INTERACTIVE MULTI-TASKER

• US 20140379811A1
• Filed: 09/05/2014
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Razer (Asia-Pacific) Pte. Ltd. (Razer Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Nextbit Systems, Inc. (Razer Incorporated)
• Inventors: Chan, Michael A., Moss, Tom, Ganesh, Jaikumar, Tong, Linda, Engel, Matthew Blake
• Granted Patent: US 9,112,885 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/125 characterised by the use of retention policies retention policies for HSM systems G06F16/185
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• 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 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to an interactive multi-tasker for casting applications executing on a first computing device of a user on any of multiple computing devices of the user from any of the computing devices. Each of the computing devices presents a unified view of tasks and applications executing on each of the computing devices through the multi-tasker. The user can perform multiple actions on the tasks and applications, e.g., cast using a first device an instance of an application that is executing on a second device on to a third device. The state data is synchronized from the second device to the third device. Another instance of the application resumes execution on the third device using the synchronized state data. Once cast, each of the instances of the application executes independently of each other.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, at a server and from a first mobile computing device of a group of mobile computing devices associated with a user, a request to transfer execution of an application from a second mobile computing device of the group to a third mobile computing device of the group, the application being one of a plurality of applications displayed in a master task list on the first mobile computing device, the master task list containing information regarding (a) a plurality of applications executing on each of the group of mobile computing devices and (b) device identification of one or more of the group of mobile computing devices at which the applications are executing;

identifying, by the server, an installation of an instance of the application on the third mobile computing device, the instance of the application including an instance of another application similar to the instance of the application;

synchronizing, by the server, state data of the application between the second mobile computing device and the third mobile computing device, the state data representing a current state of execution of the application at the second mobile computing device;

transmitting, by the server, a first message to the third mobile computing device to launch the application at the third mobile computing device, the first message further instructing the third mobile computing device to resume execution of the application using the state data obtained from the second mobile computing device; and

updating, by the server, the master task list to generate an updated master task list, the updated master task list indicating that the application is executing on the third mobile computing device, the updating further including transmitting the updated master task list to the first mobile computing device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein synchronizing the state data of the application between the second mobile computing device and the third mobile computing device further comprises:

comparing a first hash value corresponding to the state data of the application with a second hash value corresponding to an earlier shared state data of the application, the earlier shared state data being stored at the third mobile computing device, the earlier shared state data stored at the third mobile computing device being a function of a particular state of execution of the application at the second mobile computing device; and

transmitting an update to the earlier shared state data of the application when the first hash value and the second hash value do not match, the update being a function of the current state of execution of the application at the second mobile computing device and the earlier shared state data stored at the third mobile computing device,

wherein the third mobile computing device resumes execution of the application using the earlier shared state data of the application when the first hash value and the second hash value matches.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, by the server, a second message to the second mobile computing device to terminate the execution of the application on the second mobile computing device; and

updating, by the server, the master task list to generate an updated master task list, the updated master task list indicating that the application is terminated on the second mobile computing device.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the group of mobile computing devices includes a plurality of mobile computing devices connected to at least one of a particular Wi-Fi network, a particular local area network, or a particular peer-to-peer network.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein synchronizing the state data of the application between the second mobile computing device and the third mobile computing device further comprises:

receiving a request for the state data of the application stored in the second mobile computing device; and

transmitting a portion of the state data from the second mobile computing device to the third mobile computing device.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein synchronizing the state data of the application between the second mobile computing device and the third mobile computing device further comprises transmitting a portion of the state data from the second mobile computing device to the third mobile computing device.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the particular state of execution of the application at the second mobile computing device corresponds to an execution state of the application prior to the application being placed in a partial hibernation.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending, by the server, a third message to the second mobile computing device to terminate the execution of the application on the second computing device.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein synchronizing the state data of the application includes:

receiving, by the server, a portion of the state data from the second mobile computing device, and

transmitting, by the server, the portion of the state data to the third mobile computing device.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein synchronizing the state data of the application includes:

transmitting, by the server, a third message to the third mobile computing device instructing the third mobile computing device to obtain the state data from the second mobile computing device over a short range wireless communication.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the state data is used for executing the application at the third mobile computing device at a state at which the application is executing on the second mobile computing device at the time of being terminated.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein sending the first message to launch the application includes:

determining, by the server, if the application is installed on the third mobile computing device, and

responsive to a determination that the application is not installed on the third mobile computing device, sending a third message to the third mobile computing device to install the application.

13. A server comprising:

a processor;

a network component that facilitates communication with a group of computing devices associated with a user; and

a memory having instructions, which when executed by the processor, performs a method including;

receiving, at the server and from a first mobile computing device of a group of mobile computing devices associated with a user, a request to transfer execution of an application from a second mobile computing device of the group to a third mobile computing device of the group, the application being one of a plurality of applications displayed in a master task list on the first mobile computing device, the master task list containing information regarding (a) a plurality of applications executing on each of the group of mobile computing devices and (b) device identification of one or more of the group of mobile computing devices at which the applications are executing;

identifying, by the server, an installation of an instance of the application on the third mobile computing device, the instance of the application including an instance of another application similar to the instance of the application;

synchronizing, by the server, state data of the application between the second mobile computing device and the third mobile computing device, the state data representing a current state of execution of the application at the second mobile computing device;

transmitting, by the server, a first message to the third mobile computing device to launch the application at the third mobile computing device, the first message further instructing the third mobile computing device to resume execution of the application using the state data obtained from the second mobile computing device; and

updating, by the server, the master task list to generate an updated master task list, the updated master task list indicating that the application is executing on the third mobile computing device, the updating further including transmitting the updated master task list to the first mobile computing device.

