mobile application of the user device, the handedness of the user, and aligning icons, zoom feature, and/or option buttons on the user interface vertically along the left or right side of the user interface, depending on whether the mobile application of the user device sensed or detected a left-handedness or right-handedness, respectively.   
     
     
         39 . A computer-implemented method of managing one or more requests for multimedia content between mobile devices, the method comprising:
 generating and displaying a first user interface on a first user device, enabling a first user to perform the functions of:
 inputting a request to receive, from a second user device, multimedia content that is presently unknown to the first user and that is requested to be created by the second user using the second user device, the request including an identifier of the first user device and an identifier of the second user device; 
 receiving the multimedia content that is presently unknown to the first user and was requested to be created by the second user using the second user device, over an electronic network; and 
 seeing, listening to, and/or playing the generated or retrieved multimedia content using the first user device; and 
   generating and displaying a second user interface on a second user device, enabling a second user to perform the functions of:
 viewing a queue of pending requests associated with the second user device, the queue of pending requests including (1) the request from the first user to receive multimedia content that is presently unknown to the first user and that was requested to be created by the second user using the second user device, and (2) any one or more other pending requests in the queue, from users other than the first user, to receive multimedia content that was requested to be created by the second user using the second user device; 
 selecting a subset of requests from the queue of pending requests on the second user device, the subset of requests including (1) the request from the first user to receive multimedia content from the second user device, and (2) any one or more other pending requests in the queue, from users other than the first user, to receive multimedia content from the second user device; and 
 generating a multimedia content using the second user device, in response to the selected subset of pending requests. 
   
     
     
         40 . A non-transitory computer readable medium for use on a computer system containing computer-executable programming instructions for managing one or more requests for multimedia content between mobile devices, the method comprising:
 generating and displaying a first user interface on a first user device, enabling a first user to perform the functions of:
 inputting a request to receive, from a second user device, multimedia content that is presently unknown to the first user and that is requested to be created by the second user using the second user device, the request including an identifier of the first user device and an identifier of the second user device; 
 receiving the multimedia content that is presently unknown to the first user and was requested to be created by the second user using the second user device, over an electronic network; and 
 seeing, listening to, and/or playing the generated or retrieved multimedia content using the first user device; and 
   generating and displaying a second user interface on a second user device, enabling a second user to perform the functions of:
 viewing a queue of pending requests associated with the second user device, the queue of pending requests including (1) the request from the first user to receive multimedia content that is presently unknown to the first user and that was requested to be created by the second user using the second user device, and (2) any one or more other pending requests in the queue, from users other than the first user, to receive multimedia content that was requested to be created by the second user using the second user device; 
 selecting a subset of requests from the queue of pending requests on the second user device, the subset of requests including (1) the request from the first user to receive multimedia content from the second user device, and (2) any one or more other pending requests in the queue, from users other than the first user, to receive multimedia content from the second user device; and 
 generating a multimedia content using the second user device, in response to the selected subset of pending requests.