Information processing apparatus, information processing method, information processing program and recording medium

• US 20070169147A1
• Filed: 12/20/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kii, Manabu
• Granted Patent: US 7,870,222 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/38
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/322 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an information communication terminal including: a storage unit for storing contents; a communication unit for carrying out a communication with an external apparatus; a content reproduction unit for reproducing a content stored in the storage unit; and an accessible-content setting unit for classifying contents into first category contents accessible by an external apparatus and second category contents inaccessible by an external apparatus and changing a content being reproduced by the content reproduction unit to a first category content if the content being reproduced is a second category content. The terminal further includes a transmission control unit for controlling the communication unit to transmit a first category content to an external apparatus if a request for the first category content is received from the external apparatus through said communication unit.

Claims

1. An information communication terminal comprising:

a storage unit configured to store contents;

a communication unit configured to carry out a communication with an external apparatus;

a content reproduction unit configured to reproduce a content stored in said storage unit;

an accessible-content setting unit configured to classify contents into first category contents accessible by an external apparatus and second category contents inaccessible by an external apparatus and changing a content being reproduced by said content reproduction unit to a first category content if said content being reproduced is a second category content; and

a transmission control unit configured to control said communication unit to transmit a first category content to an external apparatus if a request for said first category content is received from said external apparatus through said communication unit.

2. The information communication terminal according to claim 1 wherein said accessible-content setting unit changes back said first category content to an original second category content after reproduction of said first category content is completed.

3. The information communication terminal according to claim 2 wherein, if reproduction of a content in said reproduction unit is inevitably stopped while said transmission control unit is controlling said communication unit to transmit said content to an external apparatus at a request made by said external apparatus as a request for said content, said accessible-content setting unit handles said content as a first category content till said transmission control unit completes said controlling transmission of said reproduced content to said external apparatus.

4. The information communication terminal according to claim 1, said information communication terminal further comprising

a notification unit configured to control said communication unit to notify an external apparatus of information on a content, which is being reproduced by said content reproduction unit, through said communication unit.

5. The information communication terminal according to claim 1 wherein said transmission control unit controls said communication unit to transmit a first category content to an external apparatus in a streaming format.

6. The information communication terminal according to claim 1, said information communication terminal further comprising

a reception control unit configured to control said communication unit to transmit a request to an external apparatus as a request for a content by said external apparatus and receiving a content from said external apparatus through said communication unit, wherein

said content reproduction unit reproduces said received content synchronously with said reproduction of said content in said external apparatus.

7. The information communication terminal according to claim 1 wherein said accessible-content setting unit sets a content stored in said storage unit as a first category content by including said content on a playlist.

8. An information communication method comprising the steps of:

classifying contents stored in a storage unit into first category contents accessible by an external apparatus and second category contents inaccessible by an external apparatus;

reproducing a content stored in said storage unit;

changing a content being reproduced at said content reproduction step to a first category content if said content being reproduced is a second category content; and

controlling a communication unit to transmit a first category content to an external apparatus if a request for said first category content is received from said external apparatus through said communication unit.

9. A recording medium used for storing a computer-readable program to be executed by a computer for carrying out processing comprising the steps of:

classifying contents stored in a storage unit into first category contents accessible by an external apparatus and second category contents inaccessible by an external apparatus;

reproducing a content stored in said storage unit;

changing a content being reproduced at said content reproduction step to a first category content if said content being reproduced is a second category content; and

controlling a communication unit to transmit a first category content to an external apparatus if a request for said first category content is received from said external apparatus through said communication unit.

10. An information communication system comprising:

a first information communication terminal; and

a second information communication terminal, wherein

said first information communication terminal includes

a first storage unit configured to store contents,

a first communication unit configured to carry out a communication with said second information communication terminal,

a first content reproduction unit configured to reproduce a content stored in said first storage unit,

a first accessible-content setting unit configured to classify contents into first category contents accessible by said second information communication terminal and second category contents inaccessible by said second information communication terminal and changing a content being reproduced by said first content reproduction unit to a first category content if said content being reproduced is a second category content, and

a transmission control unit configured to control said first communication unit to transmit a first category content being reproduced by said first content reproduction unit to said second information communication terminal if a request for said first category content is received from said second information communication terminal through said first communication unit, whereas

said second information communication terminal includes

a second communication unit configured to carry out a communication with said first information communication terminal,

a reception control unit configured to control said second communication unit to transmit a request to said first information communication terminal as a request for a first category content being reproduced by said first information communication terminal and receive said first category content from said second information communication terminal, and

a second content reproduction unit configured to reproduce said first category content received by said second communication unit from said first information communication terminal.