Playlist compilation system and method

• US 20060242106A1
• Filed: 04/22/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Bank, Bryna
• Granted Patent: US 8,516,093 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 dummy group

Abstract

A method, computer program product and client electronic device for storing, in a memory of a client electronic device, a location of at least one remote media data file available to stream from a server device. A location of at least one local media data file available on the client electronic device is stored in the memory of the client electronic device. A playlist is compiled that defines the location of the at least one remote media data file and the location of the at least one local media data file. The at least one local media data file and the at least one remote media data file in the playlist are rendered and metadata concerning the at least one local media data file rendered is transmitted to the server device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing, in a memory of a client electronic device, a location of at least one remote media data file available to stream from a server device;

storing, in the memory of the client electronic device, a location of at least one local media data file available on the client electronic device;

compiling a playlist that defines the location of the at least one remote media data file and the location of the at least one local media data file;

rendering the at least one local media data file and the at least one remote media data file defined in the playlist; and

transmitting metadata to the server device concerning the at least one local media data file rendered.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting metadata to the server device concerning the at least one local media data file includes:

transmitting metadata to the server device to enable the server device to generate suggested metadata for a playlist based upon the at least one local media data file rendered.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

receiving the suggested metadata from the server device; and

compiling a suggested playlist based upon the suggested metadata.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein transmitting metadata to the server device concerning the at least one local media data file further includes:

transmitting metadata related to the rendered local media data file from the client electronic device to the server device to enable the server device to determine user preferences based upon the at least one remote media data file rendered and to generate a playlist based upon the rendered remote media data file.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein storing, in a memory of a client electronic device, a location of at least one remote media data file includes:

defining at least one of a uniform resource locator, a file transfer protocol address, and an internet protocol address.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein storing, in the memory of the client electronic device, a location of at least one local media data includes:

defining at least one of a drive, a path, and a filename.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sorting the playlist in accordance with the location of the at least one remote media data file and the location of the at least one local media data file.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the client electronic device is chosen from the group consisting of:

a client computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, a television, a cable box, an internet radio, and a dedicated network device.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

conditionally granting access to the at least one remote media data file based upon the existence of a media subscription.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the metadata is chosen from the group consisting of:

an artist identifier;

an album identifier;

a track identifier;

an album cover image; and

a music genre identifier.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

authenticating a user of the client electronic device to establish that the user is a subscriber of a media distribution system.

12. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

store, in a memory of a client electronic device, a location of at least one remote media data file available to stream from a server device;

store, in the memory of the client electronic device, a location of at least one local media data file available on the client electronic device;

compile a playlist that defines the location of the at least one remote media data file and the location of the at least one local media data file;

render the at least one local media data file and the at least one remote media data file defined in the playlist; and

transmit metadata to the server device concerning the at least one local media data file rendered.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the instructions for transmitting metadata to the server device concerning the at least one local media data file include instructions for:

transmitting metadata to the server device to enable the server device to generate suggested metadata for a playlist based upon the at least one local media data file rendered.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising instructions for:

receiving the suggested metadata from the server device; and

compiling a suggested playlist based upon the suggested metadata.

15. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein the instructions for transmitting metadata to the server device concerning the at least one local media data file further include instructions for:

transmitting metadata related to the rendered local media data file from the client electronic device to the server device to enable the server device to determine user preferences based upon the at least one remote media data file rendered and to generate a playlist based upon the rendered remote media data file.

16. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the instruction for storing, in a memory of a client electronic device, a location of at least one remote media data file include instructions for:

defining at least one of a uniform resource locator, a file transfer protocol address, and an internet protocol address.

17. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the instructions for storing, in the memory of the client electronic device, a location of at least one local media data include instructions for:

defining at least one of a drive, a path, and a filename.

18. The computer program product of claim 12 further comprising instructions for:

sorting the playlist in accordance with the location of the at least one remote media data file and the location of the at least one local media data file.

19. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the client electronic device is chosen from the group consisting of:

a client computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, a television, a cable box, an internet radio, and a dedicated network device.

20. The computer program product of claim 12 further comprising instructions for:

conditionally granting access to the at least one remote media data file based upon the existence of a media subscription.

21. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the metadata is chosen from the group consisting of:

an artist identifier;

an album identifier;

a track identifier;

an album cover image; and

a music genre identifier.

22. A client electronic device, configured to receive media streams distributed from a server device, the client electronic device further configured to:

store, in a memory of the client electronic device, a location of at least one remote media data file available to stream from the server device;

store, in the memory of the client electronic device, a location of at least one local media data file available on the client electronic device;

compile a playlist that defines the location of the at least one remote media data file and the location of the at least one local media data file;

render the at least one local media data file and the at least one remote media data file defined in the playlist; and

transmit metadata to the server device concerning the at least one local media data file rendered.

