System and method for sharing playlists
View Patent ↗A system for sharing playlists utilizes a network, such as the Internet. A player device other than a general purpose computer, such as a dedicated media player or a remote control for a dedicated media player, is in communication with the server over the network. The player device is configured to receive a playlist, queue the playlist, display the playlist, and play a selection from the playlist. A user profile may be used to identify playlists that are likely to contain selections of interest to the user.
1. A method comprising:
receiving, at a first media player device, a playlist from a remote source, the playlist comprising at least one item identifier that identifies at least one item;
communicating the playlist from the first media player device to a wireless handheld remote control associated with and separate from the first media player device;
receiving, from the wireless handheld remote control, the at least one item identifier; and
rendering, by the first media player device, the at least one item.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first media player device comprises a set top box.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first media player device comprises a stereo receiver.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first media player device comprises a digital video recorder.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first media player device comprises an MP3 player.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first media player device comprises a game console.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote source comprises a content server.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote source comprises a second media player device.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first media player device is communicatively coupled to the remote source via a local area network (LAN).
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first media player device is communicatively coupled to the remote source via a wide area network (WAN).
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the WAN comprises the Internet.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first media player device is communicatively coupled to the wireless handheld remote control via a LAN.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first media player device communicates with the wireless handheld remote control via a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless handheld remote control comprises a mobile telephone.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein rendering the at least one item further comprises downloading, from the remote source, the at least one item.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein rendering the at least one item further comprises streaming, from the remote source, the at least one item.
17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying, on the first media player device, the playlist.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the playlist further comprises a second item identifier that identifies a second item, and further comprising:
receiving, by the first media player device, user input selecting the second item identifier; and
rendering, by the first media player device, the second item.
19. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
prior to receiving the playlist from the remote source:
receiving input from a user;
based on the input, searching for the playlist on the remote source; and
requesting the playlist from the remote source.
20. The method of claim 1 , further comprising automatically updating the playlist at the first media player device in response to a change made to the playlist by a user of the wireless handheld remote control.
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first media player device is a dedicated media player device.
22. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
prior to receiving, at the first media player device, the playlist from the remote source:
comparing, by the first media player device, each of a plurality of user profiles with a target user profile of a first user associated with the first media player device;
selecting, by the first media player device, a matching user profile from the plurality of user profiles;
selecting a playlist of a matching user associated with the matching user profile, wherein a plurality of playlists including the selected playlist is stored by at least one server, each of the plurality of playlists is a playlist of one of a plurality of users including the matching user, and each of the plurality of users is associated with one of the plurality of user profiles; and
requesting, by the first media player device, delivery of the selected playlist of the matching user from the remote source.
23. A media player device comprising:
a communication interface communicatively coupling the media player device to a remote source via a network; and
a control system associated with the communication interface and adapted to:
receive a playlist from the remote source, the playlist comprising at least one item identifier that identifies at least one item;
communicate the playlist from the media player device to a wireless handheld remote control which is associated with and separate from the media player device;
receive, from the wireless handheld remote control, the at least one item identifier; and
render, by the media player device, the at least one item.
24. The media player device of claim 23 , wherein the media player device comprises a set top box.
25. The media player device of claim 23 , wherein the media player device comprises an MP3 player.
26. The media player device of claim 23 , wherein the media player device comprises a digital video recording device.
27. The media player device of claim 23 , wherein the media player device comprises a game console.
28. The media player device of claim 23 , wherein the control system is further adapted to display, on the media player device, the playlist.
29. The media player device of claim 28 , wherein the playlist further comprises a second item identifier that identifies a second item, and wherein the control system is further adapted to:
receive user input selecting the second item identifier; and
render the second item.
30. The media player device of claim 23 , wherein the control system is further adapted to:
prior to receiving the playlist from the remote source:
receive input from a user;
based on the input, search for the playlist on the remote source; and
request the playlist from the remote source.
31. The media player device of claim 23 , wherein the control system is further adapted to automatically update the playlist at the media player device in response to a change made to the playlist by a user of the wireless handheld remote control.
32. The media player device of claim 23 , wherein the media player device is a dedicated media player device.
33. The media player device of claim 23 , wherein the control system is further adapted to:
prior to receiving the playlist from the remote source:
compare each of a plurality of user profiles with a target user profile of a first user associated with the media player device;
select a matching user profile from the plurality of user profiles;
select a playlist of a matching user associated with the matching user profile, wherein a plurality of playlists including the selected playlist are stored by at least one server, each of the plurality of playlists is a playlist of one of a plurality of users including the matching user, and each of the plurality of users is associated with one of the plurality of user profiles; and
request delivery of the selected playlist of the matching user from the remote source.
34. A computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and including instructions configured to cause a processor to carry out the steps of:
receiving, at a media player device, a playlist from a remote source, the playlist comprising at least one item identifier that identifies at least one item;
communicating the playlist from the media player device to a wireless handheld remote control associated with and separate from the media player device;
receiving, from the wireless handheld remote control, the at least one item identifier; and
rendering, by the media player device, the at least one item.