Information communication terminal, information distribution apparatus, information distribution system, content management method, broadcast reception method, information distribution method, programs and storage medium

• US 8,700,741 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2011
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Izuru, Inoue, Hiraku
• Primary Examiner(s): KHAJURIA, SHRIPAL K
• Application Number:
  US13/285,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20120110122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/433 using audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• 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: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio

Abstract

An information distribution apparatus and an information communication terminal, in which contents are managed by using content identifiers (content IDs) managed as IDs conforming to a rule of uniformity. In the information communication terminal, a content ripped from a recording medium, and stored in a storage element, is also managed by using a content identifier acquired from the information distribution apparatus. Accordingly, contents stored in the storage element can be managed by using content IDs each managed as an ID common to the information communication terminal and the information distribution apparatus. In communicating between the information communication terminal and the information distribution apparatus, a content identifier conforming to a rule of uniformity is used for identifying a content to which the content identifier is assigned, so that the terminal is capable of downloading the content as well as acquiring additional information relevant to the content from the apparatus.

Claims

1. A data communication system, comprising:

a data distribution component including

circuitry configured to

communicate with a device, to provide content identification data specifying a content item, and to provide the content item for purchase, and

provide the content item provided to the device of a user, after a purchase process, to an other device of the user, and

a memory configured to store the content identification data and the content item;

the device including

circuitry configured to

communicate with the data distribution component,

receive the content identification data, and

receive after the purchase process the content item, and

a memory configured to store the content identification data and the purchased content item; and

the other device including

circuitry configured to communicate with the data distribution component and to receive the content identification data specifying the content item purchased at the device for download.

3. The data communication system according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry, included in the data distribution component, is further configured to provide a list of content items stored on the device to the other device.

2. A method of a data communication system for providing content, the method comprising:

providing, by a data distribution component, content identification data specifying a content item, the content identification data being stored in a memory of the data distribution component;

receiving, by a device, the content identification data;

providing, by the data distribution component, the content item for purchase, the content item being stored in the memory of the data distribution component;

receiving, by the device and after a purchase process, the content item;

storing the content identification data and the purchased content item in a memory of the device; and

receiving, by an other device, the content identification data specifying the content item purchased at the device for download; and

providing, by the data distribution component, the content item provided to the device of a user, after the purchase process, to the other device of the user.

4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

providing, by the circuitry included in the data distribution component, a list of content items stored on the device to the other device.