US20040162878A1 - System and method to facilitate real-time communications and content sharing among users over a network - Google Patents

Abstract

A system and method to facilitate real-time communications and content sharing among users over a network are described. In one preferred embodiment, multiple links to content information are dynamically generated for a sender user. Responsive to selection of a link by the sender user, the link and associated metadata information are communicated to at least one recipient user engaged in the real-time communication session with the sender user.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/428,217, filed on Nov. 22, 2002 and entitled “MUSICNET.”[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD
• The invention relates generally to the field of network-based communications and, more particularly, to a system and method to facilitate real-time communications and content sharing among users over a network, such as the Internet.[0002]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• The explosive growth of the Internet as a publication and interactive communication platform has created an electronic environment that is changing the way business is transacted and the way entertainment is perceived. As the Internet becomes increasingly accessible around the world, communications among users increase exponentially.[0003]
• Several attempts have been made to facilitate such network-based communications, namely to provide software packages residing on a computer and configured, for example, to acquire digital content from content providers over a network, such as the Internet, and to facilitate sharing of the digital content among the users. However, the increased popularity of some of these software packages may give rise to legal problems in the areas of ownership and protection of the acquired digital content. For example, many of the current content sharing software applications rely on anonymous usage. Thus, there is an increased risk of unauthorized use of the content in violation of content protection laws.[0004]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• A system and method to facilitate real-time communications and content sharing among users over a network are described. In one preferred embodiment, multiple links to content information are dynamically generated for a sender user. Responsive to selection of a link by the sender user, the link and associated metadata information are communicated to at least one recipient user engaged in the real-time communication session with the sender user.[0005]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary network-based content transaction and communications facility, which facilitates content sharing among users according to the invention;[0006]
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary database, maintained by and accessed via a database server, which at least partially implements and supports the network-based content transaction and communications facility according to the invention;[0007]
• FIG. 3 is an interaction diagram illustrating a sequence of interactions to facilitate real-time communications and content sharing among users over the network according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;[0008]
• FIGS.[0009]4A-E illustrate exemplary interfaces to facilitate real-time communications and content sharing among users over the network;
• FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary environment in which the interaction sequence illustrated in FIG. 3 may be employed according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;[0010]
• FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method to facilitate real-time communications and content sharing among users over a network according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and[0011]
• FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the exemplary form of a computer system within which a set of instructions may be executed.[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary network-based content transaction and[0013]communications facility10, which facilitates content sharing among users. While an exemplary embodiment of the invention is described within the context of a content transaction and communications facility, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention will find application in many different types of computer-based, and network-based, commerce facilities.
• The[0014]facility10 includes one or more of a number of types of front-end servers, namelypage servers12, which deliver web pages to multiple users, e.g. markup language documents,picture servers14, which dynamically deliver images to be displayed within the web pages,content servers16, which dynamically deliver content information to the users, such as, for example, audio and video data, processing servers in the exemplary form of Common Gateway Interface (CGI) or Internet Server Application Program Interface (ISAPI)servers18, which provide an intelligent interface to the back-end of thefacility10, andprocessing search servers20, which handle search requests to thefacility10. In addition, thefacility10 includes real-time communication servers21 that provide, inter alia, automated real-time communications, such as, for example, instant messaging (IM) functionality, to/from users of thefacility10, and electronic mail (email) servers (not shown), which provide automated email communications to/from users.
• The[0015]facility10 further includes one or more back-end servers, for example, adatabase server22, asearch indexer server24, and a creditcard database server26, each of which maintains and facilitates access to arespective database23. The network-basedcontent transaction facility10 may be accessed by aclient program30, such as a browser, e.g. the Internet Explorer browser distributed by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash., that executes on aclient machine32 and accesses thefacility10 via anetwork34, such as, for example, the Internet. Other examples of networks that a client may utilize to access thefacility10 includes a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless network, e.g. a cellular network, the Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) network, or other known networks.
