(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2007/0048712 A1
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Mar. 1, 2007
`Plastina et al.
`
`US 20070048712Al
`
`(54) MEDIA PLAYER SERVICE LIBRARY
`
`Publication Classi?cation
`
`(76) Inventors: Daniel Plastina, Sammamish, WA
`(US); Michael J. Novak, Redmond,
`WA (US); Jonathan Marshall Cain,
`Seattle, WA (US); Keith W. Ballinger,
`North Bend, WA (US); Frank Z.
`Chang, Bellevue, WA (US); Judson
`Craig Hally, Sammamish, WA (US)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`SENNIGER POWERS (MSFT)
`ONE METROPOLITAN SQUARE, 16TH
`FLOOR
`ST. LOUIS, MO 63102 (US)
`
`(21) Appl, NO_;
`
`11 /202,556
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Aug. 12, 2005
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`G09B 5/00
`(52) U.S. c1. ............................................................ ..434/308
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`Integrated management of local and remote media ?les. A
`playlist of media ?les adapted for rendering by a media
`player application are located in either a local media library
`stored at the computer or a remote media library accessible
`by the computer Via a data communication network or both.
`Media player operations may be performed on the playlist.
`A ?rst identi?er identi?es each of the media ?les in the
`playlist and a second identi?er represents a source of each of
`the media ?les in the playlist. A streaming locator de?ned by
`the ?rst and second identi?ers locates each of the media ?les
`in the playlist in the local media library and then in the
`remote library.
`
`REMOTE MEDIA SERVICE
`
`120 p
`
`100
`
`124
`
`SERVE?
`
`116 \ MEDIA PLAYER
`APPLICATION
`
`112
`
`130
`
`LOCAL
`LIBRARY
`
`LOCAL COPY
`OF REMOTE
`LIBRARY
`
`.
`
`12s;
`
`‘
`
`- MEDIA INTERNET SERVICE
`REMOTE
`E
`LIBRARY
`E -
`108 R %
`:1
`IIIIIIIIIII
`/|]II[IIIU|][I
`SERVER 110
`
`METADATA
`
`102
`
`Page 1 of 22
`
`Unified Patents Exhibit 1008
`
`

`
`Patent Application Publication Mar. 1, 2007 Sheet 1 0f 11
`
`US 2007/0048712 A1
`
`H
`
`E L.
`/
`
`U
`
`H .wE
`
`Page 2 of 22
`
`

`
`Patent Application Publication Mar. 1, 2007 Sheet 2 0f 11
`
`US 2007/0048712 A1
`
`FIG. 2
`
`V
`
`DIFFERENCE
`FILES
`
`138
`
`MEDIA
`PLAYER
`
`v
`CATALOG
`SERVER
`(REMOTE
`LIBRARY)
`
`122
`
`DIFFERENCE
`FUNCTION
`
`132
`
`116
`
`MEDIA
`PLAYER LISL
`SERVICE
`PLUG-IN
`
`130
`
`wwo
`Y PCCLG
`CSA
`L R M AET
`FC m0
`
`144
`
`146
`
`OLD CATALOG
`
`MERGE
`FUNCTION
`
`NEW
`CATALOG
`
`Page 3 of 22
`
`

`
`Patent Application Publication Mar. 1, 2007 Sheet 3 0f 11
`
`US 2007/0048712 A1
`
`FIG. 3A
`
`E1 MEDIA PLAYER
`@G») NOWPLAYING || BROWSE |
`@“vAUDIO v MUSICSERVICE ‘SONGS
`
`308
`
`RIP
`
`BURN
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`Ql/
`
`6
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`MUSIC SERVICE m
`TOP LISTS
`TOP DOWNLOADS
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`,L:
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`4‘
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`$3???
`302 _J§ QLEBNL'JQAQ
`@YEAR
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`®E1\
`EFED MUSIC SERVICE
`304 _\ 61E]
`@ARTIST
`@ALBDM
`GENRE
`EAR
`@RATINO
`
`RECENTLY ADDED
`SPOTLIGHT
`
`/\
`J
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`Q‘
`ITITLES
`
`|
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`ALBUM
`"123 Mm."
`
`312
`
`HOME?
`423 MIN.
`ROCK
`2002
`
`1 LETHALLULLABY
`2 |N
`3 SEVEN WAYS TO
`4 WAN‘T GET HIGHE
`5 TEEN LOVE
`6 WRECK
`306
`\ 7 MOLES
`a ALLEY
`9 CRASH TONE
`10 MORE?
`
`"DEMONS"
`
`COME BURSTING OUT! 1 vOODOO CLAN
`DEMONS ‘DEMONS”
`2 ANOTHER PRETTY
`
`Page 4 of 22
`
`

`
`Patent Application Publication Mar. 1, 2007 Sheet 4 0f 11
`
`US 2007/0048712 A1
`
`@ MuSIc SERVICE
`
`Q@@
`
`316
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`I} @.| TYPE TO SEARCH 1 J3
`@MUSIO SERVICE
`PARTNERS
`PRIVACY
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`UNDER MY SKIN
`2004
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`Page 5 of 22
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`Page 8 of 22
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`
`
`
`
`

`
`Patent Application Publication Mar. 1, 2007 Sheet 8 0f 11
`
`US 2007/0048712 A1
`
`LEI MEDIA PLAYER
`@@ NOW PLAYING || BR_OW' 'sE 1|
`
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`BORN 1964 IN NANAIMO,
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`6 LOvE ME LIKE A MAN
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`10 ABANDONED...
`
`Page 9 of 22
`
`

`
`Patent Application Publication Mar. 1, 2007 Sheet 9 0f 11
`
`US 2007/0048712 A1
`
`Page 10 of 22
`
`

`
`Patent Application Publication Mar. 1, 2007 Sheet 10 0f 11
`
`US 2007/0048712 A1
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`Page 11 of 22
`
`

`
`Patent Application Publication Mar. 1, 2007 Sheet 11 0f 11
`
`US 2007/0048712 A1
`
`PLAYLIST
`
`MEDIA FILE #1
`
`SID #1
`
`SNAME #1
`
`URL #1
`
`MEDIA FILE #2
`
`SID #2
`
`SNAME #2
`
`URL #2
`
`MEDIA FILE #N
`
`SID #N
`
`SNAME #N
`
`URL #N
`
`Page 12 of 22
`
`

`
`US 2007/0048712 A1
`
`Mar. 1, 2007
`
`MEDIA PLAYER SERVICE LIBRARY
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`[0001] Due to recent advances in technology, computer
`users are noW able to enjoy many features that provide an
`improved user experience. For example, users can play
`media and multimedia content on various computing
`devices, such as personal, laptop, or handheld computers, as
`Well as mobile phones and other portable media devices. In
`some media environments, a computing device has access to
`a computer-readable medium storing media ?les such as
`Moving Picture Experts Group audio layer-3 (MP3) ?les and
`Windows@ Media technologies audio (WMA) and video
`(WMV) ?les. Many computers today are also able to play
`compact discs (CDs) and digital versatile discs (DVDs) and
`have an Internet connection capable of streaming and doWn
`loading audio and video.
`
`[0002] In the realm of personal digital media, there may be
`several interesting “scopes” of media. For example, at one
`end of the spectrum, a user may store a personal media
`collection locally on one or more machines or devices. A
`typical user’s local or personal media collection includes
`perhaps a feW thousand media items. At the other end of the
`spectrum, online retailers (e.g., FYE.com), online media
`sources (e.g., Microsoft Corporation’s MSN® Music ser
`vice), and online subscription services (e.g., Napster® and
`RealNetWork’s Rhapsody® digital music services) often
`have libraries of more than a million media items available
`to the user remotely (e.g., via the intemet). A general
`interaction betWeen these tWo scopes is to extract media
`from one and insert the items into the other by purchasing
`and/or doWnloading media content. But the siZe of the
`service library clearly eclipses that of the local library and
`the rate at Which a user consumes media is relatively loW
`When compared to the amount of media released during the
`same time period. In other Words, far more media items are
`released on any given day than a single user Would purchase.
