Synchronizing content between content directory service and control point

• US 8,037,022 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2007
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kwon, Wonseok, Rahman, Mahfuzur
• Primary Examiner(s): Trujillo; James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spieler; William
• Application Number:
  US11/965,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20080307246A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,384 Days
• Field of Search: 707/613
• US Class Current: 707/613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method is performed at a control point (CP) in a network. An action is invoked to create a synchronization data structure on a media server that includes a content directory service (CDS) in the network, wherein the synchronization data structure includes a synchronization relationship describing a relationship between the CP and the CDS. Then an action is invoked to add synchronization pair information to one or more objects on the CDS. A change log is requested from the CDS. Then the change log is received from the CDS, wherein the change log contains information about changes to the one or more objects to which synchronization pair information for the CP was added.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

invoking, at a control point (CP) in a network, an action to create a synchronization data structure on a media server containing a content directory service (CDS) in the network, wherein the synchronization data structure includes a unique synchronization relationship describing each unique CP-CDS pair;

invoking, at the CP, an action to add synchronization pair information to one or more objects on the CDS, wherein the action to add synchronization pair information causes a change log to be created for the CP on the CDS;

requesting, at the CP, the change log from the CDS;

requesting synchronization between the CDS and the CP; and

receiving the change log from the CDS, wherein the change log contains information about changes to one or more objects on the CDS as identified by the synchronization pair information for the CP, wherein the changes were detected and added to the change log prior to synchronization being requested.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the invoking steps and the request and receiving steps are performed through a content synchronization service (CSS).

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

invoking, at the CP, an action to delete synchronization pair information from one or more objects on the CDS.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

invoking, at the CP, an action to delete the synchronization relationship from the synchronization data structure on the media server.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

comparing the change log to a database internal to the CP; and

updating the database to reflect changes on the change log.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the CP is located on a portable media device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the CDS is located on a media server.

8. A method comprising:

creating, at a media server containing a CDS in the network, a synchronization data structure, wherein the synchronization data structure includes a unique synchronization relationship for each unique CP-CDS pair;

adding synchronization pair information to one or more objects on the CDS;

monitoring changes to the one or more objects on the CDS in response to the adding of synchronization pair information to one or more objects on the CDS;

logging the changes to the one or more objects in a change log;

receiving a synchronization request after the logging has occurred;

sending the change log to the CP in response to the synchronization request.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the creating is performed in response to a request from the CP.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

deleting synchronization pair information from one or more objects on the CDS.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

deleting the synchronization relationship from the synchronization data structure on the CDS.

12. A control point (CP) comprising:

a component configured to invoke, an action to create a synchronization data structure on a media server containing a CDS, wherein the synchronization data structure includes a different synchronization relationship describing each unique CP-CDS pair;

a component configured to invoke an action to add synchronization pair information to one or more objects on the CDS, wherein the action to add synchronization pair information causes a change log to be created for the CP on the CDS;

a component configured to request the change log from the CDS;

a component configured to request synchronization between the CDS and the CP;

a component configured to receive the change log from the CDS, wherein the change log contains information about changes to one or more objects on the CDS as identified by the synchronization pair information for the CP, wherein the changes were detected and added to the change log prior to synchronization being requested; and

a processor configured to interact with the other components of the control point.

13. The CP of claim 12, further comprising:

a component configured to invoke, at the CP, an action to delete synchronization pair information from one or more objects on the CDS.

14. The CP of claim 12, further comprising:

a component configured to invoke, at the CP, an action to delete the synchronization relationship from the synchronization data structure on the media server.

15. The CP of claim 12, further comprising:

a component configured to compare the change log to a database internal to the CP; and

a component configured to update the database to reflect changes on the change log.

16. The CP of claim 12, wherein the control point is located on a portable media device.

17. The CP of claim 12, wherein the CDS is located on a media server.

18. A content synchronization service (CSS) comprising:

a component configured to create a synchronization data structure, wherein the synchronization data structure includes a synchronization relationship describing a unique relationship for each unique CP-CDS pair;

a component configured to add synchronization pair information to one or more objects on the CDS;

a component configured to monitor changes to the one or more objects on the CDS in response to the adding of synchronization pair information to one or more object on the CDS;

a component configured to log the changes to the one or more objects in a change log;

a component configured to receive a synchronization request after the logging has occurred

a component configured to send the change log to the CP in response to the synchronization request; and

a processor configured to interact with the other components of the CSS.

19. The CSS of claim 18, wherein the CSS is communicatively coupled to the CP such that the creating of the synchronization data structure is performed in response to a request from the CP.

20. The CSS of claim 18, further comprising:

a component configured to delete synchronization pair information from one or more objects on the CDS.

21. The CSS of claim 18, further comprising:

a component configured to delete the synchronization relationship from the synchronization data structure.

22. A system comprising:

a media server comprising;

a content directory service (CDS);

a content synchronization service (CSS) comprising;

a component configured to create a synchronization data structure, wherein the synchronization data structure includes a synchronization relationship describing a unique relationship for each unique control point (CP)-CDS pair;

a component configured to add synchronization pair information to one or more objects on the CDS;

a component configured to monitor changes to the one or more objects on the CDS in response to the adding of synchronization pair information to the one or more objects on the CDS;

a component configured to log the changes to the one or more objects in a change log;

a component configured to receive a synchronization request after the logging has occurred;

a component configured to send the change log to a CP in response to the synchronization request; and

a processor configured to interact with the other components of the CSS;

the control point (CP) comprising;

a component configured to invoke an action to create a synchronization data structure on a media server containing a CDS, wherein the synchronization data structure includes a different synchronization relationship describing each unique CP-CDS pair;

a component configured to invoke an action to add synchronization pair information to one or more objects on the CDS;

a component configured to request a change log from the CDS;

a component configured to request synchronization between the CDS and the CP;

a component configured to receive the change log from the CDS, wherein the change log contains information about changes to one or more objects on the CDS as identified by the synchronization pair information for the CP, wherein the changes were detected and added to the change log prior to synchronization being requested; and

a processor configured to interact with the other components of the control point.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

a second control point comprising;

a component configured to invoke an action to create a second synchronization data structure on the media server, wherein the second synchronization data structure includes a second synchronization relationship describing a relationship between the second control point and the CDS.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the second control point further comprises:

a component configured to request a second change log from the CDS; and

a component configured to receive the second change log from the CDS, wherein the second change log contains information about changes to one or more objects to which synchronization pair information for the second control point was added.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the synchronization data structure contains a synchronization policy.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the synchronization policy is stored in an Extensible Markup Language (XML) document.