Content management for packet-communicating devices

摘要

Media content associated with a playlist is provided for remote access over a packet-based network. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a host server provides access to a user-defined playlist depicting media content available from user's media content source (e.g., at a registered user's PC). User-defined playlists and associated media content are managed to facilitate access to media in accordance with characteristics of the media content and/or playlist such as format and bitrate, and as may be related to an intended playback use of the playlist. Media content for the playlists is stored in a network storage device for remote access, with the storage managed to facilitate remote access in appropriate formats, with selective cross-referencing among playlists for different playlist types, content format and content bandwidth.

主权项

1. A system comprising:
a network-based storage that
identifies at least one media content title under at least two playlists and at least two formats of media content files for the at least one media content title based, at least in part, on a cross-referencing file structure, anddetermines to store media content and playlist data based, at least in part, on the identification of the at least one media content title and the at least two formats; and a host server that
in response to a request for a playlist, identifies at least one media content file associated with the playlist based, at least in part, on the cross-referencing file structure;facilitates delivery of the at least one media content file from the network-based storage to a remote playback device based, at least in part, on the identification of the at least one media content file.