WO2004070722A1

WO2004070722A1 - Controlling access to multimedia content on a media device

Info

Publication number: WO2004070722A1
Application number: PCT/IB2004/050032
Authority: WO
Inventors: Henricus X. Willems; Juergen K. Mueller
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority date: 2003-02-05
Filing date: 2004-01-19
Publication date: 2004-08-19

Abstract

This invention relates to a method of and a media device (103) for controlling access to multimedia content, said method includes the steps of: referencing a first multimedia content, wherein this is initiated by means of a first button (27) representing access to a user-specific multimedia content directory on the Internet (107); and retrieving and playing back said first multimedia content, wherein this is initiated by means of a second button (28) representing a play back function. The media device can be a CD player, a DVD player, a radio or a client. The method further includes the step of: transmitting a second multimedia content or a link, wherein this is initiated by means of a third button (29) representing transfer of multimedia content to the Internet. This enables for reference to, playback of and transmission of multimedia content by pressing various buttons with symbols and icons known from browsers and buttons on HIFI equipment.

Description

Controlling access to multimedia content on a media device

This invention relates to a method of controlling access to multimedia content on a media device.

The present invention also relates to a computer system for performing the method. The present invention further relates to a computer program product for performing the method.

This invention further relates to a media device for controlling access to multimedia content, i.e. the media device can execute said method.

US 2002/00879961 discloses a system for interactive remote control of an audio or video application. Said system is typically implemented on personal computer.

However, in the well-known world of various players running on dedicated consumer product devices such as CD players, DVD players and radios, it is not possible by means of the known interface of these, i.e. known buttons such as stop, play, record, fast forward, reverse, etc, to playback audio or video content from the Internet. Instead, the user has to apply a method, typically not on his consumer product device, but on a personal computer to download audio or video content, which he then has to transfer to his consumer product device for playback, if possible. It is a further problem that the user has to access various remotely stored media content, e.g. MP3 files, and that this requires user interface knowledge of many specific homepages and URLs with various user interfaces to download said e.g. MP3 files to his personal computer. In other words the prior art personal computer file access involves the problem that in such a system the user has to surf through many Web sites to obtain access to media content, e.g. MP3 files, before they can subsequently be stored and played back on a suitable player, typically different from that of the personal computer.

Additionally, it is a problem that other formats incompatible with a certain format such as MP3 require the user to have a conversion program before these other converted formats subsequently can be transferred, stored and played back on the suitable player.

It is a further problem that users - with out knowing it - violate copy right law when downloading legally protect material from unauthorised providers of media content.

Additionally, it is a problem that the user needs a personal computer to play his media content even though his high fidelity equipment (as his media device) would provide much better quality if used instead.

The above and other problems are solved by said method, when the method comprises the steps of:

• referencing a first multimedia content, wherein this is initiated by means of a first button representing access to a user-specific multimedia content directory on the Internet; and • retrieving and playing back said first multimedia content, wherein this is initiated by means of a second button representing a play back function. Hereby - in the first step - the user can refer to multimedia content by simply pressing said first button. . Said first button may have a symbol or an icon similar to the symbol or icon used for Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape, Opera, Mozilla or the like Internet browsers.

It is hereby an advantage of the invention that the user - when apparently retrieving content from the Internet - presses a button (first button on said media device) with a recognisable or associable symbol or icon.

Correspondingly, in the second step, the user can playback said first multimedia content by simply pressing the second button. The user does not need to consider whether playback is performed from his media device or from the Internet. Said second button may have a symbol or an icon similar to the icon or symbol used for indicating play back - or play - from CD players, DVD players, etc in the art.

It is hereby an advantage of the invention that the user - when either playing back content from the Internet or content previously stored on his media device - presses the same second button with an easy recognisable symbol or icon.

Hereby, the problem of incompatible formats, the problem of transferring files, the problem of poor sound quality, etc are further solved. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said method further comprises the step of: • transmitting a second multimedia content or a link, wherein this is initiated by means of a third button representing transfer of multimedia content to the Internet.

