Service use method and management method

• US 8,271,797 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2004
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Araki, Satoshi, Moriya, Jun, Minoshima, Toshikazu, Nakamura, Junichi, Yuasa, Naoki, Yamashita, Shinsuke, Murase, Yasuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn, Nathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Su, Sarah
• Application Number:
  US10/561,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20060168651A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,045 Days
• Field of Search: 713/182, 713/183, 705/51, 726/2, 726/3, 726/4, 726/5, 726/6, 708/135
• US Class Current: 713/182
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A user sets an apparatus name easily identified by the user to a terminal, transmits the apparatus name together with user identification information to a terminal management server for managing a terminal, and the terminal management server registers the apparatus name as associated with the user identification information, thereby allowing the terminal management server to uniquely identify each terminal based on the apparatus name associated with the user identification information. Furthermore, a user can easily identify an apparatus name, thereby realizing a service utilizing system capable of reducing the laborious procedure of operating the terminal management server, and easily identifying each terminal.

Claims

1. A service utilizing method, comprising:

transmitting, from a first service utilizing apparatus, registration information to a management apparatus according to an external input, the registration information including a first user identification information for use in utilizing a service in the first service utilizing apparatus together with a first password corresponding to the first user identification information, wherein the management apparatus stores second user identification information for at least a second apparatus, and the first user identification information is set to be different than the second user identification information;

subsequently transmitting, from the first service utilizing apparatus, a first apparatus name of the first service utilizing apparatus to the management apparatus, the first apparatus name being entered by a user of the first service utilizing apparatus and is selected independently of any apparatus names entered for the second apparatus such that the first apparatus name entered by the user of the first service utilizing apparatus is the same as an apparatus name entered for the second apparatus;

transmitting, from the first service utilizing apparatus to the management apparatus, disclosure setting information indicating whether or not the existence of the first service utilizing apparatus registered in the management apparatus is to be disclosed to other users;

receiving, at the first service utilizing apparatus, registration completion information transmitted from the management apparatus after completing registration with the first user identification information, the first password, and the first apparatus name entered by the user of the first service utilizing apparatus; and

managing the first service utilizing apparatus by the management apparatus.

2. The service utilizing method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the first user identification information and the first password as authentication request information to the management apparatus;

receiving an authentication results transmitted from the management apparatus after performing an authentication process according to the authentication information;

transmitting at least contents identification information about contents data to the management apparatus to request predetermined contents data depending on the received authentication results; and

receiving the contents data corresponding to the contents identification information transmitted from the management apparatus.

3. The service utilizing method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting apparatus name request information about a request for a name of the second apparatus registered as associated with the second user identification information different from the first user identification information to the first service utilizing apparatus;

receiving the name of the second apparatus transmitted according to the apparatus name request information from the management apparatus; and

displaying the received name of the second apparatus.

4. The service utilizing method according to claim 3, further comprising:

transmitting distribution request information, contents identification information about predetermined contents data, and the name of the second apparatus to the management apparatus, wherein the distribution request information comprises the first apparatus name of the first service utilizing apparatus which is a distribution requester of contents data, wherein the second apparatus is a distribution destination of the contents data.

5. The service utilizing method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the name of the second apparatus set to be published among the names of additional second apparatuses registered as associated with additional second user identification information.

6. The service utilizing method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the second user identification information and a second password to the management apparatus; and

displaying information about a second apparatus name corresponding to the second user identification information and the second password in an authentication reply transmitted from the management apparatus.

7. The service utilizing method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the second user identification information and a second password to the management apparatus;

displaying information about the service used in the apparatus name of the first service utilizing apparatus in an authentication reply transmitted from the management apparatus according to the second identification information about the service; and

transmitting information for permission of deleting the apparatus name registered in the management apparatus according to an external input.

8. The service utilizing method according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing the first apparatus name;

transmitting deletion permission request information about a request for permission of deleting the stored first apparatus name to the management apparatus;

receiving deletion permission information for permission of deleting the first apparatus name according to the deletion permission request information transmitted from the management apparatus;

deleting the stored first apparatus name according to the received deletion permission information;

transmitting, to the management apparatus, deletion request information about a request for deletion of the first apparatus name registered in the management apparatus; and

receiving deletion completion information transmitted after completing deleting the first apparatus name and notification information according to the deletion request information from the management apparatus.

9. The service utilizing method according to claim 1, wherein the first apparatus name is created by the user of the first service utilizing apparatus.

10. A first service utilizing apparatus, comprising:

first registration information transmitting means for transmitting registration information to a management apparatus according to an external input, the registration information including first user identification information for use in utilizing a service in the first service utilizing apparatus together with a first password corresponding to the first user identification information, wherein the management apparatus stores second user identification information for at least a second apparatus, and the first user identification information is set to be different than the second user identification information;

an input operation means configured to receive, as input, a first apparatus name that is entered by a user of the first service utilizing apparatus and that is selected independently of any apparatus names entered for the second apparatus such that the first apparatus name entered by the user of the first service utilizing apparatus is the same as an apparatus name entered for the second apparatus;

second registration transmitting means for subsequently transmitting the first apparatus name of the first service utilizing apparatus to the management apparatus;

disclosure setting information transmitting means for transmitting, to the management apparatus, disclosure setting information indicating whether or not the existence of the first service utilizing apparatus registered in the management apparatus is to be disclosed to other users; and

registration completion information reception means for receiving registration completion information transmitted from the management apparatus after completing registration with the first user identification information, the first password, and the first apparatus name entered by the user of the first service utilizing apparatus, wherein

the management apparatus manages the first service utilizing apparatus.

