Patent Publication Number: US-2010114816-A1

Title: Transcode Matrix

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM AND CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/039,252, filed Jan. 19, 2005, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to synchronizing media content between a source device and a target playback device, and more particularly to determining a format for transcoding the media content if transcoding the media content is necessary for playback on the target device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     As digital media technology continues to advance and the cost of storage continues to decline, users increasingly host and consume digital media on their own primary computers (e.g., desktop PCs). Examples of such digital media include music, video, still pictures, and so on. 
     In addition, a corresponding increase in the availability of portable media playback devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), hand-held computers, laptop computers, and smart phones is providing users more ubiquitous access to information than ever. As users rely more and more on such portable devices, there is a growing need for applications that effectively transfer digital media from source devices, such as primary computers, to the portable playback devices. 
     Transcoding is a way of altering a media file through one or more transcoding processes so the file can be played back on a particular playback device. Thus, transcoding converts a source media file having certain characteristics into a target media file having different characteristics. Such transcoding processes can include, for example, converting a media file from one format to another (e.g., MP3 to WMA), changing the codec of the file, down-sampling the file to a lower bit rate to reduce the amount of storage space needed on the playback device, adapting the screen size of the file (i.e., height/width) so video appears correctly on the playback device, and so on. 
     Deciding whether a source media file needs to be transcoded for playback on a particular target playback device and what format to transcode the source file to based on the target playback device&#39;s capabilities are important steps in the transcoding process. That is, a source media file on a source device may be formatted correctly for playback on one target playback device, but may need to have one or more parameters reformatted before it can be played back on a different target playback device. There is a continual need to improve the transcoding process through such decision steps in order to ensure that source files are properly and timely transcoded for transfer and playback on different target playback devices. 
     SUMMARY 
     A system and methods are described for determining if a media source file needs to be transcoded for playback on a target playback device and, if so, the proper format needed for transcoding the source file. The source file can then be transcoded and transferred to the target playback device. 
     In a described embodiment, a system provides a transcode architecture that includes a transcode manager, a transcode matrix, a transcode engine and a cache for storing transcoded media files. The system also includes a media library to store media source files and device capabilities information. In the described embodiment, the transcode manager controls a transcode process in which the transcode matrix generates a profile for a media source file and accesses device capabilities that indicate playback capabilities for a target playback device. The transcode matrix compares parameters of the source profile with the device capabilities to decide whether the source file must be transcoded to enable playback of the file on the target playback device. If the source file needs to be transcoded, the transcode matrix generates a target profile containing target parameters determined to match, and/or fall within acceptable ranges of, corresponding parameters indicated in the device capabilities. The transcode matrix hands off the target profile to the transcode engine, which transcodes the source file according to the target profile. The transcoded source file is then saved in a memory and can be transferred to the target playback device at an appropriate time, such as when the target playback device is connected to the source device during a synchronization process. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to reference like components and features. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary environment suitable for determining if a media source file needs to be transcoded for playback on a target playback device and, if so, the proper format needed for transcoding the source file. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram representation of an exemplary source device that is suitable for determining if a media source file needs to be transcoded for playback on a target playback device and, if so, the proper format needed for transcoding the source file. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a block diagram representation of an exemplary process for comparing a source profile with the device capabilities of a target playback device to determine if a source file needs to be transcoded, and how various parameters of the source file should be transcoded if necessary. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a block diagram representation of an exemplary process as shown in  FIG. 3  using exemplary parameters that illustrate how a transcode matrix determines target values for a target profile. 
         FIGS. 5-7  are a flow diagram illustrating exemplary methods for determining if a media source file needs to be transcoded for playback on a target playback device and, if so, the proper format needed for transcoding the source file for background transcoding. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary computing environment suitable for implementing a source computing device such as discussed with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Introduction 
     The following discussion is directed to a system and methods for determining whether a media source file needs to be transcoded to enable playback of the file on a target playback device, and the manner in which such transcoding will be implemented with respect to various parameters of the source file. The system and methods described herein for determining the transcoding requirements of a source media file to play back on a target playback device, facilitate and improve transcoding in general, regardless of whether the transcoding is performed before or during transferring/synchronizing of the media file to the target playback device. 
     Exemplary Environment 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary environment  100  suitable for determining whether a digital media source file needs to be transcoded and what format the file should be transcoded to if needed. The exemplary environment  100  generally illustrates a media content synchronization scenario in which a target playback device  104  is coupled to a source device  102  for the purpose of transferring pre-transcoded media content from the source device to the target device. In a typical scenario, media content received by source device  102  and destined for synchronization with a target playback device  104  is fully transcoded prior to the time the target device  104  is connected to the source device. Thus, copying media content from the source device  102  to the target playback device  104  is uninhibited by the transcoding process, and the time for synchronizing/copying the content is significantly reduced. 
     It is noted that the hardwire coupling between the source device  102  and target playback device  104  as shown in the exemplary environment  100  of  FIG. 1  is intended by way of example only, and not by way of limitation, to illustrate one manner of facilitating content synchronization/transfer from source device  102  to target playback device  104 . Various other known methods for coupling the target playback device  104  for synchronization are also contemplated, including for example, coupling through a synchronization port that includes a docking cradle for the playback device  104 , coupling through a wireless infrared port, coupling via a network using a wireless and/or modem/cellular-based Internet and VPN (virtual private network), and so on. Thus, physical coupling of target playback device  104  to source device  102  for content synchronization is not necessary. 
     Source computing device  102  is typically implemented as a user&#39;s primary computing device, such as a desktop personal computer (PC). However, source device  102  might also be implemented as various other conventional computing devices generally configured to receive and render multi-media content from various sources, and/or to reformat such content for synchronization and playback on a target playback device  104 . An example of a source computing device  102  is depicted in  FIG. 8  and described in greater detail below in the Exemplary Computing Environment section. 
     Target media playback device  104  may be implemented as any one of numerous digital media player devices available from various manufacturers, a general computing device such as a desktop PC, or any other suitable media playback device. Such devices are typically configured with audio and/or video subsystems capable of rendering digital media (audio/video) files such as MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3) files, .WAV (Windows® Wave) files, .WMA (Windows® Media Audio) files, .WMV (Windows® Media Video) files, MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) files, .jpg files, .gif files, and the like. Accordingly, by way of example and not limitation, a target media playback device  104  may include various general-purpose laptop and notebook computers configured to playback media content, in addition to devices that are more specifically designed to play back various forms of multimedia, such as Rio&#39;s Rio Riot and Rio Karma, Archos&#39; Jukebox Recorder 20 and AV320 Pocket Audio/Video Recorder, Creative&#39;s Jukebox Zen and Portable Media Center Zen, Apple&#39;s iPod, ZVUE&#39;s MP4 Video Player, and so on. 
