Abstract: A computing system, which is in communication with a multimedia source and that includes at least one application for processing multimedia content from the multimedia source, includes an Application Programming Interface (API) for obtaining basic multimedia information that may be required by applications to process the multimedia content. By doing this, the invention enables multimedia application(s) to easily obtain the basic information from the API in a predetermined and standard manner, without having to obtain the information directly from the multimedia source, thereby reducing the functionality that has to be programmed directly into the application(s) for obtaining the basic information, and thereby reducing the cost, time, and resources that are required for creating the multimedia application(s).

Abstract: A computing system, which is in communication with a multimedia source and that includes at least one application for processing multimedia content from the multimedia source, includes an Application Programming Interface (API) for obtaining basic multimedia information that may be required by applications to process the multimedia content. By doing this, the invention enables multimedia application(s) to easily obtain the basic information from the API in a predetermined and standard manner, without having to obtain the information directly from the multimedia source, thereby reducing the functionality that has to be programmed directly into the application(s) for obtaining the basic information, and thereby reducing the cost, time, and resources that are required for creating the multimedia application(s).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel system and method for regulating a network service provider's ability to provide network services to a distributed application executing on a network connected computer, which is dependent upon whether the NSP possesses a valid permit. The permit is a data structure created by a vendor or distributor of a distributed application. The vendor can selectively issue a permit to the NSP (or NSPs) for which authorization is being granted. When the distributed application is being executed at a client computer, and the services of a particular NSP are requested, an application running at the client first requests that the NSP provide the client with a valid permit. If the permit is valid and authentic, and the identity of the NSP is confirmed, then the application executing at the client will permit the distributed application to utilize the network services of the selected NSP.