Information communicating terminal, information distributing apparatus, information distributing system, content managing method, broadcast receiving method, information distributing method, program, and recording medium

• US 20050203992A1
• Filed: 05/08/2003
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Izuru, Inoue, Hiraku
• Granted Patent: US 8,255,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/433 using audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists
• 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: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio

Abstract

In a server serving as an information distribution apparatus and an information communication terminal, contents are managed by using content identifiers (content IDs) managed as IDs conforming to a rule of uniformity. Particularly, in the information communication terminal, a content ripped from a recording medium such as a CD, and stored in a storage element, such as a hard disk drive, is also managed by using a content identifier acquired from the information distribution apparatus. In this way, contents stored in the storage element can be managed by using content IDs each managed as an ID common to the information communication terminal and the information distribution apparatus. In communication between the information communication terminal and the information distribution apparatus, a content identifier conforming to a rule of uniformity is used for identifying a content to which the content identifier is assigned, so that the terminal is capable of downloading the content as well as acquiring additional information relevant to the content from the apparatus.

Claims

1. A data communication apparatus comprising:

communication means for communicating with a data distribution apparatus for managing content identification data that is used for identifying content data and that is determined uniquely in a plurality of data communication apparatus;

storage means for storing the content data;

storage control means for reading out content data from a recording medium and storing said content data into said storage means;

content-identifying data generation means for generating content-identifying data for identifying content data stored in said storage means;

communication control means for controlling said communication means to transmit said content-identifying data to said data distribution apparatus and receive said content identification data corresponding to said transmitted content-identifying data; and

management control means for executing management of content data stored in said storage means based on said content identification data received by said communication means.

2. The data communication apparatus according to claim 1 wherein

said content-identifying data generation means generates identification data identifying the recording medium itself, from which content data is ripped to said storage means, as said content-identifying data.

3. The data communication apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said management control means manages each said content data originally recorded on said recording medium based on content identification data transmitted by said data distribution apparatus in response to said content-identifying data as content identification data of said content data.

4. The data communication apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said communication control means controls said communication means to:

transmit said content-identifying data to an additional-data distribution apparatus for managing additional content data of contents; and

receive additional data transmitted by said additional-data distribution apparatus in response to said content-identifying data as additional data of each content data originally recorded on said recording medium, wherein

said management control means manages content data stored in said storage means by associating said additional data with said content data based on said content identification data.

5. The data communication apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said content-identifying data is data generated from an international standard recording code added to said recording medium.

6. The data communication apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

said storage control means reads out management data for content data from the recording medium and stores said management data into said storage means; and

said content-identifying data generation means generates said content-identifying data based on said management data.

7. The data communication apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said content-identifying data is data generated from a barcode provided on said recording medium.

8. The data communication apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said content identification data is a content identification data conforming to a common intrusion detection framework.

9. The data communication apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said communication control means executes control to:

transmit said content-identifying data to an additional-data distribution apparatus for managing additional content data; and

receive additional data transmitted by said additional-data distribution apparatus in response to said transmitted content-identifying data, and wherein

said management control means manages contents by associating said additional data with said content data based on said content identification data.

10. The data communication apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said communication means receives a content list including content identification data and said data communication apparatus further comprises:

determination means for determining whether the content identification data of each content data stored in said storage means is on said received content list; and

display means for displaying said content list and determination results produced by said determination means.

11. The data communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

reproduction means for reproducing content data stored in said storage means or content data recorded on another recording medium; and

display means for displaying data received by said communication means,

wherein said communication control means controls said communication means to;

transmit content identification data identifying content data reproduced by said reproduction means to a data distribution apparatus; and

receive data transmitted by said data distribution apparatus in response to said transmitted content identification data.

12. The data communication apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said communication control means executes control to transmit content identification data identifying content data stored in said storage means to a data storage apparatus storing content identification data.