     Exemplary Embodiments 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram representation of an exemplary source device  102  that is suitable for determining whether a media source file needs to be transcoded for playback on a target playback device  104 , and the manner in which various parameters of the source file should be transcoded if necessary. Various components of source device  102  facilitate the retrieval and management of media content for the general purpose of rendering the content on source device  102  and/or synchronizing the content with target playback device  104 . These components include an operating system  200 , one or more media source applications  202 , a media player application  204 , a media content synchronization program module  206 , a media library  208 , and a transcode architecture  210  embodied on one or more processor-readable media (see  FIG. 8  and Exemplary Computing Environment section below). Although these components are illustrated separately on source device  102 , it is noted that any one or more of these components may be implemented on source device  102  as part of a multimedia software product, the operating system  200 , or as stand-alone components. 
     A media source application  202  may be one or more of various applications and/or tools configured to receive media content. For example, media source application  202  may be an interactive TV service application that facilitates the recording of video (e.g., TV programming) directly off of a cable and/or satellite feed, a video capture component to transfer home video footage from a digital video recorder onto source device  102 , a Web browser application that facilitates downloading media off the Internet, and so on. Such media source applications  202  typically supply various forms of media content  212  to media library  208  on source device  102 . Thus, source files  214  within media content  212  stored in media library  208  may include, for example, audio files in the form of MP3 and WMA files, video files in the form of DVR-MS, AVI and MOV files, image files in the form of GIF and JPEG files, and so on. Media library  208  additionally includes device capabilities  216 (B) acquired from a target playback device  104  as discussed in greater detail herein below. 
     In addition to the configurations noted above, a media source application  202  may also include or be part of a media player application  204 . A media player application  204  is typically a desktop based application player that manages a broad range of multimedia related tasks. For example, a media player application  204  may handle streaming audio and video, CD/DVD playback, MP3 and WMA support, encoding, CD/DVD burning, Internet radio, and the like. A media player application  204  may also offer Web browser integration so it can be embedded in a browser enabling multi-tasking during streaming video. Like other media source applications  202 , a media player application  204  may supply various forms of media content  212  (i.e., source files  214  as audio files, video files, image files, etc.) to a media library  208  on source device  102 . 
     Synch module  206  may be configured as part of a media player application  204 , the operating system  200 , or as a stand-alone component, and provides a user-configurable model for facilitating the transfer of media source files  214  to a target playback device  104  from the media library  208  on source device  102 . As noted above, examples of media content  212  stored in media library  208  may include source files  214  in the form of audio, video, text, or image files. Media content  212  may also include a static or automated playlist of files (e.g., audio, video, and images) or any grouping of files or data. Some source files  214  in the media library  208  may be more or less important to a user than others, and the synch module  206  may assign a transfer priority to files in the library to indicate their relative importance or desirability as indicated by the user. 
     Components of transcode architecture  210  interact with synch module  206  and other components of source device  102  to facilitate transcoding of source files  214  (i.e., media content  212 ). The transcoding of source files  214  is preferably performed as a background process on source device  102  in anticipation of a synchronization process that transfers media content to a target device  104  when the target device  104  is coupled to the source device  102 . However, transcoding may also be performed concurrently with such a synchronization process during the transfer of media content to a target device  104 . 
     Transcoding is generally managed by the transcode architecture  210 , which includes transcode manager  218 , transcode matrix  220 , transcode engine  222 , and a transcode cache  224  for storing transcoded media content (i.e., transcoded source files  226 ). Transcode manager  218  retrieves device capabilities  216 (A) from a target device  104  (e.g., by querying the target device) upon an initial coupling of the target device  104  with source device  102 . Device capabilities  216  are an object or report from the target device  104  regarding what types of media content the device can play back successfully. A device capabilities  216  object or report contains a list of profile collections keyed by a format code. The format code is an indicator of content format loosely based on the extension of the file. A profile collection is a collection of profiles all having the same format code. A profile, in general, represents a type of file, either as source content or as content that a target device can play. Therefore, source profiles and device profiles are discussed throughout this disclosure. A profile includes codec information, and various content parameters such as bitrates, sample rates, number of channels, and so on. The parameter values in a profile are keyed by parameter name and they can be enumerated, ranged, or unrestricted. 
     Once device capabilities  216 (A) are retrieved by transcode manager  218 , they may be serialized into XML format and saved as device capabilities  216 (B) in the media library  208  in a row that represents that particular target device  104 . In addition, each component of the device capabilities  216  (i.e., including the profile collection, device profiles, and parameter values) may be serialized by itself, resulting in a combined XML. Sample device capabilities and sample serialized device capabilities are shown below in the Appendix section of this disclosure. The samples in the Appendix provide examples of device capabilities for a particular target playback device  104  and examples of what serialized device capabilities may look like. 
     The transcode manager  218  caches device capabilities  216 (B) in media library  208  so that they are accessible by transcode matrix  220  and other applications. In general, caching device capabilities  216 (B) enables the transcode architecture  210  to perform background transcoding of newly acquired media source files  214  (e.g., video/TV files, audio files) that match a target playback device&#39;s synchronization rules, even when the target device is not coupled to source device  102 . This minimizes the delay incurred at transfer time since source files  214  can be transcoded ahead of time. Transcode manager  218  monitors the media content  212  in the media library  208  for newly acquired media source files  214 . When a media source file  214  is stored in the media library  208  (e.g., by a media source application  202 , media player application  204 , etc.), the transcode manager  218  determines if the media source file  214  is destined to be transferred to a target device  104 . If so, the transcode manager  218  hands the source file path (i.e., location of source file within media library  208 ) to the transcode matrix  220  and asks the transcode matrix  220  to determine whether the media source file  214  needs to be transcoded for playback on the target playback device  104 , and if so, how the source file  214  should be transcoded. 
     In order to determine if a media source file  214  needs to be transcoded for a particular target playback device  104 , the transcode matrix  220  first generates a source profile for the source file  214  that catalogues source file information such as the source file codec, parameters and their values, and so on. For an audio source file  214 , the parameters in the source profile typically include an audio bitrate, a sample rate, the number of channels, the audio bit depth, and the audio codec (e.g., WAVE codec). For a video source file  214 , the parameters in the source profile typically include a video bitrate, a height, a width, a frame rate, and the video codec (e.g., FOURCC codec). The transcode matrix  220  searches for the parameters of the source file  214  in the media library, according to the file path provided by transcode manager  218 . If this search fails, the transcode matrix  220  inspects the source file itself, for example, by opening the source file using a file format SDK to gain access to the source file parameters. If this also fails, the transcode matrix  220  will assign an artificial profile to the source file  214 . After accessing the source file parameters, the transcode matrix  220  generates the source profile for the source file. The transcode matrix  220  can then use the source profile for comparison with the device capabilities  216 (B) of a target playback device as discussed below with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a block diagram representation of an exemplary process for comparing a source profile  300  with the device capabilities  216 (B) of a target playback device  104  in order to determine if a source file  214  needs to be transcoded, and how various parameters of the source file should be transcoded if necessary. In  FIG. 3 , a source file  214  is shown with its corresponding source profile  300  generated by transcode matrix  220  as discussed above. It is noted that source profile  300  is illustrated in  FIG. 3  as a part of source file  214  only for the purpose of this discussion, to indicate that a source profile  300  is an inherent part of a source file  214 . However, after its generation by transcode matrix  220 , as discussed above, a source profile  300  may actually be stored in media library  208  or in some other memory on source device  102 . 
