GUI driving media playback device

• US 7,346,687 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2006
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RCS IP LLC
• Original Assignee: Zapmedia Services Incorporated
• Inventors: Whitehead, III, John Paul, Muntz, Eric Neal, Hirsch, Michael D., Morrison, Kelly P., Robison, Richard D., Petritis, John B., Lipscomb, Kenneth O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Application Number:
  US11/420,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20060206493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224, 709/226, 709/229, 713/2, 715/716, 715/730, 707/10, 707/100
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/437 Administration of user profiles, e.g. generation, initialisation, adaptation, distribution
• 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: G11B 2220/216 Rewritable discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23106 involving caching operations prefetching while addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means within memory systems or architectures G06F12/0862; caching at an intermediate stage in a data network H04L67/568
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23109 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. EPG data repository details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4332 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system and method for distributing digital media assets to a plurality of users. A portal is provided comprising at least one server computer. The portal executes a media library database server application that manages access a master library of media 5 assets that can be accessed by users via one or more communication networks. A plurality of media player devices communicate with the portal to access media assets for use. Each media player device may comprise a processor that executes a database client application that manages media assets licensed for use by a user.

Claims

1. A method of managing access to a plurality of media assets comprising the steps of:

providing a user with a user account;

storing references to a plurality of media assets which the user has a license to use;

associating a plurality of media player devices with the user account wherein the plurality of referenced media assets may be accessed by any one of the plurality of media player devices that are associated with the user account;

accessing one of the plurality of media assets with an accessing device; and

providing a compatible user interface to the accessing device for accessing the plurality of media assets on the media player device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of media assets may comprise one or more of video, audio or image formats.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of media player devices may comprise one or more of a laptop computer, personal computer, portable media device, mobile communications device, personal digital assistant, cable set top box, satellite set top box, home audio component or an automobile audio device.

4. A media asset management system comprising:

a portal comprising;

a user account corresponding to at least one user; and

a library storing a reference to a plurality of media assets which the user has a license to use; and

a media player device that is operable to;

interface with the portal and synchronize media referenced in the library of the user account with media assets stored on the media player device; and

providing one of the media assets to a user device; and

providing a user interface to the user device to enable the user device to playback the media asset.

5. The media asset management system of claim 4, wherein the library only contains a reference to the plurality of media assets which the user has a license to use.

6. The media asset management system of claim 4, wherein the user device connected to the media player device may comprise one or more of a laptop computer, personal computer, portable media device, mobile communications device, personal digital assistant, cable set top box, satellite set top box, home audio component or an automobile audio device.

7. The media asset management system of claim 4, wherein the media player device further includes an asset portability application that is configured to provide at least one of the plurality of media assets from one of the media player devices to another of the plurality of media player devices.

8. The media asset management system of claim 4 wherein the number of associated media player devices are limited to a maximum number.

9. The media asset management system of claim 4, wherein the user interface is dependent upon the user device type and is a graphical user interface.

10. The media asset management system of claim 4, wherein the user interface is text based user interface.

11. A method of providing access to a plurality of media assets comprising the steps of:

providing a user with a user account;

allowing the user to license a plurality of media assets;

associating the licensed plurality of media assets with the user account;

storing at least a portion of the licensed media assets on a media player device associated with the user account;

providing a user interface to other user devices and access to at least a portion of the licensed media assets, wherein utilizing the user interface the at least a portion of the license media assets can be played back.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of media assets may comprise one or more of video, audio or image formats.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of media player devices may comprise one or more of a laptop computer, personal computer, portable media device, mobile communications device, personal digital assistant, cable set top box, satellite set top box, home audio component or an automobile audio device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of providing a user interface to other user devices further comprises the steps of providing a user interface compatible with the detected device type.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the other user device may comprise one or more of a laptop computer, personal computer, portable media device, mobile communications device, personal digital assistant, cable set top box, satellite set top box, home audio component or an automobile audio device.