11. The first service utilizing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first registration information transmitting means transmits the first user identification information and the first password as authentication request information to the management apparatus.

12. The first service utilizing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first apparatus name is created by the user of the first service utilizing apparatus.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including computer readable program codes embodied in the computer readable storage medium that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform:

transmitting registration information to a management apparatus according to an external input, the registration information including a first user identification information for use in utilizing a service in a first service utilizing apparatus together with a first password corresponding to the first user identification information, wherein the management apparatus stores second user identification information for at least a second apparatus, and the first user identification information is set to be different than the second user identification information;

subsequently transmitting a first apparatus name of the first service utilizing apparatus to the management apparatus, the first apparatus name being entered by a user of the first service utilizing apparatus and is selected independently of any apparatus names entered for the second apparatus such that the first apparatus name entered by the user of the first service utilizing apparatus is the same as an apparatus name entered for the second apparatus;

transmitting, to the management apparatus, disclosure setting information indicating whether or not the existence of the first service utilizing apparatus registered in the management apparatus is to be disclosed to other users;

receiving registration completion information transmitted from the management apparatus after completing registration with the first user identification information, the first password, and the first apparatus name entered by the user of the first service utilizing apparatus; and

managing the first service utilizing apparatus by the management apparatus.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the first apparatus name is created by the user of the first service utilizing apparatus.

15. A management method for managing a first service utilizing apparatus which uses a predetermined service, comprising:

receiving, at a management apparatus, registration information according to an external input which is transmitted from the first service utilizing apparatus, the registration information including a first user identification information for use in utilizing a service in the first service utilizing apparatus together with a first password corresponding to the first user identification information, wherein the management apparatus stores second user identification information for at least a second apparatus, and the first user identification information is set to be different than the second user identification information;

subsequently receiving, at the management apparatus, a first apparatus name of the first service utilizing apparatus;

receiving, at the management apparatus, disclosure setting information indicating whether or not the existence of the first service utilizing apparatus registered in the management apparatus is to be disclosed to other users;

registering the first user identification information, the first password, and the first apparatus name of the registration information as associated with one another;

transmitting registration completion information indicating completion of registration of the first user identification information, the first password, and the first apparatus name entered by the user of the first service utilizing apparatus, when the registration is completed; and

managing, by the management apparatus, overlapping apparatus names, the first apparatus name being entered by the user of the first service utilizing apparatus and being selected independently of any apparatus names entered for the second apparatus, the first apparatus name entered by the user of the first service utilizing apparatus being the same as the second apparatus name.

16. The management method according to claim 15, wherein

in the registering, when the first user identification information, the first password, and the first apparatus name received from the first service utilizing apparatus are associated and registered, and the second user identification information, a second password, and a second apparatus name identical to the first apparatus name are received from the second apparatus, and when the second user identification information is different from the first user identification information, the second user identification information, the second password, and the second apparatus name are associated with one another and registered.

17. The management method according to claim 16, further comprising:

receiving authentication request information comprising the first user identification information and the first password transmitted from the first service utilizing apparatus;

performing an authentication process based on the received first user identification information and first password;

transmitting authentication results of the authentication process to the first service utilizing apparatus as a result of transmitting the authentication results to the first service utilizing apparatus;

receiving contents identification information about at least predetermined contents data for request of the contents data transmitted from the first service utilizing apparatus; and

transmitting the contents data corresponding to the received contents identification information to the first service utilizing apparatus.

18. The management method according to claim 17, further comprising:

performing a user authentication process based on the first user identification information and the first password received in the authentication request information receiving, issuing an authentication session ID which is a session ID with the first service utilizing apparatus when authentication is allowed, and transmitting the issued authentication session ID to the first service utilizing apparatus;

receiving the authentication session ID returned from the first service utilizing apparatus, receiving identification information for identification of the server providing the contents, performing a user authentication process based on the received authentication session ID, issuing an authentication ticket corresponding to the received identification information when the authentication is allowed, and transmitting the issued authentication ticket to the first service utilizing apparatus;

receiving from the server an authentication ticket transmitted from the first service utilizing apparatus to the server and then performing an authentication process, and transmitting information about certification acknowledgement when the authentication is allowed to the server; and

issuing a service session ID which is a session ID with the first service utilizing apparatus according to the received information about certification acknowledgement, and transmitting the issued service session ID to the first service utilizing apparatus, wherein,

in the receiving, the server receives the service session ID and the contents identification information, and

in the transmitting, the authentication process is performed based on the received service session ID, and the contents data corresponding to the contents identification information is transmitted to the service using apparatus when the authentication is allowed.

