Methods and apparatus for providing media from content providers using a network interface device

• US 20070283046A1
• Filed: 11/10/2006
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Solutions Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Solutions Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Dietrich, Bradley, Putterman, Daniel, Peters, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 9,621,605 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/245
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/116 Details of conversion of file system types or formats
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/13 File access structures, e.g. distributed indices arrangements of input from, or output to, record carriers G06F3/06
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2812 describing content present in a home automation network, e.g. audio video content retrieval from the Internet G06F16/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1013 Network architectures, gateways, control or user entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/75 Media network packet handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561

Abstract

A network bridge connects a host device, such as digital media player, cell phone or camera, to content sources over a network to permit the host device to transmit or receive digital media. The network bridge includes a network interface module that identifies at least one media source as well as digital media available on the network. A host device interface module receives, from the host device, file system requests in accordance with a protocol, such as a mass storage protocol. In response to the request, a host device protocol interface module on the network bridge translates the file system request to a request for digital media. The network interface module acquires digital media from the media source, and the host device interface module transfers the digital media to the host device in accordance with the interface protocol. The network bridge may connect to one or more services that provide content to the host device. For example, the services may be accessible over the Internet. In other embodiments, the network bridge implements protocols to add functionality to the host device.

Claims

1. A media system comprising:

a wide area network;

a content provider, coupled to said wide area network, for providing at least one block media item to said wide area network; and

a portable network bridge for receiving, from a host device, at a least one request in accordance with a mass storage protocol, for translating said block global request to a media request for at least one media item at said content provider, and for transferring said media request to said content provider.

2. The media system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said file system request comprises a request to transfer media from said content provider to said portable network bridge;

said content provider for receiving said block request and for transferring a media item to said portable network bridge; and

said portable network bridge for transferring said media item to said host device.

3. The media system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said portable network bridge further for transferring said media item to said host device by presenting said media item in a file system through the block device.

4. The media system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said file system request comprises a request to view at least a partial list of media items available from said content provider; and

said portable network bridge further for generating a content directory that organizes the list of media available over said network, and for presenting said content directory to said host device in accordance with said mass storage protocol.

5. The media system as set forth in claim 4, wherein presenting said content directory to said host device comprises presenting said content directory as directory information in a file system.

6. The media system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said media item comprises video.

7. The media system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said media item comprises audio.

8. The media system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said media item comprises a digital photo.

9. The media system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the portable network bridge is for identifying at least one service provider available on said network,

10. A media system comprising:

a wide area network;

at least one content provider, coupled to said wide area network, for providing at least one media item to said wide area network;

a portable network bridge for receiving, from a host device, a block request in accordance with a mass storage protocol, for translating said block request to a media request for at least one media item, and for transferring said media request to said wide area network; and

a media service, coupled to said wide area network, for receiving said media request and for providing a response to said media request to said portable network bridge for media items from said content provider.

11. The media system as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

said block request comprises a request to view at least a partial list of media items available from said media service; and

said portable network bridge further for generating a content directory that organizes said media available from said media service, and for presenting said content directory to said host device in accordance with said mass storage protocol.

12. The media system as set forth in claim 11, wherein said content directory comprises a content directory of media available from a plurality of content providers.

13. The media system as set forth in claim 11, wherein said content directory comprises a view of a content directory customized by or for a user and comprising media available from one or more content providers.

14. The media system as set forth in claim 11, wherein presenting said content directory to said host device comprises presenting said content directory as directory information in a file system.

15. The media system as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

said file system request comprises a request to transfer media from said content provider to said portable network bridge;

said media service for receiving said file system request and for establishing a connection between said content provider and said portable network bridge;

said content provider for transferring a media item to said portable network bridge; and

said portable network bridge for transferring said media item to said host device.

16. The media system as set forth in claim 15, wherein said portable network bridge further for transferring said media item to said host device by presenting said media item in a file system through the block device.

17. The media system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said media service further stores group information, wherein said group information identifies at least two portable network bridges.

18. The media system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said media service further associates an account with a portable network bridge to provide at least one media item from at least one content provider.

19. The media system as set forth in claim 10, wherein at least one content provider comprises a plurality of content providers.

20. A method for downloading media items from at least one content provider, said method comprising:

receiving at a portable network bridge from a host device a file system request in accordance with a mass storage protocol;

translating said file system request to a media request for at least one media item;

transferring said media request a media service; and

generating a response to said media request at said media service for media items available from at least one said content provider.