`As such, the integration of the tWo scopes has been left
`undone. Moreover, conventional user interfaces, implemen
`tation models, and the like are also very different, Which
`complicates the integration of local and remote media librar
`1es.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`[0003] Embodiments of the invention overcome one or
`more de?ciencies in knoWn systems by providing a seamless
`user experience by Which users can manage local and remote
`media. In this regard, users may consider both local and
`remote media libraries as part their oWn collections While
`retaining a clear understanding of What is local versus What
`is remote. Aspects of the invention provide user-friendly,
`content-driven access to complex remote data sources With
`the bene?ts of a local user experience. Moreover, aspects of
`the invention may be applied to various forms of digital
`media, including songs, movies, television shoWs, and audio
`books as Well as physical libraries of traditional, non-digital
`media items such as books, physical DVD collections, and
`the like.
`[0004] Computer-readable media having computer-ex
`ecutable instructions for performing methods of managing
`media collections embody further aspects of the invention.
`Alternatively, embodiments of the invention may comprise
`various other methods and apparatuses.
`
`[0005] Other features Will be in part apparent and in part
`pointed out hereinafter.
`
`[0006] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection
`of concepts in a simpli?ed form that are further described
`beloW in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not
`intended to identify key features or essential features of the
`claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid
`in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0007] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating components
`of an exemplary computer system implementing an embodi
`ment of the invention.
`
`[0008] FIG. 2 is an exemplary ?oW diagram illustrating a
`catalog update process according to an embodiment of the
`invention.
`
`[0009] FIG. 3A to FIG. 3F are exemplary screen shot
`illustrating aspects of a media player user interface accord
`ing to embodiments of the invention.
`
`[0010] FIG. 4 is an exemplary screen shot illustrating
`further aspects of a media player user interface according to
`an embodiment of the invention.
`
`[0011] FIG. 5 is a graphical representation of an exem
`plary album stack according to an embodiment of the
`invention.
`
`[0012] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an exemplary data
`structure for use in creating intelligent playlists according to
`an embodiment of the invention.
`
`[0013] Corresponding reference characters indicate corre
`sponding parts throughout the draWings.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`[0014] Referring noW to the draWings, FIG. 1 illustrates an
`exemplary computing environment in Which the present
`invention may be implemented for enhancing user media
`playing experience. Amedia player system 100 includes one
`or more client computers 102 coupled to a data communi
`cation netWork 104. One or more server computers 108 may
`also be coupled to the netWork 104. As shoWn in FIG. 1, the
`system 100 also includes one or more databases 110 asso
`ciated With server 108.
`
`[0015] In one embodiment, the computer 102 accesses the
`server 108 (and the information in the database 110) via
`netWork 104. As an example, netWork 104 is the Internet (or
`the World Wide Web) but the teachings of the present
`invention may be applied to any data communication net
`Work. Server 108 and computer 102 communicate in the
`illustrated embodiment using, for example, the hypertext
`transfer protocol (HTTP).
`[0016] Aspects of the invention provide softWare routines
`that, When executed by a computer, render media content
`and retrieve, store, and display contextual information.
`Referring further to FIG. 1, the user’s computer 102
`accesses one or more digital media ?les stored in the form
`of a local media library 112. The local media library 112 may
`reside on the computer’s hard drive, a removable computer
`readable storage medium, or the like. In the illustrated
`embodiment, computer 102 executes a media player appli
`cation 116 for rendering selected media ?les. The media
`
`Page 13 of 22
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`

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`US 2007/0048712 A1
`
`Mar. 1, 2007
`
`player application 116 may be any suitable media player that
`is con?gured to play digital media so that a user can
`experience the content that is embodied on the media. For
`example, a media player application embodying aspects of
`the invention may be built on Microsoft Corporation’s
`WindoWs MediaTM Player program.