Correspondingly, in the third step, the user can transmit said second multimedia content by simply pressing another, but third button. Hereby other users of the method and the media device simply can forward multimedia content to one another. In a preferred embodiment of the invention said multimedia content comprises one or more selected from the group:

• a DVD picture and sound signal; • a CD sound signal;

• a given digital audio format (e.g. MP3, WMA, Real Audio, WAV, etc);

• a given digital movie format (e.g. DivX, DVD/MPEG2, Avi, wmf, MOV, Real Video, etc);

• a given picture format (e.g. JPEG, GIF, BMP, TIFF, etc); and/or • any such format that is capable of causing a computer to emit a picture and/or sound signal, e.g. G72x, aiff, real.

The media device gives the same advantages for the same reasons as described previously in relation to the method.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the media device is a CD player, a DVD player, a radio or a client, all with buttons (stop, play, record, fast forward, reverse, etc) like the buttons known from CD and DVD players, but also associable with Internet functions such as access, playback and transmission.

The invention can apply mails with attached multimedia content or can apply mails with a link to content in order to access, to playback (eventually streaming playback) and to transmit multimedia content, respectively.

The invention will be explained more fully below in connection with preferred embodiments and with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a system with a server, media devices, a user and the flow of information;

Fig. 2 shows the media device and a computer program product; and Fig. 3 shows a method of controlling access to multimedia content on said media device. Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate similar or corresponding features, functions, etc.

Figure 1 shows a system with a server, media devices, a user and the flow of information.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method of the invention (figure 3) is executed on one or more media devices and a server.

Reference numeral 101 may be a server. The server may be accessed by various media devices, such as those shown by reference numeral 103. The server comprises means for connection to the Internet with a possibility to be accessed simultaneously by various media devices using the service of the server, which is provided by the method of figure 3.

Reference numeral 103 may be the media device. The media device may be used as the connection point to a user or an owner, reference numeral 106, using the method of figure 3. There may be more media devices simultaneously accessing server(s) via the Internet or any other open network, reference numeral 107. The various media devices are designated by the two rectangles of reference numeral 103.

Correspondingly, there may be more servers co-operating in managing multimedia content and providing access to content again via the Internet or any other open network, reference numeral 107. Since multimedia content may comprise several thousands of movies and / or songs in various formats, it may be appropriate to have movies mostly on one server, having songs mostly on another server, etc. The various servers are designated by the rectangle of reference numeral 101 Reference numeral 104 may generally represent information of the method sent from the server to the media device by means of reference numeral 107. The information may be typical multimedia content known to reside on the server; in that case it may then either be transferred from the server (to any media device) or be played back - initiated by a media device - while still residing on the server. The server(s) may have a connection to a database, which is shown by reference numeral 102. The database may comprise various multimedia content and which media devices and which type of the media device (DVD player, CD player, radio, etc) that are accessing said server(s). The reference numeral 105 may generally be information sent from the media device(s) to any server also by means of reference numeral 107. This is opposed to reference numeral 104, here it is infonnation - in the form of an URL, a link or a pointer to multimedia content - known to be previously stored on the server, in that case it can either be transferred from the server (to any media device) or be played back - initiated by a media device - while still residing on the server.

Reference numeral 106 may be the user at the media device site. The user may use the media device to have multimedia content played back, transmitted to others, stored for later use, compiled in albums, etc. Said multimedia content may comprise one or more selected from the group

• a DVD picture and sound signal;

• a CD sound signal;

• a given digital audio format (e.g. MP3, WMA, Real Audio, WAV, etc);

• a given picture format (e.g. JPEG, GIF, BMP, TIFF, etc); and/or

• any such format that is capable of causing a computer to emit a picture and/or sound signal, e.g. G72x, aiff, real.

The media device is provided with means for producing analogue and/or digital sound and/or picture signals when playing back said multimedia content.

The multimedia content may be executed on the media device from various kinds of storage media such as flash media, an internal storage, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, DVD-RAM, etc., or directly from a network and/or internet connection; the latter known as streaming play back. Reference numeral 107 may be an open network. The network may be the

Internet or any other hard- or non hard-wired connection known to enable communication between devices on an open network, wherein the devices are said servers and said media devices.

