US007680849B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`US 7,680,849 B2
`(10) Patent No.:
`Heller et al.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Mar. 16, 2010
`
`(54)
`
`(75)
`
`MULTIPLE MEDIA TYPE
`SYNCHRONIZATION BETWEEN HOST
`COMPUTER AND MEDIA DEVICE
`
`5,535,381 A
`5,559,945 A
`
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`
`Inventors: David Heller, San Jose, CA (US);
`Timothy Wasko, High River (CA); Jeff
`Miller, Mountain View, CA (US); Jesse
`F.0ettchera San Jose, CA ms); Greg
`Marriott, Palo Alto, CA (US)
`
`(Continued)
`
`EP
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`0 917 077
`5/1999
`
`(73)
`
`Assignee: Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
`
`(*)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 426 days.
`
`.
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Appl. NO': 10/973’925
`.
`.
`Ffled'
`
`0“' 25’ 2004
`
`Bridgman, “Windows XP Expert Zone Community Columist”,
`Using Windows Mobile-based Portable Media Centers and Windows
`Media Player 10, Aug. 25, 2004, 1-11.*
`
`Prior Publication Data
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`May 11’ 2006
`Int Cl
`(2006.01)
`G06F 7/00
`(2006.01)
`G06F 1 7/00
`US. Cl.
`....................................... 707/621; 707/913
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`Primary Examinerilohn E Breene
`Assistant ExamineriAleksandr Kerzhner
`
`(57)
`
`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 for-
`matted (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 trans-
`ferred 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
`riorities
`
`P
`
`'
`
`(21)
`
`(22)
`
`(65)
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`(58)
`
`(56)
`
`31 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`Apple Exhibit 4437
`
`Apple V. SightSound Technologies
`CBM2013-00023
`
`Page 00001
`
`
`
`[200
`
`
`
`SYNCHRONIZATION
`PERFORMED
`
`
`OBTAIN MEDIA DEVICE CAPABILITIES
`FRoM MEDIA DEVICE
`
`
`
`
`205
`
`210
`
`IDENITFV ORIGINAL MEDIA ASSETS
`To BE coPIED To MEDIA DEVICE
`T
`DETERMINE MEDIA FORMATS
`REQUESTED BASED ON THE
`MEDIA DEVICE CAPABILITIES
`
`
`aENERATE, FOR EACH OF THE IDENTIFIED
`ORIGINAL MEDIA ASSETS. A SET OF
`zIz/x
`FORMATTED MEDIAASSETS IN ACCORDANCE
`WITH THE MEDIA FORMATS
`
`
`i
`(:on THE SET or FORMATTED MEDIA
`214 N
`ASSETS To MEDIA DEvIcE
`
`
`
` t
`
`Apple Exhibit 4437
`Apple v. SightSound Technologies
`CBM2013-00023
`Page 00001
`
`

`

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`“CartWorks Spot Set Editor User’s Manual”, dbm Systems, Inc., pp.
`1-1 1 .
`“The DADpro Digital Audio Delivery System Operation Manual
`Version 1.0”, IBM Corp., pp. 1-424, Aug. 30, 1996.
`“Virtual RecorderiBasic Operations”, ASC Audio Video Corpora-
`tion, pp. 1-94, Sep. 9, 1996.
`“Broadcast Tools: SpotBase, Playlist & TapeBase”, ASC Audio
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`“VR 300 Advanced Broadcast Video Server”, ASC Audio Video
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`“VR300 Video Server User Manual, Version 1.0”, ASC Audio Video
`Corporation, pp. 1-40, Mar. 20, 1998.
`“Gravis WinDecks Version 1.12”, screen shots, Gravis Computer
`Technology Ltd., pp. 1-10.
`WinDecks, User Instructions, Gravis Computer Technology Ltd., pp.
`1-14.
`RCA Lyra User’s Guide, RD2201/2202/2204, www.lyrazone.com,
`pp. 1-37.
`Lyra, Personal Digital Player, RCA, Product Box.
`Compaq Computer Corp., copyright 1991, Personal Jukebox User
`Manual, pp. 1-29, 1991.
`“About MusicMatch Jukebox,” MusicMatch Jukebox v4 Help, pp.
`1-4.
`RealJukebox Plus Manual, Real Networks, Inc., copyright 1999, pp.
