Method for controlling the sharing of at least one electronic content between a first user equipment and at least a second user equipment

This Application is a Section 371 National Stage Application of International Application No. PCT/IB2015/002552, filed Dec. 18, 2015, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety and published as WO 2016/103039 A1 on Jun. 30, 2016, in English.

The present invention generally relates to the sharing of electronic contents between devices.

Electronic content sharing has become quite common in the recent years with the democratization of the Internet and the developing of smart devices, such as smartphones, tablets, laptop, etc.

Many websites enable the sharing of electronic contents such as Dailymotion© which enables the sharing of video and audio contents, Flickr© which enables the sharing of pictures, etc.

The developing of social networks such as Facebook©, Twitter©, etc. facilitates the sharing of electronic contents between users.

When a user wants to share an electronic content with one or more of his contacts, such as a video content accessible via Dailymotion for example, he may copy an URL (Uniform Resource Locator) pointing toward the electronic content he wants to share and then paste it in an email or in an instant message intended to the selected contacts.

Another way to share an electronic content accessible via websites enabling the sharing of electronic contents, is for the user to select a share button associated to the electronic content to be shared by means of a graphical user interface, also called GUI (Graphical User Interface) such as a mouse and a screen or a touchscreen, this share button allows the sharing of the electronic content on a social network. A link, such as an URL, pointing toward the electronic content the user wants to share is displayed on the timeline of the profile of the user on the social network. Thus, all the contacts of the user on the social network can access the electronic content.

Other solutions enabling the sharing of electronic contents stored on a user device exist. One example of such a solution is AirDrop© which is an application for sharing electronic contents such as webpages, pictures, video contents, audio contents, etc. developed by Apple® for their own devices. The user of a smart device selects an electronic content stored on the smart device and then launches the sharing application. Through a dedicated GUI, the user selects the contacts with whom he wants to share the selected electronic content. A pop-up window is displayed on the screen of the user device of the selected contact prompting him to accept or to refuse the sharing of the electronic content.

Whatever method is used by the user to share an electronic content, the contact with whom the user shared the electronic content accesses the electronic content on his device independently of the user who shared it. That is to say, even if the user and the contact share an electronic content that does not mean they access the shared electronic content at the same time, there is a temporal gap between the moment the user access the electronic content and the moment the contact access the electronic content.

This temporal gap maybe an issue when the shared electronic content is a working document such as a lecture or a report or when the user and the contact are next to each other but accessing the same electronic content each on their own devices. This may reduce the quality of experience of both the user and the contact.

It is an objective of the present invention to overcome disadvantages and/or make improvements in the prior art.

In that respect, the present invention relates to a method for controlling the sharing of at least one electronic content between a first user equipment and at least a second user equipment, a first communication session being established between the first user equipment and a server storing electronic contents enabling the transmission of at least one electronic content to the first user equipment, wherein the server:

receives, from the first user equipment, a request for sharing the transmitted electronic content, transmits a sharing parameter generated by the server from an identifier of the first user equipment and an identifier of the transmitted electronic content to the first user equipment receives a request, emitted by a second user equipment, for establishing a second communication session, said request for establishing a second communication session comprising the sharing parameter, determines, based on the received sharing parameter, that the user equipment requesting a sharing of an electronic content is the first user equipment and the electronic content to be shared is the transmitted electronic content, if the transmitted electronic content is being played on the first user equipment, transmits said transmitted electronic content to the second user equipment in order for said transmitted electronic content to be played simultaneously on the second user equipment.

Such a method enables the simultaneous sharing of an electronic content between a plurality of users.

By simultaneous it to be understood that at a given instant t the shared electronic content is played on the first and the second user equipment.

The sharing parameter received by the server in the request for establishing the second communication session enables the server to identify the electronic content to be shared and to determine, based on the knowledge of the identifier of the first user equipment, if the shared electronic content is being played on the first user equipment.

If the shared electronic content is being played on the first user equipment, then the playing of the electronic content is triggered on the second user equipment.

Thus, the users of the first and second user equipments can access simultaneously the shared electronic content enhancing the quality of experience of the users.

