JP2012514438A - Render hopping - Google Patents

Abstract

The media providing device is configured to communicate with the media rendering device according to a standard supported by the media providing device and the media rendering device. The media providing apparatus includes a file system for storing media and a media controller. The media controller is configured to obtain current position information from a media server of a media providing device having a current media renderer. The media controller also determines whether the user has indicated a new media renderer and, if the user indicates a new media renderer, controls the new media renderer to represent the media starting at the current position Is configured to do.
[Selection] Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to the field of computer science. More specifically, the present invention relates to render hopping between electronic devices.

  UPnP is a standard related to computer network protocols and is managed by the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA). The purpose of UPnP is to establish a wired and wireless interoperable network of personal computers, home appliances and mobile devices in the home or office, enabling a seamless environment for data communication.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating interoperability between conventional electronic devices that support the UPnP standard. Both the media rendering device 100 and the digital camera mobile phone 105 (hereinafter referred to as a media providing device) support the UPnP standard and are connected to a home network established based on the UPnP architecture. Through the connectivity provided by UPnP, each of the media providing device 105 and the media rendering device 100 can recognize the presence and function of other devices and communicate with the other devices. Manual user operation of the media providing device 105 and / or the media rendering device 100 is required to display the digital image stored in the media providing device 105 on the media rendering device 100.

  Turning now to FIG. 3, the media providing device 305 includes a digital media server (DMS) 310 and a digital media controller (DMC) 320, and the media rendering device 330 includes a digital media renderer (DMR) 325 and A screen 335 is included. DMS 310 includes a content directory service (CDS) 300 and a streaming server 315 that is electrically coupled to CDS 300. The CDS 300 makes the digital image stored in the media providing device 305 appear to the home network (not shown), and the streaming server 315 outputs the digital image stored in the media providing device 305 to the home network. . The streaming server 315 supports a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP).

  The DMR 325 displays a digital image on the screen 335. The DMC 320 browses a digital image that has been revealed by the CDS 300 of the DMS 310, searches the home network for a DMR 325 having a function of displaying the digital image that has been made explicit by the CDS 300, and stores the digital image stored in the media providing apparatus 305. In order to allow uploading of images to the DMR 325, a peer-to-peer connection between the streaming server 315 and the DMR 325 is established.

  The process of displaying the digital image of the conventional media providing device 305 in the media rendering device 330 is started when the DMS 310 receives and stores the playlist set by the user. The playlist includes a set of digital images that are selected by the user and waiting to be displayed. The CDS 300 of the DMS 310 exposes data stored in the media providing apparatus 305 to the home network.

  The DMC 320 receives a command from the user for selecting a playlist from data stored by the DMS 310 and exposed by the CDS 300 of the DMS 310. The DMC 320 establishes a connection between the streaming server 315 of the DMS 310 and the DMR 325, and sets the uniform resource identifier (URI) of the DMR 325 as the streaming server 315 of the DMS 310.

  Next, the DMC 320 controls the DMR 325 to start processing for displaying a digital image. The DMR 325 issues a request to the streaming server 315 of the DMS 310 via the HTTP protocol to download the digital image so that the digital image in the playlist is acquired from the DMS 310. The DMR 325 displays the digital image through the screen 335, and then starts downloading the next digital image.

  One drawback of the conventional UPnP compliant media providing device 305 is to select a digital image waiting to be displayed and to select the playlist from the data stored in the DMS 310 again to establish the playlist. It is necessary for the user to do. Therefore, the user must perform the manual selection operation twice.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating interoperability between conventional electronic devices that support the UPnP standard. Both the media rendering device 200 and the media providing device such as the MP3 player 205 are connected to a home network that supports the UPnP standard and is established based on the UPnP architecture. Because of the connectivity provided by UPnP, each of the media providing device 205 and the media rendering device 200 can recognize the presence and function of other devices and communicate with the other devices. In order to play back the media stored in the media providing device 205 on the media rendering device 200, manual user operation of the media providing device 205 and / or the media rendering device 200 is required. Further, changing from playing media on the media providing device 205 to playing media on the media rendering device 200 or “hopping” results in discontinuities in the user's listening or viewing experience.

  Accordingly, there is a need in the art for improved solutions for pushing images to electronic devices. Additionally, there is a need in the art for an improved solution for render hopping between electronic devices.

