Synchronization of digital content

• US 9,697,497 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nicholls, Nanyan, Kessel, Steven, Wolfish, Howard, Slezak, James C., Story, Jr., Guy A., Freed, Ian W., Lattyak, John, Bezos, Jeffrey P., Tomay, Beryl, Agarwal, Amit D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Biagini, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US13/620,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20130013812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,754 Days
• Field of Search: 709248
• 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 method for managing the presentation of content comprising:

collecting information associated with presentation of a first representation of content on a device, wherein the content is associated with a set of tracking points and wherein the collected information associated with presentation of the first representation of content includes an identification of at least one tracking point from the set of tracking points and wherein the at least one tracking point reflects a current progress of the content determined by the device in accordance with the presentation of the first representation of the content;

detecting a synchronization event related to a second representation of the content;

obtaining a user command from the user to configure the collected information;

generating modified collected information based at least in part on a modification of the at least one tracking point in the collected information in accordance with the user command, wherein the modification of the at least one tracking point causes the at least one tracking point to deviate from the current progress of the content as determined by the device, prior to incorporation of the modified collected information with the second representation of the content on the device; and

causing the incorporation of the modified collected information with the second representation of content on the device, wherein presentation of the second representation is based on the modified collected information and wherein causing the incorporation is responsive to the synchronization event.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the collected information corresponds to information generated by the device during presentation of the first representation of the content.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein detecting the synchronization event comprises identifying device performance metrics indicative of the synchronization event.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the performance metrics include one or more of a current geographic location associated with an unavailability of the device or an availability of a wireless communication component of the device.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising causing the transmission of the modified collected information to a communication management component.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising causing the transmission of the modified collected information responsive to the synchronization event to at least one peer device, wherein the peer device is identified according to an association with an identifiable account.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein generating modified collected information comprises modifying the at least one tracking point based on an elapsed period of time since a time associated with the current progress of the content as determined by the device.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein generating modified collected information comprises modifying the at least one tracking point based on a capability of the device incorporating the collected information or a proximity to a next sequential tracking point in a representation of the content.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein detecting the synchronization event comprises determining an initiation of presentation of the second representation of the content.

10. 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 associated with 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 associated with the digital content wherein the reference point reflects a current progress of the digital content determined by the device in accordance with the presentation; 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;

detect a synchronization event related to 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;

obtain a user command from the user to configure the synchronization information;

generate modified synchronization information based at least in part on a modification of the reference point in accordance with the user command, wherein the modification of the reference point causes the reference point to deviate from the current progress of the digital content as determined by the device, prior to incorporation of at least a portion of the modified synchronization information with the one or more representations of the digital content; and

automatically cause the incorporation of the at least a portion of the modified synchronization information with the one or more representations of the digital content accessible by the device.

11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the modification of the reference point is based on an elapsed time since a collection of the synchronization information.

12. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the modification of the reference point is based on one or more of a capability of the device incorporating the synchronization information or a proximity to a next sequential reference point in a representation of the digital content.

13. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the synchronization information corresponds to information generated by the device during presentation of the digital content.

14. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein detecting the synchronization event comprises identifying device performance metrics indicative of the synchronization event.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the performance metrics include one or more of a current geographic location associated with an unavailability of the device or an availability of a wireless communication component of the device.

16. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the data processing component is further operative to cause transmission of the at least a portion of the modified synchronization information responsive to the synchronization event.

17. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the data processing component is further operative to cause transmission of the at least a portion of the modified synchronization information to at least one peer device, wherein the peer device is identified according to an association with an identifiable account.

18. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the data processing component is further operative to cause transmission of the at least a portion of the modified synchronization information to a communication management component.