Data Synchronisation

Abstract

A data synchronisation system automating content adaptation and transfer between storage devices and content servers, independent of user device. Included is a data storage device, a synchronisation device that uploads, downloads and processes content data, a control server handling connection data and capability data, controlling the synchronisation device, and at least one content server. The synchronisation device communicates with the data storage device, accesses a device identifier, and connects to the control and/or content server. The control server processes the device identifier and sends connection and capability data to the synchronisation device, which processes the connection and capability data, establishes a connection with the content server based thereon, and performs at least one of downloading and adapting content data to a data storage device format, and uploading same to the data storage device; and of downloading and adapting content data for compatibility with, and uploading to, the destination content server.

1 . A data synchronisation system comprising:
 a data storage device comprising a device identifier;   a synchronisation device arranged to upload and download content data respectively stored or to be stored on the data storage device and to process that content data;   a control server arranged to generate connection data, and capability data providing the capabilities of the storage device associated with a device identifier, the connection and capability data being arranged to control operation of the synchronisation device; and   one or more content servers;   wherein the synchronisation device is arranged to have connected thereto the data storage device, to access the device identifier, to establish a connection to the control server and/or the content server via a network and to send the device identifier to the control server;   the control server is arranged to receive the device identifier, process the device identifier and to send connection and capability data to the synchronisation device, according to the device identifier, the connection data determines to which content server the synchronisation device establishes a connection; and   the synchronisation device being further arranged to process the connection and capability data and establish a connection with the or each content server based upon the connection and/or capability data and, further, dependent upon the connection data to perform at least one of:
 i: download content data held in a first format from the or each content server specified in the connection data, adapt the content data from the first format according to the data storage device capabilities held in the capability data to a data storage device format that the data storage device is capable of processing and upload the adapted content data to the data storage device; and 
 ii. download content data from the data storage device, adapt the downloaded content data according to the capability data to be compatible with the destination content server as specified in the connection data and upload content data received from the data storage device to the destination content server. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  in which the synchronization device is a dedicated device. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  which further comprises a profile database from which the capability data is generated containing data identifying any of the following, using the device identifier as unique identifier to the database:
 a list of one or more data storage device formats the data storage device is capable of utilizing; 
 a list of one or more content server to which the data storage device can upload content data; and 
 a list of one or more content server from which the data storage device may download content data. 
 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  in which the data base is held on the content server. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  in which the data storage device is connected to the synchronisation device by a first network connection which is a wired connection and wherein the wired connection may be arranged to charge the data storage device. 
     
     
         6 . The system of any of  claim 1  in which the synchronisation device is connected to a second network which is connected to a Wide Area Network (WAN), such as the Internet. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  in which the synchronisation device is provided within the housing of mains plug arranged to be plugged into a mains socket and/or provided with a cable which plugs into a mains socket. 
     
     
         8 . The system of any of  claim 6  in which the synchronisation device is arranged to store data from the data storage device upon a remote data display device connected to the second network and/or a WAN connected to the second network. 
     
     
         9 . A synchronisation device comprising:
 processing circuitry;   a first data connection arranged to have a data storage device connected thereto and in communication with the processing circuitry;   a second data connection arranged to connect the synchronisation device to a network and pass data to and from the network from the processing circuitry;   wherein   the processing circuitry being arranged to:
 1. establish a connection with a data storage device connected to the first data connection, obtain a device identifier from the data storage device and forward the device identifier across the second data connection; 
 2. receive connection data, and capability data providing capabilities of the storage device specific to the device identifier sent across the second data connection from the second data connection and subsequently process said connection and capability data; 
   the processing circuitry being further arranged to process the connection and capability data and perform at least one of the following steps:
 3. download data from a content server held in a first format at a location specified by the connection data, adapt the content data from the first format according to the data storage device capabilities held in the capability data to a data storage device format that the data storage device is capable of processing and upload content data in the data storage device format to a data storage device connected thereto; and 
 4. download content data from a data storage device, adapt, according to the capability data, the downloaded content data to be compatible with the destination content server as specified in the connection data and upload content data from received from the data storage device to that destination content server. 
   
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claims 9  in which the first data connection is a wired connection arranged to charge the data storage device as it is connected to the synchronisation device. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 9  which comprises a local storage device, such as a hard drive. 
     
     
         12 . A method of synchronising data held on a data storage device comprising the following steps:
 i. establishing a connection with the data storage device and a synchronisation device and reading a device identifier from the data storage device;   ii. establishing a connection between the synchronisation device and a control server via a second data connection and forwarding the device identifier to the control server;   iii. sending connection data from the control server to the synchronisation device, the connection data being generated according to the device identifier and including capability data providing the capabilities of the storage device associated with the device identifier, and the connection data providing the address of one or more content servers for the device identified by the device identifier;   iv. causing the synchronisation device to download content data to the data storage device from the content server specified in the connection data after adapting the content data, according to the capability data, from a first data format as held on the content server to a data storage device format that the data storage device is capable of processing and/or uploading content data from the data storage device to a location specified by the connection data after adapting, according to the capability data, the content data to be compatible with the content server at the specified location.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising generating the capability data from a profile database containing data identifying any of the following, using the device identifier as unique identifier to the database:
 a list of one or more data storage device formats the data storage device is capable of utilizing; 
 a list of one or more content server to which the data storage device can upload content data; and 
 a list of one or more content server from which the data storage device may download content data. 
 
     
     
         14 . A method of synchronising a portable data storage device comprising;
 i. receiving a request, from a network, indicative that a synchronisation device is making a request for data, the request including a device identifier identifying the device that is to be synchronised;   ii. accessing a data store to retrieve connection and capability data associated with the device identifier; and   iii. transmitting the connection and capability data to the synchronisation device that made the request, wherein the connection data includes a location at which the data storage device may store data and/or retrieve data therefrom and the compatibility data provides the capabilities of the storage device associated with the device identifier.