Transferring a media browsing session from one device to a second device by transferring a session identifier and a session key to the second device
A system is described in which a media browser ( 101 ), operating as a software application on a user terminal or preferably a server for a number of users, provides a user with a single user interface that facilitates browsing and searching different metadata collections over the Internet ( 102 ). A metadata server ( 212 ) is associated with each of the metadata collections. When the metadata server ( 212 ) receives a request from the media browser ( 101 ), the metadata server ( 212 ) interprets the request and replies with a description that satisfies the request and according to a predetermined scheme. The description contains at least one link which represents a return link which represents a return request to the metadata server ( 212 ). Specifically disclosed are methods of forming a table of contents for a particular user preferably based upon media reproduction attributes, methods of right to use and quality of service control, graphical user interfaces for facilitating the browsing process, methods of interpreting metadata, methods of communicating metadata between users, and method for transferring media sessions between users.
1. A method of transferring a media browsing session, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) establishing via a first device a media browsing session upon the first device and sourced via a media browsing server;
(b) detecting user actuation of a control on the first device to cause the first device to:
(i) transfer to a second device a session identifier and a key for decoding the media associated with the media browsing session;
(ii) receive from the second device an identification thereof known to the media browsing server; and
(iii) transfer the received identification of the second device to the media browsing server; and
(c) the media browsing server thereby terminating an output of the media browsing session to the first device and directing the output of the media session to the second device and modifying a quality of service of the media browsing session dependent upon reproduction attributes of the second device.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the modifying alters the media browsing session from a form reproducible by the first device to a form reproducible by the second device.
3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein a quality of reproduction of the media browsing session is limited by reproduction attributes of the second device to be no better than those of the first device.
4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein, when the second device offers a higher quality of reproduction of the media browsing session than that of the first device, and step (c) comprises a commercial transaction to enable the modifying.
5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the media browsing session is originated at a selected quality of service and reproduction of the media browsing session on each device is performed at a maximum quality of service afforded by that corresponding device and no reproduction is better than the selected quality of service.
6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the devices are selected from a group consisting of: a desktop computer, a portable computer, a mobile telephone, and a mobile sound reproduction apparatus.
7. A method according to claim 1 wherein step (c) further comprises the steps of:
(i) the second device renegotiating the media browsing session with the media browsing server according to at least one attribute of the second device;
(ii) establishing a handover time at which transfer of the media browsing session is to occur from the first device to the second device; and
(iii) performing the transfer at the handover time.
8. A method according to claim 7 wherein one said attribute comprises a price of reproduction of the media browsing session upon the second device.
9. A computer readable medium having a computer program recorded thereon and adapted to make a first device transfer a media browsing session, said program comprising:
code for establishing a media browsing session upon the first device and sourced via a media browsing server; and
code for detecting user actuation of a control on the first device to cause the first device to:
(i) transfer to a second device a session identifier and a key for decoding the media associated with the media browsing session;
(ii) receive from the second device an identification thereof known to the media browsing server; and
(iii) transfer the received identification of the second device to the media browsing server;
the media browsing server thereby terminating an output of the media browsing session to the first device and directing the output of the media session to the second device and modifying a quality of service of the media browsing session dependent upon reproduction attributes of the second device.
10. A multimedia reproduction device comprising:
means for establishing a media browsing session upon the multimedia reproduction device and sourced via a media browsing server; and
means for detecting user actuation of a control on the multimedia reproduction device to cause the multimedia reproduction device to:
(i) transfer to a further multimedia reproduction device a session identifier and a key for decoding the media associated with the media browsing session;
(ii) receive from the further multimedia reproduction device an identification thereof known to the media browsing server; and
(iii) transfer the received identification of the further multimedia reproduction device to the media browsing server;
the media browsing server thereby terminating an output of the media browsing session to the original multimedia reproduction device and directing the output of the media session to the further multimedia reproduction device and modifying a quality of service of the media browsing session dependent upon reproduction attributes of the further multimedia reproduction device.