Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide a method, apparatus, system and computer readable medium for implementing a universal media interface and control protocol to control a universal media apparatus. The universal media interface and its control protocol facilitate communication, including issuance of generalized commands between a target device, such as an audio/video (“A/V”) device and a universal music player, thereby enabling the target device to play music from different types of music servers and specialized server processes.

Abstract: A computer readable medium, system, method and universal music apparatus are disclosed for unifying access over a network to multiple specialized music servers. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a universal music apparatus can include a universal discovery module to discover specialized music servers responsive to one or more discovery protocols, an object manager to determine music server processes for serving music files in accordance with one or more communication protocols, and a number of interfaces each being configured to exchange data with an associated music server process using one or more communication protocols that the universal music apparatus can implement. The generalized music server functions enable the universal music apparatus to communicate with any of the discovered music servers, which typically require music players to perform only the proprietary, unique functions of a specialized music server.

Abstract: An exemplary HD media player device and a method for presenting HD images to a user, according to a specific embodiment, include a controller configured to manage the processing of HD video signals to present images with a resolution similar to at least the 1080 i format. In one embodiment, the HD media player detects the presence of portably-stored content and then automatically performs a slideshow or any other multimedia performance. In another embodiment, HD media player includes a screen saver module.