     There are several steps the transcode matrix  220  takes to determine if a source file  214  needs to be transcoded. The first is selecting a profile collection in the device capabilities  216 (B) that matches the format code of the source profile  300 . As noted above, a profile collection is a collection of device profiles that all have the same format code. The format code is an indicator of file content format that is loosely based on the file extension. For example, a format code for a WMA file will be selected from the device capabilities  216 (B) (assuming it exists in the device capabilities  216 (B)) if the source profile  300  is associated with a WMA source file. If a profile collection is not found in the device capabilities  216 (B) that matches the format code of the source profile  300 , then the source profile  300  is not supported, and the source file  214  is not playable on the target playback device  104 . Therefore, no transcode of the source file  214  would be necessary. 
     In the case where a profile collection is found in the device capabilities  216 (B) that does not contain any device profiles  301 , then the format code is supported with no restrictions, and the source file  214  also does not need to be transcoded. In this case, however, where a target device  104  does not specify any restrictions in its device capabilities  216 (B), artificial restrictions will be imposed while the device capabilities are being retrieved. For example, a 32-160 kbps (kilobits per second) bitrate and 0-44 KHz sample rate may be imposed on the target device  104 . 
     In the case where a profile collection is found in the device capabilities  216 (B) that contains one or more device profiles  301 , then the transcode matrix  220  determines if the source file  214  needs to be transcoded by checking each device profile  301  to see if it matches the source profile  300 . Matching is done by comparing each parameter in the source profile  300  with the corresponding parameter found in the device profile  301  of the device capabilities  216 (B).  FIG. 3  shows the transcode matrix  220  making comparisons between example parameter values in a source profile  300  and corresponding parameter values in the device profile  301  of device capabilities  216 (B) (i.e., parameters A, B, and C). If a source profile parameter matches an enumerated value of the corresponding parameter in the device profile  301  of the device capabilities  216 (B), or if it falls into the range specified by the same parameter in the device profile  301 , then there is a match. If all parameters match between the source profile  300  and the device profile  301 , then the transcode matrix  220  determines that the target device  104  supports the source profile  300 . In this case, the transcode matrix  220  again concludes that there is no need to transcode the source file  214  because the source file  214  can be played back on the target device  104  in its current format. 
     However, if there are one or more parameters from the source profile  300  that do not match the corresponding parameters in the device profile  301  of the device capabilities  216 (B), then the transcode matrix  220  determines that the source file  214  needs to be transcoded. As discussed in more detail below, there are other scenarios in which the transcode matrix  220  may also determine that a source file  214  needs to be transcoded, such as when a user specifies a preference or when a device has a total bitrate restriction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , if the transcode matrix  220  determines that the source file  214  needs to be transcoded, it normalizes the source profile  300  by generating a target profile  302  based on the comparison of parameters between the source profile  300  and the device profile  301  of the device capabilities  216 (B). In general, a profile containing ranged or enumerated parameters (e.g., from device capabilities  216  can be normalized to a profile that has unique parameters by achieving a closest parameter match. For each parameter, therefore, the transcode matrix  220  determines a target value for the target profile  302  by comparing each parameter from the source profile  300  with its corresponding parameter in the device profile  301 . If a source profile  300  parameter value matches that of the device profile  301  (i.e., is the same as or within the same range as), then the transcode matrix  220  will set the target profile  302  parameter value to be the same as the source profile parameter value, which will be a single-valued enumeration containing this value. That is, if the source profile parameter and the device profile parameter match, the source profile parameter is not changed, but remains the same in the target profile  302 .  FIG. 3  provides an example of this with parameter A. The value of parameter A in the source profile  300  is 4, while the acceptable range for parameter A in the device profile  301  is 1-5. Therefore, because parameter A falls within the acceptable range in the device capabilities  216 (B), the transcode matrix  220  sets the target value to 4 for parameter A in the target profile  302 . 
     If a source profile  300  parameter value does not match that of the device profile  301  in the device capabilities  216 (B) (i.e., is not the same as or within the same range as), then the transcode matrix  220  sets the target profile  302  parameter value to a value that is as close as possible to the source profile  300  parameter value while also being within the acceptable range for the device capabilities  216 (B). Referring to the  FIG. 3  example, parameter B of the source profile  300  is 11, while the acceptable range for parameter B in the device profile  301  of the device capabilities  216 (B) is 6-10. As shown in the target profile  302 , the transcode matrix  220  sets the target value for parameter B to 10, which is the closest possible value to the source profile value of parameter B, while still being within the acceptable device capabilities range for parameter B. The case is similar for parameter C shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     After generating the target profile  302 , the transcode matrix  220  hands off the target profile  302  to the transcode engine  222 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the transcode engine  222  transcodes the source file  214  in accordance with target parameter values within the target profile  302 . The transcode engine  222  generates a transcoded source file  304  whose parameters match those of the target profile  302 . Therefore, the transcoded file  304  in  FIG. 3  is illustrated as containing the target profile  302 . 
     After the source file  214  is transcoded, the transcoded file  304  is typically stored on source device  102  in a transcode cache  224  and/or made available to target device  104  either directly or at some later time when the target device  104  is coupled to the source device  102 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The transcoded file is typically maintained in a memory on source device  102  in the event that the same format of the source file is suitable for another target device  104  at some later time. 
       FIG. 4  shows the block diagram representation and exemplary process of  FIG. 3  using several exemplary parameters that better illustrate how the transcode matrix  220  determines target values for the target profile  302  by comparing parameters from the source profile  300  with corresponding parameters in the device profile  301  of the device capabilities  216 (B). In the source profile  300  of  FIG. 4 , a bitrate parameter value is 256 kbps (kilobits per second) while the corresponding bitrate parameter in the device profile  301  indicates that the acceptable playback range for the device capabilities  216 (B) is between 0-128 kbps. The resulting target value for the bitrate parameter set by the transcode matrix  220  will be 128 kbps, as shown in the target profile  302  of  FIG. 4 . This is the closest value to the source profile value that is within the acceptable range of the device capabilities  216 (B). A sample rate parameter value in the source profile  300  of  FIG. 4  is 22 KHz. Because this value already falls within the acceptable range of the corresponding sample rate parameter value in the device capabilities  216 (B) (i.e., 0-48 KHz), the transcode matrix  220  sets the target value for the sample rate parameter at 22 KHz. Likewise, the source profile  300  indicates that the source file  214  has 2 channels, while the device profile  301  of the device capabilities  216 (B) show that acceptable (enumerated) values for the number of channels parameter are 1, 2, and 6. Because 2 channels is an enumerated value in the device profile  301 , the transcode matrix  220  sets the target value for the number of channels parameter to 2. 
     Another step the transcode matrix performs following normalization as described above, is a “reduction” step. For example, there can be multiple candidate target profiles contending to be chosen, such as the following:
     Source profile: 128 kbps, 44 kHz   Device capabilities: Profile 1: (0-160 kbps, 0-48 kHz)
       Profile 2: (96-320 kbps, 0-22 kHz)   Profile 3: (0-64 kbps, 0-96 kHz)
 