  The media providing device is configured to communicate with the media rendering device according to a standard supported by the media providing device and the media rendering device. The media providing apparatus includes a file system for storing media and a media controller. The media controller is configured to obtain current media position information from a media server of a media providing device having the current media renderer. The media controller is also configured to determine whether the user has indicated a new media renderer and, if the user has indicated a new media renderer, to represent the media starting at the current position Control the new media renderer.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the detailed description, explain the principles and implementations of the invention. Useful for.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating interoperability between conventional electronic devices that support the UPnP standard. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating interoperability between conventional electronic devices that support the UPnP standard. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating interoperability between conventional electronic devices that support the UPnP standard. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a system for pushing images between electronic devices according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of pushing an image between electronic devices from the perspective of a media providing device, according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for pushing images between electronic devices from the perspective of a media rendering device, according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a render hopping system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of render hopping from the perspective of a media providing device, according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for controlling a new media renderer to represent media starting from the current position. FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a computer system suitable for implementing aspects of the present invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention are described herein in connection with a method and apparatus for render hopping between electronic devices. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the following detailed description of the present invention is merely an example and is not intended to be limiting in any way. Other embodiments of the invention will readily suggest themselves to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. Detailed description will now be given to the practice of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The same reference indicators will be used throughout the drawings and the following detailed description to refer to the same or like elements.

  For clarity, not all routine functions of the implementation described herein are shown and described. A number of implementation-specific decisions must be made in any development of such actual implementations to achieve specific developer goals, such as compliance with application and business-related constraints. And it will be appreciated that these specific goals will vary from implementation to implementation and from developer to developer. Further, it will be appreciated that such development efforts may be complex and time consuming, but nevertheless, engineering routine work and those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure It will be.

  According to one embodiment of the invention, a component, process step, structure, or any combination thereof may be a variety of operating systems (OS), computing platforms, firmware, computer programs, computer languages, general purpose machines, or Can be implemented using any combination thereof. The method can be implemented as a programmed process that is executed on a processing circuit. The processing circuitry may take the form of various combinations of processors and operating systems, connections and networks, data stores, or stand-alone devices. The process can be implemented as a command executed by such hardware, hardware alone, or any combination thereof. The software can be stored in a program storage device readable by a machine.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, a component, process, data structure, or any combination thereof is a machine language, assembler, C or C ++, Java, computer (eg, Windows XP, XP PRO, CE, 2000K). (Other Windows), other high-level language programs running on Linux or Unix, Solaris, Palm, or those running an Apple OS X-based system, or any combination thereof can do. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the process can be implemented using a distributed component management and runtime deployment tool, such as, for example, UK's Object Forge, LTD's MOJO. Different implementations can be used and different implementations can include other types of operating systems, computing platforms, computer programs, firmware, computer languages, general purpose machines, or any combination thereof. There are many different implementations that may include CCD cameras, color cameras, infrared cameras, analog cameras, digital cameras, video cameras, still cameras, mobile cameras, fixed cameras, and other types of sensor devices. . In addition, those skilled in the art will also disclose herein less versatile devices such as hard-wired devices, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or the like. It will be appreciated that the invention can be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventive concept.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, the method is performed, for example, by a personal computer, workstation computer, mainframe computer, or Solaris, available from Sun Microsystems, Inc., Santa Clara, Calif., For example. Runs OS such as Microsoft (R) Windows XP (R) and Windows (R) available from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, or various versions of Unix operating systems, such as Linux, available from many vendors It can be implemented on a data processing computer, such as a high performance server. The method can also be performed using a mobile phone such as that sold by Nokia, Ericsson, and the like. The method is also available from, for example, Windows® CE available from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Washington, Symbian OS (trade mark) available from Symbian Corporation of London, UK, and PalmSource Corporation of Sunnyvale, California. It can also be implemented on portable devices running the OS, such as PalmOS® and various embedded Linux operating systems. Embedded Linux operating systems are available from vendors including MontaCista Software, Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif., And FSMLabs, Inc., Socorro, New Mexico. The method may also be performed on a multiprocessor system or, for example, to an input device, output device, display, digital camera, mobile phone, digital video camera, mobile computing device, pointing device, memory, storage device, processor, or Can be implemented in a computing environment including a variety of peripheral devices such as, a media interface for transferring data from a processor, and the like. Further, such computer systems or computing environments may be networked locally or in the Internet or other network.

