Methods and apparatus for client aggregation of media in a networked media system

• US 20040088731A1
• Filed: 11/04/2002
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Solutions Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Solutions Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Putterman, Daniel, Dietrich, Brad, Toeman, Jeremy, Doornbos, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,931,010 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]

Abstract

A network client aggregates media items available in a media system. The network consists of a plurality of nodes, including at least two media server nodes. A client node generates an internal request to obtain a list of media items available in the media system. In response, the client node generates a request for a list of media items from each individual media server node on the network. Each media server node sends their list of media items to the client node. The client node aggregates the lists of media items from each of the media server nodes. Thus, a list of media items available on the media system is aggregated to a requesting client node in the media system.

Claims

1. A method for aggregating media items in a media system, said method comprising the steps of:

coupling a plurality of nodes to a network, each of said nodes provides one or more services for said media system, at least two of said nodes comprise media server nodes, wherein a media server node presents at least one media item to said network;

receiving a request at a requesting node to obtain a list of media available in said media system;

generating, at said requesting node, a request for a list of media items from each of said media server nodes on said network;

receiving, from each media server node, a list of media items available on said respective media server node; and

aggregating, at said requesting node, a list of media items available on said media system from each of said media server nodes, wherein a list of media items available on said media system are aggregated to a requesting node in said media system.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving, at said requesting node, a media item from a media server node.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of generating a request for a list of media items comprises the step of discovering media server nodes on said network.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of receiving a list of media items available comprises the steps of:

determining, at said requesting node, a maximum length of a list of media items for display at said requesting node; and

receiving a partial list of media items at said requesting node up to said maximum length.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of aggregating a list of media items available on said media system comprises the step of determining whether a media item received is unique from other media items.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the steps of requesting a list of media items and receiving a list of media items comprises the steps of:

determining a protocol supported by a media server node;

requesting a list of media items from said media server node using said protocol; and

receiving a list of media items available from a media server node using said protocol.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of requesting a list of media items from a media server node on said network comprises the step of invoking a service on said media server node to obtain a list of media items from said media server node.

8. The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the step of invoking a service on said media server node comprises the steps of:

determining a remote procedure call (“

RPC”

) mechanism supported by a media server node; and

invoking a service on said media server node using said RPC mechanism.

9. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said requesting node comprises a device that supports a plurality of services for said media system.

10. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said requesting node comprises a media server that presents at least one media item to said network.

11. A computer readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the computer, causes the computer to perform the steps of:

coupling a plurality of nodes to a network, each of said nodes provides one or more services for said media system, at least two of said nodes comprise media server nodes, wherein a media server node presents at least one media item to said network;

receiving a request at a requesting node to obtain a list of media available in said media system;

generating, at said requesting node, a request for a list of media items from each of said media server nodes on said network;

receiving, from each media server node, a list of media items available on said respective media server node; and

aggregating, at said requesting node, a list of media items available on said media system from each of said media server nodes, wherein a list of media items available on said media system are aggregated to a requesting node in said media system.

12. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 11, further comprising the step of receiving, at said requesting node, a media item from a media server node.

13. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 11, wherein the step of generating, at said requesting node, a request for a list of media items comprises the step of discovering media server nodes on said network.

14. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 11, wherein the step of receiving a list of media items available comprises the steps of:

determining, at said requesting node, a maximum length of a list of media items for display at said requesting node; and

receiving a partial list of media items at said requesting node up to said maximum length.

15. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 11, wherein the step of aggregating a list of media items available on said media system comprises the step of determining whether a media item received is unique from other media items.

16. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 11, wherein the steps of requesting a list of media items and receiving a list of media items comprises the steps of:

determining a protocol supported by a media server node;

requesting a list of media items from said media server node using said protocol; and

receiving a list of media items available from a media server node using said protocol.

17. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 11, wherein the step of requesting a list of media items from a media server node on said network comprises the step of invoking a service on said media server node to obtain a list of media items from said media server node.

18. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 17, wherein the step of invoking a service on said media server node comprises the steps of:

determining a remote procedure call (“

RPC”

) mechanism supported by a media server node; and

invoking a service on said media server node using said RPC mechanism.

19. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 11, wherein said requesting node comprises a device that supports a plurality of services for said media system.

20. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 11, wherein said requesting node comprises a media server that presents at least one media item to said network.

21. A media system comprising:

network;

a plurality of nodes coupled to said network, each of said nodes provides one or more services for said media system, at least two of said nodes comprise media server nodes, wherein a media server node presents at least one media item to said network; and

at least one requesting node for generating a request to obtain a list of media available in said media system, and for requesting a list of media items from each of said media server nodes on said network, for receiving, from each media server node, a list of media items available on said respective media server node, for and aggregating, a list of media items available on said media system from each of said media server nodes,

wherein a list of media items available on said media system are aggregated to a requesting node in said media system.