User interface content state synchronization across devices

A host device configured to synchronize a user interface (UI) state of content of a host application on the host device with a client application on a paired client device that is paired to the host device, wherein a user uses both the host device and the paired client device, the host device comprising memory with instructions encoded thereon that, when executed, cause the host device to perform operations comprising:

• receiving a first host user input at the host application to launch the client application for synchronization, wherein the host application is a digital library application for accessing and navigating digital resources of the digital library;
• based on a second host user input at the host application to select a digital resource from the digital library for navigation, synchronizing the UI state of the content of the host application by:
• determining content data that is related to at least a portion of the UI state of content displayed by the host application, wherein the content data includes relevant information for the client application to construct a synchronized UI state with the UI state of the content of the host application at the client device, wherein the digital resource is being navigated at a first relative position, and
• communicating, to the client device, the content data that is related to the at least the portion of UI state of the content of the host application, to show a distinct but synchronized UI at the client application to support continuing the navigation of the digital resource at the client device;
• wherein the client application is configured to display a synchronized UI state of content at the client application, based on processing the content data received from the host application,
• wherein the client application, in a first state that is independent of a UI update to the host application, processes a first client user input, updates the client UI without any host UI update, and maintains the UI state synchronization despite the client UI update
• wherein the client application, in a second state, executes a host UI update to maintain the UI state synchronization with the host application responding to a second client user input that causes one or more UI updates and a change of the UI state of the content of the host application, wherein the first relative position of content navigation is changed,
• wherein the host application is capable of terminating the UI state synchronization, and
• wherein the host device is connected with the paired client device via a wireless link.

A client device configured to synchronize a user interface (UI) state of content of a host application on a host device with a client application on the client device that is paired to the host device, wherein a user uses both the host device and the paired client device, the client device comprising memory with instructions encoded thereon that, when executed, cause the host device to perform operations, wherein:

• a first host user input is received at the host application to launch the client application for synchronization, wherein the host application is a digital library application for accessing and navigating digital resources of the digital library;
• based on a second host user input at the host application to select a digital resource from the digital library for navigation, content data is determined that is related to at least a portion of the UI state of content displayed by the host application, wherein the content data includes relevant information for the client application to construct a synchronized UI state with the UI state of the content of the host application at the client device;
• the digital resource is navigated at a first relative position, the operations comprising:
• receiving, by the client device, the content data that is related to the at least the portion of UI state of the content of the host application, to show a distinct but synchronized UI at the client application to support continuing the navigation of the digital resource at the client device;
• wherein the client application is configured to display a synchronized UI state of content at the client application, based on processing the content data received from the host application,
• wherein the client application, in a first state that is independent of a UI update to the host application, processes a first client user input, updates the client UI without any host UI update, and maintains the UI state synchronization despite the client UI update
• wherein the client application, in a second state, executes a host UI update to maintain the UI state synchronization with the host application responding to a second client user input that causes one or more UI updates and a change of the UI state of the content of the host application, wherein the first relative position of content navigation is changed,
• wherein the host application is capable of terminating the UI state synchronization, and
• wherein the host device is connected with the paired client device via a wireless link.

An application system for synchronizing a user interface (UI) state of content of a pair of applications, the application system comprising a host application and a client application, the application system comprising:

• a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising memory with instructions encoded thereon;
• and
• one or more processors that, when executing the instructions, are caused to perform operations comprising:
• run the client application operated by a user;
• and
• run the host application operated by the user to navigate a digital resource, the host application configured to:
• receive an event at the host application;
• synchronize the UI state of content of the host application by:
• determining content data that is related to at least a portion of the UI state of content displayed by the host application,
• identifying the client application, which corresponds to the host application, and
• communicating, to the client application, the content data that is related to the at least the portion of UI state of the content of the host application, to show a distinct but synchronized UI to support continuing operation of the host application at the client application;
• wherein the client application is configured to display a UI state of content of the client application, based on the related content data of the at least the portion of the UI state of the content of the host application,
• wherein the client application, in a first state that is independent of a UI update to the host application, processes a first client user input from the user and updates a client UI and maintains synchronization of the UI state of the content of the host application despite the update to the client UI, and
• wherein the client application, in a second state, executes UI synchronization with the host application responding to a second client user input from the user causes one or more client UI updates and a change of the UI state of the content of the host application, wherein the second client user input comprises a navigation operation for the digital resource.