Media center

Abstract

The system, method, and computer instructions search a network to identify media sources. A process determines a number of media items associated with the media sources. A media item can be any type of media item, such as a video, a music file, a photo, a social networking posting, and the like. Metadata associated with the determined number of media items is identified. The metadata is stored in a memory. A request is received from a user to display one or more of the media item. The one or media items are displayed to the user based on the stored metadata.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for accessing media comprising:
 searching a network to identify a plurality of media sources;   determining a number of media items associated with the media sources;   identifying metadata associated with the determined number of media items;   storing the metadata in a memory;   receiving a request from a user to display one or more of the media items; and   displaying the one or more media items based on the stored metadata.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a search request from the user for an individual media item;   in response to receiving the search request, identifying multiple media sources in the plurality of media sources that have the individual media item;   presenting a list of offers from the multiple media sources to the user for the individual item;   receiving a selection by the user of an individual offer from the list of offers; and   in response to receiving the selection by the user, providing access to the individual item.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the list of offers comprise is at least one of:
 an offer to play the individual media item, an offer to view the individual media item, a pay per view offer to view the individual media item, an offer to rent the individual media item, an offer to purchase a ticket to a movie theater showing the individual media item, an offer to purchase the individual media item, a trial access offer to the individual media item, and an offer to access the individual media item on a social media site.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the displayed one or more media items is a link to a social media site and wherein the link to the social media site comprises at least one of:
 a link to a most recent posting by the user;   a link to a most recently accessed social media site;   a link to a favorite social media site;   a link to a recently added social media site;   a link to a last view social media site.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of media sources comprises at least two of a video server, an audio server, a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), a set-top box, a social media site, a voice mail server, a source marked by the user, a content provider, a Compact Disk (CD) player, a Digital Video Device (DVD) player, a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant, a notebook, an audio player, a document server, a Personal Computer (PC), a Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed, a social media site, a USB device, and a tablet device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the media sources is a device that is temporarily connected to the network. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the displayed one or more media items are organized based at least one of: a media type, a most viewed, a favorites list, a last viewed, a most recently added, a most recently visited, a most recently played, and a most recently purchased. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user can temporarily add a media source to the plurality of media sources. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user approves the identified plurality of media sources. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user can identify a media item to be translated when accessed in the future. 
     
     
         11 . A system for accessing media comprising:
 a search engine configured to search a network to identify a plurality of media sources, and determine a number of media items associated with the media sources;   a media module configured to identify metadata associated with the determined number of media items;   a memory configured to store the metadata;   a user interface configured to receive a request from a user to display one or more of the media items; and   a display configured display the one or more media items based on the stored metadata.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the search engine is further configured to receive a search request from the user for an individual media item and identify multiple media sources in the plurality of media sources that have the individual media item in response to receiving the search request;   the media module is further configured to present a list of offers from the multiple media sources to the user for the individual item and provide access to an individual item in response to receiving a selection by the user; and   the user interface is further configured to receive the selection by the user of the individual offer from the list of offers.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the list of offers comprise is at least one of: an offer to play the individual media item, an offer to view the individual media item, a pay per view offer to view the individual media item, an offer to rent the individual media item, an offer to purchase a ticket to a movie theater showing the individual media item, an offer to purchase the individual media item, a trial access offer to the individual media item, and an offer to access the individual media item on a social media site. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the displayed one or more media items is a link to a social media site and wherein the link to the social media site comprises at least one of:
 a link to a most recent posting by the user;   a link to a most recently accessed social media site;   a link to a favorite social media site;   a link to a recently added social media site;   a link to a last view social media site.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of media sources comprises at least two of a video server, an audio server, a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), a set-top box, a social media site, a voice mail server, a source marked by the user, a content provider, a Compact Disk (CD) player, a Digital Video Device (DVD) player, a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant, a notebook, an audio player, a document server, a Personal Computer (PC), a Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed, a social media site, a USB device, and a tablet device. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the media sources is a device that is temporarily connected to the network. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the displayed one or more media items are organized based at least one of: a media type, a most viewed, a favorites list, a last viewed, a most recently added, a most recently visited, a most recently played, and a most recently purchased. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the user can temporarily add a media source to the plurality of media sources. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the user approves the identified plurality of media sources. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transient computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions that cause a processor to execute a method, the method comprising:
 instructions to search a network to identify a plurality media sources;   instructions to determine a number of media items associated with the media sources;   instructions to identify metadata associated with the determined number of media items;   instructions to store the metadata in a memory;   instructions to receive a request from a user to display the one or more media items; and   instructions to display the media items based on the stored metadata.