Digital asset hosting and distribution among user accounts
View Patent ↗A first collection of content that includes digital assets is maintained on a host computer. Based on a determination that a portable media device becomes connected to a client computer that is separate from the host computer and that interacts with the host computer, initiation of a synchronization of the first collection of content resident on the host computer with a second collection of content on the portable media device is automatically triggered. The synchronization of the first collection with the second collection includes a transfer of at least one of the digital assets from the host computer to the client computer to the portable media device and is triggered and conditioned upon the determination that the portable media device has become connected to the client computer.
1. A method comprising:
generating a first user account for a first user associated with a first computing device and a second user account for a second user associated with a second computing device;
generating, by at least one processor, a library of digital assets shared among the first user and the second user by creating a link between the first user account and the second user account;
receiving, from the second computing device, a user-generated update configuration parameter that defines an update event for when to update the second user account, wherein the update event comprises connecting the second computing device of the second user associated with the second user account to a network;
receiving, from a portable media device associated with the second user account, a request for updates based on a predetermined update interval;
receiving, from the first computing device of the first user a modification to the library of digital assets;
detecting the update event by determining the second computing device of the second user connects to the network;
in response to detecting the update event, automatically updating, by the at least one processor, the second user account with the modification to the library of digital assets; and
sending the portable media device associated with the second user account at least one update according to the predetermined update interval.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the user-generated update configuration parameter further defines the update event as comprising operation of the computing device during a predetermined time interval; and
detecting the update event further comprises detecting operation of the computing device during the predetermined time interval.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second computing device comprises the portable media device associated with the second user account.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
hosting the library of digital assets on the network; and
enabling the portable media device associated with the second user account to operate on the network.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
updating the second user account with the modification to the library of digital assets only when the portable media device associated with the second user account is operating on the network.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the user-generated update configuration parameter further defines the update event as comprising the second computing device logging onto the second user account; and
detecting the update event further comprises detecting the second computing device logging onto the second user account.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
enabling the second user to specify the update event of the user-generated update configuration parameter through the portable media device associated with the second user account; and
updating the second user account with the modification to the library of digital assets upon occurrence of the update event specified in the user-generated update configuration parameter.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising enabling the second user to request to update the second user account via one or more devices associated with the second user.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modification to the library of digital assets comprises adding a digital asset to the library of digital assets.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modification to the library of digital assets comprises a subscription to a playlist.
11. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a computer system to:
generate a first user account for a first user associated with a first computing device and a second user account for a second user associated with a second computing device;
generate a library of digital assets shared among the first user and the second user by creating a link between the first user account and the second user account;
receive, from the second computing device, a user-generated update configuration parameter that defines an update event for when to update the second user account, wherein the update event comprises connecting the second computing device of the second user associated with the second user account to a network;
receive, from a portable media device associated with the second user account, a request for updates based on a predetermined update interval;
receive, from the first computing device of the first user, a modification to the library of digital assets;
detect the update event by determining the second computing device of the second user connects to the network;
in response to detecting the update event, automatically updating the second user account with the modification to the library of digital assets; and
send the portable media device associated with the second user account at least one update according to the predetermined update interval.
12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the second computing device comprises the portable media device associated with the second user account.
13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to:
host the library of digital assets on the network;
enable the second computing device to operate on the network; and
enable the second computing device to obtain updates only when the second computing device is operating on the network.
14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to:
receive, from a third computing device not associated with the first user account or the second user account, an additional modification to the library of digital assets; and
in response to detecting the update event, update the first user account and the second user account based on the additional modification.
15. A system comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to:
generate a first user account for a first user associated with a first computing device and a second user account for a second user associated with a second computing device;
generate a library of digital assets shared among the first user and the second user by creating a link between the first user account and the second user account;
receive, from the second computing device, a user-generated update configuration parameter that defines an update event for when to update the second user account, wherein the update event comprises connecting the second computing device of the second user associated with the second user account to a network;
receive, from a portable media device associated with the second user account, a request for updates based on a predetermined update interval;
receive, from the first computing device of the first user, a modification to the library of digital assets;
detect the update event by determining the second computing device of the second user connects to the network;
in response to detecting the update event, automatically update the second user account with the modification to the library of digital assets; and
send the portable media device associated with the second user account at least one update according to the predetermined update interval.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one processor is further caused to:
receive, from a third computing device associated with a third user account, an additional modification to the library of digital assets; and
in response detecting the update event, updating the first user account and the second user account based on the additional modification to the library of digital assets.
17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the second computing device comprises the portable media device associated with the second user account.
18. The system of claim 15 , wherein:
the user-generated update configuration parameter further defines the update event as comprising operating the first computing device and the second computing device on the same network; and
detecting the update event comprises detecting operation of the first computing device and the second computing device on the same network.
19. The system of claim 15 , wherein:
the user-generated update configuration parameter further defines the update event as comprising logging the second device onto the second user account; and
detecting the update event comprises detecting the second computing device logging onto the second user account.
20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one processor is further caused to:
enable review, by the second computing device, of the modification by the first computing device before the modification is sent to the second computing device.