13. A data communication apparatus comprising:

communication means for communicating with a data distribution apparatus for managing content identification data that is used for identifying content data and that is determined uniquely in a plurality of data communication apparatus;

broadcast data reception means for receiving broadcasted data;

content-identifying data generation means for generating content-identifying data based on data such as information on a broadcasting station broadcasting content data received by said broadcasted data reception means and/or a broadcasting time of said content data;

communication control means for controlling said communication means to transmit said content-identifying data to said data distribution apparatus and receive content identification data corresponding to said transmitted content-identifying data; and

display means for displaying said content identification data.

14. The data communication apparatus according to claim 13 wherein:

said communication control means executes control to transmit said content identification data and receive data corresponding to said transmitted content identification data; and

said display means displays said received data.

15. A data communication apparatus comprising:

communication means for communicating with an external data distribution apparatus through a network;

reception means for receiving broadcast content data;

extraction means for extracting content identification data from said broadcast content data as an identification that is used for identifying said broadcasted content data and that is determined uniquely in at least said data communication apparatus and said data distribution apparatus;

communication control means for controlling said communication means to transmit said content identification data to said data distribution apparatus and receive data transmitted by said data distribution apparatus in response to said transmitted content identification data; and

display means for displaying said data received from said data distribution apparatus as data associated with said content identification data.

16. A data distribution apparatus comprising:

communication means for communicating with a data communication apparatus;

storage means for storing content identifications, that are used for identifying content data and that are determined uniquely in at least said data communication apparatus and said data distribution apparatus, by associating said content identifications with content-identifying data for identifying said content data;

content-identification extraction means for extracting said content identification data associated with the content-identifying data received by said communication means from said storage means; and

communication control means for controlling said communication means to transmit said content identification data extracted by said content-identification extraction means to said data communication apparatus transmitting said content-identifying data.

17. The data distribution apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said content-identifying data is identification data for identifying a recording medium from which the content data has been read out by said data communication apparatus.

18. The data distribution apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said content-identifying data is data generated from an international standard recording code provided on a recording medium.

19. The data distribution apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said content-identifying data is data generated from management data of a recording medium from which content data has been read out by said data communication apparatus.

20. The data distribution apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said content-identifying data is data generated from a barcode provided on said recording medium.

21. The data distribution apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said content identification is content identification data conforming to a common intrusion detection framework.

22. A data distribution apparatus comprising:

communication means for communicating with a data communication apparatus through a network;

storage means for storing a content list including content identification data that is used for identifying content data and that is determined uniquely in at least said data communication apparatus and said data distribution apparatus itself; and

communication control means for controlling said communication means to transmit said content list to said data communication apparatus.

23. The data distribution apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising:

determination means for determining whether content identification data received by said communication means is on said content list stored in said storage means

wherein said communication control means controls said communication means to transmit said content list and determination results produced by said determination means to said data communication apparatus.

24. A data storage apparatus comprising:

communication means for communicating with a data communication apparatus;

storage means for storing content identification data; and

control means for executing control to store content identification data received by said communication means from said data communication apparatus in said data storage means by associating said received content identification with an owner identification for identifying the owner of said data communication apparatus wherein said received content identification is an identification determined uniquely in at least said communication means and said data communication apparatus.

25. A data communication system comprising a data communication apparatus and a data distribution apparatus wherein said data communication apparatus comprises:

communication means for communicating with external apparatus through a network;

storage means for storing content data;

storage control means for reading out content data from a recording medium and storing said content data into said storage means;

content-identifying data generation means for generating content-identifying data for identifying a content stored in said storage means;

communication control means for controlling said communication means to transmit said content-identifying data to said data distribution apparatus and receive said content identification data transmitted by said data distribution apparatus in response to said transmitted content-identifying data; and

management control means for executing management of content data stored in said storage means on the basis of said content identification received by said communication means, whereas

said data distribution apparatus comprises;

communication means for communicating with said data communication apparatus;

storage means for storing content identification data, that are used for identifying content data and that are determined uniquely in at least said data communication apparatus and said data distribution apparatus, by associating said content identifications with content-identifying data;

content-identification extraction means for extracting said content identification data associated with content-identifying data transmitted by said data communication apparatus from said storage means; and

communication control means for controlling said communication means to transmit said content identification data extracted by said content-identification extraction means to said data communication apparatus.