Reference numeral 108 may be a processor of any server. It may be used to retrieve multimedia content and to assist the media device when streaming playing back. Correspondingly, reference numeral 109 may be the processor of the media device. Said processor may be used - at the other end - in the above- mentioned streaming playing back. Further the processor handles simultaneously functions initiated by activation of buttons. Fig. 2 shows the media device and a computer program product. The media device is shown by reference numeral 103. A user -or owner - as indicated by reference numeral 106 may operate the media device and have various information such as a multimedia content presented on the media device. During the operation of the media device the user may have information presented as indicated by reference numeral 21 on a display. The user may respond to information given by the display by means of an input device as shown by reference numeral 22. The input device may be a keyboard, a keypad, fields sensitive to touch, a mouse, etc.

Alternatives to said input device may be various buttons such as reference numeral 27 as an Internet access button for receiving of multimedia content e.g. by means of an e-mail, as reference numeral 29 as another Internet access button for transfer of multimedia content e.g. by means of another e-mail.

Further alternatives to said input device may be reference numeral 28 as a Play button, reference numeral 30 as a Stop button, reference numeral 31, as a Record button reference numeral 32, as a Fast Forward button, reference numeral 33, as a Forward button, reference numeral 34, as a Fast Reverse button, reference numeral 35, as a Reverse button, reference numeral 36, as a Burn button, reference numeral 37, as a Delete button, reference numeral 38, as a Display button, reference numeral 39, as a Shuffle button, reference numeral 40, as a Program button, reference numeral 41, as a Copy button, reference numeral 42, as a Pause button, and reference numeral 43, as a button available for further functionality. Said reference numerals 29 through 42 then initiate corresponding functions on multimedia content as implied by the corresponding button name, e.g. the Pause button in reference numeral 42. When pressed it will typically effect that a Playback, a Record, a Burn, etc, respectively - function is interrupted to be paused, if previously activated. The media device of reference numeral 103 may further have the processor, as also previously indicated by reference numeral 109. The processor is arranged to receive inputs from the input device, said buttons and by means of a connection, e.g. the Internet connection as indicated in reference numeral 23. The Internet connection may be used to transmit information from the media device - via the Internet, reference numeral 25 - to server(s) and vice versa. The processor may then present various kinds of information by means of the display. The processor is further arranged to receive inputs from reference numeral 24, a device designed to receive various kinds of multimedia content from various sources. The device, reference numeral 24 may be connected to a connection point, such as an antenna inlet for TV, radio or a satellite receiver, a SCART to a TV or to a VCR, etc. -. The multimedia content may also be received from 25, the Internet connection, e.g. via a modem, ADSL, xDSL or the like.

Generally, when the processor is arranged to receive inputs from said devices of and by means of the Internet connection, it may further be used to perform steps of a method described in figure 3, where the media device is involved.

The computer program product is shown by means of reference numeral 26. The computer program product may be designed to perform the steps of the method that will be described by means of figure 3.

Figure 3 shows a method of controlling access to multimedia content on said media device.

In step 100 a first multimedia content may be referenced. The way it is referred may be initiated by means of a push on a first button representing access to a user- specific multimedia content directory on the Internet. The user - or owner - will experience that apparently (the first) multimedia content is actually retrieved from his user-specific multimedia content directory, especially when - in step 200 - (the first) multimedia content is played back even though - in the case of streaming play back - it is not actually retrieved to reside on the media device, but still resides on a server.

In order for the user to refer said first multimedia content, he may press said first button to initiate access to his specific directory. This may comprise multimedia content of a kind preferred by the user. Said first button may have a symbol or an icon similar to the symbol or icon used for Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape, Opera, Mozilla or the like Internet browsers. It is hereby an advantage of the invention that the user - when apparently retrieving content from the Internet - presses a button (first button on said media device) with a recognisable or associable symbol or icon. It is hereby a further advantage of the invention that the user does not have to consider about which multimedia content format to reference in this step (for a subsequent playback), since of course the media device will only allow referencing to playable multimedia content formats in this step.

It is an additional advantage of the invention that the owner or user of said media device (i.e. a CD player, a DVD player or a radio) can use a known interface or a known symbol, such as said first button having a symbol or icon associable with Internet access.

