Information processing apparatus, method thereof, network system, record medium, and program

• US 20010051930A1
• Filed: 02/23/2001
• Published: 12/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Ikuo
• Granted Patent: US 7,103,660 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/56
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/281 indicating a format for calling an appliance service function in a home automation network for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems

Abstract

An information processing apparatus for controlling an electronic device connected on a network which includes a device attribute information obtaining part for obtaining device attribute information about the electronic device from the electronic device through the network, an operation range assigning part for assigning the operation range of each user for the electronic device corresponding to the device attribute information obtained by the device attribute information obtaining part and storing the assigned operation range, and a controlling part for controlling the electronic device through the network in the operation range that has been assigned by the operation range assigning part.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus for controlling an electronic device connected on a network, comprising:

a device attribute information obtaining part for obtaining device attribute information about the electronic device from the electronic device through the network;

an operation range assigning part for assigning the operation range of each user for the electronic device corresponding to the device attribute information obtained by the device attribute information obtaining part and storing the assigned operation range; and

a controlling part for controlling the electronic device through the network in the operation range that has been assigned by the operation range assigning part.

2. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 1

, further comprising:

a control information obtaining part for obtaining control information for controlling the electronic device from the electronic device through the network;

wherein the controlling part controls the electronic device corresponding to the control information obtained by the control information obtaining part.

3. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 1

, further comprising:

a control information storing part for prestoring control information for controlling the electronic device;

wherein the controlling part controls the electronic device corresponding to the control information pre-stored in the control information storing part.

4. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 1

, further comprising:

an owner registering part for registering the user as an owner who is capable of using all the operation range of the electronic device;

wherein the operation range assigning part assigns the operation range of each user for the electronic device corresponding to a command issued by the owner registered by the owner registering part.

5. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 4

, further comprising:

a user name inputting part for inputting a user name of a user who uses the electronic device;

an authenticating part for authenticating the user name that has been input by the user name inputting part; and

an owner determining part for determining whether or not the user name authenticated by the authenticating part is the owner registered by the owner registering part.

6. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 5

,

wherein, when the determined result of the owner determining part represents that the user name is not the owner registered by the owner registering part, the operation range assigning part does not permit the user to assign the operation range of each user.

7. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 1

, further comprising:

a guest registering part for permitting a particular user as a guest to use at least part of the operation range of the electronic device; and

an anonymous registering part for permitting an anonymous user to use at least part of the operation range of the electronic device.

8. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 7

, further comprising:

a user name inputting part for inputting a user name of a user who uses the electronic device;

an authenticating part for authenticating the user name that has been input by the user name inputting part; and

a guest determining part for determining whether the user name authenticated by the authenticating part is the guest registered by the guest registering part;

wherein, when the determined result of the guest determining part represents that the user name is the guest registered by the guest registering part, the operation range assigning part assigns at least part of the operation range to the guest.

9. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 8

, further comprising:

an anonymous determining part for determining whether an anonymous user has been registered by the anonymous registering part when the determined result of the guest determining part represents that the user name is not the guest registered by the guest registering part;

wherein, when the determined result of the anonymous determining part represents that the anonymous user has been registered by the anonymous registering part, the operation range assigning part assigns at least part of the operation range to the anonymous user.

10. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 9

,

wherein, when the determined result of the anonymous determining part represents that the anonymous user has not been registered by the anonymous registering part, the controlling part does not control the electronic device.

11. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 1

, further comprising:

a user registering part for registering user information about a user who uses the electronic device;

a user information inputting part for inputting the user information about the user who uses the electronic device; and

an authenticating part for authenticating whether the user information that has been input by the user information inputting part has been registered by the user registering part;

wherein, when the user information has been authenticated by the authenticating part, the controlling part reads the operation range corresponding to the user information from the operation range assigning part and controls the electronic device in the operation range.

12. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 11

,

wherein, when the user information has not been authenticated by the authenticating part, the controlling part does not control the electronic device.

13. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 1

, further comprising:

a display controlling part for controlling a display of the operation range of each user stored by the operation range assigning part.

14. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 1

,

wherein the device attribute information includes one of a device ID of the electronic device, a type of the electronic device, and information about a function of the electronic device.

15. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 1

,

wherein the network includes an IEEE 1394 serial bus.

16. An information processing method for controlling an electronic device connected on a network, comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining device attribute information about the electronic device from the electronic device through the network;

(b) assigning the operation range of each user for the electronic device corresponding to the device attribute information obtained by the device attribute information obtaining step (a) and storing the assigned operation range; and

(c) controlling the electronic device through the network in the operation range that has been assigned by the operation range assigning step (b).

