Methods and apparatuses for synchronizing and managing content over multiple devices

• US 8,375,133 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2007
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Law, Ho Kee
• Primary Examiner(s): Zele, Krista
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCOTT, RANDY A
• Application Number:
  US11/890,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20090043896A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,016 Days
• Field of Search: 709/227, 709/228, 709/229, 709/245, 709/249, 725/19, 725/20, 725/40, 725/42
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/142 Managing session states for stateless protocols; Signalling session states; State transitions; Keeping-state mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/143 Termination or inactivation of sessions, e.g. event-controlled end of session

Abstract

In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses detect an active device configured to utilize content; identify the content and a current location of the content; detect an idle device configured to selectively deliver the content; detect a transition parameter for determining a transition to the idle device; and transition the content from the active device to the idle device wherein the idle device is capable of utilizing the content based on the transition parameter.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting an active device utilizing content and reproducing the content for a user identifying the content and a current location of the content, wherein the current location of the content corresponds to a location within the content of a portion of the content currently being reproduced;

detecting one or more potential target devices configured to selectively reproduce the content for the user;

detecting a location of the user;

detecting a transition parameter based on at least the location of the user;

determining whether a transition to a potential target device should occur based on at least the detected transition parameter;

pausing the content on the active device when the location of the user exceeds a first distance from the active device; and

transitioning the content from the active device to one of the one or more potential target devices when the user is within a second distance from the one of the one or more potential target devices by providing the current location of the content to the one of the one or more potential target devices, wherein the one of the one or more potential target devices begins utilizing the content based on the current location of the content received and reproducing the content at the current location of the content.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the one or more potential target devices comprises one of:

a video player/recorder, an audio player, a gaming console, a set top box, a personal computer, a cellular telephone, and a personal digital assistant.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the active device comprises one of:

a video player/recorder, an audio player, a gaming console, a set top box, a personal computer, a cellular telephone, and a personal digital assistant.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising analyzing the transition parameter and determining the transition from the active device to the one of the one or more potential target devices.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising storing the current location of the content.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the transition parameter includes one of:

a location of the active device, a location of the one of the one or more potential target devices, a usage pattern, and a transition signal.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the content comprises one of:

an audio stream, an image, a video stream, a photograph, a graphical file, a text file, a software application, and an electronic message.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising terminating the active device based on the transition parameter.

9. The method according to claim 1 further comprising initiating the one of the one or more potential target devices to utilize the content and reproduce the content at the current location of the content.

10. The method according to claim 1 further comprising preloading the content onto the one of the one or more potential target devices.

11. The method according to claim 1 further comprising preloading additional content onto the one of the one or more potential target devices.

12. The method according to claim 1 further comprising simultaneously utilizing the content on the active device and the one of the one or more potential target devices.

13. The method according to claim 1 further comprising resuming the content on the active device when the user is within the first distance from the active device.

14. A processor-based system, comprising:

one or more processor-based apparatuses;

a content detection module configured for detecting content and a current location of the content, wherein the current location of the content corresponds to a location within the content of a portion of the content currently being reproduced;

a device detection module configured for detecting an active device and one or more potential target devices and further configured for detecting a location for the active device and a location for the one or more potential target devices, wherein the active device and the one or more potential target devices are configured to reproduce the content for a user;

a user detection module for detecting a location of the user; and

a transition module configured for detecting a transition parameter based on at least the location of the user and determining a transition based on the transition parameter and further configured to selectively transition utilizing the content and reproducing the content on the active device to utilizing and reproducing the content on one of the one or more potential target devices;

wherein the transition module is configured to synchronize the content by pausing the content on the active device when the location of the user exceeds a first distance from the active device and providing the current location of the content to the one of the one or more target devices when the user is within a second distance from the one of the one or more potential target devices, such that the one of the one or more target devices begins to utilize the content based on the current location of the content and reproduce the content at the current location; and

wherein each of the content detection module, the device detection module and the transition module is implemented by at least one of the one or more processor-based apparatuses.

15. The system according to claim 14 wherein the content comprises one of:

an audio stream, an image, a video stream, a photograph, a graphical file, a text file, a software application, and an electronic message.

16. The system according to claim 14 further comprising a profile module configured for tracking a plurality of content and devices.

17. The system according to claim 14 further comprising a storage module configured for storing the content.

18. The system according to claim 14 wherein the transition parameters includes one of:

a location of the active device, a location of the one of the one or more potential target devices, a usage pattern, and a transition signal.

19. A tangible non-transitory computer- readable storage medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

detecting an active device utilizing content and reproducing the content for a user;

identifying the content and a current location of the content, wherein the current location of the content corresponds to a location within the content of a portion of the content currently being reproduced;

detecting one or more potential target devices configured to selectively reproduce the content for the user;

detecting a location of the user;

detecting a transition parameter based on at least the location of the user;

determining whether a transition to a potential target device should occur based on at least the detected transition parameter;

pausing the content on the active device when the location of the user exceeds a first distance from the active device; and

transitioning the content from the active device to one of the one or more potential target devices when the user is within a second distance from the one of the one or more potential target devices by providing the current location of the content to the one of the one or more potential target devices, wherein the one of the one or more potential target devices begins utilizing the content based on the current location of the content received and reproducing the content at the current location of the content.