SYSTEM, NETWORK AND METHOD FOR MULTI-PLATFORM PUBLISHING AND SYNCHRONIZED CONTENT

• US 20100161729A1
• Filed: 05/04/2009
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Chalk Media Corporation (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: O'Reilly, Jacob Samuel, Waugh, Michael Derek, Verzilli, Silvio, Powell, Howard Frith, Hudson, David James, Glidden, Jody, Leblanc, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,176,121 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols

Abstract

A method for synchronizing content delivery to a plurality of delivery devices of a user. A communications network and a system are also provided. The delivery devices include at least one computer connected to internet and at least one mobile device. The method comprises retrieving profile data concerning the plurality of delivery devices of the user; sending an invitation to deliver content to the plurality of delivery devices of the user; receiving at least two responses to the invitation, for each response received: identifying a responding delivery device of the plurality of delivery devices from which the response is received using the profile data; retrieving a platform type of the responding delivery device accepting the invitation; and retrieving and providing a delivery version of the content in a delivery format acceptable for the platform of the responding delivery device. In one embodiment, the method further comprises tracking usage of the content by the user on each the responding delivery device.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing content delivery to a plurality of delivery devices of a user, including at least one computer connected to internet and at least one mobile device, the method comprising:

retrieving profile data concerning said plurality of delivery devices of said user;

sending an invitation to deliver content to said plurality of delivery devices of said user;

receiving at least two responses to said invitation from separate ones of said plurality of delivery devices, for each response received;

identifying a responding delivery device of said plurality of delivery devices from which said response is received using said profile data;

retrieving a platform type of said responding delivery device accepting said invitation;

retrieving and providing a delivery version of said content in a delivery format acceptable for said platform of said responding delivery device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving an access application type for said responding delivery device accepting said invitation corresponding to an access application on said responding delivery device for accessing said content;

wherein said access application is one of a browser connected to internet and a local player on said delivery device having access to a local storage on said delivery device;

wherein said providing said delivery version comprises, depending on said access application, one of sending said delivery version of said content for download by said responding delivery device and providing said delivery version for accessing in said browser on said responding delivery device.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising tracking usage of said content by said user on each said responding delivery device.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said tracking comprising

storing a user log for each of said responding delivery device, said user log including a time stamp and an activity description for at least one activity carried out by said user on said content;

transmitting said user log for each of said responding delivery device to a content tracker;

cumulating said user log from each of said responding delivery device for said user at said content tracker in a user content profile.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said activity is one of a beginning of an access to said content, an end of an access to said content, a completion of rendering of a section of said content, an inputting of an answer in an assessment portion of said content.

6. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising extracting access statistics from said user content profile for said user.

7. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising gathering assessment statistics from said user content profile for said user.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising reporting at least one of said access statistics and said assessment statistics.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

providing a rendering limit, said rendering limit being a number of times said user is allowed to render said content on said plurality of delivery devices;

obtaining an access count from said access statistics, said access count being a number of times said user has accessed said content on any of said delivery devices;

comparing said access count to said rendering limit;

if said access count is equal to said rendering limit, blocking access to said content on all said responding delivery devices.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said blocking access comprises transmitting a blocked access replacement content to said responding delivery device.

11. A communications network having at least one content server configurable to deliver content to a plurality of delivery devices, the content server being configured for

retrieving profile data concerning said plurality of delivery devices of said user from a user profile storage;

sending an invitation to deliver content to said plurality of delivery devices of said user through a platform connector;

receiving at least two responses to said invitation at said platform connector from separate ones of said plurality of delivery devices;

for each response received;

identifying a responding delivery device of said plurality of delivery devices from which said response is received using said profile data;

retrieving a platform type of said responding delivery device accepting said invitation;

retrieving and providing a delivery version of said content in a delivery format acceptable for said platform of said responding delivery device from a central content storage.

12. The communications network as claimed in claim 11, wherein said content server is further configured to comprise:

retrieving an access application type for said responding delivery device accepting said invitation corresponding to an access application on said responding delivery device for accessing said content;

wherein said access application is one of a browser connected to internet and a local player on said delivery device having access to a local storage on said delivery device;

wherein said providing said delivery version comprises, depending on said access application, one of sending said delivery version of said content for download by said responding delivery device and providing said delivery version for accessing in said browser on said responding delivery device.

13. The communications network as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a user tracker for tracking usage of said content by said user on each said responding delivery device.

14. The communications network as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

a content tracker for cumulating said usage tracked by said user tracker from each of said responding delivery device for said user in a user content profile.

15. A synchronized content delivery system for delivering synchronized content to a plurality of delivery devices, the system comprising:

a plurality of delivery devices of a user, including at least one computer connected to internet and at least one mobile device;

a user profile storage including profile data concerning said plurality of delivery devices of said user;

a platform connector for sending an invitation to deliver content to said plurality of delivery devices of said user and for receiving at least two responses to said invitation from separate ones of said plurality of delivery devices, said platform connector, for each response received, identifying a responding delivery device of said plurality of delivery devices from which said response is received using said profile data;

retrieving a platform type of said responding delivery device accepting said invitation;

retrieving and providing a delivery version of said content in a delivery format acceptable for said platform of said responding delivery device.

16. The synchronized content delivery system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said platform connector further is for retrieving an access application type for said responding delivery device accepting said invitation corresponding to an access application on said responding delivery device for accessing said content;

wherein said access application is one of a browser connected to internet and a local player on said delivery device having access to a local storage on said delivery device;

wherein said providing said delivery version comprises, depending on said access application, one of sending said delivery version of said content for download by said responding delivery device and providing said delivery version for accessing in said browser on said responding delivery device.

17. The synchronized content delivery system as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a user tracker for tracking usage of said content by said user on each said responding delivery device.

18. The synchronized content delivery system as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

a content tracker for cumulating said usage tracked by said user tracker from each of said responding delivery device for said user in a user content profile.