`
`[0017] The media player application 116 may be con?g
`ured to communicate With server 108 and its associated
`database 110 via netWork 104 to access data stored in
`database 110. In this instance, server 108 and database 110
`constitute a media intemet services site 120 that enables the
`user to access, retrieve, and display so-called metadata. In
`particular, this aspect of the invention enables media player
`application 116 to access, retrieve, and display metadata in
`conjunction With rendering media content. Those skilled in
`the art are familiar With metadata, Which is simply infor
`mation about data. In the context of the present invention,
`metadata includes information related to speci?c content of
`a digital media ?le being rendered by the media player
`application 116. Basic metadata includes title, composer,
`performer, genre, description of content, and the like.
`Extended metadata includes cover art, performer biogra
`phies, revieWs, related performers, Where to buy similar
`items, upcoming concerts, ticket sales, URLs to other related
`experiences including purchase opportunities, and the like.
`
`[0018] In the embodiment of FIG. 1, server 108 matches
`the metadata stored in database 110 to the speci?c media
`content that is being experienced by the user. Server 108
`then returns the metadata to the user’s computer 102. In
`many of the examples herein, media content is described in
`the context of music content stored in the client computer’s
`memory for convenience. It is to be appreciated and under
`stood that the media content may be embodied on any
`suitable media, including digital ?les doWnloaded to the
`local memory of client computer 102 or accessible by
`computer 102 via netWork 104. The media content may
`include, Without limitation, specially encoded media content
`in the form of, for example, an encoded media ?le such as
`media content encoded in Microsoft® WindoWs MediaTM
`format using the Microsoft® WindoWs MediaTM Player
`program.
`
`[0019] The system 100 of FIG. 1 permits the user to render
`a media ?le on an enabled media playing device (e.g.,
`computer 102 running Microsoft Windows@ operating sys
`tem and WindoWs MediaTM Player program) and expect not
`only to experience the media content but also have access to
`all manner of related metadata. In addition, the user com
`munity has the ability to contribute key information such as
`community ratings to the process to improve the experience
`for other users.
`
`[0020] Aspects of the invention also include communica
`tion betWeen the media player application 116 executed on
`computer 102 With one or more remote media services 122.
`The remote media service 122 may be, for example, an
`online retailer (e. g., FYE.com), an online media source (e.g.,
`Microsoft Corporation’s MSN® Music service), or an
`online subscription service (e.g., Napster® and RealNet
`Work’s Rhapsody® digital music services). In one embodi
`ment, remote media service 122 utiliZes one or more servers
`for maintaining a catalog of available media ?les, that is, a
`remote library 126. Those skilled in the art are familiar With
`such services from Which a user may doWnload music ?les
`
`and/or listen to songs directly via the Internet, usually for a
`monthly subscription price or on a per-song basis. For
`example, the remote library 126 contains the inventory of an
`online media provider.
`[0021] The exemplary operating environment illustrated
`in FIG. 1 includes a general purpose computing device (e. g.,
`computing device 102) such as a computer executing com
`puter-executable instructions. The computing device typi
`cally has at least some form of computer readable media.
`Computer readable media, Which include both volatile and
`nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media,
`may be any available medium that may be accessed by the
`general purpose computing device. By Way of example and
`not limitation, computer readable media comprise computer
`storage media and communication media. Computer storage
`media include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non
`removable media implemented in any method or technology
`for storage of information such as computer readable
`instructions, data structures, program modules or other data.
`Communication media typically embody computer readable
`instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data
`in a modulated data signal such as a carrier Wave or other
`transport mechanism and include any information delivery
`media. Those skilled in the art are familiar With the modu
`lated data signal, Which has one or more of its characteristics
`set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in
`the signal. Wired media, such as a Wired netWork or direct
`Wired connection, and Wireless media, such as acoustic, RF,
`infrared, and other Wireless media, are examples of com
`munication media. Combinations of any of the above are
`also included Within the scope of computer readable media.
