Content providing/acquiring system

• US 20040215568A1
• Filed: 10/18/2002
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Fujii, Hajime, Fukushima, Osamu
• Application Number:
  US10/258,202
• Publication Number:
  US 20040215568A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A content providing apparatus receives exchange request data, transmitted from a content obtaining apparatus, indicating content data owned by a customer, and transmits packaged media exchangeable, found from a package information storage means, and the conditions of equivalent exchange for almost equalizing the packaged media and the content data in exchange value, as equivalent exchange condition showing data to the content obtaining apparatus, so that even the customer obtains content data by distribution, he/she can exchange it for packaged media at minimum investment, which allows content data which is distributed via the Internet to be obtained more lightheartedly, thus making it possible to significantly popularize distribution of content data.

Claims

1. A content providing/obtaining system having a content providing apparatus and a content obtaining apparatus, wherein:

said content providing apparatus comprises;

package information storage means for storing information on many packaged media;

content-providing-side receiving means for receiving exchange request data indicating content data which is requested to be exchanged for said packaged media and is owned by a customer, said exchange request data transmitted from said content obtaining apparatus;

package search means for searching said package information storage means for said package media which said content data which is indicated by said exchange request data and is owned by said customer can be exchanged for, under the preset search conditions;

condition setting means for setting the conditions of equivalent exchange for almost equalizing said content data owned by said customer with said packaged media found by said package search means, in exchange value; and

content-providing-side sending means for sending equivalent exchange condition showing data which shows said packaged media found by said search means and said conditions of equivalent exchange set by said condition setting means, to said content obtaining apparatus, and said content obtaining apparatus comprises;

content-obtaining-side sending means for sending said exchange request data to said content providing apparatus; and

content-obtaining-side receiving means for receiving said equivalent exchange condition showing data transmitted from said content providing apparatus.

2. The content providing/obtaining system according to claim 1, wherein:

said content providing apparatus comprises;

content data storage means for storing a plurality of content data; and

readout means for reading arbitrary said content data out of said content data storage means, wherein

when said content-providing-side receiving means receives content specifying data specifying said content data to be obtained, which is transmitted from said content obtaining apparatus, said readout means reads said content data to be obtained, out of said content data storage means based on said content specifying data, and said content-providing-side sending means sends said content data read, to said content obtaining apparatus; and

said content obtaining apparatus comprises;

a built-in storage medium; and

recording means for recording said content data on said storage medium, wherein

said content-obtaining-side sending means can access said content providing apparatus only, said content-obtaining-side receiving means receives said content data which is transmitted from said content providing apparatus in response to said content specifying data transmitted to said content providing apparatus, and said recording means records said content data received, on said storage medium, thereby said content-obtaining-side sending means sends said exchange request data to said content providing apparatus when said content data owned by said customer is requested to be exchanged for said packaged media.

3. A content providing/obtaining method for obtaining content provided by a content providing apparatus, with a content obtaining apparatus, wherein:

said content providing apparatus comprises;

the content-providing-side receiving step of receiving exchange request data indicating content data which is requested to be exchanged for said packaged media and is owned by a customer, said exchange request data transmitted from said content obtaining apparatus;

the package search step of searching said package information storage means which stores information on many packaged media, for said packaged media which said content data, which is indicated by said exchange request data and is owned by said customer, can be exchanged for;

the condition setting step of setting the conditions of equivalent exchange for almost equalizing said content data owned by said customer with said packaged media found by said package search step, in exchange value; and

content-providing-side sending means for sending said equivalent exchange condition showing data which shows said packaged media found by said search step and said conditions of equivalent exchange set by said condition setting step, to said content obtaining apparatus; and

said content obtaining apparatus comprises;

the content-obtaining-side sending step of transmitting said exchange request data to said content providing apparatus; and

the content-obtaining-side receiving step of receiving said equivalent exchange condition showing data transmitted from said content providing apparatus.

