Media playlist management and viewing remote control

摘要

According to this invention, a user may capture a media link on any PC and perform this capture function at any physical location, then save the media link in a playlist, and subsequently play the media located at the media link on a TV server. The TV server may be controlled from a local device—typically a PC or a handheld remote control. Playlists may be maintained on a Web playlist function. Software on a local controller device can then select a media link from a Web playlist through the Internet, and the Web playlist function can then pass that link to a local TV server, thus avoiding the need for the controller device and the TV server to communicate through a LAN. Additionally, a playlist may include targeted advertisements shown physically adjacent to related playlist items.

主权项

1. A system for viewing media referenced by playlist entries in a user-compiled playlist including targeted advertisements displayed proximate the playlist, comprising:
a local remote controller device for controlling a TV server, wherein playlist entries are selected by a user from a playlist displayed on the local remote controller device and not displayed on a TV; wherein at least one advertisement is selected from a database of advertisements and wherein said at least one advertisement is closely related to a first playlist entry, wherein the at least the one closely related advertisement is displayed on the remote controller device in close physical proximity to the first playlist entry; wherein the playlist is compiled by a user; and wherein media referenced by a URL media link is added to the playlist by the user according to a method comprising: with a cursor over the displayed media link, activating a pop-up menu that includes action choices comprising at least:
adding the link to the playlist;playing the media located at the media link; andboth of adding the link to the playlist and playing the media located at the media link.