System and methods for content handoffs between devices

• US 10,331,202 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2017
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Das, Sujoy
• Primary Examiner(s): Whipple, Brian
• Application Number:
  US15/800,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20180052507A1
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3212 Monitoring battery levels, e.g. power saving mode being initiated when battery voltage goes below a certain level
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/329 by task scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1074 for supporting data block transmission mechanisms file transfer H04L67/06

Abstract

In aspects of the disclosed technology, a processor receives a message containing updated content information and updated state information relating to an application of a first device and updates a peer table to reflect the updates. The processor outputs a message containing information related to the updated content and updated state to a second device, the message configured to cause the second device to update its lock screen to reflect the updated state information. The processor further updates the peer table upon receiving an update from the second device indicating that a user of the second device has selected the application. Finally, the processor outputs updated peer information to the first device that causes the first device to end content associated with the updated content information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

responsive to receiving, at a processor and from a first device, a first message comprising data indicative of first updated content information and first updated state information relating to an application of the first device, updating a peer table to reflect the first updated content information and the first updated state information relating to the application of the first device;

outputting, by the processor, for transmission to a second device, a second message comprising data indicative of the first updated content information and the first updated state information relating to the application of the first device, the second message configured to cause the second device to update a lock screen to reflect the first updated state information relating to the application of the first device;

responsive to receiving, at the processor, from the second device, a third message comprising second data indicative of second updated content information and second updated state information relating to an application of the second device, the second updated state information indicating selection of the application of the second device by a user, updating the peer table to reflect the second updated content information and the second updated state information of the second device; and

outputting, by the processor, for transmission to the first device, a fourth message comprising data indicative of the second updated content information and the second updated state information of the second device, the fourth message configured to cause the first device to end content associated with the first updated content information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device is an active device and the second device is a passive device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second message configured to cause the passive device to update a lock screen to reflect the first updated state information relating to the application of the active device causes the passive device to update the lock screen to mirror an application state of the active device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the fourth message is further configured to cause the first device to update a lock screen to reflect the second updated state information relating to the application of the second device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputting, by the processor, for transmission to the second device, of the second message occurs responsive to receipt, by the processor, from the second device, of a request, from the second device, for the updated peer table.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the request, from the second device, occurs upon power up or boot up of the second device.

7. A computing system comprising:

a memory comprising executable instructions; and

a processor operatively coupled to the memory, the processor configured to execute the executable instructions to effectuate a method comprising;

responsive to receiving, at the processor and from a first device, a first message comprising data indicative of first updated content information and first updated state information relating to an application of the first device, updating a peer table to reflect the first updated content information and the first updated state information relating to the application of the first device;

outputting, by the processor, for transmission to a second device, a second message comprising data indicative of the first updated content information and the first updated state information relating to the application of the first device, the second message configured to cause the second device to update a lock screen to reflect the first updated state information relating to the application of the first device;

responsive to receiving, at the processor, from the second device, a third message comprising second data indicative of second updated content information and second updated state information relating to an application of the second device, the second updated state information indicating selection of the application of the second device by a user, updating the peer table to reflect the second updated content information and the second updated state information of the second device; and

outputting, by the processor, for transmission to the first device, a fourth message comprising data indicative of the second updated content information and the second updated state information of the second device, the fourth message configured to cause the first device to end content associated with the first updated content information.

8. The computing system of claim 7, wherein the first device is an active device and the second device is a passive device.

9. The computing system of claim 8, wherein the second message configured to cause the passive device to update the lock screen to reflect the first updated state information relating to the application of the active device causes the passive device to update the lock screen to mirror an application state of the active device.

10. The computing system of claim 7, wherein the fourth message is further configured to cause the first device to update the lock screen to reflect the second updated state information relating to the application of the second device.

11. The computing system of claim 7, wherein the outputting, by the processor, for transmission to the second device, of the second message occurs responsive to receipt, by the processor, from the second device, of a request, from the second device, for the updated peer table.

12. The computing system of claim 11, wherein the request, from the second device, occurs upon power up or boot up of the second device.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to effectuate a method comprising:

responsive to receiving, at the processor and from a first device, a first message comprising data indicative of first updated content information and first updated state information relating to an application of the first device, updating a peer table to reflect the first updated content information and the first updated state information relating to the application of the first device;

outputting, by the processor, for transmission to a second device, a second message comprising data indicative of the first updated content information and the first updated state information relating to the application of the first device, the second message configured to cause the second device to update a lock screen to reflect the first updated state information relating to the application of the first device;

responsive to receiving, at the processor, from the second device, a third message comprising second data indicative of second updated content information and second updated state information relating to an application of the second device, the second updated state information indicating selection of the application of the second device by a user, updating the peer table to reflect the second updated content information and the second updated state information of the second device; and

outputting, by the processor, for transmission to the first device, a fourth message comprising data indicative of the second updated content information and the second updated state information of the second device, the fourth message configured to cause the first device to end content associated with the first updated content information.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the first device is an active device and the second device is a passive device.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the second message configured to cause the passive device to update the lock screen to reflect the first updated state information relating to the application of the active device causes the passive device to update the lock screen to mirror an application state of the active device.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the fourth message is further configured to cause the first device to update the lock screen to reflect the second updated state information relating to the application of the second device.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the outputting, by the processor, for transmission to the second device, of the second message occurs responsive to receipt, by the processor, from the second device, of a request, from the second device, for the updated peer table.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the request, from the second device, occurs upon power up or boot up of the second device.