Media playlist management and viewing remote control

Abstract

According to this invention, a user may capture a media link on any PC and perform this capture function at any physical location, then save the media link in a playlist, and subsequently play the media located at the media link on a TV server. The TV server may be controlled from a local device—typically a PC or a handheld remote control. Playlists may be maintained on a Web playlist function. Software on a local controller device can then select a media link from a Web playlist through the Internet, and the Web playlist function can then pass that link to a local TV server, thus avoiding the need for the controller device and the TV server to communicate through a LAN. Additionally, a playlist may include targeted advertisements shown physically adjacent to related playlist items.

1 . A method for viewing media referenced by media links in a playlist, comprising:
 on a local controller device, selecting a media link from a playlist displayed on said controller device;   causing media referenced by said media link to be played on a local TV server and displayed on a TV; and   wherein said local controller device and said local TV server are both connected to the same LAN.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein all communication between said local controller device and said TV server is performed by way of a website function external to the LAN and not by way of the LAN. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein all communication between said local controller device and said TV server is performed by way of the LAN; and
 wherein said local controller device and said TV server are made aware of each other's IP addresses by an access controller function located on the Internet and not located on the LAN.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the playlist is stored on a website and accessed via the Internet. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the playlist is stored on the controller device. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the playlist is stored on the TV server. 
   
   
       7 . A method for viewing media referenced by media links in a playlist, comprising:
 on a local controller device, selecting a media link from a playlist displayed on said controller device;   causing media referenced by said media link to be played on a local TV server and displayed on a TV; and   wherein a preview mode comprises at least a portion of a particular video (hereinafter the “preview video”) referenced by a media link in the playlist being played in a pop-up window on said controller device, caused by a cursor hover behavior over said media link.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the preview video is pre-stored on the controller device in order to minimize delay in response to activating play of the preview video. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the act of pre-storing is done as a background task on the controller device. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the preview video is displayed simultaneously on both the controller device and TV server. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the preview video is multicast in order to play synchronously on both the controller device and TV server. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said local controller device and said local TV server are both connected to the same LAN; and
 wherein all communication between said local controller device and said TV server is performed by way of a website function external to the LAN and not by way of the LAN.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 7  wherein all communication between said local controller device and said TV server is performed by way of the LAN; and
 wherein said local controller device and said TV server are made aware of each other's IP addresses by an access controller function located on the Internet and not located on the LAN.   
   
   
       14 . A system for viewing media referenced by media links in a playlist, comprising:
 a local controller device wherein media links are selected from a playlist displayed on said local controller device;   a local TV server whose video output is displayed on a TV, and wherein said local TV server causes media to be displayed according to media links selected from the playlist displayed on said local controller device; and   wherein at least one content targeted advertisement is displayed on the controller device in close physical proximity to one or more media links whose referenced content is most closely associated with said content-targeted advertisement.   
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said content targeted advertisement is also demographic targeted based on the viewer's demographic characteristics. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said content targeted advertisement is also viewer preference targeted based on the viewer's preferences. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 14  wherein said content targeted advertisement is a video clip that plays when it is visible to the user. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 14  wherein said content targeted advertisement is a video clip that plays when the cursor on the controller device hovers over the associated media link. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 14  wherein said local controller device and said local TV server are both connected to the same LAN; and
 wherein all communication between said local controller device and said TV server is performed by way of a website function external to the LAN and not by way of the LAN.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14  wherein all communication between said local controller device and said TV server is performed by way of the LAN; and
 wherein said local controller device and said TV server are made aware of each other's IP addresses by an access controller function located on the Internet and not located on the LAN.