  In the context of the present invention, the term “connecting means” includes any means by which a first one or more devices communicate with a second one or more devices. More specifically, the connection means includes a network and direct connection mechanism, a parallel data bus, and a serial data bus.

  In the context of the present invention, the term “network” means local area network, wide area network, metro area network, residential network, personal area network, corporate network, internetwork, Internet, world wide web, ad hoc. Network, peer-to-peer network, server network, backbone network, cable television network, telephone system, wireless telephone system, Wi-Fi network, Bluetooth network, SMS network, MMS network, optical fiber network, token ring network, Ethernet network, ATM network, frame relay network, satellite communication system, Including those of the fine like. Such networks are well known in the art and are therefore not further described here.

  In the context of the present invention, the term “identifier” represents an ordered sequence of one or more numerical values, letters, symbols, and the like. More generally, an “identifier” represents any entity represented by one or more bits.

  In the context of the present invention, the term “processor” refers to something that processes or transforms data on a physical computer (stand-alone or distributed) or a virtual machine (stand-alone or distributed). The processor can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.

  In the context of the present invention, the term “data store” refers to a local or distributed hardware means or device, software means or device, or hardware for storing digital or analog information or data. And software means or device. The term “data store” includes, by way of example, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), Flash memory, hard drive, disk drive, RAID storage, floppy drive, tape drive, CD drive, DVD drive, magnetic tape device (audio, visual, analog, digital, or a combination thereof), optical storage device, electrically erasable Represents devices such as ROM (EEPROM), solid state memory devices, universal serial bus storage devices, and the like. The term “data store” also includes, by way of example, databases, file systems, recording systems, object-oriented databases, relational databases, multidimensional databases, SQL databases, audit trails and logs, program memory, caches and buffers, and the like. Of things.

  In the context of the present invention, the term “user interface” is used to indicate information to, or from, a person or animal for receiving information from or to a person or animal. Represents a device or a group of devices for or both. The user interface may include means for presenting information to a person or animal such as, for example, an image display projector or screen, a loudspeaker, a light source or lighting system, a printing device, a braille device, a vibration device, and the like. good. The user interface may also include, for example, a combination of one or more of buttons, keys, levers, switches, knobs, touchpads, touch screens, microphones, audio detectors, motion sensing devices, cameras, and photodetectors. May include means for receiving information or instructions from a person or animal. Typical user interfaces include pagers, cell phones, desktop computers, laptop computers, handheld and palm computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), cathode ray tubes (CRTs), keyboards, keypads, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), Includes control panel, horn, siren, alarm, printer, speaker, mouse device, console, and voice recognition device.

  In the context of the present invention, the term “system” includes processing means, data storage means, program means, user interface means, or combinations thereof, and embodiments of the present invention through one or more data networks or connections. A computer information system, computer controller, apparatus or device configured by hardware, software, or both configured to communicate and to be used in conjunction with embodiments of the present invention Represents a network of devices.

  In the context of the present invention, the term “image” refers to a photo, a still photo, a video, a video, a video, a movie, a short film, an edited or processed photo, an edited or processed video, a drawing, Painting, slide deck, line drawing, sketch, computer generated image, animated film, commercial film, TV show, commercial, home video, security video, security photo, monitor video, monitor photo, satellite image, aerial image, underwater image, space Represents digital video media such as images, medical images, video art, graphics, art graphics, animal art, machine art, naturally generated art, any composite above, any hybrid above. Such images may be encoded in various formats or standards known now or in the future, such as jpeg, bmp, tiff, mpeg, wmv. Such images can also be single or aggregated and can contain composites or composite mixtures and can be structured or unstructured. Images may be accidental, intentional, planned, natural, mechanical or computational products. The image may also be composed, recorded, live, streaming, etc. An image may include other associated information, data, metadata, XML, RDF, text, symbols, audio, music, and the like.

  In the context of the present invention, the term “message” is intended to transfer or carry information between one or more entities or systems, such as bits, numbers, letters, symbols, and the like. Represents one or more ordered sequences. Examples include one or more SMS messages, MMS messages, telecommunications messages, information packets, information transmission, encoded communications, and the like. A message includes all or any part of the encoding of text, symbols, graphics, languages, commands, symbols, numbers, patterns, images, data, metadata, identifiers, timestamps, counters, names, addresses, etc. There is a case.