`1-83, RealJukebox, Real Networks, Inc ., webpages downloaded Oct.
`27, 2005 http://www.real.com/Jukebox/releaseinotes.html# , 1999.
`TuneBase 100 User Guide, A CD Library Management System,
`Escient, Inc. copyright 1999.
`TuneBase Pro Mk-II User’s Guide, Escient, Inc.
`Window’s Media Player 6.4, Microsoft Corp., copyright 1999, soft-
`ware available at http://www.oldversion.com/program/php?n:wmp
`See also Windows Media Player 6.4 Software Official website at
`http:www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/ver-
`sion64/default.aspx.
`Replay Gain, “Replay GainiA proposed Standard,” Oct. 7, 2001,
`available from http://replaygain.hydrogenaudio.org/index.html and
`http ://replaygain .hydrogenaudio . org/outline .htrnl.
`Glenn Fleishman, “Handheld iPod joins MP3 band a bit late, but is
`standout player,” Nov. 6, 2001, http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/
`htrnl/businesstechnology/l34361811,ptmacc040.html.
`
`1995, http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/
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`“Hewlett Packard Jornada 525 Color Pocket PC,” downloaded Jan.
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`2002,
`http://www.pc4d.com/electronics/products/56/
`jornadai525icoloripocketipc.shtml.
`iTunes, Digital Music for your Mac, Apple Computer, Inc., down-
`loaded Oct. 22, 2001, http://www.apple.com/itunes/.
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`2002, http://www.webreviews.com/9901/rio.html.
`Andy Lindauer, “What’s in your Pocket?,” Edgereview, downloaded
`Jan. 25, 2002, http://www.edgereview.com/print.cfm?Type:aag
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`Handbook for PalmTM m500 Series Handhelds, User Manual, Aug.
`25, 2003.
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`PCT application no. PCT/US2005/038529 dated May 24, 2006
`(APL1P354).
`Sinitsyn, “A Synchronization Framework for Personal Mobile Serv-
`ers,” Proceedings of the Second IEEE Annual Conference on Perva-
`sive Computing and Communications Workshops, Piscataway, NJ,
`Mar. 14, 2004, pp. 1-4.
`Vetro et al., “Media Conversions to Support Mobile Users,” IEEE
`Canadian Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering,
`Piscataway, NJ, May 13, 2001, pp. 607-612.
`Zheng et al., “MobiGATE: a mobile gateway proxy for the active
`deployment of transport entities,” Proceedings of the 2004 Interna-
`tional Conference on Parallel Processing, Piscataway, NJ, Aug. 15,
`2004.
`De Herrera, Chris, “Microsoft ActiveSync 3.1,” Version 1.02, Oct.
`13, 2000.
`IEEE 13947Wikipedia,
`Firewire.
`Miniman, “Applian Software’s Replay Radio and Player v1.02,”
`Product
`review, pocketnow.com, http://www.pocketnow.com/re-
`views/replay/replay.htm, Jul. 31, 2001.
`Personal Jukebox (PJB), “Systems Research Center and PAAD,”
`Compaq Computer Corp., Oct. 13, 2000, http://research.compaq.
`com/SRC/pjb/.
`Compaq, “Personal Jukebox,” Jan. 24, 2001, http://research.compaq.
`com/SRC/pjb/.
`Steinberg, “Sonicblue Rio Car,” Product Review, Dec. 12, 2000,
`http://electronics.cnet.com/electronics/0-6342420-1304-4098389.
`html.
`Andrew Birrell, “Personal Jukebox (PJB),” Oct. 13, 2000, http://
`birrell.org/andrew/talks/pjb-overview.ppt.
`Travis Butler, “Portable MP3: The Nomad Jukebox,” Jan. 8, 2001,
`http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart:06261.
`Travis Butler, “Archos Jukebox 6000 Challenges Nomad Jukebox,”
`Aug. 13, 2001, http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart:06521.
`Adam C. Engst, “SoundJam Keeps on Jammin’,” Jun. 19, 2000,
`http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart:05988.
`Musicmatch,
`“Musicmatch and Xing Technology Introduce
`Musicmatch Jukebox,” May 18, 1998, http://www.musicmatch.com/
`info/company/press/releases/?year:1998&release:2.
