Synchronizing channels lists

摘要

A system and methods are provided for synchronizing multiple lists of content channels that a user of a multi-channel content service subscribes to or follows, such as lists maintained at different places and/or on different devices. If a list on one of the user's devices has been modified, the device (e.g., a multi-channel content applet) informs a synchronization server by uploading the list. The server synchronizes it with a master list and downloads a copy to the device. A channels list includes an entry for each channel the user follows (and possibly channels he has deleted), which includes an index or ordinal position of the channel among all the member's channels, an identifier of the channel (e.g., a URN), identifiers of sub-lists the channel has been assigned to, and a timestamp identifying the last time the entry changed (e.g., when the channel was added, removed, assigned to a sub-list).

主权项

1. A method of synchronizing lists of multiple content channels on a user's client devices, the method comprising:
determining whether a first current channels list on a first client device operated by the user has been modified, wherein said determining comprises:
receiving a connection from the first client device; andreceiving from the first client device one of:
a first signal indicating that the first current channels list has not been modified since a previous connection; anda second signal indicating that the first current channels list has been modified since the previous connection, wherein the second signal comprises the first current channels list; receiving the first current channels list if the first current channels list has been modified; synchronizing the first current channels list with a master channels list maintained remotely from the client device, wherein said synchronizing includes applying to the master channels list one or more modifications to the first current channels list made by the user, wherein each entry for channels in the first current channels list and the master channels list has a time stamp indicating when a modification is made to a channel, wherein the master channels list and the first current channel list retain entries for channels that are deleted, and wherein the said synchronization involves comparing the time stamps of the channels in the first current channels list and the master channels list to ensure the most recent modification made by the user is retained in the master channels list; downloading the synchronized master channels list to the first client device as a replacement first current channels list; and providing the client device with a central time; wherein, in response to the central time, the client device calculates an offset between the central time and a local time of the first client device and, each time the first current channels list is updated, notates the update with a modified time comprising a combination of a current local time and the offset.