According to a feature of the method controlling the sharing of at least one electronic content between a first user equipment and a second user equipment, the server transmits the transmitted electronic content to the second user equipment in order for the transmitted electronic content to be played synchronously on the first user equipment and on the second user equipment.

If the server determines that the shared electronic content is being played on the first user equipment, then the server transmits the shared electronic content to the second user equipment and triggers the playing of the shared electronic content on the second user equipment at the same instant of the electronic content.

For example, a trailer of a movie is played on the first user equipment. This trailer lasts 3:50 minutes. When the second communication is established between the second user equipment and the server, 1:30 minutes of the trailer has already played on the first user equipment. The server triggers the playing of the trailer on the second user equipment starting at 1:30 minutes from the beginning of the trailer.

Thus the users of the first user equipment and of the second user equipment can watch the same thing at the same time as if they were sharing the same screen.

According to a feature of the method controlling the sharing of at least one electronic content between a first user equipment and a second user equipment, when a duration of the transmitted electronic content already played on the first user equipment exceeds a threshold, the server transmits the transmitted electronic content to the second user equipment in order for the transmitted electronic content to be played on the second user equipment from the beginning of said transmitted electronic content.

Back to the trailer of the movie played on the first user equipment; if, when the second communication is established between the second user equipment and the server, 80%, i.e. 3:06 minutes out of the 3:50 minutes representing the duration of the trailer, of the trailer of the movie has already played, the server triggers the playing of the trailer on the second user equipment from the beginning of the trailer.

Thus, the user of the second user equipment may access to a significant portion of the electronic content.

According to a feature of the method controlling the sharing of at least one electronic content between a first user equipment and a second user equipment, if the playing of the transmitted electronic content on the first user equipment is over, the server transmits said transmitted electronic content to the second user equipment in order for said transmitted electronic content to be played on the second user equipment.

Even if the shared electronic content is no longer played on the first user equipment, the user of the second user equipment can access the shared content.

The invention also concerns a method for sharing at least one electronic content between a first user equipment and at least a second user equipment, a first communication session being established between the first user equipment and a server storing electronic contents enabling the transmission of at least one electronic content to the first user equipment, wherein the first user equipment:

Transmits, to the server, a request for sharing the transmitted electronic content, Receives, from the server, a sharing parameter generated by the server from an identifier of the first user equipment and an identifier of the transmitted electronic content, Transmits, to the second user equipment, a message comprising the sharing parameter.

Another object of the invention is method for accessing at least an electronic content stored on a server, a first communication session being established between a first user equipment and the server enabling the transmission of the electronic content to be accessed to the first user equipment, wherein a second user equipment:

Receives, from the first user equipment, a sharing parameter generated by the server from an identifier of the first user equipment and an identifier of the electronic content to be accessed, Transmits a request, to the server, for establishing a second communication session, said request for establishing a second communication session comprising the sharing parameter, Receives, from the server, said electronic content to be accessed in order for said transmitted electronic content to be played on the second user equipment.

An object of the invention is a server capable of controlling the sharing of at least one electronic content between a first user equipment and at least a second user equipment, a first communication session being established between the first user equipment and the server, comprising storing electronic contents, enabling the transmission of at least one electronic content to the first user equipment, wherein the server comprises:

A receiver for receiving, from the first user equipment, a request for sharing the transmitted electronic content, A transmitter for transmitting a sharing parameter generated by the server from an identifier of the first user equipment and an identifier of the transmitted electronic content to the first user equipment A receiver for receiving a request, emitted by a second user equipment, for establishing a second communication session, said request for establishing a second communication session comprising the sharing parameter, Means for determining, based on the received sharing parameter, that the user equipment requesting a sharing of an electronic content is the first user equipment and the electronic content to be shared is the transmitted electronic content, Means for determining if the transmitted electronic content is being played on the first user equipment, A transmitter for transmitting, when the transmitted electronic content is being played on the first user equipment, said transmitted electronic content to the second user equipment in order for said transmitted electronic content to be played simultaneously on the second user equipment.

Another object of the invention is a user equipment capable of sharing at least one electronic content with at least another user equipment, a first communication session being established between the user equipment and a server storing electronic contents enabling the transmission of at least one electronic content to the user equipment, wherein the user equipment:

A transmitter for transmitting, to the server, a request for sharing the transmitted electronic content, A receiver for receiving, from the server, a sharing parameter generated by the server from an identifier of the first user equipment and an identifier of the transmitted electronic content, A transmitter for transmitting, to the other user equipment, a message comprising the sharing parameter.

