Prioritized Data Synchronization with Host Device

• US 20080168526A1
• Filed: 02/26/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wysocki, Christopher R., Robbin, Jeffrey L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,631,088 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/139
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/178 Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/182 Distributed file systems

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. In one embodiment, the transfer of media assets between a host device and a media device can be referred to as synchronization.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing media assets between a host computer and a client device, the client device having a limited storage capacity for storage of media assets, said method comprising:

determining a set of media assets on the host computer that are eligible to be copied to the client device;

ranking the media assets within the set of media assets based on data types of the media assets; and

copying the media assets within the set of media assets from the host computer to the client device in accordance with said ranking, whereby media assets associated with higher rankings are more likely able to be stored to the client device.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

reducing, prior to said copying, the number of media assets within the set of media assets so as to not exceed the limited storage capacity for media assets at the client device.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein a user of the client device can disable synchronization for one or more of the data types so that media assets with the one or more data types being disabled are not copied to the client device.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

identifying one of more of the media assets within the set of media assets that are not usable on the client device; and

removing, prior to said copying, the one or more identified media assets that are not usable on the client device from the set of media assets.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the types of media assets are categories.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein a user of the client device can disable synchronization for a category so that media assets with the category are not copied to the client device.

7. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein said ranking comprises ranking the media assets within each of the categories in accordance with at least one rule.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the at least one rule provides an alphabetical ranking.

9. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the at least one rule ranks newer media assets higher.

10. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein a plurality of the media assets within at least one of the categories are provided in an ordered list, and

wherein said method further comprises:

displaying the ordered list on the client device; and

permitting a user of the client device to interact with the client device to re-order at least one of the media assets within the ordered list.

11. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein said ranking operates such that those media assets in a given category that are specifically designated for synchronization are ranked higher than other media assets even those that are generally designed for synchronization.

12. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein said ranking comprises:

ranking the media assets within a first of the categories in accordance with at least a first rule; and

ranking the media assets within a second of the categories in accordance with at least a second rule, the second rule being different than the first rule.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said ranking utilizes a least a first priority policy and a second priority policy in ranking the media assets within the set of media assets.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the first priority policy determines priority between data types, and a second priority policy determines priority within a data type.

15. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said ranking is influenced by at least one synchronization preference provided on at least one of the host computer and the client computer.

16. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the different data types are prioritized, and

wherein a user of the client device can alter the prioritization between the different data types.

17. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said ranking is influenced by at least one synchronization preference provided on at least one of the host computer and the client computer.

18. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for synchronizing digital assets between a first electronic device and a second electronic device, the second electronic device having a limited storage capacity for storage of digital assets, said method comprising:

computer program code for determining a set of digital assets on the first electronic device that are eligible to be copied to the second electronic device;

computer program code for prioritizing the digital assets within the set of digital assets based on data types of the digital assets; and

computer program code for copying the digital assets within the set of digital assets from the first electronic device to the second electronic device in accordance with said prioritization, whereby digital assets associated with higher rankings are more likely able to be stored to the second electronic device.

19. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 18, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for prioritizing within each of the data types in accordance with priority rules.

20. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 19, wherein the priority rules are different for at least two of the data types.

21. A media storage and playback system, comprising:

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 when synchronizing media assets between said host computer and said client device, said client device operates to;

(i) determine a set of media assets on said host computer that are eligible to be copied to said client device;

(ii) rank the media assets within the set of media assets based on data types of the media assets; and

(iii) copy the media assets within the set of media assets from said host computer to said client device in accordance with the ranking so that those media assets associated with higher rankings are copied before those with lower rankings.