`“Nomad Jukebox,” User Guide, Creative Technology Ltd., Version 1,
`Aug. 2000.
`“Apple’s iPod Available in Stores Tomorrow,” Press Release, Apple
`Computer, Inc., Nov. 9, 2001.
`“Apple Introduces iTunesiWorld’s Best and Easiest To Use Juke-
`box Software,” Macworld Expo, San Francisco, Jan. 9, 2001.
`iTunes, Playlist Related Help Screens, iTunes v1.0, Apple Computer,
`Inc., Jan. 2001.
`“Apple Announces iTunes 2,” Press Release, Apple Computer, Inc.,
`Oct. 23,2001.
`Specification Sheet, iTunes 2, Apple Computer, Inc., Oct. 31, 2001.
`iTunes 2, Playlist Related Help Screens, iTunes v2.0, Apple Com-
`puter, Inc., Oct. 23, 2001.
`SoundJam MP Plus, Representative Screens, published by Casady &
`Greene, Inc., Salinas, CA, 2000.
`“SoundJam MP Plus Manual, version 2.0” 7MP3 Player and
`Encoder for Macintosh by Jeffrey Robbin, Bill Kincaid and Dave
`Heller, manual by Tom Negrino, published by Casady & Greene, Inc.,
`2000.
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`Page 00004
`
`Page 00004
`
`

`

`US 7,680,849 B2
`
`Page 5
`
`“Digital Still CamerasiDownloading Images to a Computer,” Mimi
`Chakarova et 81., Multi-Media Repofiing and Convergence, 2 pgs,
`May 9, 2095
`_
`_
`_
`2:836: Action from EP Application NO' 05823337'0’ mailed Jan. 27’
`Notification of Second Office Action for Chinese Patent Application
`2005800365758, dated Sep. 18, 2009.
`Torrone, Phillip, How-To: Getting Podcasts on a Portable Media
`Center (and other Windows Media Devices, Oct. 2004.
`
`Etchison, “Accelerated Discrete Adjustment of the Parameters of a
`Process”, IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 15, No. 5, Oct. 1,
`1972, 2 pgs.
`Skarlatos et al., “Sprite Software Sprite Backup 5.0”, Internet Pub-
`lication, V
`V
`V .pocketnow.com/1ndex.php?a+portalipr1nt&t:reV1eW
`&ld:78& Mar. 65 2005
`.
`.
`* Clted by exammer
`
`Page 00005
`
`Page 00005
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 16, 2010
`
`Sheet 1 019
`
`US 7,680,849 B2
`
`104
`
`
`
`
`HOST
`106
`COMPUTER
`
`
`MEDIA MANAGER
`
`
`
`MEDIA
`DEVICE
`116
`
`
`DATABASE
`
`108
`
`RENDERED
`
`MEDIA
`
`DATABASE
`
`
`MEDIA I MEDIA
`
`
`SOURCE
`
`
`MEDIA ASSETS
`
`
`MEEIIIXDIESRSEEQFS
`
`
`{_ ------ “I
`I ORIGINAL '
`I
`,
`5 MEDIA
`
`
`
`ASSETS
`'{\ 120
`
`
`
`
`
`118
`
`ORIGINAL
`MEDIA
`
`ASSETS
`
`FIG. 1
`
`Page 00006
`
`Page 00006
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 16, 2010
`
`Sheet 2 0f9
`
`US 7,680,849 B2
`
`® / 200
`
`
`
`TO BE
`PERFORMED
`
`?
`
`YES
`
`NO
`
`204
`
`SYNCHRONIZATION
`
`OBTAIN MEDIA DEVICE CAPABILITIES
`
`FROM MEDIA DEVICE
`
`206
`
`
`
`
`MEDIA
`DISPLAY
`
`
`SUPPORTED
`
`?
