Method for sharing a media collection in a network environment

Abstract

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides for the accessing and playing of media files having differing associated rights such as non-DRM media files, purchased and downloaded media files, subscription download files such as tethered downloads, and subscription streamed DRM files. In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method and user interface for sharing a media collection among computing devices in communication via a network. In one embodiment, the disclosed method allows access and playback, from each computing device on a network, of all media files in a media collection, regardless of their associated rights.

1 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, at a network computing entity, one or more signals indicative of a request from a first user computing device to receive at the first computing device one or more media file identifiers from a second user computing device; and   determining whether the first user computing device is authorized to access one or more media files identified by the one or more media file identifiers from the second user computing device utilizing, at least in part, a processor of the network computing entity, wherein said determining is based at least in part on a first level of authorization for the first user computing device and based at least in part on a second level of authorization for the second user computing device, wherein the first level of authorization and the second level of authorization individually specify one or more formats of the one or more media files identified by the one or more media file identifiers from the second user computing device authorized to be accessed by the first user computing device.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising transmitting one or more signals indicative of an authorization from the network computing entity to the first user computing device to access the one or more media files identified by the one or more media file identifiers from the second user computing device. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the one or more formats of the one or more media files identified by the one or more media file identifiers comprises a tethered download format. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the one or more formats of the one or more media files identified by the one or more media file identifiers comprises a streaming format. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the one or more media files identified by the one or more media file identifiers from the second user computing device comprise a media collection stored at least in part at the second user computing device. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said determining whether the first user computing device is authorized to access the one or more media files identified by the one or more media file identifiers from the second user computing device comprises determining whether the first level of authorization meets a specified threshold level of authorization. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the first level of authorization is indicative of a subscription to an online media service. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the first user computing device and the second user computing device are coupled one to another and to the network computing entity via a network. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the network comprises, at least in part, a wireless network. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the network computing entity comprises a digital rights management server. 
     
     
         54 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a network interface to receive messages from a communication network; and a processor to:   obtain from one or more messages received at said network interface comprising a request from a first user computing device to receive at the first user computing device one or more media file identifiers from the second user computing device; and   determine whether the first user computing device is authorized to access one or more media files identified by the one or more media file identifiers from the second user computing device at least in part in response to the request, the processor to determine whether the first user computing device is authorized based at least in part on a first level of authorization for the first user computing device and based at least in part on a second level of authorization for the second user computing device, wherein the first level of authorization and the second level of authorization individually specify one or more formats of the one or more media files identified by the one or more media file identifiers from the second user computing device authorized to be accessed by the first user computing device.   
     
     
         55 . The apparatus of  claim 54 , the network interface further to transmit one or more signals indicative of an authorization from the network computing entity to the first user computing device to access the one or more media files identified by the one or more media file identifiers from the second user computing device. 
     
     
         56 . The apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein the one or more formats of the one or more media files identified by the one or more media file identifiers comprise a tethered download format and/or a streaming format. 
     
     
         57 . The apparatus of  claim 54 , the processor to determine whether the first user computing device is authorized to access the one or more media files identified by the one or more media file identifiers from the second user computing device at least in part by determining whether the first level of authorization meets a specified threshold level of authorization. 
     
     
         58 . The apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein the first level of authorization is indicative of a subscription to an online media service. 
     
     
         59 . The apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein the first user computing device and the second user computing device are coupled one to another and to the network interface via a network, wherein the network comprises, at least in part, a wireless network. 
     
     
         60 . The apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein the apparatus comprises a digital rights management server. 
     
     
         61 . An article, comprising: a non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a server computing device to:
 obtain a request from a first user computing device to receive at the first computing device one or more media file identifiers from a second user computing device; and   determine whether the first user computing device is authorized to access one or more media files identified by the one or more media file identifiers from the second user computing device, wherein said determining is based at least in part on a first level of authorization for the first user computing device and based at least in part on a second level of authorization for the second user computing device, wherein the first level of authorization and the second level of authorization individually specify one or more formats of the one or more media files identified by the one or more media file identifiers from the second user computing device authorized to be accessed by the first user computing device.   
     
     
         62 . The article of  claim 61 , wherein the storage medium has stored thereon further instructions executable by the server computing device to transmit one or more signals indicative of an authorization from the network computing entity to the first user computing device to access the one or more media files identified by the one or more media file identifiers from the second user computing device. 
     
     
         63 . The article of  claim 62 , wherein the one or more formats of the one or more media files identified by the one or more media file identifiers comprises a tethered download format and/or a streaming format.