Pairing a media server and a media client

• US 8,285,851 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2007
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Robbin, Jeffrey, Wysocki, Christopher, Jawa, Amandeep, Miller, Jeffrey, Heller, David, Henzie, Justin, Brodersen, Rainer, Pacurariu, Mihnee Calin
• Primary Examiner(s): Pappas, Peter-Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cheema, Umar
• Application Number:
  US11/620,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20080168129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,101 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/227, 709/228, 709/223, 709/248, 707/610, 707/621, 707/622
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements

Abstract

A system for use in presenting media content includes a media server configured to provide media content and a media client configured to obtain the media content from the media server and to present the media content on a device. The media client is configured to generate a first code and to transmit information to the media server. The information identifies the media client and the information indicates that the media client is available for pairing. The media server is configured to reply to the information with a second code that corresponds to the first code in order to enable pairing between the media server and the media client.

Claims

1. A method performed by a media client, comprising:

entering a pairing mode;

generating a first code for pairing with a first media server;

receiving a second code from the first media server;

determining if the first code corresponds to the second code;

pairing with the first media server if the first code corresponds to the second code, wherein pairing with the first media server comprises an ability to synch content from the first media server to the media client for later presentation;

generating a third code for pairing with a second media server;

receiving a fourth code from the second media server;

determining if the third code corresponds to the fourth code; and

pairing with the second media server to access streaming content from the second media server if the third code corresponds to the fourth code and while a pairing with the first media server is maintained.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein pairing with the first media server comprises:

responding to the first media server that the first code corresponds to the second code; and

enabling communicating with the first media server.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein communicating with the first media server comprises:

receiving, from the first media server, a summary of content that is available to the media client for download; and

selectively downloading content from the first media server.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein selectively downloading comprises:

retrieving content from the first media server according to priority, the priority dictating an order in which different types of content are to be downloaded.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the types of content comprise movies, televisions shows, music, podcasts, and photographs;

and

wherein the order in which different types of content are to be downloaded is movies, televisions shows, music, podcasts, and photographs.

6. A system comprising one or more processors and a memory storing instructions executable by the one or more processors to perform operations comprising presenting media content, the system comprising:

a first media server to provide first media content;

a second media server to provide second media content; and

a media client to obtain the first and second media content from the first and second media servers, respectively, and to output the first and second media content for presentation on a device;

wherein the media client generates a first code and to transmit first information to the first media server, the first information identifying the media client and the first information indicating that the media client is available for pairing;

wherein the first media server replies to the first information with a second code that corresponds to the first code in order to enable pairing between the first media server and the media client, the first media content comprising synched content for later presentation via the media client;

wherein the media client generates a third code and to transmit second information to the second media server, the second information identifying the media client and the second information indicating that the media client is available for pairing;

wherein the second media server replies to the second information with a fourth code that corresponds to the third code in order to pair with the second media server to enable transmission of streaming media content from the second media server to the media client; and

wherein the media client remains paired to the first media server when streaming of media content to the second media server is enabled.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the media client is replies to the second code with an indication that the second code corresponds to the first code;

and

wherein the first media server provides, in response to the indication, a summary of media content available to the media client for download.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the media client selectively downloads first media content from the first media server.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein selectively downloading comprises:

retrieving first media content from the first media server according to priority, the priority dictating an order in which different types of first media content are to be downloaded.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the types of first media content comprises movies, televisions shows, music, podcasts, and photographs;

and

wherein the order in which different types of first media content are to be downloaded is movies, televisions shows, music, podcasts, and photographs.

11. A computer program product tangibly embodied in a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, the computer program product comprising instructions that are executable by a media client to:

enter a pairing mode;

generate a first code for pairing with a first media server;

receive a second code from the first media server;

determine if the first code corresponds to the second code;

pair with the first media server if the first code corresponds to the second code, wherein pairing with the first media server comprises an ability to synch content from the first media server to the media client for later presentation;

generate a third code for pairing with a second media server;

receive a fourth code from the second media server;

determine if the third code corresponds to the fourth code; and

pair with the second media server to access streaming content from the second media server if the third code corresponds to the fourth code and while a pairing with the first media server is maintained.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein pairing with the first media server comprises:

responding to the first media server that the first code corresponds to the second code; and

enabling communicating with the first media server.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein communicating with the first media server comprises:

receiving, from the first media server, a summary of content that is available to the media client for download; and

selectively downloading content from the first media server.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein selectively downloading comprises:

retrieving content from the first media server according to priority, the priority dictating an order in which different types of content are to be downloaded.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the types of content comprise movies, televisions shows, music, podcasts, and photographs;

and

wherein the order in which different types of content are to be downloaded is movies, televisions shows, music, podcasts, and photographs.

16. A media client that receives media content, the media client comprising:

memory to store instructions for execution; and

a processing device to execute the instructions in order to pair with first and second media servers and to present media content for display, wherein the instructions cause the processing device to;

generate a first code;

receive a second code from the first media server;

pair the media client with the first media server if the first code corresponds to the second code; and

exchange communications with the first media server following pairing, wherein pairing with the first media server comprises an ability to synch content from the first media server to the media client for later presentation;

generate a third code for pairing with a second media server;

receive a fourth code from the second media server;

determine if the third code corresponds to the fourth code; and

pair with the second media server to access streaming content from the second media server if the third code corresponds to the fourth code and while a pairing with the first media server is maintained.

17. The media client of claim 16, further comprising:

a remote control device that communicates wirelessly with the processing device, the remote control device comprising a touch-sensitive area for inputting control information used to control the media client.

18. The media client of claim 17, wherein the touch-sensitive area comprises part of a rotational input area.

19. The media client of claim 16, further comprising:

a remote control device that communicates wirelessly with the processing device, the remote control device comprising a near-contact area for inputting control information used to control the media client;

wherein the near-contact area does not require contact in order to input the control information.