Method and system for providing media content over a computer network

A system for identifying an ability of a computer system to playback media content locally, the system comprising

• a processor;
• control logic in communication with the processor, the control logic to progress through a plurality of media content playback applications by a communication of a query that is communicated to the computer system over a computer network, the control logic to assess an ability of the computer system to playback the media content locally;
• and
• a communications interface in communication with the control logic, the control logic to receive a response to the query, the response indicates an availability of hardware on the computer system to playback the media content locally, the availability of the hardware on the computer system assessed by the progressing through the plurality of media content playback applications, the control logic to further provide the computer system, via the communications interface and over the computer network, with a version of the media content appropriate for the ability of the computer system to playback the media content locally, the version of the media content comprising a media file.

A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer useable medium storing control logic that, when executed by a first computer system, causes the first computer system to:

• progress through a plurality of media content playback applications by communicating a query to a second computer system over a computer network, the control logic to assess an ability of the second computer system to playback the media content locally;
• receive a response to the query, the response indicates an availability of hardware on the second computer system to playback the media content locally, the availability of the hardware on the second computer system assessed by the progressing through the plurality of media content playback applications;
• and
• provide the second computer system over the computer network with a version of the media content appropriate for the ability of the second computer system to playback the media content locally, the version of the media content comprising a media file.

A system of identifying an ability of a computer system to playback media content locally, the system comprising:

• a processor;
• a first means in communication with the processor, the first means for progressing through a plurality of media content playback applications by communicating a query to the computer system over a computer network, the control logic to assess an ability of the computer system to playback the media content locally;
• and
• a communications interface in communication with the first means, the first means further for receiving a response to the query, the response indicating an availability of hardware on the computer system to playback the media content locally, the availability of the hardware on the computer system assessed by the progressing through the plurality of media content playback applications, the first means further for providing the computer system, via the communications interface and over the computer network, with a version of the media content appropriate for the ability of the computer system to playback the media content locally, the version of the media content comprising a media file.