Information processing apparatus, information processing method, information processing program, and information processing system

• US 8,424,042 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2008
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Kazuyuki, Kabasawa, Hidetoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chowdhury, Sumaiya A
• Application Number:
  US12/077,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20080244677A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,855 Days
• Field of Search: 725/51, 725/55, 725/58, 725/110
• US Class Current: 725/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/22 Arrangements for broadcast of identical information via plural broadcast systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/372 Programme

Abstract

In an information processing apparatus, identification information identifying a specified broadcast content is converted into identification information identifying another broadcast content corresponding to the originally specified broadcast content, in accordance with table information indicating a correspondence among a plurality of pieces of identification information respectively identifying broadcast contents thereby indicating a correspondence among the broadcast contents.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

conversion means for converting identification information identifying a specified broadcast content into identification information identifying another broadcast content corresponding to the originally specified broadcast content, in accordance with table information indicating a correspondence among a plurality of pieces of identification information respectively identifying broadcast contents thereby indicating a correspondence among the broadcast contents,

the conversion means acquires the table information by supplying the identification information identifying a specified broadcast to a server and requesting that the server provide table information corresponding to the identification information identifying a specified broadcast, the server providing the table information in response to the request,

the conversion means acquires the table information in response to receiving the identification information and a generated command from a portable device, the generated command being a command generated in response to the input of an operation command to the portable device, the operation command directing the portable device to perform a particular process on a low resolution version of a program, and the generated command directing the information processing apparatus to perform the particular process on a high resolution version of the program,

wherein the particular process comprises at least one of setting a timer-controlled recording operation so as to record a television program that will be broadcast in the future, canceling a recording operation being currently performed, protecting specified television program data, canceling protection for specified television program data, and deleting specified television program data, and

wherein a first acquisition means acquires identification information and command information both supplied from an external apparatus, the command information specifying a process to be performed on a broadcast content identified by the identification information;

a second acquisition means acquires the table information from the external apparatus, the conversion means converts, in accordance with the table information acquired by the second acquisition means, the identification information acquired by the first acquisition means into identification information identifying another broadcast content corresponding to the broadcast content identified by the identification information acquired by the first acquisition means, a search means searches for the broadcast content identified by the identification information given as the result of the conversion performed by the conversion means, a determination means determines the specific process, corresponding to the process specified by the command information acquired by the first acquisition means, to be actually performed on the broadcast content detected as the result of the search performed by the search means, and a process execution means executes a specific process determined by the determination means;

third acquisition means acquires the broadcast content and the identification information; and

storage control means stores the broadcast content acquired by the third acquisition means in a storage unit, the process specified by the command information being a process associated with a control of the storage control means.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conversion means converts, in accordance with the table information, the identification information identifying the specified broadcast content into identification information identifying another broadcast content that corresponds to the originally specified broadcast content and that is different in a compression format from the originally specified broadcast content.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conversion means converts, in accordance with the table information, the identification information identifying the specified broadcast content into identification information identifying another broadcast content that corresponds to the originally specified broadcast content and that is different in a broadcasting area from the originally specified broadcast content.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conversion means converts, in accordance with the table information, the identification information identifying the specified broadcast content into identification information identifying another broadcast content that corresponds to the originally specified broadcast content and that is different in a compression ratio from the originally specified broadcast content.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conversion means converts, in accordance with the table information, the identification information identifying the specified broadcast content into a plurality of pieces of identification information identifying other broadcast contents corresponding to the originally specified broadcast content.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conversion means converts, in accordance with the table information, the identification information identifying the specified broadcast content into identification information identifying another broadcast content that corresponds to the originally specified broadcast content and that is different in a broadcast service from the originally specified broadcast content.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

acceptance means for accepting identification information input by a user and command information input by the user and specifying a process to be performed on a broadcast content identified by the identification information; and

supply means for supplying the command information and the identification information to an external apparatus,

wherein the conversion means converts, in accordance with the table information, the identification information accepted by the acceptance means into identification information identifying another broadcast content corresponding to the originally specified broadcast content, and

the supply means supplies the command information accepted by the acceptance means to the external apparatus together with the identification information given as a result of the conversion performed by the conversion means.

8. An information processing method comprising using a processing unit to perform the step of:

converting identification information identifying a specified broadcast content into identification information identifying another broadcast content corresponding to the originally specified broadcast content, in accordance with table information indicating a correspondence among a plurality of pieces of identification information respectively identifying broadcast contents thereby indicating a correspondence among the broadcast contents,

the step of converting comprises acquiring the table information by supplying the identification information identifying a specified broadcast to a server and requesting that the server provide table information corresponding to the identification information identifying a specified broadcast, the server providing the table information in response to the request,

acquiring the table information in response to receiving the identification information and a generated command from a portable device, the generated command being a command generated in response to the input of an operation command to the portable device, the operation command directing the portable device to perform a particular process on a low resolution version of a program, and the generated command directing the processing unit to perform the particular process on a high resolution version of the program,

