System and Method for Digital Picture Frame Syndication

• US 20090295991A1
• Filed: 05/30/2008
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sweeney, Jeffrey Michael, Stafford, Jeffrey S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,504,611 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/500
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/02 Graphics controller able to handle multiple formats, e.g. input or output formats
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/005 Adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/12 Synchronisation between the display unit and other units, e.g. other display units, video-disc players
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00413 using menus, i.e. presenting the user with a plurality of selectable options H04N1/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00448 horizontally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00458 Sequential viewing of a plurality of images, e.g. browsing or scrolling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00461 marking or otherwise tagging one or more displayed image, e.g. for selective reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00482 outputting a plurality of job set-up options, e.g. number of copies, paper size or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32502 in systems having a plurality of input or output devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32534 details of interfacing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0089 Image display device

Abstract

A system and method for synchronizing feeds for multiple digital picture frames. Pictures are received. Each of the pictures is associated with one or more feeds. One or more of a number of digital picture frames are designated to receive each of the one or more feeds. User preferences are received for delivering the one or more feeds. The one or more feeds are communicated to the one or more digital picture frames designated to receive the one or more feeds.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing feeds for a plurality of digital picture frames, comprising:

receiving a plurality of pictures;

associating each of the plurality of pictures with one or more feeds;

designating one or more of a plurality of digital picture frames to receive each of the one or more feeds;

receiving user preferences for delivering the one or more feeds; and

communicating the one or more feeds to the one or more of the plurality of digital picture frames designated to receive the one or more feeds.

2. The method according claim 1, wherein the receiving, associating, designating, receiving, and communicating are performed by a platform.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

linking the one or more digital picture frames with the platform.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the linking further comprises:

registering an identifier of the plurality of digital picture frames with the platform for delivering the one or more feeds.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the identifier is any of an Internet Protocol address, a MAC address, a network address, and a hardware address.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of digital picture frames is designated to receive a plurality of the one or more feeds.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user preferences indicate whether each of the plurality of digital picture frames may subscribe to the one or more feeds.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

selecting one a plurality of contacts to be associated with the each of the plurality of digital picture frames.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

inviting the one of a plurality of contacts to receive the one or more feeds;

communicating the one or more feeds to one of more of the plurality of digital picture frames associated with the one of a plurality of contacts in response to the one of the plurality of contacts accepting an invitation.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user preferences specify the frequency the one or more feeds are communicated to the one or more digital picture frames.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

configuring each of the one or more digital picture frames to manage a plurality of feeds according to display preferences.

12. A server configured to communicate a feed to a plurality of digital picture frames, the server comprising:

a user interface configured to receive pictures selected by a user, the user interface operable to prompt the user to select one or more feeds associated with each of the pictures and associate each of the one or more feeds with one or more of the plurality of digital picture frames;

a memory configured to store the pictures for communication in one or more feeds to a plurality of digital picture frames; and

a transceiver configured to communicate the pictures to the each of the plurality of digital picture frames previously associated with the one or more feeds.

13. The server according to claim 12, wherein the user interface is configured to send an invitation to one or more contacts linked with one of the plurality of digital picture frames to receive one of the one or more feeds.

14. The server according to claim 12, wherein the transceiver communicates the one or more feeds to the one or more of the plurality of digital picture frames associated with the feed utilizing a network address.

15. The server according to claim 12, wherein the transceiver is configured to communicate the pictures associated with the one or more feeds when an update is made to the pictures stored in the memory.

16. The server according to claim 12, wherein the transceiver routes the one or more feeds to a personal computer for delivery to one of the plurality of digital picture frames associated with the feed.

17. A digital picture frame for receiving feeds, comprising:

a processor configured to format pictures for a display;

a memory in communication with the processor, the memory is configured to store the pictures for display;

a user interface in communication with the memory, the user interface configured to receive user input for updating display preferences; and

a transceiver in communication with the memory, the transceiver configured to receive the pictures associated with a feed, wherein the display shows the pictures in accordance with the display preferences.

18. The digital picture frame according to claim 17, wherein the user interface is configured to receive an invitation to join a new feed, wherein in response to accepting the invitation the new feed is communicated to the transceiver to be stored in the memory for display.

19. The digital picture frame according to claim 17, wherein the transceiver receives the feed based on a network address associated with the digital picture frame, and wherein the feed is delivered directly to the digital picture frame or through a personal computer in communication with the digital picture frame in response to approval of the pictures in the feed.

20. The digital picture frame, according to claim 17, wherein the digital picture frame receives a plurality of feeds, and wherein the pictures associated with the plurality of feeds are shown according to the display preferences.