Communication device and method thereof

• US 20070043739A1
• Filed: 08/10/2006
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Takai, Motoyuki, Sako, Yoichiro, Nakamura, Takatoshi, Takehara, Mitsuru, Asukai, Masamichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,447,812 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/635 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/64 Browsing; Visualisation therefor generation of a list or set of audio data G06F16/638
• 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: G06F 16/686 using information manually generated, e.g. tags, keywords, comments, title or artist information, time, location or usage information, user ratings

Abstract

A communication method is disclosed which includes: first step of sending content attachment information including content link information from a sending device to a receiving device; and second step of connecting either the receiving device or a host device connected therewith to a server on a network in accordance with the content link information so as to receive and download content body data, content preview data, or content-related information from the server.

Claims

1. A communication method comprising:

a first step of sending content attachment information including content link information from a sending device to a receiving device; and

a second step of connecting either said receiving device or a host device connected therewith to a server on a network in accordance with said content link information so as to receive and download content body data, content preview data, or content-related information from said server.

2. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein said first step is carried out as wireless communications taking place between said sending device and said receiving device when said receiving device comes into a predetermined distance to said sending device.

3. The communication method according to claim 2, wherein said sending device and said receiving device are configured to be wireless terminals capable of directly sending and receiving information therebetween within said predetermined distance.

4. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein said second step is automatically carried out by control means of said receiving device when said receiving device receives said content attachment information from said sending device in said first step.

5. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein said second step is automatically carried out by control means of said host device when said receiving device is connected to said host device following said first step.

6. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein said second step is automatically carried out by control means of said receiving device when said receiving device is connected to an access point following said first step.

7. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein said content attachment information concerns contents in a content list held by said sending device.

8. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein said sending device in said first step sends either self-identification information or information for identifying a user utilizing said sending device, in addition to said content attachment information.

9. The communication method according to claim 8, wherein either said receiving device or said host device connected therewith rates either said sending device or the user thereof in order to use a rating as a basis for determining whether or not to receive content attachment information from the same sending device or the same user in the future.

10. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein either said receiving device or said host device connected therewith either updates or newly creates a content list in accordance with said content attachment information.

11. A communication apparatus comprising:

communication means configured to receive content attachment information including content link information from another communication apparatus by conducting communications therewith;

connection means configured to connect either directly or indirectly to a server for distributing contents;

recording means configured to record information; and

control means configured to connect said connection means to said server upon receipt of said content attachment information through said communication means, so as to receive and download content body data, content preview data, or content-related information from said server, before recording the received data or information to said recording means.

12. The communication apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said connection means connects directly to a network to which said server is connected.

13. The communication apparatus according to claim 11, wherein, on establishing connection with a host device capable of connecting to a network to which said server is connected, said connection means causes said host device to connect to said server in accordance with the received content link information, so as to receive said content body data, said content preview data, or said content-related information from said server via said host device.

14. The communication apparatus according to claim 11, wherein, on establishing connection with an access point connected to a network to which said server is connected, said connection means connects to said server via said access point in accordance with the received content link information, so as to receive said content body data, said content preview data, or said content-related information from said server through said access point.

15. The communication apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said communication means is configured to be wireless communication means for conducting wireless communications with said another communication apparatus.

16. The communication apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said control means rates either said another communication apparatus or a user thereof in order to use the rating as a basis for determining whether or not to receive content attachment information from the same communication apparatus or the same user in future.

17. The communication apparatus according to claim 11, wherein, in accordance with said content attachment information, said control means either updates a content list stored in said recording means or newly creates a content list so as to record the newly created content list to said recording means.

18. The communication apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said control means sends said content attachment information including said content link information from said recording means to said another communication apparatus via said communication means.

19. A communication apparatus comprising:

a communication section configured to receive content attachment information including content link information from another communication apparatus by conducting communications therewith;

a connection section configured to connect either directly or indirectly to a server for distributing contents;

a recording section configured to record information; and

a control section configured to connect said connection section to said server upon receipt of said content attachment information through said communication section, so as to receive and download content body data, content preview data, or content-related information from said server, before recording the received data or information to said recording section.