4. A content providing apparatus for providing a content obtaining apparatus with content, comprising:

package information storage means for storing information on many packaged media;

content-providing-side receiving means for receiving exchange request data indicating content data which is requested to be exchanged for said packaged media and is owned by a customer, said exchange request data transmitted from said content obtaining apparatus;

package search means for searching said package information storage means for said packaged media which said content data, which is indicated by said exchange request data and is owned by said customer, is exchanged for, under the preset search conditions;

condition setting means for setting the conditions of equivalent exchange for almost equalizing said content data owned by said customer with said packaged media found by said package search means in exchange value; and

content-providing-side sending means for sending equivalent exchange condition showing data which shows said packaged media found by said search means and said conditions of equivalent exchange set by said condition setting means, to said content obtaining apparatus.

5. The content providing apparatus according to claim 4, comprising:

content data storage means for storing a plurality of content data; and

readout means for reading arbitrary said content data out of said content data storage means, wherein;

said content-providing-side receiving means receives content specifying data which is transmitted from said content obtaining apparatus and specifies said content data to be obtained;

said readout means reads said content data to be obtained, out of said content data storage means based on said content specifying data; and

said content-providing-side sending means sends said content data read out of said content data storage means, to said content obtaining apparatus.

6. A content providing method for providing a content obtaining apparatus with content, comprising:

the content-providing-side receiving step of receiving exchange request data indicating content data which is requested to be exchanged for packaged media and is owned by a customer, said exchange request data transmitted from said content obtaining apparatus;

the package search step of searching package information storage mans which stores information on many packaged media, for said packaged media which said content data, which is indicated by said exchange request data and is owned by said customer, can be changed for, under the preset search conditions;

the condition setting step of setting the conditions of equivalent exchange for almost equalizing said content data owned by said customer with said packaged media found from said package information storage means, in exchange value; and

the content-providing-side sending step of sending equivalent exchange condition showing data which indicates said packaged media found and said conditions of equivalent exchange set, to said content obtaining apparatus.

7. A content providing program storage medium for making a content providing apparatus execute a content providing program comprising:

the content-providing-side receiving step of receiving exchange request data indicating content data which is requested to be exchanged for packaged media and is owned by a customer, said exchange request data transmitted from a prescribed content obtaining apparatus;

the package search step of searching package information storage means which stores information on many packaged media, for said packaged media which said content data, which is indicated by said exchange request data and is owned by said customer, can be exchanged for, under the preset search conditions;

the condition setting step of setting the conditions of equivalent exchange for almost equalizing said content data owned by said customer with said packaged media found from said package information storage means, in exchange value; and

the content-providing-side sending step of transmitting equivalent exchange condition showing data which shows said packaged media found and said conditions of equivalent exchange set, to said content obtaining apparatus.

8. A content providing program for making a content providing apparatus execute:

the content-providing-side receiving step of receiving exchange request data indicating content data which is requested to be exchanged for said packaged media and is owned by a customer, said exchange request data transmitted from a prescribed content obtaining apparatus;

the package search step of searching package information storage means which stores information on many packaged media, for said packaged media which said content data, which is indicated by said exchange request data and is owned by said customer, under preset search conditions;

the condition setting step of setting the conditions of equivalent exchange for almost equalizing said content data owned by said customer with said packaged media found from said package information storage means, in exchange value; and

the content-providing-side sending step of transmitting equivalent exchange condition showing data which shows said packaged media found and said conditions of equivalent exchange set, to said content obtaining apparatus.

9. A content obtaining apparatus for obtaining content provided from a content providing apparatus, comprising:

content-obtaining-side sending means for sending exchange request data indicating content data which is requested to be exchanged for packaged media and is owned by a customer, to said content providing apparatus; and

content-obtaining-side receiving means for receiving equivalent exchange condition showing data which shows said packaged media which is found from package information storage means for storing information on many packaged media under the preset search conditions and which said content data owned by said customer can be exchanged for, and the conditions of equivalent exchange set for almost equalizing the packaged media found with said content data owned by said customer in exchange value, said equivalent exchange condition showing data transmitted from said content providing apparatus.

10. The content obtaining apparatus according to claim 9, comprising:

a built-in storage medium; and

recording means for recording said content data on said storage medium, wherein;

said content-obtaining-side sending means can access said content providing apparatus only and transmits content specifying data which specifies said content data to be obtained, to said content providing apparatus;

said content-obtaining-side receiving means receives said content data to be obtained, which is read out of content data storage means for storing a plurality of content data based on said content specifying data and is transmitted from said content providing apparatus; and

said recording means records said content data received on said storage medium.

11. A content obtaining method for obtaining content provided from a content providing apparatus, comprising:

the content-obtaining-side sending step of sending exchange request data indicating content data which is requested to be exchanged for packaged media and is owned by a customer, to said content providing apparatus; and

the content-obtaining-side receiving step of receiving equivalent exchange condition showing data which shows said packaged media which is found from package information storage means for storing information on many packaged media under the preset search conditions and which said content data owned by said customer can be exchanged for, and the conditions of equivalent exchange for almost equalizing the packaged media found with said content data owned by said customer in exchange value, said equivalent exchange condition showing data transmitted from said content providing apparatus.

12. The content obtaining program storage medium for making a content obtaining apparatus execute a content obtaining program comprising:

the content-obtaining-side sending step of sending exchange request data indicating content data which is requested to be exchanged for packaged media and is owned by a customer, to a prescribed content providing apparatus; and

the content-obtaining-side receiving step of receiving equivalent exchange condition showing data which shows said packaged media which is found from package information storage means for storing information on many packaged media under the preset search conditions and which said content data owned by said customer is exchanged for, and the conditions of equivalent exchange set for almost equalizing the packaged media found with said content data owned by said customer in exchange value, said equivalent exchange condition showing data transmitted from said content providing apparatus.

13. A content obtaining program for making a content obtaining apparatus execute:

the content-obtaining-side sending step of sending exchange request data indicating content data which is requested to be exchanged for packaged media and is owned by a customer, to a prescribed content providing apparatus; and

the content-obtaining-side receiving step of receiving equivalent exchange condition showing data which shows said packaged media which is found from the package information storage means for storing information on many packaged media, under the preset search conditions and which said content data owned by said customer can be exchanged for, and the conditions of equivalent exchange set for almost equalizing the packaged media found with said content data owned by said customer in exchange value, said equivalent exchange condition showing data transmitted from said content providing apparatus.

14. A communications system for performing data communications between a computer apparatus and a portable device, wherein:

said computer apparatus comprises;

computer-side receiving means for receiving content identification information which is identification information on content data to be recorded in said portable device, said content identification information transmitted from said portable device;

value information storage means for storing content value information on a plurality of said content data and package value information on a plurality of packaged media;

media search means for searching said value information storage means for said packaged media having the package value information almost the same as said content value information on said content data corresponding to said content identification information received; and

computer-side sending means for sending package identification information which is identification information on said packaged media found, to said portable device; and

said portable device comprises;

portable-side sending means for sending said content identification information to said computer apparatus;

portable-side receiving means for receiving said package identification information transmitted from said computer apparatus; and

notifying means for making a notification of said package identification information received.

15. The communications system according to claim 14, wherein:

said computer-side receiving means receives a plurality of said content identification information for a plurality of said content data, which is recorded in said portable device, said content identification information transmitted from said portable device; and

said media search means searches said value information storage means for said packaged media having the package value information almost the same as each of said content value information on a plurality of said content data corresponding to said content identification information received.

16. The communications system according to claim 14, wherein:

said computer-side receiving means receives said content identification information on said content data to be recorded in said portable device and additional fee information, which are transmitted from said portable device; and

said media search means searches said value information storage means for said packaged media having package value information almost the same as the total value of said content value information on said content data corresponding to said content identification information received and said additional fee information.

17. The communications system according to claim 14, wherein:

said media search means searches said value information storage means for said packaged media having said package value information which has a lower value than said content value information on said content data corresponding to said content identification information received, and generates balance information corresponding the difference between the content value information and said package value information found;

said computer-side sending means sends said balance information to said portable device, in addition to said package identification information on said packaged media found;

said portable-side receiving means receives said package identification information and said balance information, which are transmitted from said computer apparatus;

said notifying means makes a notification of said package identification and said balance information received.

