System and method for providing content, and relay apparatus

• US 7,702,807 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2001
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Morita, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayard; Djenane M
• Application Number:
  US10/027,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20020116456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,043 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/227, 709/249, 709/203, 709/201, 709/216, 709/218, 455/412, 455/456, 455/450, 463/40, 463/41, 463/9, 463/1, 713/82, 713/182
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/493 Resuming a game, e.g. after pausing, malfunction or power failure
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/401 Secure communication, e.g. using encryption or authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 involving process of starting or resuming a game
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• 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 67/59 Providing operational support to end devices by off-loading in the network or by emulation, e.g. when they are unavailable
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

Disclosed are a content providing system and a relay apparatus in which an information terminal connected to a multi-function mobile telephone receives a content in the same operational procedure as that for the multi-function mobile telephone. When a video gaming machine connected to the multi-function mobile telephone accesses a content providing apparatus, an DNS server in an NOC converts a telephone number of the multi-function mobile telephone into an ID code unique to the multi-function mobile telephone. The content providing apparatus thus identifies the multi-function mobile telephone in use, and a user can thus enjoy a video game on the video gaming machine in the same operation as that for the multi-function mobile telephone.

Claims

1. A system for providing a content comprising:

a content providing apparatus for providing content, the content providing apparatus including a memory; and

a relay apparatus connected to a multi-function mobile telephone through a subscriber telephone network, the relay apparatus being operable to convert a telephone number of the multi-function mobile telephone into an ID code unique to the multi-function mobile telephone, wherein communication between the multi-function mobile telephone and the content providing apparatus is performed through the relay apparatus based on the ID code, the relay apparatus comprising a unit that notifies the content providing apparatus of the ID code of the multi-function mobile telephone, wherein the memory of the content providing apparatus is for storing progress of current game playing, so that if a game is suspended during operation, the game may be resumed at a point of suspension by re-accessing the memory of the content providing apparatus, wherein the system further comprises an information terminal connected to the subscriber telephone network using the multi-function mobile telephone, and wherein the content providing apparatus further includes;

a unit operable to provide the content to the information terminal and to provide a key code to the information terminal when the content providing apparatus confirms a completed status in response to accessing of the information terminal, the key code for releasing a specific content hidden in a storage medium; and

a unit operable to identify the information terminal to which the content is provided based on the ID code notified by the relay apparatus, so that the memory of the content providing apparatus stores the progress of current game playing at the information terminal identified based on the ID code.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the information terminal has a display device larger in size than a display device of the multi-function mobile telephone.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the communication is performed through the Internet and the relay apparatus is a gateway arranged to the subscriber telephone network to connect the subscriber telephone network to the Internet.

4. A system according to claim 2, wherein the relay apparatus is a DNS server owned by an Internet service provider.

5. A system according to claim 2, wherein the content providing apparatus is an Internet server which provides one or both of a program and data for video gaming.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the information terminal connected to the multi-function mobile telephone is a video gaming machine which is operated while monitoring an image presented on the display device thereof.

7. A system for providing a content, comprising:

a server connected to a computer network for providing the content;

a terminal connected to a telephone communication network and having a telephone number unique thereto; and

a relay apparatus for connecting the telephone communication network to the computer network;

wherein the relay apparatus comprises;

a unit for relaying communications between the terminal and the server, a unit for connecting the terminal to the computer network in response to a dial-up connection request from the terminal, a unit for detecting the telephone number of the terminal, a unit for converting the telephone number into a unique code, and a unit for notifying the server of the unique code; and

the server comprises;

a unit for providing the content to the terminal and for providing a key code when the server confirms a completed status in response to accessing of the terminal, the key code for releasing a specific content hidden in a storage medium, a memory; and

a unit for identifying the terminal to which the content is provided based on the unique code;

wherein the server memory is for storing progress of current game playing, so that if a game is suspended during operation, the game may be resumed at a point of suspension by re-accessing the server memory, and the server memory stores the progress of current game playing at the terminal identified based on the unique code.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the computer network is the Internet.

9. A system according to claim 7, wherein the terminal comprises a mobile telephone connected to the telephone communication network.

10. A system according to claim 7, wherein the unit for detecting the telephone number of the terminal detects the telephone number of the terminal when the terminal places the dial-up connection request.

11. A system according to claim 7, wherein the server further comprises a unit which performs a fee billing process to the terminal to which the content is provided based on the unique code.

12. A method for providing content, comprising:

providing a content providing apparatus for providing content, the content providing apparatus including a memory;

providing a relay apparatus operable to be connected to a multi-function mobile telephone through a subscriber telephone network;

operating the relay apparatus to convert a telephone number of the multi-function mobile telephone into an ID code unique to the multi-function mobile telephone, wherein communication between the multi-function mobile telephone and the content providing apparatus is performed through the relay apparatus based on the ID code;

wherein the memory of the content providing apparatus is operable to store progress of current game playing, so that if a game is suspended during operation, the game may be resumed at a point of suspension by re-accessing the memory of the content providing apparatus;

wherein the relay apparatus comprises a unit that notifies the content providing apparatus of the ID code of the multi-function mobile telephone;

wherein the method further comprises connecting an information terminal to the subscriber telephone network using the multi-function mobile telephone;

wherein the content providing apparatus includes;

a unit operable to provide the content to the information terminal and to provide a key code to the information terminal when the content providing apparatus confirms a completed status in response to accessing of the information terminal, the key code for releasing a specific content hidden in a storage medium; and

a unit operable to identify the information terminal to which the content is provided based on the ID code notified by the relay apparatus, so that the memory of the content providing apparatus stores the progress of current game playing at the information terminal based on the ID code.