Communication system and its method and communication apparatus and its method

• US 7,130,251 B1
• Filed: 09/20/2000
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Data Scape Limited (Atlantic IP Services Limited)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Morohashi, Akihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thang V.
• Application Number:
  US09/665,786
• Time in Patent Office: 2,232 Days
• Field of Search: 369/83, 369/84, 369/47.13, 369/47.12, 369/30.05, 369/1, 369/2, 369/10, 369/11, 369/47.28, 369/30.19, 360/15, 360/13, 346/55, 702/2, 702/3, 707/204, 707/7, 707/3, 707/10
• US Class Current: 369/47.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/60 of audio data
• 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 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/213 Read-only discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2525 Magneto-optical [MO] discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/36 Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2207/16 Solid state audio deprecated, only for historical reasons, G06F3/16, G11B
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/00 Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 : Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26258 : for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand

Abstract

A communication system including a first apparatus having a first storage medium, and a second apparatus for transmitting data to the first apparatus. The second apparatus has a second storage medium for storing management information of data to be transferred to the first storage medium, a communicator for communicating data with the first apparatus, an editor capable of editing the management information and a controller for making a control to transfer data stored in the second storage medium to the first storage medium by way of the communicator based on the management information edited by the editor.

Claims

1. A communication system including a first apparatus having a first storage medium, and a second apparatus for transmitting data to said first apparatus, said second apparatus comprising:

a second storage medium for storing management information of data to be transferred to said first storage medium;

communication means for communicating data with said first apparatus;

edit means capable of editing said management information;

control means for controlling transfer of data stored in said second storage medium to said first storage medium by way of said communication means based on said management information edited by said edit means, wherein said first apparatus is portable and comprises reproducing means for reproducing data stored in said first storage medium;

comparison means for comparing management information of data stored in said first storage medium with management information stored in said second storage medium of said data stored in said first storage medium; and

wherein said control means transfer of said data from said second apparatus to said first apparatus based on a comparison result by said comparison means.

2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said edit means is capable of editing said management information even when communication is not established between said first apparatus and said second apparatus.

3. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said second apparatus further comprises:

display means having a first window for displaying data identification information based on said management information of said data to be transferred to said first storage medium, and a second window for displaying data identification information based on management information of said data stored in said second storage medium.

4. The communication system according to claim 3, wherein said second apparatus further comprises:

instruction means for selecting said data stored in said second storage medium and assigning identification information indicating said first apparatus to said selected data; and

wherein said edit means edits said selected data based on said assigned identification information.

5. The communication system according to claim 4, wherein said first window corresponds to said identification information indicating said first apparatus;

said instruction means assigns said identification information to said selected data by making an instruction to transfer said selected data to said first window; and

said edit means controls said second storage medium so that said second storage medium stores said identification information assigned to said selected data, said identification information being displayed on said first window.

6. The communication system according to claim 5, wherein said second apparatus further comprises:

memory means capable of temporarily storing data; and

wherein said edit means controls said memory means so that said memory means stores said selected data and said identification information assigned to said selected data based on said instruction by said instruction means.

7. The communication system according to claim 5, wherein said display means displays said identification information assigned to said selected data on said first window based on said instruction by said instruction means.

8. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said control means controls said second apparatus so that said second apparatus receives identification information of said first apparatus by way of said communication means;

and

said control means controls transfer of said data stored in said second storage medium to said first storage medium by way of said communication means based on said identification information received by said second apparatus.

9. The communication system according to claim 8, wherein said second storage medium stores identification information of a plurality of apparatuses;

and

when said identification information of said plurality of apparatuses stored in said second storage medium contains identification information received from said first storage medium, said control means permits transmission of said data stored in said second storage medium to said first storage medium.

10. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said second apparatus further comprises:

transmission instructing means for giving a transmission instruction to said control means so that said control means controls transfer of said data stored in said second storage medium to said first storage medium by way of said communication means based on said management information.