`
`208
`
`
`
`IDENITFY ORIGINAL MEDIA ASSETS
`TO BE COPIED TO MEDIA DEVICE
`
`
`
`DETERMINE MEDIA FORMATS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`COPY THE SET OF FORMATTED MEDIA
`ASSETS TO MEDIA DEVICE
`
`
`210
`
`REQUESTED BASED ON THE
`
`MEDIA DEVICE CAPABILITIES
`
`GENERATE, FOR EACH OF THE IDENTIFIED
`
`ORIGINAL MEDIA ASSETS, A SET OF
`FORMATTED MEDIA ASSETS IN ACCORDANCE
`WITH THE MEDIA FORMATS
`
`
`212
`
`214
`
`Page 00007
`
`@ F
`
`IG. 2
`
`Page 00007
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 16, 2010
`
`Sheet 3 0f9
`
`US 7,680,849 B2
`
`/ 300
`
`302
`
`IDENTIFY MEDIA ASSETS
`TO BE COPIED TO MEDIA DEVICE
`
`304
`
`
`DOES
`MEDIA
`
`DEVICE
`
`HAVE
`
`
`
`ADEQUATE
`AVAILABLE
`
`STORAGE
`
`CAPACITY
`
`312
`
`COPY THE IDENTIFIED
`
`MEDIA ASSETS TO THE
`
`DETERMINE PRIORITIES OF
`
`THE IDENTIFIED MEDIA
`
`ASSETS
`
`
`
`
`
`MEDIA DEVICE
`
`
`
`REDUCE NUMBER OF THE
`
`
`IDENTIFIED MEDIA ASSETS
`
`TO BE STORED BASED ON
`
`
`
`
`
`THE PRIORITIES
`
`310
`
`FIG. 3
`
`Page 00008
`
`Page 00008
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 16, 2010
`
`Sheet 4 0f9
`
`US 7,680,849 B2
`
`@ /4°°
`
`
` MEDIA
`
`
`DISCOVERED
`
`DEVICE
`
`NO
`
`?
`
`
`
`
`YES
`
`DETERMINE HOST MEDIA SOURCE
`FOR MEDIA ASSETS
`
`404
`
`IDENTIFY MEDIA COLLECTIONS
`
`IN THE HOST MEDIA SOURCE
`
`TO BE COPIED
`
`STORED ON THE MEDIA DEVICE
`
`REQUEST MEDIA INFORMATION
`
`PERTAINING TO MEDIA ASSETS
`
`406
`
`408
`
`410
`
`
`MEDIA
`
`INFO.
`
`
`
`
`RECEIVED
`
`NO
`
`?
`
`YES
`
`COMPARE THE MEDIA INFORMATION
`
`FROM THE MEDIA DEVICE WITH
`
`MEDIA ASSETS WITHIN THE MEDIA
`
`COLLECTIONS ON HOST COMPUTER
`
`412
`
`FIG. 4A
`
`Page 00009
`
`Page 00009
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 16, 2010
`
`Sheet 5 0f9
`
`US 7,680,849 B2
`
`IDENTIFY MEDIA ASSETS ON THE
`
`HOST COMPUTER THAT ARE NOT
`ON THE MEDIA DEVICE
`
`IDENTIFIED MEDIA ASSETS
`
`DETERMINE AMOUNT OF STORAGE
`
`SPACE NEEDED FOR THE
`
`DETERMINE AMOUNT OF AVAILABLE
`
`MEDIA DEVICE
`
`STORAGE SPACE ON THE
`
`414
`
`416
`
`418
`
`420
`
`YES
`
`422
`
`DELETE UNNEEDED
`MEDIA ASSETS FROM
`
`THE MEDIA DEVICE
`
`
`
`
`IS
`AMT. OF
`
`
`STORAGE
`SPACE
`
`
`
`NEEDED
`
`
`
`<
`
`
`
`AMT. OF
`AVAILABLE
`STORAGE
`SPACE
`
`?
`
`
`NO
`
`426
`
`DETERMINE PRIORITIES FOR
`THE MEDIA COLLECTIONS
`
`424
`
`@
`
`COPY THE IDENTIFIED
`
`MEDIA ASSETS TO
`
`THE MEDIA DEVICE
`
`6
`
`FIG. 48
`
`Page 00010
`
`Page 00010
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 16, 2010
`
`Sheet 6 0f9
`
`US 7,680,849 B2
`
`DETERMINE NEEDED STORAGE SPACE
`
`
`
`FOR FIRST (NEXT) PRIORITY MEDIA
`
`
`COLLECTION
`
` STORAGE
`
`SPACE
`>
`
`AVAIL.
