Media delivery system and method for transporting media to desired target devices

Abstract

A media delivery system and technique are described to enable a media stream to be received at one end on a user's computer, and then re-streamed to a target device in a form that is suitable for that target. As an example of an implementation of such an embodiment, a streaming video and/or audio feed may be received on a user's media center, then re-streamed to a user's designated target device. The target device may correspond to, for example, another computer, a cell phone, or some other media output device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for transmitting content, the method being implemented by one or more processors and comprising:
 receiving, on a first computing device, status information for one or more of multiple computing devices that are interconnected to form a personal network, wherein the status information indicates that each of the one or more computing devices is connected to a network and operating as part of the personal network;   providing one or more interfaces to a user on the first computing device to enable the user to select (i) a media feed, and (ii) a target that can correspond to one or more of the multiple devices of the personal network that is indicated as being available based on the status information;   detecting selection of the media feed, and selection of a second device of the multiple computing devices as the target; and   transmitting at least a portion of the media feed to the second device as the media feed is received on a resource of the personal network, the media feed being transmitted to accommodate one or more characteristics of the second device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving the media feed from a source external to the personal network. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting at least the portion of the media feed includes configuring the media feed for the one or more characteristics of the second device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting at least the portion of the media feed is performed on the first computing device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in response to detecting selection of the media feed, the method further comprises communicating, from the first computing device, with a third computing device of the personal network on which the resource is provided, in order to receive the media feed on the third computing device from a source external to the personal network. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein transmitting at least the portion of the media feed is performed on the third computing device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising configuring, on the third computing device, at least the portion of the media feed for one or more characteristics of the second computing device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first computing device corresponds to a roaming device that communicates with at least the second computing device using the Internet. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the media feed corresponds to a streaming media source. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the media feed corresponds to a cable or broadcast feed. 
     
     
         11 . A computer system comprising:
 a memory that stores a set of instructions;   one or more processors that execute the set of instructions to:
 form a personal network that includes multiple devices that are interconnected using one or more networks; 
 receive, at a first location of the personal network, status information for one or more of the multiple computing devices of the personal network, wherein the status information indicates that each of the one or more computing devices is connected to a network and operating as part of the personal network; 
 provide one or more interfaces to a user at the first location of the personal network to enable the user to select (i) a media feed, and (ii) a target that can correspond to one or more of the multiple devices of the personal network that is indicated as being available based on the status information; 
 detect selection of the media feed, and selection of a second device of the multiple computing devices as the target; and 
 transmit at least a portion of the media feed to the second device as the media feed is received on a resource of the personal network, the media feed being transmitted to accommodate one or more characteristics of the second device. 
   
     
     
         12 . The computer system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to receive the media feed from a source that is external to the personal network. 
     
     
         13 . The computer system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to configure the media feed for the one or more characteristics of the second device. 
     
     
         14 . The computer system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to transmit at least the portion of the media feed from a first computing device of the personal network on which the first location is provided. 
     
     
         15 . The computer system of  claim 11 , wherein in response to detecting selection of the media feed, the one or more processors execute the instructions to communicate with a third computing device of the personal network on which the resource is provided to receive the media feed from an external source. 
     
     
         16 . The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to transmit the media feed from the third device to the second device using one or more networks. 
     
     
         17 . The computer system of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to configure at least the portion of the media feed for one or more characteristics of the second computing device. 
     
     
         18 . The computer system of  claim 11 , wherein the first location is provided on a first computing device of the personal network, the first computing device corresponding to a roaming device that communicates with at least the second computing device using the Internet. 
     
     
         19 . The computer system of  claim 11 , wherein the media feed corresponds to a streaming media source. 
     
     
         20 . The computer system of  claim 11 , wherein the media feed corresponds to a cable or broadcast feed. 
     
     
         21 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computer system, cause the computer system to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, on a first computing device, status information for one or more of multiple computing devices that are interconnected to form a personal network, wherein the status information indicates that each of the one or more computing devices is connected to a network and operating as part of the personal network;   providing one or more interfaces to a user on the first computing device to enable the user to select (i) a media feed, and (ii) a target that can correspond to one or more of the multiple devices of the personal network that is indicated as being available based on the status information;   detecting selection of the media feed, and selection of a second device of the multiple computing devices as the target; and   transmitting at least a portion of the media feed to the second device as the media feed is received on a resource of the personal network, the media feed being transmitted to accommodate one or more characteristics of the second device.   
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the computer system to perform operations that include receiving the media feed from a source external to the personal network. 
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein transmitting at least the portion of the media feed includes configuring the media feed for the one or more characteristics of the second device. 
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein transmitting at least the portion of the media feed is performed on the first computing device. 
     
     
         25 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the computer system to perform operations that include, in response to detecting selection of the media feed, communicating, from the first computing device, with a third computing device of the personal network on which the resource is provided, in order to receive the media feed on the third computing device from a source external to the personal network. 
     
     
         26 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 25 , wherein transmitting at least the portion of the media feed is performed on the third computing device. 
     
     
         27 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 26 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the computer system to perform operations that include configuring, on the third computing device, at least the portion of the media feed for one or more characteristics of the second computing device. 
     
     
         28 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the first computing device corresponds to a roaming device that communicates with at least the second computing device using the Internet. 
     
     
         29 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the media feed corresponds to a streaming media source. 
     
     
         30 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the media feed corresponds to a cable or broadcast feed.