26. The data communication system according to claim 25, further including a second data distribution apparatus comprising:

communication means for communicating with said data communication apparatus;

storage means for storing additional data associated with said content identifications;

additional-data extraction means for extracting additional data associated with content-identifying data received by said communication means from said storage means; and

communication control means for controlling said communication means to transmit additional data extracted by said additional-data extraction means to said data communication apparatus.

27. A data communication system comprising a data communication apparatus, a first data distribution apparatus and a second data distribution apparatus,

wherein said data communication apparatus comprises:

communication means for communicating with external apparatus through a network;

broadcast data reception means for receiving broadcast data;

content-identifying data generation means for generating content-identifying data based on data such as information on a broadcasting station broadcasting content data received by said broadcast data reception means and/or a broadcasting time of said content;

communication control means for controlling said communication means to transmit said content-identifying data to a data distribution apparatus managing content identification data, receive said content identification data corresponding to said transmitted content-identifying data, transmit said received content identification data and receive data transmitted by a data distribution apparatus in response to said transmitted content identification data; and

display means for displaying said data associated with said content identification data, wherein

said first data distribution apparatus comprises;

communication means for communicating with said data communication apparatus;

storage means for storing content identification data, which are used for identifying content data and determined uniquely in at least said data communication apparatus and said first data distribution apparatus itself, by associating said content identification data with content-identifying data for identifying said content data;

content-identification data extraction means for extracting said content identification data associated with content-identifying data transmitted by said data communication apparatus and received by said communication means; and

communication control means for controlling said communication means to transmit said content identification data extracted by said content-identification data extraction means to said data apparatus, and wherein

said second data distribution apparatus comprises;

communication means for communicating with said data communication apparatus;

storage means for storing additional data associated with said content identification data extracted at said first data distribution apparatus;

additional-data extraction means for extracting additional data associated with content-identifying data received by said communication means from said storage means; and

communication control means for controlling said communication means to transmit additional data extracted by said additional-data extraction means to said data communication apparatus.

28. A data communication system comprising a data communication apparatus and a data distribution apparatus,

wherein said data communication apparatus comprises:

communication means for communicating with external apparatus through a network;

storage means for storing content data;

storage control means for writing content data into said storage means by associating said content data with content identification data used for identifying said content data and determined uniquely in a plurality of data communication apparatus including said data communication apparatus;

communication control means for controlling said communication means to transmit said content identification data to said data distribution apparatus and receive data transmitted by said data distribution apparatus in response to said transmitted content identification data; and

display means for displaying said data received from said data distribution apparatus, and

said data distribution apparatus comprises;

communication means for communicating with said data communication apparatus;

storage means for storing a content list including at least content identification data; and

wherein determination means for determining whether content identification data received from said data communication apparatus is included in said content list stored in said storage means; and

communication control means for controlling said communication means to transmit said content list and a determination result produced by said determination means to said data communication apparatus.

29. A data communication system comprising a data communication apparatus and a data distribution apparatus,

wherein said data distribution apparatus comprises:

communication means for communicating with external apparatus through a network;

storage means for storing a content list including at least content identification data each determined uniquely in a plurality of data communication apparatus; and

communication control means for controlling said communication means to transmit said content list to said data communication apparatus, and wherein

said data communication apparatus comprises;

communication means for communicating with said data distribution apparatus through said network;

storage means for storing content data by associating each of said content data with content identification data used for identifying said content data and determined uniquely at least in said data distribution apparatus and said data communication apparatus;

determination means for determining whether content identification data stored in said storage means is included in said content list received by said communication means from said data distribution apparatus; and

display means displaying said content list and determination results produced by said determination means.

