Patent ID: 7519911

Claim:
A system for accessing the content of various types of media files using a single interface, comprising: a client receiver for receiving remote data from a remote device, where the remote data includes remote program modules and remote media format access data that corresponds to a set of remote media formats, wherein the client receiver initiates communication with the remote device; a client storage unit for storing client data, the client data further comprising: a roster of client media formats that are accessible by the system; a set of client media format access data; and a set of client program modules; wherein received remote media format access data is stored as client media format access data, and received remote program modules are stored as client program modules; a client transmitter for transmitting client data to the remote device, wherein client data sent by the transmitter to the remote device includes status information that indicates the status of the client data; a client processor for executing any of the set of client program modules and for using the client media format access data to access the content of media files, wherein the set of client media format access data comprises at least one codec shared by more than one of the remote media formats and wherein the at least one codec is used to access the content of the media files without previously associating the client media formats with the client program modules; and a client media format controller for updating the set of client media access data by automatically accessing a plurality of remote devices each of which supports fewer than all the client media access formats supported by the client media format controller so as to add remote media format access data received from the plural remote devices, for replacing client media format access data with corresponding remote media format access data received from the plural remote devices when the existing stored client media access format data is damaged and for deleting client media format access data.