Information processing apparatus, information processing method, content distribution apparatus, content distribution method, and computer program

• US 20040172376A1
• Filed: 01/15/2004
• Published: 09/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Morita, Toshihiro, Kobori, Yoichi, Honda, Kazuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,752,202 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/2895 Intermediate processing functionally located close to the data provider application, e.g. reverse proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32117 in a separate transmission or protocol signal prior to or subsequent to the image data transmission, e.g. in digital identification signal [DIS], in non standard setup [NSS] or in non standard field [NSF] for mode signalling H04N1/333
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4356 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. to reformat additional data on a handheld device, attached to the STB
• 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 21/440263 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for displaying on a connected PDA
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8543 using a description language, e.g. Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group [MHEG], eXtensible Markup Language [XML] information retrieval of semistructured data, the underlying structure being taken into account, e.g. mark-up language structure data G06F16/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 : Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0087 : Image storage device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 : of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3243 : of type information, e.g. handwritten or text document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3249 : data relating to a linked page or object, e.g. hyperlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3252 : Image capture parameters, e.g. resolution, illumination conditions, orientation of the image capture device H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 : Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Content that is appropriate according to a specification of client equipment is distributed without having to prepare content of a plurality of formats. When a data list request is received from a client, a server sets a content URL and conversion identification information indicating that the content is original content for content that does not require data conversion. In the case of content for which data conversion is necessary, a virtual URL embedded with data conversion specifying information and conversion identification information indicating the necessity of conversion are set the URL and returned to the client. The server then receives the URL from the client for analysis. If there is no data conversion specifying information, the content is transmitted as it. If data conversion specifying information is embedded, the content is sent to the client after data conversion in accordance with the data conversion specifying information.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus for executing content information transmission processing comprising:

a storage unit for storing content;

a request processing unit for receiving a content data list request storing reproduction specification information from a client, and acquiring address information indicating the whereabouts of content stored in said storage unit based on said content data list request;

a data conversion confirmation unit for determining whether or not reproduction specification information contained in said content data list request and a content specification stored in said storage unit match, and when not matching, determining whether or not it is possible to cause matching with a client-specified reproduction specification by data conversion processing of stored content at a content distribution apparatuses, and generating a data conversion mode required by said stored content to enable matching with a client-specified reproduction specification as data conversion specifying information using data conversion;

an address processing unit for generating virtual address information embedded with said data conversion specifying information at address information of content capable of being made to match with a client-specified reproduction specification by data conversion processing based on determination results of said data conversion confirmation unit,

wherein said request processing unit

has a configuration for generating an address information list containing address information for said stored content of said storage unit matching with said client-specified reproduction specification information and virtual address information embedded with said data conversion specifying information at said address information of content capable of being made to match with said client-specified reproduction specification using data conversion processing, and executing processing for transmission to said client.

2. The information processing apparatus as disclosed in claim 1, characterized by having a configuration wherein said data conversion confirmation unit comprises:

a conversion information identification unit for setting conversion identification information as to whether stored content of said storage unit is content that does not require data conversion in order to match with said client-specified reproduction specification or is content requiring data conversion; and

said request processing unit generates an address information list as information to be transmitted to said client, the address information list containing;

combined data of address information for stored content of said storage unit matching with said client-specified reproduction specification information and conversion identification information indicating said presence of content not requiring data conversion; and

combined data of virtual address information embedding said data conversion specifying information at address information for content that can be made to match with said client-specified reproduction specification by data conversion processing and conversion identification information indicating said presence of content requiring data conversion.

3. The information processing apparatus as disclosed in claim 1, characterized by having a configuration wherein:

said reproduction specification information contains information for either of file format, data size, number of colors, file size, code c method, bit rate, file size, and audio mode; and

said data conversion confirmation unit

executes processing to determine whether or not content is present requiring data conversion processing for making stored content of said storage unit match with at least one of said reproduction specifications of said file format, image size, number of colors, file size, codec format, bit rate, file size, and audio mode specified by said client.

4. The information processing apparatus as disclosed in claim 1, characterized wherein

said address information is a URL (Uniform Resource Locators) set corresponding to each content.

