Patent ID: 8090309

Claim:
A method of using a media device operable in first and second modes, the first mode comprising operation as a system for accessing a media source co-housed with or directly connected to said media device, the source configured to stream media files or media streams for output by said media device, and the second mode comprising operation of the media device as a remote controller system for controlling over a network a media source remote from the media device, comprising: operating the media device in the first mode, wherein when operated in the first mode, the media device performs operations of displaying user-selectable media metadata on a display of the media device, at least one media file or stream being associated with each displayed media metadata and being available from the media source for playing by said media device, receiving from a user a selection of media metadata from among the displayed media metadata, and indicating that said media device should play a media file or media stream associated with the selected media metadata, and outputting the selected media file or media stream; and operating the media device in a second mode, wherein when operated in the second mode, the media device performs operations of connecting the media device with the media source, via a network interface, transmitting a request, using the network interface, for media metadata from the media device to the media source, receiving at the media device, using the network interface, media metadata from the remote media source, the media metadata indicating at least one media file or media stream available from the media source, displaying at least one received media metadata on a media device display, generating a signal in response to a user selection of at least one said displayed media metadata, and the media device sending a corresponding signal from the network interface to the media source, wherein the corresponding signal includes at least one media file or media stream metadata identifying at least one media file or media stream available from the media source that, in turn, responds to the corresponding signal by accessing the identified media file or media stream and once accessed, and sending the identified media file or media stream to a media output device separate from the media device.