Pairing a media server and a media client

Abstract

A system for use in presenting media content includes a media server configured to provide media content and a media client configured to obtain the media content from the media server and to present the media content on a device. The media client is configured to generate a first code and to transmit information to the media server. The information identifies the media client and the information indicates that the media client is available for pairing. The media server is configured to reply to the information with a second code that corresponds to the first code in order to enable pairing between the media server and the media client.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for generating, at a media processing device, a graphical user interface (GUI) configured to enable the media processing device to pair with a media server, the method comprising:
 at the media processing device:
 identifying, over one or more networks, that the media server is available for pairing; 
 displaying, within the GUI, a first code for pairing with the media server; 
 receiving a message from the media server, wherein the message includes a second code that is input by a user at the media server; 
 determining whether the second code corresponds to the first code; 
 when the second code corresponds to the first code:
 pairing with the media server, and 
 downloading, from the media server, a summary of at least a portion of media content managed by the media server; and 
 
 when the second code does not correspond to the first code:
 ignoring the message. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein pairing with the media server comprises:
 responding to the media server that the first code corresponds to the second code, and   enabling communication between the media processing device and the media server.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the summary of the at least a portion of media content presents a list of media content that can be selectively downloaded from the media server. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein selectively downloading comprises retrieving content from the media server according to a priority that dictates an order in which different types of content are to be downloaded from the media server. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the different types of content include movies, television shows, music, podcasts, and photographs that are managed by the media server, and the order in which the different types of content are to be downloaded is movies, television shows, music, podcasts, and photographs, respectively. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sending a request to download the media content from the media server via a synchronization mode or a streaming mode according to a selection by the user.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein ignoring the message, comprises waiting to receive a new message from the media server, wherein the new message includes a new code to correspond with the first code. 
     
     
         8 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store instructions that, when executed by a processor included in a media processing device, cause the media processing device to carry out steps that include:
 identifying, over one or more networks, that the media server is available for pairing;   displaying, within the GUI, a first code for pairing with the media server;   receiving a message from the media server, wherein the message includes a second code that is input by a user at the media server;   determining whether the second code corresponds to the first code;   when the second code corresponds to the first code:
 pairing with the media server, and 
 downloading, from the media server, a summary of at least a portion of media content managed by the media server; and 
   when the second code does not correspond to the first code:
 ignoring the message. 
   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein pairing with the media server comprises:
 responding to the media server that the first code corresponds to the second code, and   enabling communication between the media processing device and the media server.   
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the summary of the at least a portion of media content presents a list of media content that can be selectively downloaded from the media server. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein selectively downloading comprises retrieving content from the media server according to a priority that dictates an order in which different types of content are to be downloaded from the media server. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the different types of content include movies, television shows, music, podcasts, and photographs that are managed by the media server, and the order in which the different types of content are to be downloaded is movies, television shows, music, podcasts, and photographs, respectively. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 sending a request to download the media content from the media server via a synchronization mode or a streaming mode according to a selection by the user.   
     
     
         14 . A system for pairing a media processing device to a media server, the system comprising:
 a media processing device, comprising:
 a storage device; 
 a processor; and 
 a memory configured to store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the media processing device to carry out steps that include: 
 identifying, over one or more networks, that the media server is available for pairing; 
 displaying, within a graphical user interface (GUI), a first code for pairing with the media server; 
 receiving a message from the media server, wherein the message includes a second code that is input by a user at the media server; 
 determining whether the second code corresponds to the first code; 
 when the second code corresponds to the first code: 
 pairing with the media server, and 
 downloading, from the media server, a summary of at least a portion of media content managed by the media server; and 
 when the second code does not correspond to the first code: 
 ignoring the message; and 
   a media server, comprising:
 a storage device; 
 a processor; and 
 a memory configured to store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the media server to carry out steps that include: 
 in response to a request for pairing, receiving, via user input, the second code; 
 sending, via the message, the second to the media processing device; 
 receiving an indication from the media processing device that the second code corresponds to the first code; and 
 sending the summary of the at least a portion of the media content to the media processing device that is available for download. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein pairing with the media server comprises:
 responding to the media server that the first code corresponds to the second code, and   enabling communication between the media processing device and the media server.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the summary of the at least a portion of media content presents a list of media content that can be selectively downloaded from the media server. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein selectively downloading comprises retrieving content from the media server according to a priority that dictates an order in which different types of content are to be downloaded from the media server. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein
 the different types of content include movies, television shows, music, podcasts, and photographs that are managed by the media server, and the order in which the different types of content are to be downloaded is movies, television shows, music, podcasts, and photographs, respectively.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the media processing device steps further include:
 sending a request to download the media content from the media server via a synchronization mode or a streaming mode according to a selection by the user.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the media server steps further include:
 receiving data indicating the media content that is selected for download; and   providing the media content that is selected for download via a synchronization mode or a streaming mode.