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an[0016]exemplary database23, maintained by and accessed via a database server, which at least partially implements and supports the network-based content transaction andcommunications facility10. Thedatabase23 may, in one embodiment, be implemented as a relational database, and includes a number of tables having entries, or records, that are linked by indices and keys. In an alternative embodiment, thedatabase23 may be implemented as a collection of objects in an object-oriented database.
• Central to the[0017]database23 shown in FIG. 2 is a user table40, which contains records for each entity or user of thefacility10. Thedatabase23 also includes an accounts table80, which may be linked to the user table40 and may be populated with account information related to each user of the network-basedfacility10.
• The[0018]database23 may include a number of other tables, which may also be shown to be linked to the user table40, for example, tables specifically provided to enable an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. One or more content preferences tables70 are configured to store user-generated content preferences and/or selections, part of a user profile constructed and stored for each user. One or more presets tables60 are configured to store another portion of each user profile, which includes user-generated media presets, such as, for example, radio station presets accessed by each specific user and radio station presets reported as preferred by each user. One or more user groups tables50 are configured to store user-generated content group lists, each list grouping users interested in similar content, for example users interested in particular audio files and/or video files. Finally, one or more content lists tables90 are configured to store user-generated content lists, each list grouping similar content items preferred by the particular user, such as, for example, preferred audio files lists and video files lists. Prior to any communication betweenclient32 and the network-basedfacility10, each media preset and/or user preference is generated and stored in the respective tables60,70. In one embodiment, each user has continuous access to the user profile and may modify at anytime the content preferences, the media presets, the content group lists, and the content lists.
• FIG. 3 is an interaction diagram illustrating a sequence[0019]100 of interactions to facilitate real-time communications and content sharing among users, in the exemplary form of a sender user101 and a recipient user102. FIGS.4A-4E illustrate exemplary interfaces to facilitate real-time communications and content sharing among users over the network. While the sequence100 describes a client-server environment, whereby communications between the sender and recipient users101 and102 are facilitated by, or performed through, the network-basedfacility10, it will also be appreciated that the teachings of the invention may be applied to a peer-to-peer environment, whereby the users101 and102 communicate directly and not through thefacility10, or may be applied to a client-server environment functioning over another real-time communications network.
• As illustrated in FIG. 3, in one embodiment, the sequence[0020]100 commences at block105 with selection by the sender user101 of a recipient user102 and a request to initiate a real-time communication session with the recipient user102, such as, for example, an instant messaging (IM) communication session. The recipient user102 may be selected, in one embodiment, with a conventional mouse click command from a user list, such as, for example, a drop-down list or a menu list, the list containing multiple users and user groups available to participate in the real-time communication session with the sender user101, for example online users capable of exchanging IM messages. Thefacility10 uses thesearch servers20 to locate and to retrieve the users and the user groups from the respective user table40 and user groups tables50, and further generates and displays the user list specifically for the sender user101. Alternatively, the user list may also include content lists stored in the content lists tables90 and generated by each one of the users available to communicate in real-time with the sender user101, if those users have made their content lists available for sharing. Subsequently, the sender user101 may select a desired content list and request content information from the respective user associated with the selected content list.
• In an alternate embodiment, the sender user[0021]101 receives content, such as audio/video data, from thefacility10 in a content player, such as, for example, the Windows Media Player available from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. Responsive to a conventional right-click mouse command, the user list described above may be displayed in a window for the sender user101 to facilitate real-time communication of the content to the recipient user102. Alternatively, using a genre or artist associated with the received content, thefacility10 filters the user list of potential recipients to show only the users or user groups who have demonstrated a preference for that genre, potentially by having made a purchase, or by a download or stream operation of similar content belonging to the same genre or artist. The sender user101 further selects the recipient user102 from the filtered user list. In yet another alternate embodiment, the sender user101 may select a recipient user group from the user list and may request initiation of a real-time communication session with each user of the recipient user group that is available for real-time communications with the sender user101.
