Information processing apparatus and associated method of content exchange

• US 8,463,868 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2005
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Morita, Toshihiro, Hatanaka, Mitsuyuki, Kojima, Kiyonobu, Tambata, Ippei, Shiroma, Shin
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MINH CHAU
• Application Number:
  US11/077,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20050165898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,015 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709216-217, 704/270, 710/5, 700/94, 715/863
• US Class Current: 709/216
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/435 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/60 of audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/63 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1062 Editing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00797 wherein the usage restriction limits the number of times a content can be reproduced, e.g. using playback counters
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00869 wherein the remote server can deliver the content to a receiving device
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets

Abstract

An information processor such as a personal computer is provided. A terminal is operably linked to the information processor to check out or to check in content to/from the terminal. A device driver detects that a portable device is connected to the information processor and when the device driver detects that the portable device is connected to the information processor, a start-up program reads contents-related data from the portable device and starts up a display/operation instruction program to provide a display corresponding to the data accessed from the terminal.

Claims

1. An information processing method comprising detecting that a portable device is connected to a port of an information processor;

acquiring a device ID from the portable device connected to the port when the connection of the portable device to the port is detected;

judging whether the portable device connected to the port is a predetermined portable device based on the device ID;

automatically transferring content stored in the information processor to the portable device, when it is judged that the portable device is the predetermined portable device.

2. The information processing method according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a name corresponding to particular content stored in the portable device to a display of the information processor.

3. The information processing method according to claim 1, wherein the content is transferred in accordance with a filtering package based upon history data indicating previous exchanges between the portable device and the information processor with respect to specific content.

4. The communication processing method of claim 1 wherein specific contents stored in the information processor are identified as corresponding to the device ID, the identified content being the content automatically transferred from the information processor to the portable device.

5. An information processing method comprising:

detecting that a portable device is connected to a port of an information processor;

acquiring a device ID from the portable device connected to the port when the connection of the portable device to the port is detected;

judging whether the portable device connected to the port is a predetermined portable device based on the device ID;

automatically transferring content belonging to a filtering package stored in the information processor to the portable device, when it is judged that the portable device is the predetermined portable device.

6. The information processing method according to claim 5,

wherein the filtering package is selected based on history data indicating previous exchanges between the portable device and the information processor with respect to specific content.

7. The communication processing method of claim 5 wherein specific contents stored in the information processor are identified as corresponding to the device ID, the identified content being the content automatically transferred from the information processor to the portable device.

8. An information processing system for exchanging content, comprising:

an information processing apparatus having content stored therein;

a portable device including an interface for operably linking to the information processing device, upon connection of the portable device to the information processor through the interface, the portable device provides a device ID of the portable device to the information processing apparatus,

wherein the information processing device judges whether the portable device operably linked thereto is a predetermined portable device based on the device ID, and, if so, automatically transfers the content stored in the information processor to the portable device.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein specific contents stored in the information processor are identified as corresponding to the device ID, the identified content being the content automatically transferred from the information processor to the portable device.

10. An information processing system for exchanging content, comprising:

an information processing apparatus having content stored therein;

a portable device including an interface for operably linking to the information processing device, upon connection of the portable device to the information processor through the interface, the portable device provides a device ID of the portable device to the information processing apparatus,

wherein the information processing device judges whether the portable device operably linked thereto is a predetermined portable device based on the device ID and, if so, automatically transfers content belonging to a filtering package stored in the information processor to the portable device.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein a specific filtering package of a plurality of filtering packages is identified as corresponding to the device ID, the content belonging to the specific filtering package being the content automatically transferred from the information processor to the portable device.

12. A computer readable storage medium storing computer program instructions that cause a computer to implement a method of exchanging content, the method comprising:

detecting that a portable device is connected to a port of an information processor;

acquiring a device ID from the portable device connected to the port when the connection of the portable device to the port is detected;

judging whether the portable device connected to the port is a predetermined portable device based on the device ID;

automatically transferring content stored in the information processor;

to the portable device, when it is judged that the portable device is the predetermined portable device.

