Method and system for sharing and discovery

Abstract

A method for sharing media within a chat room system, including: providing a virtual chat room that is accessible by a first user device and a second user device, receiving, from the first user device, a first media item generated by an application executed on the user device to share within the chat room, sending the first media item for distribution to the second user device via the virtual chat room, receiving a second media item from the second user device for provision in the virtual chat room, and sending the second media item for distribution to the first user device via the virtual chat room.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 providing a virtual chat room that is accessible by a first user device and a second user device;   receiving, from the first user device, a first media item generated by an application executed on the first user device to share within the virtual chat room;   sending the first media item for distribution to the second user device via the virtual chat room;   receiving a second media item from the second user device for provision in the virtual chat room; and   sending the second media item for distribution to the first user device via the virtual chat room.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising receiving a presentation setting for the virtual chat room from the first user device, wherein the virtual chat room is provided based, at least in part, on the presentation setting. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the presentation setting includes a target presentation parameter for the virtual chat room. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the presentation setting includes a list of users that have been invited to access the virtual chat room, wherein the second user device is associated with a user that is included in the list of users that have been invited to access the virtual chat room. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the presentation setting includes a content sharing setting, wherein the content sharing setting indicates that the second user device is permitted to share content with the virtual chat group. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein receiving the second media item from the second user device for provision in the virtual chat room comprises identifying a switch condition, wherein the second media item is sent for distribution to the first user device via the virtual chat room responsive to identifying the switch condition. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the virtual chat room comprises providing the virtual chat room in a virtual position on a graphical user interface, wherein the second media item is provided to the first user device via the graphical user interface. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the first media item generated by the application executed on the user device comprises extracting the first media item from the application through an application programming interface for the application. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein receiving the first media item generated by the application executed on the user device comprises accessing graphics rendering instructions for the application at a graphics card. 
     
     
         10 . A system, comprising:
 one or more processors; and   one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media coupled to one or more of the processors and comprising instructions operable when executed by one or more of the processors to cause the system to:
 provide a virtual chat room that is accessible by a first user device and a second user device; 
 receive, from the first user device, a first media item generated by an application executed on the first user device to share within the virtual chat room; 
 send the first media item for distribution to the second user device via the virtual chat room; 
 receive a second media item from the second user device for provision in the virtual chat room; and 
 send the second media item for distribution to the first user device via the virtual chat room. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein execution of the instructions further cause the system to receive a presentation setting for the virtual chat room from the first user device, wherein the virtual chat room is provided based, at least in part, on the presentation setting. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the presentation setting includes a target presentation parameter for the virtual chat room. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the presentation setting includes a list of users that have been invited to access the virtual chat room, wherein the second user device is associated with a user that is included in the list of users that have been invited to access the virtual chat room. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the presentation setting includes a content sharing setting, wherein the content sharing setting indicates that the second user device is permitted to share content with the virtual chat group. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein when receiving the second media item from the second user device for provision in the virtual chat room the system is to identify a switch condition, wherein the second media item is sent for distribution to the first user device via the virtual chat room responsive to identifying the switch condition. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein when providing the virtual chat room, the system is to provide the virtual chat room in a virtual position on a graphical user interface, wherein the second media item is provided to the first user device via the graphical user interface. 
     
     
         17 . A plurality of non-transitory computer-readable storage media embodying software that is operative when executed to:
 provide a virtual chat room that is accessible by a first user device and a second user device;   receive, from the first user device, a first media item generated by an application executed on the user device to share within the virtual chat room;   send the first media item for distribution to the second user device via the virtual chat room;   receive a second media item from the second user device for provision in the virtual chat room; and   send the second media item for distribution to the first user device via the virtual chat room.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 17 , wherein execution of the instructions further cause the system to receive a presentation setting for the virtual chat room from the first user device, wherein the virtual chat room is provided based, at least in part, on the presentation setting. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 18 , wherein the presentation setting includes a target presentation parameter for the virtual chat room. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 18 , wherein the presentation setting includes a list of users that have been invited to access the virtual chat room, wherein the second user device is associated with a user that is included in the list of users that have been invited to access the virtual chat room.