Linking users into live social networking interactions based on the users' actions relative to similar content
A system and method that uses interne 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.
1. A method for associating network-linked users with one another based on mutually-expressed indications of interest in device-accessible content, comprising:
registering a user at a central user registry, the registering including recording at a non-transitory data storage medium information corresponding to an identity of the user;
delivering to the registered user device-executable instructions configured, when executed by processing circuitry of a device network-linked to the user registry, to enable the user to register content at a central content registry, wherein the registration of the content includes:
storing metadata of the content at a non-transitory data storage medium of the content registry, and
associating with the content a marker comprising coded instructions configured, when executed on a data processing device, to present to the user a graphical user interface (GUI) object which, when selected by the registered user, initiates a network link with another user;
detecting an action of another registered user upon content having metadata;
detecting one or more similarities between metadata of content registered by the user and the metadata of the content acted upon by the other user;
providing an interactive, network-enabled link between the registered user and the other registered user in response to selection by the registered user of the marker displayed at a display device associated with the registered user; and
opening a new window on the user's display device in response to the registered user selecting the marker, wherein:
the window includes a thumbnail representation of the content with which the marker was associated;
the new window is configured to present to the registered user and to the other registered user a representation of a three-dimensional environment; and
selecting an advertisement displayed within the three-dimensional environment, by an action of the registered user relative to the advertisement, causes the three-dimensional environment to display additional content posted by a sponsor of the advertisement.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the new window also includes a thumbnail representation of the content acted upon by the other registered user.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
causing a display device associated with the other registered user to display a same item of content that is concurrently displayed to the registered user via the PCW.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the new window also includes a representation of an advertisement posted by a sponsor of the advertisement.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the new window includes controls enabling the registered user to invite other users to join the network-enabled link between the registered user and the other registered user.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the environment includes at least one representation of a vertical surface upon which content can be displayed to the registered user.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein either of the registered user and the other registered user is represented as an avatar within the three-dimensional environment.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the new window is a persistent client window (PCW).
9. A method of marking network-accessible content for network-enabled, content-based interaction between users, comprising:
receiving via a network connection data indicating a user identity;
confirming at a central user registry that the user identity corresponds to a registered user;
receiving via the network connection metadata of a selected content item;
recording the received metadata at a central content registry; and
associating coded instructions with the selected content item, wherein the instructions are configured, when executed on a data processing device, to:
insert a user-viewable and selectable icon at a portion of the content item; and
in response to selection of the icon by the registered user or another user, to open a persistent client window (PCW) graphical user interface (GUI) at a display device associated with the registered user, wherein the PCW depicts a three-dimensional environment and includes two or more content display panes at which content can be simultaneously displayed to a user; and
providing a means for the registered user and the other user to interact via the PCW, wherein the means comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of a text messaging portion, a video messaging portion, a voice messaging portion, and suitable messaging portion controls.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the coded instructions are further configured, when executed in response to selection of the icon, to establish a network-enabled link between the registered user and the other user.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the PCW includes a depiction of the content item.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein either or both of the registered user and the other user are depicted as avatars in the PCW.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the PCW further includes one or more advertisements visibly displayed to either or both of the registered user and the other user.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more advertisements are relevant to information submitted to the central user registry by either or both of the registered user.