`STORAGE
`
`
`
`SPACE
`-
`
`
`
`INFORM USER
`THAT INSUFFICIENT
`STORAGE PREVENTED
`
`UPDATE
`
` STORAGE
`SPACE
`
`>
`
`
`FREE
`SPACE
`?
`
`
`
`TO THE MEDIA DEVICE
`
` DELETE UNNEEDED MEDIA
`ASSETS FROM THE MEDIA DEVICE
`
`
`
` COPY MEDIA ASSETS FOR THE
`PRIORITY MEDIA COLLECTION
`
`
`YES COLLECTIONS
`
`NO
`
`FIG. 4C
`
`Page 00011
`
`Page 00011
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 16, 2010
`
`Sheet 7 0f9
`
`US 7,680,849 B2
`
`/ 500
`
` PERFORM
`
`SYNCHRONIZATION
`?
`
`
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`IDENTIFY MEDIA ASSETS OF
`
`A FIRST TYPE TO BE COPIED
`
`504
`
`TO THE MEDIA DEVICE
` [\J
`506
`DOES
`
`MEDIA
`
`
`
`
` REDUCE NUMBER
`ADEQUATE
`
`
`OF THE IDENTIFIED
`
`AVAILABLE
`
`
`
`(SDI-£22935
`THE FIRST TYPE TO
`
`
`
`
`BE COPIED
`
`
`DEVICE
`
`HAVE
`
`YES
`
`MEDIA ASSETS OF
`
`COPY THE IDENTIFIED MEDIA
`
`ASSETS OF
`
`THE FIRST TYPE TO THE
`
`MEDIA DEVICE
`
`
`
`IDENTIFY MEDIA ASSETS OF
`
`A SECOND TYPE TO BE COPIED
`TO THE MEDIA DEVICE
`
`510
`
`512
`
`a
`
`FIG. 5A
`
`Page 00012
`
`Page 00012
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 16, 2010
`
`Sheet 8 0f9
`
`US 7,680,849 B2
`
`514
`
`HAVE
`
`ADEQUATE
`
`
`DOES
`
`
`MEDIA
`DEVICE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`AVAILABLE
`
`
`STORAGE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`CAPACITY
`
`?
`
`DETERMINE PRIORITIES OF
`
`THE IDENTIFIED MEDIA
`
`ASSETS OF THE SECOND
`
`TYPE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`REDUCE NUMBER OF THE
`
`
`IDENTIFIED MEDIA ASSETS
`OF THE SECOND TYPE TO
`
`BE COPIED BASED ON
`
`THE PRIORITIES
`
`
`
`COPY THE IDENTIFIED
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`MEDIA ASSETS OF THE
`
`SECOND TYPE TO THE
`
`MEDIA DEVICE
`
`
`
`FIG. SB
`
`Page 00013
`
`Page 00013
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 16, 2010
`
`Sheet 9 0f9
`
`US 7,680,849 B2
`
`614
`
`
`USER INPUT® DEVICE
`
`&
`
`CODEC
`
`$2
`
`PROCESSOR
`
`600
`
`[
`
`6;
`
`DISPLAY
`
`618
`
`NETWORK / BUS
`
`INTERFACE
`
`616
`
`FILE
`
`SYSTEM
`
`§o_
`
`(STORAGE DISK)
`
`&
`CACHE
`
`622
`
`620
`
`FIG. 6
`
`Page 00014
`
`Page 00014
`
`

`

`US 7,680,849 B2
`
`1
`MULTIPLE MEDIA TYPE
`SYNCHRONIZATION BETWEEN HOST
`COMPUTER AND MEDIA DEVICE
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is related to: (i) US. application Ser. No.
`10/973,657, filed Oct. 25, 2004, and entitled “IMAGE SCAL-
`ING ARRANGEMENT,” which is hereby incorporated
`herein by reference; (ii) US. application Ser. No. 10/987,649,
`filed Nov. 12, 2004, and entitled “WIRELESS SYNCHRO-
`NIZATION BETWEEN MEDIA PLAYER AND HOST
`
`DEVICE,” which is hereby incorporated herein by reference;
`(iii) US. application Ser. No. 10/277,418, filed Oct. 21, 2002,
`and entitled “INTELLIGENT INTERACTION BETWEEN
`MEDIA PLAYER AND HOST COMPUTER,” which is
`hereby incorporated herein by reference; and (iv) U.S. appli-
`cation Ser. No. 10/ 118,069, filed Apr. 5, 2002, and entitled
`“INTELLIGENT SYNCHRONIZATION OF MEDIA
`
`PLAYER WITH HOST COMPUTER,” which is hereby
`incorporated herein by reference.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention relates to media devices and, more
`particularly, to synchronization or management of media on
`media devices.