`The computing device includes or has access to computer
`storage media in the form of removable and/or non-remov
`able, volatile and/or nonvolatile memory. A user may enter
`commands and information into the computing device
`through input devices or user interface selection devices
`such as a keyboard and a pointing device (e.g., a mouse,
`trackball, pen, or touch pad). Other input devices (not
`shoWn) may be connected to the computing device. A
`monitor or other type of display device (not shoWn) is also
`connected to the computing device. In addition to the
`monitor, computers often include other peripheral output
`devices (not shoWn) such as a printer and speakers, Which
`may be connected through an output peripheral interface
`(not shoWn).
`[0022] The computer 102 may operate in a netWorked
`environment using logical connections to one or more
`remote computers. The remote computer may be a personal
`computer, a server (e.g., servers 108,124), a router, a net
`Work PC, a peer device or other common netWork node, and
`typically includes many or all of the elements described
`above relative to computer 102. Such netWorking environ
`ments are commonplace in of?ces, enterprise-Wide com
`puter netWorks, intranets, and global computer netWorks
`(e.g., the Internet).
`[0023] Although described in connection With an exem
`plary computing system environment, aspects of the inven
`tion are operational With numerous other general purpose or
`special purpose computing system environments or con?gu
`rations. The computing system environment is not intended
`to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or function
`ality of aspects of the invention. Moreover, the computing
`system environment should not be interpreted as having any
`
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`

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`US 2007/0048712 A1
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`Mar. 1, 2007
`
`dependency or requirement relating to any one or combina
`tion of components illustrated in the exemplary operating
`environment. Examples of Well knoWn computing systems,
`environments, and/or con?gurations that may be suitable for
`use in embodiments of the invention include, but are not
`limited to, personal computers, server computers, hand-held
`or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor
`based systems, set top boxes, programmable consumer elec
`tronics, mobile telephones, netWork PCs, minicomputers,
`mainframe computers, distributed computing environments
`that include any of the above systems or devices, and the
`like.
`
`[0024] Embodiments of the invention may be described in
`the general context of computer-executable instructions,
`such as program modules, executed by one or more com
`puters or other devices. Generally, program modules
`include, but are not limited to, routines, programs, objects,
`components, and data structures that perform particular
`tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Aspects of
`the invention may also be practiced in distributed computing
`environments Where tasks are performed by remote process
`ing devices that are linked through a communications net
`Work. In a distributed computing environment, program
`modules may be located in both local and remote computer
`storage media including memory storage devices.
`
`[0025] Referring further to FIG. 1, embodiments of the
`invention provide a relatively seamless user experience by
`Which a user of computer 102 can manage local media (i.e.,
`local library 112) and remotely accessible media (i.e.,
`remote library 126). In one aspect, the user may consider
`both local and remote media libraries as part a personal
`collection While retaining a clear understanding of What is
`local versus What is remote. Embodiments of the invention
`provide user-friendly, content-driven access to complex
`remote data sources such as remote library 126 With the
`bene?ts of a local user experience (e.g., responsive behav
`iors such as searching and sorting; rich user experience
`constructs such as “Word Wheeling”, searching, sorting,
`large list scrolling, alternate vieWs, and context menus; and
`local storage for ol?ine use). Moreover, aspects of the
`invention may be applied to various forms of digital media,
`including audio ?les (e.g., music tracks, neWs reports, audio
`Web logs, audio books, speeches, comedy routines, etc.),
`video and multimedia ?les (e.g., movies, movie trailers,
`television shoWs, etc.), and images. In addition, aspects of
`the invention may also be applied to physical libraries of
`traditional, non-digital media items such as books, physical
`DVD collections, and the like.
