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`US007787904B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Issa
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,787,904 B2
`Aug. 31, 2010
`
`(54) PERSONAL AREA NETWORK HAVING
`MEDIA PLAYER AND MOBILE DEVICE
`CONTROLLING THE SAME
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Alfredo C. Issa, Apex, NC (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Qurio Holdings, Inc., Raleigh, NC (US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 1033 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 11/270,293
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Nov. 9, 2005
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2007/0105588Al
`
`May 10, 2007
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04M 1100
`(2006.01)
`(52) U.S. Cl. .................. 455/556.1; 455/41.2; 455/41.3;
`455/68; 455/69; 455/70; 370/338
`(58) Field of Classification Search ................. 455/414,
`455/556.1, 41.2
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3/2003 Gets in et al.
`6,529,949 Bl
`6,662,231 Bl* 12/2003 Drosset et al.
`.............. 7091229
`7,167,677 B2 *
`1/2007 Jung
`......................... 455/41.2
`7,483,958 Bl*
`1/2009 Elabbady et al. ............ 709/217
`2004/0224638 Al * 1112004 Fadell et al.
`............... 455/66.l
`2005/0009561 Al*
`1/2005 Hollstrom et al ......... 455/556. l
`2005/0021418 Al
`1/2005 Marcus et al.
`................ 705/26
`2005/0097595 Al*
`512005 Lipsanen et al . .............. 725/25
`2005/0216941 Al
`912005 Flanagan et al.
`2007 /0048712 Al *
`3/2007 Plastina et al. .............. 434/308
`
`2007/0174471 Al*
`
`7/2007 Van Rossum ............... 7091229
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2006/
`60553.
`http://www.bluetoothshareware.com/bluetooth_remote_control.
`asp, 2 pages, Oct. 11, 200 5.
`http://www.bluetoothshareware.com/
`bluetooth_remote_control_requirements.asp, 2 pages, Oct. 11,
`2005.
`http://www.bluetoothshareware.com/
`bluetooth_remote_control_screenshots.asp, 5 pages, Oct. 11,
`2005.
`http://www.bluetoothshareware.com/
`bluetooth_remote_control_manual.asp, 3 pages, Oct. 11, 2005.
`http://www.bluetoothshareware.com/
`bluetooth_remote_control_changes.asp, 3 pages, Oct. 11, 2005.
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner-Dwayne Bost
`Assistant Examiner-Sheila B Smith
`(7 4) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Withrow & Terranova, PLLC
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A system and method are provided for controlling content
`played by a number of media devices. In general, the system
`includes a mobile device and the number of media devices.
`The mobile device includes a wireless communication inter(cid:173)
`face for communicating with the media devices, a media
`database, and a control system including a media client.
`When the mobile device enters a Wireless Personal Area
`Network (WPAN) associated with a media device, the media
`client obtains information describing the content residing at
`the media device and stores the information in the media
`database at the mobile device. Thereafter, when the mobile
`device is within the WPAN associated with the media device,
`the media database is used to select content to be played at the
`media device.
`
`20 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`20
`
`MOBILE DEVICE
`
`MEDIA
`DATABASE
`M.