18. The communications system according to claim 14, wherein:

said computer-side receiving means receives music identification information which is identification information on music to be recorded in said portable device, said music identification information transmitted from said portable device;

said value information storage means for storing disc identification information which is identification information on music discs which a plurality of tunes is exchanged for;

said media search means searches said value information storage means for said disc identification information on said music disc which said tune corresponding to said music identification information received can be exchanged for;

said computer-side sending means sends said disc identification information found to said portable device;

said portable-side sending means sends said music identification information to said computer apparatus;

said portable-side receiving means receives said disc identification information transmitted from said computer apparatus; and

said notifying means makes a notification of said disc identification information received.

19. The communications system according to claim 18, wherein:

said computer apparatus comprises;

music storage means for storing music data which is digital data of a plurality of said tunes; and

music search means for searching said music storage means for said music data corresponding to said music identification information received, wherein

said computer-side sending means sends said music data found to said portable device; and

said portable device comprises;

recording means for recording said music data transmitted from said computer apparatus on a storage medium; and

reproducing means for reproducing said music data recorded on said storage means.

20. A communications method for performing data communications between a computer apparatus and a portable device, wherein:

said computer apparatus comprises;

the computer-side receiving step of receiving content identification information which is identification information on content data to be recorded on the portable device, said content identification information transmitted from said portable device;

the media search step of searching said value information storage means for storing content value information on a plurality of said content data and package value information on a plurality of packaged media, for said packaged media having said package value information almost the same as said content value information on said content data corresponding to said content identification information received; and

the computer-side sending step of transmitting package identification information which is identification information on said packaged media found to said portable device; and

said portable device comprises;

the portable-side sending step of transmitting said content identification information to said computer apparatus;

the portable-side receiving step of receiving said package identification information transmitted from said computer apparatus; and

the notifying step of making a notification of said package identification information received.

21. The communications method according to claim 20, wherein:

said computer-side receiving step receives a plurality of said content identification information on a plurality of said content data to be recorded in said portable device, said content identification information transmitted from said portable device; and

said media search step searches said value information storage means for said packaged media having the package value information almost the same as each of said content value information on the plurality of said content data corresponding to said content identification information received.

22. The communications method according to claim 20, wherein

said computer-side receiving step receives said content identification information on said content data to be recorded in said portable device and additional fee information, which are transmitted from said portable device;

and

said media search step searches said value information storage means for said packaged media having package value information almost the same as the total value of said content value information on said content data corresponding to said content identification information received and said additional fee information.

23. The communications method according to claim 20, wherein:

said media search step searches said value information storage means for said packaged media having said package value information which has a lower value than said content value information on said content data corresponding to said content identification information received, and generates balance information corresponding to the difference between the content value information and said package value information found;

said computer-side sending step sends said balance information to said portable device in addition to said package identification information on said packaged media found;

said portable-side receiving step receives said package identification information and said balance information transmitted from said computer apparatus; and

said notifying step makes a notification of said package identification information and said balance information received.

24. The communications method according to claim 20, wherein:

said computer-side receiving step receives music identification information which is identification information on tunes to be recorded in said portable device, said music identification information transmitted from said portable device;

said media search step searches said value information storage means for storing disc identification information which is identification information on music discs which a plurality of tunes can be exchanged for, for said disc identification information on a music disc which said tune corresponding to said music identification information received can be exchanged for;

said computer-side sending step sends said disc identification information found to said portable device;

said portable-side sending step sends said music identification information to said computer apparatus;

said portable-side receiving step receives said disc identification information transmitted from said computer apparatus; and

said notifying step makes a notification of said disc identification information received.

25. The communications method according to claim 24, wherein:

said computer apparatus comprises the music search step of searching music storage means for storing music data which is digital data of a plurality of said tunes, for said music data corresponding to said music identification information received;

said computer-side sending step sends said music data found to said portable device; and

said portable device comprises;

the recording step of recording said music data transmitted from said computer apparatus on a storage medium; and

the reproducing step of reproducing said music data recorded on said storage medium.