It is an additional advantage of the invention that the user does not need to use a personal computer to download and transfer audio or video content (similar to multimedia content) before he is ready to play it back since said media device automatically performs a corresponding automated task with out any burden to the user of said media device.

Naturally, if said first multimedia content is already stored on the media device (e.g. from a previous retrieval), there is no need to reference the Internet. Correspondingly, if said first multimedia content is already stored on a CD a DVD or the like, the same applies.

Step 100 constitutes a generalisation of steps 110 and 120, as an alternative it constitutes step 130.

The step of referencing (100) a first multimedia content on the one hand comprises the following steps of 110 and 120.

In step 110, a first e-mail may be accessed. Said first e-mail may comprise a reference link to said first multimedia content. Typically said first multimedia content may reside on a first server. The idea of this alternative of the steps is that said first multimedia content continues to reside on the first server; said first multimedia content is only accessed and retrieved by means of said reference link, thus said first multimedia content is not transferred directly from the server to the media device.

In step 120, a first URL may be determined. Said first URL may reference said first multimedia content and the first server, where said first URL is based on said reference link from said first e-mail. In other words, said first multimedia content resides on the first server and said first multimedia content is only referenced to by means of said reference link. Thus, as a consequence of steps 110 and 120, (first) multimedia content is pointed to (by means of said first URL) in order to be ready to be played afterwards. Said first URL also comprises as indicated from where - i.e. the first server - it can be played back.

As an alternative to said step 110 and 120, the step of referencing (100) a first multimedia content on the other hand comprises the following step 130.

In step 130, an e-mail may be accessed. Said text e-mail may comprise be playable multimedia content as a file attachment.

An example of the attached playable format could be a wav type audio file, i.e. an audio file with the file extension and format of ".wav". . In other words, said first e-mail in this case may be a video mail known in the art or an audio mail, etc. of course depending on the kind of multimedia content attached.

In step 200, said first multimedia content may be retrieved and then played back. This may be initiated by means of a second button representing a play back function. In order to that the user can playback said first multimedia content, he may press said second button to play back. The user does not know (and does not need to know) whether playback and retrieval are perfonned from his media device or from the Internet. Said second button may have a symbol or an icon similar to the icon or symbol used for indicating play back - or play - from CD players, DVD players, etc in the art. It is hereby an advantage of the invention that the user - when either retrieving and playing back content from the Internet or content previously stored on his media device - presses the same second button with an easy recognisable symbol or icon.

Step 200 constitutes a generalisation of step 210 or step 220; i.e. the step of retrieving and playing back (200) a first multimedia content comprises step 210 as a first alternative.

Naturally, if said first multimedia content is already stored on the media device, there is no need - by any means - to access the Internet for play- back. Correspondingly, if said first multimedia content is already stored on a CD a DVD or the like, the same applies, i.e. multimedia content is played back directly from the storage on the media device or from the CD, DVD, etc.

In step 210, the playable multimedia content attached to the received e-mail is retrieved and then played back on the media device. Step 210 is only executed in case said e- mail (from step 130) has been received previously. As an example, said received e-mail may comprise a wav or a MP3 audio file as the attachment. As an alternative to step 210, the step of retrieving and playing back (200) a first multimedia content comprises step 220.

In step 220, said first server may be accessed. Said first server may be identified by means of the first URL. The corresponding multimedia content referenced to in the first URL, i.e. said first multimedia content residing on said first server, may subsequently be played back from said first server. Step 220 is only executed in case said first e-mail (from step 110) has been received previously.

In other words, said first multimedia content is played back (on the media device) in as a way of streaming playing back as known in the art. The art distinguishes between three ways of streaming playing back depending on what is comprised in the multimedia content:

Firstly, the multimedia content comprises so-called streaming video. Streaming video is a sequence of "moving images" that are sent in compressed form over the Internet and displayed, i.e. played back by the media device as they arrive. Streaming media is streaming video with sound. With streaming video or streaming media, the user of the media device does not have to wait to download a large file before watching the video or listening the sound. Instead, the multimedia content is sent in a continuous stream and is played (back) as it arrives. Secondly, the multimedia content comprises so-called streaming sound.

