Importance

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Abstract

Systems and apparatus are provided for distributing media content from a first media player to other media players that include a second media player. In one implementation, a system is provided in which a first media player receives a first play-back request for an item of media content from a component of the first media player, and in response to the first play-back request, initiates a first process to retrieve at least a part of the item of media content from at least one device selected from the group consisting of the first media player and one or more further devices. The first media player is further configured to output at least part of the item of media content retrieved as a result of the first process to a first stream target to provide streaming of media content, and receive, from a plurality of the other media players, a plurality of further requests for the item of media content that are sent in an uncoordinated order with respect to one another from the plurality of other media players to the first media player. In addition, the first media player may reply to the further requests for the item of media content, by transmitting one or more parts of the item of media content, retrieved as a result of the first process, to the requesting other media players. Moreover, the first media player may output at least a part of the media content to the first stream target while the second media player outputs at least a part of the media content to a second stream target.

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First Claim