System, apparatus, method and program for processing information

• US 20080235356A1
• Filed: 03/20/2008
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kimijima, Tadaaki, Nagasaka, Hideo, Inoue, Shigeru, Tominaga, Takashi, Miyoshi, Toshimasa, Atsumi, Soichiro, Tokashiki, Mamoru
• Granted Patent: US 8,112,474 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/435 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/7328 Query by example, e.g. a complete video frame or video sequence graphical querying G06F16/7335
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

In response to a request, one of primary content data as a copyrighted work and incidental content data is received from a server. With a music editing and sharing application, the content data is used in a secondary usage fashion for editing in order to produce new incidental content data. The incidental content data is not the one that is produced by arranging directly the primary content data as an editing material but play control information for giving an instruction defining a play mode. The incidental content data is uploaded to an incidental content server.

Claims

1. An information processing system, comprising a primary content server, an incidental content server and a terminal, each communicating with the other via a network,

the primary content server including primary content information storage means for storing primary content information containing at least first main information of a primary content;

the incidental content server including;

incidental content information storage means for storing incidental content information, the incidental content information containing, as second main information, play control information containing an instruction to play the first main information of the primary content as an original editing material;

primary content information download control means for causing the primary content server to transit to the terminal, via the network, primary content information requested by the terminal out of the primary content information stored on the primary content information storage means; and

incidental content information download control means for causing the incidental content server to transmit to the terminal, via the network, incidental content information requested by the terminal out of the incidental content information stored on the incidental content information storage means, and

the terminal including;

content information storage means for storing locally on the terminal the primary content information transmitted from the primary content information download control means and the incidental content information transmitted from the incidental content information download control means;

edit processing means for performing an edit process by using, in a secondary usage fashion, at least one of the primary content information and the incidental content information, locally stored on the content information storage means;

incidental content information generating means for generating incidental content information containing a new content based on editing results of the edit processing means; and

content information upload control means for causing the terminal to transmit to the incidental content server via the network the incidental content information generated by the incidental content information generating means to be stored on the incidental content information storage means.

2. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

communication means for communicating via a network;

primary content information download control means for causing a primary content server to transmit, via the network, specified primary content information of primary content information stored on the primary content server and containing at least first main information of a primary content in order to retrieve the primary content information;

incidental content information download control means for causing an incidental content server to transmit, via the network, specified incidental content information of incidental content information stored on the incidental content server and containing, as second main information, play control information containing an instruction to play the first main information of the primary content as an original editing material in order to retrieve the incidental content information;

edit processing means for performing an edit process using in a secondary usage fashion, at least one of the primary content information retrieved by the primary content information download control means and the incidental content information retrieved by the incidental content information download control means;

incidental content information generating means for generating incidental content information containing a new content based on editing results of the edit processing means; and

content information upload control means for causing a terminal to transmit to the incidental content server via the network the incidental content information generated by the incidental content information generating means to be stored on incidental content information storage means.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the primary content information includes the first main information and first additional information, the first main information including data for playing a substantial body of the primary content and the first additional information including secondary usage permission setting information related to permission of a secondary use of the primary content information,

wherein in the incidental content server the incidental content includes the second main information and second additional information, the second main information including play control information containing at least an instruction to play the first main information of the primary content as an original editing material and the second additional information including secondary usage permission setting information related to permission of a secondary use of the incidental content information, and

wherein the edit processing means performs the edit process within a use range determined by the secondary usage permission setting information contained in the primary content information and the incidental content information to be used in the secondary usage fashion.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

storage location information retrieval means for receiving and retrieving storage location information, the storage location information transmitted from the incidental content server in response to transmission of the incidental content information by the content information upload control means, and indicating a storage location of the transmitted incidental content information in the incidental content server; and

service use control means for enabling personal information transmission service available on the network and transmitting the storage location information, retrieved by the storage location information retrieval means, in the enabled personal information transmission service.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising service use control means for enabling personal information transmission service available on the network to be used,

wherein the incidental content information download control means specifies the incidental content information to be transmitted from the incidental content server and to be retrieved, based on storage location information presented in an environment of a predetermined personal information transmission service used by the service use control means.

6. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

communication means for communicating via a network;

incidental content information storage means for storing primary content information and incidental content information, the primary content information including at least first main information of a primary content and the incidental content information generated by edit processing, in a secondary usage fashion, at least one unit of incidental content information containing, as second main information, play control information containing an instruction to play the first main information of the primary content as an original editing material;

storage location setting means for setting a storage location of received incidental content information in the incidental content information storage means when the received incidental content information is stored on the incidental content information storage means in response to reception of the incidental content information uploaded over the network; and

notification means for notifying via the network another information processing apparatus having updated the incidental content information of the storage location set by the storage location setting means.

7. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

communication means for communicating via a network;

incidental content information storage means for storing primary content information and incidental content information, the primary content information including at least first main information of a primary content and the incidental content information generated by edit processing, in a secondary usage fashion at least one unit of incidental content information containing, as second main information, play control information containing an instruction to play the first main information of the primary content as an original editing material;

terminal identifying means for identifying a network terminal of a copyright manager of the primary content as the original editing material of received incidental content information in response to reception of the incidental content information uploaded via the network; and

new upload notification means for notifying via the network the network terminal identified by the terminal identifying means that incidental content information of the primary content of the copyright manager of the network terminal used as an original editing material is newly stored.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising incidental content information deletion means for deleting the incidental content information, newly stored by the incidental content information storage means, in response to a deletion request received from the network terminal over the network.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising deletion notification means for notifying another information processing apparatus having transmitted a newly stored incidental content information, via the network, of information indicating completion of deletion of the newly stored incidental content information, in response to deletion of the newly stored incidental content information by the incidental content information deletion means.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising warning means for transmitting to another information processing apparatus having transmitted a newly stored incidental content information, via the network, information indicating predetermined information for warning, in response to reception of warn request information from the network terminal via the network.

11. An information processing method of an information processing system including a primary content server, an incidental content server and a terminal, each communicating with the other via a network, comprising steps of:

storing primary content information containing at least first main information of a primary content;

transmitting primary content information requested by the terminal from the primary content server to the terminal via the network, the transmitted primary content information out of the primary content information stored on an incidental content information storage unit, the incidental content information storage unit storing incidental content information containing, as second main information, play control information containing an instruction to play the first main information of the primary content as an original editing material;

transmitting the incidental content information requested by the terminal, out of the incidental content information stored on the incidental content information storage unit, from the incidental content server to the terminal via the network;

storing locally on the terminal the transmitted primary content information and the transmitted incidental content information;

performing an edit process by using, in a secondary usage fashion, at least one of the locally stored primary content information and incidental content information;

generating incidental content information containing a new content based on editing results; and

causing the terminal to transmit to the incidental content server via the network the generated incidental content information to be stored on the incidental content information storage unit.

12. An information processing method, comprising steps of:

communicating via a network;

causing a primary content server to transmit, via the network, specified primary content information of primary content information stored on the primary content server and containing at least first main information of a primary content in order to retrieve the primary content information;

causing an incidental content server to transmit, via the network, specified incidental content information of incidental content information stored on the incidental content server and containing, as second main information, play control information containing an instruction to play the first main information of the primary content as an original editing material in order to retrieve the incidental content information;

performing an edit process using, in a secondary usage fashion, at least one of the specified primary content information and the specified incidental content information;

generating incidental content information containing a new content based on editing results; and

causing the terminal to transmit to the incidental content server via the network the generated incidental content information to be stored on the incidental content server.

13. An information processing method of an information processing apparatus including an incidental content information storage unit for storing primary content information and incidental content information, the primary content information including at least first main information of a primary content and the incidental content information generated by edit processing, in a secondary usage fashion, at least one unit of incidental content information containing, as second main information, play control information containing an instruction to play the first main information of the primary content as an original editing material, the information processing method comprising steps of:

communicating via a network;

setting a storage location of received incidental content information in the incidental content information storage unit when the received incidental content information is stored on the incidental content information storage unit in response to reception of the incidental content information uploaded over the network; and

notifying another information processing apparatus having uploaded the incidental content information of the set storage location.

14. An information processing method of an information processing apparatus including an incidental content information storage unit for storing primary content information and incidental content information, the primary content information including at least first main information of a primary content and the incidental content information generated by edit processing, in a secondary usage fashion, at least one unit of incidental content information containing, as second main information, play control information containing an instruction to play the first main information of the primary content, the information processing method comprising steps of:

communicating via a network;

identifying a network terminal of a copyright manager of the primary content as an original editing material of received incidental content information in response to reception of the incidental content information uploaded via the network to be stored on the incidental content information storage unit; and

notifying via the network the identified network terminal that incidental content information with the primary content of the copyright manager of the network terminal used as the original editing material is newly stored.

15. A computer program for causing an information processing apparatus to process information, comprising steps of:

communicating via a network;

causing a primary content server to transmit, via the network, specified primary content information of primary content information stored on the primary content server and containing at least first main information of a primary content in order to retrieve the primary content information;

causing an incidental content server to transmit, via the network, specified incidental content information of incidental content information stored on the incidental content server and containing, as second main information, play control information containing an instruction to play the first main information of the primary content as an original editing material in order to retrieve the incidental content information;

performing an edit process using, in a secondary usage fashion, at least one of the specified primary content information and the specified incidental content information;

generating incidental content information containing a new content based on editing results; and

causing the terminal to transmit to the incidental content server via the network the generated incidental content information to be stored on the incidental content information server.