In this case, the device profiles will be normalized to:
   Profile 1: 128 kbps, 44 kHz   Profile 2: 128 kbps, 22 kHz   Profile 3: 64 kbps, 44 kHz
 
Profile 1 is a better choice because the sample rate in profile 1 is closer to that of the source file.
   
       

     The reduction process works by sorting the profiles by a single parameter at a time, and only retaining those profiles that are the best match. In the example above, if bitrate is the first parameter, then the 3rd profile will be eliminated because 128 kbps is a better match to the source bitrate than 64 kbps. If the next parameter is sample rate, then the 2nd profile will be eliminated because profile 1 provides a better match. 
     However, in the case where neither profile matches the source exactly (as profile 1 does in the example above), then the lowest closest value takes precedence. That is, if the source parameter is 1000 and the choices on the target are 800, 900, 1050 and 1100, the order of preference would be 900, 800, 1050, 1100. 
     As noted briefly above, the transcode matrix  220  may determine that a source file  214  needs to be transcoded for reasons other than finding that one or more parameters from the source profile  300  do not match the corresponding parameters in the device capabilities  216 (B). A user preference is one such reason where transcoding is required even if the target device  104  can support the source file  214  in its original format. If a user specifies a preference (i.e., an override) for a parameter (e.g., audio and/or video bitrate), the transcode matrix  220  will substitute the preferences into the source profile and effectively set the target value for that parameter in the target profile  302  to the preference specified by the user, or at least to a closest match to the user preference. During the determination of transcode need, the source file&#39;s audio and video bitrates, for example, are inspected and compared to the user-preferred bitrates specified for the device. If the source profile  300  shows that the source file  214  has a higher bitrate, then a transcode is needed. During the generation of the target profile  302 , the transcode matrix  220  seeks a closest match to the user preference. This is done by modifying the source profile  300  and setting the audio and/or video bitrate to the user-preferred bitrate(s). If the device profile  301  of the device capabilities  216 (B) indicate that the target device  104  does not support the user preference, the transcode matrix  220  then finds the closest match to the user preference that is within the acceptable range provided by the device profile  301 . For example, if a user prefers that all content be transcoded to an audio bitrate of 192 kbps, but the device only supports up to 160 kbps, then the content will be transcoded to 160 kbps. However, if a user selects a higher bitrate than that of a source file, the source file will not be transcoded if it is supported as is on the target device. 
     Another reason the transcode matrix  220  may determine that a source file  214  needs to be transcoded is if the target device places a restriction on the total bitrate. A device may place a restriction on total bitrate (i.e., the sum of audio bitrate and video bitrate) on a per profile basis. Thus, there can exist a device profile  301  that declares support for an audio bitrate of 0-320000 and a video bitrate of 0-700000. However, the total bitrate may be limited to 800000. Thus, a combination of audio bitrate of 320000 and video bitrate of 700000 is not allowable. The transcode matrix  220  therefore checks device profiles to see if the sum of the audio and video bitrates does not exceed the specified total (if a restriction is specified). If the sum of the audio and video bitrates exceeds a specified total, the device profile is skipped, and the transcode matrix  220  continues to the next device profile. If no profiles are found as a result, the profile with the lowest audio bitrate above a certain threshold (32000) is selected, and the video bitrate is adjusted in order to fit within the total restricted bitrate. The lowest audio bitrate is chosen in order to give preference to video bitrate. 
     Exemplary Methods 
     Example methods for determining if a media source file needs to be transcoded for playback on a target playback device and, if so, the proper format needed for transcoding the source file, will now be described with primary reference to the flow diagrams of  FIGS. 5-7 . The methods apply to the exemplary embodiments discussed above with respect to  FIGS. 1-4 . While one or more methods are disclosed by means of flow diagrams and text associated with the blocks of the flow diagrams, it is to be understood that the elements of the described methods do not necessarily have to be performed in the order in which they are presented, and that alternative orders may result in similar advantages. Furthermore, the methods are not exclusive and can be performed alone or in combination with one another. The elements of the described methods may be performed by any appropriate means including, for example, by hardware logic blocks on an ASIC or by the execution of processor-readable instructions defined on a processor-readable medium. 
     A “processor-readable medium,” as used herein, can be any means that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport instructions for use or execution by a processor. A processor-readable medium can be, without limitation, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. More specific examples of a processor-readable medium include, among others, an electrical connection (electronic) having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette (magnetic), a random access memory (RAM) (magnetic), a read-only memory (ROM) (magnetic), an erasable programmable-read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber (optical), a rewritable compact disc (CD-RW) (optical), and a portable compact disc read-only memory (CDROM) (optical). 
     At block  502  of method  500 , a transcode matrix  220  receives a file path for a media source file  214 . A transcode manager  218  sends the transcode matrix a file path for a media source file each time a media source file is stored in a media library and is destined to be transferred to a target playback device  104 . The transcode manager generally sends the file path to the transcode matrix and requests that the transcode matrix determine whether the media source file needs to be transcoded for playback on the target playback device, and if so, how the source file should be transcoded. 
     At block  504 , the transcode matrix locates the media source file in the media library according to the file path received from the transcode manager. The transcode manager retrieves parameters for the media source file from the media library as shown at block  506 . The transcode manager first tries to access the parameters directly from the media library as shown at block  508 . If this attempt fails, the source file itself is inspected, for example, by opening the source file with a Format SDK to retrieve the source file parameters as shown at block  510 . Then at block  512 , if opening the media source file also fails, the transcode matrix assigns artificial parameters to the media source file. 
     In addition, as shown at block  514 , retrieving source file parameters for the media source file can include accessing a bitrate preference or other user preference for the target device that has been expressed by a user. If a bitrate preference (e.g., audio and/or video bitrate) or other user preferences are provided by a user, they are substituted for corresponding parameters of the media source file as shown at block  516 . At block  518 , the transcode matrix generates a source profile based on the parameters retrieved as discussed above regarding block  506 . 
     At block  520 , device capabilities  216  are retrieved or accessed from the target playback device. This is generally accomplished by the transcode manager  218  querying the target playback device for the device capabilities. Optionally, as shown at block  522 , after device capabilities  216 (A) are retrieved by transcode manager  218 , they can be serialized into XML format and then saved as device capabilities  216 (B) in the media library  208  so that the transcode matrix and other applications have access to them. In addition, each component of the device capabilities  216  (i.e., including the profile collection, device profiles, and parameter values) can be serialized by itself, resulting in a combined XML. The Appendix section shown below, provides sample device capabilities and sample serialized device capabilities. The samples in the Appendix provide examples of device capabilities for a particular target playback device  104  and examples of what serialized device capabilities may look like. 
     In the event the device capabilities do not indicate any restrictions for the target playback device  104 , artificial restrictions will be imposed as shown at block  524 . For example, where no bitrate or sample rate restrictions are indicated in the device capabilities, a 32-160 kbps (kilobits per second) bitrate and 0-44100 KHz sample rate may be imposed on the target device  104 . 
     The method  500  continues from  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 6 , at block  526 . At block  526 , the transcode matrix compares the device capabilities with the source profile. Specifically, the transcode matrix compares parameters in a device profile with like parameters in the source profile. At block  528 , a profile collection from the device capabilities is selected that matches the format code of the media source file. At decision block  530 , the transcode matrix determines if there are any profile collections in the device capabilities that match the format code of the media source file. If not, the transcode matrix determines that no transcode is needed, because the target device supports the media source file, as shown at block  536 . At decision block  530 , if the transcode matrix determines that there is a profile collection that matches the format code of the media source file, then the transcode matrix determines if the matching profile collection contains any device profiles (decision block  532 ). If there are no device profiles in the matching profile collection, the transcode matrix again determines that no transcode is needed and that the target device supports the media source file (block  536 ). However, if there are one or more device profiles in the matching profile collection, the transcode matrix determines, at decision block  534 , if all the parameters in the source profile match (or fall within range of) corresponding parameters in the device profile. If all the parameters in the source profile match (or fall within range of) corresponding parameters in the device profile, then the transcode matrix again determines that no transcode is needed and that the target device supports the media source file (block  536 ). However, if any of the parameters in the source profile do not match (or fall within range of) corresponding parameters in the device profile, then the transcode matrix determines that the media source file must be transcoded, as shown at block  538 . 
