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

1. A method for aggregating media in a media system comprising network devices coupled through a network, the network devices comprising a first storage device, a second storage device, and a client device that communicate with each other through the network by using network protocols, the method comprising:

receiving though the network, at the client device, first and second state information from the first and second storage devices respectively, each state information specifying a network protocol and a content service supported by the respective storage device configured to store digital media files, the content service for allowing other network devices to access digital media files or information regarding the digital media files stored on the respective storage device, first and second network protocols associated with the first and second storage devices respectively being different;

upon the client device being coupled to the network, sending third state information from the client device to the first and second storage devices, the third state information specifying at least one network protocol and at least one service supported by the client device, wherein the media system utilizes a peer-to-peer architecture, wherein the network devices communicate with each other through the network by using network protocols specified in the state information for each network device, and a request sent to a network device is translated to the network protocol specified in the state information for the network device, the request invoking a service specified in the state information for the network device;

receiving, at the client device, a first list of digital media files from the first storage device and a second list of digital media files from the second storage device;

aggregating, at the client device, an overall list of digital media files comprising the first and second lists, wherein a digital media file found on both the first list and the second list is only listed once on the overall list; and

in response to user input, playing, at the client device, at least a portion from the overall list of digital media files.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

exposing, at the client device, each service specified in the third state information to the first and second storage devices; and

requesting an exposed service of the client device by using a network protocol specified in the third state information.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

sending the first state information from the first storage device to the client device, the first state information further specifying a plurality of services supported by the first storage device;

exposing, at the first storage device, each service specified in the first state information to the other network devices; and

requesting, at the client device, an exposed service of the storage device by using the first network protocol specified in the first state information.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the client device comprises a media player device, the method further comprising:

receiving, at the client device, a user request to play a first digital media file stored on the first storage device;

sending, from the client device to the first storage device, a request invoking a first content service on the first storage device for accessing the first digital media file stored on the first storage device, the request being translated to the first network protocol by the client device; and

receiving, at the client device, the first digital media file for play back.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

digital media files comprise audio media files, video media files, or image media files stored on the first and second storage devices;

the client device is configured to playback audio media files; and

aggregating the overall list of digital media files comprises aggregating a list of only audio media files stored on the first and second storage devices.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

digital media files comprise audio media files, video media files, or image media files stored on the first and second storage devices;

the client device is configured to playback video media files; and

aggregating the overall list of digital media files comprises aggregating a list of only video media files stored on the first and second storage devices.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

digital media files comprise audio media files, video media files, or image media files stored on the first and second storage devices;

the client device is configured to playback image media files; and

aggregating the overall list of digital media files comprises aggregating a list of only image media files stored on the first and second storage devices.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein aggregating the overall list of digital media files further comprises:

determining whether each digital media file on the overall list is unique from other digital media files on the overall list.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first storage device comprises a media service for downloading and storing digital media files from the Internet.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the client device aggregates the overall list of digital media files stored on the first and second storage devices, and wherein the client device plays a requested digital media file stored on at least one of the first and second storage devices without persistently storing the requested media file at the client device.

11. A media system for aggregating media, the media system comprising:

a network coupling network devices comprising a first storage device, a second storage device, and a client device that communicate with each other through the network by using network protocols;

the first storage device configured for storing digital media files;

the second storage device configured for storing digital media files;

the client device configured for:

receiving though the network first and second state information from the first and second storage devices respectively, each state information specifying a network protocol and a content service supported by the respective storage device, the content service for allowing other network devices to access digital media files or information regarding the digital media files stored on the respective storage device, first and second network protocols associated with the first and second storage devices respectively being different;

upon the client device being coupled to the network, sending third state information from the client device to the first and second storage devices, the third state information specifying at least one network protocol and at least one service supported by the client device, wherein the media system utilizes a peer-to-peer architecture, wherein the network devices communicate with each other through the network by using network protocols specified in the state information for each network device, and a request sent to a network device is translated to the network protocol specified in the state information for the network device, the request invoking a service specified in the state information for the network device;

receiving a first list of digital media files from the first storage device and a second list of digital media files from the second storage device;

aggregating an overall list of digital media files comprising the first and second lists, wherein a digital media file found on both the first list and the second list is only listed once on the overall list; and

in response to user input, playing at least a portion from the overall list of digital media files.

12. The media system of claim 11 , wherein the client device is further configured for:

exposing each service specified in the third state information to the first and second storage devices; and

receiving a request for an exposed service, the request by using a network protocol specified in the third state information.

13. The media system of claim 11 , wherein the first storage device is further configured for

sending the first state information to the client device, the first state information further specifying a plurality of services supported by the first storage device;

exposing each service specified in the first state information to the other network devices; and

receiving a request for an exposed service, the request by using a network protocol specified in the first state information.