30. A data communication system comprising a data communication apparatus and a data storage apparatus,

wherein said data communication apparatus comprises:

communication means for communicating with external apparatus through a network;

storage means for storing content data;

management control means for controlling management to associate each of content data stored in said storage means with content identification data used for identifying said content data and determined uniquely in a plurality of data communication apparatus including said data communication apparatus; and

communication control means for controlling said communication means to transmit said content identification data to said data distribution apparatus, and wherein

said data storage apparatus comprises;

communication means for communicating with said data communication apparatus; and

storage means for storing content identification data received by said communication means from said data communication apparatus by associating said received content identification data with owner identification data for identifying the owner of said data communication apparatus.

31. A data management method comprising the steps of:

reading out content data from a recording medium;

storing said content data read out from said recording medium;

generating content-identifying data identifying said stored content data;

transmitting said content-identifying data to a data distribution apparatus for managing content identification data each used for identifying content data and determined uniquely in a plurality of data communication apparatus;

receiving content identification data transmitted by said data distribution apparatus in response to said transmitted content-identifying data; and

executing management of said stored content data based on said received content identification data.

32. A data reception method comprising the steps of:

receiving broadcast content data;

generating content-identifying data based on data such as information on a broadcasting station broadcasting said content data and/or a broadcasting time of said content data;

transmitting said content-identifying data to an external data distribution apparatus for managing content identification data each used for identifying content data and determined uniquely in a plurality of data communication apparatus, receiving content identification data transmitted by said data distribution apparatus in response to said transmitted content-identifying data, then further transmitting said received content identification data and receiving data associated with said content identification data; and

displaying said data associated with said content identification data.

33. A data reception method comprising the steps of:

receiving broadcasted content data and content identification data used for identifying said content data and determined uniquely in a plurality of data communication apparatus;

transmitting said received content identification data to a data distribution apparatus and then receiving data transmitted by said data distribution apparatus in response to said transmitted content identification data; and

displaying said data transmitted by said data distribution apparatus in response to said transmitted content identification data.

34. A data distribution method comprising the steps of:

storing content identification data used for identifying content data and determined uniquely in a plurality of data communication apparatus and content-identifying data for identifying content data by associating said content identification data and said content-identifying data with each other;

extracting content identification data associated with received content-identifying data from stored content identification data; and

transmitting said extracted content identification data to a data communication apparatus transmitting said content-identifying data.

35. A data distribution method comprising the steps of:

storing a content list including at least content identification data determined uniquely in a plurality of data communication apparatus; and

transmitting said content list to a data communication apparatus.

36. A data distribution method comprising the steps of:

storing a content list including at least content identification data each used for identifying content data and determined uniquely in a plurality of data communication apparatus;

determining whether or not content identification data received from a data communication apparatus is included in said stored content list; and

transmitting said content list and a result of determination to said data communication apparatus.

37. A data storage method comprising the steps of:

receiving content identification data used for identifying content data and determined uniquely in a plurality of data communication apparatus; and

storing said received content identification data by associating said received content identification data with owner identification data for identifying the owner of a data communication apparatus transmitting said content identification data.

38. A program comprising the steps of:

reading out content data from a recording medium;

storing said content data read out from said recording medium;

generating content-identifying data identifying said stored content data;

transmitting said content-identifying data to an external data distribution apparatus for managing content identification data each used for identifying content data and determined uniquely in a plurality of data communication apparatus;

receiving content identification data transmitted by said data distribution apparatus in response to said transmitted content-identifying data; and

executing management of said stored content data on the basis of said received content identification data.

39. A program comprising the steps of:

receiving broadcasted content data;

generating content-identifying data on the basis of data such as information on a broadcasting station broadcasting said content data and/or a broadcasting time of said content data;

transmitting said content-identifying data to an external data distribution apparatus for managing content identification data each used for identifying content data and determined uniquely in a plurality of data communication apparatus, receiving content identification data transmitted by said external data distribution apparatus in response to said transmitted content-identifying data, then further transmitting said received content identification data and receiving data associated with said content identification data; and

displaying said data associated with said content identification data.