23. The client electronic device of claim 22 wherein transmitting metadata to the server device concerning the at least one local media data file includes:

transmitting metadata to the server device to enable the server device to generate suggested metadata for a playlist based upon the at least one local media data file rendered.

24. The client electronic device of claim 23, wherein the client electronic device is further configured for:

receiving the suggested metadata from the server device; and

compiling a suggested playlist based upon the suggested metadata.

25. The client electronic device of claim 23 wherein transmitting metadata to the server device concerning the at least one local media data file further includes:

transmitting metadata related to the rendered local media data file from the client electronic device to the server device to enable the server device to determine user preferences based upon the at least one remote media data file rendered and to generate a playlist based upon the rendered remote media data file.

26. The client electronic device of claim 22 wherein storing, in a memory of a client electronic device, a location of at least one remote media data file includes:

defining at least one of a uniform resource locator, a file transfer protocol address, and an internet protocol address.

27. The client electronic device of claim 22 wherein storing, in the memory of the client electronic device, a location of at least one local media data includes:

defining at least one of a drive, a path, and a filename.

28. The client electronic device of claim 22, wherein the client electronic device is further configured for:

sorting the playlist in accordance with the location of the at least one remote media data file and the location of the at least one local media data file.

29. The client electronic device of claim 22 wherein the client electronic device is chosen from the group consisting of:

a client computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, a television, a cable box, an internet radio, and a dedicated network device.

30. The client electronic device of claim 22, wherein the client electronic device is further configured for:

conditionally granting access to the at least one remote media data file based upon the existence of a media subscription.

31. The client electronic device of claim 22 wherein the metadata is chosen from the group consisting of:

an artist identifier;

an album identifier;

a track identifier;

an album cover image; and

a music genre identifier.

32. A method comprising:

compiling a playlist that includes metadata related to a location of at least one media data file;

receiving an indication to append the playlist to include a location of a second media data file;

determining if the playlist includes metadata related to a location of a first media data file that corresponds to the second media data file to be appended to the playlist; and

if the playlist includes metadata related to the location of the first media data file and the first media data file corresponds to the second media data file;

determining the priority of the first media data file with respect to the priority of the second media data file; and

if the priority of the second media data file exceeds the priority of the first media data file, modifying the playlist to indicate the location of the second media data file and remove the location of the first media data file.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising:

rendering the at least one media data file accordingly to the metadata included in the playlist, wherein the metadata defines the location of the at least one media data file.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein:

a purchased media data file has the highest priority, a tethered media data file has a medium priority, and a remote media data file has the lowest priority.

35. The method of claim 32 further comprising:

if the playlist fails to include metadata related to the location of the first media data file or the first media data file does not correspond to the second media data file, appending the playlist to include the location of the second media data file.

36. The method of claim 32 wherein the at least one media data file includes:

at least one remote media data file available to stream from a server device; and

at least one local media data file available on a client electronic device.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the client electronic device is chosen from the group consisting of:

a client computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, a television, a cable box, an internet radio, and a dedicated network device.

38. The method of claim 32 wherein the first media data file is a tethered media data file, and the second media data file is a purchased media data file that exceeds the priority of the tethered media data file.

39. The method of claim 32 wherein the first media data file is a remote media data file, and the second media data file is a tethered media data file that exceeds the priority of the remote media data file.

40. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

compile a playlist that includes metadata related to a location of at least one media data file;

receive an indication to append the playlist to include a location of a second media data file;

determine if the playlist includes metadata related to a location of a first media data file that corresponds to the second media data file to be appended to the playlist; and

if the playlist includes metadata related to the location of the first media data file and the first media data file corresponds to the second media data file;

determine the priority of the first media data file with respect to the priority of the second media data file; and

if the priority of the second media data file exceeds the priority of the first media data file, modify the playlist to indicate the location of the second media data file and remove the location of the first media data file.

41. The computer program product of claim 40 further comprising instruction for:

rendering the at least one media data file accordingly to the metadata included in the playlist, wherein the metadata defines the location of the at least one media data file.

42. The computer program product of claim 40 wherein:

a purchased media data file has the highest priority, a tethered media data file has a medium priority, and a remote media data file has the lowest priority.

43. The computer program product of claim 40 further comprising instructions for:

if the playlist fails to include metadata related to the location of the first media data file or the first media data file does not correspond to the second media data file, appending the playlist to include the location of the second media data file.

44. The computer program product of claim 40 wherein the at least one media data file includes:

at least one remote media data file available to stream from a server device; and

at least one local media data file available on a client electronic device.

