Communication device and method thereof

• US 8,447,812 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2006
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Takai, Motoyuki, Nakamura, Takatoshi, Asukai, Masamichi, Takehara, Mitsuru, Sako, Yoichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, TAE K
• Application Number:
  US11/502,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20070043739A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,476 Days
• Field of Search: 709201-205, 709217-219, 709/248, 705/14, 370/328, 370/329, 370/349, 707/705, 707/736, 707/737
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/635 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/64 Browsing; Visualisation therefor generation of a list or set of audio data G06F16/638
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/686 using information manually generated, e.g. tags, keywords, comments, title or artist information, time, location or usage information, user ratings

Abstract

A communication method is disclosed which includes: first step of sending content attachment information including content link information from a sending device to a receiving device; and second step of connecting either the receiving device or a host device connected therewith to a server on a network in accordance with the content link information so as to receive and download content body data, content preview data, or content-related information from the server.

Claims

1. A communication method comprising:

a first step of automatically receiving, by a receiving device from a sending device upon the receiving device coming within a wireless communication range of the sending device, (i) a content list comprising information on a plurality of content items stored on the sending device or a device connectable to the sending device, the information for each one of the content items comprising content attachment information including content link information for the one content item and recommendation information provided by a user of the sending device about the one content item, and (ii) information for identifying the sending device or a user thereof;

a second step of connecting said receiving device to a server on a network in accordance with said content link information so as to receive and download content body data, content preview data, or content-related information relating to one or more of the plurality of content items from said server;

a third step of updating, by either the receiving device or a host device connected therewith, a content list stored on either the receiving device or the host device connected therewith in accordance with content attachment information for at least a portion of the plurality of content items;

a fourth step of creating or modifying, by either the receiving device or the host device connected therewith, a rating of either the sending device or the user thereof, the rating being based at least in part on one or more content items for which information is included in the content list received in the first step; and

wherein the fourth step is performed after either or both of the second and third steps.

2. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein said sending device and said receiving device are configured to be wireless terminals capable of directly sending and receiving information therebetween within said communication range.

3. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein said second step is automatically carried out by control means of said receiving device when said receiving device receives said content attachment information from said sending device in said first step.

4. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein said second step is automatically carried out by control means of said receiving device when said receiving device is connected to an access point following said first step.

5. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein said content attachment information concerns contents in a content list held by said sending device.

6. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the rating is used as a basis for determining whether or not the receiving device receives a content list from the same sending device or the same user in the future.

7. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the third step further comprises said receiving device or said host device connected therewith newly creating a content list in accordance with said content attachment information.

8. A communication apparatus comprising:

a communication section configured to automatically receive, upon coming within a wireless communication range of another communication apparatus, (i) a content list from the other communication apparatus comprising information on a plurality of content items stored on the other communication apparatus or a device connectable to the other communication apparatus, the information for each one of the content items comprising content attachment information including content link information for the one content item and recommendation information provided by a user of the other communication apparatus about the one content item, and (ii) information for identifying the other communication apparatus or a user thereof;

a connection section configured to connect either directly or indirectly to a server for distributing contents;

a recording section configured to record information; and

a control section configured to;

connect said connection section to said server upon receipt of said content attachment information through said communication section, so as to receive and download first information comprising content body data, content preview data, or content-related information relating to one or more of the plurality of content items from said server, before recording the first information to said recording section;

update a content list stored on the recording section in accordance with content attachment information for at least a portion of the plurality of content items; and

create or modify, after one or both of the connecting and the updating, rating of the other communication apparatus or the user thereof, the rating being based at least in part on one or more content items for which information is included in the content list received from the other communication apparatus by the communication section.