Abstract: There is provided an interface viewable on a display for a communications apparatus used during a session for voice communications between at least two parties. The interface includes at least one edge of the display having a row of objects, each object of the row being for representing each of the at least two parties; and a main portion of the display being for showing the object of the party speaking at a particular point in time, with a plurality of the objects being shown when a plurality of the parties are speaking at the particular point in time. Advantageously, the object of the speaking party is shown on the main portion when the speaking party's voice is detected by the speaking party's communications apparatus, a host server receiving information from the speaking party's communications apparatus to aid in displaying the object of the speaking party at the particular point in time.

Abstract: There is provided a method for communications involving at least one text message. The method includes a sender apparatus transmitting at least one message, the at least one message including message data and at least one video filmlet; transmitting the message data over a first network and the at least one video filmlet to a server on a second network; and a recipient apparatus receiving the at least one message, the at least one message being combined and generated from the message data received from the first network and the at least one video filmlet received from the server. Advantageously, the at least one message may be generated in a manner as composed by a sender of the at least one message. It is preferable that the sender and recipient apparatus are able to support a data sync protocol on the second network.

Abstract: There is provided a system for downloading digital content to a portable media player, the digital content being published in a media channel by a content creator. The system may reside on a server accessible via the Internet. The system may comprise: a data receiver module to receive the digital content from the media channel via a communication medium; a conversion module to convert the received digital content to at least one format for consumption by the player; and a download module to copy the at least one file to the portable media player. The system may further comprise a player detection module to detect file formats compatible with the portable media player. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of enabling access to data using a portable electronic device within a private network protected by firewall are disclosed. The data may be transmitted in packets to the portable electronic device and may be consumed either instantly or subsequently. The methods may utilise either at least one web storage or an agent server.

Abstract: An electronic book reader, the electronic book reader comprising: a reading interface for accessing an electronic book; a display for displaying the electronic book; a network interface for forming a communication connection between the electronic book reader and a device through a server, the server being connected to data storage comprising data of one or more user accounts associated with the electronic book; and a communication interface for facilitating exchange of multimedia messages between the electronic book reader and the device across the communication connection, wherein the communication connection being formed upon activation of the communication interface and upon both the electronic book and the device being logged in to the server via one of the one or more user accounts associated with the electronic book.

Abstract: There is provided a method for managing a plurality of electronic books on a computing device. The electronic books may be stored in a plurality of storage sources, the plurality of storage sources being selected from, for example, local storage on the computing device, network-linked storage, network-linked electronic book retailers, and so forth.

Abstract: There is provided a method for automatically converting a media file for playback on a portable media player. The method includes specifying the type of the portable media player. If a stream of the media file is not capable of being played back by the portable media player, the stream is discarded. If a stream of the media file is capable of being played back and is supported by the portable media player, the stream is then directly copied to the player. Where a stream of the media file is capable of being played back and is not supported by the portable media player, the stream is then converted using a predetermined codec that is supported by the portable media player, the predetermined codec selected on a basis of playback quality, output file size and file conversion time. A corresponding system and software is also disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided a method for monitoring activities of a first user on any of a plurality of platforms, with the first user having access to a first computing device for use by the first user. The method may include two modes which allows a master user to monitor activities of the first user even when the master user is not connected to the world wide web (offline).

Abstract: There is provided a method for communications involving at least one text message. The method includes a sender apparatus transmitting at least one message, the at least one message including message data and at least one video filmlet; transmitting the message data over a first network and the at least one video filmlet to a server on a second network; and a recipient apparatus receiving the at least one message, the at least one message being combined and generated from the message data received from the first network and the at least one video filmlet received from the server. Advantageously, the at least one message may be generated in a manner as composed by a sender of the at least one message. It is preferable that the sender and recipient apparatus are able to support a data sync protocol on the second network.

Abstract: There is provided an interface viewable on a display for a communications apparatus used during a session for voice communications between at least two parties. The interface includes at least one edge of the display having a row of objects, each object of the row being for representing each of the at least two parties; and a main portion of the display being for showing the object of the party speaking at a particular point in time, with a plurality of the objects being shown when a plurality of the parties are speaking at the particular point in time. Advantageously, the object of the speaking party is shown on the main portion when the speaking party's voice is detected by the speaking party's communications apparatus, a host server receiving information from the speaking party's communications apparatus to aid in displaying the object of the speaking party at the particular point in time.