Such a user equipment may be a smart device, a tablet, a laptop, a personal computer, etc.

Another object of the invention is a user equipment capable of accessing at least an electronic content stored on a server, a first communication session being established between another user equipment and the server enabling the transmission of the electronic content to be accessed to the other user equipment, wherein a second user equipment:

A receiver for receiving, from the other user equipment, a sharing parameter generated by the server from an identifier of the other user equipment and an identifier of the electronic content to be accessed, A transmitter for transmitting a request, to the server, for establishing a second communication session, said request for establishing a second communication session comprising the sharing parameter, A receiver for receiving, from the server, said electronic content to be accessed in order for said transmitted electronic content to be played on the second user equipment.

Such a user equipment may be a smart device, a tablet, a laptop, a personal computer, etc.

Finally, one object of the invention concerns computer programs, in particular computer programs on or in an information medium or memory, suitable for implementing the methods object of the invention. These programs can use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, binary code, or of code intermediate between source code and object code such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form for implementing the communication methods according to the invention.

The information medium may be any entity or device capable of storing the programs. For example, the medium can comprise a storage means, such as a ROM, for example a CD ROM or a microelectronic circuit ROM, or else a magnetic recording means, for example a diskette (floppy disk) or a hard disk.

Moreover, the information medium may be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, which may be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by radio or by other means. The programs according to the invention may in particular be downloaded from a network of Internet type.

The present invention is explained in further detail, and by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 represents a system in which the methods according to the invention are executed,

FIG. 2 represents a flowchart of the different steps of the method for sharing an electronic content between a plurality of user equipments,

FIG. 3 represents a second embodiment of the method of the invention,

FIG. 4 is a flowchart detailing the steps of the method according to the first embodiment of the invention that are executed on the second user equipment side,

FIG. 5 is a flowchart detailing the steps of the method according to the second embodiment of the invention that are executed on the second user equipment side.

FIG. 1 represents a system in which the methods according to the invention are executed.

The system represented on FIG. 1 comprises a first user equipment UE 1 , at least a second user equipment UE 2 and a server S.

A first communication session CS 1 is established between the first user equipment UE 1 and the server S. During this communication session CS 1 , a user of the first user equipment UE 1 can access a plurality of electronic contents stored on the server S. these electronic contents may be accessible via sharing platforms such as Dailymotion, Spotify, etc. or may be stored in a memory of the server dedicated to the user of the first user equipment UE 1 .

While the communication session CS 1 is still established between the first user equipment UE 1 and the server S, the user of the first user equipment UE 1 decides to share an electronic content stored on the server S with another user. Using a dedicated GUI on the first user equipment UE 1 , the user selects one or more electronic contents to share. The user equipment UE 1 informs the server S of the selected electronic contents by sending a request for sharing electronic contents to the server S.

The server S generates a sharing parameter SP based on an identifier of the electronic content to be shared and on an identifier of the first user equipment UE 1 . The identifier of the first user equipment UE 1 may be retrieved while establishing the first communication session CS 1 between the first user equipment UE 1 and the server S.

The sharing parameter SP is then transmitted by the server S to the first user equipment UE 1 .

Upon reception of the sharing parameter SP, the user of the first user equipment UE 1 then selects one or more contacts with whom he wishes to share the selected electronic content using a dedicated GUI such as the GUI of AirDrop.

Then, the first user equipment UE 1 sends a message to the second user equipment UE 2 belonging to one of the selected contacts comprising the sharing parameter SP, and information for contacting the server S.

Upon reception of this message, the second user equipment UE 2 sends a request to the server S requesting the establishment of a second communication session CS 2 during which the selected electronic contents will be transmitted to the second user equipment UE 2 . The request from the second user equipment comprises the sharing parameter SP.

The server S checks whether the selected electronic content is being played on the first user equipment UE 1 , then the playing of the electronic content is triggered on the second user equipment UE 2 .

Thus, the users of the first and second user equipment can access simultaneously the shared electronic content enhancing the quality of experience of the users.

