Metadata distribution management system, apparatus, and method, and computer program therefore

• US 20050080788A1
• Filed: 08/26/2004
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Murata, Noriyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,634,484 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A plurality of metadata relating to digital contents is presented to a user as a package. A media capsule provision server which comprises a media capsule structure information database for storing metadata relating to the digital contents, contents list structure information, a Raw data database, media capsule providing means for packaging the plurality of metadata stored in the database, media capsule distribution processing means for distributing the media capsule to a user, and a media capsule destination information database for managing the destination information is provided.

Claims

1. A metadata distribution management system being configured to include at least one metadata distribution management apparatus for managing a metadata relating to a digital content, and at least one client terminal connectable to the metadata distribution management apparatus through a communications network, wherein;

said metadata distribution management apparatus comprises;

metadata memory means for storing two or more metadata relating to the digital contents which includes at least a location information data on the digital contents, and a type information data on the digital contents;

metadata package creation means for creating a metadata package by combining at least two or more of the metadata stored in the metadata memory means;

metadata package distribution means for distributing the metadata package to the client terminal through the communications network; and

metadata package destination information storage means for storing destination information data linking an information data identifying a user who uses the client terminal to which the metadata package distributed, and an information data identifying the metadata package, and

said client terminal comprises;

metadata package acquisition means for acquiring the metadata package from the metadata distribution management apparatus through the communications network; and

metadata package operation processing means for acquiring the digital content with reference to the location information data included in the metadata package, and performing a process suitable for the type of the digital content with reference to the type information data.

2. The metadata distribution management system as cited in claim 1, further comprising:

an individual metadata management apparatus connectable to the client terminal and the metadata distribution management apparatus through the communications network, wherein

said individual metadata management apparatus comprises;

metadata package acquisition means for acquiring the metadata package from the metadata distribution management apparatus through the communications network;

metadata package memory means for storing the metadata package; and

transmission means for transmitting one or more metadata included in the metadata package and/or the metadata package to the client terminal, wherein;

an information data identifying the metadata package stored in the metadata package memory means and an information data identifying a user who uses the client terminal being transmitted the metadata package are linked and managed.

3. The metadata distribution management system as cited in claim 1, wherein the metadata distribution management apparatus further comprises;

container generation means for generating a container including therein a plurality of the metadata packages, wherein;

the metadata package distribution means distributes the container to the client terminal through the communications network.

4. The metadata distribution management system as cited in claim 1, wherein the metadata distribution management apparatus further comprises;

container generation means for generating a container including therein a plurality of the metadata packages, wherein;

the metadata package distribution means distributes the container to the client terminal through the communications network, and

the container generation means includes a different metadata package for every user in the container, based on the destination information data stored in the metadata package destination information storage means.

5. A metadata distribution management apparatus for managing a metadata relating to a digital content comprising:

metadata memory means for storing two or more metadata relating to the digital content including at least the location information data on the digital content and the type information data on the digital content;

metadata package creation means for creating a metadata package by combining at least two or more of the metadata stored in the metadata memory means;

metadata package distribution means for distributing the metadata package to a connectable client terminal through a communications network; and

metadata package destination information storage means for storing destination information data linking an information data identifying a user who uses the client terminal to which the metadata package is distributed, and an information data identifying the metadata package.

6. The metadata distribution management apparatus as cited in claim 5, further comprising:

container generation means for generating a container including therein a plurality of the metadata packages, wherein;

the metadata package distribution means may distribute the container to the client terminal through the communications network.

7. The metadata distribution management apparatus as cited in claim 5, further comprising:

container generation means for generating a container including therein a plurality of the metadata packages, wherein;

the metadata package distribution means distributes the container to the client terminal through the communications network, and

the container generation means includes a different metadata package for every user in the container, based on the destination information data stored in the metadata package destination information storage means.

8. An individual metadata management apparatus for managing metadata relating to a digital content for each user who can access a digital content by using the metadata, said individual metadata management apparatus comprising:

metadata package acquisition means for acquiring the metadata package through a communications network from a connectable metadata distribution management apparatus through the communications network;

metadata package memory means for storing the metadata package; and

transmission means for transmitting one or more metadata included in the metadata package and/or the metadata package to a connectable client terminal through the communications network, wherein;

an information data identifying the metadata package stored in the metadata package memory means and an information data identifying a user who uses the client terminal to which the metadata package is transmitted are linked and managed.