26. A computer apparatus for performing data communications with a portable device, comprising:

receiving means for receiving content identification information which is identification information on content data to be recorded in said portable device, said content identification information transmitted from said portable device;

value information storage means for storing content value information on a plurality of said content data and package value information on a plurality of package media;

media search means for searching said value information storage means for said packaged media having said package value information almost the same as said content value information on said content data corresponding to said content identification information received; and

sending means for sending package identification information which is identification information on said packaged media fond to said portable device.

27. The computer apparatus according to claim 26, wherein

said receiving means receives a plurality of said content identification information on a plurality of said content data to be recorded in said portable device, said content identification information transmitted from said portable device;

and

said media search means searches said value information storage means for said packaged media having package value information almost the same as each of said content value information on a plurality of said content data corresponding to said content identification information received.

28. The computer apparatus according to claim 26, wherein:

said receiving means receives said content identification information on said content data to be recorded in the portable device and additional fee information, which are transmitted from said portable device; and

said media search means searches said value information storage means for said packaged media having package value information almost the same as the total value of said content value information on said content data corresponding to said content identification information received and said additional fee information.

29. The computer apparatus according to claim 26, wherein:

said media search means searches said value information storage means for said packaged media having said package value information which has a lower value than said content value information on said content data corresponding to said content identification information received, and generates balance information corresponding to the difference between the content value information and said package value information found; and

said sending means sends said balance information to said portable device in addition to said package identification information on said packaged media found.

30. The computer apparatus according to claim 26, wherein:

said receiving means receives music identification information which is identification information on tunes to be recorded in said portable device, said music identification information transmitted from said portable device;

said value information storage means stores disc identification information which is identification information on music discs which a plurality of tunes can be exchanged for;

said media search means searches said value information storage means for said disc identification information on said music disc which said tune corresponding to said music identification information received can be exchanged for; and

said sending means sends said disc identification information found to said portable device.

31. The computer apparatus according to claim 30, comprising:

music storage means for storing music data which is digital data on a plurality of said tunes; and

music search means for searching said music storage means for said music data corresponding to said music identification information received, wherein

said sending means sends said music data found to said portable device.

32. An exchange information sending method, comprising:

the receiving step of receiving content identification information which is identification information on content data to be recorded in a portable device, said content identification information transmitted from said portable device;

the media search step of searching value information storage means which stores content value information on a plurality of said content data and package value information on a plurality of packaged media, for said packaged media having said package value information almost the same as said content value information on said content data corresponding to said content identification information received; and

the sending step of sending package identification information which is identification information on said packaged media found to said portable device.

33. The exchange information sending method according to claim 32, wherein:

said receiving step receives a plurality of said content identification information on a plurality of said content data to be recorded in said portable device, said content identification information transmitted from said portable device; and

said media search step searches said value information storage means for said packaged media having package value information almost the same as each of said content value information on a plurality of said content data corresponding to said content identification information received.

34. The exchange information sending method according to claim 32, wherein:

said receiving step receives said content identification information on said content data to be recorded in said portable device and additional fee information, which are transmitted from said portable device; and

said media search step searches said value information storage means for said packaged media having package value information almost the same as the total value of said content value information on said content data corresponding to said content identification information received and said additional fee information.

35. The exchange information sending method according to claim 32, wherein:

said media search step searches said value information storage means for said packaged media having said package value information which has a lower value than said content value information on said content data corresponding to said content identification information received, and generates balance information corresponding to the difference between the content value information and said package value information found; and

said sending step sends said balance information to said portable device to said portable device in addition to said package identification information on said packaged media found.

36. The exchange information sending method according to claim 32, wherein:

said receiving step receives music identification information which is identification information on tunes to be recorded in said portable device, said music identification information transmitted from said portable device;

said media search step searches said value information storage means which stores disc identification information which is identification information on music discs which a plurality of tunes can be exchanged for, for said disc identification information on said music disc which said tune corresponding to said music identification information received can be exchanged for; and

said sending step sends said disc identification information found to said portable device.

