Meta data information providing server, client apparatus, method of providing meta data information, and method of providing content

A method of providing meta data information, the method comprising:

• generating, in a meta data information providing server, the meta data information including fundamental meta data information required for a client apparatus to retrieve content and detailed meta data information regarding the content;
• automatically providing the fundamental meta data information from the meta data information providing server to the client apparatus in response to an initial connection with the client apparatus before a request is made by the client apparatus for meta data information, the fundamental meta data information comprising retrieval information including at least one of a video data resolution of the content and an audio data sampling rate of the content to be retrieved for the client apparatus to reproduce the content;
• and
• selectively providing the detailed meta data information from the meta data information providing server to the client apparatus when the client apparatus requests the detailed meta data information based upon the provided fundamental meta data information.