Communication system and its method and communication apparatus and its method

• US 9,712,614 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2014
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Data Scape Limited (Atlantic IP Services Limited)
• Original Assignee: Data Scape Limited (Atlantic IP Services Limited)
• Inventors: Morohashi, Akihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US14/229,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20140214926A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 709203, 725 87, 712 28, 712225, 715740-750, 705 268, 705 272
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/60 of audio data
• 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 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/213 Read-only discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2525 Magneto-optical [MO] discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• 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: G11B 27/36 Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2207/16 Solid state audio deprecated, only for historical reasons, G06F3/16, G11B
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/00 Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 : Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26258 : for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand

Abstract

This invention relates to a communication system including a first apparatus having a first storage medium, and a second apparatus for transmitting data to the first apparatus, the second apparatus comprising: a second storage medium for storing management information of data to be transferred to the first storage medium; communication means for communicating data with the first apparatus; edit means capable of editing the management information; and control means for making a control to transfer data stored in the second storage medium to the first storage medium by way of the communication means on the basis of the management information edited by the edit means.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store musical content data and a plurality of program lists associated with the musical content data;

a

data interface configured to interface with an external reproduction apparatus; and

circuitry configured to

control playback of musical content data based on a program list so that the musical content data referenced in the program list is played back as a collection, the program list being associated with a predetermined identifier uniquely identifying a predetermined external reproduction apparatus among a plurality of external reproduction apparatuses,

control presentation of the program list to a user via a user interface,

accept edits to the program list via the user interface,

determine whether an identifier received by the circuitry via the data interface is the predetermined identifier,

control transfer of the musical content data to the predetermined external reproduction apparatus via the data interface based on the program list when the received identifier is the predetermined identifier without receiving information on selection of the musical content data from the predetermined external reproduction apparatus,

compare the program list with a second list of musical content data stored in the predetermined external reproduction apparatus,

identify a piece of musical content data common to the program list and the second list based on the result of the comparison, and

control transfer to the predetermined external reproduction apparatus of the musical content data that is in the program list and is not in the second list of musical content data based on the result of the comparison such that transfer of the identified piece of musical content data common to the program list and the second list is omitted.

2. The communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to control download of the musical content data via Internet to the communication apparatus.

3. The communication apparatus of claim 2, wherein the circuitry is further configured to control access to data via the Internet using a unique key assigned to the user.

4. The communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to edit the program list without regard to whether the communication apparatus is connected to the predetermined external reproduction apparatus.

5. The communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to

judge whether or not the predetermined external reproduction apparatus has been connected to the communication apparatus;

and

start the transfer of the musical content data in case that it is judged that the predetermined external reproduction apparatus has been connected to the communication apparatus.

6. The communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

process a Table of Contents (TOC) from a Compact Disc (CD),

send information associated with the TOC to an external server, and

receive information associated with the CD from the external server.

7. The communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to control a display to (a) display a list of musical content data stored in the communication apparatus in one area of the display and (b) display the program list in another area of the display.

8. The communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the program list is stored in a program file, and the program file includes the predetermined identifier.

9. The communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined external reproduction apparatus includes a recording medium to record the transferred musical content data.

10. The communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus is configured to be directly connected with the external reproduction apparatus locally via the data interface without any intervening network.

11. The communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to prevent transfer of the musical content data to the predetermined external reproduction apparatus via the data interface based on the program list when the received identifier is not the predetermined identifier.

