Systems and methods for collaborative storytelling in a virtual space

Abstract

User-submitted content (e.g., stories) may be associated with descriptive metadata (intersection metadata), such as a timeframe, location, tags, and so on. Story content is presented in a virtual space, such as a forum, chatroom, or the like. Users submit collaborative content as the story is presented in the virtual space. The collaborative content is synchronized to presentation of the story. An author may replay the presentation and synchronized collaborative content and/or select portions of the collaborative content for inclusion in the story.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a request for stories contributed by contributing users, the request associated with a requesting user;   accessing a plurality of stories contributed by contributing users, the stories being associated with one or more images and/or videos provided by the contributing users and wherein user access to each respective story of the plurality is limited to a defined group of one or more users;   selecting one or more stories for presentation that are authorized for access by the requesting user according to one or more access controls specified by submitting users associated with the selected stories; and   providing, for presentation on a user device of the requesting user, representations of the selected stories, the representations being selectable to view the images and/or videos associated with the stories.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: receiving, from one or more contributing users, respective stories, wherein at least one story comprises a collection of images and/or video; and associating the stories with respective access controls that specify which users may access elements of the respective stories. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more elements of a selected story is excluded from the representation provided for presentation on the user device of the requesting user based on access controls associated with the selected story. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a respective story of the plurality of stories is tagged with a user. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting stories for presentation is based on one or more of: importances assigned, by respective submitters, to the plurality of stories, or ratings associated with the plurality of stories. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein presentation of the representations on the user device is based on a relevance of each associated story with respect to the requesting user. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the requesting user is a registered user or an unregistered user. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request specifies a contributor of content. 
     
     
         9 . A non-transitory computer storage media storing instructions that, when executed by a system of one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a request for stories contributed by contributing users, the request associated with a requesting user;   accessing a plurality of stories contributed by contributing users, the stories being associated with one or more images and/or videos provided by the contributing users and wherein user access to each respective story of the plurality is limited to a defined group of one or more users;   selecting one or more stories for presentation that are authorized for access by the requesting user according to one or more access controls specified by submitting users associated with the selected stories; and   providing, for presentation on a user device of the requesting user, representations of the selected stories, the representations being selectable to view the images and/or videos associated with the stories.   
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer storage media of  claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving, from one or more contributing users, respective stories, wherein at least one story comprises a collection of images and/or video; and associating the stories with respective access controls that specify which users may access elements of the respective stories.   
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer storage media of  claim 9 , wherein a respective story of the plurality of stories is tagged with a user. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer storage media of  claim 9 , wherein selecting stories for presentation is based on one or more of: importances assigned, by respective submitters, to the plurality of stories, or ratings associated with the plurality of stories. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer storage media of  claim 9 , wherein presentation of the representations on the user device is based on a relevance of each associated story with respect to the requesting user. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer storage media of  claim 9 , wherein the request specifies a contributor of content. 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising a processor, a storage device communicatively coupled to the processor, and a set of instructions on the storage device that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:
 receive a request for stories contributed by contributing users, the request associated with a requesting user;   access a plurality of stories contributed by contributing users, the stories being associated with one or more images and/or videos provided by the contributing users and wherein user access to each respective story of the plurality is limited to a defined group of one or more users;   select one or more stories for presentation that are authorized for access by the requesting user according to one or more access controls specified by submitting users associated with the selected stories; and   provide, for presentation on a user device of the requesting user, representations of the selected stories, the representations being selectable to view the images and/or videos associated with the stories.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions further comprise:
 receive, from one or more contributing users, respective stories, wherein at least one story comprises a collection of images and/or video; and associate the stories with respective access controls that specify which users may access elements of the respective stories.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein a respective story of the plurality of stories is tagged with a user. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein selecting stories for presentation is based on one or more of: importances assigned, by respective submitters, to the plurality of stories, or ratings associated with the plurality of stories. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein presentation of the representations on the user device is based on a relevance of each associated story with respect to the requesting user. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the request specifies a contributor of content.