Multimedia synchronization method and device

• US 7,136,934 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2001
• Issued: 11/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Request Incorporated
• Inventors: Carter, Harry Nick, Cococcia, Ronald, Piech, Zachary, Reine, John, Sauter, Silvan, Vasquez, Steven, Willis, Craig, Youn, Hyung-Jun Brutus
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Krisna
• Application Number:
  US09/884,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20020194309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,974 Days
• Field of Search: 709/248, 709/237, 707/201, 725/135
• US Class Current: 709/248
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/764 at the destination reformatting of additional data in video clients H04N21/4355
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4335 Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users

Abstract

A system and method for synchronizing a multiplicity of devices in a multimedia environment is described. The system has at least one central storage and interface device, wherein audio, video, and photographic information including content information and content management information, relating to at least one user, are stored in digital form. The system further has a plurality of zones each having a zone specific storage and interface device being capable of storing or interfacing with information stored in the central storage and interface device, wherein audio, video, or photographic information, relating to at least one user, contained within each one of the plurality of zone specific storage and interface devices and the central storage and interface device, are updated in relation with other zone specific storage and interface devices and the central storage and interface device. This results in the at least one user can be situated at anyone of the zones and access substantially identical audio, video, and photographic information related to the at least one user. The method includes providing the plurality of devices, providing the plurality of zones, determining whether a current synchronization point exists, if a previous synchronization point exists, receiving information from a server, if a previous synchronization point does not exists, sending information to a at least one client by a host, wherein the at least one user is disposed to have control, determining what information is needed by the at least one client, and establishing the resultant state as a synchronization point.

Claims

1. A system for synchronizing a multiplicity of devices in a multimedia environment, comprising:

at least one central storage and interface device, wherein audio, video, and photographic information including content information and content management information, relating to at least one user, are stored in digital form; and

a plurality of zones each having a zone specific storage and interface device being capable of storing or interfacing with information stored in the central storage and interface device, wherein audio, video, or photographic information, relating to at least one user, contained within each one of the plurality of zone specific storage and interface devices and the central storage and interface device, are updated in relation with other zone specific storage and interface devices and the central storage and interface device, whereby the at least one user can be situated at anyone of the zones and access substantially identical audio, video, and photographic information related to the at least one user.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a local area network (LAN) coupled to at least one zone specific storage and interface device with the central storage and interface device, wherein the interconnections within the LAN is hardwired or wireless.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a wide area network (WAN) coupling at least one zone specific storage and interface device with the central storage and interface device.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a set of zone specific output devices coupled to each of the zone specific storage and interface device, wherein audio, video, and photographic information is outputted, thereby the at least one user is disposed to have substantially identical contentinformation and content management information displayed and manipulated in anyone of the zones.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an output device coupled to the at least one central storage and interface device, wherein audio, video, and photographic information is outputted.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a server, wherein audio, video, and photographic information contained within each one of the plurality of zone specific storage and interface devices and the central storage and interface device are stored therein and updated at a predetermined time in relation with other zone specific storage and interface devices as well as the central storage and interface device, coupled to the WAN.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an other device coupled to the central storage and interface device via a network connection other than the LAN or WAN.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one user pre-stores the audio, video, and photographic information by way of using a device comprising the central storage and interface device, and the zone specific storage and interface device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the central storage and interface device comprises means for transmitting or receiving information to or from the zone specific storage and interface device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the zone specific storage and interface device comprises means for transmitting or receiving information to or from the central storage and interface device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the central storage and interface device is capable of converting analog information into digital form.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the zone specific storage and interface device is disposed to be coupled to a personal computer (PC).

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the zone specific storage and interface device is disposed to be coupled to a wireless mobile device.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the central storage and interface device is disposed to be coupled to a wireless mobile device via LAN.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the central storage and interface device is disposed to be coupled to a wireless mobile device via WAN.