19. The management method according to claim 16, further comprising:

receiving apparatus name request information about a request for the second apparatus name associated with the second user identification information other than the first user identification information from the first service utilizing apparatus; and

transmitting the name of the second apparatus to the first service utilizing apparatus according to the apparatus name request information.

20. The management method according to claim 19, further comprising:

registering the received disclosure setting information and the first apparatus name of the first service utilizing apparatus as associated with each other.

21. The management method according to claim 20, further comprising:

transmitting the second apparatus name of the second apparatus set to be published among the names of second apparatuses registered as associated with the second user identification information.

22. The management method according to claim 19, further comprising:

receiving distribution request information which is transmitted from the first service utilizing apparatus as a distribution requester of predetermined contents data and comprising the apparatus name of the first service utilizing apparatus, contents identification information about the contents data, and the second apparatus name of the second service utilizing apparatus which is a provider of the contents data; and

transmitting the contents data according to the received distribution request information to the second service utilizing apparatus.

23. The management method according to claim 16, further comprising:

authenticating the first user identification information and the first password transmitted from the first service utilizing apparatus; and

transmitting information about an apparatus name corresponding to the first user identification information and the first password to the first service utilizing apparatus together with an authentication reply corresponding to the authentication.

24. The management method according to claim 16, further comprising:

authenticating the first user identification information and the first password transmitted from the first service utilizing apparatus; and

transmitting identification information about a service used by the first apparatus name of the first service utilizing apparatus together with an authentication reply to the first service utilizing apparatus.

25. The management method according to claim 16, further comprising:

receiving deletion permission request information about a request for permission of deleting the first apparatus name stored in the first service utilizing apparatus transmitted from the first service utilizing apparatus;

transmitting deletion permission information for permission of deleting the first apparatus name stored in the first service utilizing apparatus according to the deletion permission request information to the service using apparatus;

receiving deletion request information about a request for deletion of the registered apparatus name which is transmitted as a result of the deletion of the first apparatus name according to the deletion permission information from the first service utilizing apparatus;

deleting the registered apparatus name and disclosure setting information according to the deletion request information; and

transmitting deletion completion information indicating that the deletion of the apparatus name is completed to the service using apparatus.

26. The management method according to claim 15, wherein the first apparatus name is created by the user of the first service utilizing apparatus.

27. A management apparatus which manages a first service utilizing apparatus using a predetermined service, comprising:

first registration information reception means for receiving registration information according to an external input, which is transmitted from the first service utilizing apparatus, the registration information including a first user identification information for use in utilizing a service in the first service utilizing apparatus together with a first password corresponding to the first user identification information, wherein the management apparatus stores second user identification for at least a second apparatus, and the first user identification information is set to be different than the second user identification;

second registration information means for subsequently receiving a first apparatus name of the first service utilizing apparatus;

disclosure setting information receiving means for receiving disclosure setting information from the first service utilizing apparatus indicating whether or not the existence of the first service utilizing apparatus registered in the management apparatus is to be disclosed to other users;

registration means for registering the first user identification information, the first password, and the first apparatus name in the received registration information as associated with one another;

registration completion information transmitting means for transmitting registration completion information indicating completion of the registration to the first service utilizing apparatus when the registration of the first user identification information, the first password, and the first apparatus name entered by the user of the first service utilizing apparatus, is completed; and

apparatus name management means for managing overlapping apparatus names, the first apparatus name being entered by the user of the first service utilizing apparatus and being selected independently of any apparatus names entered for the second apparatus, the first apparatus name entered by the user of the first service utilizing apparatus being the same as the second apparatus name.

28. The management apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the first apparatus name is created by the user of the first service utilizing apparatus.

29. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including computer program codes embodied in the computer readable storage medium that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform:

receiving registration information according to an external input, which is transmitted from a first service utilizing apparatus, the registration information including a first user identification information for use in utilizing a service in the first service utilizing apparatus together with a first password corresponding to the user identification information, wherein the management apparatus stores second user identification for at least a second apparatus, and the first user identification information is set to be different than the second user identification;

subsequently receiving a first apparatus name of the first service utilizing apparatus;

receiving disclosure setting information from the first service utilizing apparatus indicating whether or not the existence of the first service utilizing apparatus registered in the management apparatus is to be disclosed to other users;

registering the first user identification information, the first password, and the first apparatus name in the received registration information as associated with one another;

transmitting registration completion information indicating completion of the registration to the first service utilizing apparatus when the registration of the first user identification information, the first password, and the first apparatus name entered by the user of the first service utilizing apparatus, is completed; and

managing overlapping apparatus names, the first apparatus name being entered by the user of the first service utilizing apparatus and being selected independently of any apparatus names entered for the second apparatus, the first apparatus name entered by the user of the first service utilizing apparatus being is same as the second apparatus name.

30. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 29, wherein the first apparatus name is created by the user of the first service utilizing apparatus.