Global setting for casting content to networked renderer
View Patent ↗A globally accessible list contains the identification of content casting applications, and the identification of stream receivers. When a casting application is launched to select a streaming content file, the casting application then accesses the global casting list and searches for the ID of the content casting application, and then selects the associated stream receiver to cast the URL to that stream receiver. This allows the user to not have to select the stream receiver every time a stream is cast. The list can be formed by an app, e.g., an application that forms the global list which may be an application that is provided with one of the stream receivers, for example. In one embodiment the list can be stored on a computer, e.g. the first computer that runs the application. The global casting list also contains, for each content casting application, an ordered list of IDs of user selected stream receivers by app and for by user. A stream receiver is selected based on order of the list.
1. A method, comprising:
in a first computer, running a computer application that interacts with a plurality of different stream sending applications,
each of said stream sending applications operating for sending information that commands a stream of video to one of a plurality of remote stream receivers;
accessing, on said first computer, a global casting list associating each of said stream sending applications with one or more stream receiving devices, where at least a first stream sending application from among said plurality of different stream sending applications is associated with multiple stream receiving devices in said global casting list;
detecting an identification of said first stream sending application, and that said first stream sending application is requesting to send to a stream receiver;
checking said global casting list to determine an ordered list of multiple stream receiving devices which are associated with said first stream sending application,
first attempting to connect with a first stream receiving device from said ordered list, associated with said first stream sending application and sending said information from said first stream sending application to said first stream receiving device if said first stream receiving device is available,
if said first stream receiving device is not available, then second attempting to connect with a second stream receiving device on said ordered list, where said second stream receiving device is lower in order on said ordered list than said first stream receiving device, and sending said information from said first stream sending application to said second stream receiving device if said second stream receiving device is available, and
subsequently checking any other stream receiving devices on said ordered list if said first and second stream receiving devices are not available, and if no streaming receiving device is available, then providing an error message on said first computer,
but if a stream sending receiving device is available, then providing said information from said first stream sending application to an available stream receiving device;
detecting that a second stream sending application different than said first stream sending application has been started; and
checking said global casting list to find a second ordered list of stream receiving devices associated with said second stream sending application, and sending said information from said second stream sending application to entries on said list, where entries on the second ordered list for the second stream sending application are different than entries on the ordered list for the first stream sending application.
2. The method as in claim 1 , wherein said first computer checks the first stream receiving device and determines said first stream receiving device as unavailable when either already receiving a stream or powered off.
3. The method as in claim 1 , further comprising determining a user of said first computer, and where said global casting list produces the ordered list that is dependent on both a specific stream sending application that is making a request and by the user who is logged in, where different users with the same stream sending application receive a different ordered list for the same stream sending application.
4. The method as in claim 1 , wherein said information is a web address and login information for a specified stream sending service.
5. The method as in claim 1 , further comprising accessing said list from a second computer which is carrying out the stream sending application.
6. The method as in claim 1 , wherein said list is stored on an internet-accessible location, and is accessed via the internet.
7. A computer system, comprising:
a first computer, running a computer application that interacts with a plurality of different stream sending applications, each of said stream sending applications operating for sending information that commands a stream of video to be played by one of a plurality of remote stream receivers;
said first computer accessing a global casting list associating each of said stream sending applications with one or more stream receiving devices, where at least a first stream sending application from among said plurality of different stream sending is associated with multiple stream receiving devices in said global casting list;
said first computer detecting an identification of said first stream sending application, and that said first stream sending application is requesting to send to a stream receiver;
said first computer checking said global casting list to determine an ordered list of multiple stream receiving devices which are associated with said first stream sending application;
said first computer first attempting to connect with a first stream receiving device from said ordered list, associated with said first stream sending application and sending said information from said first stream sending application to said first stream receiving device if said first stream receiving device is available,
if said first stream receiving device is not available, then said first computer second attempting to connect with a second stream receiving device on said ordered list, where said second stream receiving device is lower in order on said ordered list than said first stream receiving device, and sending said information from said first stream sending application to said second stream receiving device if said second stream receiving device is available;
if neither said first stream receiving device nor said second stream receiving device are available, then said first computer subsequently checking any other stream receiving devices on said ordered list and if no streaming receiving device is available, then providing an error message on said first computer;
if a stream sending receiving device is available, then said first computer providing said information from said stream sending application to an available stream receiving device;
said first computer detecting that a second stream sending application different than said first stream sending application has been started; and
said first computer checking said global casting list to find a second ordered list of stream receiving devices associated with said second stream sending application, and sending said information from said second stream sending application to entries on said second ordered list, where entries on the second ordered list for the second stream sending application are different than entries on the ordered list for the first stream sending application.
8. The system as in claim 7 , wherein said first computer checks the first stream receiving device and determines said first stream receiving device as unavailable when either already receiving a stream or powered off.
9. The system as in claim 7 , wherein the first computer determines a user who is logged on, and where said global casting list produces the ordered list that is dependent on both a specific stream sending application that is making a request and by the user who is logged in, where different users with the same stream sending application receive a different ordered list for the same stream sending application.
10. The system as in claim 7 , wherein said information is a web address and login information for a specified stream sending service.
11. The system as in claim 7 , said list is accessed over the internet.
12. The system as in claim 7 , said list is also accessible from a second computer which is carrying out the stream sending application.