13. A computer readable storage medium storing computer program instructions that cause a computer to implement a method of exchanging content, the method comprising:

detecting that a portable device is connected to a port of an information processor;

acquiring a device ID from the portable device connected to the port when the connection of the portable device to the port is detected;

judging whether the portable device connected to the port is a predetermined portable device based on the device ID;

automatically transferring content belonging to a filtering package stored in the information processor to the portable device, when it is judged that the portable device is the predetermined portable device.

14. An information processor having contents stored therein comprising:

a connecting port for connecting a portable device;

a storing unit configured to store a program;

a processing unit configured to execute said program stored by the storing unit;

wherein said program;

detects that a portable device is connected to the port of the information processor;

acquires a device ID from the portable device connected to the port when the connection of the portable device to the port is detected;

judges whether the portable device connected to the port is a predetermined portable device based on the device ID;

automatically transferring content stored in the information processor to the portable device, when it is judged that the portable device is the predetermined portable device.

15. An information processor having contents stored therein comprising:

a connecting port configured to connect a portable device;

a storing unit configured to store a program;

a processing unit configured to execute said program stored by the storing unit;

wherein said program;

detects that a portable device is connected to the port of the information processor;

acquires a device ID from the portable device connected to the port when the connection of the portable device to the port is detected;

judges whether the portable device connected to the port is a predetermined portable device based on the device ID;

automatically transfers content belonging to a filtering package stored in the information processor to the portable device, when it is judged that the portable device is the predetermined portable device.

16. An information processor having contents stored therein comprising:

a connecting port configured to connect a portable device;

detecting means for detecting that a portable device is connected to a connecting port of the information processor;

acquiring means for acquiring a device ID from the portable device connected to the connecting port when the connection of the portable device to the port is detected;

judging means for judging whether the portable device connected to the port is a predetermined portable device based on the device ID;

transferring means for automatically transferring content stored in the information processor to the portable device, when it is judged that the portable device is the predetermined portable device.

17. An information processor having contents stored therein comprising:

a connecting port configured to connect a portable device;

detecting means for detecting that a portable device is connected to a connecting port of the information processor;

acquiring means for acquiring a device ID from the portable device connected to the connecting port when the connection of the portable device to the port is detected;

judging means for judging whether the portable device connected to the port is a predetermined portable device based on the device ID;

transferring means for automatically transferring content belonging to a filtering package stored in the information processor to the portable device, when it is judged that the portable device is the predetermined portable device.

18. A portable device comprising:

a connector that connects to an information processor;

a first transferring unit to transfer ID of the portable device to the information processor when a connection to the information processor is detected;

a storing unit to store content and data related to the content transmitted from the information processor;

a second transferring unit to transfer the data corresponding to the content stored in the portable device; and

a reproducer to reproduce the stored content;

wherein content is automatically transferred to the portable device when it is judged that the portable device is a predetermined portable device.

19. A method of storing to a portable device, said method comprising the steps of:

connecting to an information processor;

first transferring ID of the portable device to the information processor when a connection to the information processor is detected;

storing content and data related to the content transmitted from the information processor;

second transferring the data corresponding to the content stored in the portable device; and

reproducing the stored content;

wherein content is automatically transferred to the portable device when it is judged that the portable device is the predetermined portable device.

20. An information processing method comprising:

detecting that a portable device is connected to a port of an information processor;

acquiring a device ID from the portable device connected to the port when a connection of the portable device to the port is detected;

judging whether a predetermined portable device is connected based on the device ID;

automatically transferring content stored in the information processor to the portable device, when it is judged that the portable device is the predetermined portable device.

