Method and Apparatus for Transferring Digital Content between Mobile Devices Using a Computing Cloud

1 . A method of transferring digital content, comprising:

sending metadata from a first mobile device to a computing cloud, wherein the metadata is associated with a piece of digital content and the computing cloud comprises a content store;

searching for the digital content in the content store using at least part of the metadata;

sending the digital content from the computing cloud to a second mobile device.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the digital content comprises audio content.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the digital content comprises video content.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of sending metadata occurs over a wireless network.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of sending the digital content occurs over a wireless network.

6 . A method of transferring digital content, comprising:

sending metadata from a first mobile device to a computing cloud, wherein the metadata is associated with a piece of digital content;

sending the metadata from the computing cloud to a second mobile device;

storing the metadata on the second mobile device;

requesting, using the second mobile device, the digital content from the computing cloud; and

sending the digital content from the computing cloud to the second mobile device.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

storing the digital content on the second mobile device.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the metadata comprises a digital fingerprint for the piece of digital content.

9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the metadata comprises a title of the piece of digital content.

10 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the first mobile device is coupled to the computing cloud over a wireless network.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the second mobile device is coupled to the computing cloud over a wireless network.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the wireless network is a 3G network.

13 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

determining ownership rights of the digital content.

14 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the digital content comprises audio content.

15 . A computing cloud, comprising:

a server configured to receive metadata from a first mobile device, wherein the metadata is associated with a piece of digital content, wherein the server comprises a content store and is further configured to:

send the metadata to a second mobile device, and

send the digital content to the second mobile device from the content store in response to a request from the second mobile device.

16 . The computing cloud of claim 15 , wherein the metadata comprises a title of the piece of digital content.

17 . The computing cloud of claim 15 , wherein the first mobile device is coupled to the computing cloud over a wireless network.

18 . The computing cloud of claim 15 , wherein the second mobile device is coupled to the computing cloud over a wireless network.

19 . The computing cloud of claim 15 , wherein the server is further configured to determine ownership rights of the digital content.

20 . The computing cloud of claim 15 , wherein the digital content comprises audio content.