     The method  500  continues with block  540  of  FIG. 7 . At block  540 , the transcode matrix generates a target profile  302  that has target parameter values that match enumerated values of the device profile, or that fall within an acceptable range of the corresponding parameters in the device profile. As shown at block  542 , when setting target parameter values, the transcode matrix selects target values that fall within acceptable parameter ranges indicated in the device profile, but it selects those target values to be as close to the parameter value of the source profile as possible. Thus, where an acceptable range of values in the device profile is 2-10, for example, and the source profile value is 6, then the selected target profile value will be set at 6 also. 
     At block  544 , the transcode matrix sends the target profile to the transcode engine. At block  546 , the transcode engine transcodes the media source file according to target parameter values specified in the target profile received from the transcode matrix. As shown at blocks  548  and  550 , respectively, a copy of the transcoded file is then maintained in memory on the source device  102  and transferred to the target playback device at an appropriate time, such as when the target playback device is coupled to the source device for a content synchronization process. 
     Exemplary Computing Environment 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary computing environment for implementing a source computing device  102  suitable for suitable for determining if a media source file needs to be transcoded for playback on a target playback device and, if so, the proper format needed for transcoding the source file, such as discussed above with reference to  FIGS. 1-4 . Although one specific configuration is shown in  FIG. 8 , a source computing device  102  may also be implemented in other computing configurations. 
     The computing environment  800  includes a general-purpose computing system in the form of a computer  802 . The components of computer  802  may include, but are not limited to, one or more processors or processing units  804 , a system memory  806 , and a system bus  808  that couples various system components including the processor  804  to the system memory  806 . 
     The system bus  808  represents one or more of any of several types of bus structures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, an accelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. An example of a system bus  808  would be a Peripheral Component Interconnects (PCI) bus, also known as a Mezzanine bus. 
     Computer  802  includes a variety of computer-readable media. Such media can be any available media that is accessible by computer  802  and includes both volatile and non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media. The system memory  806  includes computer readable media in the form of volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM)  810 , and/or non-volatile memory, such as read only memory (ROM)  812 . A basic input/output system (BIOS)  814 , containing the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within computer  802 , such as during start-up, is stored in ROM  812 . RAM  810  contains data and/or program modules that are immediately accessible to and/or presently operated on by the processing unit  804 . 
     Computer  802  may also include other removable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer storage media. By way of example,  FIG. 8  illustrates a hard disk drive  816  for reading from and writing to a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media (not shown), a magnetic disk drive  818  for reading from and writing to a removable, non-volatile magnetic disk  820  (e.g., a “floppy disk”), and an optical disk drive  822  for reading from and/or writing to a removable, non-volatile optical disk  824  such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or other optical media. The hard disk drive  816 , magnetic disk drive  818 , and optical disk drive  822  are each connected to the system bus  808  by one or more data media interfaces  825 . Alternatively, the hard disk drive  816 , magnetic disk drive  818 , and optical disk drive  822  may be connected to the system bus  808  by a SCSI interface (not shown). 
     The disk drives and their associated computer-readable media provide non-volatile storage of computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, and other data for computer  802 . Although the example illustrates a hard disk  816 , a removable magnetic disk  820 , and a removable optical disk  824 , it is to be appreciated that other types of computer readable media which can store data that is accessible by a computer, such as magnetic cassettes or other magnetic storage devices, flash memory cards, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, random access memories (RAM), read only memories (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and the like, can also be utilized to implement the exemplary computing system and environment. 
     Any number of program modules can be stored on the hard disk  816 , magnetic disk  820 , optical disk  824 , ROM  812 , and/or RAM  810 , including by way of example, an operating system  826 , one or more application programs  828 , other program modules  830 , and program data  832 . Each of such operating system  826 , one or more application programs  828 , other program modules  830 , and program data  832  (or some combination thereof) may include an embodiment of a caching scheme for user network access information. 
     Computer  802  can include a variety of computer/processor readable media identified as communication media. Communication media embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared, and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the above are also included within the scope of computer readable media. 
     A user can enter commands and information into computer system  802  via input devices such as a keyboard  834  and a pointing device  836  (e.g., a “mouse”). Other input devices  838  (not shown specifically) may include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, serial port, scanner, and/or the like. These and other input devices are connected to the processing unit  804  via input/output interfaces  840  that are coupled to the system bus  808 , but may be connected by other interface and bus structures, such as a parallel port, game port, or a universal serial bus (USB). 
     A monitor  842  or other type of display device may also be connected to the system bus  808  via an interface, such as a video adapter  844 . In addition to the monitor  842 , other output peripheral devices may include components such as speakers (not shown) and a printer  846  which can be connected to computer  802  via the input/output interfaces  840 . 
     Computer  802  may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computing device  848 . By way of example, the remote computing device  848  can be a personal computer, portable computer, a server, a router, a network computer, a peer device or other common network node, and the like. The remote computing device  848  is illustrated as a portable computer that may include many or all of the elements and features described herein relative to computer system  802 . 
     Logical connections between computer  802  and the remote computer  848  are depicted as a local area network (LAN)  850  and a general wide area network (WAN)  852 . Such networking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets, and the Internet. When implemented in a LAN networking environment, the computer  802  is connected to a local network  850  via a network interface or adapter  854 . When implemented in a WAN networking environment, the computer  802  includes a modem  856  or other means for establishing communications over the wide network  852 . The modem  856 , which can be internal or external to computer  802 , can be connected to the system bus  808  via the input/output interfaces  840  or other appropriate mechanisms. It is to be appreciated that the illustrated network connections are exemplary and that other means of establishing communication link(s) between the computers  802  and  848  can be employed. 
     In a networked environment, such as that illustrated with computing environment  800 , program modules depicted relative to the computer  802 , or portions thereof, may be stored in a remote memory storage device. By way of example, remote application programs  858  reside on a memory device of remote computer  848 . For purposes of illustration, application programs and other executable program components, such as the operating system, are illustrated herein as discrete blocks, although it is recognized that such programs and components reside at various times in different storage components of the computer system  802 , and are executed by the data processor(s) of the computer. 
     Appendix: 
     Sample Device Capabilities 
     The following samples represent device capabilities returned to a media player application  204  on source device  102  for an example target playback device  104  that supports audio (including WMA Professional Lossless content with high bitrate), video in WMV format, and still pictures in JPG format. The properties returned by actual target playback devices will differ from these device capabilities according to the actual capabilities of such devices. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                    FORMAT: 0x00003009 -- 1 configs 
               