37. The exchange information sending method according to claim 36, comprising

music search step of searching music storage means for storing music data which is digital data on a plurality of said tunes, for said music data corresponding to said music identification information received, wherein

said sending step sends said music data found to said portable device.

38. An exchange information sending program storage medium for making a computer apparatus execute an exchange information sending program comprising:

the receiving step of receiving content identification information which is identification information on content data to be recorded in a portable device, said content identification information transmitted from said portable device;

the media search step of searching value information storage means for storing content value information on a plurality of said content data and package value information on a plurality of packaged media, for said packaged media having said packaged value information almost the same as said content value information on said content data corresponding to said content identification information received; and

the sending step of sending package identification information which is identification information on said packaged media found, to said portable device.

39. The exchange information sending program storage medium according to claim 38, wherein:

said receiving step receives a plurality of said content identification information on a plurality of said content data to be recorded in said portable device, said content identification information transmitted from said portable device; and

said media search step searches said value information storage means for said packaged media having package value information almost the same as each of said content value information on a plurality of said content data corresponding to said content identification information received.

40. The exchange information sending program storage medium according to claim 38, wherein:

said receiving step receives said content identification information on said content data to be recorded to said portable device and additional fee information, which are transmitted from said portable device; and

said media search step searches said value information storage means for said packaged media having package value information almost the same as the total value of said content value information on said content data corresponding to said content identification information received and said additional fee information.

41. The exchange information sending program storage medium according to claim 38, wherein:

said media search step searches said value information storage means for said packaged media having said package value information having a lower value than said content value information on said content data corresponding to said content identification information received, and generates balance information corresponding to the difference between the content value information and said package value information found; and

said sending step transmits said balance information to said portable device in addition to said package identification information on said packaged media found.

42. The exchange information sending program storage medium according to claim 38, wherein:

said receiving step receives music identification information which is identification information on tunes to be recorded in said portable device, said music identification information transmitted from said portable device;

said media search step searches said value information storage means for storing disc identification information which is identification information on music discs which a plurality of tunes can be exchanged for, for said disc identification information on said music disc which said tune corresponding to said music identification information received can be exchanged for; and

said sending step transmits said disc identification information found to said portable device.

43. The exchange information sending program storage medium, comprising

the music search step of searching music storage medium which stores music data which is digital data on a plurality of said tunes, for said music data corresponding to said music identification information received, wherein

said sending step sends said music data found to said portable device.

44. An exchange information sending program for making a computer apparatus execute:

the receiving step of receiving content identification information which is identification information on content data to be recorded in a portable device, said content identification information transmitted from said portable device;

the media search step of searching value information storage medium which stores content value information on a plurality of content data and package value information on a plurality of packaged media, for said packaged media having said package value information almost the same as said content value information on said content data corresponding to said content identification information received; and

the sending step of sending package identification information which is identification information on said packaged media found to said portable device.

45. The exchange information sending program according to claim 44, wherein:

said receiving step receives a plurality of said content identification information on a plurality of said content data to be recorded in said portable device, said content identification information transmitted from said portable device; and

said media search step searches said value information storage means for said packaged media having package value information almost the same as each of said content value information on a plurality of said content data corresponding to said content identification information received.

46. The exchange information sending program according to claim 44, wherein:

said receiving step receives said content identification information on said content data to be recorded in said portable device and additional fee information, which are transmitted from said portable device; and

said media search step searches said value information storage means for said packaged media having package value information almost the same as the total value of said content value information on said content data corresponding to said content identification information received and said additional fee information.

47. The exchange information sending program according to claim 44, wherein:

said media search step searches said value information storage means for said packaged media having said package value information having a lower value than said content value information on said content data corresponding to said content identification information received, and generates balance information corresponding to the difference between the content value information and said package value information found; and

said sending step transmits said balance information to said portable device in addition to said package identification information on said packaged media found.