`
`100. VALIDATION
`
`102. REQUEST METADATA
`
`106. RETURN METADATA
`
`16
`
`MEDIA DEVICE
`
`104. QUERY
`METADATA
`
`CONTENT
`DATABASE
`_g§_
`
`DISH, Exh. 1001, p. 1
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 31, 2010
`
`Sheet 1of7
`
`US 7,787,904 B2
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`DISH, Exh. 1001, p. 2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 31, 2010
`
`Sheet 2of7
`
`US 7,787,904 B2
`
`/16,18
`
`22
`
`WIRELESS
`COMMUNICATION
`INTERFACE
`
`26
`
`CONTENT
`DATABASE
`
`24
`
`CONTROL SYSTEM
`
`MEDIA PLAYER
`_g!!_
`
`WPAN MEDIA
`SERVER
`~
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`
`34
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`CLIENT
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`DATABASE
`38
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`/20
`
`32
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`INTERFACE
`
`FIG. 3
`
`DISH, Exh. 1001, p. 3
`
`

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`MOBILE DEVICE
`
`20
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`100. VALIDATION
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`102. REQUEST METADATA
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`DISH, Exh. 1001, p. 4
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 31, 2010
`
`Sheet 4of7
`
`US 7,787,904 B2
`
`/38
`
`ID
`
`NAME
`
`TYPE
`
`LAST PLAYED
`
`SERVER
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
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`
`10-3-2005
`4:24 PM
`
`8-12-2005
`9:04AM
`
`9-16-2005
`7:53 PM
`
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`DISH, Exh. 1001, p. 5
`
`

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`16
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`MEDIA DEVICE
`
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`
`200. CLIENT DETECTS SERVER
`
`206. DIRECT SERVER TO PLAY CONTENT
`
`208. DIRECT
`PLAYER TO
`PLAY
`CONTENT
`
`212. NOTIFY CLIENT WHEN COMPLETE
`
`204. CLIENT
`SELECTS
`CONTENT
`
`FIG. 6
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`DISH, Exh. 1001, p. 6
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 31, 2010
`
`Sheet 6of7
`
`US 7,787,904 B2
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`

`
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`
`16
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`MEDIA DEVICE
`
`300. CLIENT DETECTS SERVER
`
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`
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`
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`
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`DISH, Exh. 1001, p. 8
`
`

`
`US 7,787,904 B2
`
`1
`PERSONAL AREA NETWORK HAVING
`MEDIA PLAYER AND MOBILE DEVICE
`CONTROLLING THE SAME
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`2
`Those skilled in the art will appreciate the scope of the
`present invention and realize additional aspects thereof after
`reading the following detailed description of the preferred
`embodiments in association with the accompanying drawing
`figures.
`
`The present invention relates to controlling content played
`at a number of media devices using a mobile device.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`FIGURES
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`10
`
`Each day one encounters numerous media devices such as
`computers, televisions with digital video recorders, MP3
`players, and the like. These media devices may be located in
`various environments such as one's home, office, or automo(cid:173)
`bile. However, to date, there is no way of easily ascertaining
`the content available on these different media devices and
`controlling or selecting the content played by these media
`devices using a mobile device. As such, there remains a need
`for a system and method for ascertaining the content available 20
`at a plurality of media devices and controlling the content
`played by the media devices using a mobile device.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The accompanying drawing figures incorporated in and
`forming a part of this specification illustrate several aspects of
`the invention, and together with the description serve to
`explain the principles of the invention.
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system including a mobile
`15 device and a number of media devices, wherein the mobile
`device controls the content played by the media devices
`according to one embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary media device
`according to one embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile device
`according to one embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 4 illustrates a provisioning process wherein a mobile
`device obtains metadata describing content residing at a
`media device according to one embodiment of the present
`25 invention;
`FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary media database for the
`mo bile terminal of FI GS. 1, 3, and 4 according to one embodi(cid:173)
`ment of the present invention;
`FIG. 6 illustrates a process for controlling the content
`30 played by a media device according to one embodiment of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary system wherein a mobile
`device is simultaneously within Wireless Personal Area Net(cid:173)
`works (WPANs) associated with two media devices accord(cid:173)
`ing to one embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary system wherein a mobile
`device is simultaneously within Wireless Personal Area Net(cid:173)
`works (WPANs) associated with two media devices accord(cid:173)
`ing to another embodiment of the present invention; and
`FIG. 9 illustrates a process for controlling the content
`played by a media device according to another embodiment
`of the present invention.
`
`35
`
`The present invention relates to a system and method for
`controlling content played by a number of media devices. In
`general, the system includes a mobile device and the number
`of media devices. The mobile device includes a wireless
`communication interface for communicating with the media
`devices, a media database, and a control system including a
`media client. When the mobile device enters a Wireless Per(cid:173)
`sonal Area Network (WPAN) associated with a media device,
`the media client communicates with the media device to
`obtain information describing the content residing at the
`media device and stores the information in the media database
`at the mobile device. Thereafter, when the mobile device is
`within the WPAN associated with the media device, the media
`database is used to select content to be played at the media 40
`device.
`In one embodiment, when the mobile device is within the
`WPAN associated with the media device, the media client
`interacts with a user of the mobile device and enables the user
`to select desired content to be played at the media device from 45
`the media database. The media client communicates with the
`media device to instruct the media device to play the desired
`content. In another embodiment, when the mobile device is
`within the WPAN associated with the media device, the media
`client automatically selects desired content to be played from 50
`the media database based on predetermined user preferences
`and instructs the media device to play the desired content.
