Patent ID: 8849719

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of causing a portable digital playback device to receive and play back digital media content stored on a portable computer storage device, the computer-implemented method comprising acts of: at the portable computer storage device, receiving identification information for a type of operating system used at a portable digital playback device when the portable digital playback device is connected to the portable computer storage device; determining at the portable computer storage device, based on the type of operating system identified, a required format for digital media content stored in memory on the portable computer storage device; accessing rules and settings stored at the portable computer storage device, and then determining other rules and settings for managing playback conditions at the portable digital playback device; and sending from the portable computer storage device instruction for formatting the digital media content for playback on the portable digital playback device in accordance with the determined format, and sending from the portable computer storage device instructions for the determined other applicable rules and settings for managing playback at the portable digital playback device.