Contents-delivery system, contents-transmission device, contents-reception device, and contents-delivery method

• US 20050276610A1
• Filed: 05/23/2005
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hirayama, Tomoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,639,951 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/140
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1125 using a single common optical path

Abstract

A contents-delivery system has a contents-transmission device transmitting the contents, and a contents-reception device receiving the contents from the transmission device. A first communication device performs communication from the transmission device to the reception device via a high-directivity transmission carrier. A second communication device performs communication at least from the reception device to the transmission device. An optical position confirmation device permits it through optical irradiation to confirm that a position of the reception device with respect to the transmission device is within a range in which the first communication device can communicate. A position of the reception device is matched with the transmission device based on an irradiation position of visible light. It is thus possible to locate the reception device to a communication-enabled position if the reception device is directed against the transmission device.

Claims

1. A contents-delivery system which delivers contents by performing communication, the system comprising:

a contents-transmission device transmitting the contents;

a contents-reception device receiving the contents from the contents-transmission device;

first communication means for performing communication from the contents-transmission device to the contents-reception device via a high-directivity transmission carrier;

second communication means for performing communication at least from the contents-reception device to the contents-transmission device; and

optical position confirmation means for permitting it through optical irradiation to confirm that a position of the contents-reception device with respect to the contents-transmission device is within a range in which the first communication means can communicate.

2. The contents-delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the contents-reception device is provided with the optical position confirmation means, said optical position confirmation means including optical irradiation means for irradiating high-directivity visible light.

3. The contents-delivery system according to claim 2, wherein z the contents-transmission device is provided with the optical position confirmation means, said optical position confirmation means comprising:

light detection means for receiving light from the optical irradiation means; and

notification means for notifying whether the light detection means has received the light.

4. The contents-delivery system according to claim 3, wherein the contents-transmission device starts processing of outputting contents when the light detection means has detected predetermined light.

5. The contents-delivery system according to claim 4, wherein the second communication means outputs an optical signal on which a control signal is superimposed from the optical irradiation means, and detects the control signal by the light detection means.

6. The contents-delivery system according to claim 5, wherein the contents-reception device outputs identification information that identifies its own terminal as a contents download request by using the optical signal from the optical irradiation means.

7. The contents-delivery system according to claim 6, wherein the contents-transmission device outputs contents identified by the identification information received, by using the first communication means.

8. The contents-delivery system according to claim 7, wherein the contents-transmission device outputs by using the first communication means an exclusive control signal that temporarily excludes reception of contents in any contents-reception device other than the contents-reception device identified by the identification information received.

9. The contents-delivery system according to claim 1, further comprising guidance means for guiding the position of the contents-reception device with respect to the contents-transmission device to a target position with which the first communication means can communicate.

10. The contents-delivery system according to claim 9, therein the guidance means includes:

light emitting means for indicating a position of the contents-transmission device; and

guide means for regulating a visible range of the light emitting means.

11. The contents-delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the first communication means includes wireless communication means that utilizes a millimetric-wave as the transmission carrier.

12. The contents-delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the first communication means includes optical communication means that utilizes a laser beam as the transmission carrier.

13. A contents-delivery system which delivers contents by performing communication, the system comprising:

a contents-transmission device transmitting the contents;

a contents-reception device receiving the contents from the contents-transmission device;

a first communication device performing communication from the contents-transmission device to the contents-reception device via a high-directivity transmission carrier;

a second communication device performing communication at least from the contents-reception device to the contents-transmission device; and

an optical position confirmation device permitting it through optical irradiation to confirm that a position of the contents-reception device with respect to the contents-transmission device is within a range in which the first communication device can communicate.

14. A contents-transmission device which delivers contents by communicating with a contents-reception device, said contents-transmission device comprising:

first communication means for performing communication to the contents-reception device via a high-directivity transmission carrier;

second communication means for receiving communication at least from the contents-reception device; and

optical position confirmation means for permitting it through optical irradiation to confirm that a position of the contents-reception device is within a range in which the first communication means can communicate.

15. The contents-transmission device according to claim 14, wherein the optical position confirmation means includes:

light detection means for receiving high-directivity visible light irradiated from optical irradiation means equipped to the contents-reception device; and

notification means for notifying whether the light detection means has received the light.

16. The contents-transmission device according to claim 15, output processing of the contents starts when the light detection means has detected predetermined light.

17. The contents-transmission device according to claim 15, wherein the light detection means detects a control signal superimposed on the optical signal output from the optical irradiation means, in the second communication means.

18. The contents-transmission device according to claim 17, wherein the contents-transmission device is notified from the contents-reception device of identification information that identifies its own terminal as a contents download request by using the optical signal from the optical irradiation means;

and

wherein an exclusive control signal that temporarily excludes reception of contents by any content reception device other than the content reception device identified by the identification information received is output by using the first communication means.

19. The contents-transmission device according to claim 14, further comprising guidance means for guiding the position of the contents-reception device to a target position with which the first communication means can communicate.

20. The contents-transmission device according to claim 19, wherein the guidance means includes:

light emitting means for indicating a position of its own device; and

guide means for regulating a visible range of the light emitting means.

21. A contents-transmission device which delivers contents by communicating with a contents-reception device, said contents-transmission device comprising:

first communication device performing communication to the contents-reception device via a high-directivity transmission carrier;

second communication device receiving communication at least from the contents-reception device; and

optical position confirmation device permitting it through optical irradiation to confirm that a position of the contents-reception device is within a range in which the first communication device can communicate.

22. A contents-reception device which receives delivery of contents by communicating with a contents-transmission device, said 2, contents-reception device comprising:

first communication means for receiving communication from the contents-transmission device via a high-directivity transmission carrier;

second communication means for performing communication at least to the contents-transmission device; and

optical position confirmation means for permitting it through optical irradiation to confirm that a position with respect to the contents-transmission device is within a range in which the first communication means can communicate.

23. The contents-reception device according to claim 22, wherein the optical position confirmation means includes optical irradiation means for irradiating high-directivity visible light.

24. The contents-reception device according to claim 23, the optical irradiation means outputs an optical signal on which a control signal is superimposed, in the second communication means.

25. The contents-reception device according to claim 24, the optical irradiation means outputs identification information that identifies itself as a contents download request by using the optical signal.

26. A contents-reception device which receives delivery of contents by communicating with a contents-transmission device, said contents-reception device comprising:

first communication device receiving communication from the contents-transmission device via a high-directivity transmission carrier;

second communication device performing communication at least to the contents-transmission device; and

optical position confirmation device permitting it through optical irradiation to confirm that a position with respect to the contents-transmission device is within a range in which the first communication device can communicate.

27. A contents-delivery method for delivering contents by performing communication between a contents-transmission device and a contents-reception device, said method comprising the steps of:

by the contents-reception device, outputting identification information that identifies itself, as a download request;

in response to the download request from each of the contents-reception devices, by the contents-transmission device, outputting the identification information received from an arbitrary one of the contents-reception devices and an exclusive control signal;

by any one of the contents-reception devices that has received the identification information and the exclusive control signal, performing contents-reception processing if the received identification information is of its own; and

if the received identification information is not of its own, temporarily stopping the contents-reception processing by using the exclusive control signal.

28. The contents-delivery method according to claim 27, further steps of:

by any one of the contents-reception devices that has received the identification information and the exclusive control signal and known that the received identification information is of its own, if having received contents, notifying the contents-transmission+

by the contents-transmission device, outputting an exclusive control halt signal when having received the reception completion signal from the one of the contents-reception devices.