Content streaming apparatus and method

A method of streaming media content, comprising:

• transmitting a first user input signal from a first content player, wherein
• the first user input signal comprises streaming command information,
• the first user input signal was generated from a first signal generated by an electromechanical device of the first content player based on a user's interaction with the electromechanical device, and
• the first user input signal consists of information other than information configured to identify a media-containing file;
• transmitting a first delivery command from a connected electronic device to a first content server after a control software application running on the connected electronic device determines that the first user input signal comprises streaming command information, wherein
• the transmission of the first delivery command is provided automatically based on receipt of the first user input signal, and
• the first delivery command comprises media identification information relating to a first playlist of a plurality of playlists;
• and
• streaming information comprising at least one media-containing file that is provided from the first content server to the first content player based on information contained within the first delivery command, wherein the at least one media-containing file includes content from the first playlist.

A method of streaming media content, comprising:

• defining a first collection of media content, wherein the first collection comprises a plurality of media-containing files that are accessible from a first content provider;
• storing a first information link associated with the defined first collection of media content in memory of a connected electronic device;
• receiving a first user input signal at the connected electronic device from a first content player, wherein
• the first user input signal comprises streaming command information,
• the first user input signal was generated from a first input provided to the first content player by a user, and
• the first user input signal consists of information other than information configured to identify a media-containing file;
• transmitting a first delivery command from the connected electronic device to a first content server after a control software application running on the connected electronic device determines that the first user input signal comprises the streaming command information, wherein
• the transmission of the first delivery command is provided based on receipt of the first user input signal, and
• the first delivery command comprises the first information link;
• and
• streaming information comprising at least one media-containing file that is provided from the first content server to the first content player based on information contained within the first delivery command, wherein the at least one media-containing file includes content from the first collection.

An electronic device for use in a content distribution system, comprising:

• a first processor;
• a wireless transceiver;
• and
• non-volatile memory having content provider information stored therein, and also a number of instructions which, when executed by the first processor, causes the electronic device to perform operations comprising:
• determining that a user input signal generated by a first content player and received through the wireless transceiver from the first content player comprises streaming command information;
• wirelessly transmitting a first delivery command to a first server after it is determined that the user input signal comprises streaming command information;
• receiving a first information link from the first server, wherein the first information link comprises information that is configured to cause the electronic device to initiate a stream of at least one audio-containing file found in a first playlist of two or more audio-containing files to be provided from a first content server;
• and
• transmitting the stream of the at least one audio-containing file to the first content player based on the information received in the first information link.

A method of streaming media content, comprising:

• receiving, by a connected electronic device, a first streaming command from a wireless speaker, wherein
• the first streaming command is provided to the connected electronic device via a first communication link,
• the first communication link is a wireless communication link,
• the first streaming command was generated based on receipt of a first input provided to the wireless speaker by a user, and
• the first streaming command consists of information other than information configured to identify a media-containing file;
• determining, by the connected electronic device, to transmit a request to stream the contents of a first playlist from a first content server of a first content provider based on receiving the first streaming command;
• transmitting the request to stream the contents of the first playlist to the first content server of the first content provider, wherein the transmitted request is provided to the first content server via a second communication link;
• streaming at least a portion of the first playlist from the first content server to the connected electronic device via the second communication link;
• and
• streaming the at least a portion of the first playlist from the connected electronic device to the wireless speaker via the first communication link or a third communication link.