Receiving apparatus, receiving method, receiving program, recording medium, and receiving system

• US 8,069,158 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2004
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kii, Manabu, Fukushima, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Tim T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mobin; Hasanul
• Application Number:
  US10/940,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20050075901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,631 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1
• US Class Current: 707/705
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00746 wherein the usage restriction can be expressed as a specific number
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00768 wherein copy control information is used, e.g. for indicating whether a content may be copied freely, no more, once, or never, by setting CGMS, SCMS, or CCI flags
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2529 Mini-discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/00 Editing; Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Monitoring; Measuring tape travel

Abstract

After a reception start request of contents is issued, the presence or absence of a PD connected to a PC is discriminated. If no PD exists, the received contents is recorded into only the PC. If the PD exists, a media type of PD is discriminated. If it is a built-in type, the received contents is recorded into the PC, also transferred to the PD, and recorded into a storing medium in the PD. If it is a media type, whether or not the storing medium has been loaded into the PD is discriminated. If it has been loaded, the received contents is recorded into the PC, also transferred to the PD, and recorded into the storing medium in the PD. If it is not loaded, the user is urged to load the storing medium. Since the recording of the received contents into the PC and the recording into the PD are automatically executed, there is no need to individually execute those processes.

Claims

1. A receiving apparatus to download content data from a server through a network, comprising:

a communicating unit, included in the receiving apparatus, configured to communicate a reception start request for the content data to, and to download the content data from, said server through said network;

a storing unit, included in the receiving apparatus, configured to store the content data;

a connecting unit, included in the receiving apparatus, configured to connect a recording apparatus to the receiving apparatus;

a determining unit configured to determine whether a storing medium, used by the recording apparatus, is of a built-in type, in which the storing medium is built into the recording apparatus, or of a detachable type, in which the storing medium can be loaded into, and removed from, the recording apparatus;

a detecting unit configured to determine whether said storing medium has been loaded into the recording apparatus, when the recording apparatus is determined to use the storing medium of the detachable type; and

a controlling unit, included in the receiving apparatus, configured, for each reception start request communicated by the communicating unit to said server,

to determine whether the downloaded content data is to be recorded into the recording apparatus, based on whether the recording apparatus is connected to said connecting unit when the reception start request to download the content data is communicated to said server and, when the storing medium is determined to be of the detachable type, based on the determination of whether the storing medium of the detachable type has been loaded;

to automatically store the downloaded content data into the storing unit of the receiving apparatus, when the controlling unit determines that the downloaded content data is not to be recorded into the recording apparatus, and

to automatically store the downloaded content data into the storing unit of the receiving apparatus and to automatically record the downloaded content data into the recording apparatus, when the controlling unit determines that the downloaded content data is to be recorded into the recording apparatus.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the controlling unit detects that a plurality of recording apparatuses is connected to said connecting unit, said downloaded content data is transferred to said plurality of recording apparatuses, respectively.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the storing of said downloaded content data into said storing unit is executed only once in response to said downloaded content data being transferred to said plurality of recording apparatuses.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a check-out of said downloaded content data stored in said storing unit is automatically executed in accordance with the recording of said downloaded content data into the recording apparatus.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when said recording apparatus is not connected to said connecting unit when the reception start request to download the content data is communicated to said server, said controlling unit is configured to only store said downloaded content data into said storing unit without queuing the downloaded content data for subsequent transfer to the recording apparatus.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communicating unit is configured to communicate the reception start request to download the content data in response to a content data request inputted by a user of the receiving apparatus.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording apparatus is a portable device that is further configured to play back the downloaded content data.

6. A receiving method of a receiving apparatus for downloading content data from a server through a network, comprising:

determining whether a storing medium, used by a recording apparatus, is of a built-in type, in which the storing medium is built into the recording apparatus, or of a detachable type, in which the storing medium can be loaded into, and removed from, the recording apparatus;

determining whether said storing medium has been loaded into the recording apparatus, when the recording apparatus is determined to use the storing medium of the detachable type;

determining, by the receiving apparatus, whether downloaded content data is to be recorded into the recording apparatus, based on whether the recording apparatus is connected to a connecting unit of the receiving apparatus when a reception start request to download the content data is communicated to said server and, when the storing medium is determined to be of the detachable type, based on the determination of whether the storing medium of the detachable type has been loaded;

automatically storing, by the receiving apparatus, the downloaded content data into a storing unit of the receiving apparatus, when the determining whether downloaded content data is to be recorded step determines that the downloaded content data is not to be recorded into the recording apparatus; and

automatically storing, by the receiving apparatus, said downloaded content data into the storing unit of the receiving apparatus and automatically recording said downloaded content data into the recording apparatus, when the determining whether downloaded content data is to be recorded step determines that the downloaded content data is to be recorded into the recording apparatus, wherein

the determining whether downloaded content data is to be recorded step, and one of the automatically storing step or the automatically storing and automatically recording step, are performed for each reception start request communicated by the communicating unit of the receiving apparatus.

