File sharing system and method

Abstract

According to the present application, systems, devices and methods for sharing media files may promote sharing of media without the need for the media to be first moved or copied to a storage repository. Such systems, devices and methods for sharing media may further enable lists of files to be shared and responses to be delivered to the media owner during playback by a user. A local device may be utilized to enable the storing and sharing of media that is hosted off the cloud. Streaming from the file sharing system or the local device is facilitated through the system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A file sharing system for sharing a plurality of files, the file sharing system comprising:
 one or more user storage devices storing one or more first files comprising a first subset of the plurality of files; and   one or more servers storing one or more second files comprising a second subset of the plurality of files, the one or more servers configured to:
 receive a file selection identifying the one or more first files and the one or more second files; 
 receive one or more permissions for the one or more first files and the one or more second files in the file selection; and 
 send one or more links to one or more recipients, the one or more links identifying the one or more first files and the one or more second files in the file selection and the one or more user storage devices or the one or more servers where the one or more first files and the one or more second files are stored; 
   wherein access is provided to the one or more first files identified in the file sharing selection without moving or copying the one or more first files to the one or more servers;   wherein access is provided to the one or more first files and the one or more second files according to the one or more permissions.   
     
     
         2 . The file sharing system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more permissions provide distinct access for at least one of the one or more first files and the one or more second files. 
     
     
         3 . The file sharing system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more permissions provide distinct access for at least one of the one or more recipients. 
     
     
         4 . The file sharing system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more permissions are terminated after the one or more links are sent to the one or more recipients. 
     
     
         5 . The file sharing system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more permissions are changed after the one or more links are sent to the one or more recipients. 
     
     
         6 . The file sharing system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more permissions provide download or read only access. 
     
     
         7 . The file sharing system of  claim 6 , further comprising presenting a viewer for displaying one or more files in the file selection when the one or more permissions provide read only access. 
     
     
         8 . A file sharing system for sharing a plurality of files, the file sharing system comprising:
 one or more first data storage devices storing one or more first files comprising a first subset of the plurality of files; and   one or more second data storage devices storing one or more second files comprising a second subset of the plurality of files, the one or more second data storage devices configured to:
 receive a file selection identifying the one or more first files and the one or more second files; 
 send one or more links to one or more recipients, the one or more links identifying the one or more first files and the one or more second files in the file selection and the one or more first data storage devices or the one or more second data storage devices where the one or more first files and the one or more second files are stored; 
   wherein access is provided to the one or more first files identified in the file sharing selection without moving or copying the one or more first files to the one or more second data storage devices;   wherein access is provided to the one or more first files and the one or more second files according to one or more permissions.   
     
     
         9 . The file sharing system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more second data storage devices receive the one or more permissions for the one or more first files and the one or more second files in the file selection. 
     
     
         10 . The file sharing system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more permissions provide distinct access for at least one of the one or more first files and the one or more second files. 
     
     
         11 . The file sharing system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more permissions provide distinct access for at least one of the one or more recipients. 
     
     
         12 . The file sharing system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more permissions are terminated after the one or more links are sent to the one or more recipients. 
     
     
         13 . The file sharing system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more permissions are changed after the one or more links are sent to the one or more recipients. 
     
     
         14 . The file sharing system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more permissions provide download or read only access. 
     
     
         15 . The file sharing system of  claim 14 , further comprising presenting a viewer for displaying one or more files in the file selection when the one or more permissions provide read only access. 
     
     
         16 . A method for sharing a plurality of files with a file sharing system, the method comprising:
 storing one or more first files comprising a first subset of the plurality of files at one or more user storage devices;   storing one or more second files comprising a second subset of the plurality of files at one or more server devices;   receiving a file selection identifying the one or more first files and the one or more second files at the one or more server devices;   sending one or more links to one or more recipients, the one or more links identifying the one or more first files and the one or more second files in the file selection and the one or more user storage devices or the one or more servers where the one or more first files and the one or more second files are stored;   providing access to the one or more first files identified in the file sharing selection without moving or copying the one or more first files to the one or more servers;   wherein access is provided to the one or more first files and the one or more second files according to one or more permissions.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more permissions are terminated after the one or more links are sent to the one or more recipients. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more permissions are changed after the one or more links are sent to the one or more recipients. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more permissions provide download or read only access. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising presenting a viewer for displaying one or more files in the file selection when the one or more permissions provide read only access.