wherein the particular process comprises at least one of setting a timer-controlled recording operation so as to record a television program that will be broadcast in the future, canceling a recording operation being currently performed, protecting specified television program data, canceling protection for specified television program data, and deleting specified television program data, and

wherein a first acquisition means acquires identification information and command information both supplied from an external apparatus, the command information specifying a process to be performed on a broadcast content identified by the identification information;

a second acquisition means acquires the table information from the external apparatus, the conversion means converts, in accordance with the table information acquired by the second acquisition means, the identification information acquired by the first acquisition means into identification information identifying another broadcast content corresponding to the broadcast content identified by the identification information acquired by the first acquisition means, a search means searches for the broadcast content identified by the identification information given as the result of the conversion performed by the conversion means, a determination means determines the specific process, corresponding to the process specified by the command information acquired by the first acquisition means, to be actually performed on the broadcast content detected as the result of the search performed by the search means, and a process execution means executes a specific process determined by the determination means;

third acquisition means acquires the broadcast content and the identification information; and

storage control means stores the broadcast content acquired by the third acquisition means in a storage unit, the process specified by the command information being a process associated with a control of the storage control means.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program executable by a computer to perform information processing comprising the step of:

converting identification information identifying a specified broadcast content into identification information identifying another broadcast content corresponding to the originally specified broadcast content, in accordance with table information indicating a correspondence among a plurality of pieces of identification information respectively identifying broadcast contents thereby indicating a correspondence among the broadcast contents,

the step of converting comprises acquiring the table information by supplying the identification information identifying a specified broadcast to a server and requesting that the server provide table information corresponding to the identification information identifying a specified broadcast, the server providing the table information in response to the request,

acquiring the table information in response to receiving the identification information and a generated command from a portable device, the generated command being a command generated in response to the input of an operation command to the portable device, the operation command directing the portable device to perform a particular process on a low resolution version of a program, and the generated command directing the computer to perform the particular process on a high resolution version of the program,

wherein the particular process comprises at least one of setting a timer-controlled recording operation so as to record a television program that will be broadcast in the future, canceling a recording operation being currently performed, protecting specified television program data, canceling protection for specified television program data, and deleting specified television program data, and

wherein a first acquisition means acquires identification information and command information both supplied from an external apparatus, the command information specifying a process to be performed on a broadcast content identified by the identification information;

a second acquisition means acquires the table information from the external apparatus, the conversion means converts, in accordance with the table information acquired by the second acquisition means, the identification information acquired by the first acquisition means into identification information identifying another broadcast content corresponding to the broadcast content identified by the identification information acquired by the first acquisition means, a search means searches for the broadcast content identified by the identification information given as the result of the conversion performed by the conversion means, a determination means determines the specific process, corresponding to the process specified by the command information acquired by the first acquisition means, to be actually performed on the broadcast content detected as the result of the search performed by the search means, and a process execution means executes a specific process determined by the determination means;

third acquisition means acquires the broadcast content and the identification information; and

storage control means stores the broadcast content acquired by the third acquisition means in a storage unit, the process specified by the command information being a process associated with a control of the storage control means.

10. An information processing system including a first apparatus and a second apparatus,

the first apparatus including

acceptance means for accepting identification information and command information both input by a user, the identification information identifying a broadcast content, the command information identifying a process to be performed on the broadcast content identified by the identification information, and

supply means for supplying the command information and the identification information to the second apparatus,

the second apparatus including

acquisition means for acquiring the identification information and the command information supplied from the first apparatus,

conversion means for converting identification information acquired by the acquisition means into identification information identifying another broadcast content corresponding to the broadcast content identified by the identification information acquired by the acquisition means, in accordance with table information indicating a correspondence among a plurality of pieces of identification information respectively identifying broadcast contents thereby indicating a correspondence among the broadcast contents, and

process execution means for executing a process specified by the command information acquired by the acquisition means on the broadcast content identified by the identification information given as a result of the conversion performed by the conversion means,

the conversion means acquires the table information by supplying the identification information acquired by the acquisition means to a server and requesting that the server provide table information corresponding to the identification information acquired by the acquisition means, the server providing the table information in response to the request,

the conversion means acquires the table information in response to receiving the identification information and a generated command from the first apparatus, the generated command being a command generated in response to the input of an operation command to the first apparatus, the operation command directing the first apparatus to perform a particular process on a low resolution version of a program, and the generated command directing the second apparatus to perform the particular process on a high resolution version of the program,

wherein the particular process comprises at least one of setting a timer-controlled recording operation so as to record a television program that will be broadcast in the future, canceling a recording operation being currently performed, protecting specified television program data, canceling protection for specified television program data, and deleting specified television program data, and

wherein a first acquisition means acquires identification information and command information both supplied from an external apparatus, the command information specifying a process to be performed on a broadcast content identified by the identification information;

a second acquisition means acquires the table information from the external apparatus, the conversion means converts, in accordance with the table information acquired by the second acquisition means, the identification information acquired by the first acquisition means into identification information identifying another broadcast content corresponding to the broadcast content identified by the identification information acquired by the first acquisition means, a search means searches for the broadcast content identified by the identification information given as the result of the conversion performed by the conversion means, a determination means determines the specific process, corresponding to the process specified by the command information acquired by the first acquisition means, to be actually performed on the broadcast content detected as the result of the search performed by the search means, and a process execution means executes a specific process determined by the determination means;

third acquisition means acquires the broadcast content and the identification information; and

storage control means stores the broadcast content acquired by the third acquisition means in a storage unit, the process specified by the command information being a process associated with a control of the storage control means.

11. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a conversion unit adapted to convert identification information identifying a specified broadcast content into identification information identifying another broadcast content corresponding to the originally specified broadcast content, in accordance with table information indicating a correspondence among a plurality of pieces of identification information respectively identifying broadcast contents thereby indicating a correspondence among the broadcast contents,

the conversion unit acquires the table information by supplying the identification information identifying a specified broadcast to a server and requesting that the server provide table information corresponding to the identification information identifying a specified broadcast, the server providing the table information in response to the request,

the conversion unit acquires the table information in response to receiving the identification information and a generated command from a portable device, the generated command being a command generated in response to the input of an operation command to the portable device, the operation command directing the portable device to perform a particular process on a low resolution version of a program, and the generated command directing the information processing apparatus to perform the particular process on a high resolution version of the program,

wherein the particular process comprises at least one of setting a timer-controlled recording operation so as to record a television program that will be broadcast in the future, canceling a recording operation being currently performed, protecting specified television program data, canceling protection for specified television program data, and deleting specified television program data, and

wherein a first acquisition means acquires identification information and command information both supplied from an external apparatus, the command information specifying a process to be performed on a broadcast content identified by the identification information;

a second acquisition means acquires the table information from the external apparatus, the conversion means converts, in accordance with the table information acquired by the second acquisition means, the identification information acquired by the first acquisition means into identification information identifying another broadcast content corresponding to the broadcast content identified by the identification information acquired by the first acquisition means, a search means searches for the broadcast content identified by the identification information given as the result of the conversion performed by the conversion means, a determination means determines the specific process, corresponding to the process specified by the command information acquired by the first acquisition means, to be actually performed on the broadcast content detected as the result of the search performed by the search means, and a process execution means executes a specific process determined by the determination means;

third acquisition means acquires the broadcast content and the identification information; and

storage control means stores the broadcast content acquired by the third acquisition means in a storage unit, the process specified by the command information being a process associated with a control of the storage control means.

12. An information processing system including a first apparatus and a second apparatus,

the first apparatus including

an accepting unit adapted to accept identification information and command information both input by a user, the identification information identifying a broadcast content, the command information identifying a process to be performed on the broadcast content identified by the identification information, and

a supply unit adapted to supply the command information and the identification information to the second apparatus,

the second apparatus including

an acquisition unit adapted to acquire the identification information and the command information supplied from the first apparatus,

a conversion unit adapted to convert identification information acquired by the acquisition unit into identification information identifying another broadcast content corresponding to the broadcast content identified by the identification information acquired by the acquisition unit, in accordance with table information indicating a correspondence among a plurality of pieces of identification information respectively identifying broadcast contents thereby indicating a correspondence among the broadcast contents, and

a process execution unit adapted to execute a process specified by the command information acquired by the acquisition unit on the broadcast content identified by the identification information given as a result of the conversion performed by the conversion unit,

the conversion unit acquires the table information by supplying the identification information acquired by the acquisition unit to a server and requesting that the server provide table information corresponding to the identification information acquired by the acquisition unit, the server providing the table information in response to the request,

the conversion unit acquires the table information in response to receiving the identification information and a generated command from the first apparatus, the generated command being a command generated in response to the input of an operation command to the first apparatus, the operation command directing the first apparatus to perform a particular process on a low resolution version of a program, and the generated command directing the second apparatus to perform the particular process on a high resolution version of the program,

wherein the particular process comprises at least one of setting a timer-controlled recording operation so as to record a television program that will be broadcast in the future, canceling a recording operation being currently performed, protecting specified television program data, canceling protection for specified television program data, and deleting specified television program data, and

wherein a first acquisition means acquires identification information and command information both supplied from an external apparatus, the command information specifying a process to be performed on a broadcast content identified by the identification information;

a second acquisition means acquires the table information from the external apparatus, the conversion means converts, in accordance with the table information acquired by the second acquisition means, the identification information acquired by the first acquisition means into identification information identifying another broadcast content corresponding to the broadcast content identified by the identification information acquired by the first acquisition means, a search means searches for the broadcast content identified by the identification information given as the result of the conversion performed by the conversion means, a determination means determines the specific process, corresponding to the process specified by the command information acquired by the first acquisition means, to be actually performed on the broadcast content detected as the result of the search performed by the search means, and a process execution means executes a specific process determined by the determination means;

third acquisition means acquires the broadcast content and the identification information; and

storage control means stores the broadcast content acquired by the third acquisition means in a storage unit, the process specified by the command information being a process associated with a control of the storage control means.