48. The exchange information sending program according to claim 44, wherein

said receiving step receives music identification information which is identification information on tunes to be recorded in said portable device, said music identification information transmitted from said portable device;

said media search step searches said value information storage means which stores disc identification information which is identification information on music discs which a plurality of tunes can be exchanged for, for said disc identification information on said music disc which said tune corresponding to said music identification information received can be exchanged for; and

said sending step esnds said disc identification information fund to said portable device.

49. The exchange information sending program according to claim 48, comprising

the music search step of searching music storage means which stores music data which is digital data on a plurality of said tunes, for said music data corresponding to said music identification information received, wherein

said sending step sends said music data found to said portable device.

50. A portable device for performing data communications with a computer apparatus, comprising:

sending means for sending content identification information which is identification information on content data to be exchanged, to said computer apparatus;

receiving means for receiving package identification information which is identification information on packaged media which said content data corresponding to said content identification information can be exchanged for, said package identification information transmitted from said computer apparatus; and

notifying means for making a notification of said package identification information received.

51. The portable device according to claim 50, wherein:

said sending means sends a plurality of said content identification information on a plurality of said content data to said computer apparatus; and

said receiving means receives said package identification information on said packaged media which a plurality of said content data corresponding to said content identification information can be exchanged for, said package identification information transmitted from said computer apparatus.

52. The portable device according to claim 50, wherein:

said sending means sends said content identification information and additional fee information to said computer apparatus; and

said receiving means receives said package identification information on said packaged media having package value information almost the same as the total value of content value information on said content data corresponding to said content identification information and said additional fee information, said package identification information transmitted from said computer apparatus.

53. The portable device according to claim 50, wherein:

said receiving means receives said package identification information on said packaged media having package value information having a lower value than said content value information on said content data corresponding to said content identification information, and balance information corresponding to the difference between said content value information and said package value information, which are transmitted from said computer apparatus; and

said notifying means makes a notification of said package identification information and said balance information received.

54. The portable device according to claim 50, wherein:

said sending means sends music identification information which is identification information on tunes to said computer apparatus;

said receiving means receives disc identification information which is identification information on music disc which said tune corresponding to said music identification information can be exchanged for, said disc identification information transmitted from said computer apparatus; and

said notifying means makes a notification of said disc identification information received.

55. The portable device according to claim 54, comprising:

recording means for recording on a storage medium said music data which is transmitted from said computer apparatus in response to said music identification information transmitted to said computer apparatus; and

reproducing means for reproducing said music data recorded on said storage medium.

56. An exchange information receiving method comprising:

the sending step of sending content identification information which is identification information on content data to be exchanged, to a computer apparatus;

the receiving step of receiving package identification information which is identification information on packaged media which said content data corresponding to said content identification information can be exchanged for, said package identification information transmitted from said computer apparatus; and

the notifying step of making a notification of said package identification information received.

57. The exchange information receiving method according to claim 56, wherein:

said sending step sends a plurality of said content identification information on a plurality of said content data to said computer apparatus; and

said receiving step receives said package identification information on said packaged media which a plurality of said content data corresponding to said content identification information can be exchanged for, said package identification information transmitted from said computer apparatus.

58. The exchange information receiving method according to claim 56, wherein:

said sending step sends said content identification information and additional fee information to said computer apparatus; and

said receiving step receives said package identification information on said packaged media having package value information almost the same as the total value of content value information on said content data corresponding to said content identification information and said additional fee information, said package identification information transmitted from said computer apparatus.

59. The exchange information receiving method according to claim 56, wherein:

said receiving step receives said package identification information on said packaged media having package value information which has a lower value than said content value information on said content data corresponding to said content identification information, and balance information corresponding to the difference between said content value information and said package value information, said package identification information and said balance information transmitted from said computer apparatus; and

said notifying step makes a notification of said package identification information and said difference amount information received.

60. The exchange information receiving method according to claim 56, wherein:

said sending step sends music identification information which is identification information on tunes, to said computer apparatus;

said receiving step receives disc identification information which is identification information on music disc which said tune corresponding to said music identification information can be exchanged for, said disc identification information transmitted from said computer apparatus; and

said notifying step makes a notification of said disc identification information received.