45. The computer program product of claim 44 wherein the client electronic device is chosen from the group consisting of:

a client computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, a television, a cable box, an internet radio, and a dedicated network device.

46. The computer program product of claim 40 wherein the first media data file is a tethered media data file, and the second media data file is a purchased media data file that exceeds the priority of the tethered media data file.

47. The computer program product of claim 40 wherein the first media data file is a remote media data file, and the second media data file is a tethered media data file that exceeds the priority of the remote media data file.

48. A client electronic device, configured to receive media streams distributed from a server device, the client electronic device further configured to:

compile a playlist that includes metadata related to a location of at least one media data file;

receive an indication to append the playlist to include a location of a second media data file;

determine if the playlist includes metadata related to a location of a first media data file that corresponds to the second media data file to be appended to the playlist; and

if the playlist includes metadata related to the location of the first media data file and the first media data file corresponds to the second media data file;

determine the priority of the first media data file with respect to the priority of the second media data file; and

if the priority of the second media data file exceeds the priority of the first media data file, modify the playlist to indicate the location of the second media data file and remove the location of the first media data file.

49. The client electronic device of claim 48, wherein the client electronic device is further configured for:

rendering the at least one media data file accordingly to the metadata included in the playlist, wherein the metadata defines the location of the at least one media data file.

50. The client electronic device of claim 48 wherein:

a purchased media data file has the highest priority, a tethered media data file has a medium priority, and a remote media data file has the lowest priority.

51. The client electronic device of claim 48, wherein the client electronic device is further configured for:

if the playlist fails to include metadata related to the location of the first media data file or the first media data file does not correspond to the second media data file, appending the playlist to include the location of the second media data file.

52. The client electronic device of claim 48 wherein the at least one media data file includes:

at least one remote media data file available to stream from the server device; and

at least one local media data file available on the client electronic device.

53. The client electronic device of claim 48 wherein the client electronic device is chosen from the group consisting of:

a client computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, a television, a cable box, an internet radio, and a dedicated network device.

54. The client electronic device of claim 48 wherein the first media data file is a tethered media data file, and the second media data file is a purchased media data file that exceeds the priority of the tethered media data file.

55. The client electronic device of claim 48 wherein the first media data file is a remote media data file, and the second media data file is a tethered media data file that exceeds the priority of the remote media data file.

56. A method comprising:

storing, in a memory of a client electronic device, a location of at least one remote media data file available to stream from a server device;

storing, in the memory of the client electronic device, at least one local media data file;

compiling a playlist that includes the location on the server device of the at least one remote media data file and a location on the client electronic device of the at least one local media data file;

receiving an indication to render the media data files in the playlist; and

in response to the indication to render, determining if a specific media data file is available for rendering from the memory of the client electronic device and, if the specific media data file is unavailable for rendering, rendering the remote media data file that corresponds to the specific media data file via a media data stream from the server device.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein storing, in a memory of a client electronic device, a location of at least one remote media data file includes defining at least one of a uniform resource locator, a file transfer protocol address, and an internet protocol address.

58. The method of claim 56 wherein storing, in the memory of the client electronic device, at least one local media data file includes defining at least one of a drive, a path, and a filename.

59. The method of claim 56 wherein storing, in the memory of the client electronic device, at least one local media data file includes:

downloading the at least one local media data file from the server device via a distributed computing network.

60. The method of claim 56 wherein storing, in the memory of the client electronic device, at least one local media data file includes:

ripping the at least one local media data file from a local drive coupled to the client electronic device.

61. A method comprising:

comparing at least one client-based playlist stored in a memory of a client electronic device to at least one server-based playlist stored in a memory of a server device and indicating whether the at least one client-based playlist and the at least one server-based playlist need to be synchronized; and

if synchronization is indicated, synchronizing the at least one client-based playlist and the at least one server-based playlist.

62. The method of claim 61 further comprising:

authenticating a user to establish that the user is a subscriber of a media distribution system.

63. The method of claim 61 wherein comparing includes:

comparing the at least one client-based playlist stored in the memory of the client electronic device to the at least one server-based playlist stored in the memory of the server device to determine if either device contains a new playlist that is not present on the other device.

64. The method of claim 61 wherein comparing includes:

comparing the at least one client-based playlist stored in the memory of the client electronic device to the at least one server-based playlist stored in the memory of the server device to verify that each device contains a common version of any playlist that is stored on both devices.

65. The method of claim 64 wherein the common version includes the newest version.

66. The method of claim 61 wherein synchronizing includes:

copying a client-based playlist stored in the memory of the client electronic device to the memory of the server device.

67. The method of claim 61 wherein synchronizing includes:

copying a server-based playlist stored in the memory of the server device to the memory of the client electronic device.