Methods, computer readable mediums and systems for requesting, retrieving and delivering metadata pages

• US 20050015551A1
• Filed: 07/18/2003
• Published: 01/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Fakes, Thomas, Eames, Russell Mark, McCartney, Jason E.D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,313,591 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/118
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/329 on a disc [VTOC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

Methods, computer readable mediums and systems provide media player users with a full contextual metadata experience. Metadata include multiple forms of property data, or information, relating to media accessed by a media player, such as a CD in a CD-ROM drive of a computer. Metadata is transferred from a server to a client. Identification parameters associated with the accessed media file are submitted by the client to a server, and property data is retrieved and forwarded to the client. The metadata provides the user with integrated, contemporaneous property data directly related to the media file being played, providing automatic, integrated access to data from multiple databases, simply by accessing a related media file through a media player, without further direction from the user.

Claims

1. A method for retrieving metadata for a media file accessible via a media player, said metadata including property data associated with said media file, comprising:

determining that said media file is accessed by said media player;

submitting an identification parameter associated with said accessed media file to a server when said determining that said media file is accessed by said media player indicates that said media file is accessed by said media player; and

receiving from said server said property data corresponding to the accessed media file.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising rendering said received property data on said media player for use by a user of said media player.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether said identification parameter is stored on said media player,

determining whether said property data is stored on said media player, and

caching said received property data with a collection ID when said determining whether said identification parameter is stored on said media player indicates that said identification parameter is stored on said media player and when said determining whether said property data is stored on said media player indicates that said property data is not stored on said media player, said determining whether said identification parameter is stored on said media player and determining whether said property data is stored on said media player both occurring before said submitting.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said identification parameter is a content ID cached on said media player during prior access of said media file by said media player.

5. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said collection ID defines a music album comprising multiple media files accessible by said media player.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether said identification parameter is stored on said media player,

determining whether said property data is stored on said media player,

determining whether an artist ID is a known various artists value on said media player, and

caching said received property data with a collection ID when said determining whether said identification parameter is stored on said media player indicates that said identification parameter is stored on said media player, when said determining whether said property data is stored on said media player indicates that said property data is stored on said media player, and when said determining whether an artist ID is a known various artists value on said media player indicates that an artist ID is a known various artists value on said media player, said determining whether said identification parameter is stored on said media player, said determining whether said property data is stored on said media player and said determining whether an artist ID is a known various artists value on said media player all occurring before said submitting.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said identification parameter is a content ID cached on said media player during prior access of said media file by said media player.

8. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said collection ID defines a music album comprising multiple media files accessible by said media player.

9. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether a content ID associated with said accessed media file is stored on said media player, and

caching said received property data with a collection ID when said determining whether a content ID is stored on said media player indicates that said content ID is not stored on said media player, said determining whether a content ID associated with said accessed media file is not stored on said media player occurring before said submitting.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said collection ID defines a music album comprising multiple media files accessible by said media player.

11. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said submitted identification parameter is a Table of Contents (TOC) stored with said media file.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said receiving comprises receiving a content ID associated with said accessed media file for subsequent submitting of said content ID as an identification parameter associated with said media file to said server.

13. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said media file is stored on a compact disc for access of said media file via said media player.

14. A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said TOC is a compact disc table of contents cataloging media files stored on said compact disc.

15. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said identification parameter is at least one of a content ID, a compact disc table of contents (TOC), an AMG album ID (AID), an AMG performer ID (PID), an MSID person, an MSID album and a genre for identifying said media file.

16. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said media player comprises a computer and a CD-ROM drive, said media file being stored on a compact disc inserted into the CD-ROM drive of the computer.

17. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said media file is a song and said property data is associated with said song.

18. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising retrieving stored data from said media player relating to said media file, said stored data comprising data input by said user.

19. A method as set forth in claim 18 wherein said stored data is at least one of a rating of said media file, textual information relating to said media file and lyrics associated with said media file.

