Content delivering method

• US 20020023167A1
• Filed: 05/15/2001
• Published: 02/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Akashi, Tatsuya, Kurihara, Junichi, Ozaki, Junko, Munenaka, Mika
• Granted Patent: US 7,043,556 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A content delivering method for transmitting a content file from a server to a user terminal unit through a network and causing the user terminal unit to stream-reproduce the content file is disclosed. The method includes designating a non-skip area that represents an important portion of a content file. The method further includes transmitting information from the non-skip area from the server to the user terminal unit along with the content file. According to the inventive method, the user terminal unit is caused to determine whether or not the non-skip area has been skipped and when the non-skip area has been skipped, transmits information that indicates that the non-skip area has been skipped to the server. Finally, the method includes causing the server to transmit information corresponding to the non-skip area to the user by another transmitting means when the server has received the information that indicates that the non-skip area has been skipped.

Claims

1. A content delivering method for transmitting a content file from a server to a user terminal unit through a network and for causing the user terminal unit to stream-reproduce the content file, the method comprising the steps of:

designating a non-skip area that represents an important portion to the content file;

transmitting information from the non-skip area from the server to the user terminal unit along with the content file;

causing the user terminal unit to determine whether or not the non-skip area has been skipped and when the non-skip area has been skipped, transmitting information indicating that the non-skip area has been skipped to the server; and

causing the server to transmit information corresponding to the non-skip area to the user by another transmitting means when the server receives the information indicating that the non-skip area has been skipped.

2. The content delivering method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the other transmitting means is electronic mail.