Abstract: Virtual notes are provided that enable virtual communications between users. A user is enabled to input content into a note using an electronic device. The user is enabled to associate a virtual representation of the note with an entity to generate a virtual note. The user is enabled to position the virtual representation of the virtual note in a virtual space superimposed on the entity. The user is enabled to configure at least one attribute associated with the virtual note. The generated virtual note is transmitted to a notes database. Subsequent users can view and otherwise interact with the virtual note by interacting with the entity associated with the virtual note. For example, the subsequent users can interact with the virtual note by approaching the entity, or by viewing the entity on a map displayed by an electronic device.

Abstract: A system and method for selecting and presenting media on a network to tune an environment to the tastes of the users within that environment, thus improving the experience of that location. A physical location of a media presentation device is received over a network. The physical location of a plurality of end users are identified via the network, wherein each of plurality of users associated are with a plurality of media files stored on the network. A least one of the end users that are within a defined proximity to the media presentation device are identified. At least one media file associated with the end users that are within a defined proximity to the media presentation device are identified and transmitted over the network to the media presentation device.

Abstract: A system and method for determination and display of personalized distance. A request is received for the determination of a personalized distance over a network, wherein the request comprises an identification of a requesting user, and a plurality of real world entities comprising at least a starting location and an ending location. At least one route is determined between the first location and the second location. Spatial, temporal, topical, and social data available to the network relating to the requesting user and each real world entity and the route is retrieved using a global index of data available to the network. A personalized distance is calculated via the network between the first location and the second location using spatial, temporal, topical, and social data relating to the requesting user and each real world entity and the route. A representation of the personalized distance calculated for the route is displayed on a display medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are given for providing a suggested path on the Internet to a topic of interest for a user. In one example, the method includes receiving the topic of interest, receiving a map of the Internet, receiving a map of information known to the user, calculating a map of information unknown to the user based on the map of the Internet and the map of information known to the user, and calculating a path to the topic of interest based on at least the map of information unknown to the user.

Abstract: A system and method for presentation of media related to a context. A request is received over a network from a requesting device for media related to a context, wherein the request comprises at least one criteria. A query is formulated based on the context criteria so as to search, via the network, for user profile data, social network data, spatial data, temporal data and topical data that is available via the network and relates to the context and to media files so as to identify at least one media file that is relevant to the context criteria. A playlist is assembled via the network containing a reference to the media files. The media files on the playlist are transmitted over the network to the requesting device.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for capturing information that is pertinent to physical surroundings with respect to a device, the information including at least one of visual information or audio information. Overlay information for use in generating a transparent overlay via the device is obtained using at least a portion of the captured information. The transparent overlay is then superimposed via the device using the overlay information, wherein the transparent overlay provides one or more transparent images that are pertinent to and in correlation with the physical surroundings.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for implementing a reality overlay device. A reality overlay device captures information that is pertinent to physical surroundings with respect to a device, the information including at least one of visual information or audio information. The reality overlay device may transmit at least a portion of the captured information to a second device. For instance, the reality overlay device may transmit at least a portion of the captured information to a server via the Internet, where the server is capable of identifying an appropriate virtual billboard. The reality overlay device may then receive overlay information for use in generating a transparent overlay via the reality overlay device. The transparent overlay is then superimposed via the device using the overlay information, wherein the transparent overlay provides one or more transparent images that are pertinent to the physical surroundings.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus are directed to sharing information over a network. A request to share a multimedia object may be received. A relevance measure may be retrieved based on an identity of the multimedia object. Sharing the network of the multimedia object between an originating sharing member and a plurality of members of a social network may be enabled. A combination of the relevance measure and a hop distance for the shared multimedia object may be provided.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus are directed to sharing information over a network. A drag-and-drop of a selection of a portion of content may be received at a sharing area. A sharing message may be generated based on a type of the portion. If the type of the portion indicates storage, the sharing message may comprise a hyperlink to a storage. The sharing message may be useable for providing the portion on at least one client device associated with at least one of a plurality of members of a social network. Sharing over the network of the portion between an originating sharing member and the plurality of members of the social network may be enabled. The portion may be shared for a customizable project. A hop distance may be provided for the shared portion.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards managing messages based on generated interest clusters. A message may be analyzed to determine one or more interest clusters associated with the message. The message may be automatically sent to members within the determined interest cluster(s), or if no members are in the interest cluster(s), to those identified in the sender's contact list. As recipients of the message respond to the message, the membership to the interest clusters may be revised. Responses used to revise the membership may include forwarding, reading, ignoring, or deleting the message. Subsequent revisions to the membership may be made based on responses to subsequent messages sent to the members of the interest cluster. Display of the message may be in a rank order based on a determined hop distance for the message. Third parties may use the interest cluster and/or sneezers to direct advertisements, or the like.

