Methods and apparatuses for synchronizing and managing content over multiple devices

• US 20090043896A1
• Filed: 08/07/2007
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Law, Ho Kee
• Granted Patent: US 8,375,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• 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 67/142 Managing session states for stateless protocols; Signalling session states; State transitions; Keeping-state mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/143 Termination or inactivation of sessions, e.g. event-controlled end of session

Abstract

In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses detect an active device configured to utilize content; identify the content and a current location of the content; detect an idle device configured to selectively deliver the content; detect a transition parameter for determining a transition to the idle device; and transition the content from the active device to the idle device wherein the idle device is capable of utilizing the content based on the transition parameter.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting an active device configured to utilize content;

identifying the content and a current location of the content;

detecting an idle device configured to selectively deliver the content;

detecting a transition parameter for determining a transition to the idle device; and

transitioning the content from the active device to the idle device wherein the idle device is capable of utilizing the content based on the transition parameter.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the idle device is one of:

a video player/recorder, an audio player, a gaming console, a set top box, a personal computer, a cellular telephone, and a personal digital assistant.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the active device is one of:

a video player/recorder, an audio player, a gaming console, a set top box, a personal computer, a cellular telephone, and a personal digital assistant.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising analyzing the transition parameter and determining the transition from the active device to the idle device.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising storing the current location of the content.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the transmission parameter includes one of:

a location of the active device, a location of the idle device, a usage pattern, and a transition signal.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the content is one of:

an audio stream, an image, a video stream, a photograph, a graphical file, a text file, a software application, and an electronic message.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising terminating the active device based on the transition parameter.

9. The method according to claim 1 further comprising initiating the idle device to utilize the content at the current location of the content.

10. The method according to claim 1 further comprising preloading the content onto the idle device based on the transition parameter.

11. The method according to claim 1 further comprising preloading additional content onto the idle device based on the transition parameter.

12. The method according to claim 1 further comprising simultaneously utilizing the content on the active device and the idle device.

13. The method according to claim 1 further comprising detecting a location of a user.

14. The method according to claim 13 further comprising pausing the content on the active device when the location of the user exceeds a distance from the active device.

15. The method according to claim 14 further comprising resuming the content on the idle device when the user is within the distance from the idle device.

16. The method according to claim 14 further comprising resuming the content on the active device when the user is within the distance from the active device.

17. A system, comprising:

a content detection module configured for detecting content and a current location of the content;

a device detection module configured for detecting an active device and an idle device and further configured for detecting a location for the active device and a location for the idle device; and

a transition module configured for detecting a transition parameter and determining a transition based on the transition parameter and further configured to selectively transition utilizing the content on the active device to utilizing the content on the idle device.

18. The system according to claim 17 wherein the transition module is configured to synchronize the content such that the idle device is configured to utilize the content at the current location.

19. The system according to claim 17 wherein the content is one of:

an audio stream, an image, a video stream, a photograph, a graphical file, a text file, a software application, and an electronic message.

20. The system according to claim 17 further comprising a profile module configured for tracking a plurality of content and devices.

21. The system according to claim 17 further comprising a storage module configured for storing the content.

24. The system according to claim 17 further comprising a user detection module for detecting a location of a user.

25. The system of claim 17 wherein the transmission parameter includes one of:

a location of the active device, a location of the idle device, a usage pattern, and a transition signal.

26. A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

detecting an active device configured to utilize content;

identifying the content and a current location of the content;

detecting an idle device configured to selectively deliver the content;

detecting a transition parameter for determining a transition to the idle device; and

transitioning the content from the active device to the idle device wherein the idle device is capable of utilizing the content based on the transition parameter.