Content directory and synchronization bridge

• US 20050055352A1
• Filed: 09/08/2003
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Li, Yun, White, Larry
• Application Number:
  US10/658,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20050055352A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• 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 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/278 Content descriptor database or directory service for end-user access details of content or meta data based information retrieval of video data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/00 Details of television systems scanning details or combination thereof with generation of supply voltages H04N3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

An interface layer, also referred to as a synchronization-CDS bridge, automatically provides a first set of update information to a Content Directory Service (CDS) regarding any content received by a first media server during a data synchronization process. The interface layer also provides a second set of update information to a synchronization application regarding any content newly added to the first media server subsequent to a last data synchronization. The interface layer discovers the second set of update information provided to the synchronization application from the CDS. The second set of update information is used by the synchronization application to select the newly added content during a next data synchronization.

Claims

1. A media server comprising:

a. a database to store content data;

b. a synchronization application to perform content data synchronization with an external device;

c. a content directory service to browse the content data stored in the database and to provide information regarding the content data stored in the database; and

d. an interface layer coupled to communicate with the synchronization application and the content directory service to provide update information to the content directory service regarding new content data received by the database from the external device during content data synchronization.

2. The media server of claim 1 wherein the interface layer provides update information to the synchronization application regarding new content added to the database, the new content data to be synchronized with the external device during a next content data synchronization.

3. The media server of claim 1 wherein the external device is a second media server.

4. The media server of claim 1 wherein the external device includes an internet service.

5. The media server of claim 1 wherein the media server is a Universal Plug and Play enabled device and the content directory service is a Universal Plug and Play content directory service.

6. The media server of claim 1 wherein the content data includes media files.

7. The media server of claim 1 wherein the content data includes audio, video, graphic, and text data.

8. A media server comprising:

a. a database to store content data;

b. a synchronization application to perform content data synchronization with an external device;

c. a content directory service to browse the content data stored in the database and to provide information regarding the content data stored in the database; and

d. an interface layer coupled to communicate with the synchronization application and the content directory service to provide update information to the synchronization application regarding new content added to the database, wherein the new content data is synchronized with the external device during a next content data synchronization.

9. The media server of claim 8 wherein the interface layer provides update information to the content directory service regarding new content data received by the database from the external device during content data synchronization.

10. The media server of claim 8 wherein the external device is a second media server.

11. The media server of claim 8 wherein the external device includes an internet service.

12. The media server of claim 8 wherein the media server is a Universal Plug and Play enabled device and the content directory service is a Universal Plug and Play content directory service.

13. The media server of claim 8 wherein the content data includes media files.

14. The media server of claim 8 wherein the content data includes audio, video, graphic, and text data.

15. A media server comprising:

a. a database to store content data;

b. a synchronization application to perform content data synchronization with an external device;

c. a content directory service to browse the content data stored in the database and to provide information regarding the content data stored in the database; and

d. an interface layer coupled to communicate with the synchronization application and the content directory service to provide first update information to the content directory service regarding new content data received by the database from the external device during content data synchronization, and to provide second update information to the synchronization application regarding new content added to the database, wherein the new content data is synchronized with the external device during a next content data synchronization.

16. The media server of claim 15 wherein the external device is a second media server.

17. The media server of claim 15 wherein the external device includes an internet service.

18. The media server of claim 15 wherein the media server is a Universal Plug and Play enabled device and the content directory service is a Universal Plug and Play content directory service.

19. The media server of claim 15 wherein the content data includes media files.

20. The media server of claim 15 wherein the content data includes audio, video, graphic, and text data.

21. A network of devices comprising:

a. a network device;

b. a first media server coupled to the network device, the first media server including;

i. a database to store content data;

ii. a synchronization application to perform content data synchronization with the network device;

iii. a content directory service to browse the content data stored in the database and to provide information regarding the content data stored in the database; and

iv. an interface layer coupled to communicate with the synchronization application and the content directory service to provide first update information to the content directory service regarding new content data received by the database from the network device during content data synchronization, and to provide second update information to the synchronization application regarding new content added to the database, wherein the new content data is synchronized with the network device during a next content data synchronization.

22. The network of devices of claim 21 wherein the network device is a second media server.

23. The network of devices of claim 21 wherein the network device includes an internet service.

24. The network of devices of claim 21 wherein the first media server is a Universal Plug and Play enabled device and the content directory service is a Universal Plug and Play content directory service.

25. The network of devices of claim 21 wherein the content data includes media files.

26. The network of devices of claim 21 wherein the content data includes audio, video, graphic, and text data.

27. A method of synchronizing data between two network devices, the method comprising:

a. sending first update information to a content directory service from an interface layer regarding a first new content data received by a first media device from a second media device during content data synchronization performed by a synchronization application; and

b. sending second update information to the synchronization application from the interface layer regarding a second new content added to the first media device, wherein the second new content data is synchronized with the second media device during a next content data synchronization.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the first media server is a Universal Plug and Play enabled device and the content directory service is a Universal Plug and Play content directory service.

29. The media server of claim 27 wherein the content data includes media files.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein content data includes audio, video, graphic, and text data.

31. The method of claim 27 wherein sending the first update information to the content directory service and sending the second update information to the synchronization application are performed automatically.

32. A method of synchronizing data between two network devices, the method comprising:

a. performing data synchronization between a first media server and a second media server;

b. receiving content data related to the data synchronization on the first media server;

c. obtaining update information related to the received content data from a synchronization application on the first media server;

d. providing the update information to a content directory service of the first media server; and

e. updating the content directory service according to the update information.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising obtaining additional update information from a database within the first media server, wherein additional update information corresponds to new content data added to the database.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising providing the additional update information to the synchronization application such that the new content data is synchronized with the second media device during a next data synchronization.

35. The method of claim 32 wherein the first media server is a Universal Plug and Play enabled device and the content directory service is a Universal Plug and Play content directory service.

36. The media server of claim 32 wherein the content data includes media files.

37. The method of claim 32 wherein content data includes audio, video, graphic, and text data.

38. An apparatus for synchronizing data between two network devices, the apparatus comprising:

a. means for performing data synchronization between a first media server and a second media server;

b. means for receiving content data related to the data synchronization on the first media server;

c. means for obtaining update information related to the received content data from a synchronization application on the first media server;

d. means for providing the update information to a content directory service of the first media server; and

e. means for updating the content directory service according to the update information.