Patent ID: 8099334

Claim:
A method for providing an integrated network-based system for automated selecting, sequencing, playing, storage, distribution, and management of electronic media, including but not limited to music tracks, for one or more users, comprising: assigning to a subscribing user a music playing device and a remote control device wherein both of said devices are assigned to a home location of the subscribing user; assigning to a different subscribing user a different music playing device and a different remote control device wherein both of said devices are assigned to a home location of the different subscribing user; providing a central server within the integrated system, wherein the central site stores records of all the assignments of the music playing devices and remote control devices to subscribing users, stores backup copies of electronic media owned by all subscribing users, and stores records of ownership, popularity, and frequency of play of the electronic media; connecting the remote control device to the different music playing device and determining, using a computer processor, that home location of the remote control device is different than the home location of the different music playing device; in response to the determination, transmitting a list of top favorite tracks for the subscribing user from the central server to the different music playing device; determining that at least one music file for a track in the top favorite tracks is missing from the different music playing device and causing a download of the at least one music file to the different music playing device; inserting at least a portion of the top favorite tracks into a mix of tracks of the different music playing device; receiving a vote request from the different subscribing user for at least one of the top favorite tracks in the portion of the top favorite tracks which causes the initiation of a free trial of the at least one of the top favorite tracks, wherein the free trial provides a limited number of free plays of the at least one top favorite track.