Using Local Codecs

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method is provided. The method includes evaluating local codecs of a cellular telephone. The method further includes playing a content file with a media player on the cellular telephone. The method also includes accessing encoded media referred to by the content file in a format determined based on local codecs of the cellular telephone.

1 . A method of playing encoded data referred to in a content file played by a media player on a device, comprising:
 retrieving one or more content files from a remote storage device that have or refer to encoded data that is formatted for decompression using one or more local codecs available on the device;   decoding the encoded data into a format associated with one of the local codecs to obtain decoded data; and   playing the decoded data with the media player using one or more of a display or a speaker of the device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the encoded data is one of video, image or audio data. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising downloading the encoded data from a remote storage device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising modifying the playing of the decoded data. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein modifying includes skinning the decoded data. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein modifying includes overlying an image onto the decoded data as the decoded data is played. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the encoded data is formatted for decompression using a plurality of formats. 
     
     
         8 . A non-volatile storage on which electronic instructions are stored, the electronic instructions operable to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:
 retrieving one or more content files from a remote storage device that have or refer to encoded data that is formatted for decompression using one or more local codecs available on a device that includes the non-volatile storage;   decoding the encoded data into a format associated with one of the local codecs to obtain decoded data; and   playing the decoded data.   
     
     
         9 . The non-volatile storage of  claim 8 , wherein the encoded data is one of video, image or audio data. 
     
     
         10 . The non-volatile storage of  claim 8 , wherein the operations comprise downloading the encoded data from a remote storage device. 
     
     
         11 . The non-volatile storage of  claim 8 , wherein the operations comprise modifying the playing of the decoded data. 
     
     
         12 . The non-volatile storage of  claim 11 , wherein modifying includes skinning the decoded data. 
     
     
         13 . The non-volatile storage of  claim 11 , wherein modifying includes overlying an image onto the decoded data as the decoded data is played. 
     
     
         14 . The non-volatile storage of  claim 8 , wherein the encoded data is formatted for decompression using a plurality of formats. 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 a processor; and   a non-volatile storage on which electronic instructions are stored, the electronic instructions operable to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:   retrieving one or more content files from a remote storage device that have or refer to encoded data that is formatted for decompression using one or more local codecs available on the system;
 decoding the encoded data into a format associated with one of the local codecs to obtain decoded data; and 
 playing the decoded data. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the encoded data is one of video, image or audio data. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the operations comprise downloading the encoded data from a remote storage device. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the operations comprise modifying the playing of the decoded data. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein modifying includes skinning the decoded data. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein modifying includes overlying an image onto the decoded data as the decoded data is played.