Network system of media players sharing content

Abstract

A portable wireless communications subscriber audio and/or video player apparatus and system and method for selecting, requesting, downloading, and playing audio and/or video data content files from an Internet-based database server. The wireless link is preferably implemented in accordance with the WiFi protocol, which allows connectivity to the Internet by being in proximity with a local base station or WiFi hotspot (i.e., publicly available local wireless access hub connected to the Internet). The portable wireless communications subscriber audio and/or video player apparatus and system preferably include a security means for monitoring and blocking unauthorized use of the player apparatus and system. The player apparatus further preferably has the capability to communicate with other neighboring player apparatus for the purpose of exchanging content data files, playlists and personal messages.

1 . A system for sharing content comprising:
 a data communication channel for data sharing;   a first and a second portable device including a network interface for sending and receiving digital media segments;   a digital storage medium coupled to the network interface for storing the digital media segments;   at least one of said first and second devices including a media decoder coupled to the digital storage medium; a media presentation member coupled to the media decoder for presenting the digital media segments to a user; a user interface for interaction with the user; and a controller for managing the transfer, storage, and presentation of the digital media segments;   wherein said first and second portable devices are constructed and arranged to share media segments.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  where the network interface of at least one device connects to a wired network. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  where the network interface of at least one device connects to a wireless network. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  where the digital media segment is digitized audio. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  where the digital media segment is digitized video. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said first device stores a first plurality of digitized media segments and said second device obtains a listing of said first plurality, and generates a command to retrieve a specific selection of said first plurality. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said first device includes a list identifying said first plurality and said second device accesses the list and selects the specific selection from the list. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said segment is sent from the first to the second device in response to a demand. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said segment is sent from the first to the second device without a demand from either device. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said first and second devices have associated lists and wherein said first and second devices share said lists and share lists from other devices. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said first device receives a specific media segment and sends a notification of said receipt to at least one other device. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said devices exchange data using one of a peer-to-peer protocol, a WiFi protocol and an Ad-hoc protocol and by exchanging IP addresses. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  comprising a plurality of devices wherein lists and segments are shared using one of a one-to-many, many-to-many, many-to-one protocol. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein said sharing is performed transparently to the users. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1  wherein information is exchanged between two devices using a peer-to-peer protocol. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a catalog of digital segments, each device having access to the catalog to allow the respective device user to make selections of segments. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each device generates a respective playlist from the catalog, said playlists being available to other devices. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each device includes at least one of a digital rights element, a secure communication element, software or hardware security on the device that insures that critical data remains protected during sharing, exchanges and communications. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each digital segment is controlled by a digital rights management rule and wherein each device includes a digital rights management controller that checks each digital segment and utilizes each digital segment in correspondence with the respective digital rights management rule when the respective device is off line. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein at least one of said digital segments is obtained by paying for the segment and wherein said digital rights management rule for the segment is determined by the payment or otherwise authorized permanent access. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said segments are exchanged by said devices using a partial caching process. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said devices includes a privacy element having a selectable privacy setting, said privacy setting limiting access to some information specific to the respective user. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each user is associated with a profile, the profiles of users being shared between devices. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the distributed computer network is used to exchange messages between devices, said messages including one of audio, video, text, IM messages, at least some messages including comments about digital segments. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least one device is adapted to send a message to another device indicating that a specific digital segment is available for exchange.