Patent ID: 8713199

Claim:
A method of filtering and storing information describing characteristics of content stored on at least one network device and accessible via a network, said content being potentially useable by a plurality of network rendering devices adapted for rendering content, the method comprising the acts of: periodically filtering the information describing characteristics of the content to yield filtered information and remaining information, the filtered information being devoid of information describing characteristics of content that cannot be rendered by any of the plurality of network rendering devices; storing, in a content directory, the filtered information devoid of information describing characteristics of content that cannot be rendered by any of said plurality of network rendering devices; determining that the remaining information cannot be rendered by any of the plurality of network rendering devices for forming removed information; storing the removed information removed by the periodically filtering act; searching or browsing the content directory to review said filtered information devoid of information describing characteristics of content that cannot be rendered by any of the plurality of network rendering devices; and searching the removed information describing characteristics of content that cannot be rendered by any of the plurality of network rendering devices, wherein said searching or browsing of the content directory to review said filtered information devoid of information describing characteristics of content that cannot be rendered by any of the plurality of network rendering devices, is performed independently of said periodic filtering of information about the content to yield filtered information devoid of information describing characteristics of content that cannot be rendered by any of the plurality of network rendering devices, and wherein said periodic filtering of information about the content to yield filtered information devoid of information describing characteristics of content that cannot be rendered by any of the plurality of network rendering devices, is performed upon elapse of a predetermined time interval following removal from the network of a network rendering device of the plurality of network rendering devices.