# US 10,375,146 B2 · Methods and apparatus for providing media from content providers using a network interface device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,375,146 B2 - Document ID: US10375146B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/444,570 - Filed: 2017-02-28 - Published: 2017-08-17 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2006-06-01 - Assignees: Rovi Solutions Corporation - Applicants: Rovi Solutions Corporation - Inventors: Bradley Dietrich; Daniel Putterman; Gregory Peters - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10375146B2 ## CPC - H04L 67/06: specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP] - G06F 16/116: {Details of conversion of file system types or formats} - G06F 16/13: File access structures, e.g. distributed indices (arrangements of input from, or output to, record carriers G06F3/06) - G06F 16/40: of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data (retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70) - H04L 65/1013: {Network architectures, gateways, control or user entities} - H04L 65/612: for unicast - H04L 67/565: Conversion or adaptation of application format or content (adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561) - H04L 12/2812: {describing content present in a home automation network, e.g. audio video content (retrieval from the Internet G06F16/95)} - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A network bridge connects a host device, such as digital media player, cell phone or camera, to content sources over a network to permit the host device to transmit or receive digital media. The network bridge includes a network interface module that identifies at least one media source as well as digital media available on the network. A host device interface module receives, from the host device, file system requests in accordance with a protocol, such as a mass storage protocol. In response to the request, a host device protocol interface module on the network bridge translates the file system request to a request for digital media. The network interface module acquires digital media from the media source, and the host device interface module transfers the digital media to the host device in accordance with the interface protocol. The network bridge may connect to one or more services that provide content to the host device. For example, the services may be accessible over the Internet. In other embodiments, the network bridge implements protocols to add functionality to the host device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for transferring media, the method comprising: determining, by using a network bridge, that a media destination device is available on a network; receiving, from a host device at the network bridge using a host device protocol, a file system operation request formatted according to a file system format, the file system operation request for storing a digital media item; determining, by the network bridge, whether a digital rights management scheme exists that restricts copying of the digital media item; in response to determining that a digital rights management scheme exists that restricts copying of the digital media item, translating the file system operation request to a network protocol for streaming media items; and streaming the digital media item to the media destination device using the network protocol for streaming media items. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein translating the file system operation request to the network protocol for streaming media items comprises translating data corresponding to the digital media item into data compatible with a predetermined protocol, wherein the predetermined protocol corresponds to the media destination device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, based on data in the request to write the digital media item, data for streaming the digital media item to the media destination device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising loading the digital media item from the host device to the network bridge, wherein loading the digital media item from the host device to the network bridge comprises assigning the digital media item a location with a content directory of the network bridge. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting the digital media item in a file system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating a content directory based on digital media available over a local network, the generating comprising: identifying digital media available over a local network; identifying a location of the digital media; generating a content directory that organizes the digital media; and presenting the content directory in accordance with a file system format of a mass storage file system of the network bridge. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the content directory comprises a content root directory and plural content sub-directories, the digital media being organized in the plural content sub-directories. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the mass storage file system comprises a mass storage root directory and plural mass storage sub-directories, the content root directory is mapped to the mass storage root directory, and each content sub-directory is mapped to a corresponding mass storage sub-directory. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising translating, in response to determining that a digital rights management scheme does not exist that restricts copying of the digital media item, the file system operation request to request to write the digital media item to the media destination device, wherein translating the file system operation request to the request to write the digital media item comprises retrieving the mappings between the plural mass storage sub-directories and the plural content sub-directories. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the content root directory is associated with a content menu that comprises a user interface menu for selecting digital media organized in the content directory. ### Claim 11 A system for transferring media, the system comprising control circuitry configured to: determine that a media destination device is available on a network; receive, from a host device using a host device protocol, a file system operation request formatted according to a file system format, the file system operation request for storing a digital media item; determine whether a digital rights management scheme exists that restricts copying of the digital media item; in response to determining that a digital rights management scheme exists that restricts copying of the digital media item, translate the file system operation request to a network protocol for streaming media items; and stream the digital media item to the media destination device using the network protocol for streaming media items. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is configured, when translating the file system operation request to the network protocol for streaming media items, to translate data corresponding to the digital media item into data compatible with a predetermined protocol, wherein the predetermined protocol corresponds to the media destination device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to: receive, based on data in the request to write the digital media item, data for streaming the digital media item to the media destination device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is configured to load the digital media item from the host device to the network bridge by assigning the digital media item a location with a content directory of the network bridge. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to present the digital media item in a file system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to: generate a content directory based on digital media available over a local network by: identifying digital media available over a local network; identifying a location of the digital media; generating a content directory that organizes the digital media; and presenting the content directory in accordance with a file system format of a mass storage file system of the network bridge. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the content directory comprises a content root directory and plural content sub-directories, the digital media being organized in the plural content sub-directories. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the mass storage file system comprises a mass storage root directory and plural mass storage sub-directories, the content root directory is mapped to the mass storage root directory, and each content sub-directory is mapped to a corresponding mass storage sub-directory. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to translate, in response to determining that a digital rights management scheme does not exist that restricts copying of the digital media item, the file system operation request to request to write the digital media item to the media destination device by retrieving the mappings between the plural mass storage sub-directories and the plural content sub-directories. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the content root directory is associated with a content menu that comprises a user interface menu for selecting digital media organized in the content directory.