FIG. 2 represents a flowchart of the different steps of the method for sharing an electronic content between a plurality of user equipments.

In a step E 1 , the first user equipment UE 1 sends a request R 1 for establishing a communication session CS 1 with the server S. This request R 1 comprises an identifier Id 1 of the first user equipment UE 1 . In a step E 2 , the server S answers to the request R 1 by sending a message of acknowledgement Ack 1 to the first user equipment UE 1 . Upon reception of the message of acknowledgment Ack 1 by the user equipment UE 1 , the communication session CS 1 is established.

In a step E 3 , the first user equipment UE 1 sends a request R 2 to the server S for accessing an electronic content stored on the server S. The electronic content may be accessible from a website or may belong to the user of the user equipment UE 1 such as personal video content, music playlists, etc.

In answer to the request R 2 for accessing an electronic content, the server S triggers the transmission of the electronic content to the user equipment UE 1 in a step E 3 .

The electronic content is either downloaded or streamed on the first user equipment UE 1 .

During a step E 4 , which may be or may be not concomitant with step E 3 , the user equipment UE 1 sends a request R 3 for sharing at least one electronic content to the server S. The request R 3 comprises an identifier Id 2 of the electronic content to be shared and other information such as an authorization to play synchronously the selected electronic content on both user equipments UE 1 and UE 2 , the possibility for the second user equipment UE 2 to refuse the synchronization of the playing of the selected electronic content, etc. In an embodiment of the method of the invention, the servers S already knows the identifier Id 2 of the selected electronic content, so the request R 3 does not comprise said identifier Id 2 .

In a step E 5 , the server S generate a sharing parameter SP based on the identifier Id 1 of the first user equipment UE 1 and the identifier Id 2 of the electronic content to be shared.

The sharing parameter SP is issued for a certain length of time. For example, the sharing parameter SP is valid only as long as the shared electronic content is being played on the first user equipment UE 1 .

In another example, the selected electronic content can be accessed by a user equipment other than the first user equipment UE 1 only a certain number of time, for example five times, before the sharing parameter SP is no longer valid.

In a step E 6 , the server S sends a message MSG 1 to the first user equipment UE 1 comprising the sharing parameter SP.

In an embodiment of the method according to the invention, instead of a field in the message MSG 1 comprising the sharing parameter SP, the server S sends a message MSG 1 comprising an URL to the first user equipment UE 1 . The URL may be of the form www.orangebubble.com/sharing-parameter.

In a step E 7 , the user equipment UE 1 receives the message MSG 1 . In a step E 8 the user equipment UE 1 sends a message MSG 2 to a second user equipment UE 2 belonging to one of the contacts with whom the user of the first user equipment UE 1 wishes to share the selected electronic content. The message MSG 2 comprises the sharing parameter SP and a piece of information enabling the second user equipment UE 2 to communicate with the server S.

In a step E 9 , the second user equipment UE 2 sends a request R 4 to the server S for establishing a second communication session CS 2 between the second user equipment UE 2 and the server S. The request R 4 comprises the sharing parameter SP.

In a step E 10 , the server S answers to the request R 4 by sending a message of acknowledgement Ack 2 to the second user equipment UE 2 . Upon reception of the message of acknowledgment Ack 2 by the user equipment UE 2 , the communication session CS 2 is established.

In a step E 11 , the server S verifies if the sharing parameter SP is still valid. When the validity of the sharing parameter depends on the number of times the selected electronic content referred to in the sharing parameter SP can be accessed, the server S checks how many time the selected electronic content effectively was accessed.

In a step E 12 , the server S then checks whether the selected electronic content is currently played on the first user equipment UE 1 . In the embodiment where the sharing parameter SP is issued for a certain length of time, for example, as long as the shared electronic content is being played on the first user equipment UE 1 , steps E 11 and E 12 are one and the same.

In a step E 13 , if the sharing parameter SP is valid and the selected electronic content is currently played on the first user equipment UE 1 , the server S transmits the selected electronic content to the second user equipment UE 2 and triggers, in a step E 14 , the playing of the selected electronic content on the second user equipment UE 2 . Thus, the selected electronic content is played at the same time on the first user equipment UE 1 and on the second user equipment UE 2 .

