Virtual collection of entities in sync process

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 9,606,993
App. No.: 12/951,821
Granted: Mar 28, 2017
Kind: B2

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Abstract

Apparatus and methods to control selection of media content provide a mechanism to enhance user interaction with multimedia devices. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Claims (38)

1. A method comprising:

identifying user chosen media files chosen by a user in a system as part of a sync set for syncing with a device different from the system in a sync process, the user chosen media files being media files identified in a user interface of the system;

automatically selecting autofill media files in a background process separate from the user interface, for including in the sync set in addition to the user chosen media files;

automatically transferring to a media storage of the device both the user chosen media files and the automatically selected autofill media files to a maximum level available for storage of media on the device;

removing from the sync set the autofill media files such that the sync set reflects only the user chosen media files; and

displaying on the user interface the user chosen media files for syncing to the device in the sync process, wherein the automatically selected autofill media files for syncing to the device in the sync process, having been removed from the sync set, are not displayed until another user initiated sync process begins.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method includes:

storing a representation of the autofill media files in a storage medium in the system allocated for the sync set, the sync set storing information on media files correlated to the sync process of the system with the device;

syncing the user chosen media files and the autofill media files to the device in the sync process; and

providing to the user interface information regarding the sync set, wherein the information reflects only the chosen media files.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein autofill media files, in addition to the user chosen media files, includes an album of autofill media files based on one or more of the user chosen media files such that the autofill media files of the album have a common characteristic.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the automatically selecting media autofill files includes selecting autofill media files using a weighted algorithm based upon metadata associated with the user chosen media files.

5. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium that stores instructions, which when the instructions are executed by a processor, cause the machine to perform operations comprising: identifying user chosen media files chosen by a user in a system as part of a sync set for syncing with a device different from the system in a sync process, the user chosen media files being media files identified in a user interface of the system;

automatically selecting autofill media files in a background process separate from the user interface, for including in the sync set in addition to the user chosen media files;

removing from the sync set the autofill media files such that the sync set reflects only the user chosen media files; and

6. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 5 , further comprising:

syncing the user chosen media files and the autofill media files to the device in the sync process; and

providing to the user interface information regarding the sync set, wherein the information reflects only the chosen media files.

7. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 5 , wherein autofill media files, in addition to the user chosen media files, includes an album of autofill media files based on one or more of the user chosen media files such that the autofill media files of the album have a common characteristic.

8. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 5 , wherein the automatically selecting media autofill files includes selecting autofill media files using a weighted algorithm based upon metadata associated with the user chosen media files.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a display to operate a user interface; and

a machine-readable storage medium that stores instructions, the machine-readable storage medium operably coupled to the processor such that the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform operations comprising:

automatically selecting autofill media files in a background process separate from the user interface, for including in the sync set in addition to the user chosen media files;

removing from the sync set the autofill media files such that the sync set reflects only the user chosen media files; and

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising:

syncing the user chosen media files and the autofill media files to the device in the sync process; and

providing to the user interface information regarding the sync set, wherein the information reflects only the chosen media files.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein autofill media files, in addition to the user chosen media files, includes an album of autofill media files based on one or more of the user chosen media files such that the autofill media files of the album have a common characteristic.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the automatically selecting media autofill files includes selecting autofill media files using a weighted algorithm based upon metadata associated with the user chosen media files.