Abstract: A request to play a media content item is received. It is determined whether the play request is ambiguous. Responsive to determining that the play request is ambiguous, then it is determined whether to play a suspended media content item or an alternate media content item. The determination can be made based on a length of time that the suspended media content item has been suspended, a media content item type, or a state, among other factors. Responsive to the determination, playback of the suspended or alternate media content item is initiated.

Abstract: A request to play a media content item is received. It is determined whether the play request is ambiguous. Responsive to determining that the play request is ambiguous, then it is determined whether to play a suspended media content item or an alternate media content item. The determination can be made based on a length of time that the suspended media content item has been suspended, a media content item type, or a state, among other factors. Responsive to the determination, playback of the suspended or alternate media content item is initiated.

Abstract: A request to play a media content item is received. It is determined whether the play request is ambiguous. Responsive to determining that the play request is ambiguous, then it is determined whether to play a suspended media content item or an alternate media content item. The determination can be made based on a length of time that the suspended media content item has been suspended, a media content item type, or a state, among other factors. Responsive to the determination, playback of the suspended or alternate media content item is initiated.

Abstract: A request to play a media content item is received. It is determined whether the play request is ambiguous. Responsive to determining that the play request is ambiguous, then it is determined whether to play a suspended media content item or an alternate media content item. The determination can be made based on a length of time that the suspended media content item has been suspended, a media content item type, or a state, among other factors. Responsive to the determination, playback of the suspended or alternate media content item is initiated.

Abstract: A request to play a media content item is received. It is determined whether the play request is ambiguous. Responsive to determining that the play request is ambiguous, then it is determined whether to play a suspended media content item or an alternate media content item. The determination can be made based on a length of time that the suspended media content item has been suspended, a media content item type, or a state, among other factors. Responsive to the determination, playback of the suspended or alternate media content item is initiated.

Abstract: A request to play a media content item is received. It is determined whether the play request is ambiguous. Responsive to determining that the play request is ambiguous, then it is determined whether to play a suspended media content item or an alternate media content item. The determination can be made based on a length of time that the suspended media content item has been suspended, a media content item type, or a state, among other factors. Responsive to the determination, playback of the suspended or alternate media content item is initiated.

Abstract: A first device receives a voice command from a first user of a second device. The first device determines, from content in the voice command, one or more characteristics of a target device and media content to be played on the target device. The first device identifies, using the characteristics of the target device, a third device. In response to identifying the third device: the first device modifies account information for the third device to associate the third device with the first user and transmits instructions to the third device to play the media content.

Abstract: A first device receives a voice command from a first user of a second device. The first device determines, from content in the voice command, one or more characteristics of a target device and media content to be played on the target device. The first device identifies, using the characteristics of the target device, a third device. In response to identifying the third device: the first device modifies account information for the third device to associate the third device with the first user and transmits instructions to the third device to play the media content.

Abstract: A request to play a media content item is received. It is determined whether the play request is ambiguous. Responsive to determining that the play request is ambiguous, then it is determined whether to play a suspended media content item or an alternate media content item. The determination can be made based on a length of time that the suspended media content item has been suspended, a media content item type, or a state, among other factors. Responsive to the determination, playback of the suspended or alternate media content item is initiated.

Abstract: A media content steering solution is provided to identify a user query to steer playback of media content that is currently playing or has been played. The user steering query can include a voice request for playing media content that is relatively different from the media content being currently played or having been played. The media content steering solution analyzes the utterance of the user query and uses it to identify such different content that satisfies the user intent contained in the user query.

Abstract: A method is provided of enabling respective users (A, B) of first and second devices (12, 2) of a trusted network to perform a secure transaction between them. A communications channel, such as a telephone conversation, is established between the users (A, B). A verification identifier for the transaction is communicated between the users (A, B) using the communications channel (A6). The verification identifier is stored (A3) at the first device (12) as a reference identifier for the transaction. A secure connection is opened between the two devices (12, 2) over the trusted network (A10), the secure connection being different to the communications channel between the users (A, B). The verification identifier is sent (A11) from the second device (2) to the first device (12) over the secure connection. The verification identifier received over the secure connection is compared (A12) with the reference identifier at the first device (12).

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed of employing an information device (20) to transfer one or more data items from a remote holding area (32) to a local device (46) in dependence upon an access identifier representing the location of the one or more data items. The method comprises the steps of presenting an audio/visual representation of the access identifier at the information device (20), capturing the audio/visual representation at the local device (46), determining the location of the one or more data items from the captured audio/visual representation, and transferring the one or more data items to the local device (46) from the determined location. In a preferred embodiment, the information device (20) is a mobile device such as a mobile telephone, the audio/visual representation comprises a graphical representation such as a bar code that is displayed on a display (25) of the information device (20), and the bar code representation is captured at the local device (46) using a bar code scanner (49).

Abstract: A method is provided of retrieving one or more data items stored in a protected area of a remote server for transferral to a local device. A trusted connection is formed between an information device and the protected area of the remote server. The information device and the trusted connection are employed to select a first group of one or more data items stored in the protected area of the remote server. The first group of data items are transferred from the protected area to a holding area outside the protected area of the remote server. A retrieval connection is formed between the local device and the holding area. A second group of one or more data items is determined from the first group of data items transferred to the holding area. The second group of data items is transferred from the holding area to the local device over the retrieval connection.