5. An information processing apparatus for making content transmission requests to a content providing server, characterized by a configuration comprising:

a data transceiver unit for executing processing for transmitting and receiving data to and from said content providing server; and

a control unit for display information for displaying at said output unit based on content information received from said server via said data transceiver unit; and

a display unit for outputting and displaying display information generated by said control unit,

wherein said control unit executes processing generating display information enabling identification as to whether or not content capable of being transmitted by said server is content requiring data conversion processing occurring at said server based on conversion identification information contained in content information received from said server.

6. An information processing apparatus for making content transmission requests to a content providing server, characterized by a configuration comprising:

a data transceiver unit for executing processing for transmitting and receiving data to and from said content providing server; and

a control unit for preferentially selecting content not requiring data conversion processing at said server as transmission request content for said server based on conversion identification information contained in content information received from said server via said data transceiver unit, and executes transmission requests for said selected content.

7. A content distribution system characterized by comprising a server for executing content information transmission processing, and a client for making content transmission requests to said server,

said server comprising:

a storage unit for storing content;

a data conversion confirmation unit for determining whether or not reproduction specification information contained in said content data list request and a content specification stored in said storage unit match, and when not matching, determining whether or not it is possible to cause matching with a client-specified reproduction specification by data conversion processing of stored content at a content distribution apparatuses, and generating a data conversion mode required by said stored content to enable matching with a client-specified reproduction specification as data conversion specifying information using data conversion;

an address processing unit for generating virtual address information embedded with said data conversion specifying information at address information of content capable of being made to match with a client-specified reproduction specification by data conversion processing based on determination results of said data conversion confirmation unit; and

a request processing unit for receiving a content data list request storing reproduction specification information from a client, and acquiring address information indicating the whereabouts of content stored in said storage unit based on said content data list request, and generating an address information list containing address information for said stored content of said storage unit matching with said client-specified reproduction specification information and virtual address information embedded with said data conversion specifying information at said address information of content capable of being made to match with said client-specified reproduction specification using data conversion processing, and executing processing for transmitting to said client,

and said client comprises;

a data transceiver unit for executing processing for transmitting and receiving data to and from said content providing server;

a control unit for display information for displaying at said output unit based on content information received from said server via said data transceiver unit, and executes processing generating display information enabling identification as to whether or not content capable of being transmitted by said server is content requiring data conversion processing occurring at said server based on conversion identification information contained in content information; and

a display unit for outputting and displaying display information generated by said control unit.

8. The content distribution system as disclosed in claim 7, characterized by a configuration wherein:

said data conversion confirmation unit comprises

a conversion information identification unit for setting conversion identification information as to whether stored content of said storage unit is content that does not require data conversion in order to match with said client-specified reproduction specification or is content requiring data conversion;

wherein said request processing unit generates an address information list as information to be transmitted to said client, containing;

combined data of address information for stored content of said storage unit matching with said client-specified reproduction specification information and conversion identification information indicating said presence of content not requiring data conversion; and

combined data of virtual address information embedding said data conversion specifying information at address information for content that can be made to match with said client-specified reproduction specification by data conversion processing and conversion identification information indicating said presence of content requiring data conversion.

9. The content distribution system as disclosed in claim 7, characterized by said client further comprising:

a data transceiver unit for executing processing for transmitting and receiving data to and from said server; and

a control unit for preferentially selecting content not requiring data conversion processing at said server as transmission request content for said server based on conversion identification information contained in content information received from said server via said data transceiver unit, and executes transmission requests for said selected content.

10. An information processing method for executing content information transmission processing, characterized by comprising:

a step of receiving a content data list request storing reproduction specification information from a client;

an address information acquisition step of acquiring address information indicating the whereabouts of content stored in a storage unit based on said content data list request;

a data conversion confirmation step of determining whether or not reproduction specification information contained in said content data list request and a content specification stored in said storage unit match, and when not matching, determining whether or not it is possible to cause matching with a client-specified reproduction specification by data conversion processing of stored content at a content distribution apparatuses, and generating a data conversion mode required by said stored content to enable matching with a client-specified reproduction specification as data conversion specifying information using data conversion;

an address processing step for generating virtual address information embedded with said data conversion specifying information at address information of content capable of being made to match with a client-specified reproduction specification by data conversion processing based on determination results of said data conversion confirmation step; and

an address information list generation/transmission step of generating an address information list containing address information for said stored content of said storage unit matching with said client-specified reproduction specification information and virtual address information embedded with said data conversion specifying information at said address information of content capable of being made to match with said client-specified reproduction specification using data conversion processing, and transmitting to said client.

