Personal video channels

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storage device storing instructions executable by a first user terminal associated with a first user comprising a processor, the instructions configured to cause the processor to:

• store at least one media content item at the first user terminal;
• store information for a personal channel at the first user terminal, where the information is associated with the at least one media content item;
• transmit the information for the personal channel to a data center;
• receive, from a second user terminal associated with a second user, a request for access to the personal channel, the request being transmitted by the second user terminal to the first user terminal, provided that the data center determines that the second user terminal is permitted to access the personal channel;
• retrieve the at least one media content item associated with the personal channel;
• establish a direct communication link between the first user terminal associated with the first user and the second user terminal associated with the second user;
• and
• transmit the at least one media content item associated with the personal channel from the first user terminal associated with the first user over the established direct communication link to the second user terminal associated with the second user.

A system, comprising:

• a network communicatively coupled to a plurality of user terminals including a first user terminal associated with a first user and a second user terminal associated with a second user;
• and
• a data center connected to the network and accessible by the plurality of user terminals;
• wherein the data center is configured to:
• receive from the first user terminal a message including personal channel information associated with a personal channel accessible at the first user terminal, the personal channel being associated with at least one media content item,
• store the personal channel information in a data store including a first user terminal identifier,
• receive, from the second user terminal, a request for the personal channel information,
• determine whether the second user terminal is permitted to access the personal channel, based on the personal channel information received from the first user terminal, and
• provide the personal channel information to the second user terminal in response to the request, when the second user terminal is permitted to access the personal channel,
• wherein the second user terminal transmits a request to access the personal channel to the first user terminal, and in response, the first user terminal associated with the first user establishes a direct communication link to the second user terminal associated with the second user and transmits the at least one media content item over the established direct communication link to the second user terminal associated with the second user.

A method implemented by a data center, the method comprising:

• receiving over a network from a first user terminal associated with a first user a message including personal channel information associated with a personal channel accessible at the first user terminal, the personal channel being associated with at least one media content item;
• storing the personal channel information in a data store including a first user terminal identifier;
• receiving over the network from a second user terminal associated with a second user a request for the personal channel information;
• determining whether the second user terminal is permitted to access the personal channel, based on the personal channel information received from the first user terminal;
• and
• providing the personal channel information to the second user terminal in response to the request, when the second user terminal is permitted to access the personal channel,
• wherein the second user terminal transmits a request to access the personal channel to the first user terminal, and in response, the first user terminal associated with the first user establishes a direct communication link to the second user terminal associated with the second user and transmits the at least one media content item over the established direct communication link to the second user terminal associated with the second user.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storage device storing instructions executable by a data center comprising a processor, the instructions configured to cause the processor to:

• receive over a network from a first user terminal associated with a first user a message including personal channel information associated with a personal channel accessible at the first user terminal, the personal channel being associated with at least one media content item;
• store the personal channel information in a data store including a first user terminal identifier;
• receive over the network from a second user terminal associated with a second user a request for the personal channel information;
• determine whether the second user terminal is permitted to access the personal channel, based on the personal channel information received from the first user terminal;
• and
• provide the personal channel information to the second user terminal in response to the request, when the second user terminal is permitted to access the personal channel,
• wherein the second user terminal transmits a request to access the personal channel to the first user terminal, and in response, the first user terminal associated with the first user establishes a direct communication link to the second user terminal associated with the second user and transmits the at least one media content item over the established direct communication link to the second user terminal.