`In another embodiment, the media database of the mobile
`device operates as a master database. The mobile device
`stores last-played time-stamps for the content in the media
`database in addition to the information describing the content
`for each of a number of media devices. When the mobile
`device enters the WPAN associated with a media device, the
`mobile device provides the information describing the con(cid:173)
`tent stored at each of the number of media devices and the 60
`last-played time-stamps for the content to the media device.
`Based on the information and the last-played time-stamps, the
`media device automatically selects the desired content to be
`played. For example, based on the information and the last(cid:173)
`played time-stamps, the media device may determine a play
`history and select desired content that is consistent with the
`play history.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`The embodiments set forth below represent the necessary
`information to enable those skilled in the art to practice the
`invention and illustrate the best mode of practicing the inven(cid:173)
`tion. Upon reading the following description in light of the
`accompanying drawing figures, those skilled in the art will
`understand the concepts of the invention and will recognize
`applications of these concepts not particularly addressed
`herein. It should be understood that these concepts and appli-
`55 cations fall within the scope of the disclosure and the accom(cid:173)
`panying claims.
`The present invention provides a system for controlling
`content played by a number of media devices. An exemplary
`system 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the
`system 10 includes two Wireless Personal Area Networks
`(WPANs) 12and14. Although only two WPANs 12and14
`are illustrated, the system 10 may include any number of
`WPANs 12and14. In addition, the WPANs 12and14 may or
`may not overlap. The WPAN 12 includes a media device 16,
`65 and the area covered by the WPAN 12 depends upon a range
`of a wireless communication interface associated with the
`media device 16. Likewise, the WPAN 14 includes a media
`
`DISH, Exh. 1001, p. 9
`
`

`
`US 7,787,904 B2
`
`25
`
`3
`device 18, and the area covered by the WPAN 14 depends
`upon a range of a wireless communication interface associ(cid:173)
`ated with the media device 18.
`As discussed below, the media devices 16 and 18 include
`media players and content that may be played by the media
`players. A mobile device 20, which includes a wireless com(cid:173)
`munication interface, operates to control the content played
`by the media players of the media devices 16 and 18. More
`specifically, the first time that the mobile device 20 enters the
`WPAN 12, the mobile device 20 communicates with the 10
`media device 16 to obtain metadata defining the content
`stored at the media device 16 and then stores the metadata.
`The metadata may more generally be referred to as any infor(cid:173)
`mation describing the content stored at the media device 16.
`Thereafter, a user associated with the mobile device 20 may
`select desired content to be played using the stored metadata.
`Alternatively, the mobile device 20 may automatically select
`desired content to be played based on user preferences. The
`mobile device 20 then communicates with the media device
`16 to direct the media device 16 to play the desired content. In
`response, the media device 16 plays the desired content.
`Likewise, when the mobile device 20 enters the WPAN 14,
`the mobile device 20 obtains and stores metadata describing
`the content stored by the media device 18 and directs the
`media device 18 to play desired content.
`Each of the media devices 16 and 18 may be a personal
`computer, a digital video recorder associated with a televi(cid:173)
`sion, an audio player such as a Moving Pictures Experts
`Group (MPEG)Audio Layer-3 (MP3)player, a digital picture 30
`frame, or the like. An exemplary embodiment of the media
`device 16 is illustrated in FIG. 2. Note that this discussion is
`equally applicable to the media device 18. As shown, the
`media device 16 includes a wireless communication interface
`22, a control system 24, and a content database 26. The
`wireless communication interface 22 may be a stand-alone
`device communicatively coupled to the control system 24 and
`operating to provide wireless communication between the
`media device 16 and the mobile device 20. Alternatively, the
`wireless communication interface 22 may be embedded
`within the media device 16. The wireless communication
`interface 22 may operate according to a wireless communi(cid:173)
`cation standard such as, but not limited to, the Bluetooth
`wireless communication standard, the Zigbee wireless com(cid:173)
`munication standard, the Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) wireless
`communication standard, or the IEEE 802.11 wireless com(cid:173)
`munication standards.