12. A method of a communication apparatus for transferring data, the method comprising:

controlling playback of musical content data stored in a memory based on a program list so that the musical content data referenced in the program list is played back as a collection, the program list being associated with a predetermined identifier uniquely identifying a predetermined external reproduction apparatus among a plurality of external reproduction apparatuses, the memory being configured to store the musical content data and a plurality of program lists associated with the musical content data;

controlling presentation of the program list to a user via a user interface, the user interface being configured to accept edits to the program list;

determining, by circuitry of the communication apparatus, whether an identifier received via a data interface, which is configured to interface with an external reproduction apparatus, is the predetermined identifier;

controlling, by the circuitry of the communication apparatus, transfer of the musical content data to the predetermined external reproduction apparatus via the data interface based on the program list when the received identifier is the predetermined identifier without receiving information on selection of the musical content data from the predetermined external reproduction apparatus;

comparing the program list with a second list of musical content data stored in the predetermined external reproduction apparatus;

identifying a piece of musical content data common to the program list and the second list based on the result of the comparison; and

controlling transfer to the predetermined external reproduction apparatus of the musical content data that is in the program list and is not in the second list of musical content data based on the result of the comparison such that transfer of the identified piece of musical content data common to the program list and the second list is omitted.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

controlling download of the musical content data via the Internet to the communication apparatus.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

controlling access to data via the Internet using a unique key assigned to the user.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

editing the program list without regard to whether the communication apparatus is connected to the predetermined external reproduction apparatus.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of controlling transfer comprises:

starting the transfer of the musical content data in response to connection of the predetermined external reproduction apparatus to the communication apparatus.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

comparing the program list with a second list of musical content data stored in the predetermined external reproduction apparatus, wherein

the step of transferring includes controlling transfer to the predetermined external reproduction apparatus of the musical content data that is in the program list and is not in the second list of musical content data based on the result of the comparison.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

processing a Table of Contents (TOC) from a Compact Disc (CD);

sending information associated with the TOC to an external server; and

receiving information associated with the CD from the external server.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

controlling a display to (a) display a list of musical content data stored in the communication apparatus in one area of the display and (b) display the program list in another area of the display.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which when executed by a computer causes the computer to perform a method of a communication apparatus for transferring data, the method comprising:

controlling playback of musical content data stored in a memory based on a program list so that the musical content data referenced in the program list is played back as a collection, the program list being associated with a predetermined identifier uniquely identifying a predetermined external reproduction apparatus among a plurality of external reproduction apparatuses, the memory being configured to store the musical content data and a plurality of program lists associated with the musical content data;

controlling presentation of the program list to a user via a user interface, the user interface being configured to accept edits to the program list;

determining, by the computer, whether an identifier received via a data interface, which is configured to interface with an external reproduction apparatus, is the predetermined identifier;

controlling, by the computer, transfer of the musical content data to the predetermined external reproduction apparatus via the data interface based on the program list when the received identifier is the predetermined identifier without receiving information on selection of the musical content data from the predetermined external reproduction apparatus;

comparing the program list with a second list of musical content data stored in the predetermined external reproduction apparatus;

identifying a piece of musical content data common to the program list and the second list based on the result of the comparison; and

controlling transfer to the predetermined external reproduction apparatus of the musical content data that is in the program list and is not in the second list of musical content data based on the result of the comparison such that transfer of the identified piece of musical content data common to the program list and the second list is omitted.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the method further comprises:

controlling download of the musical content data via the Internet to the communication apparatus.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the method further comprises:

controlling access to data via the Internet using a unique key assigned to the user.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the method further comprises:

editing the program list without regard to whether the communication apparatus is connected to the predetermined external reproduction apparatus.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the step of controlling transfer comprises:

starting the transfer of the musical content data in response to connection of the predetermined external reproduction apparatus to the communication apparatus.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the method further comprises:

comparing the program list with a second list of musical content data stored in the predetermined external reproduction apparatus, wherein

the step of transferring includes controlling transfer to the predetermined external reproduction apparatus of the musical content data that is in the program list and is not in the second list of musical content data based on the result of the comparison.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the method further comprises:

processing a Table of Contents (TOC) from a Compact Disc (CD);

sending information associated with the TOC to an external server; and

receiving information associated with the CD from the external server.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the method further comprises:

controlling a display to (a) display a list of musical content data stored in the communication apparatus in one area of the display and (b) display the program list in another area of the display.