Information processing apparatus, connection device, communication device, information processing method, and program

• US 10,114,394 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2013
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Miyama, Seiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Darrin D
• Application Number:
  US13/896,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20130317660A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,992 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5408 using protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/544 Setting up communications; Call and signalling arrangements

Abstract

There is provided an information processing apparatus, including a reception section which receives, from a connection device having a connection terminal, entry information in which connection device identification information for identifying the connection device and communication device identification information for identifying a communication device connected to the connection terminal are associated with each other, a control section which acquires connection device information related to the connection device based on the entry information, and a transmission section which transmits the connection device information to the communication device indicated by the communication device identification information.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

a processing device and a memory device encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processing device, are configured to;

receive, from a connection device having a connection terminal, entry information in which connection device identification information for identifying the connection device and communication device identification information for identifying a communication device connected to the connection terminal are associated with each other;

acquire connection device information related to the connection device based on the entry information, wherein, in a case where first entry information is stored in a storage section, and thereafter second entry information is received having connection device identification information in common with the first entry information and communication device identification information different from the first entry information, an invalid flag is set in the first entry information and the second entry information is stored in the storage section; and

transmit the connection device information to the communication device indicated by the communication device identification information, wherein the connection device comprises an outlet and the communication device comprises a plug that can be inserted into the outlet and wherein the connection device information transmitted to the communication device includes the connection device identification information and presentation information associated with the connection device identification information.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein power line communication for communication via a power line is possible between the connection device and the communication device, and

wherein the connection device acquires the communication device identification information from the communication device by using the power line communication.

3. An information processing method, comprising:

receiving, from a connection device having a connection terminal, entry information in which connection device identification information for identifying the connection device and communication device identification information for identifying a communication device connected to the connection terminal are associated with each other;

acquiring, by a control section, connection device information related to the connection device based on the entry information, wherein, in a case where first entry information is stored in a storage section, and thereafter second entry information is received having connection device identification information in common with the first entry information and communication device identification information different from the first entry information, the control section sets an invalid flag in the first entry information and stores the second entry information in the storage section; and

transmitting the connection device information to the communication device indicated by the communication device identification information, wherein the connection device comprises an outlet and the communication device comprises a plug that can be inserted into the outlet and wherein the connection device information transmitted to the communication device includes the connection device identification information and presentation information associated with the connection device identification information.

4. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processing device, implement:

a reception function which receives, from a connection device having a connection terminal, entry information in which connection device identification information for identifying the connection device and communication device identification information for identifying a communication device connected to the connection terminal are associated with each other;

a control function which acquires connection device information related to the connection device based on the entry information, wherein, in a case where first entry information is stored in a storage section, and thereafter second entry information is received having connection device identification information in common with the first entry information and communication device identification information different from the first entry information, the control function sets an invalid flag in the first entry information and stores the second entry information in the storage section; and

a transmission function which transmits the connection device information to the communication device indicated by the communication device identification information, wherein the connection device comprises an outlet and the communication device comprises a plug that can be inserted into the outlet and wherein the connection device information transmitted to the communication device includes the connection device identification information and presentation information associated with the connection device identification information.