Media asset streaming over network to devices

摘要

Streaming of a media asset from a cloud server computer to a media playback device is disclosed. In an embodiment, a list of media assets stored in the cloud server computer is sent over network from the cloud server computer to a portable device. In another embodiment, the list is transferred via close-range communication to the portable device from the media playback device which received the list from the cloud server computer over network. In the embodiments, a media asset is started streaming over network from the cloud server computer to the media playback device responsive to selection of one of the listed media assets at the portable device. In some embodiments, streaming is redirected from the portable device to the media playback device responsive to a user's operation or in case of disconnection.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
providing, in a computer-readable medium, a database associating a mobile device with one or more media playback devices, wherein the mobile device and the media playback devices are identified by discrete IP addresses on the Internet; listing thumbnails of media contents stored on a server, on a graphical user interface of the mobile device, based on media content information received from the server in communication with the mobile device over the Internet, wherein the server is identified by a discrete IP address different from the IP addresses of the mobile device and the media playback devices on the Internet; in response to a first user input on the graphical user interface, determining one of the mobile device and the media playback devices as a streaming destination with reference to the database, wherein the first user input includes selection of one of the listed thumbnails; (a) upon determining the mobile device to be the streaming destination, streaming a media content corresponding to the selected thumbnail from the server to the mobile device over the Internet while streaming nothing from the server to any of the media playback devices over the Internet, whereas (b) upon determining one of the media playback devices to be the streaming destination, streaming the media content corresponding to the selected thumbnail from the server to the determined media playback device over the Internet while streaming progress information from the server to the mobile device in parallel to the streaming of the media content, wherein the progress information is indicative of progress of the streaming of the media content within a duration of the media content; and (a) playing back the streamed media content on the graphical user interface of the mobile device when the streaming is directed to the mobile device, whereas (b) displaying the progress on the graphical user interface of the mobile device based on the progress information while playing back the streamed media content at the media playback device when the streaming is directed to the media playback device.