  In the context of the present invention, systems, servers, client devices, their components, and third party system connections, networks, or both are one or more connections in any configuration between the components. , Network, shared, or non-shared. Thus, and in the context of the present invention, the components, hardware, software, or both are either physically and / or logically co-located or distributed in any configuration. Or may be incorporated between each other or in other systems.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a system for pushing images between electronic devices according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the media providing device 492 is configured to communicate with the media rendering device 405 according to standards supported by the media providing device 492 and the media rendering device 405. The media providing device 492 includes a first module 485 that acquires new media in the media providing device 492 and stores the new media in the media providing device 492. For example, the first module 485 may be a camera module configured to store an image photographed by the user 400 using the media providing device 492 in the file system 490.

  The media providing device 492 also has a media server 455 configured to automatically detect new media stored in the media providing device 492 and a media rendering device 405 to download new media from the media providing device 492. Including a media controller 475 configured to control.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, the media controller 475 further instructs the media rendering device 405 to obtain media from the media providing device 492 and receives a request for media from the media rendering device 405 in response to detection. And media is transmitted to the media rendering device 405.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, the new media includes one or more digital images. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the new media includes one or more digital videos.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, the standard supported by the media rendering device 405 and the media providing device 492 is the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) standard managed by the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA). The media server 455 may further be configured to analyze the SystemUpdateID variable defined in the UpnP standard to detect new media stored in the media providing device. Alternatively, the media server 455 may be further configured to analyze the ContainerUpdateID state variable to detect new media stored in the media provider.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, the media providing device 492 is further configured to receive an indication of where the media is stored on the media providing device before obtaining the new media. Yes.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, the new media includes a plurality of digital images, and the media controller 475 is further configured to control the media rendering device 405 to repeat each representation of the plurality of digital images. Has been.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the media providing device includes a mobile phone with a camera, and the media rendering device includes a television receiver.

  Still referring to FIG. 4, the media rendering device 405 is configured to communicate with the media providing device 492 according to a standard supported by the media providing device 492 and the media rendering device 405. The media rendering device includes a screen 410 and a media renderer 435. The media renderer 435 is configured to receive an instruction instructing the media providing device 492 to acquire media from the media providing device 492. The media renderer 435 requests the media from the media providing device 492, receives the media, and displays the media on the screen.

  According to one embodiment of the invention, the new media includes a plurality of digital images, and the media renderer 435 is configured to repeat each representation of the plurality of digital images.

  FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of pushing an image between electronic devices from the perspective of a media providing device (reference number 492 in FIG. 4), according to one embodiment of the present invention. The process illustrated in FIG. 5 can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. At 500, the media providing device obtains a new media. At 505, the new media is stored on the media provider. At 510, the presence of new media stored in the media providing device is automatically detected.

  In 515-525, in response to the detection, the media providing device controls the media rendering device to download new media from the media providing device. At 515, in response to the detection, the media providing device instructs the media rendering device to obtain media from the media providing device. At 520, the media providing device receives a request for media from the media rendering device. At 525, the media providing device transmits the media to the media rendering device.

  FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of pushing an image between electronic devices from the perspective of a media rendering device (reference number 405 in FIG. 4), according to one embodiment of the present invention. The process illustrated in FIG. 6 can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. At 600, a command from a media providing device is received. The command instructs the media rendering device to acquire media from the media providing device. At 605, the media rendering device requests media from the media providing device. At 615, the media rendering device receives the media. At 615, the media rendering device represents media on the media rendering device.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a system for render hopping, according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, the media providing device with the current media renderer 755 is configured to communicate with the media rendering device 705 according to standards supported by the media providing device 792 and the media rendering device 705. The media providing device 792 includes a file system 790 for storing media and a media controller 775. The media controller 775 is configured to acquire current media position information from the media server 785 of the media providing device 792. For example, the current position information may include a track number and a time value associated with the start of the track. Media controller 775 determines whether the user has indicated a new media renderer. The media controller 775 further controls the new media renderer 735 to represent media starting from the current location when the user presents the new media renderer 735, thereby providing a continuous representation of the media. On the other hand, the transition between the media renderer 755 and the media renderer 735 is performed.