21. An information processing method comprising:

detecting that a portable device is connected to a port of an information processor;

acquiring a device ID for the portable device connected to the port when the connection of the device to the port is detected;

judging whether the device connected to the port is a predetermined portable device based on the device ID; and

automatically transferring content selected randomly from the content stored in the processor to the portable device, when it is determined that the predetermined portable device is connected to the processor.

22. An information processor having contents stored therein comprising:

a connecting port configured to connect a portable device;

a storing unit configured to store a program;

a processing unit configured to execute said program stored by the storing unit;

wherein said program;

detects that a portable device is connected to the port of the information processor;

acquires a device ID from the portable device connected to the port when the connection of the portable device to the port is detected;

judges whether the portable device connected to the port is a predetermined portable device based on the device ID; and

automatically transfers content selected randomly from the content stored in the processor to the portable device, when it is judged that the portable device is the predetermined portable device.

23. A portable device comprising:

a connector that connects to an information processor;

a first transferring unit to transfer ID of the portable device to the information processor when a connection to the information processor is detected;

a storing unit to store content and data related to the content transmitted from the information processor;

a second transferring unit to transfer the data corresponding to the content stored in the portable device;

a reproducer to reproduce the stored content; and

automatically transferring content selected randomly from the content stored in the processor to the portable device, when it is judged that the portable device is the predetermined portable device.

24. A computer readable storage medium storing computer program instructions that cause a computer to implement a method of exchanging content, the method comprising:

detecting that a portable device is connected to a port of an information processor;

acquiring a device ID from the portable device connected to the port when the connection of the device to the port is detected;

judging whether the device connected to the port is a predetermined portable device based on the device ID; and

automatically transferring content selected randomly from the content stored in the processor to the portable device, when it is judged that the portable device is the predetermined portable device.

25. An information processing system for exchanging content, comprising:

an information processing apparatus having content stored therein;

a portable device including an interface for operably linking to the information processing device, upon connection of the portable device to the information processor through the interface, the portable device provides a device ID of the portable device to the information processing apparatus,

wherein the information processing device judges whether the portable device operably linked thereto is a predetermined portable device based on the device ID and, if so, automatically transfers content stored in the information processor, selected randomly, to the portable device.

26. An information processor having contents stored therein comprising:

a connecting port for connecting a portable device;

a processing unit configured to execute an instruction set which includes a detection module, an acquisition module, a judgment module and a transfer module,

wherein the instruction set,

detects that a portable device is connected to the port of the information processor through the detection module;

acquires a device ID from the portable device connected to the port when the connection of the portable device to the port is detected through the acquisition module;

judges whether the portable device connected to the port is a predetermined portable device based on the device ID through the judgment module;

transfers content stored in the information processor the portable device, when it is judged that the portable device is the predetermined portable device through the transfer module.

27. An information processor having contents stored therein comprising:

a connecting port configured to connect a portable device;

a processing unit configured to execute an instruction set which includes a detection module, an acquisition module, a judgment module and a transfer module,

wherein the instruction set,

detects that a portable device is connected to the port of the information processor through the detection module;

acquires a device ID from the portable device connected to the port when the connection of the portable device to the port is detected through the acquisition module;

judges whether the portable device connected to the port is a predetermined portable device based on the device ID through the judgment module;

automatically transfers content belonging to a filtering package stored in the information processor to the portable device, when it is determined the portable device is the predetermined portable device through the transferring module.

28. An information processor having contents stored therein comprising:

a connecting port configured to connect a portable device;

a processing unit configured to execute an instruction set which includes a detection module, an acquisition module, a judgment module and a transfer module,

wherein the instruction set,

detects that a portable device is connected to the port of the information processor through the detection module;

acquires a device ID from the portable device connected to the port when the connection of the portable device to the port is detected through the acquisition module;

judges whether the portable device connected to the port is a predetermined portable device based on the device ID through the judgment module;

automatically transfers content selected randomly from the content stored in the processor to the portable device, when it is judged that the portable device is the predetermined portable device through the transferring module.