               
                    CONFIG: Preference: 1 -- 18 props 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: Title 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FileSize 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: Duration 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: LastModifiedDate 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: UserRating 
               
               
                    ENUM 
                 -- Property: NonConsumable -- 2 values 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  0 0x00000000 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  65535 0x0000FFFF 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FileName 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FormatCode 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: Track 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: BuyNow 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: PersistentUniqueID 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: UserEffectiveRating 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: PlayCount 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: Author 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: Genre 
               
               
                    RANGE 
                 -- RangeMin:  8000 -- RangeMax:  48000 -- RangeStep:  50 -- 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Property: SampleRate 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    RANGE 
                 -- RangeMin:  1 -- RangeMax:  1500000 -- RangeStep:  1 -- 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Property: Bitrate 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    RANGE 
                  -- RangeMin:   1 -- RangeMax:   2 -- RangeStep:   1 -- 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Property: NumChannels 
               
               
                    FORMAT: 0x0000B901 -- 1 configs 
               
               
                    CONFIG: Preference: 1 -- 18 props 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: Title 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FileSize 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: Duration 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: LastModifiedDate 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: UserRating 
               
               
                    ENUM 
                 -- Property: NonConsumable -- 2 values 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  0 0x00000000 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  65535 0x0000FFFF 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FileName 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FormatCode 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: Track 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: BuyNow 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: PersistentUniqueID 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: UserEffectiveRating 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: PlayCount 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: Author 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: Genre 
               
               
                    RANGE 
                 -- RangeMin:  8000 -- RangeMax:  48000 -- RangeStep:  50 -- 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Property: SampleRate 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    RANGE 
                 -- RangeMin:  1 -- RangeMax:  1500000 -- RangeStep:  1 -- 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Property: Bitrate 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    RANGE 
                 -- RangeMin:   1 -- RangeMax:   2 -- RangeStep:   1 -- 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Property: NumChannels 
               
               
                    FORMAT: 0x0000300C -- 1 configs 
               
               
                    CONFIG: Preference: 1 -- 32 props 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: Title 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FileSize 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: Duration 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: LastModifiedDate 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: UserRating 
               
               
                    ENUM 
                 -- Property: NonConsumable -- 2 values 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  0 0x00000000 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  65535 0x0000FFFF 
               
               
                    RANGE 
                 -- RangeMin:  0 -- RangeMax:  320 -- RangeStep:  1 -- 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Property: width 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FileName 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FormatCode 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: ProviderCopyright 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: PersistentUniqueID 
               
               
                    ENUM 
                 -- Property: ScanType -- 1 values 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  1 0x00000001 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: UserEffectiveRating 
               
               
                    RANGE 
                 -- RangeMin:  28000 -- RangeMax:  800000 -- RangeStep:  1 -- 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Property: TotalBitrate 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: PlayCount 
               
               
                    RANGE 
                 -- RangeMin:  0 -- RangeMax:  240 -- RangeStep:  1 -- 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Property: Height 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: Description 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FileCreationDate 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: Genre 
               
               
                    ENUM 
                 -- Property: KeyFrameDistance -- 1 values 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value: 3  0x00000003 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: SubTitleDescription 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: SubTitle 
               
               
                    RANGE 
                 -- RangeMin:  1 -- RangeMax:  2 -- RangeStep:  1 -- 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Property: NumChannels 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: ParentalRating 
               
               
                    RANGE 
                 -- RangeMin:  1 -- RangeMax:  320000 -- RangeStep:  1 -- 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Property: Bitrate 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    ENUM 
                 -- Property: AudioWAVECodec -- 1 values 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  353  0x00000161 
               
               
                    ENUM 
                 -- Property: BufferSize -- 1 values 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  3 0x00000003 
               
               
                    RANGE 
                 -- RangeMin:  15000 -- RangeMax:  30000 -- RangeStep:  1 -- 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Property: FrameRate 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    ENUM 
                 -- Property: QualitySetting -- 1 values 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  50 0x00000032 
               
               
                    RANGE 
                 -- RangeMin:  8000 -- RangeMax:  48000 -- RangeStep:  50 -- 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Property: SampleRate 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    ENUM 
                 -- Property: VideoFourCCCodec -- 4 values 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  827739479 0x31564D57 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  844516695 0x32564D57 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  861293911 0x33564D57 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  1347833175 0x50564D57 
               