Abstract: An infrastructure facility for interactive commerce in media objects over a network is described. Consumers are provided with searchable access to media object suppliers using standardized commercial packages. A commercial package is associated with a media object by using a commerce tag consisting of embedded metadata to identify the associated commercial package and optionally parameterize a commercial offer. The infrastructure facility provides a searchable database of available media objects with commerce tags, media object suppliers, and an accessible reference for commercial packages and associated tags.

Abstract: Systems and methods have been developed for expanding collections of media objects that are stored remotely. More specifically, systems and methods have been developed for continuously monitoring and updating collections of media objects stored in a user's media repository (e.g., a “media locker”).

Abstract: Systems and methods have been developed for transforming the format of media objects. More specifically, systems and methods have been developed for transforming the format of media objects associated with a user media locker.

Abstract: Systems and methods have been developed for promoting media objects to users. More specifically, systems and methods have been developed for profiling a user media repository and delivering promotional media objects to the user's media repository based upon the profile.

Abstract: A method for enabling users to share information across websites. A user may add some information to augment a posting on a first website to annotate its content. The information may be displayed on the first website as a related file and stored in a user augmented content system (UACS) database as an individual document. Another user may add some information to a posting on a second website to enrich its content, and the information may be displayed on the second website as a related file and stored in the UACS database as another individual document. The documents may be stored together with some keywords, and may be tagged, indexed and searchable. Users may easily find out who contributed what to the websites, and configure their websites to automatically receive content newly uploaded to the UACS database. If the augmenting content from the first website is relevant to the content on the second website, it may be automatically distributed to the second website.

Abstract: A method to provide additional media objects for data objects containing one or more existing media objects is described. The existing media object is analyzed to determine additional related media available on the network, and the data object description is augmented with metadata to identify the additional media in an enhanced data object description. When the enhanced data object is rendered, the metadata facilitates incorporation of additional media objects in the displayed page.

Abstract: Media enhancing services for pages containing text is described. Text is analyzed to determine related additional media available on the network, and the page description is augmented with metadata to identify the additional media in an enhanced page description. When the enhanced page is rendered, the metadata facilitates incorporation of additional media in the displayed page.

Abstract: A toolbar application for network browser applications is described. The tool augments web pages with related multimedia content. The browser application allows the user to locate and render a web page of personal interest. The tool invokes a mechanism to identify one or more media objects related to the web page in a playlist, and invokes a media object player application to render the one or more media objects in the playlist. When all of the media objects in the playlist are complete, the enhancement application may automatically generate one or more additional playlists.

Abstract: A method to provide additional media objects for two or more users intercommunicating over a network is described. The intercommunication messages are analyzed to determine additional related media objects available on the network, and one or more best related media objects are transmitted to the intercommunicating users. The additional media objects are rendered within the context of the network intercommunication.

Abstract: A real-time locater for digital media objects, related to one or more creative compositions and accessible over a network, is described. A service-provider maintains a master index of the digital media objects. The master index is organized by considering each media object to be an example of a primary attribute associated with the media object by a multitude of users. The reference is constructed as a data structure of primary attributes and means of locating the media objects as instances of primary attributes. Each such media object may be further categorized by associating it with one or more secondary attributes. The data structure is augmented to provide for efficient location of media objects by relating secondary attributes.