17. A record medium for recording a program that causes a computer to perform an information processing method for controlling an electronic device connected on a network, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining device attribute information about the electronic device from the electronic device through the network;

(b) assigning the operation range of each user for the electronic device corresponding to the device attribute information obtained at the device attribute information obtaining step (a) and storing the assigned operation range; and

(c) controlling the electronic device through the network in the operation range that has been assigned at the operation range assigning step (b).

18. A program that causes a computer for controlling an electronic device connected on a network to execute the steps of:

(a) obtaining device attribute information about the electronic device from the electronic device through the network;

(b) assigning the operation range of each user for the electronic device corresponding to the device attribute information obtained at the device attribute information obtaining step (a) and storing the assigned operation range; and

(c) controlling the electronic device through the network in the operation range that has been assigned at the operation range assigning step (b).

19. An information processing apparatus for controlling an electronic device connected on a network, comprising:

a device attribute information obtaining part for obtaining device attribute information about the electronic device from the electronic device through the network;

an operation range assigning part for assigning an operation range of each user for the electronic device corresponding to the device attribute information obtained by the device attribute information obtaining part and storing the assigned operation range; and

a transferring part for transferring the operation range of each user stored by the operation range assigning part to the electronic device through the network.

21. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 19

, further comprising:

a control information storing part for prestoring control information for controlling the electronic device;

wherein the information processing apparatus controls the electronic device corresponding to the control information pre-stored in the control information storing part.

22. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 19

, further comprising:

an owner registering part for registering the user as an owner who is capable of using all the operation range of the electronic device;

wherein the operation range assigning part assigns the operation range of each user for the electronic device corresponding to a command issued by the owner registered by the owner registering part.

23. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 22

, further comprising:

a user name inputting part for inputting a user name of a user who uses the electronic device;

authenticating part for authenticating the user name that has been input by the user name inputting part; and

an owner determining part for determining whether the user name authenticated by the authenticating part is the owner registered by the owner registering part.

24. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 23

,

wherein, when the determined result of the owner determining part represents that the user name is not the owner registered by the owner registering part, the operation range assigning part does not permit the user to assign the operation range of each user.

25. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 19

, further comprising:

a guest registering part for permitting a particular user as a guest to use at least part of the operation range of the electronic device; and

an anonymous registering part for permitting an anonymous user to use at least part of the operation range of the electronic device.

26. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 25

, further comprising:

a user name inputting part for inputting a user name of a user who uses the electronic device;

an authenticating part for authenticating the user name that has been input by the user name inputting part; and

a guest determining part for determining whether the user name authenticated by the authenticating part is the guest registered by the guest registering part;

wherein, when the determined result of the guest determining part represents that the user name is the guest registered by the guest registering part, the operation range assigning part assigns at least part of the operation range to the guest.

27. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 26

, further comprising:

an anonymous determining part for determining whether an anonymous user has been registered by the anonymous registering part when the determined result of the guest determining part represents that the user name is not the guest registered by the guest registering part;

wherein, when the determined result of the anonymous determining part represents that the anonymous user has been registered by the anonymous registering part, the operation range assigning part assigns at least part of the operation range to the anonymous user.

28. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 27

,

wherein, when the determined result of the anonymous determining part represents that the anonymous user has not been registered by the anonymous registering part, the information processing apparatus does not control the electronic device.

29. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 19

, further comprising:

a user registering part for registering user information about a user who uses the electronic device;

a user information inputting part for inputting the user information about the user who uses the electronic device; and

an authenticating part for authenticating whether the user information that has been input by the user information inputting part has been registered by the user registering part;

wherein, when the user information has been authenticated by the authenticating part, the information processing apparatus reads the operation range corresponding to the user information from the operation range assigning part and controls the electronic device in the operation range.

30. The information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 29

,

wherein, when the user information has not been authenticated by the authenticating part, the information processing apparatus does not control the electronic device.

31. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 19

, further comprising:

a display controlling part for controlling a display of the operation range of each user stored by the operation range assigning part.

32. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 19

,

wherein the device attribute information includes one of a device ID of the electronic device, a type of the electronic device, and information about a function of the electronic device.

33. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 19

,

wherein the network includes an IEEE 1394 serial bus.

