Systems and methods for managing and aggregating media formats
First Claim
1. A system for accessing the content of various types of media files using a single interface, comprising:
- a client receiver for receiving remote data from a remote device, where the remote data includes remote program modules and remote media format access data that corresponds to a set of remote media formats;
a client storage unit for storing client data, the client data further comprising;
a roster of client media formats that are accessible by the system;
a set of client media format access data; and
a set of client program modules;
wherein received remote media format access data is stored as client media format access data, and received remote program modules are stored as client program modules;
a client transmitter for transmitting client data to the remote device, wherein client data sent by the transmitter to the remote device includes status information that indicates the status of the client data; and
a client processor for executing any of the set of client program modules and for using the client media format access data to access the content of media files.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods remotely aggregate codecs, media player standards, or other media format access data such that a media player resident on a client device can access the content of media files of virtually any media format through a single universal media player having a graphical user interface. Thus, the user need not utilize multiple media players or manually associate of media file types with the appropriate media player. The most recent versions of media formats are maintained remotely such that updates are provided via a network interface between the client device and the remote server. Program modules that generate the universal media player are also remotely managed by the remote server such that the application is continually updated. Whenever a user encounters a media file of a previously unencountered or unsupported media file type, the universal media player retrieves the appropriate media format access data to access the file.
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Citations
82 Claims
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1. A system for accessing the content of various types of media files using a single interface, comprising:
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a client receiver for receiving remote data from a remote device, where the remote data includes remote program modules and remote media format access data that corresponds to a set of remote media formats;
a client storage unit for storing client data, the client data further comprising;
a roster of client media formats that are accessible by the system;
a set of client media format access data; and
a set of client program modules;
wherein received remote media format access data is stored as client media format access data, and received remote program modules are stored as client program modules;
a client transmitter for transmitting client data to the remote device, wherein client data sent by the transmitter to the remote device includes status information that indicates the status of the client data; and
a client processor for executing any of the set of client program modules and for using the client media format access data to access the content of media files. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for maintaining and distributing media formats, comprising:
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a remote media format controller for compiling remote media format access data usable for accessing the content of a set of remote media formats, and for updating the remote media format access data;
a remote program module controller for compiling and updating a set of remote program modules;
a remote storage unit for storing the remote media format access data and the set of remote program modules;
a remote encrypter for encrypting the remote media format access data and the remote program modules; and
a remote transmitter for transmitting remote media format access data and remote program modules to at least one client device that is connected the communications network;
wherein the set of remote media formats includes all commercially available media formats. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of displaying content of media files, comprising:
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storing a set of client program modules and a set of client media format access data on a client device;
connecting the client device to a communications network;
comparing the set of client media format access data to a set of remote media format access data;
downloading members of a set of remote media format access data in response to the media format comparison;
storing the members of the set of remote media format access data in the set of client media format access data on the client device; and
accessing the content of the media files using the client media format access data. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method of maintaining and distributing media format access data, comprising:
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compiling a set of remote media format access data that is usable to access the content of any commercially available media format;
storing the set of remote media format access data on a remote server;
storing additional media format access data in the set of remote media formats by obtaining the additional media format access data; and
downloading media format access data to a client device. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A machine readable medium having stored thereon executable code which causes a machine to perform a method of displaying content of media files, the method comprising:
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storing a set of client program modules and a set of client media format access data on a client device;
connecting the client device to a communications network;
comparing the set of client media format access data to a set of remote media format access data;
downloading members of a set of remote media format access data in response to the media format comparison;
storing the members of the set of remote media format access data in the set of client media format access data on the client device; and
accessing the content of the media files using the client media format access data. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 82)
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70. A machine readable medium having stored thereon executable code which causes a machine to perform a method for maintaining and distributing media format access data, the method comprising:
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compiling a set of remote media format access data that is usable to access the content of any commercially available media format;
storing the set of remote media format access data on a remote server;
storing additional media format access data in the set of remote media formats by obtaining the additional media format access data; and
downloading media format access data to a client device. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81)
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Specification