Intelligent synchronization of media player with host computer

• US 20030167318A1
• Filed: 04/05/2002
• Published: 09/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Robbin, Jeffrey L., Heller, David
• Application Number:
  US10/118,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20030167318A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4108 characterised by an identification number or address, e.g. local network address protecting specific internal or external computer components using identification number G06F21/73; network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4586 Content update operation triggered locally, e.g. by comparing the version of software modules in a DVB carousel to the version stored locally deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction of the data by redundancy during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format

Abstract

Improved techniques for synchronization of media contents stored on a media player with media contents stored on a host computer are disclosed. According to one aspect, synchronization can be automatically initiated and performed upon connection of a data link between the media player and the host computer. According to another aspect, synchronization is able to be achieved with a reduced amount of data transfer between the host computer and the media device.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing media contents of a media player with a host computer, said method comprising:

detecting connection of a media player to the host computer; and

automatically synchronizing media content between the media player and the host computer once the connection has been detected.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the connection is provided by a data link between the media player and the host computer.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the media player includes a media database storing player media information, and wherein the host computer includes a media database storing host media information.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said synchronizing is based on a comparison of the player media information with the host media information.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the media player is a portable media player.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the media player comprises an audio player, and wherein the media content includes at least audio files of songs.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the media player comprises a video player, and wherein the media content includes at least video files of videos.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the media player comprises an image viewer, and wherein the media content includes at least image files of images.

9. A method for synchronizing media items of a media player with a host computer, the media player having a first media database storing player media information, and the host computer having a second media database storing host media information, said method comprising:

reading the player media information from the first media database provided on the media player;

comparing the player media information with the host media information from the second media database provided on the host computer, said comparing producing comparison information;

determining which media items are to be copied between the media player and the host computer based on the comparison information; and

copying the determined media items to perform the synchronization.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein said method further comprises:

identifying media items to be removed from the media player based on the comparison information; and

removing the identified media items from the media player.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the identified media items are those media items on the media player but not on the host computer.

12. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein said method further comprises:

updating one or both of the first and second media databases.

13. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein said comparing operates to compare at least song title, album name and artist name.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said comparing operates to further compare quality characteristics of media items.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the quality characteristics include at least one of bit rate, sample rate, equalization setting, volume adjustment, start/stop and total time.

16. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the media player is a pocket-sized media player.

17. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the media player is an MP3 player, and wherein the media items include at least audio files of songs.

18. A method for synchronizing media items of a media player with a host computer, the media player storing player media information, and the host computer storing host media information, said method comprising:

reading the player media information from the media player;

comparing the player media information with the host media information from the host computer to produce comparison information;

determining which media items are to be copied between the media player and the host computer based on the comparison information; and

copying the determined media items to perform the synchronization.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the play media information and the host media information pertain to attributes of the media items.

20. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the attributes include at least song title, album name and artist name.

21. A method as recited in claim 20, wherein the attributes further include quality characteristics.

22. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the quality characteristics include at least one of bit rate, sample rate, equalization setting, volume adjustment, start/stop and total time.

23. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein said method further comprises:

identifying media items that are to be removed from the media player based on the comparison information; and

removing the identified media items from the media player.

24. A method as recited in claim 23, wherein the identified media items are those media items on the media player but not on the host computer.

25. A method as recited in claim 23, wherein the play media information and the host media information pertain to attributes and quality characteristics of the media items.

26. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein the attributes include at least song title, album name and artist name, and wherein the quality characteristics include at least one of bit rate, sample rate, equalization setting, volume adjustment, start/stop and total time.

27. A portable media player, comprising:

a storage disk that stores a plurality of media items;

a user input device that enables a user of said portable media player to at least select a particular media item from the plurality of media items;

a cache memory capable of storing at least one of the media items;

a media database that stores characteristics information for the media items stored to said storage disk and said cache memory; and

a processor operatively connected to said storage disk, said user input device, said cache memory and said media database, said processor controls said portable media player to store, remove and play the media items.

28. A portable media player as recited in claim 27, wherein said portable media player is battery-operated.

29. A portable media player as recited in claim 28, wherein said portable media player is an audio player, and wherein the media items are songs.

30. A media player wherein the improvement comprises a media database provided within said media player, the media database storing media information about media items stored on said media player.

31. A media player as recited in claim 30, wherein said media player is a handheld media player, and wherein the media items are audio items.

32. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for synchronizing media contents of a media player with a host computer, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for detecting connection of a media player to the host computer; and

computer program code for automatically synchronizing media content between the media player and the host computer once the connection has been detected.

33. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 32, wherein the media player includes a media database storing player media information, and wherein the host computer includes a media database storing host media information.

34. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 32, wherein said computer program code for synchronizing operates to compare the player media information with the host media information.

35. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for synchronizing media items of a media player with a host computer, the media player storing player media information, and the host computer storing host media information, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for reading the player media information from the media player;

computer program code for comparing the player media information with the host media information from the host computer to produce comparison information;

computer program code for determining which media items are to be copied between the media player and the host computer based on the comparison information; and

computer program code for copying the determined media items to perform the synchronization.

36. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 35, wherein the play media information and the host media information pertain to attributes of the media items.

37. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 36, wherein the attributes include at least song title, album name and artist name.

38. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 37, wherein the attributes further include quality characteristics.

39. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 38, wherein the quality characteristics include at least one of bit rate, sample rate, equalization setting, volume adjustment, start/stop and total time.

40. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 35, wherein said method further comprises:

computer program code for identifying media items that are to be removed from the media player based on the comparison information; and

computer program code for removing the identified media items from the media player.

41. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 40, wherein the identified media items are those media items on the media player but not on the host computer.

42. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 35, wherein the media player includes a first media database that stores the player media information, and the host computer includes a second media database that stores the host media information.

43. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 35, wherein the player media information and the host media information are obtained from metadata provided with the media items.

44. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 35, wherein the media player is a handheld media player.

45. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 44, wherein the media player comprises an audio player, and wherein the media content includes at least audio files of songs.

46. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 44, wherein the media player comprises a video player, and wherein the media content includes at least video files of videos.

47. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 44, wherein the media player comprises an image viewer, and wherein the media content includes at least image files of images.