Patent ID: 8375019

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of retrieving and playing digital media comprising: a user of an electronic device in communication with a server via one or more networks wherein the electronic device has at least one browser and at least one media player wherein the browser and the media player may reside in a single software application or in separate applications; upon the user initiating a command via the electronic device, the server sends the browser a page having at least one image or descriptor corresponding to the media file; upon the user selecting the image or descriptor corresponding to the media file, the browser sends a request to the server for a URL wherein the request identifies the browser and identifies a string that is associated with the electronic device; if the electronic device is a mobile phone or other electronic device in wireless communication with a network of a carrier, the request identifies an IP address that is associated with the carrier; upon the browser server receiving the request from the browser, a MIME code and a codec are selected by the server based on 1) the browser and 2) the string and also 3) the IP address if the electronic device is a mobile phone or other electronic device in wireless communication with a network of the; the media file is encoded using the codec resulting in an encoded wrapper file; the server sends the MIME code and the encoded wrapper file to the browser; and upon the browser receiving the encoded wrapper file, the media file player plays the encoded wrapper file wherein the media player may download or stream the encoded wrapper file.