• At[0022]block110, thefacility10 initiates the real-time communication session between the sender user101 and the recipient user102 and displays a message window for the sender user101 in a user interface area. Referring to FIG. 4A, in one embodiment, theuser interface area401 presented to the sender user101 further includes themessage window402, such as, for example, an IM message window, and a number of command buttons, including acontent sharing button403, a Send button404 to send the message to the recipient user102, and aClose button405 to close theuser interface area401.
• As illustrated in FIG. 3, at[0023]block115, the sender user101 selects thecontent sharing button403 in theuser interface area401 to request content information from thefacility10. Referring to FIG. 4A, in one embodiment, theuser interface area401 facilitates selection of thecontent sharing button403 with a conventional mouse click command and facilitates communication of the request to thefacility10.
• As illustrated in FIG. 3, at[0024]block120, thefacility10 uses thesearch servers20 to conduct a search of the presets tables60 and the content preferences tables70 to locate and retrieve the user profile of the sender user101, specifically the user-generated content preferences and media presets, if any. In an alternate embodiment, the search further extends to local directories of theclient machine32 of the sender user101 for locally stored content, such as audio and/or video files designated to be shared with other users.
• At block[0025]125, thefacility10 dynamically generates multiple links to content information based on the retrieved content preferences and media presets of the sender user101. For example, in one embodiment, if the sender user101 has programmed media presets, such as radio station presets, but has not generated any content preferences, thefacility10 generates links for the media presets and, if necessary, generates additional links corresponding to its recommendations, based, for example, on the popularity of the content suggested. Alternatively, if the sender user101 has generated both content preferences and media presets, thefacility10 generates an equal number of links for the content preferences and for the media presets. In yet another alternate embodiment, if the sender user101 has generated content preferences, but not media presets, thefacility10 generates links for the content preferences and, if necessary, generates additional links corresponding to its recommendations. Finally, if the sender user101 has not programmed either the content preferences or the media presets, thefacility10 generates multiple links based on its content suggestions or based on a profile of the sender user101 built by thefacility10 and based on frequency of access of the content data.
• Similarly, in an alternate embodiment, the[0026]facility10 may dynamically generate links to other content information designated by the sender user101 as available for sharing, such as, for example, locally stored content, stored pictures, images, or other types of content information.
• At[0027]block130, the generated links and associated metadata are displayed in a content window for the sender user101. Referring to FIG. 4B, in one embodiment, acontent window406 is presented to the sender user101, thecontent window406 displaying the facility-generated links to content information. Thecontent window406 further includes a pair of command icons corresponding to each displayed link, for example a Watch (for video data), Listen (for audio data), or Audio (for a radio station preset)icon407 and aShare icon408, actionable through a conventional mouse click command. Thecontent window406 facilitates selection of an option to play the respective content in a corresponding media player viaicons407, or, respectively, an option to share the content with the recipient user102 via theShare icon408. In an alternate embodiment, if links to other types of content information are dynamically generated and displayed for the sender user101, appropriate command icons may be provided in thecontent window406 to facilitate options to access the content with respective content viewers or players or to share it with other users.
• As illustrated in FIG. 3, at block[0028]135, the sender user101 selects a link to be transmitted to the recipient user102 through a mouse click on theShare icon408 of the respective link. Atblock140, the selected link is automatically inserted in themessage window402. Referring to FIG. 4C, thefacility10 automatically inserts the selected link and its associated metadata into themessage window402. In one embodiment, the associated metadata includes data pertaining to the content information associated with the link. For example, for a link to an audio file, such as a song track, or a video file, the associated metadata includes the artist's name, the title of the song, the title of the album, and one or more images. In an alternate embodiment, the insertion of a link to locally stored content of the sender user101 would display the content file name and a request to the recipient user102 to enter into a peer-to-peer download transmission of the selected locally stored content.
• Finally, as illustrated in FIG. 3, at[0029]block145, thefacility10 automatically transmits the real-time IM message containing the selected link and associated metadata to the recipient user102. In an alternate embodiment, if the sender user101 already receives content, such as audio/video data, from thefacility10 in a content player, subsequent to the selection of a recipient user102 from the user list and the display of themessage window402 in theuser interface area401, thefacility10 automatically generates a content link to the content received by the sender user101, inserts the link in themessage window402, and transmits the content link and its associated metadata to the selected recipient user102.