40. A program comprising the steps of:

receiving broadcasted content data and content identification data used for identifying said content data and determined uniquely in a plurality of data communication apparatus;

transmitting said received content identification data to a data distribution apparatus and then receiving data transmitted by said data distribution apparatus in response to said transmitted content identification data; and

displaying said data transmitted by said data distribution apparatus in response to said transmitted content identification data.

41. A program comprising the steps of:

storing content identification data used for identifying content data and determined uniquely in a plurality of data communication apparatus and content-identifying data for identifying content data by associating said content identification data and said content-identifying data with each other;

extracting content identification data associated with received content-identifying data from stored content identification data; and

transmitting said extracted content identification data to a data communication apparatus transmitting said content-identifying data.

42. A program comprising the steps of:

storing a content list including at least content identification data each used for identifying content data and determined uniquely in a plurality of data communication apparatus; and

transmitting said content list to a data communication apparatus.

43. A program comprising the steps of:

storing a content list including at least content identification data each used for identifying content data and determined uniquely in a plurality of data communication apparatus;

determining whether or not content identification data received from a data communication apparatus is included in said stored content list; and

transmitting said content list and a result of determination to said data communication apparatus transmitting said content identification data.

44. A program comprising the steps of:

receiving content identification data used for identifying content data and determined uniquely in a plurality of data communication apparatus; and

storing said received content identification data by associating said received content identification data with owner identification data for identifying the owner of a data communication apparatus transmitting said content identification data.

45. A recording medium for recording a program comprising the steps of:

reading out content data from a recording medium;

storing said content data read out from said recording medium;

generating content-identifying data identifying said stored content data;

transmitting said content-identifying data to an external data distribution apparatus for managing content identification data each used for identifying content data and determined uniquely in a plurality of data communication apparatus;

receiving content identification data transmitted by said data distribution apparatus in response to said transmitted content-identifying data; and

executing management of said stored content data on the basis of said received content identification data.

46. A program comprising the steps of:

receiving broadcasted content data;

generating content-identifying data on the basis of data such as data on a broadcasting station broadcasting said content data and/or a broadcasting time of said content data;

transmitting said content-identifying data to an external data distribution apparatus for managing content identification data each used for identifying content data and determined uniquely in a plurality of data communication apparatus, receiving content identification data transmitted by said external data distribution apparatus in response to said transmitted content-identifying data, then further transmitting said received content identification data and receiving data associated with said content identification data; and

displaying said data associated with said content identification data.

47. A recording medium for recording a program comprising the steps of:

receiving broadcast content data and content identification data used for identifying said content data and determined uniquely in a plurality of data communication apparatus;

transmitting said received content identification data to a data distribution apparatus and then receiving data transmitted by said data distribution apparatus in response to said transmitted content identification data; and

displaying said data transmitted by said data distribution apparatus in response to said transmitted content identification data.

48. A recording medium for recording a program comprising the steps of:

storing content identification data used for identifying content data and determined uniquely in a plurality of data communication apparatus and content-identifying data for identifying content data by associating said content identification data and said content-identifying data with each other;

extracting content identification data associated with received content-identifying data from stored content identification data; and

transmitting said extracted content identification data to a data communication apparatus transmitting said content-identifying data.

49. A recording medium for recording a program comprising the steps of:

storing a content list including at least content identification data each used for identifying content data and determined uniquely in a plurality of data communication apparatus; and

transmitting said content list to a data communication apparatus.

50. A recording medium for recording a program comprising the steps of:

storing a content list including at least content identification data each used for identifying content data and determined uniquely in a plurality of data communication apparatus;

determining whether or not content identification data received from a data communication apparatus is included in said stored content list; and

transmitting said content list and a result of determination to said data communication apparatus transmitting said content identification data.

51. A recording medium for recording a program comprising the steps of:

receiving content identification data used for identifying content data and determined uniquely in a plurality of data communication apparatus; and

storing said received content identification data by associating said received content identification data with owner identification data for identifying the owner of a data communication apparatus transmitting said content identification data.