In another embodiment of the method according to the invention, the server S triggers, during the step E 14 , the playing of the selected electronic content on the second user equipment UE 2 in order for the selected electronic content to be played synchronously on the first user equipment UE 1 and on the second user equipment UE 2 .

For example, a trailer of a movie is played on the first user equipment UE 1 . This trailer lasts 3:50 minutes. When the second communication session CS 2 is established between the second user equipment UE 2 and the server S, 1:30 minutes of the trailer has already played on the first user equipment UE 1 . The server S triggers the playing of the trailer on the second user equipment UE 2 starting at 1:30 minutes from the beginning of the trailer. In this embodiment, it is interesting that the two contents are played in synch on the first and second user equipment UE 1 and UE 2 . Indeed, the sharing may be subsequent to the two users viewing the content on UE 1 . The synchronization allows the second user to enjoy viewing the content even after leaving the first user. To do so, the server may check a timestamp describing which part of the content is currently played on UE 1 and transmit the content for rendering on the second user equipment UE 2 from that timestamp. The timestamp may be corrected by a time estimate of the transmission delays to the second user equipment UE 2 .

Thus the users of the first user equipment UE 1 and of the second user equipment UE 2 can watch the same event at the same time as if they were sharing the same screen and watching the trailer on this unique screen.

During step E 14 , the server S determines if a duration of the transmitted electronic content already played on the first user equipment UE 1 exceeds a threshold T. The threshold T may be for example 80%, i.e. the server S determines if 80% of the selected electronic content is already played on the first user equipment UE 1 . If it is the case, then the server S triggers the playing of the selected electronic content on the second user equipment UE 2 from the beginning of said transmitted electronic content.

In the embodiment where the sharing parameter SP is issued for a certain length of time, for example, as long as the shared electronic content is being played on the first user equipment UE 1 , if the server S determines during step E 12 that the selected electronic content is no longer played on the first user equipment UE 1 , the server S nevertheless transmits the select electronic content to the second user equipment UE 2 during a step E 15 .

FIG. 3 represents a second embodiment of the method of the invention. In this embodiment, steps E 1 to E 3 are the same in the previous embodiment and will not be described again.

During a step E 4 , which may be or may be not concomitant with step E 3 , the user equipment UE 1 sends a request R 3 for sharing at least one electronic content to the server S. The request R 3 comprises the identifier Id 3 of the second user equipment UE 2 and other information such as an authorization to play synchronously the selected electronic content on both user equipments UE 1 and UE 2 , the possibility for the second user equipment UE 2 to refuse the synchronization of the playing of the selected electronic content, etc.

In a step E 5 , the server S generate the sharing parameter SP based on the identifier Id 1 of the first user equipment UE 1 and the identifier Id 2 of the electronic content to be shared and the identifier Id 3 of the second user equipment UE 2 .

In a step E 6 ′, the server S sends a message MSG 1 ′ to the second user equipment UE 2 comprising the sharing parameter SP.

The transmission of the message MSG 1 ′ to the second user equipment UE 2 may be triggered by the user of the second user equipment UE 2 activating a link, such as an URL, displayed on the timeline of the account of the user of the first user equipment UE 1 on a social network. In this embodiment, the server S may send the sharing parameter SP to the first user equipment UE 1 as part of an URL that is intended to be displayed on the timeline of the account of the user of the first user equipment UE 1 on a social network.

In a step E 7 ′, the second user equipment UE 2 sends a message of acknowledgement Ack 2 ′ to the server S. Upon reception of the message of acknowledgment Ack 2 ′ by the server S, the communication session CS 2 is established.

In a step E 8 ′, the server S verifies if the sharing parameter SP is still valid. When the validity of the sharing parameter depends on the number of times the selected electronic content referred to in the sharing parameter SP can be accessed, the server S checks how many time the selected electronic content effectively was accessed.

In a step E 9 ′, the server S then checks whether the selected electronic content is currently played on the first user equipment UE 1 . In the embodiment where the sharing parameter SP is issued for a certain length of time, for example, as long as the shared electronic content is being played on the first user equipment UE 1 , steps E 8 ′ and E 9 ′ are one and the same.

