Abstract: A communications network, coupled to a first and a second port, for communicating a media resource; and a first and second real-time communication client, coupled respectively to the first and second ports, each of the clients including: a communications subsystem for receiving the media resource; a renderizer subsystem, responsive to a control signal, for rendering the media resource; an interface for generating the control signal; and a synchronization subsystem for communicating the control signal; wherein a first one of the communications clients generates the control signal and communicates the control signal to the second one communications client to render the media resource in substantial synchronization on the communications clients.

Abstract: A system, method, computer program product, and propagated signal of this collaborative system are adapted to track metadata relating to an online digital asset that captures each user's or group's interest in the asset and thus, in the aggregate, defines a collective interest in the asset and self-selects a relevant market based upon the nature of the asset, the distribution, and the collective group. Further, the system, method, computer program product, and propagated signal implement a rights manager to provide for digital rights management in collaborative systems.

Abstract: A system, method, computer program product, and propagated signal for a real-time concurrent multi-user multi-way collaboration system that is able to incorporate one or more electronic devices including one or more portable devices that permits distributed users to easily and efficiently share both content and editorial input on such content (of course, text messaging is not limited to editorial input on the content), while enabling tracking/monitoring of the resource and its uses. Specifically, the system includes an electronic resource having an associated identifier; a plurality of communication clients, inter-communicated by a network, for initiating a transfer of said electronic resource from one of said plurality of communication clients to one or more other ones of said plurality of communication clients; and an asset tracker, coupled to said network, for communicating with a data file to link said associated identifier with each communication client receiving said electronic resource.