11. The information processing method as disclosed in claim 10, characterized by further comprising:

a conversion identification information setting step of setting conversion identification information as to whether stored content of said storage unit is content that does not require data conversion in order to match with said client-specified reproduction specification or is content requiring data conversion,

wherein said address information list generation/transmission step generates an address information list, as information for transmission to said client, and the address information list comprising;

combined data of address information for stored content of said storage unit matching with said client-specified reproduction specification information and conversion identification information indicating said presence of content not requiring data conversion; and

combined data of virtual address information embedding said data conversion specifying information at address information for content that can be made to match with said client-specified reproduction specification by data conversion processing and conversion identification information indicating said presence of content requiring data conversion.

12. The information processing method as disclosed in claim 10, characterized by having a configuration wherein:

said reproduction specification information contains information for either of file format, data size, number of colors, file size, codec method, bit rate, file size, and audio mode; and

said data conversion confirmation step

executes processing to determine whether or not content is present requiring data conversion processing for making stored content of said storage unit match with at least one of said reproduction specifications of said file format, image size, number of colors, file size, codec format, bit rate, file size, and audio mode specified by said client.

13. The information processing method as disclosed in claim 10, characterized wherein

said address information is a URL (Uniform Resource Locators) set corresponding to each content.

14. An information processing method for executing content information displaying processing characterized by comprising:

a step of receiving content information from a content providing server;

a display information generating step of generating display information enabling identification as to whether or not content capable of being transmitted by said server is content requiring data conversion processing occurring at said server based on conversion identification information contained in received content information; and

a step of displaying display information generated in said display information generating step.

15. An information processing method for executing processing deciding request content based on content information, characterized by comprising:

a step of receiving content information from a content providing server;

a selection step of preferentially selecting content not requiring data conversion processing at said server as transmission request content for said server based on conversion identification information contained in received content information; and

a step of transmitting identification information for transmission request content decided in said selection step to said content providing server.

16. A computer program for executing content information transmission processing, characterized by comprising:

a step of receiving a content data list request storing reproduction specification information from a client;

an address information acquisition step of acquiring address information indicating the whereabouts of content stored in a storage unit based on said content data list request;

a data conversion confirmation step of determining whether or not reproduction specification information contained in said content data list request and a content specification stored in said storage unit match, and when not matching, determining whether or not it is possible to cause matching with a client-specified reproduction specification by data conversion processing of stored content at a content distribution apparatuses, and generating a data conversion mode required by said stored content to enable matching with a client-specified reproduction specification as data conversion specifying information using data conversion;

an address processing step for generating virtual address information embedded with said data conversion specifying information at address information of content capable of being made to match with a client-specified reproduction specification by data conversion processing based on determination results of said data conversion confirmation step; and

an address information list generation/transmission step of generating an address information list containing address information for said stored content of said storage unit matching with said client-specified reproduction specification information and virtual address information embedded with said data conversion specifying information at said address information of content capable of being made to match with said client-specified reproduction specification using data conversion processing, and transmitting to said client.

17. A computer program for executing content information displaying processing, characterized by comprising:

a step of receiving content information from a content providing server;

a display information generating step of generating display information enabling identification as to whether or not content capable of being transmitted by said server is content requiring data conversion processing occurring at said server based on conversion identification information contained in received content information; and

a step of displaying display information generated in said display information generating step.

18. A computer program for executing processing deciding request content based on content information, characterized by comprising:

a step of receiving content information from a content providing server;

a selection step of preferentially selecting content not requiring data conversion processing at said server as transmission request content for said server based on conversion identification information contained in received content information; and

a step of transmitting identification information for transmission request content decided in said selection step to said content providing server.