20. A method for retrieving metadata for a media file accessible via a media player, said metadata including property data associated with said media file, comprising:

determining whether a first identification parameter associated with said media file is stored on said media player;

submitting a second identification parameter associated with said accessed media file to receive said property data from a server when said determining whether a first identification parameter associated with said media file is stored on said media player indicates said first identification parameter is not stored on said media player;

determining whether said property data is stored on said media player when said determining whether a first identification parameter associated with said media file is stored on said media player indicates said first identification parameter is stored on said media player;

submitting said first identification parameter associated with said accessed media file to receive said property data from a server when said determining whether said property data is stored on said media player indicates said property data is not stored on said media player;

determining whether an artist ID is a known various artists value on said media player when said determining whether said property data is stored on said media player indicates said property data is stored on said media player;

submitting said first identification parameter associated with said accessed media file to receive said property data from a server when said determining whether an artist ID is a known various artists value on said media player indicates said artist ID is a known various artists value; and

rendering said property data on said media player when said determining whether an artist ID is a known various artists value on said media player indicates said artist ID is not a known various artists value.

21. A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein each of said submittings further comprises retrieving said property data from said server.

22. A method as set forth in claim 21 wherein each of said submittings further comprises rendering said property data on said media player.

23. A method as set forth in claim 22 further comprising determining that said media file is accessed by said media player, said determining that said media file is accessed occurring before said determining whether a first identification parameter is stored on said media player.

24. A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein said first identification parameter is a content ID associated with said accessed media file.

25. A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein said second identification parameter is a table of contents (TOC) associated with said accessed media file.

26. A method as set forth in claim 25 wherein said media file is stored on a compact disc.

27. A method for rendering metadata for a media file accessible via a media player, said metadata including property data associated with said media file, comprising:

determining that the media file is accessed by the media player;

identifying an identification parameter of said media file stored on said media player when said determining that said media file is accessed by said media player indicates that said media file is accessed by said media player;

determining that said property data associated with said identification parameter of said accessed media file is stored on said media player; and

rendering said property data stored on said media player.

28. A method for rendering metadata for a media file accessible via a media player, said metadata including property data associated with said media file, comprising:

requesting said property data from a server when at least one of (a) a content ID is not stored on said media player, (b) said property data is not stored on said media player and (c) an artist ID is a known various artists value are true;

accessing said property data stored on said media player when (a), (b) and (c) are false; and

rendering said property data.

29. A method for providing an XML document to a client, said method comprising:

receiving an identification parameter for an XML document from a client;

determining if all necessary identification parameters are present;

retrieving any missing identification parameters when said determining if all necessary identification parameters are present indicates that identification parameters are missing;

forwarding said identification parameters to a structural query language (SQL) Server;

receiving said XML document from said SQL Server; and

forwarding said XML document to said client.

30. A method as set forth in claim 29 further comprising determining if said request is for a super-document.

31. A method as set forth in claim 30 further comprising processing each of the documents in the super-document.

32. A method as set forth in claim 31 further comprising determining if said processing through the documents in the super-document is completed.

33. A method as set forth in claim 32 further comprising appending said XML document to said super-document before forwarding said super-document and said XML document to said client.

34. A method as set forth in claim 30 wherein said super-document is info_home.

35. A method as set forth in claim 29 wherein said retrieving comprises retrieving said missing identification parameters from a cache.

36. A method as set forth in claim 29 wherein said retrieving comprises retrieving said missing identification parameters from a database.

37. A method as set forth in claim 29 wherein said forwarding said XML document to said client comprises forwarding said identification parameters to said client.

38. A method as set forth in claim 29 wherein said SQL Server comprises at least one of an extended metadata database, a basic metadata database, a current media database and a news database.

39. A method for transferring metadata from a server to a client, said metadata including property data associated with a media file accessible by said client, comprising:

determining that said media file is accessed by said client;

submitting an identification parameter associated with said accessed media file from said client to a server when said determining that said media file is accessed by said client indicates that said media file is accessed by said client;

retrieving said property data from a structural query language (SQL) server; and

forwarding said property data to said client.

40. A method as set forth in claim 39 further comprising determining if all necessary identification parameters are present and retrieving any missing identification parameters when said determining if all necessary identification parameters are present indicates that identification parameters are missing.

41. A method as set forth in claim 40 wherein said retrieving comprises forwarding said identification parameters to the SQL Server and receiving said property data from said SQL Server.

42. A method as set forth in claim 41 further comprising rendering said property data at said client.

43. A method as set forth in claim 39 wherein said property data is an XML document viewable at said client by a user.

44. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for retrieving metadata for a media file accessible via a media player, said metadata including property data associated with said media file, said computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

determining that said media file is accessed by said media player;

submitting an identification parameter associated with said accessed media file to a server when said determining that said media file is accessed by said media player indicates that said media file is accessed by said media player; and

receiving from said server said property data corresponding to the accessed media file.

