Abstract: A wireless communication system is provided including a first media device, a second media device, and a third media device, each media device configured to output media content. The first media device is designated as an access point media device that is configured to transmit media content to the second media device and the third media device. The first media device is configured to transmit the media content to the second media device using simplex communication instead of duplex communication based on a first confidence level indicator received from the second media device indicating a high level of confidence. The first media device is configured to transmit the media content to the third media device using duplex communication based on a second confidence level indicator received from the third media device a high level of confidence, and each media device is configured to output the media content in a synchronized manner.

Abstract: A wireless communication system is provided including a group of media devices that includes a first media device, a second media device, a third media device, and a fourth media device. The first media device, during a first time period, is designated as an access point media device that is configured to transmit media content to each of the other media devices in the group. The second media device is configured to become the access point media device during a second time period and transmit media content to each of the other media devices in the group based on a determination that the second media device is better suited than the first media device to be the access point media device for the group during the second time period. Each media device is configured to output the media content transmitted by the access point media device in a synchronized manner.

Abstract: A wireless communication system is provided including a first media device, a second media device, and a third media device, each media device configured to output media content. The first media device is designated as an access point media device that is configured to transmit media content to the second media device and the third media device. The first media device is configured to transmit the media content to the second media device using simplex communication instead of duplex communication based on a first confidence level indicator received from the second media device indicating a high level of confidence. The first media device is configured to transmit the media content to the third media device using duplex communication based on a second confidence level indicator received from the third media device a high level of confidence, and each media device is configured to output the media content in a synchronized manner.

Abstract: A wireless communication system is provided including a group of media devices that includes a first media device, a second media device, a third media device, and a fourth media device. The first media device, during a first time period, is designated as an access point media device that is configured to transmit media content to each of the other media devices in the group. The second media device is configured to become the access point media device during a second time period and transmit media content to each of the other media devices in the group based on a determination that the second media device is better suited than the first media device to be the access point media device for the group during the second time period. Each media device is configured to output the media content transmitted by the access point media device in a synchronized manner.

Abstract: A method of downloading media content to a content player is provided, including receiving a command at a content player to deliver media content; transmitting the command from the content player to a first server; determining that the command is a request to deliver media content from a content provider; transmitting a request to a content server of the content provider from the first server based on the determined request to deliver the media content from the content provider; receiving, at the first server, a first information link from the content server in response to the request; transmitting the first information link to the content player; downloading a first portion of a media file to the content player from the content server using the first information link; and delivering at least a portion of the media file to the user.

Abstract: A method of downloading media content to a content player is provided, including receiving a command at a content player to deliver media content; transmitting the command from the content player to a first server; determining that the command is a request to deliver media content from a content provider; transmitting a request to a content server of the content provider from the first server based on the determined request to deliver the media content from the content provider; receiving, at the first server, a first information link from the content server in response to the request; transmitting the first information link to the content player; downloading a first portion of a media file to the content player from the content server using the first information link; and delivering at least a portion of the media file to the user.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally include an alarm system and method of using an alarm system to reliably provide an alarm to a user at a desired time or at the occurrence of some desired action. In some embodiments, the apparatus and methods include a media output device that can receive information about an alarm event and then automatically provide an alarm prompt at the time when the alarm event is to occur. In one configuration, a media output device is configured to communicate and synchronize with a portable electronic device, so that a reliable and coordinated delivery of an alarm prompt can be obtained by these devices. Some aspects of the invention may include an apparatus, method and/or computing device software application configured to more easily setup and reliably deliver the alarm signal information to the user using one or more media output devices that are used in combination with an input device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally include an alarm system and method of using an alarm system to reliably provide an alarm to a user at a desired time or at the occurrence of some desired action. In some embodiments, the apparatus and methods include a media output device that can receive information about an alarm event and then automatically provide an alarm prompt at the time when the alarm event is to occur. In one configuration, a media output device is configured to communicate and synchronize with a portable electronic device, so that a reliable and coordinated delivery of an alarm prompt can be obtained by these devices. Some aspects of the invention may include an apparatus, method and/or computing device software application configured to more easily setup and reliably deliver the alarm signal information to the user using one or more media output devices that are used in combination with an input device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally include an alarm system and method of using an alarm system to reliably provide an alarm to a user at a desired time or at the occurrence of some desired action. In some embodiments, the apparatus and methods include a media output device that can receive information about an alarm event and then automatically provide an alarm prompt at the time when the alarm event is to occur. In one configuration, a media output device is configured to communicate and synchronize with a portable electronic device, so that a reliable and coordinated delivery of an alarm prompt can be obtained by these devices. Some aspects of the invention may include an apparatus, method and/or computing device software application configured to more easily setup and reliably deliver the alarm signal information to the user using one or more media output devices that are used in combination with an input device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally include an alarm system and method of using an alarm system to reliably provide an alarm to a user at a desired time or at the occurrence of some desired action. In some embodiments, the apparatus and methods include a media output device that can receive information about an alarm event and then automatically provide an alarm prompt at the time when the alarm event is to occur. In one configuration, a media output device is configured to communicate and synchronize with a portable electronic device, so that a reliable and coordinated delivery of an alarm prompt can be obtained by these devices. Some aspects of the invention may include an apparatus, method and/or computing device software application configured to more easily setup and reliably deliver the alarm signal information to the user using one or more media output devices that are used in combination with an input device.