Multiple Media Type Synchronization Between Host Computer and Media Device
First Claim
1. A method for synchronizing media assets between a host computer and a media device, said method comprising:
- (a) identifying media assets at the host computer to be synchronized to the media device, the media assets being associated with one or more media collections;
(b) determining which of the identified media assets are not already stored on the media device;
(c) determining a priority for each of the one or more media collections that include the determined media assets; and
(d) copying the determined media assets of the one or more media collections from the host computer to the media device, said copying being performed on a media collection basis in accordance with the priority for the associated media collection, and being performed only to the extent of available storage space on the media device.
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Abstract
Improved techniques for transferring media assets between a host computer and a media device are disclosed. The transfer of media assets between a host computer and a media device can be referred to as synchronization. According to one aspect of the invention, media assets being transferred can be formatted (e.g., rendered) in advance at the host computer and then delivered to the media device. According to another aspect of the invention, media assets can be grouped into collections and transferred on a collection basis. According to still another aspect of the invention, media assets to be transferred can be limited based on an amount of storage capacity available at the media device. According to yet another aspect of the invention, media assets of different media types can be transferred in accordance with different priorities.
160 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for synchronizing media assets between a host computer and a media device, said method comprising:
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(a) identifying media assets at the host computer to be synchronized to the media device, the media assets being associated with one or more media collections;
(b) determining which of the identified media assets are not already stored on the media device;
(c) determining a priority for each of the one or more media collections that include the determined media assets; and
(d) copying the determined media assets of the one or more media collections from the host computer to the media device, said copying being performed on a media collection basis in accordance with the priority for the associated media collection, and being performed only to the extent of available storage space on the media device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for synchronizing media assets between a host computer and a media device, said method comprising:
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(a) identifying media assets residing on the host computer that are to be copied to the media device;
(b) determining whether the media device has adequate available storage capacity to store the identified media assets;
(c) determining priorities associated with the identified media assets;
(d) reducing the identified media assets that are to be copied to the media device in accordance with the priorities when said determining (b) determines that the media device has inadequate available storage capacity to store the identified media assets; and
(e) copying the identified media assets to the media device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for copying media assets from a host computer to a media device, said method comprising:
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(a) identifying a number of media assets of a first type to be copied from the host computer to the media device;
(b) determining whether the media device has adequate available storage capacity to store the identified media assets of the first type;
(c) reducing the number of media assets of the first type to be copied when said determining (b) determines that the media device has inadequate available storage capacity;
(d) copying, following said reducing (c) if any, the identified media assets of the first type to the media device;
(e) identifying a number of media assets of a second type to be copied from the host computer to the media device;
(f) determining whether the media device has adequate available storage capacity to store the identified media assets of the second type, with or assuming that said copying (d) has already been performed;
(g) reducing the number of media assets of the second type to be copied when said determining (f) determines that the media device has inadequate available storage capacity; and
(h) copying, following said reducing (g) if any, the identified media assets of the second type to the media device. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification