Prioritized data synchronization with host device

• US 8,631,088 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2007
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Robbin, Jeffrey L., Wysocki, Christopher R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Najjar, Saleh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shepperd, Eric W
• Application Number:
  US11/679,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20080168526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,514 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217, 709/219, 709/223, 709227-228, 709/230, 709/232, 709/240, 709/243, 709/248, 707609-614, 707617-618, 707620-621
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/178 Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/182 Distributed file systems

Abstract

Improved techniques and apparatus for managing data between a host device (e.g., host computer) and a media device are disclosed. The data being managed can, for example, pertain to media data for media assets. The managing of the media data thus can involve transfer of media assets between the host device and the media device. In one embodiment, the transfer of media assets between a host device and a media device can be referred to as synchronization.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing media assets between a host computer and a client device, the client device including a storage device for storage of media assets, the method comprising:

determining a set of media assets on the host computer eligible to be copied to the client device;

ranking the media assets of the set of media assets based on data types indicative of content type of the media assets; and

copying the media assets of the set of media assets from the host computer to the client device in accordance with the ranking of the media assets, whereby the media assets with higher rankings are copied before the media assets with lower ranking,

wherein the client device is configured to enable a user of the client device to selectively disable synchronization for one or more of the data types to render the one or more data types ineligible so that media assets having the one or more data types being disabled are not copied to the client device,

wherein the client device further operates to at least (i) display a graphical user interface on a display of the client device, the graphical user interface including a selectable enable-disable control for each of a plurality of different ones of the data types; and

(ii) exclude from copying one or more media assets of a certain data type associated with a corresponding one of the selectable enable-disable controls when the corresponding one of the selectable enable-disable controls is set to disable the copying of the one or more media assets of the certain data type, and

wherein the certain data type associated with the corresponding one of the selectable enable-disable controls pertains to movies, music, television (TV) shows, podcasts, or photos.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

reducing, prior to said copying, the number of media assets of the set of media assets so as to not exceed the limited storage capacity for media assets at the client device.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data types of the media assets of the set of media assets include two or more of:

movies, music, television (TV) shows, podcasts, and photos.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data types of media assets of the set of media assets are categories, and include two or more of:

movies, music, television (TV) shows, podcasts, and photos.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein a user of the client device can disable synchronization for a category so that media assets of the set of media assets with the category are not copied to the client device.

6. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein said ranking comprises ranking the media assets of the set of media assets within each of the categories in accordance with at least one rule.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the at least one rule provides an alphabetical ranking.

8. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the at least one rule ranks newer media assets higher.

9. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein a plurality of the media assets within at least one of the categories are provided in an ordered list, and

wherein said method further comprises:

displaying the ordered list on the client device; and

permitting a user of the client device to interact with the client device to re-order at least one of the media assets within the ordered list.

10. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein said ranking operates such that media assets in a given category specifically designated for synchronization are ranked higher than other media assets even media assets that are designed for synchronization.

11. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein said ranking comprises:

ranking the media assets of the set of media assets within a first of the categories in accordance with at least a first rule; and

ranking the media assets of the set of media assets within a second of the categories in accordance with at least a second rule, the second rule being different than the first rule.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said ranking utilizes a least a first priority policy and a second priority policy in ranking the media assets of the set of media assets.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the first priority policy determines priority between data types, and a second priority policy determines priority within a data type.

14. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said ranking is influenced by at least one synchronization preference provided on at least one of the host computer and the client device.

15. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data types are prioritized, and

wherein a user of the client device can alter the prioritization between the data types.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein said ranking is influenced by at least one synchronization preference provided on at least one of the host computer and the client device.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium including at least computer program code stored therein for synchronizing digital assets between a first electronic device and a second electronic device, the second electronic device having a limited storage capacity for storage of digital assets, the computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for determining a set of digital assets on the first electronic device eligible to be copied to the second electronic device;

computer program code for prioritizing the digital assets of the set of digital assets based on data types of the digital assets; and

computer program code for copying the digital assets of the set of digital assets from the first electronic device to the second electronic device in accordance with the prioritizing of the digital assets, whereby the digital assets with higher priority are copied before the digital assets with lower priority,

wherein the second electronic device is configured to enable a user of the second electronic device to selectively disable synchronization for one or more of the data types to render the one or more data types ineligible so that digital assets having the one or more data types being disabled are not copied to the second electronic device,

wherein the second electronic device further operates to at least (i) display a graphical user interface on a display of the second electronic device, the graphical user interface including a selectable enable-disable control for each of a plurality of different ones of the data types; and

(ii) exclude from copying one or more digital assets of a certain data type associated with a corresponding one of the selectable enable-disable controls when the corresponding one of the selectable enable-disable controls is set to disable the copying of the one or more digital assets of the certain data type, and

wherein the certain data type associated with the corresponding one of the selectable enable-disable controls pertains to movies, music, television (TV) shows, podcasts, or photos.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 17, wherein the computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for prioritizing within each data type in accordance with priority rules.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 18, wherein the priority rules are different for at least two data types.

20. A media storage and playback system, comprising:

a host computer having a host data storage device storing media assets, said host computer configured to connecting to a computer network; and

a client device having a media database and a client data storage device, said client device being configured to connecting to said host computer, and said client device also being configured to connect to a computer network,

wherein when synchronizing media assets between said host computer and said client device, said client device operates to;

(i) determine a set of media assets on said host computer eligible to be copied to said client device;

(ii) rank the media assets of the set of media assets based on data types of the media assets; and

(iii) copy the media assets of the set of media assets from said host computer to said client device in accordance with the rank of the media assets so that the media assets with higher rankings are copied before the media assets with lower rankings,

wherein said client device is configured to enable a user of said client device to selectively disable synchronization for one or more of the data types to render the one or more data types ineligible so that media assets having the one or more data types being disabled are not copied to said client device, and

wherein said client device further operates to at least (i) display a graphical user interface on a display of said client device, the graphical user interface including a selectable enable-disable control for each of a plurality of different ones of the data types; and

(ii) exclude from copying one or more media assets of a certain data type associated with a corresponding one of the selectable enable-disable controls when the corresponding one of the selectable enable-disable controls is set to disable the copying of the one or more media assets of the certain data type, and

wherein the certain data type associated with the corresponding one of the selectable enable-disable controls pertains pertain to movies, music, television (TV) shows, podcasts, or photos.

21. A media storage and playback system as recited in claim 20, wherein the data types of the media assets of the set of media assets are categories, and include two or more of:

movies, music, television (TV) shows, podcasts, or photos.

22. A media storage and playback system as recited in claim 20, wherein said client device operates to rank the media assets of the set of media assets without requiring user input.

23. A media storage and playback system as recited in claim 20, wherein said client device, to determine the set of media assets on said host computer eligible to be copied to said client device, operates to determine at least one media asset on said host computer not eligible to be copied to said client device.