`
`[0026] In one embodiment, media player system 100
`implements an integrated media library system. As
`described above, computer 102 executes media player appli
`cation 116 for rendering one or more media ?les. In this
`instance, local library 112, Which may be stored on the hard
`drive of computer 102 or a removable storage device asso
`ciated With the computer, contains one or more media ?les.
`In addition, remote library 126 contains one or more media
`?les. Although library 126 is remote from computer 102, its
`media ?les are accessible by media player application 116
`via netWork 104. A user interface (e.g., see FIGS. 3A-3F)
`displays information representative of both local library 112
`and remote library 126. The media player application 116 is
`responsive to user input via the user interface for performing
`
`one or more media player operations on either local library
`112 or remote library 126 or both.
`
`[0027] Typical media player operations include, for
`example: displaying metadata associated With the media
`?les; rendering, copying, or doWnloading selected media
`?les; rendering samples of selected media ?les; assigning
`media ?les to one or more playlists; searching or sorting the
`media ?les according to their metadata or content; display
`ing media library contents; scrolling through the media
`library contents; and displaying contextual menus of avail
`able media player operations.
`
`[0028] One aspect of the invention relates to a local copy
`130 of the remote library 126 maintained by computer 102.
`In one embodiment, the local copy 130 is a compressed
`database or catalog representative of the remote media ?les
`accessible by computer 102 from the remote media service
`122. The exemplary schema described in APPENDIX A
`permits relatively heavy compression of the typically large
`remote library 126 to permit local storage. For example,
`compression according to the ?le structure of this exemplary
`schema alloWs 1.2 million tracks of metadata to be ?t into
`about 20 Mbytes of storage. In one embodiment, remote
`media service 122 generates the copy 130 of remote library
`126. In the alternative, media intemet service 120 may
`communicate With remote media service 122 to generate the
`copy 130 of remote library 126. APPENDIX B provides an
`exemplary import schema.
`
`[0029] FIG. 2 illustrates a catalog update process accord
`ing to one embodiment of the invention. As shoWn, media
`player application 116 begins by requesting a media player
`“Live in the Service Library” (LISL) plug-in application 132
`for the current catalog 126. In turn, the plug-in 132 com
`municates With the back end, that is, remote media service
`122 (or service 120), to obtain either a full catalog or an
`update. In one embodiment, the catalog server 124 maintains
`not only remote library 126 in its current state but also a
`number of previous versions. By taking N previous catalogs
`and applying a difference function 136, server 124 generates
`N difference ?les 138 that describe the differences betWeen
`each previous catalog and the current one. The remote
`service 122 (or service 120) then permits the LISL plug-in
`132 to doWnload either the full catalog or difference ?les as
`appropriate. If plug-in 132 doWnloads the full catalog (i.e.,
`a compressed database representative of remote library 126),
`plug-in 132 stores it on computer 102 and returns its location
`to media player application 116. On the other hand, if
`plug-in 132 doWnloads catalog updates, plug-in 132 initiates
`a client-side update process. In FIG. 2, the LISL plug-in 132
`performs a merge function 140 on an old, out-of-date catalog
`140 stored on computer 102 to add the difference ?les 138
`and generate a neW catalog 146. Following the merge,
`plug-in 132 updates the local catalog, shoWn at reference
`character 130, and returns its location to media player
`application 116.
`
`[0030] Several bene?cial aspects of the invention are
`described beloW in the context of a series of exemplary user
`interfaces illustrated in FIG. 3A to FIG. 3F. Generally, the
`user interfaces depicted in FIGS. 3A-3F are exemplary only
`and details of their appearance should not be construed as
`critical. The computer 102 is adapted for performing the
`media player operations and actions described herein With
`respect to these user interfaces, Which embody aspects of the
`
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`US 2007/0048712 A1
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`Mar. 1, 2007
`
`[0035] Referring to FIG. 3C, the exemplary user interface
`indicates by way of, for example, the tree structure 304 and
`the bread crumb bar 308, remote media ?les grouped by
`artist. In one embodiment, stacked album art images 320
`(see also FIG. 5) in the middle pane 312 enhance the user
`experience. In this instance, the “more info” region 310
`provides contextual information (e.g., relating to artists)
`such as the most downloaded artists or featured artists.
