PORTABLE UNIVERSAL PERSONAL STORAGE, ENTERTAINMENT, AND COMMUNICATION DEVICE

• US 20140052834A1
• Filed: 10/22/2013
• Published: 02/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Tsern, Ely, Tsern, Megan, Mooring, David, Mooring, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,084,644 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/52 Program synchronisation; Mutual exclusion, e.g. by means of semaphores
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings

Abstract

A method for synchronizing configuration states of a portable device across a plurality of computing platforms comprises associating a plurality of computing device platforms in a plurality of computing device types with a plurality of synchronization protocols; identifying a type of first computing device via a network; identifying a synchronization protocol associated with the computing device platform in the identified computing device; sending a configuration state from the portable device to the first computing device according to the identified synchronization protocol, and updating the configuration state according to user input on the first computing device; receiving an updated configuration state from the first computing device; translating the updated configuration state to a data format used by a second computing device platform in a second computing device; and storing the updated configuration state and the translated updated configuration state on the portable device.

Claims

1. On a portable device comprising a processor and a memory, a method for synchronizing configuration states across a plurality of computing platforms, comprising:

associating by data structures in the memory, a plurality of computing device platforms in a plurality of computing device types with a plurality of synchronization protocols;

identifying a type of first computing device via a network;

identifying from a plurality of synchronization protocols, a synchronization protocol associated with the computing device platform in the identified computing device;

sending a configuration state from the portable device to the first computing device according to the identified synchronization protocol, wherein the first computing device updates the configuration state according to user input on the first computing device;

receiving an updated configuration state from the first computing device;

translating the updated configuration state to a data format used by a second computing device platform in a second computing device; and

storing the updated configuration state and the translated updated configuration state on the portable device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second computing devices do not share a common configuration state data format.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable device is configured to communicate using one of a plurality of network protocols, and wherein each synchronization protocol indicates a network protocol to be used for synchronization.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first computing device is a gaming console and the configuration state indicates a game state, and wherein the game state includes billing information, purchase history, or accessory download credits.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying step comprises using a lookup table associating the plurality of computing platforms with the plurality of synchronization protocols.

6. On a computing device, a method for synchronizing configuration states to a portable device, comprising:

identifying a type of the computing device to the portable device in a wireless range;

receiving from the portable device a descriptor of a remote configuration state stored on the portable device;

receiving an input from a user, the input indicating a choice between the remote configuration state and a local configuration state;

receiving the remote configuration state from the portable device when the user input indicates the remote configuration state; and

storing the remote configuration state on the computing device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the computing device is a gaming console and the local and remote configuration states indicate local and remote game states.

8. A portable device for synchronizing configuration states across a plurality of computing platforms, comprising:

a memory element associating a plurality of computing platforms in a plurality of computing device types with a plurality of synchronization protocols; and

a processor, the processor to;

identify a type of a first computing platform in a first computing device via a network;

identify from a plurality of synchronization protocols, a synchronization protocol associated with the type of the first computing device;

send a configuration state from the portable device to the first computing device according to the identified synchronization protocol, wherein the first computing device updates the configuration state according to user input on the first computing device;

receive an updated configuration state from the first computing device;

translate the updated configuration state to a data format used by a second computing device; and

store the updated configuration state and the translated updated configuration state on the portable device.

9. The device of claim 8 where in the first and second computing devices do not share a common configuration state data format.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the portable device is configured to communicate using one of a plurality of network protocols, and wherein each synchronization protocol indicates a network protocol to be used for synchronization.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the first computing device is a gaming console and the configuration state indicates a game state, wherein the game state includes billing information, purchase history, or accessory download credits.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the identifying step comprises using a lookup table associating the plurality of computing platforms with the plurality of synchronization protocols.

13. A computing device for synchronizing configuration states to a portable device, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor, the at least one processor configured to;

identify a type of the computing device to the portable device in a wireless range;

receive from the portable device a descriptor of a remote configuration state stored on the portable device;

receive an input from a user, the input indicating a choice between the remote configuration state and a local configuration state;

receive the remote configuration state from the portable device when the user input indicates the remote configuration state; and

store the remote configuration state on the computing device.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the computing device is a gaming console and the local and remote configuration states indicate local and remote game states.

15. On a portable device implementing a restriction policy on the availability of features of the portable device, a method for updating the restriction policy over a network, comprising:

determining a location of the portable device;

identifying the portable device to a server over the network wherein the server is configured to provide one or more restriction policy updates;

based on the identified portable device, receiving a restriction policy update from the server wherein the restriction policy includes access limitations to device features and functionality based on time of day and device location and wherein the device uses the restriction policy to limit device functionality;

storing the restriction policy update on the portable device;

configuring, controlling and limiting access to various functions by a user of the portable device wherein the configuring, controlling and limiting access further comprises providing new content to the portable device; and

updating availability of portable device features according to the received restriction policy update.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the updated restriction policy is schedule based.

17. The method of claim, 15 wherein the portable device updates a visual display of the portable device to indicate an updated feature availability.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein limiting access to various functions further comprises:

limiting usage based on location of the portable device;

restricting application usage based on specific scheduled times;

restricting application usage after reaching certain usage time limits; and

limiting whom the portable device can connect to.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising providing by the server, information on usage of the portable device and the amount of time spent using a given program.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising at least one of:

setting a time limit on the amount of usage of a specific program;

setting global time limits on programs that synchronize a game or character states with the portable device; and

setting the time limit across multiple platforms.

21. A portable device that updates restriction policies of a portable device over a network, comprising:

a memory storing a restriction policy on availability of portable device features; and

a processor configured to;

determine a location of the portable device;

identify the portable device to a server over the network wherein the server is configured to provide one or more restriction policy updates;

receive a restriction policy update from the server based on the identified portable device wherein the restriction policy includes access limitations to device features and functionality based on time of day and device location and wherein the device uses the restriction policy to limit device functionality;

store the restriction policy update on the portable device;

receive input from a user to configure, control and limit access to various functions of the portable device wherein the received input further comprises remotely providing new content to the portable device; and

update availability of portable device features according to the received restriction policy update.