16. A computer program for causing an information processing apparatus to process information, the information processing apparatus including an incidental content information storage unit for storing primary content information and incidental content information, the primary content information including at least first main information of a primary content and the incidental content information generated by edit processing in a secondary usage fashion, at least one unit of incidental content information containing, as second main information, play control information containing an instruction to play the first main information of the primary content as an original editing material, the information processing method comprising steps of:

communicating via a network;

setting a storage location of received incidental content information in the incidental content information storage unit when the received incidental content information is stored on the incidental content information storage unit in response to reception of the incidental content information uploaded over the network; and

notifying another information processing apparatus having uploaded the incidental content information of the set storage location.

17. A computer program for causing an information processing apparatus to process information, the information processing apparatus including an incidental content information storage unit for storing primary content information and incidental content information, the primary content information including at least first main information of a primary content and the incidental content information generated by edit processing, in a secondary usage fashion, at least one unit of incidental content information containing, as second main information, play control information containing an instruction to play the first main information of the primary content, the information processing method comprising steps of:

communicating via a network;

identifying a network terminal of a copyright manager of the primary content as an original editing material of received incidental content information in response to reception of the incidental content information uploaded via the network to be stored on the incidental content information storage unit; and

notifying, via the network, the identified network terminal that incidental content information with the primary content of the copyright manager of the network terminal used as the original editing material is newly stored.

18. An information processing system, comprising a primary content server, an incidental content server and a terminal, each communicating with the other via a network,

the primary content server including primary content information storage unit for storing primary content information containing at least first main information of a primary content;

the incidental content server including;

an incidental content information storage unit storing incidental content information, the incidental content information containing, as second main information, play control information containing an instruction to play the first main information of the primary content as an original editing material;

a primary content information download control unit causing the primary content server to transit to the terminal, via the network, primary content information requested by the terminal out of the primary content information stored on the primary content information storage unit; and

an incidental content information download control unit causing the incidental content server to transmit to the terminal, via the network, incidental content information requested by the terminal out of the incidental content information stored on the incidental content information storage unit, and

the terminal including;

a content information storage unit storing locally on the terminal the primary content information transmitted from the primary content information download control unit and the incidental content information transmitted from the incidental content information download control unit;

an edit processing unit performing an edit process by using, in a secondary usage fashion, at least one of the primary content information and the incidental content information, locally stored on the content information storage unit;

an incidental content information generating unit generating incidental content information containing a new content based on editing results of the edit processing unit; and

a content information upload control unit causing the terminal to transmit to the incidental content server via the network the incidental content information generated by the incidental content information generating unit to be stored on the incidental content information storage unit.

19. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

a communication unit communicating via a network;

a primary content information download control unit causing a primary content server to transmit, via the network, specified primary content information of primary content information stored on the primary content server and containing at least first main information of a primary content in order to retrieve the primary content information;

an incidental content information download control unit causing an incidental content server to transmit, via the network, specified incidental content information of incidental content information stored on the incidental content server and containing, as second main information, play control information containing an instruction to play the first main information of the primary content as an original editing material in order to retrieve the incidental content information;

an edit processing unit performing an edit process using, in a secondary usage fashion, at least one of the primary content information retrieved by the primary content information download control unit and the incidental content information retrieved by the incidental content information download control unit;

an incidental content information generating unit generating incidental content information containing a new content based on editing results of the edit processing unit; and

an content information upload control unit causing a terminal to transmit to the incidental content server via the network the incidental content information generated by the incidental content information generating unit to be stored on an incidental content information storage unit.

20. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

a communication unit communicating via a network;

an incidental content information storage unit storing primary content information and incidental content information, the primary content information including at least main information of a primary content and the incidental content information generated by edit processing in a secondary use at least one unit of incidental content information containing, as main information, play control information containing an instruction to play the main information of the primary content as an original editing material;

a storage location setting unit setting a storage location of the received incidental content information in the incidental content information storage unit when the received incidental content information is stored on the incidental content information storage unit in response to reception of the incidental content information uploaded over the network; and

a notification unit notifying another information processing apparatus having uploaded the incidental content information of the storage location set by the storage location setting unit.

21. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

a communication unit communicating via a network;

an incidental content information storage unit storing primary content information and incidental content information, the primary content information including at least first main information of a primary content and the incidental content information generated by edit processing, in a secondary usage fashion at least one unit of incidental content information containing, as second main information, play control information containing an instruction to play the first main information of the primary content as an original editing material;

a terminal identifying unit identifying a network terminal of a copyright manager of the primary content as the original editing material of received incidental content information in response to reception of the incidental content information uploaded via the network; and

a new upload notification unit notifying via the network the network terminal identified by the terminal identifying unit that incidental content information of the primary content of the copyright manager of the network terminal used as an original editing material is newly stored.