Methods for Accessing Media Over the Internet

Abstract

Systems and methods for delivering media over a network are provided. Multiple media assets are stored on a server, as well as a representation for at least one media asset. The representation of a media asset is delivered to a client. A client user request based on selection of a representation is received, and the represented media asset is delivered from the server in response to the client user request.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for delivering media over the Internet, comprising:
 storing a plurality of media assets on a server;   providing a representation for at least one of the plurality of media assets, wherein the representation of at least one of the plurality of media assets is delivered via a customizable user interface;   delivering the representation of at least one of the plurality of media assets to a first client device for display;   receiving a selection of the representation from the first client device; and   delivering from the server the represented media asset to the first client device via streaming in response to the selection received from the first client device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the representation is associated with an asset price, further comprising receiving a payment equal in value to the asset price associated with the selection. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the customizable user interface further displays one or more representations corresponding to locally-stored media assets. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 receiving a search query that includes search parameters;   determining one or more media assets that satisfy the search parameters; and   providing selectable representations for each of the one or more media assets that satisfy the search parameters.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein delivering the represented media asset in response to the selection by the first client device comprises:
 providing a plurality of quality options in response to the selection by the first client device;   receiving a quality option selection corresponding to a selected quality option; and   delivering from the server the media asset to the first client device corresponding to the selected quality option.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein delivering the represented media asset in response to the selection by the first client device comprises:
 providing a plurality of format options in response to the selection by the first client device, wherein each format option corresponds to a version of the represented media asset;   receiving a format option selection corresponding to a selected version of the represented media asset; and   delivering from the server to the first client device the selected version of the represented media asset.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the customizable user interface comprises a preselected set of representations based upon a user profile derived from user data related to past selections associated with the user profile. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 delivering the representation of at least one of the plurality of media assets to a second client device for display;   receiving a selection of the representation from the second client device; and   delivering the represented media asset to the second client device in response to the selection received from the second client device.   
     
     
         9 . A method for delivering media over the Internet, comprising:
 storing a plurality of media assets on a server;   providing a representation for at least one of the plurality of media assets, wherein the representation of at least one of the plurality of media assets is delivered via a customizable user interface;   delivering the representation of at least one of the plurality of media assets to a first client device for display;   receiving a selection of the representation from the first client device; and   delivering from the server the represented media asset to the first client device via packet delivery in response to the selection received from the first client device.