Network-assisted remote media listening

• US 7,886,072 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2008
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Gedikian, Steve Saro, Hearst, Camille, Wormington, Catherine
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung; Zarni
• Application Number:
  US12/138,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20090313369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 790245-250, 790217-219, 790/231
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/636 by using biological or physiological data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/637 Administration of user profiles, e.g. generation, initialization, adaptation or distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46

Abstract

Improved approaches for media listening amongst different users are disclosed. For example, methods, systems or computer program code can enable users to have a remote listening experience in real time. Advantageously, a remote user at a remote client device can in effect listen to a particular digital media asset that is being played at a local client device of a local user. Media information and/or user profiles can also be provided about themselves and shared with other users.

Claims

1. A remote listening server, comprising:

a central media repository configured to store a plurality of digital media assets; and

a media listening server configured to maintain media playback information for each of a plurality of users, and configured to provide media playback information of a given user from said media listening server to at least one client device associated with

other user, where the media playback information identifies a particular digital media asset that is being played at a client device of the given user, wherein at least one of said media listening server and said central media repository are configured to facilitate playing of the particular digital media asset at a client device associated with the other user, whereby the other user can in effect hear the particular digital media asset that is playing at the client device of the given user.

2. A remote listening server as recited in claim 1, wherein prior to the client device of the other user playing the particular digital media asset, the given user must approve the other user to participate in remote media listening.

3. A remote listening server as recited in claim 1, wherein prior to the client device of the other user playing the particular digital media asset, said media listening server determines whether the other user is a member of a group authorize to participate in remote media listening.

4. A remote listening server as recited in claim 1, wherein the particular digital media asset is played on the client device of the at least one other user.

5. A remote listening server as recited in claim 1, wherein the particular digital media asset is played from at least one of said media listening server and said central media repository to the client device associated with the other user.

6. A remote listening server as recited in claim 1, wherein the particular digital media asset is located in said central media repository and streamed from at least one of said media listening server and said central media repository to the client device associated with the other user.

7. A remote listening server as recited in claim 1, wherein the client device associated with the other user does not store a complete playable copy of the particular digital media asset.

8. A remote listening server as recited in claim 7,

wherein prior to the client device of the other user receiving the media playback information of the given user, the given user must approve the other user to participate in remote media listening,

wherein the particular digital media asset pertains to a song, and

wherein the client device of the other user plays the song, whereby the other user can in effect hear the media playback of the song that the given user is playing.

9. A remote listening server, comprising:

a central media repository configured to store a plurality of digital media assets; and

a media listening server configured to maintain media playback information associated with a first client device associated with a first user, where the media playback information identifies a particular digital media asset that is being played at the first client device, and configured to facilitate playing of the particular digital media asset at a second client device associated with a second user, whereby via the second client device the second user can in effect hear the particular digital media asset that is playing at the first client device.

10. A remote listening server as recited in claim 9, wherein said media listening server subsequently receives updated media playback information from the first client device.

11. A remote listening server as recited in claim 9, wherein the media playback information identifies (i) the particular digital media asset being played on the first client device, and (ii) a playback position reference for the playback of the digital media asset on the first client device.

12. A remote listening server as recited in claim 9, wherein prior to the second client device associated with the second user playing the particular digital media asset, the first user must approve the other user to participate in remote media listening.

13. A remote listening server as recited in claim 9, wherein prior to the second client device associated with the second user playing the particular digital media asset, said media listening server determines whether the second user is a member of a group authorized to participate in remote media listening.

14. A remote listening server as recited in claim 9, wherein the particular digital media asset is played from at least one of said media listening server and said central media repository to the second client device associated with the second user.

15. A remote listening server as recited in claim 9, wherein the particular digital media asset is located in said central media repository and streamed from at least one of said media listening server and said central media repository to the second client device associated with the second user.

16. A remote listening server as recited in claim 9, wherein the second client device associated with the second user does not store a complete playable copy of the particular digital media asset.

17. A remote listening server as recited in claim 16,

wherein prior to the second client device of the second user receiving the media playback information of the first user, the first user must approve the second user to participate in remote media listening,

wherein the particular digital media asset pertains to a song, and

wherein the second client device of the second user plays the song, whereby the second user can in effect hear the media playback of the song that the first user is playing.