`The control system 24 includes a media player 28 and a
`WPAN media server 30, which is hereinafterreferred to as the
`media server 30. The media player 28 may be implemented in
`hardware and/or software and operates to play the content in
`the content database 26 such that people within the WPAN or
`near to the media device 16 can view and/or listen to the
`content. The content database 26 may be any storage device
`such as, but not limited to, a hard drive or Random Access
`Memory (RAM) and operates to store content such as digital
`video files, digital audio files, digital images, slideshows of
`digital images, or the like.
`The media server 30 may be implemented in software
`and/or hardware and operates to instruct the media player 28
`to play select content based on instructions or information
`received from the mobile device 20. In addition, the media
`server 30 may optionally scan the content database 26 for
`content that may be played at initial start-up or periodically
`throughout operation. This may be referred to as "auto-dis(cid:173)
`covering" the content. Additionally or alternatively, a user
`associated with the media device 16 may configure the media
`
`4
`server 30 to select the content or content types to be made
`available to the mobile device 20.
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary
`embodiment of the mobile device 20. The mobile device 20
`may be a mobile phone, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), or
`the like. Alternatively, the mobile device 20 may be a stand(cid:173)
`alone device similar to a remote control. In general, the
`mobile device 20 includes a wireless communication inter-
`face 32 and a control system 34. The wireless communication
`interface 32 may be a stand-alone device communicatively
`coupled to the control system 34 and operating to provide
`wireless communication between the mobile device 20 and
`the media devices 16and18. Alternatively, the wireless com(cid:173)
`munication interface 32 may be embedded within the mobile
`15 device 20. The wireless communication interface 32 may
`operate according to a wireless communication standard such
`as, but not limited to, the Bluetooth wireless communication
`standard, the Zigbee wireless communication standard, or the
`Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) wireless communication standard,
`20 or the IEEE 802.11 wireless communication standards.
`The control system 34 includes a WPAN media client 36
`and a media database 38. The WPAN media client 36 is
`hereafter referred to as the media client 36. The media client
`36 may be implemented in hardware and/or software and
`operates to provide instructions or information to the media
`server 30 in order to control the content played by the media
`player 28. As discussed below in more detail, when the
`mobile device 20 enters one of the WPANs 12, 14, the media
`client 3 6 interacts with the media server 30 to obtain metadata
`describing the content in the content database 26. The meta(cid:173)
`data is stored in the media database 38 and may include
`information such as a file name, file type, and an identifier of
`the WPANs 12, 14 for each file in the content database 26.
`Note that, in the preferred embodiment, the media database
`35 38 stores metadata describing the content in the content data(cid:173)
`base 26 for each of the WPANs 12, 14. In addition, last-played
`time-stamps for the content may be added to the media data(cid:173)
`base 38, as discussed below. A user associated with the
`mobile device 20 may then browse the media database and
`40 select content to be played. For example, ifthe mobile device
`20 is within the WPAN 12, then the user may select content to
`be played by the media device 16 using the media database
`38. If the mobile device 20 is within the WPAN 14, then the
`user may select content to be played by the media device 18
`45 using the media database 38. In another embodiment, the
`media client 3 6 may automatically select content to play from
`the media database 38 based on preferences previously
`entered by the user.
`FIG. 4 illustrates a provisioning process performed the first
`50 time that the mobile device 20 enters the WPAN 12. Note,
`however, that this discussion equally applies to the first time
`that the mobile device 20 enters the WPAN 14. When the
`mobile device 20 enters the WPAN 12 by coming within the
`range of the wireless communication interface 22 of the
`55 media device 16, the media client 36 detects themedia server
`30 and a validation process is performed (step 100). During
`the validation process, the media client 36 interacts with a
`user associated with the mobile device 20 to obtain a pass(cid:173)
`word or key, which may also be referred to as a passkey. Once
`60 the passkey is entered by the user, it is provided to the media
`server 30 and communication between the media client 36
`and the media server 30 is established. In the preferred
`embodiment, the validation process is performed only once
`when the mobile device 20 enters the WPAN 12 for the first
`65 time. If the mobile device 20 leaves the WPAN 12 and later
`returns, the validation process does not need to be repeated. In
`one embodiment, the wireless communication interfaces 22,
`
`DISH, Exh. 1001, p. 10
`
`

`
`US 7,787,904 B2
`
`5
`32 of the media device 16 and mobile device 20, respectively,
`operate according to the Bluetooth wireless communication
`standard and the validation process is the pairing process
`described in the Bluetooth specification.