7. A receiving program for allowing a computer apparatus to execute a receiving method of a receiving apparatus for downloading content data from a server through a network, the receiving method comprising:

determining whether a storing medium, used by a recording apparatus, is of a built-in type, in which the storing medium is built into the recording apparatus, or of a detachable type, in which the storing medium can be loaded into, and removed from, the recording apparatus;

determining whether said storing medium has been loaded into the recording apparatus, when the recording apparatus is determined to use the storing medium of the detachable type;

determining, by the receiving apparatus, whether downloaded content data is to be recorded into the recording apparatus, based on whether the recording apparatus is connected to a connecting unit of the receiving apparatus when a reception start request to download the content data is communicated to said server and, when the storing medium is determined to be of the detachable type, based on the determination of whether the storing medium of the detachable type has been loaded;

automatically storing, by the receiving apparatus, the downloaded content data into a storing unit of the receiving apparatus, when the determining whether downloaded content data is to be recorded step determines that the downloaded content data is not to be recorded into the recording apparatus; and

automatically storing, by the receiving apparatus, said downloaded content data into the storing unit of the receiving apparatus and automatically recording said downloaded content data into the recording apparatus, when the determining whether downloaded content data is to be recorded step determines that the downloaded content data is to be recorded into the recording apparatus, wherein

the determining whether downloaded content data is to be recorded step, and one of the automatically storing step or the automatically storing and automatically recording step, are performed for each reception start request communicated by the communicating unit of the receiving apparatus.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having embedded therein instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a receiving method of a receiving apparatus for downloading content data from a server through a network, the receiving method comprising:

determining whether a storing medium, used by a recording apparatus, is of a built-in type, in which the storing medium is built into the recording apparatus, or of a detachable type, in which the storing medium can be loaded into, and removed from, the recording apparatus;

determining whether said storing medium has been loaded into the recording apparatus, when the recording apparatus is determined to use the storing medium of the detachable type;

determining, by the receiving apparatus, whether downloaded content data is to be recorded into the recording apparatus, based on whether the recording apparatus is connected to a connecting unit of the receiving apparatus when a reception start request to download the content data is communicated to said server and, when the storing medium is determined to be of the detachable type, based on the determination of whether the storing medium of the detachable type has been loaded;

automatically storing, by the receiving apparatus, the downloaded content data into a storing unit of the receiving apparatus, when the determining whether downloaded content data is to be recorded step determines that the downloaded content data is not to be recorded into the recording apparatus; and

automatically storing, by the receiving apparatus, said downloaded content data into the storing unit of the receiving apparatus and automatically recording said downloaded content data into the recording apparatus, when the determining whether downloaded content data is to be recorded step determines that the downloaded content data is to be recorded into the recording apparatus, wherein

the determining whether downloaded content data is to be recorded step, and one of the automatically storing step and the automatically storing and automatically recording step, are performed for each reception start request communicated by the communicating unit of the receiving apparatus.

9. A receiving apparatus to download content data from a server through a network, comprising:

a communicating unit, included in the receiving apparatus, configured to communicate a reception start request for the content data to, and to download the content data from, said server through said network;

a first storing unit, included in the receiving apparatus, which is fixedly used;

a determining unit configured to determine whether a storing medium, used by the detachable second storing unit is of a built-in type, in which the storing medium is built into the detachable second storing unit, or of a detachable type, in which the storing medium can be loaded into, and removed from, the detachable second storing unit;

a detecting unit configured to determine whether the storing medium has been loaded into the detachable second storing unit, when the detachable second storing unit is determined to use the storing medium of the detachable type; and

a controlling unit, included in the receiving apparatus, configured, for each reception start request communicated by the communicating unit to said server,

to determine whether the downloaded content data is to be stored in a detachable second storing unit, based on whether the detachable second storing unit can be used when the reception start request to download the content data is communicated to said server and, when the storing medium is determined to be of the detachable type, based on the determination of whether the storing medium of the detachable type has been loaded;

to automatically store the downloaded content data into the first storing unit of the receiving apparatus, when the controlling unit determines that the downloaded content data is not to be stored in the detachable second storing unit, and

to automatically store the downloaded content data into the first storing unit of the receiving apparatus and to automatically record the downloaded content data into the detachable second storing unit, when the controlling unit determines that the downloaded content data is to be stored in the detachable second storing unit.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

a connecting unit configured to connect to the detachable second storing unit.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, when the controlling unit detects that a plurality of detachable second storing units can be used, said downloaded content data is transferred to said plurality of detachable second storing units, respectively.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the storage of said downloaded content data into said first storing unit is executed only once in response to said downloaded content data being transferred to said plurality of detachable second storing units.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a check-out of said downloaded content data stored in said first storing unit is automatically executed in accordance with the recording of said downloaded content data to the detachable second storing unit.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein when said second storing unit cannot be used when the reception start request to download the content data is communicated to said server, the controlling unit is configured to only store said downloaded content data into said first storing unit without queuing the downloaded content data for subsequent transfer to said second storing unit.