Streaming sound is sound that is played (back) on the media device as it arrives. Support for streaming sound may require a plug-in player as an embedded software part of the media device. This player is either already invoked in step 100 or at the latest in step 200 Thirdly, the multimedia content comprises so-called streaming media. Streaming media is sound or audio and images (e.g. video) that are transmitted on the Internet in a streaming or continuous fashion, typically using data packets.

It is an advantage of the invention that - by means of the alternative step 220 - the media device needs only to have limited storage capacity since the server has the first multimedia content stored. Thus, there is only a minor storage capacity requirement for said media device since it does not need to store first multimedia content prior to streaming playback.

It is hereby an advantage of the invention that - as an example of multimedia content - MP3 files can be played directly on the high fidelity equipment as a media device. It is advantageous to perform it on the media device, since the normally burdensome tasks - prior to playback - of downloading (on a personal computer by means of the Internet), eventually converting and transferring of MP3 files are avoided.

This is the case since these tasks are automatically handled on the media device when the first button - representing the retrieval (of multimedia content from the Internet) function - is pressed. Subsequently and essentially for this step, a file (as multimedia content) is played playback when the second button representing the play back function is pressed.

It is an additional advantage of the invention that the owner or user of said media device (i.e. a CD player, a DVD player or a radio) can use a known play back symbol such as said second button associable with playback and associable with playback from the Internet.

It is an additional advantage of the invention that said media device is used to playback multimedia content in high fidelity quality instead of the poorer quality of the personal computer. The present invention has primarily mentioned e-mails as the method by which the media device can obtain or send multimedia content. However, the use of e-mails is not the only possibility; in principle any messaging infrastructure can be used to deliver either links or (multimedia) content. Of course, when - as discussed above - e-mails are applied to obtain or to send multimedia content, it is a further advantage that said media device is compatible with the current e-mail infrastructure known from the world of personal computers communicating over the Internet.

In step 300, a second multimedia content or a link may be transmitted from the media device. This may be initiated by means of a third button representing transfer of multimedia content to the Internet.

Step 300 constitutes a generalisation of steps 310 and 320 or 330 with the common step 340, i.e. the step of transmitting (300) a second multimedia content comprises the steps 310 and 320 as a first alternative. In step 310, a second URL may be determined. It may reference said second multimedia content residing on a second server as a second reference link.

This corresponds - in the case of referencing or receiving the first multimedia content - to step 120, however in this step the opposite is accomplished, i.e. the opposite case of transmitting said second multimedia content (or a link to it). In other words, in this step a second URL may be determined. Said second

URL may reference said second multimedia content and the second server, where said second

URL is based on said reference link. In other words, said second multimedia content resides on the second server and said second multimedia content is only referenced to by means of said reference link. In step 320, a second e-mail may be generated. Said second e-mail may comprise said second reference link.

This corresponds - in the case of receiving the first e-mail - to step 110, however in this step the opposite is to be accomplished, i.e. the opposite case in this step is to generate said second e-mail comprising said second reference link. Thus, as a consequence of steps 310 and 320, said second e-mail comprises a pointer or a link to said second multimedia content (by means of said second URL) and it also comprises an indication of from where - i.e. the second server - it can be played back, in case the second e-mail is received on another media device. Alternatively, said step of transmitting (300) a second multimedia content comprises step 330:

In step 330, a second e-mail may be generated. But in this case the second e- mail comprises said second multimedia content (instead of a link to it), thus said second multimedia content is an attachment to the second e-mail.

This corresponds - in the case of receiving the first e-mail - to step 130, however in this step the opposite is to be accomplished, i.e. the case in this step is to generate the second e-mail with said second multimedia content as an attachment.

Said attached second multimedia content can then be played back in case the second e-mail is received on another media device. This would correspond to step 210.

And it applies to both situations - when either steps 310 and 320 have been executed or when step 330 has been executed - the following step 340 is to be executed:

In step 340, the second e-mail may be transmitted to a recipient. The second e- mail then comprises either content from steps 310 and 320, i.e. the link, or from step 330, i.e. the second multimedia content as its attachment.

