SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PLACE-SHIFTING MEDIA ITEMS
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- providing a group comprising a plurality of users associated with a plurality of user devices, wherein a plurality of media items are shared with the group by at least one of the plurality of users; and
enabling place-shifting of the plurality of media items among the plurality of user devices associated with the plurality of users in such a manner that a media item of the plurality of media items is played by at most a number (N) of user devices from the plurality of user devices at any one time, the number (N) being a function of collective rights of the plurality of users to the media item.
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Abstract
A system and method are provided for place-shifting media items. In general, a media zone broker operates to enable place-shifting of media items shared with the media zone by associated users among user devices of the associated users in such a manner that each media item is played by at most a number (N) of the user devices at any one time. The number (N) is a function of collective rights to the media item of one or more of the users sharing the media item in the media zone. In one embodiment, the number (N) is the number of users sharing the media item in the media zone or a function of the number of users sharing the media item in the media zone.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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providing a group comprising a plurality of users associated with a plurality of user devices, wherein a plurality of media items are shared with the group by at least one of the plurality of users; and enabling place-shifting of the plurality of media items among the plurality of user devices associated with the plurality of users in such a manner that a media item of the plurality of media items is played by at most a number (N) of user devices from the plurality of user devices at any one time, the number (N) being a function of collective rights of the plurality of users to the media item. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system comprising:
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a communication interface communicatively coupling the system to a plurality of user devices associated with a plurality of users via a network; and a control system associated with the communication interface and adapted to; form a group comprising the plurality of users, wherein a plurality of media items are shared with the group by at least one of the plurality of users; and enable place-shifting of the plurality of media items among the plurality of user devices associated with the plurality of users in such a manner that a media item of the plurality of media items is played by at most a number (N) of user devices from the plurality of user devices at any one time, the number (N) being a function of collective rights of the plurality of users to the media item.
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20. A method of operation of a user device comprising:
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sending a request to a media broker for at least one media item of a plurality of media items, wherein the media broker enables place- shifting of the plurality of media items among a plurality of user devices including the user device associated with a plurality of users in such a manner that a media item of the plurality of media items is played by at most a number (N) of user devices from the plurality of user devices at any one time, the number (N) being a function of collective rights of the plurality of users to the media item;
receiving availability information from the media broker identifying, for each media item of the at least one media item requested, a scheduled time at which the media item is scheduled for playback at the user device; andfor each media item of the at least one media item requested, obtaining the media item; and effecting playback of the media item at the scheduled time for the media item. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A user device comprising:
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a communication interface communicatively coupling the user device to a network; and a control system associated with the communication interface and adapted to; send a request to a media broker for at least one media item of a plurality of media items, wherein the media broker enables place-shifting of the plurality of media items among a plurality of user devices including the user device associated with a plurality of users in such a manner that a media item of the plurality of media items is played by at most a number (N) of user devices from the plurality of user devices at any one time, the number (N) being a function of collective rights of the plurality of users to the media item; receive availability information from the media broker identifying, for each media item of the at least one media item requested, a scheduled time at which the media item is scheduled for playback at the user device; and for each media item of the at least one media item requested; obtain the media item; and effect playback of the media item at the scheduled time for the media item.
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Specification