System, network and method for multi-platform publishing and synchronized content

• US 8,489,683 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2012
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Leblanc, Michael, Glidden, Jody, Hudson, David James, O'Reilly, Jacob Samuel, Waugh, Michael Derek, Verzilli, Silvio, Powell, Howard Frith
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yohannes, Tesfay
• Application Number:
  US13/438,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20120191814A1
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/223, 709/224, 725/32, 725/93
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols

Abstract

Methods, communications networks and systems for synchronizing content delivery to a plurality of delivery devices of a user. The delivery devices include at least one computer connected to internet and at least one mobile device. The method comprises retrieving profile data concerning the plurality of delivery devices of the user; sending an invitation to deliver content to the plurality of delivery devices of the user; receiving at least two responses to the invitation, for each response received: identifying a responding delivery device of the plurality of delivery devices from which the response is received using the profile data; retrieving a platform type of the responding delivery device accepting the invitation; and retrieving and providing a delivery version of the content in a delivery format acceptable for the platform of the responding delivery device.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing content delivery to a single user, the method comprising:

sending an invitation to deliver content to a plurality of delivery devices associated with the single user, the plurality of delivery devices being identified in accordance with profile data associated with the single user;

in response to signals received from at least one of the plurality of delivery devices, the signals being representative of a response from a respective responding delivery device to the invitation, for each response received;

identifying a platform type and acceptable delivery format of the respective responding delivery device using the profile data associated with the single user;

retrieving and formatting said content in accordance with the identified delivery format;

providing a delivery version of said formatted content in the identified delivery format acceptable for the identified platform type; and

for at least one received response;

identifying an access application type of said respective responding delivery device corresponding to an access application on said respective responding delivery device for accessing said content;

wherein providing said delivery version comprises delivering the content according to the access application type.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said access application is one of a browser connected to internet and a local player on said delivery device having access to a local storage on said delivery device;

and delivering the content comprises, depending on said access application, one of sending said delivery version of said content for download by said responding delivery device and providing said delivery version for accessing in said browser on said responding delivery device.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising tracking usage of said content by said single user on each said responding delivery device.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said tracking comprises:

storing a user log for each responding delivery device, said user log including a time stamp and an activity description for at least one activity carried out by the respective responding delivery device on said content;

transmitting said user log for each responding delivery device to a content tracker; and

cumulating said user log from each responding delivery device for said single user at said content tracker in a user content profile.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said activity is one of a beginning of an access to said content, an end of an access to said content, a completion of rendering of a section of said content, and an inputting of an answer in an assessment portion of said content.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising extracting access statistics from said user content profile for said single user.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising gathering assessment statistics from said user content profile for said single user.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising reporting at least one of said access statistics and said assessment statistics.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

obtaining an access count from said access statistics, said access count being a number of times said single user has accessed said content on any of said delivery devices;

comparing said access count to a rendering limit, said rendering limit being a number of times said single user is allowed to render said content on said plurality of delivery devices; and

upon determining that said access count is equal to or greater than said rendering limit, blocking access to said content by all of said responding delivery devices.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said blocking access comprises transmitting a blocked access replacement content to said responding delivery device.

11. A system for synchronizing content delivery to a single user, the system comprising a processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions to cause the system to:

send an invitation to deliver content to a plurality of delivery devices associated with said single user, the plurality of delivery devices being identified in accordance with profile data associated with the single user;

in response to signals received from at least one of the plurality of delivery devices, the signals being representative of a response from a respective responding delivery device to the invitation, for each response received;

identify a platform type and acceptable delivery format of the respective responding delivery device using profile data associated with the single user;

retrieve and format said content in accordance with the identified delivery format;

provide a delivery version of said formatted content in the identified delivery format acceptable for the identified platform type; and

for at least one received response;

identify an access application type of said respective responding delivery device corresponding to an access application on said respective responding delivery device for accessing said content;

wherein providing said delivery version comprises delivering the content according to the access application type.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said access application is one of a browser connected to internet and a local player on said delivery device having access to a local storage on said delivery device;

and delivering the content comprises, depending on said access application, one of sending said delivery version of said content for download by said responding delivery device and providing said delivery version for accessing in said browser on said responding delivery device.

13. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to execute computer-readable instructions to cause the system to track usage of said content by said single user on each said responding delivery device.

14. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to execute computer-readable instructions to cause the system to track usage by:

storing a user log for each responding delivery device, said user log including a time stamp and an activity description for at least one activity carried out by the respective responding delivery device on said content;

transmitting said user log for each responding delivery device to a content tracker; and

cumulating said user log from each responding delivery device for said single user at said content tracker in a user content profile.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said activity is one of a beginning of an access to said content, an end of an access to said content, a completion of rendering of a section of said content, and an inputting of an answer in an assessment portion of said content.

16. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to execute computer-readable instructions to cause the system to extract access statistics from said user content profile for said single user.

17. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to execute computer-readable instructions to cause the system to gather assessment statistics from said user content profile for said single user.

18. The system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to execute computer-readable instructions to cause the system to report at least one of said access statistics and said assessment statistics.

19. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to execute computer-readable instructions to cause the system to:

obtain an access count from said access statistics, said access count being a number of times said single user has accessed said content on any of said delivery devices;

compare said access count to a rendering limit, said rendering limit being a number of times said single user is allowed to render said content on said plurality of delivery devices; and

upon determining that said access count is equal to or greater than said rendering limit, block access to said content by all of said responding delivery devices.

20. The system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to execute computer-readable instructions to cause the system to block access by transmitting a blocked access replacement content to said responding delivery device.