Method of Data Synchronization

• US 20080109561A1
• Filed: 05/03/2005
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Van Gassel, Jozef Pieter, Van Den Brink, Hendrikus Bernardus
• Granted Patent: US 8,762,578 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/248
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/122 using management policies backup systems G06F11/1446; file migration policies for HSM systems G06F16/185
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/275 Synchronous replication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/823 Prediction of resource usage
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/83 based on usage prediction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes

Abstract

There is described a method of synchronization in a personal information entertainment product (10) for periodically updating data content stored in memory (50) of the product (10). Moreover, apparatus (10), for example advanced personal information entertainment products, capable of operating according to the method are elucidated. A system and software operable to implement the method are also disclosed. The method relates to data synchronization in a personal information-entertainment device (10) operable to present data content to a user (20) of the device the method including steps of: (a) arranging for the device (10) to determine one or more contexts (410) in which it is to be used; and (b) updating data content stored in the device (10) in response to the one or more contexts (410).

Claims

1. A method of data synchronization in a personal information-entertainment device (10) operable to present data content to a user (20) of the device (10), the method including steps of:

(a) arranging for the device (10) to determine one or more contexts (410) in which it is to be used; and

(b) updating data content stored in the device (10) in response to the one or more contexts(410).

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said updating comprises operations including at least one of:

(a) downloading data content from one or more data sources (100, 130) remote from the device (10) into a memory (50) of the device (10);

(b) at least partially deleting data content stored in the memory (50) of the device (10);

(c) uploading data content from the memory (50) of the device (10) to one or more remote data stores (100, 130); and

(d) rearranging data content stored in the memory (50) of the device (10).

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein, in step (a), the device (10) is operable to determine the context from one or more of:

(a) personal information manager data (PIM);

(b) temporal information;

(c) device spatial position information; and

(d) heuristic data regarding patterns of selection exercised by the user (20) of the device (10).

4. A method according to claim 3, further including a step of including calendar data of the user (20) in the information manager data for use in determining the one or more contexts (410).

5. A method according claim 4, including a step of deriving said one or more contexts (410) from temporal and/or location entries made in the calendar data.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein said one or more contexts (410) are derived by inference between a plurality of entries in the calendar data.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein items of the data content are prioritized according to probability of relevance with reference to said one or more contexts (410) and presented, when invoked by one or more contexts (410), to the user (20) in an order dependent upon such prioritizing.

8. A method according to claim 1, farther comprising a step of recording whereat an interruption in user viewing and/or listening of one or more items of data content occurs for enabling subsequent resumption of viewing and/or listening from where interruption occurred.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of arranging for the device (10) to determine said one or more contexts (410) and automatically updating the data content (450) of the device (10) in response to said one or more contexts (410).

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of arranging for the device to function as a personal digital assistant (PDA) for providing at least one of:

(a) an electronic calendar;

(b) an address and/or telephone number archive; and

(c) a communication interface for supporting text messages, audio dialogue and/or video dialogue.

11. An apparatus (10) arranged to synchronize data content to one or more remote data servers (100, 130) according to the method of claim 1.

12. A system (10, 100, 110, 130) including at least one device (10) and at least one data server (100, 130) mutually couplable for supporting data content transfer therebetween, the system (10, 100, 110, 130) being arranged to function according to the method of claim 1.

13. Software for executing on computer hardware (50) for implementing the method according to claim 1.