PLAY LIST MANAGEMENT
Methods, systems, and apparatus are presented for accessing unlimited media service from a mobile communications device. In one aspect, a computer-implemented method of providing access to media content includes receiving a request from a mobile communications device associated with a user to subscribe to a media playlist. For the mobile communications device, a local media archive inventory is determined. The local media archive inventory is compared with a track listing corresponding to the subscribed media playlist; and contents of the local media archive inventory are modified based on the comparing.
1 . A computer-implemented method of providing access to media content, the method comprising:
receiving a request from a mobile communications device associated with a user to subscribe to a media playlist;
determining, for the mobile communications device, a local media archive inventory;
comparing the local media archive inventory with a track listing corresponding to the subscribed media playlist; and
modifying contents of the local media archive inventory based on the comparing.
2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the contents of the local media archive inventory based on the comparing comprises:
transferring to the mobile communications device an item of media content associated with the track listing that is not included in the local media archive inventory.
3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the contents of the local media archive inventory based on the comparing comprises:
deleting from the mobile communications device an item of media content not associated with the track listing that is included in the local media archive inventory.
4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising maintaining the subscribed media playlist at a server configured to provide unlimited media content.
5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein maintaining the subscribed media playlist at a server comprises:
identifying another media playlist subscribed to by another user; and
modifying the media playlist subscribed to by the user based on the identified media playlist subscribed to by the other user.
6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein modifying the media playlist subscribed to by the user based on the identified media playlist subscribed to by the other user comprises:
reviewing a track listing corresponding to the other media playlist subscribed to by the other user; and
selecting one or more items of media content associated with the track listing corresponding to the other media playlist subscribed to by the user; and
modifying the track listing corresponding to the media playlist subscribed to by the user to include the selected one or more items of media content.
7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising automatically maintaining the local media archive inventory based on the track listing corresponding to the subscribed media playlist.
8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein automatically maintaining the local media archive inventory based on the track listing corresponding to the subscribed media playlist further comprises:
detecting a change to the media playlist subscribed to by the user;
comparing the local media archive inventory with the track listing corresponding to the subscribed media playlist; and
updating contents of the local media archive inventory based on the comparing.
9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein automatically maintaining the local media archive inventory based on the track listing corresponding to the subscribed media playlist further comprises:
receiving a request from the communications device associated with the user to access the subscribed media playlist;
responsive to the received request, checking the media playlist subscribed to by the user to detect a change in the track listing;
updating contents of the local media archive inventory based on the detected change.
10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the subscribed media playlist is associated with and subscribed to by another user.
11 . The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , further comprising updating the subscribed media playlist.
12 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
removing a connection between the local media archive inventory and the subscribed media playlist; and
controlling the local media archive inventory at the communications device independent of the subscribed media playlist.
13 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving from the communications device, user selection of one or more items of media content to add to the subscribed media playlist; and
modifying the subscribed media playlist to add the received user selection of one or more items of media content.
14 . A media server device for providing access to media content, the media server comprising a processor for performing operations comprising:
receiving a request to subscribe to a media playlist from a mobile communications device associated with a user;
determining, for the mobile communications device, a local media archive inventory;
comparing the local media archive inventory with a track listing corresponding to the subscribed media playlist; and
modifying contents of the local media archive inventory based on the comparing.
15 . The media server device of claim 14 , wherein modifying the contents of the local media archive inventory based on the comparing comprises:
transferring to the mobile communications device an item of media content associated with the track listing that is not included in the local media archive inventory.
16 . The media server device of claim 14 , wherein modifying the contents of the local media archive inventory based on the comparing comprises:
deleting from the mobile communications device an item of media content not associated with the track listing that is included in the local media archive inventory.
17 . The media server device of claim 14 , further comprising maintaining the subscribed media playlist at a server configured to provide unlimited media content.
18 . The media server device of claim 14 , wherein maintaining the subscribed media playlist at a server comprises:
identifying another media playlist subscribed to by another user; and
modifying the media playlist subscribed to by the user based on the identified media playlist subscribed to by the other user.
19 . The media server device of claim 18 , wherein modifying the media playlist subscribed to by the user based on the identified media playlist subscribed to by the other user comprises:
reviewing a track listing corresponding to the other media playlist subscribed to by the other user; and
selecting one or more items of media content associated with the track listing corresponding to the other media playlist subscribed to by the user; and
modifying the track listing corresponding to the media playlist subscribed to by the user to include the selected one or more items of media content.
20 . The media server device of claim 14 , further comprising automatically maintaining the local media archive inventory based on the track listing corresponding to the subscribed media playlist.
21 . The media server device of claim 20 , wherein automatically maintaining the local media archive inventory based on the track listing corresponding to the subscribed media playlist further comprises:
detecting a change to the media playlist subscribed to by the user;
comparing the local media archive inventory with the track listing corresponding to the subscribed media playlist; and
updating contents of the local media archive inventory based on the comparing.
22 . The media server device of claim 20 , wherein automatically maintaining the local media archive inventory based on the track listing corresponding to the subscribed media playlist further comprises:
receiving a request from the communications device associated with the user to access the subscribed media playlist;
responsive to the received request, checking the media playlist subscribed to by the user to detect a change in the track listing;
updating contents of the local media archive inventory based on the detected change.
23 . The media server device of claim 14 , wherein the subscribed media playlist is associated with and subscribed to by another user.
24 . The media server device of claim 14 , further comprising:
removing a connection between the local media archive inventory and the subscribed media playlist; and
controlling the local media archive inventory at the communications device independent of the subscribed media playlist.
25 . The media server device of claim 14 , further comprising:
receiving from the communications device, user selection of one or more items of media content to add to the subscribed media playlist; and
modifying the subscribed media playlist to add the received user selection of one or more items of media content.
26 . A non-transitory computer-readable media embodying instructions operable to cause a data processing device to perform operations comprising:
receiving a request from a mobile communications device associated with a user to subscribe to a media playlist;
determining, for the mobile communications device, a local media archive inventory;
comparing the local media archive inventory with a track listing corresponding to the subscribed media playlist; and
modifying contents of the local media archive inventory based on the comparing.