Information processing system, information processing apparatus, method and program

• US 20060085271A1
• Filed: 03/03/2004
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nakayama, Tsuyoshi, Ando, Kaori, Tai, Yoshimasa, Tokita, Megumi
• Granted Patent: US 8,768,841 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/18 Licensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing apparatus and method, and a program in which the purchase of content can be facilitated. When a device to which content data is downloaded and a device for giving an instruction to purchase the content data are different, a purchase form for purchasing the content data is sent to the device for giving an instruction to purchase the content data. The user ID and password are input into the purchase form, and the device to which the content data is downloaded is determined by the user ID. If the device to which the content data is downloaded cannot be specified because the user registers a plurality of devices, a destination determination form for specifying the device to which the content data is downloaded is sent. The content data is then distributed to the device indicated in the destination determination form. The present invention is applicable to a server for executing processing concerning content data.

Claims

1. An information processing system comprising a first information processing apparatus for controlling the distribution of content, a second information processing apparatus for making a request to distribute the content, and a third information processing apparatus for receiving the distribution of the content,

said first information processing apparatus comprising:

first management means for managing a first ID for identifying the content;

second management means for managing a second ID for identifying said third information processing apparatus;

supply means for supplying the first ID managed by said first management means to said second information processing apparatus in response to a request to distribute the content from said second information processing apparatus; and

distribution means for specifying, when receiving the first ID and information for specifying the second ID from said second information processing apparatus, the second ID managed by said second management means from the received information and for distributing the content identified by the first ID to said third information processing apparatus corresponding to the specified second ID,

said second information processing apparatus comprising;

request means for requesting said first information processing apparatus to distribute the content; and

sending means for sending the first ID corresponding to the content selected by a user from the first ID supplied from said supply means and for sending information for specifying the second ID in response to the request from said request means,

said third information processing apparatus comprising;

storage means for receiving and storing the content distributed by said distribution means.

2. An information processing apparatus comprising:

first management means for managing a first ID for identifying a first apparatus;

second management means for managing a second ID for identifying content;

supply means for supplying the second ID managed by said second management means to a second apparatus in response to a request to distribute the content from the second apparatus;

specifying means for specifying, when receiving the second ID and information for specifying the first ID from the second apparatus, the first ID managed by said first management means from the received information; and

distribution means for distributing the content identified by the second ID to the first apparatus corresponding to the first ID specified by said specifying means.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

said first management means manages user information for identifying a user, a password, and the first ID in association with each other; and

said specifying means receives information containing at least one of the user information and the password as the information for specifying the first ID.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising scheduling means for forming, when the first ID is specified by said specifying means, a schedule for distributing the content identified by the second ID to the first apparatus corresponding to the specified first ID,

wherein said distribution means distributes the content based on the schedule formed by said scheduling means.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising providing means for providing, when the schedule for the first apparatus is formed by said scheduling means, the schedule to the first apparatus in response to a request to provide the schedule from the first apparatus.

6. An information processing method comprising:

a first management step of managing a first ID for identifying a first apparatus;

a second management step of managing a second ID for identifying content;

a supply step of supplying the second ID managed by processing of said second management step to a second apparatus in response to a request to distribute the content from the second apparatus;

a specifying step of specifying, when receiving the second ID and information for specifying the first ID from the second apparatus, the first ID managed by processing of said first management step from the received information; and

a distribution control step of controlling the distribution of the content identified by the second ID to the first apparatus corresponding to the first ID specified by processing of said specifying step.

7. A recording medium in which a computer-readable program is recorded, said computer-readable program comprising:

a first management step of managing a first ID for identifying a first apparatus;

a second management step of managing a second ID for identifying content;

a supply step of supplying the second ID managed by processing of said second management step to a second apparatus in response to a request to distribute the content from the second apparatus;

a specifying step of specifying, when receiving the second ID and information for specifying the first ID from the second apparatus, the first ID managed by processing of said first management step from the received information; and

a distribution control step of controlling the distribution of the content identified by the second ID to the first apparatus corresponding to the first ID specified by processing of said specifying step.

8. A program for allowing a computer to execute:

a first management step of managing a first ID for identifying a first apparatus;

a second management step of managing a second ID for identifying content;

a supply step of supplying the second ID managed by processing of said second management step to a second apparatus in response to a request to distribute the content from the second apparatus;

a specifying step of specifying, when receiving the second ID and information for specifying the first ID from the second apparatus, the first ID managed by processing of said first management step from the received information; and

a distribution control step of controlling the distribution of the content identified by the second ID to the first apparatus corresponding to the first ID specified by processing of said specifying step.