INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, CONNECTION DEVICE, COMMUNICATION DEVICE, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM

• US 20130317660A1
• Filed: 05/17/2013
• Published: 11/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Miyama, Seiji
• Granted Patent: US 10,114,394 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5408 using protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/544 Setting up communications; Call and signalling arrangements

Abstract

There is provided an information processing apparatus, including a reception section which receives, from a connection device having a connection terminal, entry information in which connection device identification information for identifying the connection device and communication device identification information for identifying a communication device connected to the connection terminal are associated with each other, a control section which acquires connection device information related to the connection device based on the entry information, and a transmission section which transmits the connection device information to the communication device indicated by the communication device identification information.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

a reception section which receives, from a connection device having a connection terminal, entry information in which connection device identification information for identifying the connection device and communication device identification information for identifying a communication device connected to the connection terminal are associated with each other;

a control section which acquires connection device information related to the connection device based on the entry information; and

a transmission section which transmits the connection device information to the communication device indicated by the communication device identification information.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the connection device is an outlet.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein power line communication for communication via a power line is possible between the connection device and the communication device, and

wherein the connection device acquires the communication device identification information from the communication device by using the power line communication.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein at least one of the connection device identification information and presentation information presented to the communication device is included in the connection device information.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein in a case where first entry information is stored in a storage section, and thereafter second entry information is provided having connection device identification information in common with the first entry information and communication device identification information different from the first entry information, the control section deletes the first entry information from the storage section.

6. A connection device, comprising:

a connection terminal; and

a transmission section which transmits, to an information processing apparatus, entry information in which connection device identification information for identifying the connection device and communication device identification information for identifying a communication device connected to the connection terminal are associated with each other.

7. The connection device according to claim 6,

wherein the transmission section transmits the entry information to the information processing apparatus after a prescribed amount of time has elapsed since the communication device is connected to the connection terminal.

8. A communication device, comprising:

a second connection terminal capable of connecting to a first connection terminal of a connection device;

a first communication section which transmits, to the connection device, communication device identification information for identifying the communication device when the second connection terminal is connected to the first connection terminal; and

a second communication section which receives, from an information processing apparatus, connection device information related to the connection device.

9. The communication device according to claim 8, further comprising:

a control section which detects that the second connection terminal is connected to the first connection terminal, and requests the connection device information from the information processing apparatus after a detection time when the detection is performed.

10. The communication device according to claim 9,

wherein the connection device transmits, to the information processing apparatus, entry information in which connection device identification information for identifying the connection device and the communication device identification information are associated with each other,

wherein the information processing apparatus includes, in the connection device information, a reception time when the entry information is received, and

wherein the control section determines whether or not the connection device information is effective based on the reception time included in the connection device information, the detection time, and a prescribed condition.

11. The communication device according to claim 10,

wherein a condition in which the reception time is later than the detection time is included in the prescribed condition.

12. The communication device according to claim 10,

wherein a condition in which the reception time is a prescribed amount of time prior to the detection time is included in the prescribed condition.

13. An information processing method, comprising:

receiving, from a connection device having a connection terminal, entry information in which connection device identification information for identifying the connection device and communication device identification information for identifying a communication device connected to the connection terminal are associated with each other;

acquiring connection device information related to the connection device based on the entry information; and

transmitting the connection device information to the communication device indicated by the communication device identification information.

14. A program for causing a computer to implement:

a reception function which receives, from a connection device having a connection terminal, entry information in which connection device identification information for identifying the connection device and communication device identification information for identifying a communication device connected to the connection terminal are associated with each other;

a control function which acquires connection device information related to the connection device based on the entry information; and

a transmission function which transmits the connection device information to the communication device indicated by the communication device identification information.