Synchronization of digital content

• US 8,832,319 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2008
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kessel, Steven, Freed, Ian W., Story, Guy A. Jr., Wolfish, Howard, Agarwal, Amit D., Nicholls, Nanyan, Lattyak, John, Slezak, James C., Tomay, Beryl, Bezos, Jeffrey P.
• Primary Examiner(s): BIAGINI, CHRISTOPHER D
• Application Number:
  US12/273,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20120197998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,121 Days
• Field of Search: 709/248
• US Class Current: 709/248
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to the sharing of synchronization information corresponding to content among devices in a communication network. An originating device collects synchronization information related to the presentation of content to a user via the originating device. The synchronization information is defined according to reference points related to the presentation of the content to the user via the originating device, including a current state of the presentation of the content and/or additional information obtained during the presentation of the content. Based on detection of a synchronization event, the originating device transmits the collected synchronization information, resulting in the receipt of the synchronization information by one or more receiving devices. Thereafter, the presentation of the content to the user on one of the receiving devices can incorporate the synchronization information collected and transmitted by the originating device.

Claims

1. A system for synchronizing progress information associated with the presentation of content, the system comprising:

a computing system comprising a processor and a memory for executing computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions implementing an interface component that is operative to;

obtain progress information corresponding to presentation of the content on an originating device, the progress information defined in accordance with a reference point associated with the digital content; and

a computing system comprising a processor and a memory for executing computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions implementing a data processing component that is operative to;

identify at least one receiving device to receive the progress information from the originating device, the at least one receiving device having access to a representation of the content corresponding to a format different from a format associated with the progress information;

modify, prior to transmitting the progress information to the at least one receiving device, at least a portion of the progress information based on an elapsed time since the progress information was collected by the originating device;

transmit the progress information to the at least one receiving device; and

automatically cause the incorporation of the progress information at the identified at least one receiving device.

2. A system for managing the presentation of digital content, the presentation of the digital content to a user of a wireless device operative to be defined according to a plurality of reference points within the digital content, the system comprising:

a computing system comprising a processor and a memory for executing computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions implementing an interface component that is operative to;

obtain synchronization information from the wireless device corresponding to presentation of the digital content, the synchronization information associated with a reference point associated with the digital content; and

a computing system comprising a processor and a memory for executing computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions implementing a data processing component that is operative to;

identify one or more receiving devices to receive a synchronization notification, the one or more receiving devices being associated with the wireless device according to an identifiable account;

obtain at least one request for synchronization information from at least one receiving device, the request for synchronization information responsive to the received synchronization notification transmitted to the one or more receiving devices;

modify, prior to transmitting to the at least one receiving device, at least a subset of the synchronization information, wherein the modification of the at least the subset of the synchronization information corresponds to a modification of the reference point included in the synchronization information based on an elapsed time since the collection of the synchronization information;

identify at least a subset of the synchronization information to be transmitted to the at least one receiving device, the subset of the synchronization information being determined as a function of at least one of a characteristic of a corresponding requesting receiving device and a characteristic of the content associated with the synchronization information; and

cause the transmission of the subset of synchronization information to the at least one receiving device.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the presentation of the digital content to a user of the wireless device corresponds to rendering of the digital content.

4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein rendering of the digital content corresponds to a visual rendering of the digital content.

5. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein rendering of the digital content corresponds to an aural rendering of the digital content.

6. A system for managing the presentation of content comprising:

a computing system comprising a processor and a memory for executing computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions implementing a synchronization processing component that collects progress information associated with content, the content including a plurality of reference points and the progress information corresponding to information associated with at least one reference point defining a current state of presentation of the content on an originating device; and

a computing system comprising a processor and a memory for executing computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions implementing a communication management component that;

obtains the collected progress information, the progress information being collected based on a determination of a synchronization event on the originating device;

modifies, prior to transmitting the progress information to at least one receiving device, at least a portion of the progress information based on an elapsed time since the progress information was collected on the originating device; and

causes transmission of at least a subset of the progress information to the at least one receiving device, wherein the at least one receiving device receives less than all progress information based on a preference and wherein the at least one receiving device is otherwise capable of implementing the progress information in the presentation of content on the receiving device.

7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the progress information corresponds to additional information attributed to the at least one reference point of the content.

8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the additional information includes at least one of a highlight, an annotation, and a bookmark.

9. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the additional information includes a selection of at least a subset of the content for copying.

10. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the determination of a synchronization event includes a determination by the originating device of the synchronization event.

11. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the synchronization event corresponds to a determined change in device performance metrics associated with the originating device.

12. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the synchronization event corresponds to receipt of a user initiated command to synchronize content.

13. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the transmission of the at least the subset of the progress information to the at least one receiving device is based on at least one characteristic of a corresponding at least one receiving device.

14. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the transmission of the at least the subset of the progress information to the at least one receiving device is based on at least one characteristic of the content.

15. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein causing the transmission of the at least the subset of the progress information includes causing the transmission of the at least the subset of the progress information from the communication management component.

16. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein causing the transmission of the at least the subset of the progress information includes causing the transmission of the at least the subset of the progress information from a peer device.

17. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein causing the transmission of the at least the subset of the progress information includes causing the transmission of the at least the subset of the progress information from the originating device.

18. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein at least one of the originating device or the at least one receiving device corresponds to a wireless device.

19. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein at least one of the originating device or the at least one receiving device corresponds to a portable device.

20. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein at least one of the originating device or the at least one receiving device corresponds to a consumer electronics device.

21. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein at least one of the originating device or the at least one receiving device corresponds to a device for operation in a vehicle.

22. A method for managing the presentation of content comprising:

collecting information associated with the presentation of a first representation of content on a device, wherein the content is associated with a set of tracking points and wherein the information associated with the presentation of the first representation of content includes an identification of at least one tracking point from the set of tracking points;

modifying, prior to transmission of the information with regard to a second representation of the content on the device, the at least one tracking point in the information associated with the presentation of the first representation of the content on the device based on an elapsed time since the collection of the information;

determining whether a synchronization event has occurred; and

causing transmission and incorporation of the collected information with regard to a second representation of the content on the device, wherein causing the incorporation is responsive to the synchronization event.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the collected information corresponds to information generated by the device during the presentation of the first representation of the content.

24. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein determining whether the synchronization event has occurred includes identifying device performance metrics indicative of the synchronization event.

25. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the performance metrics include a current geographic location associated with an unavailability of the device.

26. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the performance metrics include an availability of a wireless communication component of the device.

27. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the first and second representations correspond to different formats of the content.

28. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein determining whether the synchronization event has occurred includes obtaining data indicative of a user command to synchronize content.

29. The method as recited in claim 22 further comprising causing the transmission of the information to a communication management component.

30. The method as recited in claim 22 further comprising causing the transmission of the information responsive to the synchronization event to at least one peer device.

31. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein the peer device is identified according to an association with an identifiable account.

32. A method for managing the presentation of content, the presentation of the content on a device being defined by a plurality of reference points, the method comprising:

obtaining progress information from an originating device, the progress information associated with the presentation of content on the originating device and the progress information associated with the presentation of the content corresponding to an identification of at least one reference point;

identifying at least a subset of the progress information to be transmitted to one or more receiving devices;

modifying, prior to transmitting to the one or more receiving devices, at least a portion of the progress information based on an elapsed time since the progress information was obtained from the originating device; and

causing transmission of the at least a subset of the progress information to the one or more receiving devices, wherein at least one receiving device of the one or more receiving devices receives less than all of the progress information based on a preference and wherein the at least one receiving device is otherwise capable of implementing the progress information in the presentation of content.

33. The method as recited in claim 32, wherein the one or more receiving devices are associated with the originating device according to an identifiable account.

34. The method as recited in claim 33, wherein the one or more receiving devices associated with the originating device maintain a representation of the content corresponding to the progress information.

35. The method as recited in claim 32 further comprising:

identifying one or more receiving devices to receive a synchronization notification;

causing the transmission of synchronization notifications to the one or more receiving devices; and

obtaining at least one request for progress information from a receiving device, wherein the request for progress information is responsive to the transmitted synchronization notification transmitted to the one or more receiving devices.

36. The method as recited in claim 32 further comprising determining the subset of the synchronization information as a function of at least one of a characteristic of a corresponding at least one receiving device and a characteristic of the content.

37. The method as recited in claim 36, wherein the characteristic of the receiving device includes a memory capacity of the device.

38. The method as recited in claim 36, wherein the characteristic of the receiving device includes a synchronization configuration that specifies progress information that can be processed by the receiving device.

39. The method as recited in claim 36, wherein the characteristic of the content includes a format for presenting the content.

40. The method as recited in claim 39, wherein the format corresponds to a visual presentation of the content.

41. The method as recited in claim 39, wherein the format corresponds to an aural presentation of the content.

42. The method as recited in claim 32, wherein causing the transmission of the subset of progress information to the one or more receiving devices includes causing the transmission of the subset of progress information from a server device.

43. The method as recited in claim 32, wherein causing the transmission of the subset of progress information to the one or more receiving devices includes causing the transmission of the subset of progress information from a peer device.

44. The method as recited in claim 32 further comprising processing the progress information obtained from the originating device.

45. The method as recited in claim 44, wherein processing the progress information obtained from the originating device includes performing conflict resolution with previously received progress information.

46. The method as recited in claim 44, wherein processing the progress information obtained from the originating device includes adjusting the progress information.

47. The method as recited in claim 46, wherein adjusting the progress information includes adjusting the progress information as a function of a time difference between presentations of the content.

48. A system for managing the presentation of digital content, wherein presentation of the digital content to a user of a device can be defined according to at least one of a plurality of reference points within the digital content, the system comprising:

a computing system comprising a processor and a memory for executing computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions implementing an interface component that is operative to;

obtain synchronization information corresponding to presentation of the digital content, the synchronization information defined in accordance with a reference point within the digital content; and

a computing system comprising a processor and a memory for executing computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions implementing a data processing component that is operative to;

identify one or more representations of the digital content accessible by the device, at least one representation of the content corresponding to a format different from a format associated with the synchronization information;

modify, prior to transmission in accordance with the identified one or more representations of the digital content, at least a subset of the synchronization information, wherein the modification of the at least a subset of the synchronization information corresponds to a modification of the reference point included in the synchronization information based on an elapsed time since the collection of the synchronization information; and

automatically cause the transmission and incorporation of the modified subset of synchronization information in accordance with the identified one or more representations of the digital content accessible by the device.