Patent ID: 8931010
Filing Date: 2015-01-06
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for aggregating media in a media system comprising network devices coupled through a network, the network devices comprising a first storage device, a second storage device, and a client device that communicate with each other through the network by using network protocols, the method comprising: receiving though the network, at the client device, first and second state information from the first and second storage devices respectively, each state information specifying a network protocol and a content service supported by the respective storage device configured to store digital media files, the content service for allowing other network devices to access digital media files or information regarding the digital media files stored on the respective storage device, first and second network protocols associated with the first and second storage devices respectively being different; upon the client device being coupled to the network, sending third state information from the client device to the first and second storage devices, the third state information specifying at least one network protocol and at least one service supported by the client device, wherein the media system utilizes a peer-to-peer architecture, wherein the network devices communicate with each other through the network by using network protocols specified in the state information for each network device, and a request sent to a network device is translated to the network protocol specified in the state information for the network device, the request invoking a service specified in the state information for the network device; receiving, at the client device, a first list of digital media files from the first storage device and a second list of digital media files from the second storage device; aggregating, at the client device, an overall list of digital media files comprising the first and second lists, wherein a digital media file found on both the first list and the second list is only listed once on the overall list; and in response to user input, playing, at the client device, at least a portion from the overall list of digital media files.