Abstract:
A content playing method is provided, including the steps of: a metadata is received from a first electronic device when a second electronic device is communicatively connected to the first electronic device playing a first content, wherein the metadata comprises a current playback position of the first content and a universal resource locator of the first content; the first content is received from a server according to the universal resource locator of the first content; and the first content is continually played from the current playback position by the second electronic device.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This Application claims priority of Taiwan Patent Application No. 100134106, filed on Sep. 22, 2011, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to electronic systems, and in particular relates to electronic systems having near field communication devices. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Recently, portable devices, such as handheld devices, have become more and more technically advanced and multifunctional. Due to increased convenience and functions of the devices, these devices have become necessities of life. However, multimedia management methods between electronic devices are not convenient. Therefore, there is a need for an electronic system and a content playing method thereof to overcome those problems. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In light of the previously described problems, the invention provides a content playing method suitable for an electronic system. The content playing method comprises the steps of: a metadata is received from a first electronic device when a second electronic device is communicatively connected to the first electronic device playing a first content, wherein the metadata comprises a current playback position of the first content and a universal resource locator of the first content; the first content is received from a server according to the universal resource locator of the first content; and the first content is continually played from the current playback position by the second electronic device. 
         [0007]    The invention also provides an embodiment of an electronic system, comprising a first electronic device and a second electronic device. The second electronic device is communicatively connected to the first electronic device, wherein the first electronic device outputs a metadata to the second electronic device when the first electronic device is playing a first content and the second electronic device is communicatively connected to the first electronic device, such that the second electronic device receives the first content from a server according to the metadata, such that the second electronic device to continually play the first content from a current playback position according to the metadata. 
         [0008]    A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The present invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic view of an electronic system of the disclosure; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of an electronic system of the disclosure; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates a flowchart of a content playing method of the disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic view of an electronic system of the disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 1 , an electronic system  100  includes electronic devices  120  and  130  and a server  140 . Each of the electronic devices  120  and  130  has a near field communication (NFC) device, such that the electronic device  130  is communicatively connected to the electronic device  120  when the electronic device  130  is close to the electronic device  120 . The electronic devices  120  and  130  can be handheld devices, portable devices, personal digital assistant (PDA), multiprocessor-based, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like, but are not limited thereto. The server  140  can be a public cloud, a private cloud or any remote server. 
         [0014]    In an embodiment, when the electronic device  120  is playing a first content, the electronic device  130  plays no content and the electronic device  130  is communicatively connected to the electronic device  120 , the electronic device  120  outputs a metadata to the electronic device  130 , such that electronic device  130  receives the first content and a current playback position of the first content from the server  140  according to the metadata, and the electronic device  130  plays the first content from the current playback position. For example, the electronic device  130  is communicatively connected to the electronic device  120  by a transport protocol compatible with a near field communication (NFC). The metadata includes the current playback position of the first content and the universal resource locator (URL) of the first content. 
         [0015]    In another embodiment, when the electronic device  130  is communicatively connected to the electronic device  120  and the electronic devices  120  and  130  are respectively playing the first content and the second content, a signal outputted from a menu determines the electronic device  130  to continually play the second content or the electronic device  130  to continually play the first content from the current playback position. Specifically, the playing functions (e.g., the functions of playing the first content) of the electronic device  120  is replaced by the electronic device  130 . Therefore, users can click the menu displayed by the electronic device  130  to generate the signal, such that the signal selects the first content or the second content to be played by the electronic device  130 . In the embodiment, the first content and the second content can be audio files or video files. The video file can be in a streaming media format or in any other format, but is not limited thereto. The audio file can be in a Windows Media Audio (WMA) format, MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3 (MP3) format, musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) or in any other format, but is not limited thereto. 
         [0016]    In some embodiments, when the electronic device  130  is communicatively connected to the electronic device  120  and the electronic devices  120  and  130  are respectively playing the first content and the second content, the electronic device  130  ignores the menu to directly and continually play the first content from the current playback position. 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of an electronic system of the disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the electronic device  220  can be a computer, the electronic device  230  can be a hand-held electronic device and the server  240  can be a public cloud, in which each of the electronic devices  220  and  230  has a near field communication (NFC) device. When the electronic device  220  is playing a first content, the electronic device  230  plays no content and the electronic device  230  is communicatively connected to the electronic device  220  (e.g., the electronic devices  220  and  230  are close to each other, such that the NFC devices in the electronic devices  220  and  230  are enabled), such that the electronic device  220  outputs a metadata to the electronic device  230 , and the electronic device  230  replaces the playing function of the electronic device  220  to continually play the first content according to the metadata. 
         [0018]    When the electronic device  230  is communicatively connected to the electronic device  220  (e.g., the electronic devices  220  and  230  are close to each other, such that the NFC devices in the electronic devices  220  and  230  are enabled) and the electronic devices  220  and  230  are respectively playing the first content and the second content, the menu determines the electronic device  230  to continually play the second content or the electronic device  230  replaces the playing functions of the electronic device  220  to continually play the first content. In some embodiments, the electronic device  230  ignores the menu and directly replaces the playing function of the electronic device  220  to continually play the first content. 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  illustrates a flowchart of a content playing method of the disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 3 , in step S 31 , it is determined whether the electronic device  130  is playing the second content when the electronic device  130  is communicatively connected to the electronic device  120  playing the first content. As the electronic device  130  is playing the second content, the procedure enters step S 35 . As the electronic device is not playing the second content (or is playing no content), the procedure enters step S 32  and metadata of the electronic device  120  is received, in which the metadata includes the current playback position of the first content and the universal resource locator of the first content. In step S 33 , the first content is received from the server  140  according to the universal resource locator. In step S 34 , the first content is played from the current playback position by the electronic device  130 . In step S 35 , a signal outputted from a menu determines the electronic device  130  to continually play the second content or the electronic device  130  to replace the playing function of the electronic device  120  to continually play the first content when the electronic device  130  is communicatively connected to the electronic device  120  and the electronic devices  120  and  130  are respectively playing the first content and the second content. 
         [0020]    In some embodiments, in step S 35 , the electronic device  130  ignores the menu and directly replaces the playing functions of the electronic device  120  to continually play the first content when the electronic device  130  is communicatively connected to the electronic device  120  and the electronic devices  120  and  130  are respectively playing the first content and the second content. 
         [0021]    In summary, a seamless content playing process of the disclosure is provided and suitable for the electronic system  100 . When users have no need to use the electronic device  120 , the electronic device  130  may only need to be close to the electronic device  120  such that the electronic device  130  can replace the electronic device  120  to continually play the content which the electronic device  120  is playing. Therefore, it is more convenient for the users to listen to audios or to watch videos uninterruptedly between two electronic devices. 
         [0022]    The foregoing has outlined features of several embodiments so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description that follows. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.