`Once validation is complete, the media client 36 sends a 5
`request to the media server 30 for metadata describing the
`content in the content database 26 at the media device 16 (step
`102). In response, the media server 30 queries the content
`database 26 to obtain the metadata describing the content
`within the content database 26 (step 104). The metadata may 10
`include information such as the file name and file type for
`each file in the content database 26. In addition, the media
`server 30 may add a server name or identifier of the media
`device 16 to the metadata. The media server 30 then returns
`the metadata to the media client 36 (step 106), and the media 15
`client 36 stores the metadata in the media database 38 (step
`108).
`Steps 100-108 are repeated each timethe mobile device 20
`enters one of the WPANs 12, 14 forthe first time.As such, the
`media database 38 stores metadata describing the content in 20
`the content databases 26 for each of the WPANs 12, 14.
`FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the media
`database 38. As shown, the media database 38 includes an ID,
`file name, file type, last-played time-stamp, and server name
`for each file stored in the content databases 26 of the media 25
`devices 16 and 18. The IDs may be assigned to each of the
`files by the media client 36. The name and file type are
`provided in the metadata provided to the media client 36 from
`the media server 30. The last-played time-stamp indicates the
`time at which the particular file was last played by the media 30
`player 28 and may be added to the media database 38 by the
`media client 36. Optionally, the last-played time-stamp may
`be provided in the metadata provided by the media server 30.
`The server name is an identifier for the WPANs 12, 14 in
`which the content is located and may be added by the media 35
`client 36 or provided in the metadata from the media server
`30. In this example, the server names are "Kitchen" and
`"Study." The "Kitchen" server name may be used to identify
`the WPAN 12, and the "Study" server name may be used to
`identify the WPAN 14. Thus, for example, when the mobile 40
`device 12 is within the WPAN 12, the media client 36 may
`enable the user associated with the mobile device 20 to
`browse the content stored in the content database 26 within
`the WPAN 12 and select content to be played by the media
`player 28.
`FIG. 6 illustrates the process of controlling the content
`played by the media device 16 according to one embodiment
`of the present invention. Note, however, that this discussion
`equally applies to controlling the content played by the media
`device 18 when the mobile device 20 is within the WPAN 14.
`The process begins when the mobile device 20 enters the
`WPAN 12 and the media client 36 detects the media server 30
`(step 200). For example, themedia server 30 may periodically
`scan the WPAN 12 for a mobile device 20. Alternatively, the
`mobile device 20 may periodically perform a scan for the
`media devices 16, 18. Note that if this process is performed
`after the provisioning process of FIG. 4, then step 200 may be
`unnecessary. Once the media client 36 has detected the media
`server 30 or visa versa, communication between the media
`client 36 and the media server 30 is established.
`Thereafter, the media client 36 may optionally communi(cid:173)
`cate with the media server 30 to obtain any updates to the
`metadata describing the content in the content database 26
`(step 202). This may be particularly beneficial where the
`mobile device 20 has just re-entered the WPAN 12 after
`leaving for some period of time during which content may
`have been added or removed from the content database 26.
`
`6
`The media client 36 then operates to select desired content
`to play at the media device 16 from the media database 38
`(step 204). In one embodiment, a user interacts with the media
`client 36 to browse the media database 38 and select desired
`content in the content database 26 to be played. In another
`embodiment, the user associated with the mobile device 20
`may interact with the media client 36 to define preferences.
`The user may define preferences for each of the WPANs 12
`and 14 or a single set of preferences to be applied to all of the
`WPANs 12and14. The preferences may then be used by the
`media client 36 to automatically select the desired content to
`be played using the media database 38. As a first example, the
`user may configure his preferences such that content is
`selected based on genre. More specifically, the media player
`28 within the WPAN 12 may be capable of playing audio
`content, and the user may configure his preferences such that
`the media client 36 automatically selects music content in a
`desired genre such as "rock" when the mobile device 20 is
`within the WPAN 12. Note that the genre of the content may
`be provided in the metadata from the media server 30. As a
`second example, the user may configure his preferences such
`that non-duplicate content is played. More specifically, the
`user may configure his preferences such that the media client
`36 selects content that has not been previously played or
`recently played in any other WPAN. As a third example, the
`user may also configure his preferences such that content to
`be played is selected randomly by the media client 36. As a
`fourth example, the user may configure his preferences by
`defining a play list for each of the WPANs 12and14. As a fifth
`example, the user may configure his preferences such that the
`media client 36 selects new content as the content to be
`played.
