Content management system, content management method and computer program

• US 7,676,496 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2005
• Issued: 03/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tamura, Misa
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali; Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bui; Thuy (Tiffany)
• Application Number:
  US11/240,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20060074888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,618 Days
• Field of Search: 707/104, 707/100, 707/5, 707/2, 707/3, 715/738, 715/273
• US Class Current: 707/770
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9038 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/904 Browsing; Visualisation therefor for navigating the web G06F16/954; browsing optimisation for the web G06F16/957

Abstract

The invention provides a user with a key or a visual clue to a desired content. There is provided a random search mode searching the content randomly when a user has no object for searching the content, and a specific search mode with object or search condition specified. The search condition is randomly generated or the content is extracted regardless of the search condition under the random search mode while the content is extracted based on the search condition such as a media type of the content input by the user or other content attributes.

Claims

1. A content management system for managing contents stored in multiple devices, comprising:

a user input device for allowing a user to specify a content search mode and a content search condition;

a display device for displaying a screen format in a two- or three-dimensional display form;

a processor for generating the screen format, searching the devices for content according to the content search mode and the content search condition, and controlling so that information associated with the content retrieved is displayed by mapping the information on the screen format,

wherein a distance from a center of the screen format to the mapped information and the size of the mapped information indicates a matching degree of the content search condition with the content associated with the information, and the processor maps the information three-dimensionally based on the matching degree by displaying the screen format three-dimensionally, and

wherein the processor defines at least one of a fitness for the content search condition and a matching degree with a user'"'"'s preference, based on at least one of a distance from the center of the screen format to the mapped information, a distance between other mapped information, a direction from the center of the screen format, and a size of the screen format.

2. A content management system according to claim 1, wherein the user input device allows the user to select one of a random search mode and a specific search mode;

and

wherein the processor searches for the content regardless of the content search condition when the user selects the random search mode, and

searches for content based on the content search condition when the user selects the specific search mode.

3. A content management system according to claim 1, wherein the processor registers a content group mapped on an area within a range of a predetermined radius from the center of the screen format and within a predetermined angle as a group.

4. A content management system according to claim 1, wherein the screen format indicates a space for presenting the content stored in the devices.

5. A content management method for managing contents stored in multiple devices, comprising:

determining a content search mode and a content search condition;

generating a screen format in a two- or three-dimensional display form;

searching the devices for content according to the content search mode and the content search condition; and

displaying information associated with content retrieved by searching and mapping the information on the screen format,

wherein a distance from a center of the screen format to the mapped information and the size of the mapped information indicates a matching degree of the content search condition with the content associated with the information, and the information is three-dimensionally mapped based on the matching degree by displaying the screen format three-dimensionally, and

wherein, at least one of a fitness for the content search condition and a matching degree with a user'"'"'s preference are represented by at least one of a distance from the center of the screen format to the mapped information, a distance between the mapped information and other mapped information, a direction from the center, and a screen format size.

6. A content management method according to claim 5, wherein the content search mode comprises one of a random search mode and a specific search mode, and

wherein the content is extracted regardless of the content search condition when searching in the random search mode, and the content is extracted based on the content search condition input when searching in the specific search mode.

7. A content management method according to claim 5 further comprising, registering a content group mapped on an area within a range of a predetermined radius from the center of the screen format and within a predetermined angle as a group.

8. A content management method according to claim 5, wherein the screen format indicates a space for presenting the content stored in the multiple devices.

9. A computer readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to perform a method for managing contents stored in multiple devices, the method comprising:

determining a content search mode and a content search condition;

generating a screen format in a two- or three-dimensional display form;

searching the devices for content according to the content search mode and the content search condition; and

displaying information associated with content retrieved by searching and mapping the information on the screen format,

wherein a distance from a center of the screen format to the mapped information and the size of the mapped information indicates a matching degree of the content search condition with the content associated with the information, and the information is three-dimensionally mapped based on the matching degree by displaying the screen format three-dimensionally, and

wherein, at least one of a fitness for the content search condition and a matching degree with a user'"'"'s preference are represented by at least one of a distance from the center of the screen format to the mapped information, a distance between the mapped information and other mapped information, a direction from the center, and a screen format size.