System and method for providing rights management services for network services

Abstract

A system and method for facilitating playback of media resources by a playback device. The system receives a selection input for one or more media resources. The selection input may correspond to a user input provided on a device other than the playback device. The system communicates the selection input to a first network service storing the one or more media resources, and receives, from the first network service, playback links for accessing the one or more media resources. The system then transmits the received playback links, over a network, to a playback device to enable the playback device to retrieve the one or more media resources from the first network service.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for accessing media resources, the method being performed by a first device and comprising:
 receiving a selection input for one or more media resources;   communicating the selection input to a first network service storing the one or more media resources;   receiving, from the first network service, playback links for accessing the one or more media resources; and   transmitting the received playback links, over a network, to a playback device to enable the playback device to retrieve the one or more media resources from the first network service.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 communicating access credentials to the first network service;   receiving a media access token from the first network service based on the access credentials; and   providing the media access token to the playback device to enable the playback device to communicate directly with the first network service.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first device is configured to communicate with a plurality of network services, the method further comprising:
 selecting any of the plurality of network services as the first network service based at least in part on the selection input.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a set of rights management rules for the first network service; and   controlling playback of the one or more media resources, by the playback device, based at least in part on the set of rights management rules.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the controlling comprises:
 controlling a sequence in which the playback links are to be used by the playback device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the controlling comprises:
 controlling an action to be performed when one or more of the playback links is used by the playback device.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the controlling comprises:
 controlling a number of times to allow the playback device to skip a particular playback link when using the playback links.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the controlling comprises:
 controlling a duration of time for which the playback device is able to receive media resources from the network service.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 transmitting the set of rights management rules, with the received playback links, to the playback device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selection input corresponds to a user input provided on a device other than the playback device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting a user interface event based on communications between the first network service and the playback device; and   generating a user interface for receiving user input in response to the user interface event.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the detecting comprises:
 receiving a signal from the playback device indicating an occurrence of the user interface event.   
     
     
         13 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:
 receive a selection input for one or more media resources; 
 communicate the selection input to a first network service storing the one or more media resources; 
 receive, from the first network service, playback links for accessing the one or more media resources; and 
 transmit the received playback links, over a network, to a playback device to enable the playback device to retrieve the one or more media resources from the first network service. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the system to:
 communicate access credentials to the network service;   receive a media access token from the network service based on the access credentials; and   provide the media access token to the playback device to enable the playback device to communicate directly with the network.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the system is configured to communicate with a plurality of network services, and wherein execution of the instructions further causes the system to:
 select any of the plurality of network services as the first network service based at least in part on the selection input.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the system to:
 determine a set of rights management rules for the first network service; and   control playback of the one or more media resources, by the playback device, based at least in part on the set of rights management rules.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein execution of the instructions to control the playback of the one or more media resources causes the system to:
 control at least one of a sequence in which the set of playback links are to be used by the playback device, an action to be performed when one or more of the playback links in the set of playback links are used by the playback device, a number of times to allow the playback device to skip a particular playback link when using the set of playback links, or a duration of time for which the playback device is able to receive media resources from the network service.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the system to:
 transmit the set of rights management rules, with the received playback links, to the playback device.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the system to:
 detect a user interface event based on communications between the first network service and the playback device; and   generate a user interface for receiving user input in response to the user interface event.   
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a user interface device, causes the user interface device to:
 receive a selection input for one or more media resources;   communicate the selection input to a first network service storing the one or more media resources;   receive, from the first network service, playback links for accessing the one or more media resources; and   transmit the received playback links, over a network, to a playback device to enable the playback device to retrieve the one or more media resources from the first network service.