Background Data Transmission between Media Device and Host Device
First Claim
1. A method for transferring media assets between a host computer and a client device, the client device capable of connecting with a computer network as well as with the host computer, the client device including a media database and a data storage device, said method comprising:
- determining a set of media assets on the host computer that are to be copied to the client device;
creating entries in the media database for the media assets in the set of media assets;
monitoring whether the client device is busy with tasks other than media assets transfer with the host computer;
initiating copying of the media assets in the set of media assets from the host computer to the data storage device of the client device;
pausing said copying while said monitoring indicates that the client device is busy with other tasks; and
updating the entries in the media database as the media assets are stored to the data storage device of the client device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Improved techniques and apparatus for managing data between a host device (e.g., host computer) and a media device are disclosed. The data being managed can, for example, pertain to media data for media assets. The managing of the media data thus can involve transfer of media assets between the host device and the media device. The transfer of media assets can, for example, take into consideration of potentially more important or time sensitive tasks that the media device is performing. In one embodiment, the transfer of media assets between a host device and a media device can be referred to as synchronization.
164 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for transferring media assets between a host computer and a client device, the client device capable of connecting with a computer network as well as with the host computer, the client device including a media database and a data storage device, said method comprising:
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determining a set of media assets on the host computer that are to be copied to the client device; creating entries in the media database for the media assets in the set of media assets; monitoring whether the client device is busy with tasks other than media assets transfer with the host computer; initiating copying of the media assets in the set of media assets from the host computer to the data storage device of the client device; pausing said copying while said monitoring indicates that the client device is busy with other tasks; and updating the entries in the media database as the media assets are stored to the data storage device of the client device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A media storage and playback system, comprising:
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a host computer having a host data storage device storing media assets, said host computer capable of connecting to a computer network; and a client device having a media database and a client data storage device, said client device being capable of connecting to said host computer, and said client device also being capable of connecting to a computer network, wherein on receiving a play request for a particular media asset at said client device, said client device operates to;
(i) determine whether the media asset file for the particular media asset is available locally from the client data storage device, (ii) retrieve and play the particular media asset from the client data storage device when it is determined that the particular media asset is available locally from the client data storage device, and (iii) open a streaming connection with said host computer to receive and play streamed media data pertaining to the particular media asset when it is determined that the particular media asset is not available locally from the client data storage device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for transferring media assets between a host computer and a client device, the client device capable of connecting with a computer network as well as with the host computer, the client device including a media database and a data storage device, said computer readable medium comprising:
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computer program code for determining a set of media assets on the host computer that are to be copied to the client device; computer program code for creating entries in the media database for the media assets in the set of media assets; computer program code for monitoring whether the client device is busy with tasks other than media asset transfer with the host computer; computer program code for initiating copying of the media assets in the set of media assets from the host computer to the data storage device of the client device; computer program code for pausing said copying while said monitoring indicates that the client device is busy with other tasks; and computer program code for updating the entries in the media database as the media assets are stored to the data storage device of the client device. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for pairing together a media device and a host computer for wireless data transmission therebetween, said method comprising:
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discovering the media device within wireless range of the host computer; determining whether the media device is already paired with the host computer; displaying a passcode dialog if it is determined that the media device is not already paired; receiving an entered passcode via the passcode dialog if being displayed; and pairing the media device with the host computer if the entered passcode matches a passcode associated with the media device. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification