Program, information processing method and device

• US 7,886,064 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2003
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamashita, Kei, Nomura, Takashi, Tominaga, Hiroyuki, Sakata, Haruhiko, Takahashi, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Najjar; Saleh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Henry; Marie Georges
• Application Number:
  US10/490,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20040255031A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,750 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/205, 709/206, 709/225, 709/226, 709/229
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5055 considering software capabilities, i.e. software resources associated or available to the machine
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

The present invention relates to a program and an information processing method and apparatus with which a connection can be formed reliably between apparatuses having different capabilities. An application #1, using a presence function, announces a profile space ID representing processing for a service that can be provided. An application #n receives the announcement. The application #n requests the application #1 for detailed information of the service and registration to the service. The application #n connects to the application #1 by peer to peer, based on a URI needed for peer-to-peer access, transmitted from the application #1. The present invention can be applied to personal computers, network-enabled CE devices, and commercial application servers on the Internet.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium including stored thereon a program for allowing a computer to execute a method of exchanging information with a first information processing apparatus via a network, the method comprising:

sending, from the computer, a notification to the first information processing apparatus, via a second information processing apparatus on the network, the notification including identification information for identifying a service provided by the computer;

sending, from the computer, a second notification to the first information processing apparatus, via the second information processing apparatus, in response to a first request from the first information processing apparatus, the second notification including detailed information regarding the service provided by the computer;

sending, from the computer, a third notification to the first information processing apparatus, via the second information processing apparatus, in response to a second request from the first information processing apparatus, the third notification including information indicating that the first information processing apparatus has been registered for the service provided by the computer and the second information processing apparatus isolating the computer and the first information processing apparatus such that communication between the computer and the first information processing apparatus is enabled only as indirect communication until at least the first information processing apparatus has been registered for the service provided by the computer; and

sending, from the computer, a fourth notification to the first information processing apparatus, via the second information processing apparatus, in response to a third request from the first information processing apparatus, the fourth notification including connection information enabling the first information processing apparatus that has been registered to establish a direct connection to the computer without connecting to the second information processing apparatus, the computer, the first information processing apparatus, and the second information processing apparatus being distinct apparatuses.

2. The computer readable medium according to claim 1, further comprising:

an accepting step of accepting an access that is made based on the connection information by the first information processing apparatus that has been registered, without connecting to the second information processing apparatus.

3. The computer readable medium according to claim 1,

wherein the first notification uses a presence function of instant messaging,

and wherein the second notification, the third notification and the fourth notification use a messaging function or an Info/Query function of instant messaging.

4. The computer readable medium according to claim 1,

wherein the first notification further includes a notification of a provider entity identifier for identifying an entity that acts as a provider who provides the service.

5. The computer readable medium according to claim 4, further comprising:

a registering step of registering the provider entity identifier and a user entity identifier for identifying an entity that acts as a user who uses the service associated with the provider entity identifier, such that the provider entity identifier and the user entity identifier are associated with each other, when a request for registering the first information processing apparatus for the service that can be provided has been transmitted from the first information processing apparatus together with the user entity identifier.

6. The computer readable medium according to claim 5, further comprising:

a first sending step of sending invitation information for inviting the entity associated with the user entity identifier to use the service.

7. The computer readable medium according to claim 6,

wherein the first sending step sends the invitation information using a messaging function or an Info/Query function of instant messaging.

8. The computer readable medium according to claim 6,

wherein the first sending step sends the invitation information to the user associated with the user entity identifier registered by the processing in the registering step.

9. The computer readable medium according to claim 6, further comprising:

a second sending step of sending cancellation information for canceling the invitation for using the service after the invitation information is sent by the processing in the first sending step.

10. The computer readable medium according to claim 9,

wherein the second sending step sends the cancellation information using a messaging function or an Info/Query function of instant messaging.

11. The computer readable medium according to claim 9,

wherein, in the second sending step, a reference number for identifying the cancellation information, the provider entity identifier, and the user entity identifier are included in the cancellation information.

12. An information processing method for an information processing apparatus for exchanging information between a computer and a first information processing apparatus via a network, the information processing method comprising:

sending, from the computer, a notification to the first information processing apparatus, via a second information processing apparatus on the network, the notification including identification information for identifying a service provided by the computer;

sending, from the computer, a second notification to the first information processing apparatus, via the second information processing apparatus, in response to a first request from the first information processing apparatus, the second notification including detailed information regarding the service provided by the computer;

sending, from the computer, a third notification to that the first information processing apparatus, via the second information processing apparatus, in response to a second request from the first information processing apparatus, the third notification including information indicating that the first information processing apparatus has been registered for the service provided by the computer and the second information processing apparatus isolating the computer and the first information processing apparatus such that communication between the computer and the first information processing apparatus is enabled only as indirect communication until at least the first information processing apparatus has been registered for the service provided by the computer; and

sending, from the computer, a fourth notification to the first information processing apparatus, via the second information processing apparatus, in response to a third request from the first information processing apparatus, the fourth notification including connection information enabling the first information processing apparatus that has been registered to directly connect to the computer without connecting to the second information processing apparatus, the computer, the first information processing apparatus, and the second information processing apparatus being distinct apparatuses.

13. An information processing apparatus for exchanging information with a first information processing apparatus via a network, the information processing apparatus comprising:

first notifying means for sending, from the information processing apparatus, a notification to the first information processing apparatus, via a second information processing apparatus on the network, the notification including identification information for identifying a service provided by the information processing apparatus;

second notifying means for sending, from the information processing apparatus, a second notification to the first information processing apparatus, via the second information processing apparatus, in response to a first request from the first information processing apparatus, the second notification including detailed information regarding the service provided by the information processing apparatus; and

third notifying means for sending, from the information processing apparatus, a third notification to the first information processing apparatus, via the second information processing apparatus, in response to a second request from the first information processing apparatus, the third notification including information indicating that the first information processing apparatus has been registered for the service provided by the information processing apparatus and the second information processing apparatus isolating the information processing apparatus and the first information processing apparatus such that communication between the information processing apparatus and the first information processing apparatus is enabled only as indirect communication until at least the first information processing apparatus has been registered for the service provided by the information processing apparatus, and for sending, from the information processing apparatus, a fourth notification to the first information processing apparatus, via the second information processing apparatus, in response to a third request from the first information processing apparatus, the fourth notification including connection information enabling the first information processing apparatus that has been registered to directly connect to the information processing apparatus without connecting to the second information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus, the first information processing apparatus, and the second information processing apparatus being distinct apparatuses.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium including stored thereon a program for allowing a computer to execute a process for exchanging information with a first information processing apparatus via a network, the program comprising:

sending, from the computer, a notification to the first information processing apparatus, via a second information processing apparatus on the network, the notification including identification information for identifying a service provided by the computer;

sending, from the computer, a second notification to the first information processing apparatus, via the second information processing apparatus, in response to a first request from the first information processing apparatus, the second notification including detailed information regarding the service provided by the computer;

sending, from the computer, a third notification to the first information processing apparatus, via the second information processing apparatus, in response to a second request from the first information processing apparatus, the third notification including information indicating that the first information processing apparatus has been registered for the service provided by the computer and the second information processing apparatus isolating the computer and the first information processing apparatus such that communication between the computer and the first information processing apparatus is enabled only as indirect communication until at least the first information processing apparatus has been registered for the service provided by the computer; and

sending, from the computer, a fourth notification to the first information processing apparatus, via the second information processing apparatus, in response to a third request from the first information processing apparatus, the fourth notification including connection information enabling the first information processing apparatus that has been registered to directly connect to the computer without connecting to the second information processing apparatus;

receiving, at the first information processing apparatus, the identification information from the computer via the second information processing apparatus;

requesting, at the first information processing apparatus and via the second information processing apparatus, that the computer send detailed information regarding the service provided by the computer;

requesting, at the first information processing apparatus and via the second information processing apparatus, that the computer register the first information processing apparatus for the service provided by the computer;

sending, from the first information processing apparatus, information regarding use of the service provided by the computer, to the computer via the second information processing apparatus; and

receiving, at the first information processing apparatus, connection information for connecting to the computer without connecting to the second information processing apparatus, from the computer via the second information processing apparatus, the computer, the first information processing apparatus, and the second information processing apparatus being distinct apparatuses.

15. An information processing method for an information processing apparatus for exchanging information with first information processing apparatus via a network, the information processing method comprising:

sending, from the information processing apparatus, a notification to the first information processing apparatus, via second information processing apparatus on the network, the notification including identification information for identifying a service provided by the information processing apparatus;

sending, from the information processing apparatus, a second notification to the first information processing apparatus, via the second information processing apparatus, in response to a first request from the first information processing apparatus, the second notification including detailed information regarding the service provided by the information processing apparatus;

sending, from the information processing apparatus, a third notification to the first information processing apparatus in response to a second request from the first information processing apparatus, the third notification including information indicating that the first information processing apparatus has been registered for the service provided by the information processing apparatus and the second information processing apparatus isolating the information processing apparatus and the first information processing apparatus such that communication between the information processing apparatus and the first information processing apparatus is enabled only as indirect communication until at least the first information processing apparatus has been registered for the service provided by the information processing apparatus; and

sending, from the information processing apparatus, a fourth notification to the first information processing apparatus, via the second information processing apparatus, in response to a third request from the first information processing apparatus, the fourth notification including connection information enabling the first another information processing apparatus that has been registered to directly connect to the information processing apparatus without connecting to the second information processing apparatus;

receiving, at the first information processing apparatus, the identification information from the information processing apparatus via the second information processing apparatus;

requesting, at the first information processing apparatus and via the second information processing apparatus, that the information processing apparatus send detailed information regarding the service provided by the information processing apparatus;

requesting, at the first information processing apparatus and via the second information processing apparatus, that the information processing apparatus register the first information processing apparatus for the service provided by the information processing apparatus;

sending, from the first information processing apparatus, information regarding use of the service provided by the information processing apparatus, to the information processing apparatus via the second information processing apparatus; and

receiving, at the first information processing apparatus, connection information for connecting to the information processing apparatus without connecting to the second information processing apparatus, from the information processing apparatus via the second information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus, the first information processing apparatus, and the second information processing apparatus being distinct apparatuses.

16. An information processing system, comprising:

an apparatus for exchanging information with a first information processing apparatus via a network, the information processing apparatus comprising;

first notifying means for sending, from the information processing apparatus, a notification to the first information processing apparatus, via second information processing apparatus on the network, the notification including identification information for identifying a service provided by the information processing apparatus;

second notifying means for sending, from the information processing apparatus, a second notification to the first information processing apparatus, via the second information processing apparatus, in response to a first request from the first information processing apparatus, the second notification including detailed information regarding the service provided by the information processing apparatus;

third notifying means for sending, from the information processing apparatus, a third notification to the first information processing apparatus, in response to a second request from the first information processing apparatus, the third notification including information indicating that the first information processing apparatus has been registered for the service provided by the information processing apparatus and the second information processing apparatus isolating the information processing apparatus and the first information processing apparatus such that communication between the information processing apparatus and the first information processing apparatus is enabled only as indirect communication until at least the first information processing apparatus has been registered for the service provided by the information processing apparatus, and for sending, from the information processing apparatus, a fourth notification to the first information processing apparatus, via the second information processing apparatus, in response to a third request from the first information processing apparatus, the fourth notification including connection information enabling the first another information processing apparatus that has been registered to directly connect to the information processing apparatus without connecting to the second information processing apparatus;

the first information processing apparatus comprising;

first receiving means for receiving the identification information from the information processing apparatus via the second information processing apparatus;

first requesting means for requesting, via the second information processing apparatus, that the information processing apparatus send detailed information regarding the service provided by the information processing apparatus;

second requesting means for requesting, via the second information processing apparatus, that the information processing apparatus register the first information processing apparatus for the service provided by the information processing apparatus;

sending means for sending information regarding use of the service provided by the information processing apparatus, to the information processing apparatus via the second information processing apparatus; and

second receiving means for receiving connection information for connecting to the information processing apparatus without connecting to the second information processing apparatus, from the information processing apparatus via the second information processing apparatus; and

wherein the information processing apparatus, the first information processing apparatus, and the second information processing apparatus are distinct apparatuses.