               
                    RANGE 
                 -- RangeMin:  28000 -- RangeMax:  736000 -- RangeStep:  1 -- 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Property: VideoBitrate 
               
               
                    FORMAT: 0x0000B981 -- 1 configs 
               
               
                    CONFIG: Preference: 1 -- 32 props 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: Title 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FileSize 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: Duration 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: LastModifiedDate 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: UserRating 
               
               
                    ENUM 
                 -- Property: NonConsumable -- 2 values 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  0 0x00000000 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  65535 0x0000FFFF 
               
               
                    RANGE 
                 -- RangeMin:  0 -- RangeMax:  320 -- RangeStep:  1 -- 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Property: Width 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FileName 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FormatCode 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: ProviderCopyright 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: PersistentUniqueID 
               
               
                    ENUM 
                 -- Property: ScanType -- 1 values 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  1 0x00000001 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: UserEffectiveRating 
               
               
                    RANGE 
                 -- RangeMin:  28000 -- RangeMax:  800000 -- RangeStep:  1 -- 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Property: TotalBitrate 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: PlayCount 
               
               
                    RANGE 
                 -- RangeMin:  0 -- RangeMax:  240 -- RangeStep:  1 -- 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Property: Height 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: Description 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FileCreationDate 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: Genre 
               
               
                    ENUM 
                 -- Property: KeyFrameDistance -- 1 values 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  3 0x00000003 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: SubTitleDescription 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: SubTitle 
               
               
                    RANGE 
                 -- RangeMin:  1 -- RangeMax:  2 -- RangeStep:  1 -- 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Property: NumChannels 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: ParentalRating 
               
               
                    RANGE 
                 -- RangeMin:  1 -- RangeMax:  320000 -- RangeStep:  1 -- 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Property: Bitrate 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    ENUM 
                 -- Property: AudioWAVECodec -- 1 values 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  353 0x00000161 
               
               
                    ENUM 
                 -- Property: BufferSize -- 1 values 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  3 0x00000003 
               
               
                    RANGE 
                 -- RangeMin:  15000 -- RangeMax:  30000 -- RangeStep:  1 -- 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Property: FrameRate 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    ENUM 
                 -- Property: QualitySetting -- 1 values 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  50 0x00000032 
               
               
                    RANGE 
                 -- RangeMin:  8000 -- RangeMax:  48000 -- RangeStep:  50 -- 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Property: SampleRate 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    ENUM 
                 -- Property: VideoFourCCCodec -- 4 values 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  827739479 0x31564D57 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  844516695 0x32564D57 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  861293911 0x33564D57 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  1347833175 0x50564D57 
               
               
                    RANGE 
                 -- RangeMin:  28000 -- RangeMax:  736000 -- RangeStep:  1 -- 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Property: VideoBitrate 
               
               
                    FORMAT: 0x00003801 -- 1 configs 
               
               
                    CONFIG: Preference: 1 -- 14 props 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: Title 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FileSize 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: LastModifiedDate 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: UserRating 
               
               
                    ENUM 
                 -- Property: NonConsumable -- 2 values 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  0 0x00000000 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  65535 0x0000FFFF 
               
               
                    RANGE 
                 -- RangeMin:  0 -- RangeMax:  320 -- RangeStep:  1 -- 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Property: Width 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: AuthorDate 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FileName 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FormatCode 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: PersistentUniqueID 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: UserEffectiveRating 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: PlayCount 
               
               
                    RANGE 
                 -- RangeMin:  0 -- RangeMax:  240 -- RangeStep:  1 -- 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Property: Height 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FileCreationDate 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                    FORMAT: 0x00003001 -- 1 configs 
               
               
                    CONFIG: Preference: 1 -- 7 props 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: Title 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FileSize 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: LastModifiedDate 
               
               
                    ENUM 
                 -- Property: NonConsumable -- 2 values 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  0 0x00000000 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  65535 0x0000FFFF 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FileName 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FormatCode 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: PersistentUniqueID 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                    FORMAT: 0x0000BA03 -- 1 configs 
               
               
                    CONFIG: Preference: 1 -- 13 props 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    RANGE 
                 -- RangeMin:  0 -- RangeMax:  320 -- RangeStep:  1 -- 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Property: AlbumCoverWidth 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: Title 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FileSize 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: LastModifiedDate 
               
               
                    ENUM 
                 -- Property: NonConsumable -- 2 values 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  0 0x00000000 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  65535 0x0000FFFF 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FileName 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FormatCode 
               
               
                    ENUM 
                 -- Property: AlbumCoverFormat -- 1 values 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value: 14337 0x00003801 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: PersistentUniqueID 
               
               
                    RANGE 
                 -- RangeMin:  0 -- RangeMax:  240 -- RangeStep:  1 -- 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Property: AlbumCoverHeight 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: AlbumCoverData 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: Author 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: Genre 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                    FORMAT: 0x0000BA05 -- 1 configs 
               
               
                    CONFIG: Preference: 1 -- 7 props 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: Title 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FileSize 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: LastModifiedDate 
               
               
                    ENUM 
                 -- Property: NonConsumable -- 2 values 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  0 0x00000000 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  65535 0x0000FFFF 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FileName 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FormatCode 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: PersistentUniqueID 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                    FORMAT: 0x00003000 -- 1 configs 
               
               
                    CONFIG: Preference: 1 -- 7 props 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: Title 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FileSize 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: LastModifiedDate 
               
               
                    ENUM 
                 -- Property: NonConsumable -- 2 values 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  0 0x00000000 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  65535 0x0000FFFF 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FileName 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FormatCode 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: PersistentUniqueID 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                    FORMAT: 0x0000B802 -- 1 configs 
               
               
                    CONFIG: Preference: 1 -- 7 props 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: Title 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FileSize 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: LastModifiedDate 
               
               
                    ENUM 
                 -- Property: NonConsumable -- 2 values 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  0 0x00000000 
               
               
                   
                 -- Value:  65535 0x0000FFFF 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FileName 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: FormatCode 
               
               
                    ANY 
                 -- Property: PersistentUniqueID 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Sample Serialized Device Capabilities 
     The following samples are based on the above sample device capabilities, serialized to XML (i.e., what is saved in the media library  208  after stripping off the irrelevant content). 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 &lt;DeviceCaps&gt; 
               
               
                   &lt;ProfileCollection FormatCode=“12297”&gt; 
               
               
                     &lt;Profile&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“Bitrate”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Range Minimum=“1” Maximum=“1500000” Step=“1”/&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“NumChannels”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Range Minimum=“1” Maximum=“2” Step=“1”/&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“SampleRate”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Range Minimum=“8000” Maximum=“48000” Step=“50”/&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                     &lt;/Profile&gt; 
               
