Streaming from a Media Device

Abstract

A technique for streaming from a media device involves enabling a local device to function as a streaming server. An example of a method according to the technique includes inserting a removable storage device that includes programs associated with a streaming application, running one or more of the programs, ensuring that a streaming software player is installed, and executing a streaming-related activity associated with the streaming application. An example of a system according to the technique includes a means for providing a streaming application that expects content to be found on a media drive, a means for intercepting requests for content expected to be found on the media drive, and a means for honoring the requests with content from a different media location.

1 . A method comprising:
 connecting a removable storage device to a host device, the removable storage device including a streaming application;   launching a streaming software player at the host device;   beginning execution of a streaming application at the host device by the streaming software player;   receiving blocks of the streaming application, from the removable storage device, for continuing execution of the streaming application;   continuing execution of the streaming application at the host device by the streaming software player using the blocks of the streaming application.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining if updates exist for the streaming application;   retrieving the updates from a server remote from the host device and the removable storage device;   applying the updates in executing the streaming application.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the update includes a streaming application patch of the streaming application, the method further comprising:
 invoking a token file starting a patch program at the host device;   retrieving, by the patch program, the streaming application patch;   applying the streaming application patch in executing the streaming application.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the streaming application patch is stored in a local directory at the host device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the streaming application patch is streamed to the host device without being stored locally at the host device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining if a particular block of the streaming application, for executing the streaming application at the host device, is on the removable storage device;   receiving the particular block of the streaming application at the host device;   continuing execution of the streaming application at the host device using the particular block of the streaming application.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 determining the particular block is on a different removable storage device;   sending a request to a user of the host device to connect the different removable storage device to the host device.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the particular block of the streaming application resides remote from the removable storage device, the method further comprising:
 sending a request to a system remote from the removable storage device for the particular block;   receiving, at the host device, the particular block;   using the particular block to continue execution of the streaming application at the host device.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 recognizing common blocks in execution of the streaming application, the common blocks being found on the removable storage device and another removable storage device;   receiving the common blocks from the removable storage device;   storing the common blocks at the host device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of blocks in executing the streaming application are stored on a plurality of removable storage devices, the plurality of removable storage devices including the removable storage device. 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 a removable storage device configured to store a plurality of blocks of a streaming application in executing the streaming application at a host device to which the removable storage device is coupled;   a streaming software player on the host device configured to:
 begin execution of the streaming application at the host device; 
 receive blocks of the plurality of blocks from the removable storage device; 
 continuing execution of the streaming application at the host device using the blocks. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the streaming software player is further configured to:
 determine if updates exist for the streaming application;   retrieve the updates from a server remote from the host device and the removable storage device;   apply the updates in executing the streaming application.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the update includes a streaming application patch of the streaming application, the system further comprising:
 the streaming software player further configured to invoke a token file starting a patch program at the host device, the patch program configured to:   retrieve the streaming application patch;   apply the streaming application patch in executing the streaming application.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the streaming application patch is stored in a local directory at the host device. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the streaming application patch is streamed to the host device without being stored locally at the host device. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the streaming software player is further configured to:
 determine if a particular block for executing the streaming application at the host device is on the removable storage device;   receive the particular block of the streaming application at the host device;   continue execution of the streaming application at the host device using the particular block of the streaming application.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the streaming software player is further configured to:
 determine the particular block is on a different removable storage device;   send a request to a user of the host device to connect the different removable storage device to the host device.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the particular block resides remote from the removable storage device, the streaming software player further configured to:
 send a request to a system remote from the removable storage device for the particular block;   receive the particular block at the host device;   use the particular block to continue execution of the streaming application at the host device.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the streaming software player is further configured to:
 recognize common blocks in execution of the streaming application, the common blocks being found on the removable storage device and another removable storage device;   receive the common blocks from the removable storage device;   store the common blocks at the host device.   
     
     
         20 . A system comprising:
 means for connecting a removable storage device to a host device, the removable storage device including a streaming application;   means for launching a streaming software player at the host device;   means for beginning execution of a streaming application at the host device by the streaming software player;   means for receiving blocks of the streaming application, from the removable storage device, for continuing execution of the streaming application;   means for continuing execution of the streaming application at the host device by the streaming software player using the blocks of the streaming application.