19. A content distribution apparatuses characterized by comprising:

content storage means for storing a plurality of content;

data list request receiving means for receiving data list requests designated by said content reproduction specification from said client equipment;

address information acquisition means for acquiring address information indicating the whereabouts of corresponding content from said content storage means based on said content reproduction specification of said data list request received by said data list request receiving means;

data conversion determination means for determining whether or not data conversion is necessary for content acquired using said address information by said address information acquisition means based on said content reproduction specification of said data list request;

address information conversion means for embedding data conversion specifying information in address information for content acquired by said address information acquisition means when it is determined that data conversion is necessary by said data conversion determination means;

address information returning means for returning address information for content acquired by said address information acquisition means and address information converted by said address information conversion means to said client equipment;

address information receiving means for receiving said address information from said client equipment;

analysis means for analyzing said address information received by said address information receiving means;

content acquisition means for acquiring corresponding content from said content storage means based on address information from said client equipment;

data conversion means for subjecting content acquired by said content acquisition means to data conversion based on said data conversion specifying information when analysis by said analysis means indicates that data conversion specifying information is embedded in address information from said client equipment; and

content transmission means for transmitting content acquired by said content acquisition means or content data converted by said data conversion means to said client equipment.

20. The content distribution apparatuses as disclosed in claim 19, characterized in that:

said address information acquisition means acquire address information for content matching with said content reproduction specification for said data list request, and address information for content capable of being data-converted in order to match with said reproduction specification of said data list request.

21. The content distribution apparatuses as disclosed in claim 19, characterized in that:

said content is still image data, moving image data, or audio data.

22. The content distribution apparatuses as disclosed in claim 21, characterized in that:

said content reproduction specification is one or a combination of content identification information, file format, image size, number of colors, or file size, when said content is still image data.

23. The content distribution apparatuses as disclosed in claim 21, characterized in that:

said content reproduction specification is one or a combination of content identification information, file format, moving image size, codec method, bit rate file format, or file size, when said content is moving image data.

24. The content distribution apparatuses as disclosed in claim 21, characterized in that:

said content reproduction specification is one or a combination of content identification information, file format, bit rate, or stereo/mono, when said content is audio data.

25. A content distribution method characterized by:

receiving data list requests designated by said content reproduction specification from said client equipment and acquiring address information indicating the whereabouts of corresponding content based on said content reproduction specification of said data list request;

determining whether or not data conversion is necessary for content acquired by said address information based on said content reproduction specification of said data list request and embedding data conversion specifying information in said acquired address information when it is determined that data conversion is necessary;

returning said acquired address information or said converted address information to said client equipment;

receiving address information from said client equipment, acquiring one of said corresponding content based on said received address information, analyzing address information from said client equipment and subjecting said acquired content to data conversion based on said data conversion specifying information when it is analyzed that data conversion specifying information is embedded; and

transmitting said acquired content or said data-converted content to said client equipment.

26. A content distribution program characterized by causing a computer to execute:

a step of receiving data list requests designated by said content reproduction specification from said client equipment;

a step of acquiring address information indicating the whereabouts of corresponding content based on content reproduction specification of said data list request;

a step of determining whether or not data conversion is necessary for content acquired with said address information based on said content reproduction specification of said data list request;

a step of embedding data conversion specifying information in said acquired address information when it is determined that said data conversion is necessary;

a step of returning said acquired address information or said converted address information to said client equipment;

a step of receiving address information from said client equipment;

a step of acquiring one of said corresponding content based on said received address information;

a step of analyzing address information from said client equipment;

a step of subjecting said acquired content to data conversion based on said data conversion specifying information when it is analyzed that said data conversion specifying information is embedded; and

a step of sending said acquired content or said data-converted content to said client equipment.

27. The content distribution program as disclosed in claim 26, characterized in that:

said step of acquiring address information acquire address information for content matching with said content reproduction specification for said data list request, and address information for content capable of being data-converted in order to match with said reproduction specification of said data list request.

28. A content distribution program characterized by causing a computer to execute:

a step of receiving data list requests designated by said content reproduction specification from said client equipment;

a step of acquiring address information indicating the whereabouts of corresponding content based on content reproduction specification of said data list request;

a step of determining whether or not data conversion is necessary for content acquired with said address information based on said content reproduction specification of said data list request;

a step of embedding data conversion specifying information in said acquired address information when it is determined that said data conversion is necessary; and

a step of returning said acquired address information or said converted address information to said client equipment;