System, method and network device for streaming data from a network
A system, method and a network device for streaming data from a network are provided. A network device includes a software application for streaming network data. The application sets a ratio of local versus network content to a value. The application scans the network device's local media library metadata for local content and submits the metadata to the network server, wherein the server uses the metadata to identify and classify local content and create an integrated playlist using local and network content that is communicated to the network device, which starts content playback. In the event of no network connectivity, the content playback may be based entirely on locally stored content. The selection of local or network content is based on a randomly generated value and a set ratio of local to network content.
1. A method for streaming music from a network server to a network device, the method comprising:
activating a music streaming software application on a network device;
scanning a local media library accessible to the network device to identify a local content media metadata and generating a local content media metadata file;
submitting the local content media metadata file to a first network server accessible to the network device;
reading and parsing the local content media metadata file by the first network server;
matching artists from the local content media metadata file to a cached database found on the first network server;
creating and displaying channel recommendations on the network device on basis of the local content media metadata;
setting a recommended channel based on the local content media metadata on the network device;
setting a ratio of local content versus network content to a value on the network device thereby creating a playlist on the network device;
matching artists from the local content media metadata file against a database found on a second network server wherein said second server contains additional media metadata;
updating the network server database with the additional media metadata from the second network server;
retrieving music metadata for matched artists and generating artists file on the network server;
communicating the artists file to the network device;
creating and displaying channel recommendations on the network device based on the artists file from the network server;
setting a recommended channel based on the artists file on the network device; and
starting content playback on the network device based on the ratio of local content versus network content, the channel recommendation from the local content media metadata on the network device, and the channel recommendation from the artists file from the network server.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein matching artists from the local content media metadata file is done against a cached database located on a plurality of network servers.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting network conditions and switching to local content as conditions require.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the detected network conditions comprise determining the bandwidth available to the network device.
5. The method of claim 3 wherein the detected network conditions comprise determining whether the network device is on a cellular network other than the network device's home network.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network device is selected from the group consisting of a smartphone, a tablet and a personal computer.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the playlist is based on metadata from more than one network server.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein an additional network server is queried when the initial network server is not able to identify the music on the network device.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising communicating between various network devices.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein communication between various network devices comprises exchanging playlists and network parameters.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein a decision to switch to local content is performed on basis of preference setting of the network device.