In a step E 10 ′, if the sharing parameter SP is valid and the selected electronic content is currently played on the first user equipment UE 1 , the server S transmits the selected electronic content to the second user equipment UE 2 and triggers, in a step E 11 ′, the playing of the selected electronic content on the second user equipment UE 2 . Thus, the selected electronic content is played at the same time on the first user equipment UE 1 and on the second user equipment UE 2 .

In another embodiment of the method according to the invention, the server S triggers, during the step E 11 ′, the playing of the selected electronic content on the second user equipment UE 2 in order for the selected electronic content to be played synchronously on the first user equipment UE 1 and on the second user equipment UE 2 .

During step E 11 ′, the server S determines if a duration of the transmitted electronic content already played on the first user equipment UE 1 exceeds a threshold T. The threshold T may be for example 80%, i.e. the server S determines if 80% of the selected electronic content is already played on the first user equipment UE 1 . If it is the case, then the server S triggers the playing of the selected electronic content on the second user equipment UE 2 from the beginning of said transmitted electronic content.

In the embodiment where the sharing parameter SP is issued for a certain length of time, for example, as long as the shared electronic content is being played on the first user equipment UE 1 , if the server S determines during step E 9 ′ that the selected electronic content is no longer played on the first user equipment UE 1 , the server S nevertheless transmits the select electronic content to the second user equipment UE 2 during a step E 12 ′.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart detailing the steps of the method according to the first embodiment of the invention that are executed on the second user equipment side.

In a step G 1 , the second user equipment UE 2 receives the message MSG 2 sent by the first user equipment UE 1 and comprising the sharing parameter SP and a piece of information enabling the second user equipment UE 2 to communicate with the server S.

In an embodiment of the invention, upon reception of the message MSG 2 , the second user equipment UE 2 opens a web browser and displays a dedicated web page during a step G 2 . The user of the second user equipment UE 2 may access the selected electronic content via this web page. This web page contains an URL comprising the sharing parameter SP.

The activation of the URL in a step G 3 , triggers the transmission of the request R 4 to the server S for establishing a second communication session CS 2 between the second user equipment UE 2 and the server S. The request R 4 comprises the sharing parameter SP. The second user equipment UE 2 then receives the message of acknowledgment Ack 2 establishing the communication session CS 2 with the server S.

Then, steps E 11 to E 14 are executed.

In a step G 4 , if the servers S determines that the sharing parameter is no longer valid, the URL comprising the sharing parameter SP is bookmarked. Thus the user of the second user equipment UE 2 may access the selected content.

The bookmarking of the URL is either automatic or triggered by an action of the user of the second user equipment UE 2 . In the case of the automatic bookmarking, the detection of specific events triggers the bookmarking. These events may be the second user equipment UE 2 entering an idle mode, the launching or running of another application on the second user equipment UE 2 , etc.

In another embodiment of the invention, upon reception of the message MSG 2 , the second user equipment UE 2 opens a dedicated application during a step G 2 ′. The user of the second user equipment UE 2 may access the selected electronic content directly via this application. The sharing parameter SP and the piece of information enabling the second user equipment UE 2 to communicate with the server S are stored in a memory of the second user equipment dedicated to the dedicated application.

In a step G 3 ′, the application generates the request R 4 which is then transmitted to the server S for establishing a second communication session CS 2 between the second user equipment UE 2 and the server S. The request R 4 comprises the sharing parameter SP. The second user equipment UE 2 then receives the message of acknowledgment Ack 2 establishing the communication session CS 2 with the server S.

Then, steps E 11 to E 14 are executed.

In the step G 4 , if the servers S determines that the sharing parameter is no longer valid, a link pointing toward the selected electronic content is stored in the memory of the second user equipment dedicated to the dedicated application. Thus the user of the second user equipment UE 2 may access the selected content.

If the dedicated application is not installed on the second user equipment UE 2 , the reception of the message MSG 2 triggers the installation of the dedicated application on the second user equipment UE 2 . A pop-up message is displayed on a display of the second user equipment UE 2 asking to the user of the second user equipment UE 2 if he accepts or not the installation of the application on the second user equipment UE 2 .

