Content-information management system, content-information management apparatus, content-information management method, and computer program
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A content-information-management system comprising:
- a meta-information server that handles meta information of contents on a network on which at least one content-providing device provides the contents,wherein the meta-information server provides the meta information to a content-use device which uses the contents,wherein the meta-information server converts an internet-protocol command received via a wired local area network into an infrared command for controlling a device that can be controlled by the infrared command, andwherein the meta-information server;
discovers the at least one content-providing device on the network,acquires and stores the meta information of the contents provided by each of the at least one discovered content-providing device, andtransmits the meta information of the contents according to a request for the contents, the request being made by the content-use device, andwherein the meta-information server initiates the device-discovery processing for the at least one content-providing device on the network according to a request for the meta information, the request being transmitted from the content-use device, and attempts to acquire the latest meta information.
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Abstract
A content-information-management system that includes a meta-information server which handles meta information of contents on a network on which at least one content-providing device which provides the contents. The meta-information server provides the meta information to a content-use device which uses the contents. The meta-information server determines the content-providing device on the network, acquires and stores the meta information of the contents provided by the content-providing device, and transmits the meta information of the contents according to a request for the contents, the request being made by the content-use device.
50 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A content-information-management system comprising:
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a meta-information server that handles meta information of contents on a network on which at least one content-providing device provides the contents, wherein the meta-information server provides the meta information to a content-use device which uses the contents, wherein the meta-information server converts an internet-protocol command received via a wired local area network into an infrared command for controlling a device that can be controlled by the infrared command, and wherein the meta-information server; discovers the at least one content-providing device on the network, acquires and stores the meta information of the contents provided by each of the at least one discovered content-providing device, and transmits the meta information of the contents according to a request for the contents, the request being made by the content-use device, and wherein the meta-information server initiates the device-discovery processing for the at least one content-providing device on the network according to a request for the meta information, the request being transmitted from the content-use device, and attempts to acquire the latest meta information. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A content-information-management system comprising:
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a meta-information server that handles meta information of contents on a network on which at least one content-providing device provides the contents, wherein the meta-information server provides the meta information to a content-use device which uses the contents, wherein the meta-information server converts an internet-protocol command received via a wired local area network into an infrared command for controlling a device that can be controlled by the infrared command, and wherein the meta-information server; discovers the at least one content-providing device on the network, acquires and stores the meta information of the contents provided by each of the at least one discovered content-providing device, and transmits the meta information of the contents according to a request for the contents, the request being made by the content-use device, and wherein the meta-information server includes information about a list of the at least one content-providing device, the list information being provided, to manage the at least one content-providing device which transmits the device-discovery response for a device-discovery request and the state of the at least one content-providing device. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A content-information-management apparatus configured to handle meta information relating to contents on a network on which at least one content-providing device which provides the contents is provided, the content-information-management apparatus comprising:
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device-discovery means for discovering the at least one content-providing device provided on the network; meta-information-acquisition means for acquiring and storing the meta information of the contents provided by each of the at least one discovered content-providing device; interface means for converting an internet-protocol command received via a wired local area network into an infrared command for controlling a device that can be controlled by the infrared command; and meta-information-providing means for transmitting and providing the meta information stored by the meta-information-acquisition means according to a request for the contents, the request being made by a content-use device which uses the contents, wherein the device-discovery means initiates the discovery processing for the at least one content-providing device on the network according to a request for the meta information, the request being made by the content-use device, and wherein the meta-information-acquisition means attempts acquisition of the latest meta information from the at least one content-providing device which transmits a response to the device-discovery processing. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A content-information-management apparatus configured to handle meta information relating to contents on a network on which at least one content-providing device which provides the contents is provided, the content-information-management apparatus comprising:
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device-discovery means for discovering the at least one content-providing device provided on the network; meta-information-acquisition means for acquiring and storing the meta information of the contents provided by each of the at least one discovered content-providing device; interface means for converting an internet-protocol command received via a wired local area network into an infrared command for controlling a device that can be controlled by the infrared command; meta-information-providing means for transmitting and providing the meta information stored by the meta-information-acquisition means according to a request for the contents, the request being made by a content-use device which uses the contents; and information about a list of the at least one content-providing device, the list information to manage the at least one content-providing device which transmits the device-discovery response for a device-discovery request and the state of the at least one content-providing device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A content-information-management method adapted to handle meta information relating to contents on a network on which at least one content-providing device provides the contents, the content-information-management method comprising the steps of:
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discovering the at least one content-providing device provided on the network; converting an internet-protocol command received via a wired local area network into an infrared command for controlling a device that can be controlled by the infrared command; acquiring and storing the meta information of the contents provided by each of the at least one discovered content-providing device; and transmitting and providing the meta information stored at the meta-information-acquisition step according to a request for the contents, the request being made by a content-use device which uses the contents, wherein the device-discovery processing performed for the at least one content-providing device on the network according to the device-discovery step is initiated in response to a request for the meta information, the request being made by the content-use device, and wherein, at the meta-information-acquisition step, a trial is made, to acquire the latest meta information from the at least one content-providing device which transmits a response to the device-discovery processing. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A content-information-management method adapted to handle meta information relating to contents on a network on which at least one content-providing device provides the contents, the content-information-management method comprising the steps of:
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discovering the at least one content-providing device provided on the network; converting an internet-protocol command received via a wired local area network into an infrared command for controlling a device that can be controlled by the infrared command; acquiring and storing the meta information of the contents provided by each of the at least one discovered content-providing device; transmitting and providing the meta information stored at the meta-information-acquisition step according to a request for the contents, the request being made by a content-use device which uses the contents; and controlling information about a list of the at least one content-providing device, to manage the at least one content-providing device which transmits the device-discovery response for a device-discovery request and the state of the at least one content-providing device on the list. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A computer-readable storage medium that stores a computer program to make a computer system execute predetermined processing, so as to handle meta information relating to contents on a network on which at least one content-providing device which provides the contents, the program comprising the steps of:
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discovering the at least one content-providing device provided on the network; converting an internet-protocol command received via a wired local area network into an infrared command for controlling a device that can be controlled by the infrared command, and acquiring and storing the meta information of the contents provided by each of the at least one discovered content-providing device; and transmitting and providing the meta information stored at the meta-information-acquisition step according to a request for the contents, the request being made by a content-use device which uses the contents, wherein the device-discovery processing performed for the at least one content-providing device on the network according to the device-discovery step is initiated in response to a request for the meta information, the request being made by the content-use device, and wherein, at the meta-information-acquisition step, a trial is made, to acquire the latest meta information from the at least one content-providing device which transmits a response to the device-discovery processing.
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Specification