Method and system for sharing digital media content
Methods and systems for generating and sharing media clips are described. Consistent with some embodiments, while a selection of digital media content (e.g., a movie, television program, audio track, and so on) is being presented at a media player, a user creates one or more sets of waypoints (e.g., time markers) that define the boundaries (e.g., beginning and end) of one or more media clips. These waypoints are communicated from one media player device to another, enabling the receiving media player device to retrieve and play back the media clips from a source other than the media player device where the waypoints were generated.
1. A method comprising:
at a first media player device, receiving from a second media player device a first waypoint pair, a second waypoint pair, and a content identifier, the first and second waypoint pairs each comprising a first waypoint defining a beginning point of a media clip and a second waypoint defining the ending point of the media clip, the content identifier identifying a selection of digital media content to which the waypoint pair relates and identifying a content source from which the content can be requested;
at the first media player device, receiving from the second media player device metadata information, the metadata information including an indication to concatenate media clips defined by the first and second waypoint pairs
displaying a plurality of content sources from which the content identified by the content identifier can be requested, the plurality of content sources presented so as to indicate the content source identified by the content identifier;
receiving a user-selection of one content source from the plurality of displayed content sources;
communicating the waypoint pair, the content identifier, and the metadata to a content source corresponding with the user-selection along with a content request;
receiving from the content source data representing a concatenation of at least two media clips extracted from the selection of digital media content identified by the content identifier in accordance with the first and second waypoint pairs; and
presenting the media clip at the first media player device.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving from the second media player device a content source identifier identifying a content source from which the content identified by the content identifier can be requested, wherein the content source to which the content request is communicated is the content source identified by the content source identifier.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein communicating the first and second waypoint pairs and the content identifier to a content source along with a content request occurs subsequent to determining that the selection of digital media content identified by the content identifier is not locally accessible.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein subsequent to receiving the first and second waypoint pairs and the content identifier, displaying a notification indicating that a media clip has been shared, the notification including information identifying a person who has shared media clip.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in addition to the first and second waypoint pairs and the content identifier, receiving from the second media player device a media clip generated with an audio or video capturing device of the second media player and an indication that the media clip generated with the audio or video capturing device is related to the first and second waypoint pairs and the content identifier.
6. A method comprising:
at a first media player device, receiving from a second media player device a first waypoint pair, a second waypoint pair, and a content identifier, the first and second waypoint pairs each comprising a first waypoint defining a beginning point of a media clip and a second waypoint defining the ending point of the media clip, the content identifier identifying a selection of digital media content to which the waypoint pair relates;
at the first media player device, receiving from the second media player device metadata information, the metadata information including an indication to concatenate media clips defined by the first and second waypoint pairs;
using a content source selection algorithm to determine a content source from which to request content identified by the content identifier, the content source selection algorithm to determine that the content identified by the content identifier is not stored locally at the first media player device, and upon making the determination that the content is not stored locally, communicate the waypoint pair, the content identifier, and the metadata to a default content source along with a content request;
receiving from the default content source data representing a concatenation of at least two media clips extracted from the selection of digital media content identified by the content identifier in accordance with the first and second waypoint pairs; and
presenting the media clip at the first media player device.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
receiving from the second media player device a content source identifier identifying a content source from which the content identified by the content identifier can be requested, wherein the default content source to which the content request is communicated is the content source identified by the content source identifier.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein subsequent to receiving the first and second waypoint pairs and the content identifier, displaying a notification indicating that a media clip has been shared, the notification including information identifying a person who has shared media clip.
9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
in addition to the first and second waypoint pairs and the content identifier, receiving from the second media player device a media clip generated with an audio or video capturing device of the second media player device.
10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the metadata information further includes information on transitions to be provided between media clips in the concatenation of the at least two media clips.
11. A method comprising: at a first media player device, receiving from a second media player device a waypoint pair, the second media player device metadata information, and a content identifier, the waypoint pair consisting of a first waypoint defining a beginning point of a media chip and a second waypoint defining the ending point of the media chip, the content identifier identifying a selection of digital media content to which the waypoint pair relates and identifying a content source from which the digital media content can be requested, the metadata information including an indication to concatenate media chips defined by the waypoint pair;
receiving a user-selection of one content source from a plurality of displayed content sources;
determining that the selection of digital media content identified by the content source is stored and accessible locally at the first media player device;
accessing the locally stored selection of digital media content identified by the content identifier;
generating a media clip by extracting a portion of the selection of digital media content defined by the waypoint pair; and
presenting the media clip at the first media player device.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein subsequent to receiving the waypoint pair, the metadata information and the content identifier, displaying a notification indicating that a media chip has been shared, the notification including information identifying a person who has shared media chip.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
in addition to the waypoint pair and the content identifier, receiving from the second media player device a media clip generated with an audio or video capturing device of the second media player.