Patent ID: 6131129
Filing Date: 2000-10-10
Classification: G11B,H04L,H04N

Abstract:
In a home audio visual network including a plurality of devices coupled via an IEEE 1394 bus, a system for accessing a media changer mechanism of a multi-item media player, comprising:a multi-item media player for storing a plurality of media items and playing any of the plurality of media items;a media changer mechanism within the multi-item media player, the media changer mechanism having a plurality of slots for storing the plurality of media items, the media changer mechanism configured to play any of the plurality of media items;a computer system within the multi-item media player, the computer system coupled to the media changer mechanism, the computer system having a processor coupled to a memory; anda software based media changer model executing within the computer system, the media changer model comprised of computer readable code which when executed by the processor cause the computer system to perform a method for accessing the media changer mechanism, the method comprising the computer system performing the steps of:interfacing with a plurality of devices coupled to the multi-item media player via an IEEE 1394 communications link of an IEEE 1394 based network;providing a standardized command set for the media changer mechanism to provide a set of standardized commands that allow the plurality of devices to access the media changer mechanism such that the plurality of devices can access any of the plurality of media items; andproviding content discovery functionality for the plurality of media items for allowing the plurality of devices to discover the content of the plurality of media items prior to accessing any of the plurality of media items.