Media delivery system based on media assets stored in different devices connectable through a communication means

• US 20110167344A1
• Filed: 01/04/2010
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Yang Pan
• Original Assignee: Yang Pan
• Inventors: Pan, Yang
• Application Number:
  US12/651,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20110167344A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/716
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/44 Browsing; Visualisation therefor

Abstract

A media delivery system is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of devices connectable through a communication network and/or a connector. Media assets may be stored in different devices. Metadata of all the media assets may be stored in each device and is updated whenever it is necessary. A user interface representing media assets available to the user from all connected device at the moment of usages is displayed to the user through an input device.

Claims

1. A media delivery system comprising:

a. a plurality of devices connectable through a communication means;

b. a plurality of media assets stored in the devices; and

c. a hierarchical user interface for all available media assets from the devices being connected.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said devices including one or more devices from the following group:

a. a portable media player;

b. a personal computer;

c. a HiFi audio system;

d. a set-top box;

e. an automobile media delivery system; and

f. a media server.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said devices comprising at least one device including a plurality of media assets not own by the user, wherein a subset of the assets may have been selected by the user using bookmarks that are available to the user through the hierarchical user interface.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said media assets including:

a. an audio file;

b. a video file;

c. an image;

d. a game;

e. a text file; and

f. a multimedia file.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said communication means further including:

a. the Internet;

b. an ad hoc communication network conforming to one or a combination of standards including;

IEEE 802.11;

IEEE 802.15.1, IEEE 802.15.4 and their amendments;

c. a Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) type of connector; and

d. an IEEE 1394 type of connector.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said each device including a data file comprising a list of metadata of all available media assets, wherein said data file may be updated when each time the connection of devices is altered.

7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein said metadata including a data structure comprising a field indicating the device (s) the media asset is stored.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said user interface including the metadata of the assets own by the user and that of the assets not own by the user, wherein the difference is indicated by a visible symbol when the user interface is displayed, wherein the user may decide to purchase an asset before the asset is played.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said system further comprising a means of transferring the selected media asset from a connected device to the operating device for playing by employing said communication means.

10. A method of selecting a media asset by a user from a plurality of media assets stored in a plurality of devices connectable through a communication means, the method comprising:

a. selecting one device for playing a media asset;

b. determining devices being connected to the selected device;

c. determining media assets available to the user in the selected device and in the devices being connected; and

d. displaying a hierarchical user interface for the available media assets.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said devices including one or more devices from the following group:

a. a portable media player;

b. a personal computer;

c. a HiFi audio system;

d. a set-top box;

e. an automobile media delivery system; and

f. a media server.

12. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said devices comprising at least one device including a plurality of media assets not own by the user, wherein a subset of the assets may have been selected by the user using bookmarks that are available to the user through the hierarchical user interface.

13. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said media assets including:

a. an audio file;

b. a video file;

c. an image;

d. a game;

e. a text file; and

f. a multimedia file.

14. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said communication means further including:

a. the Internet;

b. an ad hoc communication network conforming to one of or a combination of the following standards;

IEEE 802.11;

IEEE 802.15.1;

IEEE 802.15.4 and their amendments;

c. a Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) type of connector; and

d. an IEEE 1394 type of connector.

15. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said each device including a data file comprising a list of metadata of all available media assets, wherein said data file may be updated when each time the connection of the devices is altered.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein said metadata of the media asset including a data structure comprising a field indicating the device (s) that the media asset is stored.

17. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said user interface including the metadata of the assets own by the user and that of the assets not own by the user, wherein the difference is indicated by a visible symbol when the user interface is displayed, wherein the user may decide to purchase the asset not own before the asset is played.

18. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the method further comprising a step of transferring the selected media asset from a connected device to the selected device by employing said communication means.

19. A hierarchical user interface for a portable media player comprising:

a. a data file including a list of metadata of media assets stored in the portable media player; and

a list of metadata of media assets stored in one or a plurality of devices connected to the media player through a communication means; and

b. a hierarchical structure for displaying the metadata.

20. The user interface as recited in claim 19, wherein said communication means further including:

a. the Internet;

b. an ad hoc communication network conforming to one or a combination of the following standards including;

IEEE 802.11;

IEEE 802.15.1;

IEEE 802.15.4 and their amendments;

c. a Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) type of connector; and

d. an IEEE 1394 type of connector.