• In one embodiment, the real-time IM message containing the selected link and associated metadata is communicated to the recipient user[0030]102 through thecommunication servers21 of thefacility10. Upon receipt of the message, the recipient user102 may accept the content associated with the transmitted link and subsequently download or stream the content through thecontent servers16 of thefacility10. Referring to FIG. 4D, by clicking on the link with a conventional mouse click command, the recipient user102 may open a media player window409 and download or stream the associated content.
• Alternatively, the recipient user[0031]102 may sample the associated content information for a predetermined amount of time and decide whether to accept or decline the content. In another alternate embodiment, the recipient user102 may review the metadata associated with the transmitted link and make a decision on whether to accept or decline the content. Referring to FIG. 4E, the metadata is displayed in a real-timeIM message window410 for the recipient user102 and allows the user102 to see the information associated with the content communicated by the sender user101. In one embodiment, themessage window410 further includes multiple option links, such as, for example, a Buy option link411 to facilitate purchase of the content from thefacility10, a Discuss option link412 to facilitate discussion among users related to the respective content, and a Listen to additional content option link413 to facilitate retrieval of similar content from thecontent servers16. Themessage window410 facilitates selection of an option link by the recipient user102 with a conventional mouse click command and allows real-time communication with thefacility10.
• FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary environment in which the interaction sequence illustrated in FIG. 3 may be employed. As illustrated in FIG. 5,[0032]client machines32 are shown to reside outside the context of a network-based transaction and communications facility, such as theexemplary facility10 shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, this embodiment describes an application which allows a sender user101 of aclient machine32, such as thefirst client machine32, to communicate in real-time and to share content with a recipient user102 of afurther client machine32, such as thesecond client machine32, both of which reside outside thefacility10 or any other transaction facility.
• Referring to FIG. 5, the sender user[0033]101 selects the recipient user102 in a client/browser322 that executes in thefirst client machine32 and requests a real-time communication session with the recipient user102. The recipient user102 may be selected, in one embodiment, with a conventional mouse click command from a user list containing multiple users and user groups available to communicate in real-time with the sender user101. Thesearch servers20 within thefacility10 search the user table40 and the user groups tables50 within thedatabase23 coupled to thedatabase server22 usingsearch functions205 to locate and retrieve the users and the user groups, and transmit the data to thecommunication servers21. Thecommunication servers21 use message generation functions215 andtransmission functions217 to generate and to present the user list specifically for the sender user101 in the client/browser322.
• Alternatively, the user list may also include content lists stored in the content lists tables[0034]90 and generated by each one of the users available to communicate in real-time with the sender user101, if those users have made their content lists available for sharing. Subsequently, the sender user101 may select a desired content list and request content information from the respective user associated with the selected content list. In another alternate embodiment, the sender user101 receives content, such as audio/video data, from thecontent servers16 within thefacility10 in a content player, and, responsive to a conventional right-click mouse command, the user list may be displayed for the sender user101 in a window or an interactive field within the content player. Alternatively, using the genre or artist associated with the received content, thesearch servers20 search theuser database23 and filter the user list of potential recipients to show only the users or user groups who have demonstrated a preference for that genre, potentially by having made a purchase, or by a download or stream operation of similar content belonging to the same genre or artist. The sender user101 further selects the recipient user102 from the filtered user list.
• In one embodiment, the[0035]communication servers21 initiate the real-time communication session between the sender user101 and the recipient user102 and display amessage window324, such as, for example, an IM message window, in a user interface area325 within the client/browser322. The user interface area325 facilitates communication of a request for content information to thecommunication servers21 and further to thesearch servers20 of thefacility10. Thesearch servers20 use the search functions205 to conduct a search of the presets tables60 and the content preferences tables70 within thedatabase23 in order to locate and retrieve the user profile of the sender user101, specifically the user-generated content preferences and media presets, if any. Subsequently, using the message generation functions215, thecommunication servers21 dynamically generate multiple links to content information based on the retrieved content preferences and media presets of the sender user101. Alternatively, thecommunication servers21 may dynamically generate links to other content information designated by the sender user101 as available for sharing, such as, for example, locally stored content, stored pictures, images, or other types of content information.
• Furthermore, the[0036]communication servers21 use thetransmission functions217 to display the generated links and associated metadata in a content window (not shown) in the client/browser322. The content window facilitates selection of an option to play the respective content in a corresponding media player or, respectively, an option to share the content with the recipient user102.
