Methods and apparatuses for synchronizing and managing content over multiple devices

• US 8,984,057 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2013
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• 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): SCOTT, RANDY A
• Application Number:
  US13/750,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20130144940A1
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 725/80, 725/86, 725/87, 725/109
• US Class Current: 709/203
• 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;

tracking a location of the active device as the active device moves;

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

detecting a transition parameter;

determining whether a transition to one of the one or more potential target devices should occur based on at least the detected transition parameter; and

transitioning the content from the active device to one of the one or more potential target devices, wherein the one of the one or more potential target devices begins utilizing the content and reproducing the content;

wherein the transition parameter comprises the location of the active device relative to the one of the one or more potential target devices.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the detecting one or more potential target devices comprises obtaining a list of devices associated with the user from a profile for the user, detecting a presence of devices included on the list, and then detecting each of the present devices for information including status, stored content, and content being utilized.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of transition parameters are used to determine the transition.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising detecting a location of the user.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transition parameter further comprises at least one of:

a usage pattern, and a transition signal.

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

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

8. 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.

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

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

11. 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.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transitioning the content from the active device to one of the one or more potential target devices comprises transitioning the content from the active device to one of the one or more potential target devices when the location of the active device is within a first distance from the one of the one or more potential target devices.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transitioning the content from the active device to one of the one or more potential target devices comprises pausing the content on the active device when the location of the active device is within a second distance from the one of the one or more potential target devices.

14. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of;

detecting content and a current location of the content;

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; and

detecting a transition parameter and determining a transition based on the transition parameter and further configured to selectively transition utilizing 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 detecting the active device further comprises tracking the location of the active device as the active device moves;

wherein the transition parameter comprises the location of the active device relative to the one of the one or more potential target devices.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the detecting one or more potential target devices comprises obtaining a list of devices associated with the user from a profile for the user, detecting a presence of devices included on the list, and then detecting each of the present devices for information including status, stored content, and content being utilized.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein a plurality of transition parameters are used to determine the transition.

17. The system according to claim 14, wherein the processor is further caused to perform the step of detecting a location of the user.

18. The system according to claim 14, wherein the transition parameter further comprises at least one of:

a usage pattern, and a transition signal.

19. The system according to claim 14, wherein the processor is further caused to perform the step of synchronizing the content such that the one of the one or more potential target devices is configured to utilize the content at the current location of the content.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable 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;

tracking a location of the active device as the active device moves;

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

detecting a transition parameter;

determining whether a transition to one of the one or more potential target devices should occur based on at least the detected transition parameter; and

transitioning the content from the active device to one of the one or more potential target devices, wherein the one of the one or more potential target devices begins utilizing the content and reproducing the content;

wherein the transition parameter comprises the location of the active device relative to the one of the one or more potential target devices.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 20, wherein the detecting one or more potential target devices comprises obtaining a list of devices associated with the user from a profile for the user, detecting a presence of devices included on the list, and then detecting each of the present devices for information including status, stored content, and content being utilized.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 20, wherein a plurality of transition parameters are used to determine the transition.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 20, wherein the method further comprises detecting a location of the user.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 20, wherein the transition parameter further comprises at least one of:

a usage pattern, and a transition signal.