Seamless transition between display applications using direct device selection

1. A method of transitioning between a plurality of display applications, the method comprising:

browsing, searching, and selecting media content using a first display application of a second device, wherein the first display application which is an application native to the second device;

selecting a first device to play the media content;

retrieving a device identifier of the first device;

downloading a second display application from a network server to the second device;

launching the second display application by the first display application customized to automatically select the first device using the device identifier,

wherein launching the second display application enables the second device to continue browsing, searching, and selecting media content while the previously selected media content is being played on the first device,

wherein the first device is authenticated for the selected media content and the second device is not authenticated for the selected media content;

sending the selected media content to the first device from the network server upon selection by the second device, the selected media content bypassing the second device,

wherein the second device is not given direct access to the selected media content;

performing device discovery using a discovery protocol of the first display application; and

passing information stored in a cookie to the first display application from the second display application to change devices,

wherein the cookie includes information about changing devices.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first display application is a native application residing on the second device and is used to control functions of the first device.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising

running the second display application to browse and search media content.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first device is an Internet Protocol television (IPTV) client.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the second device is a portable device with a display.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising

controlling functions of the IPTV client using the first display application residing on the portable device to present and play selected media content on a display of the IPTV client.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the portable device sends a reference identifier of the selected media content to be presented and played on the display of the IPTV client.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising

running the portable device to browse, search, and select other media content without interrupting the media content being played on the display of the IPTV client.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein launching the second display application comprises

launching a web-based application with information about the first device that was last targeted.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device identifier is bookmarked in the second display application.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising

calling an internal server of the first display application from the second display application to change devices,

wherein the second display application provides information about a changing device.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising

passing information as an anchor in a URL to the first display application from the second display application to change devices,

wherein the anchor in the URL includes information about a changing device.

13. A non-transitory storage medium storing a computer program to manage transitions between a first display application and a second display application, the computer program comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to:

Browse, search, and select media content using a first display application of a second device, wherein the first display application which is an application native to the second device;

select a first device to play the media content;

retrieve a device identifier of the first device;

download a second display application from a network server to the second device;

launch the second display application by the first display application customized to automatically select the first device using the device identifier,

wherein launching the second display application enables the second device to continue browsing, searching, and selecting media content while the previously selected media content is being played on the first device,

wherein the first device is authenticated for the selected media content and the second device is not authenticated for the selected media content;

send the selected media content to the first device from the network server upon selection by the second device, the selected media content bypassing the second device,

wherein the second device is not given direct access to the selected media content;

perform device discovery using a discovery protocol of the first display application;

pass information stored in a cookie to the first display application from the second display application to change devices,

wherein the cookie includes information about changing devices.

14. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 13 , further comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to:

control functions of the first device using the first display application residing on the second device to present and play selected media content on a display of the first device.

15. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 14 , wherein executable instructions that cause a computer to launch the second display application comprise executable instructions that cause a computer to:

launch a web-based application with information about the first device that was last targeted.

16. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 13 , further comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to:

pass information as an anchor in a URL to the first display application from the second display application to change devices,

wherein the anchor in the URL includes information about a changing device.