To summarise, since the media device does not by it self always store multimedia content especially for direct transmission to others, it will - for comparison and as an analogy to steps 110, 120 and 130 as a first possibility - send links (pointers) to a file residing outside the media device, typically on an external server, this correspond to steps 310 and 320; or - as the second possibility - transmit said second multimedia content as the attachment to the file as was discussed in step 330. In both cases, - in step 340 - the file is send subsequently to a recipient.

Said recipient may be another media device. This media device may then execute steps 100 and 200 (with sub steps as discussed) to playback the referenced second multimedia content.

"Transmittal of multimedia content to the Internet " is what the user experiences even though - in the case of transmitting e-mail with a link (step 310, 320 and 340) - it is not actually transmitted directly from the media device since the link is used. Alternatively, in the other case - when transmitting the e-mail with the attachment (step 330 and 340) - multimedia content is transmitted in a directly playable format from the media device when (multimedia content) isolated from the e-mail

It is hereby an advantage of the invention that multimedia content - in both cases - is easily accessed and easily shared among users having media devices. The previously mentioned step of referencing (100) a first multimedia content further comprises the step 400:

In step 400, it may be verified that said media device has a legal right to access said first multimedia content. This will take place before the previously mentioned step of playing back, i.e. step 200, is allowed to be executed.

Hereby the problem that users with out knowing it violate copy right law when downloading legally protect material from unauthorised providers of media content is solved, since playback is blocked in this step in case said media device does not have a legal right to access said first multimedia content. This is known in the art as DRM, Digital Rights Management.

Since, in an attempt of referencing said first multimedia content, the owner reveals his IP address (or other similar information) to the server, it is therefore possible to check whether he has an authorisation or not.

In step 500, an owner of said media device may be charged for legally accessing said first multimedia content. The charging takes only place when the time for play back exceeds a predetermined duration. The way of charging may be determined by means of a certain business model comprising rules, prises, etc. The user will typically in advance have been informed about the billing and charging policy, i.e. the user will know that listening or viewing for too long time will be charged accordingly. Conversely, pre-listening or preview (depending on multimedia content) of a shorter duration (shorter than said predetermined duration) is not charged for, i.e. this case is still free of charge.

Since, in referencing said first multimedia content, the owner again reveals his IP address (or other similar information) to the server, it is possible to charge him.

In step 600, said first multimedia content may be recorded or stored. This may be initiated by means of a button representing a recording function. Hereby albums or collections can be compiled. In case the media device is a CD player this steps corresponds to burning of said first multimedia content on a CD.

Usually, the method will start all over again for as long as said media device is powered. Otherwise, the method may terminate in step 700; however, when the media device is powered again, the method may proceed from step 100.

A computer readable medium may be magnetic tape, optical disc, digital versatile disk (DVD), compact disc (CD record-able or CD write-able), mini-disc, hard disk, floppy disk, smart card, PCMCIA card, etc. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be constructed as limiting the claim. The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim. The word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention can be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements, and by means of a suitably programmed computer. In the device claim enumerating several means, several of these means can be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

In summary, this invention relates to a method of and a media device (103) for controlling access to multimedia content, said method includes the steps of: referencing a first multimedia content, wherein this is initiated by means of a first button (27) representing access to a user-specific multimedia content directory on the Internet (107); and retrieving and playing back said first multimedia content, wherein this is initiated by means of a second button (28) representing a play back function. The media device can be a CD player, a DVD player, a radio or a client. The method further includes the step of: transmitting a second multimedia content or a link, wherein this is initiated by means of a third button (29) representing transfer of multimedia content to the Internet. This enables for reference to, playback of and transmission of multimedia content by pressing various buttons with symbols and icons known from browsers and buttons on HIFI equipment.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method of controlling access to multimedia content on a media device (103), said method comprising the steps of:

• referencing (100) a first multimedia content, wherein this is initiated by means of a first button (27) representing access to a user-specific multimedia content directory on the Internet (107); and

• retrieving (200) and playing back said first multimedia content, wherein this is initiated by means of a second button (28) representing a play back function.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of: • transmitting (300) a second multimedia content or a link, wherein this is initiated by means of a third button (29) representing transfer of multimedia content to the Internet.

3. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the step of referencing (100) a first multimedia content comprises the steps of:

• accessing (110) a first electronic message comprising a reference link to said first multimedia content residing on a first server (101); and

• determining (120) a first URL referencing said first multimedia content and the first server; wherein the first URL is based on said reference link in the first electronic message; or

• accessing (130) a first electronic message comprising an attached first multimedia content.

4. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the step of retrieving (200) and playing back a first multimedia content comprises the steps of:

• retrieving (210) and playing back said first multimedia content, when a electronic message with the attachment is received; or • accessing (220) said first server identified by means of the first URL and playing back said first multimedia content from said first server, when said first electronic message with the first URL is received.

5. A method according to claim 2 characterised in that the step of transmitting

(300) a second multimedia content comprises the steps of:

• determining (310) a second URL referencing said second multimedia content residing on a second server as a second reference link; and

• generating (320) a second electronic message comprising said second reference link; or

• generating (330) a second electronic message comprising said second multimedia content as an attachment; and

• transmitting (340) the second electronic message to a recipient.

6. A method according to any one of claim 1 to 5 characterised in that the step of referencing (100) a first multimedia content further comprises the steps of:

• verifying (400) that said media device has a legal right to access said first multimedia content before said step (200) of playing back is allowed to be executed; and • charging (500) an owner (106) of said media device for legally accessing said first multimedia content, when playback exceeds a predetermined duration of time.

7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 further comprising the step of: recording (600) or storing said first multimedia content, wherein this is initiated by means of a button (31) representing a recording function.

8. A method according to any one of claims 1 through 7 characterised in that said multimedia content comprises at least one of: • a DVD picture and sound signal;

• a CD sound signal;

• a given digital audio format, such as MP3, WMA, Real Audio and WAV; • a given digital movie format, such as DivX, DVD/MPEG2, Avi, wmf, MOV and Real Video;

• a given picture format, such as JPEG, GIF, BMP, TIFF;

• a format that is capable of causing a computer to emit a picture and/or sound signal, such as G72x, aiff, real.

9. A method according to any one of claims 1 through 8 characterised in that said media device is a CD player, a DVD player, a radio or a client.

10. A computer system for performing the method according to any one of claims

1 through 9.

11. A computer program product (26) comprising program code means stored on a computer readable medium for performing the method of any one of claims 1 through 9 when the computer program is run on a computer.

12. A media device (103) for controlling access to multimedia content, said media device comprising:

• a first button (27) for referencing a first multimedia content, wherein said first button represents access to a user-specific multimedia content directory on the

Internet (107); and

• a second button (28) for retrieving and playing back said first multimedia content, wherein said second button represents a play back function.

13. A media device according to claim 12 further comprising:

• a third button (29) for transmitting a second multimedia content or a link, wherein said third button represents transfer of multimedia content to the Internet.

14. A media device according to claim 12 characterised in that the first button for referencing a first multimedia content comprises:

• means for accessing (23) a first electronic message comprising a reference link to said first multimedia content residing on a first server (101); and • means for determining a first URL referencing said first multimedia content and the first server; wherein the first URL is based on said reference link in the first electronic message; or

• means for accessing (23) a first electronic message comprising an attached first multimedia content.

15. A media device according to claim 12 characterised in that the second button

(28) for retrieving and playing back said first multimedia content comprises:

• means for retrieving and playing back said first multimedia content, when the first electronic message with the attachment is received; or

• means for accessing (23) said first server identified by means of the first URL and playing back said first multimedia content from said first server, when said first electronic message with the first URL is received.

16. A media device according to claim 14 characterised in that the third button

(29) for transmitting a second multimedia content or a link comprises:

• means for determining a second URL referencing said second multimedia content residing on a second server as a second reference link; and

• means for generating a second electronic message comprising said second reference link; or

• means for generating a second electronic message comprising said second multimedia content as an attachment; and

• means for transmitting (23) the second electronic message to a recipient.

17. A media device according to any one of claim 12 to 16 characterised in that the first button (27) for referencing a first multimedia content further comprises:

• means for verifying a legal right to access said first multimedia content before playing back is allowed to be executed; and

• means for charging an owner (106) for legally accessing said first multimedia content, when playback exceeds a predetermined duration of time.

18. A media device according to any one of claims 12 to 17 further comprising:

• a button (31 ) for recording or storing said first multimedia content.