• In one embodiment, the sender user[0037]101 selects a link to be transmitted to the recipient user102 in themessage window324 and thefirst client machine32 communicates the link to thecommunication servers21. Thecommunication servers21 use the message generation functions215 to insert automatically the selected link and its associated metadata into themessage window324 and use thetransmission functions217 to send the real-time IM message containing the selected link and associated metadata to the recipient user102. The message is shown to be communicated to thecommunication servers21 and further to the recipient user102. Specifically, the message may be communicated, in one embodiment, as a real-time instant message or by utilizing any other transfer protocol or communication.
• In an alternate embodiment, if the sender user[0038]101 already receives content, such as audio/video data, from thecontent servers16 of thefacility10, subsequent to the selection of a recipient user102 from the user list and the display of themessage window324 in the user interface area325, thecommunication servers21 automatically generate a content link to the content received by the sender user101, insert the link in themessage window324, and transmit the link and its associated metadata to the selected recipient user102 using the transmission functions217.
• In one embodiment, the real-time IM message containing the selected link and associated metadata is communicated to the recipient user[0039]102 through thecommunication servers21 of thefacility10 and is displayed in amessage window328 within the client/browser326 of thesecond client machine32. Upon receipt of the message, the recipient user102 may accept the content associated with the transmitted link and subsequently download or stream the content through thecontent servers16 of thefacility10.
• Alternatively, the recipient user[0040]102 may sample the associated content information for a predetermined amount of time via thecontent servers16 and decide whether to accept or decline the content. In another alternate embodiment, the recipient user102 may review the metadata associated with the link and decide whether to accept or decline the content. The metadata may be displayed in themessage window328 for the recipient user102 and allows the user102 to see the information associated with the content communicated by the sender user101.
• FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method to facilitate real-time communications and content sharing among users over a network. As illustrated in FIG. 6, at processing block[0041]610, selection of the recipient user102 and a request for initiation of a real-time communication session is received from the sender user101.
• At processing block[0042]620, the communication session is initiated between the sender user101 and the recipient user102 and amessage window402 is displayed in auser interface area401 for the sender user101. At processing block630, in response to the selection of acontent sharing button403 within theuser interface area401, a user profile of the sender user101 containing user-generated content preferences and user-generated media presets is retrieved.
• At[0043]processing block640, multiple links to content information are generated based on the retrieved content preferences and media presets, and on facility-generated recommendations. At processing block650, the links and associated metadata are displayed in a content window for the sender user101.
• At[0044]processing block660, in response to selection of a link to be transmitted to the recipient user102, the selected link and its associated metadata are automatically inserted into the message window and the real-time message containing the selected link is transmitted to the recipient user102.
• FIG. 7 shows a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the exemplary form of a[0045]computer system300 within which a set of instructions, for causing the machine to perform any one of the methodologies discussed above, may be executed. In alternative embodiments, the machine may comprise a network router, a network switch, a network bridge, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a web appliance or any machine capable of executing a sequence of instructions that specify actions to be taken by that machine.
• The[0046]computer system300 includes aprocessor302, amain memory304 and astatic memory306, which communicate with each other via abus308. Thecomputer system300 may further include avideo display unit310, e.g. a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT). Thecomputer system300 also includes analphanumeric input device312, e.g, a keyboard, acursor control device314, e.g. a mouse, adisk drive unit316, asignal generation device18, e.g. a speaker, and anetwork interface device320.
• The[0047]disk drive unit316 includes a machine-readable medium324 on which is stored a set of instructions, i.e. software,326 embodying any one, or all, of the methodologies described above. Thesoftware326 is also shown to reside, completely or at least partially, within themain memory304 and/or within theprocessor302. Thesoftware326 may further be transmitted or received via thenetwork interface device320.
• It is to be understood that embodiments of this invention may be used as or to support software programs executed upon some form of processing core (such as the CPU of a computer) or otherwise implemented or realized upon or within a machine or computer readable medium. A machine readable medium includes any mechanism for storing or transmitting information in a form readable by a machine, e.g. a computer. For example, a machine readable medium includes read-only memory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); magnetic disk storage media; optical storage media; flash memory devices; electrical, optical, acoustical or other form of propagated signals, e.g. carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc.; or any other type of media suitable for storing or transmitting information.[0048]
• In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense.[0049]