               
                   &lt;/ProfileCollection&gt; 
               
               
                   &lt;ProfileCollection FormatCode=“47361”&gt; 
               
               
                     &lt;Profile&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“Bitrate”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Range Minimum=“1” Maximum=“1500000” Step=“1”/&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“NumChannels”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Range Minimum=“1” Maximum=“2” Step=“1”/&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“SampleRate”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Range Minimum=“8000” Maximum=“48000” Step=“50”/&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                     &lt;/Profile&gt; 
               
               
                   &lt;/ProfileCollection&gt; 
               
               
                   &lt;ProfileCollection FormatCode=“12300”&gt; 
               
               
                     &lt;Profile&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“AudioWAVECodec”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Enum&gt; 
               
               
                           &lt;Value&gt;353&lt;/Value&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;/Enum&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“Bitrate”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Range Minimum=“1” Maximum=“320000” Step=“1”/&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“BufferSize”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Enum&gt; 
               
               
                           &lt;Value&gt;3&lt;/Value&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;/Enum&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“FrameRate”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Range Minimum=“15000” Maximum=“30000” Step=“1”/&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“Height”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Range Minimum=“0” Maximum=“240” Step=“1”/&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“KeyFrameDistance”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Enum&gt; 
               
               
                           &lt;Value&gt;3&lt;/Value&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;/Enum&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“NumChannels”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Range Minimum=“1” Maximum=“2” Step=“1”/&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“QualitySetting”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Enum&gt; 
               
               
                           &lt;Value&gt;50&lt;/Value&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;/Enum&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“SampleRate”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Range Minimum=“8000” Maximum=“48000” Step=“50”/&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“ScanType”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Enum&gt; 
               
               
                           &lt;Value&gt;1&lt;/Value&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;/Enum&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“TotalBitrate”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Range Minimum=“28000” Maximum=“800000” Step=“1”/&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“VideoBitrate”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Range Minimum=“28000” Maximum=“736000” Step=“1”/&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“VideoFourCCCodec”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Enum&gt; 
               
               
                           &lt;Value&gt;827739479&lt;/Value&gt; 
               
               
                           &lt;Value&gt;844516695&lt;/Value&gt; 
               
               
                           &lt;Value&gt;861293911&lt;/Value&gt; 
               
               
                           &lt;Value&gt;1347833175&lt;/Value&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;/Enum&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“Width”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Range Minimum=“0” Maximum=“320” Step=“1”/&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                     &lt;/Profile&gt; 
               
               
                   &lt;/ProfileCollection&gt; 
               
               
                   &lt;ProfileCollection FormatCode=“47489”&gt; 
               
               
                     &lt;Profile&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“DeviceConformanceTemplate”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Enum&gt; 
               
               
                           &lt;Value&gt;5242963&lt;/Value&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;/Enum&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“AudioWAVECodec”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Enum&gt; 
               
               
                           &lt;Value&gt;353&lt;/Value&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;/Enum&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“Bitrate”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Range Minimum=“1” Maximum=“320000” Step=“1”/&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“BufferSize”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Enum&gt; 
               
               
                           &lt;Value&gt;3&lt;/Value&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;/Enum&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“FrameRate”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Range Minimum=“15000” Maximum=“30000” Step=“1”/&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“Height”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Range Minimum=“0” Maximum=“240” Step=“1”/&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“KeyFrameDistance”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Enum&gt; 
               
               
                           &lt;Value&gt;3&lt;/Value&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;/Enum&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“NumChannels”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Range Minimum=“1” Maximum=“2” Step=“1”/&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“QualitySetting”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Enum&gt; 
               
               
                           &lt;Value&gt;50&lt;/Value&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;/Enum&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“SampleRate”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Range Minimum=“8000” Maximum=“48000” Step=“50”/&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“ScanType”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Enum&gt; 
               
               
                           &lt;Value&gt;1&lt;/Value&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;/Enum&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“TotalBitrate”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Range Minimum=“28000” Maximum=“800000” Step=“1”/&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“VideoBitrate”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Range Minimum=“28000” Maximum=“736000” Step=“1”/&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“VideoFourCCCodec”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Enum&gt; 
               
               
                           &lt;Value&gt;827739479&lt;/Value&gt; 
               
               
                           &lt;Value&gt;844516695&lt;/Value&gt; 
               
               
                           &lt;Value&gt;861293911&lt;/Value&gt; 
               
               
                           &lt;Value&gt;1347833175&lt;/Value&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;/Enum&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“Width”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Range Minimum=“0” Maximum=“320” Step=“1”/&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                     &lt;/Profile&gt; 
               
               
                   &lt;/ProfileCollection&gt; 
               
               
                   &lt;ProfileCollection FormatCode=“14337”&gt; 
               
               
                     &lt;Profile&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“Height”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Range Minimum=“0” Maximum=“240” Step=“1”/&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“Width”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Range Minimum=“0” Maximum=“320” Step=“1”/&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                     &lt;/Profile&gt; 
               
               
                   &lt;/ProfileCollection&gt; 
               
               
                   &lt;ProfileCollection FormatCode=“12289”&gt; 
               
               
                     &lt;Profile/&gt; 
               
               
                   &lt;/ProfileCollection&gt; 
               
               
                   &lt;ProfileCollection FormatCode=“47619”&gt; 
               
               
                     &lt;Profile&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“AlbumCoverFormat”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Enum&gt; 
               
               
                           &lt;Value&gt;14337&lt;/Value&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;/Enum&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“AlbumCoverHeight”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Range Minimum=“0” Maximum=“240” Step=“1”/&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;ParameterValue Name=“AlbumCoverWidth”&gt; 
               
               
                         &lt;Range Minimum=“0” Maximum=“320” Step=“1”/&gt; 
               
               
                       &lt;/ParameterValue&gt; 
               
               
                     &lt;/Profile&gt; 
               
               
                   &lt;/ProfileCollection&gt; 
               
               
                   &lt;ProfileCollection FormatCode=“47621”&gt; 
               
               
                     &lt;Profile/&gt; 
               
               
                   &lt;/ProfileCollection&gt; 
               
               
                   &lt;ProfileCollection FormatCode=“12288”&gt; 
               
               
                     &lt;Profile/&gt; 
               
               
                   &lt;/ProfileCollection&gt; 
               
               
                   &lt;ProfileCollection FormatCode=“47106”&gt; 
               
               
                     &lt;Profile/&gt; 
               
               
                   &lt;/ProfileCollection&gt; 
               
               
                 &lt;/DeviceCaps&gt; 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     CONCLUSION 
     Although the invention has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as exemplary forms of implementing the claimed invention.