15. A receiving method of a receiving apparatus for downloading content data from a server through a network, comprising:

determining whether a storing medium, used by a detachable second storing unit is of a built-in type, in which the storing medium is built into the detachable second storing unit, or of a detachable type, in which the storing medium can be loaded into, and removed from, the detachable second storing unit;

determining whether the storing medium has been loaded into the detachable second storing unit, when the detachable second storing unit is determined to use the storing medium of the detachable type;

determining, by the receiving apparatus, whether downloaded content data is to be stored in the detachable first storing unit, based on whether the detachable first storing unit can be used when a reception start request to download the content data is communicated to said server and, when the storing medium is determined to be of the detachable type, based on the determination of whether the storing medium of the detachable type has been loaded;

automatically storing, by the receiving apparatus, the downloaded content data into a second storing unit of the receiving apparatus which is fixedly used, when the determining whether downloaded content data is to be stored step determines that the downloaded content data is not to be stored in the detachable first storing unit; and

automatically storing, by the receiving apparatus, the downloaded content data into the second storing unit of the receiving apparatus which is fixedly used and

automatically recording the downloaded content data into the detachable first storing unit, when the determining whether downloaded content data is to be stored step determines that the downloaded content data is to be stored in the detachable first storing unit, wherein

the determining whether downloaded content data is to be stored step, and one of the automatically storing step or the automatically storing and automatically recording step, are performed for each reception start request communicated by the communicating unit of the receiving apparatus.

16. A receiving program for allowing a computer apparatus to execute a receiving method of a receiving apparatus for downloading content data, from a server, through a network, the receiving method comprising:

determining whether a storing medium, used by a detachable second storing unit is of a built-in type, in which the storing medium is built into the detachable second storing unit, or of a detachable type, in which the storing medium can be loaded into, and removed from, the detachable second storing unit;

determining whether the storing medium has been loaded into the detachable second storing unit, when the detachable second storing unit is determined to use the storing medium of the detachable type;

determining, by the receiving apparatus, whether downloaded content data is to be stored in the detachable first storing unit, based on whether the detachable first storing unit can be used when a reception start request to download the content data is communicated to said server and, when the storing medium is determined to be of the detachable type, based on the determination of whether the storing medium of the detachable type has been loaded;

automatically storing, by the receiving apparatus, the downloaded content data into a second storing unit of the receiving apparatus which is fixedly used, when the determining whether downloaded content data is to be stored step determines that the downloaded content data is not to be stored in the detachable first storing unit; and

automatically storing, by the receiving apparatus, the downloaded content data into the second storing unit of the receiving apparatus which is fixedly used and

automatically recording the downloaded content data into the detachable first storing unit, when the determining whether downloaded content data is to be stored step determines that the downloaded content data is to be stored in the detachable first storing unit, wherein

the determining whether downloaded content data is to be stored step, and one of the automatically storing step or the automatically storing and automatically recording step, are performed for each reception start request communicated by the communicating unit of the receiving apparatus.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having embedded therein instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a receiving method of a receiving apparatus for downloading content data from a server through a network, the receiving method comprising:

determining whether a storing medium, used by a detachable second storing unit is of a built-in type, in which the storing medium is built into the detachable second storing unit, or of a detachable type, in which the storing medium can be loaded into, and removed from, the detachable second storing unit;

determining whether the storing medium has been loaded into the detachable second storing unit, when the detachable second storing unit is determined to use the storing medium of the detachable type;

determining, by the receiving apparatus, whether downloaded content data is to be stored in the detachable first storing unit, based on whether the detachable first storing unit can be used when a reception start request to download the content data is communicated to said server and, when the storing medium is determined to be of the detachable type, based on the determination of whether the storing medium of the detachable type has been loaded;

automatically storing, by the receiving apparatus, the downloaded content data into a second storing unit of the receiving apparatus which is fixedly used, when the determining whether downloaded content data is to be stored step determines that the downloaded content data is not to be stored in the detachable first storing unit; and

automatically storing, by the receiving apparatus, the downloaded content data into the second storing unit of the receiving apparatus which is fixedly used and automatically recording the downloaded content data into the detachable first storing unit, when the determining whether downloaded content data is to be stored step determines that the downloaded content data is to be stored in the detachable first storing unit, wherein

the determining whether downloaded content data is to be stored step, and one of the automatically storing step or the automatically storing and automatically recording step, are performed for each reception start request communicated by the communicating unit of the receiving apparatus.