SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SHARING PLAYLISTS

• US 20120284423A1
• Filed: 07/23/2012
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dedicated Licensing LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Dryden Enterprises LLC
• Inventors: Weel, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 8,458,356 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

A system for sharing playlists utilizes a network, such as the Internet. A player device other than a general purpose computer, such as a dedicated media player or a remote control for a dedicated media player, is in communication with the server over the network. The player device is configured to receive a playlist, queue the playlist, display the playlist, and play a selection from the playlist. A user profile may be used to identify playlists that are likely to contain selections of interest to the user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a first media player device, a playlist from a remote source, the playlist comprising at least one item identifier that identifies at least one item;

communicating the playlist from the first media player device to a wireless handheld remote control associated with and separate from the first media player device;

receiving, from the wireless handheld remote control, the at least one item identifier; and

rendering, by the first media player device, the at least one item.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first media player device comprises a set top box.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first media player device comprises a stereo receiver.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first media player device comprises a digital video recorder.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first media player device comprises an MP3 player.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first media player device comprises a game console.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote source comprises a content server.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote source comprises a second media player device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first media player device is communicatively coupled to the remote source via a local area network (LAN).

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first media player device is communicatively coupled to the remote source via a wide area network (WAN).

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the WAN comprises the Internet.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first media player device is communicatively coupled to the wireless handheld remote control via a LAN.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first media player device communicates with the wireless handheld remote control via a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless handheld remote control comprises a mobile telephone.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein rendering the at least one item further comprises downloading, from the remote source, the at least one item.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein rendering the at least one item further comprises streaming, from the remote source, the at least one item.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying, on the first media player device, the playlist.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the playlist further comprises a second item identifier that identifies a second item, and further comprising:

receiving, by the first media player device, user input selecting the second item identifier; and

rendering, by the first media player device, the second item.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to receiving the playlist from the remote source;

receiving input from a user;

based on the input, searching for the playlist on the remote source; and

requesting the playlist from the remote source.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically updating the playlist at the first media player device in response to a change made to the playlist by a user of the wireless handheld remote control.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the first media player device is a dedicated media player device.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to receiving, at the first media player device, the playlist from the remote source;

comparing, by the first media player device, each of a plurality of user profiles with a target user profile of a first user associated with the first media player device;

selecting, by the first media player device, a matching user profile from the plurality of user profiles;

selecting a playlist of a matching user associated with the matching user profile, wherein a plurality of playlists including the selected playlist is stored by at least one server, each of the plurality of playlists is a playlist of one of a plurality of users including the matching user, and each of the plurality of users is associated with one of the plurality of user profiles; and

requesting, by the first media player device, delivery of the selected playlist of the matching user from the remote source.

23. A media player device comprising:

a communication interface communicatively coupling the media player device to a remote source via a network; and

a control system associated with the communication interface and adapted to;

receive a playlist from the remote source, the playlist comprising at least one item identifier that identifies at least one item;

communicate the playlist from the media player device to a wireless handheld remote control which is associated with and separate from the media player device;

receive, from the wireless handheld remote control, the at least one item identifier; and

render, by the media player device, the at least one item.

24. The media player device of claim 23, wherein the media player device comprises a set top box.

25. The media player device of claim 23, wherein the media player device comprises an MP3 player.

26. The media player device of claim 23, wherein the media player device comprises a digital video recording device.

27. The media player device of claim 23, wherein the media player device comprises a game console.

28. The media player device of claim 23, wherein the control system is further adapted to display, on the media player device, the playlist.

29. The media player device of claim 28, wherein the playlist further comprises a second item identifier that identifies a second item, and wherein the control system is further adapted to:

receive user input selecting the second item identifier; and

render the second item.

30. The media player device of claim 23, wherein the control system is further adapted to:

prior to receiving the playlist from the remote source;

receive input from a user;

based on the input, search for the playlist on the remote source; and

request the playlist from the remote source.

31. The media player device of claim 23, wherein the control system is further adapted to automatically update the playlist at the media player device in response to a change made to the playlist by a user of the wireless handheld remote control.

32. The media player device of claim 23, wherein the media player device is a dedicated media player device.

33. The media player device of claim 23, wherein the control system is further adapted to:

prior to receiving the playlist from the remote source;

compare each of a plurality of user profiles with a target user profile of a first user associated with the media player device;

select a matching user profile from the plurality of user profiles;

select a playlist of a matching user associated with the matching user profile, wherein a plurality of playlists including the selected playlist are stored by at least one server, each of the plurality of playlists is a playlist of one of a plurality of users including the matching user, and each of the plurality of users is associated with one of the plurality of user profiles; and

request delivery of the selected playlist of the matching user from the remote source.

34. A computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and including instructions configured to cause a processor to carry out the steps of:

receiving, at a media player device, a playlist from a remote source, the playlist comprising at least one item identifier that identifies at least one item;

communicating the playlist from the media player device to a wireless handheld remote control associated with and separate from the media player device;

receiving, from the wireless handheld remote control, the at least one item identifier; and

rendering, by the media player device, the at least one item.