20. An information processing apparatus as claimed in 19, further comprising:

a control information obtaining part for obtaining control information for controlling the electronic device from the electronic device through the network;

wherein the information processing apparatus controls the electronic device corresponding to the control information obtained by the control information obtaining part.

34. An information processing method for controlling an electronic device connected on a network, comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining device attribute information about the electronic device from the electronic device through the network;

(b) assigning the operation range of each user for the electronic device corresponding to the device attribute information obtained at the device attribute information obtaining step (a) and storing the assigned operation range; and

(c) transferring the operation range of each user stored by the operation range assigning step (b) to the electronic device through the network.

35. A record medium for recording a program that causes a computer for performing an information processing method for controlling an electronic device connected on a network to execute the steps of:

(a) obtaining device attribute information about the electronic device from the electronic device through the network;

(b) assigning the operation range of each user for the electronic device corresponding to the device attribute information obtained at the device attribute information obtaining step (a) and storing the assigned operation range; and

(c) transferring the operation range of each user stored by the operation range assigning step (b) to the electronic device through the network.

36. A program that causes a computer for controlling an electronic device connected on a network to execute the steps of:

(a) obtaining device attribute information about the electronic device from the electronic device through the network;

(b) assigning the operation range of each user for the electronic device corresponding to the device attribute information obtained at the device attribute information obtaining step (a) and storing the assigned operation range; and

(c) transferring the operation range of each user stored by the operation range assigning step (b) to the electronic device through the network.

37. An information processing apparatus connected to another information processing apparatus through a network, comprising:

a device attribute information storing part for storing device attribute information about the local information processing apparatus;

device attribute information transmitting part for transmitting the device attribute information stored in the device attribute information storing part to the other information processing apparatus through the network corresponding to a request of the other information processing apparatus; and

an operation range obtaining part for obtaining the operation range of each user from the other information processing apparatus through the network and storing the obtained operation range.

38. The information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 37

, further comprising:

a controlling part for controlling the information processing apparatus in the operation range stored by the operation range obtaining part.

39. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 38

, further comprising:

a user information inputting part for user information about a user who uses the information processing apparatus; and

an authenticating part for authenticating the user information that has been input by the user information inputting part,

wherein, when the user information has been authenticated by the authenticating part, the controlling part controls the information processing apparatus in the operation range stored by the operation range obtaining part.

40. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 39

,

wherein, when the user information has not been authenticated by the authenticating part, the controlling part does not control the information processing apparatus.

41. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 37

, further comprising:

a display controlling part for controlling a display of the operation range of each user stored by the operation range obtaining part.

42. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 37

,

wherein the device attribute information includes one of a device ID of the electronic device, a type of the electronic device, and information about a function of the electronic device.

43. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 37

,

wherein the network includes an IEEE 1394 serial bus.

44. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 37

,

wherein the information processing apparatus is connected to the network in such a manner that the information processing apparatus is capable of being disconnected therefrom.

45. An information processing method for an information processing apparatus connected to another information processing apparatus through a network, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing device attribute information about the local information processing apparatus;

(b) transmitting the device attribute information stored at the device attribute information storing step (a) to the other information processing apparatus through the network corresponding to a request of the other information processing apparatus; and

(c) obtaining the operation range of each user from the other information processing apparatus through the network and storing the obtained operation range.

46. A record medium for storing a program that causes a computer to perform an information processing method for an information processing apparatus connected to another information processing apparatus through a network, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing device attribute information about the local information processing apparatus;

(b) transmitting the device attribute information stored at the device attribute information storing step (a) to the other information processing apparatus through the network corresponding to a request of the other information processing apparatus; and

(c) obtaining the operation range of each user from the other information processing apparatus through the network and storing the obtained operation range.

47. A program that causes a computer connected to another information processing apparatus through a network to perform the steps of:

(a) storing device attribute information about the local information processing apparatus;

(b) transmitting the device attribute information stored at the device attribute information storing step (a) to the other information processing apparatus through the network corresponding to a request of the other information processing apparatus; and

(c) obtaining the operation range of each user from the other information processing apparatus through the network and storing the obtained operation range.

48. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

an operation range assigning part for assigning an operation range of each user; and

a controlling part for controlling the information processing apparatus in the operation range assigned by the operation range assigning part.

49. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 48

, further comprising:

an owner registering part for registering the user as an owner who is capable of using all the operation range of the information processing apparatus;

wherein the operation range assigning part assigns the operation range of each user for the information processing apparatus corresponding to a command issued by the owner registered by the owner registering part.

50. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 49

further comprising:

a user name inputting part for inputting a user name of a user who uses the information processing apparatus;

an authenticating part for authenticating the user name that has been input by the user name inputting part; and

an owner determining part for determining whether the user name authenticated by the authenticating part is the owner registered by the owner registering part.

51. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 50

,

wherein, when the determined result of the owner determining part represents that the user name is not the owner registered by the owner registering part, the operation range assigning part does not permit the user to assign the operation range of each user.

52. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 48

, further comprising:

a guest registering part for permitting a particular user as a guest to use all or part of the operation range of the information processing apparatus; and

an anonymous registering part for permitting an anonymous user to use all or part of the operation range of the information processing apparatus.

53. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 52

, further comprising:

a user name inputting part for inputting a user name of a user who uses information processing apparatus;

an authenticating part for authenticating the user name that has been input by the user name inputting part; and

a guest determining part for determining whether the user name authenticated by the authenticating part is the guest registered by the guest registering part;

wherein, when the determined result of the guest determining part represents that the user name is the guest registered by the guest registering part, the operation range assigning part assigns at least part of the operation range to the guest.

54. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 53

, further comprising:

an anonymous determining part for determining whether an anonymous user has been registered by the anonymous registering part when the determined result of the guest determining part represents that the user name is not the guest registered by the guest registering part;

wherein, when the determined result of the anonymous determining part represents that the anonymous user has been registered by the anonymous registering part, the operation range assigning part assigns at least part of the operation range to the anonymous user.

55. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 54

,

wherein, when the determined result of the anonymous determining part represents that the anonymous user has not been registered by the anonymous registering part, the controlling part does not control the information processing apparatus.

56. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 48

, further comprising:

a user registering part for registering user information about a user who uses the information processing apparatus;

a user information inputting part for inputting the user information about the user who uses the information processing apparatus; and

an authenticating part for authenticating whether the user information that has been input by the user information inputting part has been registered by the user registering part;

wherein, when the user information has been authenticated by the authenticating part, the controlling part reads the operation range corresponding to the user information from the operation range assigning part and controls the information processing apparatus in the operation range.

57. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 56

,

wherein, when the user information has not been authenticated by the authenticating part, the controlling part does not control the information processing apparatus.

58. An information processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 48

, further comprising:

a display controlling part for controlling a display of the operation range of each user stored by the operation range assigning part.

59. An information processing method, comprising the steps of:

(a) assigning an operation range of each user; and

(b) controlling the information processing apparatus in the operation range assigned at the operation range assigning step.

60. A record medium for storing a program that causes a computer to perform an information processing method, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) assigning an operation range of each user; and

(b) controlling the information processing apparatus in the operation range assigned at the operation range assigning step.

61. A program that causes a computer for performing an information processing method to execute the steps of:

(a) assigning an operation range of each user; and

(b) controlling the information processing apparatus in the operation range assigned at the operation range assigning step.

62. A network system for mutually connecting a first electronic device and a second electronic device through a network,

wherein the first electronic device comprises:

a device attribute information obtaining part for obtaining device attribute information about the second electronic device therefrom through the network;

an operation range assigning part for assigning an operation range of each user of the second electronic device corresponding to the device attribute information obtained by the device attribute information obtaining part and storing the assigned operation range; and

a controlling part for controlling the second electronic device through the network in the operation range assigned by the operation range assigning part, and

wherein the second electronic device comprises;

a device attribute information storing part for storing device attribute information about the second electronic device; and

a device attribute information transmitting part for transmitting the device attribute information stored in the device attribute information storing part to the first electronic device through the network corresponding to a request of the first electronic device.

63. A network system for mutually connecting a first electronic device and a second electronic device through a network, wherein the first electronic device comprises:

a device attribute information obtaining part for obtaining device attribute information about the second electronic device therefrom through the network;

an operation range assigning part for assigning an operation range of each user of the second electronic device corresponding to the device attribute information obtained by the device attribute information obtaining part and storing the assigned operation range; and

a transferring part for transferring the operation range of each user stored by the operation range assigning part to the second electronic device through the network, and

wherein the second electronic device comprises;

a device attribute information storing part for storing device attribute information about the second electronic device;

a device attribute information transmitting part for transmitting the device attribute information stored in the device attribute information storing part to the first electronic device through the network corresponding to a request of the first electronic device; and

an operation range obtaining part for obtaining the operation range of each user from the first electronic device through the network.