`
`2. Description of the Related Art
`Synchronization operations have been conventionally per-
`formed between portable devices, such as Personal Digital
`Assistants (PDAs) and host computers, to synchronize elec-
`tronic files or other resources. For example, these files or
`other resources can pertain to text files, data files, calendar
`appointments, emails, to-do lists, electronic rolodexes, etc.
`However, such synchronization schemes tend to utilize file-
`names and modification dates to determine whether files need
`
`to be copied between the devices.
`In the case ofmedia players, such as music players, files are
`typically moved between a host computer and a media player
`through use of a drag and drop operation, like that conven-
`tionally done with respect to copying of a data file from a
`Windows desktop to a floppy disk. Hence, a user ofthe media
`player manually initiates the synchronization for individual
`media assets.As a consequence, synchronization also tends to
`be tedious and time consuming for users. Synchronization
`tends to be slow because data is transmitted between devices
`
`over a slow link. More recently, synchronization of a music
`player with a host computer has been able to be automatically
`initiated once a bus connection over a peripheral cable con-
`nects the music player to the host computer. As an example of
`such a system, see US. Patent Publication No.: 2003/
`0167318 A1. However, such automated synchronization
`involves media assets of a single media type, namely songs.
`Other media types, such as images, present new and different
`challenges when attempting to provide synchronization.
`Thus, there is a need for improved techniques for improved
`approaches to synchronize media devices and host comput-
`ers.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The invention relates to improved techniques for transfer-
`ring media assets between a host computer and a media
`device. The transfer of media assets between a host computer
`and a media device can be referred to as synchronization.
`
`2
`
`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 collec-
`tion 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 ofthe invention, media assets
`ofdifferent media types can be transferred in accordance with
`different priorities.
`The invention can be implemented in numerous ways,
`including as a method, system, device, apparatus, or com-
`puter readable medium. Several embodiments of the inven-
`tion are discussed below.
`
`As a method for providing media assets to a media device
`from a host computer, one embodiment of the invention
`includes at least the acts of: obtaining media device capabili-
`ties for the media device; identifying original media assets on
`the host computer that are to be copied to the media device;
`determining media formats appropriate for the media device
`based on the media device capabilities; generating, for each
`ofthe original media assets, a set of formatted media assets in
`accordance with the media formats; and copying the set of
`formatted media assets to the media device.
`
`As a method for synchronizing media as sets between a ho st
`computer and a media device, one embodiment of the inven-
`tion includes at least the acts of: identifying media assets at
`the host computer to be synchronized to the media device, the
`media assets being associated with one or more media col-
`lections; determining which ofthe identified media assets are
`not already stored on the media device; determining a priority
`for each of the one or more media collections that include the
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`determined media assets; and copying the determined media
`assets of the one or more media collections from the host
`
`computer to the media device, the 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.
`As a method for synchronizing media as sets between a ho st
`computer and a media device, another embodiment of the
`invention includes at least the acts of:
`identifying media
`assets residing on the host computer that are to be copied to
`the media device; determining whether the media device has
`adequate available storage capacity to store the identified
`media assets; determining priorities associated with the iden-
`tified media assets; reducing the identified media assets that
`are to be copied to the media device in accordance with the
`priorities when it is determined that the media device has
`inadequate available storage capacity to store the identified
`media assets; and copying the identified media assets to the
`media device.
`
`As a method for copying media assets from a host com-
`puter to a media device, one embodiment of the invention
`includes at least the acts of: identifying a number of media
`assets of a first type to be copied from the host computer to the
`media device; determining whether the media device has
`adequate available storage capacity to store the identified
`media assets of the first type; reducing the number of media
`assets of the first type to be copied when it is determined that
`the media device has inadequate available storage capacity;
`copying the identified media assets of the first type to the
`media device; identifying a number of media assets of a
`second type to be copied from the host computer to the media
`device; determining whether the media device has adequate
`available storage capacity to store the identified media assets
`of the s