61. The exchange information receiving method according to claim 60, comprising:

the recording step of recording on a storage medium said music data which is transmitted from said computer apparatus in response to said music identification information transmitted to said computer apparatus; and

the reproducing step of reproducing said music data recorded on said storage medium.

62. An exchange information receiving program storage medium for making a portable device execute exchange information receiving program comprising:

the sending step of transmitting content identification information which is identification information on content data to be exchanged, to a computer apparatus;

the receiving step of receiving package identification information which is identification information on packaged media which said content data corresponding to said content identification information can be exchanged for, said package identification information transmitted from said computer apparatus; and

the notifying step of making a notification of said package identification information received.

63. The exchange information receiving program storage medium according to claim 62, wherein:

said sending step sends a plurality of said content identification information on a plurality of said content data to said computer apparatus; and

said receiving step receives package identification information on said packaged media which a plurality of said content data corresponding to said content identification information can be exchanged for, said package identification information transmitted from said computer apparatus.

64. The exchange information receiving program storage medium according to claim 62, wherein:

said sending step sends said content identification information and additional fee information to said computer apparatus; and

said receiving step receives said package identification information on said packaged media having package value information almost the same as the total value of content value information on said content data corresponding to said content identification information and said additional fee information, said package identification information transmitted from said computer apparatus.

65. The exchange information receiving program storage medium according to claim 62, wherein:

said receiving step receives said package identification information on said packaged media having package value information which has a lower value than said content value information on said content data corresponding to said content identification information and balance information corresponding to the difference between said content value information and said package value information, said package identification information and said balance information transmitted from said computer apparatus; and

said notifying step makes a notification of said package identification information and said balance information received.

66. The exchange information receiving program storage medium according to claim 62, wherein:

said sending step sends music identification information which is identification information on tunes to said computer apparatus;

said receiving step receives disc identification information which is identification information on music disc which said tune corresponding to said music identification information can be exchanged for, said disc identification information transmitted from said computer apparatus; and

said notifying step of making a notification of said disc identification information received.

67. The exchange information receiving program according to claim 66, comprising:

the recording step of recording on a storage medium said music data which is transmitted from said computer apparatus in response to said music identification information transmitted to said computer apparatus; and

the reproducing step of reproducing said music data recorded on said storage medium.

68. An exchange information receiving program for making a portable device execute:

the sending step of sending content identification information which is identification information on content data to be exchanged, to a computer apparatus;

the receiving step of receiving package identification information which is identification information on packaged media which said content data corresponding to said content identification information can be exchanged for, said package identification information transmitted from said computer apparatus; and

the notifying step of making a notification of said package identification information received.

69. The exchange information receiving program according to claim 68, wherein:

said sending step sends a plurality of said content identification information on a plurality of said content data to said computer apparatus; and

said receiving step receives said package identification information on said packaged media which a plurality of said content data corresponding to said content identification information can be exchanged for, said package identification information transmitted from said computer apparatus.

70. The exchange information receiving program according to claim 68, wherein:

said sending step sends said content identification information and additional fee information to said computer apparatus; and

said receiving step receives said package identification information on said packaged media having package value information almost the same as the total value of content value information on said content data corresponding to said content identification information and said additional fee information, said package identification information transmitted from said computer apparatus.

71. The exchange information receiving program according to claim 68, wherein:

said receiving step receives said package identification information on said packaged media having package value information which has a lower value than said content value information on said content data corresponding to said content identification information and balance information corresponding to the difference between said content value information and said package value information; and

said notifying step makes a notification of said package identification information received.

72. The exchange information receiving program according to claim 68, wherein:

said sending step sends music identification information which is identification information on tunes to said computer apparatus;

said receiving step receives disc identification information which is identification information on music discs which said tune corresponding said music identification information can be exchanged for, said disc identification information transmitted from said computer apparatus; and

said notifying step makes a notification of said disc identification information received.

73. The exchange information receiving program according to claim 72, comprising:

the recording step of recording on a storage medium said music data which is transmitted from said computer apparatus in response to said music identification information transmitted to said computer apparatus; and

the reproducing step of reproducing said music data recorded on said storage medium.