Abstract: There is provided a method for monitoring activities of a first user on any of a plurality of platforms, with the first user having access to a first computing device for use by the first user. The method may include two modes which allows a master user to monitor activities of the first user even when the master user is not connected to the world wide web (offline).

Abstract: A method and system for file distribution, the system comprising: a first data storage device for distributing a content file by seeding the content file for downloading by another data storage device; a second data storage device configured for distributing the content file; a third data storage device configured for distributing the content file; and a data file comprising at least one data entry, a data entry in the data file being associated with the content file, the first data storage device being configured for pushing the data file to the second data storage device, the second data storage device being configured for initiating downloading of the content file if the data entry associated with the content file is present in the pushed data file and the content file is not stored at the second data storage device, and sharing downloaded data of the content file with the third data storage device by simultaneously uploading downloaded data of the content file to the third data storage device while downlo

Abstract: Methods of enabling access to data using a portable electronic device within a private network protected by firewall are disclosed. The data may be transmitted in packets to the portable electronic device and may be consumed either instantly or subsequently. The methods may utilise either at least one web storage or an agent server.

Abstract: A system (10) for downloading digital content (5) to a video-enabled portable media player (20), the digital content (5) being published in a media channel (30) by a content creator, the system (10) comprising: a data receiver module (11) to receive the digital content (5) from the media channel (30) via a communication medium; a conversion module (12) to convert the received digital content to at least one video file (40) of a predetermined video format; and a download module (13) to copy the at least one video file (40) to the portable media player (20); wherein the video file (40) ensures the digital content is consumed in the same order that the digital content (5) is published in the media channel (30) by the content creator.

Abstract: There is provided a communication system including a plurality of content receiver cum transmitter devices connected to a network, each device being for receiving content, selectively storing content and for selectively re-transmitting content. The system may include at least one server for storage of advertisements and transmission of advertisements either directly to the plurality of content receiver cum transmitter devices, or the transmission of advertisements being directed by at least one chaincast manager, the at least one server for storage of advertisements and transmission of advertisements being either online or offline. There may also be at least one content server connected to the network for storage of content and transmission of content either directly to the plurality of content receiver cum transmitter devices, or the transmission of content being directed by at least one chaincast manager.

Abstract: There is provided a method for generating a user interface for enabling access to data on a server. The method comprises updating metadata in a metadata server, the metadata server being functionally connected to the server; processing the metadata on the metadata server; sending a request to the server to perform a task; and generating the user interface on a client device based on the processed metadata for enabling access to data on the server. The user interface may preferably be used to send the request to the server. The task being performed by the server may include, for example, browsing a collection of files, organizing files, selecting files, editing files, uploading files, downloading files and so forth.

Abstract: There is provided an interface viewable on a display for a communications apparatus used during a session for voice communications between at least two parties. The interface includes at least one edge of the display having a row of objects, each object of the row being for representing each of the at least two parties; and a main portion of the display being for showing the object of the party speaking at a particular point in time, with a plurality of the objects being shown when a plurality of the parties are speaking at the particular point in time. Advantageously, the object of the speaking party is shown on the main portion when the speaking party's voice is detected by the speaking party's communications apparatus, a host server receiving information from the speaking party's communications apparatus to aid in displaying the object of the speaking party at the particular point in time.

Abstract: There is provided a system for downloading digital content to a portable media player, the digital content being published in a media channel by a content creator. The system may reside on a server accessible via the Internet. The system may comprise: a data receiver module to receive the digital content from the media channel via a communication medium; a conversion module to convert the received digital content to at least one format for consumption by the player; and a download module to copy the at least one file to the portable media player. The system may further comprise a player detection module to detect file formats compatible with the portable media player. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided a method for automatically converting a media file for playback on a portable media player. The method includes specifying the type of the portable media player. If a stream of the media file is not capable of being played back by the portable media player, the stream is discarded. If a stream of the media file is capable of being played back and is supported by the portable media player, the stream is then directly copied to the player. Where a stream of the media file is capable of being played back and is not supported by the portable media player, the stream is then converted using a predetermined codec that is supported by the portable media player, the predetermined codec selected on a basis of playback quality, output file size and file conversion time. A corresponding system and software is also disclosed.