Media accelerator interface API

1. A computer implemented method of interfacing with

a media accelerator comprising:

providing a processor executing commands;

providing a commands layer executing on the processor, the commands layer sending commands to the media accelerator;

providing a capabilities layer executing on the processor, the capabilities layer obtaining application capabilities from an application; and,

providing a discontinuity layer executing on the processor, the discontinuity layer providing explicit discontinuity commands to the media accelerator, the explicit commands capable of being provided any time during playback, the explicit discontinuity commands comprising a channel change command and an end of file command.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a properties layer, the properties layer obtaining and setting properties for a particular device.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a callbacks layer, the callbacks layer enabling a host application to register callbacks with the media accelerator.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a graphics and video commands layer, the graphics and video commands layer providing graphics and video commands to the media accelerator.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a data transport layer, the data transport layer enabling providing data transfer to the media accelerator.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a status and error information layer, the status and error information layer providing status and error information from the media accelerator.

7. A media accelerator interface comprising:

a commands layer stored on a computer readable storage medium, the commands layer sending commands to the media accelerator;

a capabilities layer stored on the computer readable storage medium, the capabilities layer obtaining application capabilities from an application; and

a discontinuity layer stored on the computer readable storage medium, the discontinuity layer providing explicit discontinuity commands to the media accelerator, the explicit commands capable of being provided any time during playback, the explicit discontinuity commands comprising a channel change command and an end of file command.

8. The media accelerator interface of claim 7 further comprising:

a properties layer stored on the computer readable storage medium, the properties layer obtaining and setting properties for a particular device.

9. The media accelerator interface of claim 7 further comprising:

a callbacks layer stored on the computer readable storage medium, the callbacks layer enabling a host application to register callbacks with the media accelerator.

10. The media accelerator interface of claim 7 further comprising:

a graphics and video commands layer stored on the computer readable storage medium, the graphics and video commands layer providing graphics and video commands to the media accelerator.

11. The media accelerator interface of claim 7 further comprising:

a data transport layer stored on the computer readable storage medium, the data transport layer enabling providing data transfer to the media accelerator.

12. The media accelerator interface of claim 7 further comprising:

a status and error information layer stored on the computer readable storage medium, the status and error information layer providing status and error information from the media accelerator.

13. A media accelerator system comprising:

a media accelerator;

a processor coupled to the media accelerator, the processor including a media accelerator interface, the media accelerator interface including

a commands layer, the commands layer sending commands to the media accelerator;

a capabilities layer, the capabilities layer obtaining application capabilities from an application; and

a discontinuity layer, the discontinuity layer providing explicit discontinuity commands to the media accelerator, the explicit commands capable of being provided any time during playback, the explicit discontinuity commands comprising a channel change command and an end of file command.

14. The media accelerator system of claim 13 wherein:

the media accelerator interface further includes a properties layer, the properties layer obtaining and setting properties for a particular device.

15. The media accelerator system of claim 13 wherein:

the media accelerator interface further includes a callbacks layer, the callbacks layer enabling a host application to register callbacks with the media accelerator.

16. The media accelerator system of claim 13 wherein:

the media accelerator interface further includes a graphics and video commands layer, the graphics and video commands layer providing graphics and video commands to the media accelerator.

17. The media accelerator system of claim 13 wherein:

the media accelerator interface further includes a data transport layer, the data transport layer enabling providing data transfer to the media accelerator.

18. The media accelerator system of claim 13 wherein:

the media accelerator interface further includes a status and error information layer, the status and error information layer providing status and error information from the media accelerator.

19. The media accelerator system of claim 13 further comprising:

a bus coupled between the processor and the media accelerator.

20. The media accelerator system of claim 19 wherein:

the bus conforms to a PCI bus architecture.