Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems
for supplying rich multimedia metadata usable to generate, e.g.,
sophisticated entertainment user interfaces in the home. These methods
and systems can be implemented as a server-based software application
that feeds multiple, diverse clients. The server functionality could be
distributed, even co-located physically with one or more clients, or
centralized. The server aggregates, filters, validates, augments and
links metadata from disparate sources. The server transforms the metadata
into a more manageable and extensible internal format. The server
communicates with client devices using a schema-independent protocol,
providing metadata in the appropriate format that suites the clients
needs.