Method and apparatus for assisting with playback of remotely stored media files
First Claim
1. A processor-readable medium embodying a set of instructions that, when read by a programmable processor of a first computing device, result in the processor performing a process, the process comprising:
- collecting, by the first computing device, media files and meta data information describing the media files, so that the media files'"'"' content is available for experiencing by a user at the first computing device;
receiving, by the first computing device, a request from a second computing device, the request comprising a request for at least some of the meta data information collected at the first computing device;
communicating, by the first computing device, information to the second computing device, the communicated information comprising the requested meta data information and an identifier for each media file described by the requested meta data information, the identifier uniquely identifying the media file, the communicated information indicative of at least one media file available for transmission to the second computing device from the first computing device, the communicated information for use at the second computing device to request a selected one or more of the at least one media file, each selected media file is to be experienced by the user at the second computing device upon a media file request that includes the selected media file'"'"'s identifier contained in the communicated information and transmission of the selected media file to the second computing device in response to the media file request;
receiving, by the first computing device, from the second computing device a request to transfer a media file selected by the user at the second computing device, the request including the identifier of the selected media file; and
transmitting, by the first computing device, the requested media file to the second computing device as a stream.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A software based system for facilitating streaming of media files to a device over a wide area network (WAN) includes an agent process, an authentication process, a client services process and a client process. The agent process catalogs local media files and advises the authentication process of it'"'"'s availability on the WAN and the address at which it may be contacted. The client process contacts the client services process to obtain, after authenticating with it, the WAN address of the agent process and contacts the agent process to receive information or meta-data describing the media files available for streaming. The client process obtains information for forming a URI or playlist, that it then passes to a media player to request the stream over the WAN. Alternately, the client process may direct the agent process to pass the URL to another client process on, for example, the same local area network.
56 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A processor-readable medium embodying a set of instructions that, when read by a programmable processor of a first computing device, result in the processor performing a process, the process comprising:
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collecting, by the first computing device, media files and meta data information describing the media files, so that the media files'"'"' content is available for experiencing by a user at the first computing device; receiving, by the first computing device, a request from a second computing device, the request comprising a request for at least some of the meta data information collected at the first computing device; communicating, by the first computing device, information to the second computing device, the communicated information comprising the requested meta data information and an identifier for each media file described by the requested meta data information, the identifier uniquely identifying the media file, the communicated information indicative of at least one media file available for transmission to the second computing device from the first computing device, the communicated information for use at the second computing device to request a selected one or more of the at least one media file, each selected media file is to be experienced by the user at the second computing device upon a media file request that includes the selected media file'"'"'s identifier contained in the communicated information and transmission of the selected media file to the second computing device in response to the media file request; receiving, by the first computing device, from the second computing device a request to transfer a media file selected by the user at the second computing device, the request including the identifier of the selected media file; and transmitting, by the first computing device, the requested media file to the second computing device as a stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A processor-readable medium embodying a set of stored instructions that, when read by a programmable processor at a local computing device, result in the processor performing:
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connecting to an agent process executing at a remote computing device; transmitting, to the agent process, a request for meta data information describing media files available for streaming to the client process; receiving from the agent process information comprising meta data information and an identifier for each media file available for experiencing by a user using the remote computing device, the identifier uniquely identifying the media file, the received information indicative of at least one media file available for transmission to the local computing device from the remote computing device, the received information for use by the user at the local computing device to request a selected one or more or the at least one media file, each selected media file is to be experienced by the user at the local computing device upon a media file request that includes the selected media file'"'"'s identifier contained in the received information and transmission of the selected media file to the local computing device in response to the media file request; receiving at least one media file selection by a user using the meta data information received from the agent process; transmitting to the agent process a request for the media file selection as a stream; and receiving from the remote computing device'"'"'s agent process the requested media file. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification