Apparatus and method for performing contents distribution process

• US 7,844,685 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2003
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Asami, Akiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Neurauter, Jr., George C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fearer, Mark D
• Application Number:
  US10/513,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20050197908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,752 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219, 705/26
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

An information processing apparatus and method, information management apparatus and method, recording medium, and program that permit efficient use of hardware resources and distribute contents with ease are provided. When communication can be established via a network (when the line is available), clients 11-1 through 11-3, which have acquired contents from a contents distribution server and stored them, transmit the stored contents to remote clients in accordance with destination designation information attached to the contents. For example, client 11-1 transmits the contents, which have been acquired from the contents distribution server and stored, to clients 12-1 and 12-2, which are designated as destination clients by the destination designation information. The present invention can be applied, for example, to a router or a personal computer providing a communication section and a hard disk or other storage medium.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus for a central server type distribution service, the information processing apparatus comprising:

a transmitter;

a hardware processor; and

a memory device storing;

(a) contents and designation information, wherein the designation information includes;

(i) a first destination designation information set;

(ii) a second destination designation information set; and

(iii) a third destination designation information set, wherein the contents and designation information are supplied from an information management apparatus that manages a supply of the contents and the designation information, wherein said first destination designation information set is referenced to acquire said contents from said information management apparatus; and

(b) instructions which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the transmitter to;

(i) transmit to a second information processing apparatus;

(A) the acquired contents supplied from said information management apparatus;

(B) said second destination designation information set supplied from said information management apparatus, wherein said second information processing apparatus references said second destination designation information set to acquire said contents; and

(C) said third destination designation information set supplied from said information management apparatus, wherein a third information processing apparatus references said third destination designation information set to acquire said contents from the second information processing apparatus, wherein the third information processing apparatus is subordinate to the second information processing apparatus;

(ii) calculate a distribution cost of said transmitted contents;

(iii) manage price information indicating a price for use of said contents that corresponds to said calculated distribution cost; and

(iv) determine points based on an amount of said transmitted contents.

2. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein when executed by the hardware processor, the instructions cause the processor to acquire contents from at least one of the information management apparatus, the second information processing apparatus and the third information processing apparatus that receives the supply of said contents from said information management apparatus, said memory device storing said acquired contents.

3. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein when executed by the hardware processor, the instructions cause the processor to reproduce said contents in accordance with said managed price information.

4. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein when executed by hardware processor, the instructions cause the processor to:

(a) calculate the time during which said contents are transmitted; and

(b) regard the calculated time as said distribution cost.

5. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein when executed by the hardware processor, the instructions cause the processor to:

(a) calculate the data amount of said transmitted contents; and

(b) regard the calculated data amount as said distribution cost.