Method for resuming content reproduction across devices

• US 8,306,391 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2006
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Viswambharan, Manoj, Litwin, Louis Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thai
• Assistant Examiner(s): HASAN, SYED Y
• Application Number:
  US12/226,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20090274453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,374 Days
• Field of Search: 386/241, 386/201, 386/230, 386/231, 386/235, 386/240, 386/249, 386/328, 386/343, 386/349, 386/E5.001, 386/E5.013, 386/200, 386/297, 386/E5.002, 348/563, 348/564, 348/E5.006, 348/E5.103, 348/E5.105, 348/E7.061, 348/E7.07, 348/E7.071, 375/E7.021, 375/E7.024, 375/E7.025, 709/219, 709/246, 715/234, 725/87, 725/88, 725/100, 725/109, 725/110, 725/112, 725/114, 725/115, 725/131, 725/135, 725/138, 725/139
• US Class Current: 386/241
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10 Digital recording or reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10944 Real-time recording or reproducing, e.g. for ensuring seamless playback of AV data
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 for more than one processing mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

A method for operating a data reproduction device enables users to resume reproduction of audio and/or video content across different devices of the same or different type. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method includes steps of receiving first index data from a different data reproduction device wherein the first index data indicates a first position in content in a first format and the content includes at least one of audio and video data, determining a second position in the content in a second format using the first index data, and enabling reproduction of the content in the second format beginning from the second position.

Claims

1. A first data reproduction device, comprising:

an input operative to receive first index data from a second data reproduction device, said first index data indicating a first position in content in a first encoding format, said content including at least one of audio and video data;

a processor operative to determine a second position in said content in a second encoding format using said first index data; and

wherein said first position represents a position in which said second data reproduction device interrupted reproducing said content, and said processor enables reproduction of said content in said second encoding format beginning from said second position, wherein said first index data indicates a first time interval from a beginning of said content to said first position and a second time interval from the beginning of said content to said second position is equal to the first time interval minus a predefined amount.

2. The first data reproduction device of claim 1, wherein said first and second data reproduction devices are coupled through a communication link and said second data reproduction device sends said first index data to said first data reproduction device through said communication link.

3. The first data reproduction device of claim 1, wherein said predefined amount is user programmable.

4. The first data reproduction device of claim 1, wherein said second position represents a position of an intra-coded frame within said content that is closest to said first position.

5. The first data reproduction device of claim 1, wherein said second data reproduction device transmits said first index data to said first data reproduction device responsive to a command to one of stop and pause reproduction of said content on said second data reproduction device.

6. The first data reproduction device of claim 1, wherein said first data reproduction device requests said first index data from said second data reproduction device responsive to a command to begin reproduction of said content on said first data reproduction device.

7. The first data reproduction device of claim 1, wherein:

said first data reproduction device and said second data reproduction device are connected on a network with at least one other data reproduction device;

said first data reproduction device requests all index data applicable to said content from said network responsive to a command to begin reproduction of said content on said first data reproduction device;

said first data reproduction device receives said first index data responsive to said request;

said first data reproduction device receives second index data corresponding to said at least one other data reproduction device responsive to said request; and

said second position is determined from said first and second index data and a user input.

8. A method for operating a first data reproduction device, comprising steps of:

receiving first index data from a second data reproduction device, said first index data indicating a first position in content stored in said second data reproduction device in a first encoding, format, said first position represents a position in which said second data reproduction device interrupted reproducing said content, said content including at least one of audio and video data;

determining a second position in said content stored in said first data reproduction device in a second encoding format using said first index data; and

enabling reproduction of said content in said second encoding format beginning from said second position, wherein said first index data indicates a first time interval from a beginning of said content to said first position and a second time interval from the beginning of said content to said second position is equal to the first time interval minus a predefined amount.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said first and second data reproduction devices are coupled through a communication link and said second data reproduction device sends said first index data to said first data reproduction device through said communication link.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said predefined amount is user programmable.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said second position represents a position of an intra-coded frame within said content that is closest to said first position.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said second data reproduction device transmits said first index data to said first data reproduction device responsive to a command to one of stop and pause reproduction of said content on said second data reproduction device.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said first data reproduction device requests said first index data from said second data reproduction device responsive to a command to begin reproduction of said content on said first data reproduction device.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said first data reproduction device and said second data reproduction device are connected on a network with at least one other data reproduction device, and further comprising steps of:

requesting all index data applicable to said content from said network responsive to a command to begin reproduction of said content on said first data reproduction device;

receiving said first index data responsive to said request;

receiving second index data corresponding to said at least one other data reproduction device responsive to said request; and

determining said second position from said first and second index data and a user input.

15. A first data reproduction device, comprising:

a memory for storing first index data indicating a first position in content in a first encoding format, said first position representing a position in which said first data reproduction device interrupts reproducing said content, said content including at least one of audio and video data;

an output operative to output said first index data to a second data reproduction device; and

wherein said second data reproduction device determines a second position in said content in a second encoding format using said first index data and enables reproduction of said content in said second encoding format beginning from said second position, wherein said first index data indicates a first time interval from a beginning of said content to said first position and a second time interval from the beginning of said content to said second position is equal to the first time interval minus a predefined amount.

16. The first data reproduction device of claim 15, wherein said first and second data reproduction devices are coupled through a communication link and said first data reproduction device sends said first index data to said second data reproduction device through said communication link.

17. The first data reproduction device of claim 15, wherein said predefined amount is user programmable.

18. The first data reproduction device of claim 15, wherein said second position represents a position of an intra-coded frame within said content that is closest to said first position.

19. The first data reproduction device of claim 15, wherein said output means outputs said first index data to said second data reproduction device responsive to a command to one of stop and pause reproduction of said content on said first data reproduction device.

20. The first data reproduction device of claim 15, wherein said second data reproduction device requests said first index data from said first data reproduction device responsive to a command to begin reproduction of said content on said second data reproduction device.

21. The first data reproduction device of claim 15, wherein:

said first data reproduction device and said second data reproduction device are connected on a network with at least one other data reproduction device;

said second data reproduction device requests all index data applicable to said content from said network responsive to a command to begin reproduction of said content on said second data reproduction device;

said second data reproduction device receives said first index data responsive to said request;

said second data reproduction device receives second index data corresponding to said at least one other data reproduction device responsive to said request; and

said second position is determined from said first and second index data and a user input.

22. A method for operating a data reproduction device, comprising steps of:

reproducing content stored in a first encoding format, said content including at least one of audio and video data;

interrupting the reproduction of said content stored in the first encoding format and storing a first index indicating a first position in said content in said first encoding format;

determining a second position in said content stored in a second encoding format using said first index; and

enabling reproduction of said content in said second encoding format beginning from said second position, wherein said first index indicates a first time interval from a beginning of said content to said first position and a second time interval from the beginning of said content to said second position is equal to the first time interval minus a predefined amount.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said predefined amount is user programmable.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein said second position represents a position of an intra-coded frame within said content that is closest to said first position.