Claims (55)

What is claimed is:

1. A method to facilitate exchange of content among entities during a real-time communications session over a network, said method comprising the steps of:

dynamically generating a plurality of links to content information for a sender user; and

responsive to selection of a link of said plurality of links, communicating said link and associated metadata information to at least one recipient user engaged in said real-time communication session with said sender user.

2. The method according toclaim 1, further comprising the steps of:

presenting a user list to said sender user to enable selection of said at least one recipient user, said user list containing said at least one recipient user; and

receiving said selection of said at least one recipient user and a request to initiate said real-time communication session.

3. The method according toclaim 2, wherein, prior to said selection of said at least one recipient user, said at least one recipient user is available to participate in said real-time communication session.

4. The method according toclaim 1, wherein said generating further comprises the steps of:

receiving a request for said content information from said sender user;

retrieving user-generated content preferences and user-generated media presets associated with said sender user from a user database; and

generating said plurality of links based on said user-generated content preferences, said user-generated media presets, and other content recommendations.

5. The method according toclaim 1, further comprising the steps of:

presenting said plurality of links in a content window to enable selection of said link by said sender user.

6. The method according toclaim 1, wherein said communicating further comprises the steps of:

inserting said link and said associated metadata in a real-time message displayed in a message window for said sender user; and

transmitting said real-time message to said at least one recipient user.

7. The method according toclaim 1, wherein said real-time communication session is an instant messaging communication session.

8. The method according toclaim 1, wherein said associated metadata information includes data pertaining to said content information to enable said at least one recipient user to review said data and to make a decision whether to accept or decline said content information.

9. The method according toclaim 1, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting said content information to said sender user; and

responsive to a request to communicate said content information to said at least one recipient user, generating a content link to said transmitted content information and communicating said content link and associated metadata information to said at least one recipient user.

10. The method according toclaim 2, wherein said presenting further comprises the steps of:

locating said at least one recipient user available to participate in said real-time communication session in said user database; and

retrieving said at least one recipient user to generate said user list.

11. A method to facilitate content sharing among entities during a real-time communications session over a network, said method comprising the steps of:

facilitating selection of a link to content information from a plurality of links displayed for a sender user in a content window; and

facilitating real-time communication of said link and associated metadata information to at least one recipient user engaged in said real-time communication session with said sender user.

12. The method according toclaim 11, further comprising the steps of:

presenting a user list containing said at least one recipient user to said sender user; and

facilitating selection of said at least one recipient user from said user list.

13. The method according toclaim 12, wherein, prior to said selection of said at least one recipient user, said at least one recipient user is available to participate in said real-time communication session.

14. The method according toclaim 11, wherein said real-time communication session is an instant messaging communication session.

15. The method according toclaim 11, further comprising the steps of:

facilitating initiation of said real-time communication session; and

presenting a user interface area containing a real-time message window to said sender user.

16. The method according toclaim 15, further comprising the steps of:

facilitating selection of a content sharing button in said user interface area; and

responsive to said selection, dynamically generating said plurality of links based on user-generated content preferences, user-generated media presets, and other content recommendations.

17. The method according toclaim 16, wherein generating said plurality of links further comprises the steps of:

receiving a request for said content information from said sender user; and

retrieving said user-generated content preferences and said user-generated media presets associated with said sender user from a user database.