11. The communication system according to claim 10, wherein said second apparatus further comprises:

judging means for making a judgment whether said first apparatus is mounted; and

wherein when said control means receives a transmission instruction by said transmission instructing means and it is judged by said judging means that said first apparatus is mounted, said control means controls transfer of said data stored in said second storage medium to said first storage medium by way of said communication means based on said management information.

12. A communication apparatus for transmitting data to a portable apparatus having a rist storage medium comprising:

a second storage medium for storing management information of data stored in said first storage medium;

communication means for communicating data with said portable apparatus including reproducing means for reproducing said data stored in said first storage medium;

edit means capable of editing said management information;

control means for controlling transfer of data stored in said second storage medium to said first storage medium by way of said communication means based on said management information edited by said edit means;

comparison means for comparing management information of data stored in said first storage medium with management information stored in said second storage medium of said data stored in said first storage medium; and

wherein said control means controls transfer of said data from said second apparatus to said first apparatus based on a comparison result by said comparison means.

13. The communication apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said edit means in capable of editing said management information even when communication is not established between said communication apparatus and said portable apparatus.

14. The communication apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

display means having a first window for displaying data identification information based on management information of data to be transferred to said first storage medium, ad a second window for displaying data identification based on management information of data stored in said second storage medium.

15. The communication apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising:

instruction means for selecting said data storedinsaid second storage medium and assigning identification information indicating a portable apparatus to said selected data;

wherein said edit means edits said selected data basede on said assigned identification information.

16. The communication apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said first window corresponds to said identification information indicating said portable apparatus;

said instruction means assigns and identification information to said selected data by making an instruction to transfer said selected data to said frist window; and

said edit means control said second storage medium so that said second storage medium stores said identification assigned to said selected data, said identification information being displayed on said first window.

17. The communication apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

memory means capable of temporarily storing data;

wherei said edit means controls said memory menas so that said memory means stores said selected data and said identification information assigned to said selected data based on said instruction by said instruction means.

18. The communication apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said display means displays said identification information assigned to said selected data on first window based on said instruction by said instruction means.

19. The communication apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said control means controls said communication apparatus so that said communication apparatus receives identification information of said portable apparatus by way of said communication means;

and

said control means controls transfer of said data stored in said second storage medium to said other storage medium by way of said communication means based on said identification information received by said communication apparatus.

20. The communication apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said second storage medium stores identification information of a plurality of apparatuses;

and

when said identification information of said plurality of apparatuses stored in said second storage medium contains identification information received from said first storage medium, said control mans permits transmission of said data stored in said second storage medium to said first storage medium.

21. The communication apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

judging means for making a judgment whether said other apparatus is mounted;

wherein when said control means receives a transmission instruction by said transmission instructing means and it is judged by said judging means that said portable apparatus is mounted, said control means controls transfer of said data stored in said second storage medium to said first medium by way of said communication means based on said management information.

22. The communication apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising:

judging means for making a judgment whether said other apparatus is mounted;

wherein when said control means receives a transmission instruction by said transmission instructing means it is judged by said judging means that said portable apparatus is mounted, said control means contrls transfer of said data stored in said second storage medium to said first storage medium by way of said commuication means based on said management information.

23. A communication method for communicating a first apparatus having a first storage medium to a second apparatus for transmitting data to said first apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

editing management information of data to be transferred to said first apparatus, on said second storage medium of said second apparatus, irrespective of whether communication is established between said first apparatus and said second apparatus, said first apparatus being portable and comprising reproducing means for reproducing data stored in said first storage medium;

transmitting , when communication is established between said first apparatus and said second apparatus, data stored in said second storage medium to said first storage medium based on said edited management information;

comparing management information of data stored in said first storage medium with management information stored in said second storage medium of said data stored in said first storage medium; and

controlling transfer of said data from said second apparatus to said first apparatus based on a comparison result by said comparison means.