14. The media system of claim 11 , wherein:

the client device comprises a media player device; and

the client device is further configured for:

receiving a user request to play a first digital media file stored on the first storage device;

sending, to the first storage device, a request invoking a first content service on the first storage device for accessing the first digital media file stored on the first storage device, the request being translated to the first network protocol by the client device; and

receiving the first digital media file for play back.

15. The media system of claim 11 , wherein:

digital media files comprise audio media files, video media files, or image media files, stored on the first and second storage devices;

the client device is further configured to playback audio media files; and

aggregating the overall list of digital media files comprises aggregating a list of only audio media files stored on the first and second storage devices.

16. The media system of claim 11 , wherein:

digital media files comprise audio media files, video media files, or image media files stored on the first and second storage devices;

the client device is further configured to playback video medial files; and

aggregating the overall list of digital media files comprises aggregating a list of only video media files stored on the first and second storage devices.

17. The media system of claim 11 , wherein:

digital media files comprise audio media files, video media files, or image media files stored on the first and second storage devices;

the client device is further configured to playback image media files; and

aggregating the overall list of digital media files comprises aggregating a list of only image media files stored on the first and second storage devices.

18. The media system of claim 11 , wherein aggregating the overall list of digital media files further comprises:

determining whether each digital media file on the overall list is unique from other digital media files on the overall list.

19. The media system of claim 11 , wherein the first storage device comprises a media server for downloading and storing digital media files from the Internet.

20. The media system of claim 11 , wherein the client device aggregates the overall list of digital media files stored on the first and second storage devices, and wherein the client device plays a requested digital media file stored on at least one of the first and second storage devices without persistently storing the requested media file at the client device.

21. A non transitory computer readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the computer, aggregate media in a media system, the media system comprising network devices coupled through a network, the network devices comprising a first storage device, a second storage device, and a client device that communicate with each other through the network by using network protocols, the instructions causing the computer to perform the steps of:

receiving through the network, at the client device, and second state information from the first and second storage devices respectively, each state information specifying a network protocol and a content service supported by the respective storage device configured to store digital media files, the content service for allowing other network devices to access digital media files or information regarding the digital media files stored on the respective storage device, first and second network protocols associated with the first and second storage devices respectively being different;

upon the client device being coupled to the network, sending third state information from the client device to the first and second storage devices, the third state information specifying at least one network protocol and at least one service supported by the client device, wherein the media system utilizes a peer-to-peer architecture, wherein the network devices communicate with each other through the network by using network protocols specified in the state information for each network device, and a request sent to a network device is translated to the network protocol specified in the state information for the network device, the request invoking a service specified in the state information for the network device;

receiving, at the client device, a first list of digital media files from the first storage device and a second list of digital media files from the second storage device;

aggregating, at the client device, an overall list of digital media files comprising the first and second lists, wherein a digital media file found on both the first list and the second list is only listed once on the overall list; and

in response to user input, playing, at the client device, at least a portion from the overall list of digital media files.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of instructions further causes the computer to perform the steps of:

exposing, at the client device, each service specified in the third state information to the first and second storage devices; and

requesting an exposed service of the client device by using a network protocol specified in the third state information.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of instructions further causes the computer to perform the steps of:

sending the first state information from the first storage device to the client device, the first state information further specifying a plurality of services supported by the first storage device;

exposing, at the first storage device, each service specified in the first state information to the other network devices; and

requesting, at the client device, an exposed service of the storage device by using the first network protocol specified in the first state information.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 21 , wherein the client device comprises a media player device, the plurality of instructions further causing the computer to perform the steps of:

receiving, at the client device, a user request to play a first digital media file stored on the first storage device;

sending, from the client device to the first storage device, a request invoking a first content service on the first storage device for accessing the first digital media file stored on the first storage device, the request being translated to the first network protocol by the client device; and

receiving, at the client device, the first digital media file for play back.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 21 , wherein:

digital media files comprise audio media files, video media files, or image media files stored on the first and second storage devices;

the client device is configured to playback audio media files; and

aggregating the overall list of digital media files comprises aggregating a list of only audio media files stored on the first and second storage devices.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 21 , wherein:

digital media files comprise audio media files, video media files, or image media files stored on the first and second storage devices;

the client device is configured to playback video media files; and

aggregating the overall list of digital media files comprises aggregating a list of only video media files stored on the first and second storage devices.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 21 , wherein:

digital media files comprise audio media files, video media files, or image media files stored on the first and second storage devices;

the client device is configured to playback image media files; and

aggregating the overall list of digital media files comprises aggregating a list of only image media files stored on the first and second storage devices.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 21 , wherein aggregating the overall list of digital media files further comprises:

determining whether each digital media file on the overall list is unique from other digital media files on the overall list.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 21 , wherein the first storage device comprises a media server for downloading and storing digital media files from the Internet.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 21 , wherein the client device aggregates the overall list of digital media files stored on the first and second storage devices, and wherein the client device plays a requested digital media file stored on at least one of the first and second storage devices without persistently storing the requested media file at the client device.