Portable media processing unit in a media exchange network
View Patent ↗Certain aspects of the invention for porting information between locations in a communication network may comprise storing media along with meta data associated with the stored media on a storage unit which may be a media processing unit that is coupled to a communication device at a first location. Whenever the storage unit is transferred to a second location such as a home and coupled to a second communication device, a channel view or channel guide comprising representations of the stored media may be presented on a television at the second location. Responsive to receiving a selection via the presented channel guide, one or more media files corresponding to the received selection may be presented/displayed on the television and/or a media player such as an audio player within the home. The stored media may be received at the first location via a wired and/or a wireless interface.
1. A method for porting information between locations in a communication network, the method comprising:
storing media and meta data associated with said stored media on a storage unit coupled to a communication device at a first location;
presenting based on said meta data associated with said stored media on said storage unit, a channel guide comprising representations of said stored media on a television in a second location, when said storage unit is transferred to said second location and coupled to a second communication device at said second location; and
in response to receiving a selection via said presented channel guide, displaying based on said meta data associated with stored media on said transferred storage unit, at least one media file corresponding to said received selection on at least one of said television and a media player in said second location.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said storage unit is a media processing unit.
3. The method according to claim 1 , comprising receiving said stored media at said first location via at least one of a wired and a wireless interface.
4. The method according to claim 1 , comprising displaying said meta data information associated with said displayed at least one file.
5. The method according to claim 1 , comprising transferring at least a portion of said stored media from said storage unit to a storage device associated with said at least one of said television and a media player in said second location.
6. The method according to claim 5 , comprising storing at least a portion of said transferred stored media on said storage device associated with said at least one of said television and said media player in said second location.
7. The method according to claim 1 , comprising scheduling said presenting of said representation of said stored media within said channel guide based on at least a portion of said stored meta data.
8. The method according to claim 1 , comprising generating at least a portion of said meta data by said storage unit.
9. The method according to claim 1 , comprising displaying meta data associated with said displayed at least one media file independent of said displaying of said at least one media file.
10. The method according to claim 1 , comprising storing on said storage unit, at least one media file received from said second communication device when said storage unit is coupled to said second communication device.
11. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon, a computer program when executed by a computer processor or memory, having at least one code section for porting information between locations in a communication network the at least one code section being executable by a computer for causing the computer to perform steps comprising:
storing media and meta data associated with said stored media on a storage unit coupled to a communication device at a first location;
presenting based on said metadata associated with said stored media on said storage unit, a channel guide comprising representations of said stored media on a television in a second location, when said storage unit is transferred to said second location and coupled to a second communication device at said second location; and
in response to receiving a selection via said presented channel guide, displaying based on said metadata associated with said stored media on said transferred storage unit, at least one media file corresponding to said received selection on at least one of said television and a media player in said second location.
12. The computer-readable medium according to claim 11 , wherein said storage unit is a media processing unit.
13. The computer-readable medium according to claim 11 , comprising code for receiving said stored media at said first location via at least one of a wired and a wireless interface.
14. The computer-readable medium according to claim 11 , comprising code for displaying said meta data information associated with said displayed at least one file.
15. The computer-readable medium according to claim 11 , comprising code for transferring at least a portion of said stored media from said storage unit to a storage device associated with said at least one of said television and a media player in said second location.
16. The computer-readable medium according to claim 15 , comprising code for causing at least a portion of said transferred stored media to be stored on said storage device associated with said at least one of said television and said media player in said second location.
17. The computer-readable medium according to claim 11 , comprising code for scheduling said presenting of said representation of said stored media within said channel guide based on at least a portion of said stored meta data.
18. The computer-readable medium according to claim 11 , comprising code for generating at least a portion of said meta data by said storage unit.
19. The computer-readable medium according to claim 11 , comprising code that causes meta data associated with said displayed at least one media file to be displayed independent of said displaying of said at least one media file.
20. The computer-readable medium according to claim 11 , comprising code for storing on said storage unit, at least one media file received from said second communication device when said storage unit is coupled to said second communication device.
21. A system for porting information between locations in a communication network, the system comprising:
a storage unit processor that stores media and meta data associated with said stored media on said storage unit coupled to a communication device at a first location;
said processor causes, based on said metadata associated with said stored media on said storage unit, a channel guide comprising representations of said stored media to be presented on a television in a second location, when said storage unit is transferred to said second location and coupled to a second communication device at said second location; and
in response to receiving a selection via said presented channel guide, said processor displays based on said metadata associated with said stored media on said transferred storage unit, at least one media file corresponding to said received selection on at least one of said television and a media player in said second location.
22. The system according to claim 21 , wherein said storage unit is a media processing unit.
23. The system according to claim 21 , wherein said processor receives said stored media at said first location via at least one of a wired and a wireless interface.
24. The system according to claim 21 , wherein said processor causes display of said meta data information associated with said displayed at least one file.
25. The system according to claim 21 , wherein said processor transfers at least a portion of said stored media from said storage unit to a storage device associated with said at least one of said television and a media player in said second location.
26. The system according to claim 25 , wherein said processor causes storage of at least a portion of said transferred stored media on said storage device associated with said at least one of said television and said media player in said second location.
27. The system according to claim 21 , wherein said processor schedules said presenting of said representation of said stored media within said channel guide based on at least a portion of said stored meta data.
28. The system according to claim 21 , wherein said processor generates at least a portion of said meta data by said storage unit.
29. The system according to claim 21 , wherein said processor causes display of meta data associated with said displayed at least one media file independent of said displaying of said at least one media file.
30. The system according to claim 21 , wherein said processor stores on said storage unit, at least one media file received from said second communication device when said storage unit is coupled to said second communication device.
31. The system according to claim 21 , wherein said processor further comprises a media exchange software processor.
32. The system according to claim 21 , wherein said second location is a home.