  According to example embodiments of the present invention, the media controller 775 is further configured to select one, such as a media renderer 735, from a plurality of media renderers, as the case may be.

  According to one embodiment, the media controller 775 is configured to select a default media renderer. The default media renderer selection may be overridden by the user 700.

  According to another embodiment of the invention, user interface 765 is configured to display a list of available media renderers. The user can select one of the available media renderers as the new media renderer 735.

  According to another embodiment of the invention, the media controller 775 is configured to automatically select a new media renderer 735 based at least in part on one or more criteria. The one or more criteria may include the location of the user 700, by way of example. For example, if three television receivers are available as media rendering devices, the media controller 775 may automatically select the television receiver that is closest to the user 700. The media controller 775 can also be based at least partially on whether the user 700 is within the viewing direction of the media rendering device 705 or within the auditory distance of the media rendering device 705. For example, if three television receivers are available as media rendering devices and the television receiver closest to the user is in a separate room, the media controller 775 will automatically automatically A nearby television receiver can be selected.

  As an example, one or more criteria may also include a media type. As an example, if the media type is digital audio and the clock radio and home stereo are available as media rendering devices, the media controller 775 automatically creates a media renderer 735 associated with the home stereo. Select.

  As an example, the one or more criteria may also include the current state of the media renderer. As an example, if the media type is digital video and the only available media renderer is the TV receiver currently in use, should the media controller 775 select the media renderer 735 associated with the TV receiver? The user may be automatically prompted for input.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, the media controller 775 further sends current position information to the new media renderer 735, sends a seek command to the new media renderer 735, and sends a play command to the new media renderer 735. By sending, the new media renderer 735 controls to represent the media starting at the current position.

  According to one embodiment of the invention, the media includes one or more digital images. According to another embodiment of the invention, the media includes one or more digital videos. According to another embodiment of the invention, the media includes digital audio.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, the standard supported by the media rendering device 705 and the media providing device 792 is the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) standard managed by the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA). The media controller 775 may further be configured to obtain current media position information by invoking a GetPositionInfo action to obtain current media position information. The media controller 775 may further be configured to send the current position information to the new media renderer 735 using the SetAVTransportURI command.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the media controller 775 is further configured to continue to acquire current media position information from the media server 755 of the media providing device 792 after control.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the media providing device includes a digital audio player, and the media rendering device includes a home stereo.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, the media controller 775 further determines the presence of the new media renderer 735 before determining whether the user 700 has indicated the new media renderer 735, and the new media renderer 735 's The user 700 is prompted for input regarding the selection.

  FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of render hopping from the perspective of a media providing device, according to one embodiment of the present invention. The process described in FIG. 8 can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. At 800, current media position information is obtained from the media server of the media provider. Here, the media providing apparatus has the current media renderer. At 805, a determination is made as to whether the user has indicated a new media renderer. At 810, if the user has indicated a new media renderer, the media controller of the media provider controls the new media renderer to represent the media starting at the current position.

  FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for controlling a new media renderer to represent media starting at the current position, according to one embodiment of the invention. The process illustrated in FIG. 9 can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. FIG. 9 provides more details of reference numeral 810 in FIG. The media controller of the media provider sends the current position information to the new media renderer (910) and sends a seek command to the new media renderer (915) to represent the media starting at the current position. The new media renderer is then controlled by sending 920 a play command to the new media renderer.

  FIG. 10 depicts a block diagram of a computer system 1000 suitable for implementing aspects of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 10, the computer system 1000 includes external devices such as a central processor 1004, a system memory 1006 (typically RAM), an input / output (I / O) controller 1008, a display screen 1010 through a display adapter 1012, It includes a bus 1002 that interconnects major subsystems such as a roller 1014, a joystick 1016, a keyboard 1018, a fixed disk drive 1030, and a CD-ROM player 1028 that serves to receive a CD-ROM 1032. Many other devices, such as a wireless network interface 1020, can be connected. The wireless network interface 1020 may provide a direct connection to a remote server through the Internet via a wireless link or POP (point of presence). Alternatively, a network interface adapter 1028 using a network interface system known by those skilled in the art (eg, Ethernet, xDSL, AppleTalk ™) to connect to a local area network or wide area network. Can be used.