9. A client terminal connectable to a metadata distribution management apparatus and/or an individual metadata management apparatus through a communications network, said client terminal comprising:

metadata package acquisition means for acquiring a metadata package from the distribution management apparatus and/or the individual metadata management apparatus through the communications network; and

metadata package operation processing means for acquiring the digital content with reference to a location information data of the digital content included in the metadata package, and performing a process suitable for the type of the digital content with reference to the type information data of the digital content.

10. A computer program for functioning a computer as a metadata distribution management apparatus for managing a metadata relating to a digital content, said metadata distribution management apparatus comprising:

metadata memory means for storing two or more metadata relating to the digital content including at least the location information data on the digital content and the type information data on the digital content;

metadata package creation means for creating a metadata package by combining at least two or more of the metadata stored in the metadata memory means;

metadata package distribution means for distributing the metadata package to a connectable client terminal through a communications network; and

metadata package destination information storage means for storing destination information data linking an information data identifying a user who uses the client terminal to which the metadata package is distributed, and an information data identifying the metadata package.

11. The computer program for functioning a computer as the metadata distribution management apparatus as cited in claim 10, wherein said metadata distribution management apparatus further comprising:

container generation means for generating a container including therein a plurality of the metadata packages, wherein;

the metadata package distribution means may distribute the container to the client terminal through the communications network.

12. The computer program for functioning a computer as the metadata distribution management apparatus as cited in claim 10, wherein said metadata distribution management apparatus further comprising:

container generation means for generating a container including therein a plurality of the metadata packages, wherein;

the metadata package distribution means distributes the container to the client terminal through the communications network; and

the container generation means includes a different metadata package for every user in the container, based on the destination information data stored in the metadata package destination information storage means.

13. A computer program for functioning a computer as an individual metadata management apparatus for managing metadata relating to a digital content for each user who can access a digital content by using the metadata, said individual metadata management apparatus comprising:

metadata package acquisition means for acquiring the metadata package through a communications network from a connectable metadata distribution management apparatus through the communications network;

metadata package memory means for storing the metadata package; and

transmission means for transmitting one or more metadata included in the metadata package and/or the metadata package to a connectable client terminal through the communications network, wherein;

an information data identifying the metadata package stored in the metadata package memory means and an information data identifying a user who uses the client terminal to which the metadata package is transmitted are linked and managed.

14. A computer program for functioning a computer as a client terminal connectable to a metadata distribution management apparatus and/or an individual metadata management apparatus through a communications network, said client terminal comprising:

metadata package acquisition means for acquiring a metadata package from the distribution management apparatus and/or the individual metadata management apparatus through the communications network; and

metadata package operation processing means for acquiring the digital content with reference to a location information data of the digital content included in the metadata package, and performing a process suitable for the type of the digital content with reference to the type information data of the digital content.

15. A metadata distribution management method implemented by using at least one metadata distribution management apparatus for managing metadata relating to a digital content, and at least one client terminal connectable to the metadata distribution management apparatus through a communications network, said metadata distribution management method comprising:

a step of storing two or more metadata relating to the digital content which the metadata distribution management apparatus includes at least a location information data on the digital content and a type information data on the digital content;

a step of creating a metadata package by combining at least two or more of the stored metadata;

a step of distributing the metadata package to the client terminal through the communications network;

a step of storing a destination information data linking an information data identifying a user who uses the client terminal to which the metadata package is distributed and an information data identifying the metadata package;

a step where the client terminal acquires the metadata package from the metadata distribution management apparatus through the communications network; and

a step of performing a process suitable for the type of the digital content with reference to the type information data, acquiring the digital content with reference to the location information data included in the metadata package.

16. The metadata distribution management method as cited in claim 15, wherein;

said metadata distribution management method is implemented by using an individual metadata management apparatus connectable to the client terminal and the metadata distribution management apparatus through the communications network, wherein

said individual metadata management apparatus includes;

metadata package acquisition step for acquiring the metadata package from the metadata distribution management apparatus through the communications network;

metadata package memory step for storing the metadata package;

transmission step for transmitting one or more metadata included in the metadata package and/or the metadata package to the client terminal; and

management step for managing an information data identifying the stored metadata package and an information data identifying a user who uses the client terminal being transmitted the metadata package by linking to each other.

17. The metadata distribution management method as cited in claim 15, wherein;

said metadata distribution management apparatus includes;

a step for generating a container including therein a plurality of the metadata packages, and

a step for distributing the container to the client terminal through the communications network.

18. The metadata distribution management method as cited in claim 15, wherein;

said metadata distribution management apparatus further includes;

a step for generating a different metadata package for every user in the container, based on the destination information data; and

a step for distributing the container to the client terminal through the communications network.