45. A computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 44 further comprising computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising rendering said received property data on said media player for use by a user of said media player.

46. A computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 44 further comprising computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

determining whether said identification parameter is stored on said media player, and

caching said received property data with a collection ID when said determining whether said identification parameter is stored on said media player indicates that said identification parameter is stored on said media player, said determining whether said identification parameter is stored on said media player occurring before said submitting.

47. A computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 44 further comprising computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

determining whether said identification parameter is stored on said media player,

determining whether an artist ID is a known various artists value on said media player, and

caching said received property data with a collection ID when said determining whether said identification parameter is stored on said media player indicates that said identification parameter is stored on said media player and said determining whether an artist ID is a known various artists value on said media player indicates that an artist ID is a known various artists value on said media player, said determining whether said identification parameter is stored on said media player and said determining whether an artist ID is a known various artists value on said media player both occurring before said submitting.

48. A computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 44 further comprising computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

determining whether a content ID associated with said accessed media file is stored on said media player, and

caching said received property data with a collection ID when said determining whether a content ID is stored on said media player indicates that said content ID is not stored on said media player, said determining whether a content ID associated with said accessed media file is not stored on said media player occurring before said submitting.

49. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for rendering metadata for a media file accessible via a media player, said metadata including property data associated with said media file, said computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

determining that the media file is accessed by the media player;

identifying an identification parameter of said media file stored on said media player when said determining that said media file is accessed by said media player indicates that said media file is accessed by said media player;

determining that said property data associated with said identification parameter of said accessed media file is stored on said media player; and

rendering said property data stored on said media player.

50. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for rendering metadata for a media file accessible via a media player, said metadata including property data associated with said media file, said computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

requesting said property data from a server when at least one of (a) a content ID is not stored on said media player, (b) said property data is not stored on said media player and (c) an artist ID is a known various artists value are true;

accessing said property data stored on said media player when (a), (b) and (c) are false; and

rendering said property data.

51. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for providing an XML document to a client, said computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

receiving an identification parameter for an XML document from a client;

determining if all necessary identification parameters are present;

retrieving any missing identification parameters when said determining if all necessary identification parameters are present indicates that identification parameters are missing;

forwarding said identification parameters to a structural query language (SQL) Server;

receiving said XML document from said SQL Server; and

forwarding said XML document to said client.

52. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for transferring metadata from a server to a client, said metadata including property data associated with a media file accessible by said client, said computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

determining that said media file is accessed by said client;

submitting an identification parameter associated with said accessed media file from said client to a server when said determining that said media file is accessed by said client indicates that said media file is accessed by said client;

retrieving said property data from a structural query language (SQL) server; and

forwarding said property data to said client.

53. A system for transferring metadata from a server to a client, said metadata including property data associated with a media file accessible by said client, comprising:

a client computer for

determining that said media file is accessed by said client, and

submitting an identification parameter associated with said accessed media file from said client to a server when said determining that said media file is accessed by said client indicates that said media file is accessed by said client; and

a server for

retrieving said property data from a structural query language (SQL) server, and

forwarding said property data to said client.

54. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions for retrieving metadata for a media file accessible via a media player, said metadata including property data associated with said media file, said computer-readable medium comprising:

instructions for determining that said media file is accessed by said media player;

instructions for submitting an identification parameter associated with said accessed media file to a server when said determining that said media file is accessed by said media player indicates that said media file is accessed by said media player; and

instructions for receiving from said server said property data corresponding to the accessed media file.

55. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions for rendering metadata for a media file accessible via a media player, said metadata including property data associated with said media file, said computer-readable medium comprising:

instructions for requesting said property data from a server when at least one of (a) a content ID is not stored on said media player, (b) said property data is not stored on said media player and (c) an artist ID is a known various artists value are true;

instructions for accessing said property data stored on said media player when (a), (b) and (c) are false; and

instructions for rendering said property data.

56. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions for providing an XML document to a client, said computer-readable medium comprising:

instructions for receiving an identification parameter for an XML document from a client;

instructions for determining if all necessary identification parameters are present;

instructions for retrieving any missing identification parameters when said determining if all necessary identification parameters are present indicates that identification parameters are missing;

instructions for forwarding said identification parameters to a structural query language (SQL) Server;

instructions for receiving said XML document from said SQL Server; and

instructions for forwarding said XML document to said client.