Content and playlist providing method

• US 8,214,431 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2006
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Miyajima, Yasushi, Yamashita, Kosei, Sako, Yoichiro, Terauchi, Toshiro, Inoue, Makoto, Asukai, Masamichi, Takehara, Mitsuru, Nakamura, Takatoshi, Sasaki, Toru, Matsuda, Masafumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Chankong, Dohm
• Assistant Examiner(s): UTREJA, NEERAJ K
• Application Number:
  US11/393,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20060293909A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,287 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 715/758
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/345 Polarising encoders

Abstract

A content providing method includes the steps of preparing, on a network, a bulletin board server that provides an electronic bulletin board and a content server that accommodates content; enabling, by the bulletin board server, a second user to make a post on a topic when a first user introduces the topic under a predetermined title on the electronic bulletin board; outputting, by the bulletin board server, a list indicating recommended content as a playlist to an apparatus of a user who accesses via the network when the second user posts information on the recommended content that suits the title in the topic; and outputting, by the content server, designated content to the apparatus of the user to which the playlist is output when the content included in the playlist is designated.

Claims

1. A playlist providing method comprising the steps of:

enabling a second user to post information on a topic in a second post when a first user introduces the topic in a first post under a predetermined title on an electronic bulletin board provided by an electronic bulletin board server, the electronic bulletin board being configured to display posts on the topic in a predetermined order, wherein the electronic bulletin board is further configured to enable users of the electronic bulletin board to request a copy of a playlist of recommended content tracks associated with the topic independently of purchasing one or more of the recommended content tracks on the playlist;

generating, by the electronic bulletin board server, the playlist of recommended content tracks for the topic based, at least in part, on the information included in the second post on the topic that includes at least one first identifier for at least one first recommended content track;

receiving, by the electronic bulletin board server, a third post including a second identifier for a second recommended content track for the topic;

dynamically updating the playlist to include the second recommended content track identified in the third post; and

outputting the playlist via a network.

2. The playlist providing method according to claim 1, further comprising:

assigning rating information to the second user; and

permitting the second post to be viewed if the rating information satisfies a predetermined threshold value.

3. The playlist providing method according to claim 2, wherein a third user who recommends content that is identical to the at least one first recommended content track and a post made by the third user are viewable.

4. The playlist providing method according to claim 2, wherein another topic including the at least one first recommended content track is viewable.

5. The playlist providing method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the bulletin board server, a fourth post, wherein the fourth post includes a comment related to the topic without the at least one first identifier for the at least one first recommended content track for the topic.

6. The playlist providing method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request for a copy of the playlist of recommended content tracks associated with the topic; and

transmitting the copy of the playlist to at least one computer in response to receiving the request.

7. A content providing method comprising the steps of:

preparing, on a network, a bulletin board server that provides an electronic bulletin board configured to display posts on a plurality of topics in a predetermined order and a content server that accommodates content, wherein the electronic bulletin board is further configured to enable users of the electronic bulletin board to request a copy of a playlist of recommended content tracks for a topic of the plurality of topics independently of purchasing one or more of the recommended content tracks on the playlist;

enabling, by the bulletin board server, a second user to make a second post on the topic of the plurality of topics when a first user introduces the topic in a first post under a predetermined title on the electronic bulletin board;

generating the playlist of recommended content tracks for the topic based, at least in part, on the information included in the second post on the topic that includes at least one first identifier for at least one first recommended content track;

receiving, by the bulletin board server, a third post including a second identifier for a second recommended content track for the topic;

dynamically updating the playlist to include the second recommended content track identified in the third post;

outputting, by the bulletin board server, a list indicating recommended content as a playlist to an apparatus of a user who accesses via the network; and

outputting, by the content server, designated content to the apparatus of the user to which the playlist is output when the content included in the playlist is designated.

8. The content providing method according to claim 7, wherein:

information on a rating is provided to the second user who made the second post; and

whether the post on the topic is permitted to be viewed is set in accordance with the information on the rating provided to the second user who made the second post.

9. The content providing method according to claim 7, further comprising:

receiving, by the bulletin board server, a fourth post, wherein the fourth post includes a comment related to the topic without the at least one first identifier for the at least one first recommended content track for the topic.

10. The content providing method according to claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a request for a copy of the playlist of recommended content tracks associated with the topic; and

transmitting the copy of the playlist to at least one computer in response to receiving the request.

11. A computer system, comprising:

an electronic bulletin board configured to;

receive a first post from a first user to introduce a topic to the electronic bulletin board;

receive a second post from a second user to recommend content related to the topic, wherein the second post comprises a first identifier of a first recommended music track;

display the first post and the second post on the electronic bulletin board in a predetermined order;

enable users of the electronic bulletin board to request a copy of a playlist of recommended content tracks associated with the topic independently of purchasing one or more of the recommended content tracks on the playlist;

generate the playlist of recommended content for the topic based, at least in part, on information included in the second post;

receive a third post, wherein the third post comprises a second identifier of a second recommended music track; and

dynamically update the playlist to include the second recommended music track identified in the third post; and

a content server configured to;

store a plurality of music tracks; and

output via a network, music tracks listed on the playlist.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the electronic bulletin board is further configured to:

determine a rating associated with each user of a post on the topic that includes a recommended music track; and

include in the playlist, only recommended music tracks from posts by users having an associated rating above a predetermined threshold value.

13. The computer system of claim 11, further comprising:

a playback apparatus connected to the network, wherein the playback apparatus is configured to receive at least some of the music tracks listed on the playlist output by the content server.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the playback apparatus comprises a display configured to display the playlist prior to receiving the at least some of the music tracks listed on the playlist from the content server.

15. The computer system according to claim 11, wherein the electronic bulletin board is further configured to:

receive a fourth post, wherein the fourth post includes a comment related to the topic without the first identifier for the first recommended music track.

16. The computer system according to claim 11, wherein the computer system is configured to receive a request for a copy of the playlist of recommended content tracks associated with the topic;

and

wherein the content server is configured to transmit the copy of the playlist to at least one computer in response to receiving the request.