Arrangement for synchronizing media files with portable devices

Abstract

Arrangements are provided which improve the efficiency of the synchronization process. The same ensure that synchronizations of large quantities of content can be completed with a minimum of delay. One method prioritizes the various tasks that are to be performed prior to synchronization. Another method initiates dependent tasks while parsing a synchronization tasks list. Yet another method allows modification of an in-process synchronization operation to allow new synchronization tasks to be accomplished within the context of the same process, negating the need to restart synchronization.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A content playback device comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a computer-readable medium storing instructions which when executed by the processors cause the processors to:
 at least partially synchronize a first plurality of content items stored on the computer-readable medium and a second plurality of content items stored on a content management device by performing a list of tasks; 
 during the synchronization, detect a user-directed addition, deletion or modification of a content item in one of the first or second plurality of content items; and 
 responsive to the detecting, dynamically modify the task list to add, delete or modify the content item, respectively, in the other of the first or second plurality of content items. 
   
     
     
         22 . The content playback device of  claim 21 , the computer-readable medium further comprising instructions that cause the processors to:
 continue the synchronization of the first plurality of content items and the second plurality of content items such that the synchronization includes the user-directed addition, deletion or modification of the content item.   
     
     
         23 . The content playback device of  claim 21  wherein at least a portion of the first plurality of content items is organized into at least a first container and at least a portion of the second plurality of content items is organized into at least a second container, each of the containers being defined by action of a filter on a media library. 
     
     
         24 . The content playback device of  claim 23 , the instructions for dynamically modifying the task list further comprise instructions that cause the processor to:
 detect a change in one of the first container or the second container wherein the change corresponds to one of the user-directed addition, deletion or modification of the content item in one of the first or the second plurality of content items.   
     
     
         25 . The content playback device of  claim 24 , the computer-readable medium further comprising instructions that cause the processors to:
 modify the task list to respectively add, delete or modify the content item corresponding to the user-directed addition, deletion or modification.   
     
     
         26 . The content playback device of  claim 25 , wherein the instructions for modifying the task list further comprise instructions that cause the processors to:
 alter status information regarding work remaining for completion of the synchronization; and   continue the synchronization until required synchronization tasks from the task list are completed.   
     
     
         27 . The content playback device of  claim 21 , wherein the instructions for detecting a user-directed addition, deletion or modification of a content item cause the processor to:
 detect multiple user-directed additions, deletions or modifications of multiple content items in the first or the second plurality of content items during the synchronization.   
     
     
         28 . The content playback device of  claim 27 , wherein the instructions for detecting multiple user-directed additions, deletions or modifications of multiple content items cause the processor to:
 detect multiple drag-and-drop operations corresponding to one or more of the first plurality of content items and the second plurality of content items.   
     
     
         29 . The content playback device of  claim 27 , wherein the instructions for detecting multiple user-directed additions, deletions or modifications of multiple content items cause the processors to:
 add multiple tasks to the task list of the synchronization without commencing a new synchronization process, wherein each of the added multiple tasks corresponds to a respective one of the multiple user-directed additions, deletions and modifications.   
     
     
         30 . The content playback device of  claim 21 , wherein the instructions for synchronizing the first plurality of content items and the second plurality of content items cause the processors to:
 prioritize processing by initiating dependent tasks.   
     
     
         31 . A method comprising:
 synchronizing, by a processor, a first plurality of content items organized into at least a first container and a second plurality of content items organized into at least a second container based on an internal work flow;   detecting, by the processor, at least one change in at least one of the first container and the second container during the synchronization;   responsive to the detection, adding, by the processor, a task to the internal work flow; and   responsive to the addition of the task, altering, by the processor, status information regarding work remaining for completion of the synchronization.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 continuing, by the processor, the synchronization until the internal work flow is completed.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the synchronizing based on the internal work flow further comprises:
 transferring, updating and deleting, by the processor, files to or from one of the first container and the second container.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 dynamically creating and maintaining, by the processor, the internal work flow such that new tasks can be added thereto; and   receiving, by the processor from a producer monitoring a media library associated with the first and second containers, the new tasks for adding to the internal work flow.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein synchronizing the first plurality of content items and the second plurality of content items further comprises:
 reviewing the new tasks added to the internal work flow;   identifying a synchronization action capable of being immediately performed such that none of the new tasks pending in the internal work flow are prerequisite for the performance of the synchronization action; and   performing the synchronization action.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein synchronizing the first plurality of content items and the second plurality of content items further comprises:
 moving a pointer to a next task in the internal work flow.   
     
     
         37 . A content management device comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a computer-readable medium storing instructions which when executed by the processors cause the processors to:
 execute a synchronization process based on a task list, the synchronization process synchronizes a first plurality of content items organized into at least a first container and a second plurality of content items organized into at least a second container; 
 detect at least one change occurring in at least one of the first container and the second container during the synchronization process; 
 responsive to the detection, add a task to the task list; and 
 responsive to the addition of the task, alter status information regarding work remaining for completion of the synchronization process. 
   
     
     
         38 . The content management device of  claim 37  wherein the first plurality of content items are stored on the computer-readable medium. 
     
     
         39 . The content management device of  claim 37  wherein the instructions for detecting at least one change cause the processor to:
 detect multiple changes executed via multiple drag-and-drop processes; and 
 add multiple tasks to the task list of the synchronization process without commencing a new synchronization process, wherein each of the multiple tasks corresponds to a respective one of the multiple changes. 
 
     
     
         40 . The content management device of  claim 39 , wherein the instructions for executing the synchronization process cause the processor to:
 review tasks added to the task list;   determine when a synchronization action is capable of being immediately performed with no prerequisite tasks pending in the task list;   performing the synchronization action; and   moving a pointer to a next task in the task list.