Directing a playback device to play a media item selected by a controller from a media server

A computer-implemented process performed by a processor in a digital media renderer, comprising:

• sending protocol information to a digital media controller, wherein the protocol information includes an identification of an application installed on the digital media renderer;
• receiving, from the digital media controller, a resource identifier for a media item;
• selecting the application to access the media item based on the resource identifier;
• instructing the application to access the media item from a remote media server;
• receiving media data for the media item from the remote media server;
• playing the media data in response to playback commands from the digital media controller.

An article of manufacture comprising a computer storage medium having computer program instructions encoded thereon that, when processed by a computer, instruct the computer to perform a process comprising:

• receiving data referencing media data on a remote media server, the data including a resource identifier for a media item;
• receiving protocol information from a digital media renderer, wherein the protocol information includes an identification of an application installed on the digital media renderer;
• determining if the digital media renderer can play the media item based on the resource identifier and the protocol information;
• and
• presenting the digital media renderer as an available device when it is determined that the digital media renderer can play the media item.