18. The method according toclaim 11, wherein said associated metadata information includes data pertaining to said content information to enable said at least one recipient user to review said data and to make a decision whether to accept or decline said content information.

19. The method according toclaim 12, wherein presenting said user list further comprises the steps of:

locating said at least one recipient user available to participate in said real-time communication session in a user database; and

retrieving said at least one recipient user to generate said user list.

20. The method according toclaim 11, further comprising the steps of:

facilitating access to said content information by said sender user; and

responsive to said sender user accessing said content information, facilitating transmission of a request to communicate said content information to said at least one recipient user.

21. A machine-readable medium containing executable instructions, which, when executed in a processing system, cause said processing system to perform a method to facilitate exchange of content among entities during a real-time communications session over a network, said method comprising the steps of:

dynamically generating a plurality of links to content information for a sender user; and

responsive to selection of a link of said plurality of links, communicating said link and associated metadata information to at least one recipient user engaged in said real-time communication session with said sender user.

22. The machine-readable medium according toclaim 21, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

presenting a user list to said sender user to enable selection of said at least one recipient user, said user list containing said at least one recipient user; and

receiving said selection of said at least one recipient user and a request to initiate said real-time communication session.

23. The machine-readable medium according toclaim 22, wherein, prior to said selection of said at least one recipient user, said at least one recipient user is available to participate in said real-time communication session.

24. The machine-readable medium according toclaim 21, wherein said generating further comprises the steps of:

receiving a request for said content information from said sender user;

retrieving user-generated content preferences and user-generated media presets associated with said sender user from a user database; and

generating said plurality of links based on said user-generated content preferences, said user-generated media presets, and other content recommendations.

25. The machine-readable medium according toclaim 21, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

presenting said plurality of links in a content window to enable selection of said link by said sender user.

26. The machine-readable medium according toclaim 21, wherein said communicating further comprises the steps of:

inserting said link and said associated metadata in a real-time message displayed in a message window for said sender user; and

transmitting said real-time message to said at least one recipient user.

27. The machine-readable medium according toclaim 21, wherein said real-time communication session is an instant messaging communication session.

28. The machine-readable medium according toclaim 21, wherein said associated metadata information includes data pertaining to said content information to enable said at least one recipient user to review said data and to make a decision whether to accept or decline said content information.

29. The machine-readable medium according toclaim 21, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

transmitting said content information to said sender user; and

responsive to a request to communicate said content information to said at least one recipient user, generating a content link to said transmitted content information, and communicating said content link and associated metadata information to said at least one recipient user.

30. The machine-readable medium according toclaim 22, wherein said presenting further comprises the steps of:

locating said at least one recipient user available to participate in said real-time communication session in said user database; and

retrieving said at least one recipient user to generate said user list.

31. A machine-readable medium containing executable instructions, which, when executed in a processing system, cause said processing system to perform a method to facilitate exchange of content among entities during a real-time communications session over a network, said method comprising the steps of:

facilitating selection of a link to content information from a plurality of links displayed for a sender user in a content window; and

facilitating real-time communication of said link and associated metadata information to at least one recipient user engaged in said real-time communication session with said sender user.

32. The machine-readable medium according toclaim 31, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

presenting a user list containing said at least one recipient user to said sender user; and

facilitating selection of said at least one recipient user from said user list.

33. The machine-readable medium according toclaim 32, wherein, prior to said selection of said at least one recipient user, said at least one recipient user is available to participate in said real-time communication session.

34. The machine-readable medium according toclaim 31, wherein said real-time communication session is an instant messaging communication session.

35. The machine-readable medium according toclaim 31, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

facilitating initiation of said real-time communication session; and

presenting a user interface area containing a real-time message window to said sender user.

36. The machine-readable medium according toclaim 35, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

facilitating selection of a content sharing button in said user interface area; and

responsive to said selection, dynamically generating said plurality of links based on user-generated content preferences, user-generated media presets, and other content recommendations.

37. The machine-readable medium according toclaim 36, wherein generating said plurality of links further comprises the steps of:

receiving a request for said content information from said sender user; and

retrieving said user-generated content preferences and said user-generated media presets associated with said sender user from a user database.

