Method for Providing Access to Media Content Through A Server

• US 20100058398A1
• Filed: 09/04/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conversant Wireless Licensing S.à.r.l. (f/k/a Core Wireless Licensing S.a.r.l.) (MOSAID Technologies Inc. (f/k/a Conversant Intellectual Property Management))
• Original Assignee: 2011 Intellectual Property Asset Trust (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Wikman, Johan, Lahtiranta, Atte, Ojala, Juho, Nurminen, Jukka K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,881,204 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/62
• 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 12/2829 involving user profiles according to which the execution of a home appliance functionality is automatically triggered
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1059 End-user terminal functionalities specially adapted for real-time communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A system for providing devices such as WCDs, televisions, stereos, video game systems, etc. access to media content through an entity such as a web server. In accordance with at least one embodiment, UPnP or DLNA compliant devices may utilize a user'"'"'s home network to access a user'"'"'s media library from on an online media service. The media service may provide a user interface to the device to enable the user to access his media library. The media may be stored on a networked storage device connected to the media service, on the user'"'"'s network devices, on the user'"'"'s WCD, etc. The media service may automatically query the user'"'"'s WCD to determine the presence of other persons in his proximity, and determine their preferences. A customized media stream that is suitable for the whole group may be generated based at least in part on the combined preferences of the group.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

connecting an apparatus to a server configured to maintain media collection information corresponding to one or more users registered in the server;

displaying a user interface provided by the server on the apparatus, the user interface including media collection information corresponding to at least one of the registered users, the media collection information comprising media file identification information;

granting access to one or more media files corresponding to media file identification information selected through the user interface.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a UPnP or DLNA compliant device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a wireless device controls the apparatus through a short-range wireless link.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a wireless device connected to the apparatus selects a device to process the selected media files based on file type information of the media files.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a wireless device connected to the apparatus selects a device to process the selected media files based on past used device information.

6. A method, comprising:

connecting a wireless device to an apparatus;

connecting the apparatus to a server configured to maintain media collection information corresponding to one or more users registered in the server;

obtaining media usage information of one or more users in proximity to the wireless device, the one or more users being registered in the server;

generating media collection information corresponding to the one or more users based on the media usage information;

displaying a user interface provided by the server on the apparatus, the user interface including the media collection information comprising media file identification information; and

granting access to one or more media files corresponding to the media file identification information selected through the user interface.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus is connected to the wireless device via a short-range wireless link, and obtaining media usage information comprises:

obtaining, via the short-range wireless link, identification information of the one or more users.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the media usage information includes preferences of the one or more users based on past media consumption of the one or more users.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein obtaining identification information includes obtaining a list of Bluetooth Device Addresses of other wireless devices in proximity to the wireless device.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus is a UPnP or DLNA compliant device.

11. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied in said medium, comprising:

a computer readable program code configured to connect an apparatus to a server configured to maintain media collection information corresponding to one or more users registered in the server;

a computer readable program code configured to display a user interface provided by the server on the apparatus, the user interface including media collection information corresponding to at least one of the registered users, the media collection information comprising media file identification information;

a computer readable program code configured to grant access to one or more media files corresponding to media file identification information selected through the user interface.

12. The computer program product according to claim 11, wherein the apparatus is a UPnP or DLNA compliant device.

13. The computer program product according to claim 11, wherein a wireless device connected to the apparatus selects a device to process the selected media files based on file type information of the media files.

14. The computer program product according to claim 11, wherein a wireless device connected to the apparatus selects a device to process the selected media files based on past used device information.

15. The computer program product according to claim 11, wherein a wireless device controls the apparatus through a short-range wireless link.

16. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied in said medium, comprising:

a computer readable program code configured to connect a wireless device to an apparatus;

a computer readable program code configured to connect the apparatus to a server configured to maintain media collection information corresponding to one or more users registered in the server;

a computer readable program code configured to obtain, via the short-range wireless link, media usage information of one or more users in proximity to the wireless device, the one or more users being registered in the server;

a computer readable program code configured to generate media collection information corresponding to the one or more users based on the media usage information;

a computer readable program code configured to display a user interface provided by the server on the apparatus, the user interface including the media collection information comprising media file identification information; and

a computer readable program code configured to grant access to one or more media files corresponding to the media file identification information selected through the user interface.

17. The computer program product according to claim 16, wherein the apparatus is connected to the wireless device via a short-range wireless link, and obtaining media usage information comprises:

a computer readable program code configured to obtain, via the short-range wireless link, identification information of the one or more users.

18. The computer program product according to claim 16, wherein the media usage information includes preferences of the one or more users based on past media consumption of the one or more users.

19. The computer program product according to claim 17, wherein obtaining identification information includes obtaining a list of Bluetooth Device Addresses of other wireless devices in proximity to the wireless device.

20. The computer program product according to claim 16, wherein the apparatus is a UPnP or DLNA compliant device.

21. An apparatus comprising:

a storage device configured to store media collection information corresponding to one or more users registered in the server;

a processor operably connected to the storage device, the processor configured to;

connect to a second apparatus;

display a user interface on the second apparatus, the user interface including media collection information corresponding to at least one of the registered users, the media collection information comprising media file identification information;

grant access to one or more media files corresponding to the media file identification information selected through the user interface.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the second apparatus is a UPnP or DLNA compliant device.

23. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein a wireless device controls the second apparatus through a short-range wireless link.

24. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein a wireless device connected to the second apparatus selects a device to process the selected media files based on file type information of the media files.

25. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein a wireless device connected to the second apparatus selects a device to process the selected media files based on past used device information.

26. A system comprising:

an apparatus connected to a server, the server configured to;

maintain media collection information corresponding to one or more users registered in the server;

display a user interface provided by the server on the apparatus, the user interface including media collection information corresponding to at least one of the registered users, the media collection information comprising media file identification information;

grant access to one or more media files corresponding to media file identification information selected through the user interface.