System for automatically creating a metadata repository for multimedia
A method and system for automatically creating a metadata repository for multimedia objects includes a service URL in the metadata associated with a multimedia object. The service URL is used by an application to access a service profile application to retrieve a service profile. The service profile describes the services available to the multimedia object and how to invoke these services. One of the services that can be provided is a metadata service that allows users to view, modify, or search the metadata for the multimedia object. In this manner, a common mechanism for providing information related to the multimedia object and for providing or advertising services related to the object is provided.
1 . A method for providing metadata for multimedia objects, comprising:
determining if metadata associated with a multimedia object comprises a service uniform resource locator (URL);
receiving a service profile for the multimedia object utilizing the service URL, if the metadata comprises the service URL; and
making at least one service described in the service profile available.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises:
registering the multimedia object with a service profile application, if the metadata does not comprise the service URL.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the registering comprises:
determining the service URL to be associated with the multimedia object based upon context data; and
including the service URL in the metadata.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises:
determining if the metadata comprises the service URL by a service agent included in an application; and
requesting the service profile from a service profile application utilizing the service URL, if the metadata comprises the service URL.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises:
determining if the metadata comprises the service URL by a server filter at a server; and
sending the multimedia object with the metadata to an application, if the metadata comprises the service URL.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the making comprises:
displaying the service in a context menu of the multimedia object.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a selection of the at least one service;
building a service request for the service; and
transmitting the service request to a service application according to the service profile.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the building comprises:
determining a value for at least one parameter for the service request, wherein the parameter is defined in the service profile.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the determining comprises:
determining a value for the parameter for the service request from contextual data.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the determining comprises:
prompting a user for the value of the parameter for the service request.
11 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
receiving the service request by the service application;
processing the service request by the service application; and
returning a service response by the service application.
12 . A system, comprising:
a client device capable of supporting an application, wherein the application is capable of displaying a multimedia object comprising metadata, wherein the metadata comprises a service uniform resource location (URL); and
a server comprising a service profile application, wherein the service profile application manages a service profile for the multimedia object, wherein the service profile describes at least one service for the multimedia object, and wherein the client device can obtain the service profile utilizing the service URL and make the service available.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the application comprises:
a content manager for processing the metadata of the multimedia object;
at least one service agent for receiving the metadata from the content manager and for determining if the metadata comprises the service URL; and
a service client entity, wherein the service agent communicates with the server utilizing the service client entity to obtain the service profile.
14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the server comprises:
the service profile application; and
at least one service application for providing the service.
15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the server further comprises:
a service filter for processing the multimedia object prior to sending it to the application and for determining if the metadata of the multimedia object comprises the service URL; and
a service server entity, wherein the service filter communicates with the service profile application utilizing the service server entity to register the multimedia object with the service profile application, if the multimedia object does not comprise the service URL.
16 . A computer readable medium with program instructions for providing metadata for multimedia objects, comprising:
determining if metadata associated with a multimedia object comprises a service uniform resource locator (URL);
receiving a service profile for the multimedia object utilizing the service URL, if the metadata comprises the service URL; and
making at least one service described in the service profile available.
17 . The medium of claim 16 , wherein the determining comprises:
registering the multimedia object with a service profile application, if the metadata does not comprise the service URL.
18 . The medium of claim 16 , wherein the determining comprises:
determining if the metadata comprises the service URL by a service agent included in an application; and
requesting the service profile from a service profile application utilizing the service URL, if the metadata comprises the service URL.
19 . The medium of claim 16 , wherein the determining comprises:
determining if the metadata comprises the service URL by a server filter at a server; and
sending the multimedia object with the metadata to an application, if the metadata comprises the service URL.
20 . The medium of claim 16 , wherein the making comprises:
displaying the service in a context menu of the multimedia object.