System, method, and program for sharing photos via the internet

A system for sharing files over a computer network via a hosting site, the system comprising:

• a central processing unit (CPU);
• a memory;
• means for providing a data storage space, the data storage space associated with the hosting site and accessible by one or more users via the computer network, said data storage space comprising albums created by said one or more users for storage of related files, said albums comprising at least one different level of sharing associated with each of said one or more users, said different level of sharing being in part assigned by said one or more users creating said albums;
• means for providing different levels of sharing;
• means for providing user accounts, one or more accounts of the user accounts associated with each of said one or more users, said user accounts allowing each of said users to access said albums, wherein said users who created said albums are allowed to access to said different levels of sharing;
• means for creating said albums;
• means for contributing to view and add contents of said albums;
• means for viewing said albums;
• means for viewing files in said albums;
• and
• means for managing said albums for enabling said one or more users to associate different levels of sharing of at least one album and to modify the contents of said albums, wherein said different level of sharing is time sensitive and is expired after a specified interval has elapsed and
• wherein said different levels of sharing at least comprise
• an album viewer who is associated with viewed contents is only authorized to view said album,
• an album contributor who is associated with contributed contents is only authorized to view said album and add files,
• an album manager who is associated with managed contents is only authorized to manage said album by associating users as contributors to said album, and
• an album creator who is associated with creating contents, is only authorized to delete said album and change said levels of sharing associated with users.

A method for sharing files over a computer network via a hosting site, the method comprising:

• accessing a data storage space associated with the hosting site via the computer network by one or more users, the data storage space associated with the hosting site and accessible by said one or more users via the computer network, said data storage space comprising albums created by said one or more users for storage of related files, said albums comprising at least one different level of sharing associated with each of said one or more users, said different level of sharing being in part assigned by said one or more users creating said albums;
• providing user accounts, one or more accounts of the user accounts associated with each of said one or more users, said user accounts allowing said each of said users to access said albums said users who created said albums are allowed to access to said different level of sharing;
• creating one or more albums in said space by said one or more users for storage of related files;
• associating different levels of sharing for said albums for said one or more users, wherein said different level of sharing is time sensitive and is expired after a specified interval has elapsed and
• wherein the different levels of sharing being in part associated by said one or more users creating said albums for associating
• a viewer who is authorized only to view said albums, a contributor authorized only to view said albums and add files, and
• a manager who is authorized only to manage said albums by associating users as contributors to said albums;
• setting up the one or more accounts by each of said one or more users, said user accounts allowing said each of said users to access said albums, wherein said users who are created said albums are allowed access to by said different levels of sharing;
• viewing contents of said albums and contents of files by said users;
• and
• managing said albums by said users to associate different levels of sharing of said albums and to modify contents of said albums.

A computer program product stored in a computer readable storage medium for sharing files over a computer network via a hosting site, the computer program product comprising:

• a computer code that accesses a data storage space associated with the hosting site via the computer network by one or more users, the data storage space associated with the hosting site and accessible by said one or more users via the computer network, said data storage space comprising albums created by said one or more users for storage of related files, said albums comprising at least one different level of sharing associated with each of said one or more users, said different level of sharing being in part assigned by said one or more users creating said albums;
• a computer code that provides user accounts, one or more accounts of the user accounts associated with each of said one or more users, said user accounts allowing said each of said users to access said albums, said users who created said albums are allowed to access to said different level of sharing;
• a computer code that creates one or more albums in said space by said one or more users for storage of related files;
• a computer code that associates different levels of sharing for said albums for said one or more users, wherein said different level of sharing is time sensitive and is expired after a specified interval has elapsed and
• wherein the different levels of sharing being in part associated by said one or more users creating said albums for associating
• a viewer who is authorized only to view said albums, a contributor authorized only to view said albums and add files, and
• a manager who is authorized only to manage said albums by associating users as contributors to said albums;
• a computer code that sets up the one or more accounts by each of said one or more users, said user accounts allowing said each of said users to access said albums, wherein said users who are created said albums are allowed access to by said different levels of sharing;
• a computer code that views contents of said albums and contents of files by said users;
• and
• a computer code that manages said albums by said users to associate different levels of sharing of said albums and to modify contents of said albums.