If the user of the second user equipment UE 2 accepts the installation of the application, in a step G 10 directly following the step G 1 , the second user equipment sends a request R 5 for downloading the dedicated application to an application server AppS. The request R 5 comprises the sharing parameter SP and an identifier Id 3 of the second user equipment UE 2 .

In a step G 11 , the dedicated application is downloaded and installed on the second user equipment UE 2 .

Then steps G 2 ′ to G 4 are executed.

If when the user equipment is idle mode when the message MSG 2 is transmitted or if the user of the user equipment refuse the installation of the dedicated application on the second user equipment UE 2 , the sharing parameter SP and a piece of information enabling the second user equipment UE 2 to communicate with the server S comprised in the message MSG 2 are stored in the second user equipment UE 2 , for example as a bookmark in the web browser so that the user of the second user equipment may access the selected electronic content later. A link pointing toward the application server AppS may also be stored for a future use.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart detailing the steps of the method according to the second embodiment of the invention that are executed on the second user equipment side.

In a step H 1 , the second user equipment UE 2 receives the message MSG 1 ′ sent by the server S and comprising the sharing parameter.

In an embodiment of the invention, upon reception of the message MSG 1 ′, the second user equipment UE 2 opens a web browser and displays a dedicated web page during a step H 2 . The user of the second user equipment UE 2 may access the selected electronic content via this web page. This web page contains an URL comprising the sharing parameter SP.

The activation of the URL in a step H 3 , triggers the transmission of the message of acknowledgement Ack 2 ′ to the server S for establishing a second communication session CS 2 between the second user equipment UE 2 and the server S.

Then, steps E 8 ′ to E 12 ′ are executed.

In a step H 4 , if the server S determines that the sharing parameter is no longer valid, the URL comprising the sharing parameter SP is bookmarked. Thus the user of the second user equipment UE 2 may access the selected content.

The bookmarking of the URL is either automatic or triggered by an action of the user of the second user equipment UE 2 . In the case of the automatic bookmarking, the detection of specific events triggers the bookmarking. These events may be the second user equipment UE 2 entering an idle mode, the launching or running of another application on the second user equipment UE 2 , etc.

In another embodiment of the invention, upon reception of the message MSG 1 ′, the second user equipment UE 2 opens a dedicated application during a step H 2 ′. The user of the second user equipment UE 2 may access the selected electronic content directly via this application. The sharing parameter SP and the piece of information enabling the second user equipment UE 2 to communicate with the server S are stored in a memory of the second user equipment dedicated to the dedicated application.

In a step H 3 ′, the application generates the message of acknowledgement Ack 2 ′ which is then transmitted to the server S for establishing a second communication session CS 2 between the second user equipment UE 2 and the server S establishing the communication session CS 2 with the server S.

Then, steps E 8 ′ to E 12 ′ are executed.

In the step H 4 , if the server S determines that the sharing parameter is no longer valid, a link pointing toward the selected electronic content is stored in the memory of the second user equipment dedicated to the dedicated application. Thus the user of the second user equipment UE 2 may access the selected content.

If the dedicated application is not installed on the second user equipment UE 2 , the reception of the message MSG 2 triggers the installation of the dedicated application on the second user equipment UE 2 . A pop-up message is displayed on a display of the second user equipment UE 2 asking to the user of the second user equipment UE 2 if he accepts or not the installation of the application on the second user equipment UE 2 .

If the user of the second user equipment UE 2 accepts the installation of the application, in a step H 10 directly following the step H 1 , the second user equipment sends a request R 5 for downloading the dedicated application to an application server AppS. The request R 5 comprises the sharing parameter SP and an identifier Id 3 of the second user equipment UE 2 .

In a step H 11 , the dedicated application is downloaded and installed on the second user equipment UE 2 .

Then steps H 2 ′ to H 4 are executed.

If when the user equipment is idle mode when the message MSG 2 is transmitted or if the user of the user equipment refuse the installation of the dedicated application on the second user equipment UE 2 , the sharing parameter SP and a piece of information enabling the second user equipment UE 2 to communicate with the server S comprised in the message MSG 2 are stored in the second user equipment UE 2 , for example as a bookmark in the web browser so that the user of the second user equipment may access the selected electronic content later. A link pointing toward the application server AppS may also be stored for a future use.