14. The server of claim 13, wherein synchronizing the state data of the application between the second mobile computing device and the third mobile computing device further comprises:

comparing a first hash value corresponding to the state data of the application with a second hash value corresponding to an earlier shared state data of the application, the earlier shared state data being stored at the third mobile computing device, the earlier shared state data stored at the third mobile computing device being a function of a particular state of execution of the application at the second mobile computing device; and

transmitting an update to the earlier shared state data of the application when the first hash value and the second hash value do not match, the update being a function of the current state of execution of the application at the second mobile computing device and the earlier shared state data stored at the third mobile computing device,

wherein the third mobile computing device resumes execution of the application using the earlier shared state data of the application when the first hash value and the second hash value matches.

15. The server of claim 13, wherein the memory further includes instructions for performing a method comprising:

transmitting, by the server, a second message to the second mobile computing device to terminate the execution of the application on the second mobile computing device; and

updating, by the server, the master task list to generate an updated master task list, the updated master task list indicating that the application is terminated on the second mobile computing device.

16. The server of claim 13, wherein the group of mobile computing devices includes a plurality of mobile computing devices connected to at least one of a particular Wi-Fi network, a particular local area network, or a particular peer-to-peer network.

17. The server of claim 13, wherein synchronizing the state data of the application between the second mobile computing device and the third mobile computing device further comprises:

receiving a request for the state data of the application stored in the second mobile computing device; and

transmitting a portion of the state data from the second mobile computing device to the third mobile computing device.

18. The server of claim 13, wherein synchronizing the state data of the application between the second mobile computing device and the third mobile computing device further comprises transmitting a portion of the state data from the second mobile computing device to the third mobile computing device.

19. The server of claim 13, wherein the particular state of execution of the application at the second mobile computing device corresponds to an execution state of the application prior to the application being placed in a partial hibernation.

20. The server of claim 13, wherein the memory includes instructions for performing the method further comprising:

sending, by the server, a third message to the second mobile computing device to terminate the execution of the application on the second computing device.

21. The server of claim 13, wherein synchronizing the state data of the application includes:

receiving, by the server, a portion of the state data from the second mobile computing device, and

transmitting, by the server, the portion of the state data to the third mobile computing device.

22. The server of claim 13, wherein synchronizing the state data of the application includes:

transmitting, by the server, a third message to the third mobile computing device instructing the third mobile computing device to obtain the state data from the second mobile computing device over a short range wireless communication.

23. The server of claim 13, wherein the state data is used for executing the application at the third mobile computing device at a state at which the application is executing on the second mobile computing device at the time of being terminated.

24. The server of claim 13, wherein sending the first message to launch the application includes:

determining, by the server, if the application is installed on the third mobile computing device, and

responsive to a determination that the application is not installed on the third mobile computing device, sending a third message to the third mobile computing device to install the application.

25. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions, comprising:

instructions for receiving, at a server and from a first mobile computing device of a group of mobile computing devices associated with a user, a request to transfer execution of an application from a second mobile computing device of the group to a third mobile computing device of the group, the application being one of a plurality of applications displayed in a master task list on the first mobile computing device, the master task list containing information regarding (a) a plurality of applications executing on each of the group of mobile computing devices and (b) device identification of one or more of the group of mobile computing devices at which the applications are executing;

instructions for identifying, by the server, an installation of an instance of the application on the third mobile computing device, the instance of the application including an instance of another application similar to the instance of the application;

instructions for synchronizing, by the server, state data of the application between the second mobile computing device and the third mobile computing device, the state data representing a current state of execution of the application at the second mobile computing device;

transmitting, by the server, a first message to the third mobile computing device to launch the application at the third mobile computing device, the first message further instructing the third mobile computing device to resume execution of the application using the state data obtained from the second mobile computing device; and

instructions for updating, by the server, the master task list to generate an updated master task list, the updated master task list indicating that the application is executing on the third mobile computing device, the updating further including transmitting the updated master task list to the first mobile computing device.

26. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the instructions for synchronizing the state data of the application between the second mobile computing device and the third mobile computing device further comprises:

instructions for comparing a first hash value corresponding to the state data of the application with a second hash value corresponding to an earlier shared state data of the application, the earlier shared state data being stored at the third mobile computing device, the earlier shared state data stored at the third mobile computing device being a function of a particular state of execution of the application at the second mobile computing device; and

instructions for transmitting an update to the earlier shared state data of the application when the first hash value and the second hash value do not match, the update being a function of the current state of execution of the application at the second mobile computing device and the earlier shared state data stored at the third mobile computing device,

wherein the third mobile computing device resumes execution of the application using the earlier shared state data of the application when the first hash value and the second hash value matches.

27. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, further comprising:

instructions for transmitting, by the server, a second message to the second mobile computing device to terminate the execution of the application on the second mobile computing device; and

instructions for updating, by the server, the master task list to generate an updated master task list, the updated master task list indicating that the application is terminated on the second mobile computing device.

28. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the instructions for synchronizing the state data of the application between the second mobile computing device and the third mobile computing device further comprises:

instructions for receiving a request for the state data of the application stored in the second mobile computing device; and

instructions for transmitting a portion of the state data from the second mobile computing device to the third mobile computing device.

29. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the instructions for synchronizing the state data of the application between the second mobile computing device and the third mobile computing device further comprises instructions for transmitting a portion of the state data from the second mobile computing device to the third mobile computing device.

30. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the particular state of execution of the application at the second mobile computing device corresponds to an execution state of the application prior to the application being placed in a partial hibernation.