  Many other devices or subsystems (not shown) may be similarly connected. Also, as will be described below, it is not necessary for all devices shown in FIG. 10 to be present in order to practice the present invention. In addition, the devices and subsystems may be interconnected in different ways than those shown in FIG. The operation of a computer system, as shown in FIG. 10, is readily known in the art and will not be described in detail in this application so as not to unnecessarily complicate the description. The code for carrying out the present invention may be arranged to be usable in the system memory 1006 or may be stored in a storage medium such as the fixed disk 1030 or the CD-ROM 1032.

While embodiments and applications of the present invention have been shown and described, it is within the benefit of this disclosure that many more improvements than those described above are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. It will be clear to the contractor. The invention is therefore not to be restricted except within the spirit of the appended claims.

Claims (24)

A method implemented by the media providing device in communication with the media rendering device according to a standard supported by the media providing device and the media rendering device, comprising:
Obtaining current media position information from a media server of the media providing device having the current media renderer;
Determining if the user has indicated a new media renderer;
Controlling the new media renderer to represent the media starting from the current position when the user presents a new media renderer. Said controlling further comprises
Sending the position information to the new media renderer;
Sending a seek command to the new media renderer; and
The method of claim 1, comprising sending a play command to the new media renderer.   The method of claim 1, wherein the media includes one or more digital images.   The method of claim 1, wherein the media includes one or more digital videos.   The method of claim 1, wherein the media includes digital audio.   The method of claim 1, wherein the standard supported by the media rendering device and the media providing device is a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) standard managed by a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA).   The method of claim 6, wherein the obtaining comprises invoking a GetPositionInfo action to obtain the current media position information.   The method of claim 2, wherein sending the current position information to the new media renderer includes using a SetAVTransportURI command.   The method of claim 1, further comprising, after the control, continuing to obtain current media position information from a media server of the media providing device. The media providing device includes a digital audio player, and
The media rendering device comprises a home stereo;
The method of claim 1. Determining the presence of a new media renderer prior to the determination of whether the user has indicated a new media renderer, and prompting the user for input regarding the selection of the new media renderer;
The method of claim 1, further comprising: A media providing device that communicates with the media rendering device according to a standard supported by the media providing device and the media rendering device,
A file system for storing media;
When the current media position information is acquired from the media server of the media providing apparatus having the current media renderer, it is determined whether the user has indicated a new media renderer, and the user has indicated the new media renderer A media controller configured to control the new media renderer to represent the media starting at the current position;
A media providing apparatus comprising: The media controller further includes:
Sending the current position information to the new media renderer;
Send a seek command to the new media renderer; and
The media providing device according to claim 12, configured to transmit a play command to the new media renderer.   The media providing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the media includes one or more digital images.   The media providing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the media includes one or more digital videos.   The media providing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the media includes digital audio.   The media providing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the standard supported by the media rendering apparatus and the media providing apparatus is a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) standard managed by a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA).   18. The media controller is further configured to obtain the current media position information by invoking a GetPositionInfo action to obtain the current media position information. Media providing device.   The media providing device according to claim 13, wherein the media controller is further configured to transmit the current position information to the new media renderer using a SetAVTransportURI command.   13. The media providing device according to claim 12, wherein the media controller is further configured to continue to acquire current media position information from the media server of the media providing device after the control. The media providing device includes a digital audio player, and
The media rendering device comprises a home stereo;
The media providing apparatus according to claim 12. The media controller further determines the presence of a new media renderer before determining if the user has indicated a new media renderer; and
Configured to prompt the user for input regarding the selection of the new media renderer;
The media providing apparatus according to claim 12. A media providing device configured to communicate with the media rendering device according to a standard supported by the media providing device and the media rendering device, comprising:
Means for obtaining current media position information from a media server of the media providing device having the current media renderer;
A means of determining whether the user has indicated a new media renderer;
Means for controlling the new media renderer to represent the media starting at the current position when the user presents a new media renderer;
A media providing apparatus comprising: Embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform a method implemented by the media providing device in communication with the media rendering device according to a standard supported by the media providing device and the media rendering device; A program storage device readable by the machine,
The method
Obtaining current media position information from a media server of the media providing device having the current media renderer;
Determining if the user has indicated a new media renderer,
Controlling the new media renderer to represent the media starting at the current position when the user presents a new media renderer;
A program readable by a machine.

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