`
`[0036] In FIG. 3C, the user in this example searched for a
`particular artist by typing her name into search ?eld 316. In
`this instance, middle pane 312 displays the album stack 320
`to corresponding to the particular artist. Clicking on album
`stack 320 in FIG. 3C yields a user interface such as the
`example shown in FIG. 3D. The search ?eld 316 is cleared,
`indicating that the results are un?ltered. Here, the “more
`info” region 310 provides artist-speci?c metadata to the user
`and drives the local player user interface. The middle pane
`312 displays all of the selected artist’s albums available
`from remote library 126. The exemplary user interface of
`FIG. 3E may be reached by clicking on one of the “similar
`artists” from the “more info” region 310 of FIG. 3D. The
`bread crumb navigation bar 308 shows the user’s selected
`similar artist. Clicking on one of the most downloaded
`albums for this similar artist, as shown in the “more info”
`region 310 of FIG. 3E, takes the user to exemplary user
`interface of FIG. 3E. The bread crumb bar 308 now shows
`the context as “album” because the user selected an album
`from FIG. 3E.
`
`[0037] As shown in the exemplary user interface of FIG.
`4, graphical representations or icons 326 sometimes referred
`to as “chicklets” may be used in the service library (i.e.,
`remote library 126) listing 306 local ownership or other
`status information about the media ?les. In the illustrated
`embodiment, an action column in the library view assists the
`user in behaviors such as Buy, Add to library, Download,
`Restart download, etc. This is particularly bene?cial in
`integrating the local and remote environments. TABLE I
`provides a listing of exemplary status information that may
`be shown in an action column.
`
`TABLE I
`
`State
`
`Browse
`
`Burn
`
`Buy $xx.xx
`
`Media in catalog Download
`only (not local)
`Media available I In Library If bum rights exist,
`locally
`item appears
`(purchased or
`normally with no
`downloaded
`icon.
`already)
`If no burn right,
`users get smart
`tag allowing them
`to get more rights.
`
`invention. The media player application 116 executed by
`computer 102 receives instructions and selections from the
`user and provided information to the user through the user
`interfaces.
`[0031] With respect to FIG. 3A, media player application
`116 displays at least one hierarchical structure representative
`of both local library 112 and remote library 126. For
`example, the hierarchical structure is an expandable and
`collapsible tree structure 302 that shows the ?les stored on
`the hard drive of computer 102 and another expandable and
`collapsible tree structure 304 showing the remote media ?les
`to which the user has access. According to aspects of the
`invention, the use of a compressed, locally stored database
`such as local copy 130 permits media player application 116
`to very quickly display a listing 306 of thousands or even
`millions of tracks contained in remote library 126 in an
`integrated user interface. Instead of or in addition to the tree
`structures, the user interface also provides a “bread crumb”
`navigation bar 308 for informing the user about the location
`and nature of the displayed media item listing 306.
`[0032] Advantageously, the user interface of FIG. 3A
`includes a “more info” region 310 displaying metadata,
`editorially-based recommendations, and the like. These edi
`torially-based recommendations, sometimes referred to as
`specialty pivots, are “fresh” because they are web sourced
`and very fast because they are locally referenced. A middle
`pane 310 of the user interface displays the media item
`listings 306. In this embodiment, both the bread crumb bar
`308 and the tree structure 304 indicate that the media ?les
`listed in the middle pane 312 are songs accessible from
`remote media service 122 via network 104. In addition,
`middle pane 312 may also display metadata such as album
`art, track number and name, duration, community or user
`ratings, artist, etc. The media ?le listing 306 in the middle
`pane 312 is consistent in user experience for both the remote
`media library 126 and the local library 112.
`[0033] As described in greater detail below, one embodi
`ment of the invention also includes a persistent search ?eld
`316 (see FIG. 3B) in the user interface of med