38. The machine-readable medium according toclaim 31, wherein said associated metadata information includes data pertaining to said content information to enable said at least one recipient user to review said data and to make a decision whether to accept or decline said content information.

39. The machine-readable medium according toclaim 32, wherein presenting said user list further comprises the steps of:

locating said at least one recipient user available to participate in said real-time communication session in a user database; and

retrieving said at least one recipient user to generate said user list.

40. The machine-readable medium according toclaim 31, further comprising the steps of:

facilitating access to said content information by said sender user; and

responsive to said sender user accessing said content information, facilitating transmission of a request to communicate said content information to said at least one recipient user.

41. A system to facilitate exchange of content among entities during a real-time communications session over a network, said system comprising:

means for dynamically generating a plurality of links to content information for a sender user; and

responsive to selection of a link of said plurality of links, means for communicating said link and associated metadata information to at least one recipient user engaged in said real-time communication session with said sender user.

42. The system according toclaim 41, further comprising:

means for receiving a request for said content information from said sender user;

means for retrieving user-generated content preferences and user-generated media presets associated with said sender user from a user database; and

means for generating said plurality of links based on said user-generated content preferences, said user-generated media presets, and other content recommendations.

43. A system to facilitate content sharing among entities during a real-time communications session over a network, said system comprising:

means for facilitating selection of a link to content information from a plurality of links displayed for a sender user in a content window; and

means for facilitating real-time communication of said link and associated metadata information to at least one recipient user engaged in said real-time communication session with said sender user.

44. The system according toclaim 43, further comprising:

means for facilitating initiation of said real-time communication session; and

means for presenting a user interface area containing a real-time message window to said sender user.

45. The system according toclaim 44, further comprising:

means for facilitating selection of a content sharing button in said user interface area; and

responsive to said selection, means for dynamically generating said plurality of links based on user-generated content preferences, user-generated media presets, and other content recommendations.

46. A system to facilitate content sharing among entities during a real-time communications session over a network, said system comprising:

at least one processing server to generate dynamically a plurality of links to content information for a sender user; and

at least one communications server coupled to said at least one processing server to communicate said link and associated metadata information to at least one recipient user engaged in said real-time communication session with said sender user, in response to selection of a link of said plurality of links.

47. The system according toclaim 46, wherein said at least one communications server further presents a user list to said sender user to enable selection of said at least one recipient user, said user list containing said at least one recipient user, and receives said selection of said at least one recipient user and a request to initiate said real-time communication session.

48. The system according toclaim 47, wherein, prior to said selection of said at least one recipient user, said at least one recipient user is available to participate in said real-time communication session.

49. The system according toclaim 46, wherein said at least one processing server further:

receives a request for said content information from said sender user;

retrieves user-generated content preferences and user-generated media presets associated with said sender user from a user database; and

generates said plurality of links based on said user-generated content preferences, said user-generated media presets, and other content recommendations.

50. The system according toclaim 46, wherein said at least one communications server further presents said plurality of links in a content window to enable selection of said link by said sender user.

51. The system according toclaim 46, wherein said at least one processing server further inserts said link and said associated metadata in a real-time message displayed in a message window for said sender user, and said at least one communications server further transmits said real-time message to said at least one recipient user.

52. The system according toclaim 46, wherein said real-time communication session is an instant messaging communication session.

53. The system according toclaim 46, wherein said associated metadata information includes data pertaining to said content information to enable said at least one recipient user to review said data and to make a decision whether to accept or decline said content information.

54. The system according toclaim 46, wherein said at least one communications server further transmits said content information to said sender user, responsive to a request to communicate said content information to said at least one recipient user, said at least one processing server further generates a content link to said transmitted content information, and said at least one communications server further communicates said content link and associated metadata information to said at least one recipient user.

55. The system according toclaim 47, wherein said at least one processing server further locates said at least one recipient user available to participate in said real-time communication session in said user database, and retrieves said at least one recipient user to generate said user list.

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