`The media client 36 then directs the media server 30 to play
`select content from the content database 26 (step 206). Once
`the media server 30 receives the request to play the desired
`content from the media client 36, the media server 30 directs
`the media player 28 to play the desired content (step 208). In
`response, the media player 28 obtains the desired content
`from the content database 26 and plays the desired content
`(step 210). The media server 30 then sends a notification to
`the media client 36 when the process is complete (step 212).
`The notification may be sent at any time after the media server
`30 directs the media player 28 to play the desired content. For
`example, the notification may be sent once the playing of the
`45 desired content by the media player 28 is complete. Upon
`receiving the notification from the media server 3 0, the media
`client 36 updates the last-played time-stamp for the desired
`content within the media database 38 (step 214).
`FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate two embodiments where the
`50 mobile device 20 is within both of the WPANs 12 and 14
`simultaneously. If the media devices 16 and 18 play content
`types that do not interfere with one another, the mobile device
`20 may operate as described above to control both of the
`media devices 16and18. For example, ifthe media device 16
`55 plays slideshows without audio or displays digital images,
`then the mobile device 20 may direct the media device 16 to
`play a slideshow or display digital images while simulta(cid:173)
`neously directing the media device 18 to play other content
`such as a movie, song, or slideshow.
`On the other hand, if the media device 16 is capable of
`playing content that may interfere with content played by the
`media device 18 or vice versa, then the media client 36 may
`control the media devices 16 and 18 in such a manner as to
`avoid interference. In one embodiment, the user may select a
`65 desired one of the media devices 16 and 18. In another
`embodiment, the media client 36 may automatically select
`one of the media devices 16 and 18 based on priorities
`
`60
`
`DISH, Exh. 1001, p. 11
`
`

`
`US 7,787,904 B2
`
`8
`database 40 (step 304). For example, themedia server 30 may
`select content such that only new content is played. Since the
`media database 40 includes information for each of the
`WPANs 12 and 14, the media server 30 may select only new
`content that has not yet been played in eitherof the WPAN s 12
`and 14. Alternatively, the media server 30 may intelligently
`decide what content to select based on the past play history.
`More specifically, the media server 30 may examine the last(cid:173)
`played time-stamp for the files to determine the play history
`10 either in the WPAN 12 or in both of the WPANs 12 and 14.
`Based on the examination, the media server 30 may deter(cid:173)
`mine that all or a majority of the last N files that were played
`are music files of a particular genre, digital images of the
`user's children, or the like. Based on this determination, the
`media server 30 may select content to be played that is con(cid:173)
`sistent with the play history.
`After selecting the content, the media server 30 directs the
`media player 28 to play the select content (step 306). In
`response, the media player 28 obtains the select content from
`the content database 26 and plays the select content (step
`308). The media server 30 then sends a notification to the
`media client 36 when the process is complete (step 310). The
`notification may be sent at any time after the media server 30
`directs the media player 28 to play the select content. For
`example, the notification may be sent once the playing of the
`select content by the media player 28 is complete. Upon
`receiving the notification from the media server 3 0, the media
`client 36 updates the last-played time-stamp for the select
`content within the media database 38 (step 312).
`Those skilled in the art will recognize improvements and
`modifications to the preferred embodiments of the present
`invention. All such improvements and modifications are con(cid:173)
`sidered within the scope of the concepts disclosed herein and
`the claims that follow.
`
`7
`assigned to the media devices 16 and 18 by the user. In yet
`another embodiment, the media client 36 may automatically
`select a one of the media devices 16 and 18 closest to the
`mobile device 20 based on the strength of the signals received
`from the media devices 16 and 18. In any of these three 5
`embodiments, one of the media devices 16and18 is selected
`and the mobile device 20 operates as described above to
`control the content played by the selected one of the media
`devices 16 and 18.
`