Method, system, and computer-readable medium for employing a first device to direct a networked audio device to render a playlist

Abstract

A method for playing music includes displaying a list of playlists names, selecting one of the displayed playlists names, sending at least one attribute of a playlist corresponding to the selected playlist name to a playlist server, receiving a playlist from the playlist server wherein the received playlist corresponds to the attribute(s), selecting at least one song from the received playlist, sending information representative of the selected song to a content server, receiving the selected song from the content server, and playing the selected song(s). Requesting a playlist on the first device based on attributes, sending the same attributes to a second device having the second device request the playlist and start playing.

1 . A device for obtaining media, the device comprising:
 a network transceiver for facilitating communication between the device and at least one other device, wherein the device is configured to facilitate:
 providing to the at least one other device a device identifier that identifies the device; 
 receiving from the at least one other device at least one attribute of a playlist, the playlist comprising a plurality of media item identifiers; 
 sending to a content server the at least one attribute of the playlist; and 
 receiving from the content server a media item identified by at least one media item identifier of the plurality of media item identifiers, without user input via the device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is further configured to facilitate rendering the media item. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein receiving from the content server the media item identified by the at least one media item identifier of the plurality of media item identifiers further comprises:
 receiving from the content server a plurality of media items, each media item of the plurality of media items corresponding to a different media item identifier of the plurality of media item identifiers.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the device is further configured to facilitate rendering each media item of the plurality of media items. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is further configured to facilitate receiving, from the at least one other device, a control message directing the device to alter one of a volume parameter, a tone parameter, or a balance parameter of the device. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein providing to the at least one other device the device identifier that identifies the device comprises broadcasting the device identifier. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein broadcasting the device identifier comprises wirelessly broadcasting the device identifier. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a stereo receiver. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a set-top box. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises at least one smart speaker. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a television. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a display, and wherein the device is further configured to facilitate receiving, from the at least one other device, a name that identifies the at least one other device, and displaying, on the display, the name that identifies the at least one other device. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a display, and wherein the device is further configured to facilitate displaying the playlist on the display. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device can communicate with the at least one other device via infrared frequencies. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device can communicate with the at least one other device via radio frequencies. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is further configured to cache the media item. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the playlist is formed from an algorithm to identify the media item. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is further configured to discover at least one other wireless device within an area of the device. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device continuously broadcasts the device identifier. 
     
     
         20 . A device comprising:
 a network transceiver for facilitating communication between the device and a network, wherein the device is configured to facilitate:
 providing a device identifier that identifies the device; 
 receiving at the device at least one attribute of a playlist obtained by at least one other device, the playlist comprising a plurality of media item identifiers; 
 sending from the device the at least one attribute of the playlist; and 
 receiving a media item identified by at least one media item identifier of the plurality of media item identifiers, without user input via the second device. 
   
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the device is further configured to facilitate rendering the media item. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein receiving at the device the media item identified by the at least one media item identifier of the plurality of media item identifiers further comprises:
 receiving at the device a plurality of media items, each media item of the plurality of media items corresponding to a different media item identifier of the plurality of media item identifiers.   
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein the device is further configured to facilitate rendering each media item of the plurality of media items. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the device comprises a stereo receiver. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the device comprises a set-top box. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the device comprises at least one smart speaker. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the device comprises a television. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the device is further configured to facilitate displaying the playlist. 
     
     
         29 . A method comprising:
 providing to a first device from a second device a device identifier that identifies the second device;   receiving at the second device from the first device at least one attribute of a playlist, the playlist comprising a plurality of media item identifiers;   sending from the second device to a content server the at least one attribute of the playlist; and   receiving at the second device from the content server a media item identified by at least one media item identifier of the plurality of media item identifiers, without user input via the second device.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising rendering the media item. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein receiving at the second device from the content server the media item identified by the at least one media item identifier of the plurality of media item identifiers further comprises:
 receiving at the second device from the content server a plurality of media items, each media item of the plurality of media items corresponding to a different media item identifier of the plurality of media item identifiers.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising rendering each media item of the plurality of media items. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising receiving, from the first device, a control message directing the second device to alter one of a volume parameter, a tone parameter, or a balance parameter of the second device. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein providing to the first device from the second device the device identifier that identifies the second device comprises wirelessly broadcasting from the second device the device identifier. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the second device comprises a stereo receiver. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the second device comprises a set-top box. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the second device comprises at least one smart speaker. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the second device comprises a television. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising receiving, from the first device, a name that identifies the first device, and displaying, by the second device, the name that identifies the first device. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising displaying the playlist. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising communicating with the first device via infrared frequencies. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising communicating with the first device via radio frequencies. 
     
     
         43 . A method, comprising:
 providing from a second device a device identifier identifying the second device;   receiving at the second device at least one attribute of a playlist obtained by a first device, the playlist comprising a plurality of media item identifiers;   sending from the second device the at least one attribute of the playlist; and   receiving at the second device a media item identified by at least one media item identifier of the plurality of media item identifiers, without user input via the second device.   
     
     
         44 . A device for obtaining media, the device comprising:
 a network transceiver for facilitating communication between the device and at least one other device, wherein the device is configured to facilitate:
 providing to the at least one other device a device identifier that identifies the device; 
 receiving from the at least one other device at least one media item identifier that identifies at least one media item; 
 sending to a content server the at least one media item identifier; and 
 receiving from the content server the at least one media item, without user input via the device. 
   
     
     
         45 . A device comprising:
 a network transceiver for sending and receiving wireless communications, wherein the device is configured to facilitate:
 providing a device identifier that identifies the device; 
 receiving at the device an identifier of a playlist from a PDA, the playlist comprising a plurality of media item identifiers; 
 sending from the device the identifier of the playlist; 
 receiving a plurality of media items identified by the plurality of media item identifiers from the playlist; and 
 storing only an insubstantial quantity of the plurality of media items. 
   
     
     
         46 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein the device comprises at least one smart speaker. 
     
     
         47 . The device of  claim 46 , wherein the device comprises a television. 
     
     
         48 . A television comprising:
 a display; and   a network transceiver for sending and receiving wireless communications, wherein the television is configured to facilitate:
 providing a television identifier that identifies the television; 
 receiving at the television an identifier of a playlist from a controller, the playlist comprising a plurality of media item identifiers; 
 sending from the television the identifier of the playlist; 
 receiving a plurality of media items identified by the plurality of media item identifiers from the playlist; 
 rendering the plurality of media items on the display; and 
 storing only an insubstantial quantity of the plurality of media items.