PORTABLE CONTENT PLAYER, CONTENT STORAGE DEVICE, AND METHOD OF SYNCHRONIZING CONTENT STATE LISTS BETWEEN PORTABLE CONTENT PLAYER AND CONTENT STORAGE DEVICE

• US 20140074779A1
• Filed: 11/19/2013
• Published: 03/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Koo, Min-soo
• Granted Patent: US 9,552,364 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/610
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/178 Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel

Abstract

A portable content player, a content storage device, and a method of synchronizing content between the portable content player and the content storage device, the method including: generating a first content state list for content stored in the content storage device and a second content state list for content stored in the portable content player; generating an execution list based on the first content state list and the second content state list; and matching the first content state list with the second content state list by executing a synchronization command included in the execution list on content selected to be synchronized. Accordingly, a user can automatically match the content state lists of the portable content player and the content storage device.

Claims

1. A method of synchronizing content state between a first device and a second device, the method comprising:

comparing a first content state for contents stored in the first device and a second content state for contents stored in the second device if the first device and the second device are connected to each other; and

transmitting a whole or a portion of at least one content to each other to synchronize the content state if the first content state for the at least one content does not match the second content state for the at least one content.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the content state further comprises a reproduction state for contents stored in the device.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the reproduction state is one of a completely-reproduced state, a not-completely-reproduced state and a not-reproduced state.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one of the first device and the second device has information on a reproduction-interruption point for each content that has not been completely reproduced.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one of the first device and the second device finds the reproduction-interruption point for a content and reproduces the content from a portion subsequent to the reproduction-interruption point of the content.

6. A content storage device having a content reproduction function and performing content synchronization with a portable content player device, the content storage device comprising:

a content storage unit to store contents;

a content state comparing unit to compare a first content state for contents stored in the content storage device and a second content state for contents stored in the portable content player device if the content storage device and the portable content player device are connected to each other; and

a transmitting/receiving unit to transmit or receive a whole or a portion of at least one content to/from the portable content player device to synchronize the content state if the first content state for the at least one content does not match the second content state for the at least one content.

7. The content storage device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the content state further comprises a reproduction state for contents stored in the content storage device and the portable content player device.

8. The content storage device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the reproduction state is one of a completely-reproduced state, a not-completely-reproduced state and a not-reproduced state.

9. The content storage device as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least one of the content storage device and the portable content player device has information on a reproduction-interruption point for each content that has not been completely reproduced.

10. The content storage device as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one of the content storage device and the portable content player device finds the reproduction-interruption point for a content and reproduces the content from a portion subsequent to the reproduction-interruption point of the content.

11. The content storage device as claimed in one of claims 6-10, wherein the content storage device is a personal computer.

12. A portable content player device having a content reproduction function and performing content synchronization with a content storage device, the content storage device comprising:

a content storage unit to store contents;

a content state comparing unit to compare a first content state for contents stored in the content storage device and a second content state for contents stored in the portable content player device if the content storage device and the portable content player device are connected to each other;

a transmitting/receiving unit to transmit or receive a whole or a portion of at least one content to/from the content storage device to synchronize the content state if the first content state for the at least one content does not match the second content state for the at least one content.

13. The portable content player device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the content state further comprises a reproduction state for contents stored in the content storage device and the portable content player device.

14. The portable content player device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the reproduction state is one of a completely-reproduced state, a not-completely-reproduced state and a not-reproduced state.

15. The portable content player device as claimed in claim 14, wherein at least one of the content storage device and the portable content player device has information on a reproduction-interruption point for each content that has not been completely reproduced.

16. The portable content player device as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least one of the content storage device and the portable content player device finds the reproduction-interruption point for a content and reproduces the content from a portion subsequent to the reproduction-interruption point of the content.