Information processing apparatus and information processing method

• US 20020147688A1
• Filed: 03/21/2002
• Published: 10/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LINE Corporation (A Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Arai, Toshiyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,389,271 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/52
• 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: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0071 involving a purchase action
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• 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 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D

Abstract

An efficient retrieval of information as well as a more rational information distribution system are realized. To this end, an arrangement is put in place where retrieval can be carried out based on various kinds of retrieval information related to download information and particularly, at a time when the download information is specified from the retrieval information, if the retrieval information is outputted to a user as an advertisement, the amount of money to be billed for the download information is reduced by what the advertisement is worth.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

an information memorizing unit for memorizing a plurality of information each attached with information identifying data;

retrieval information memorizing unit for memorizing a plurality of retrieval information each attached with retrieval identifying data as well as correspondence information for having said retrieval identifying data and said information identifying data correspond to each other;

a manipulating unit manipulated by a user;

a control unit for selecting retrieval information corresponding to an input from said manipulating unit from a plurality of retrieval information read out from said retrieval information memorizing unit as well as for reading out said information identifying data which corresponds to any one of the input from said manipulating unit and said selected retrieval information based on the correspondence information memorized in said retrieval information memorizing unit; and

a retrieving unit for retrieving and outputting information corresponding to the information identifying data read out by said control unit from the plurality of information memorized in said information memorizing unit based on the information identifying data read out by said control unit.

2. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein secondary information related to the plurality of information memorized in said information memorizing unit is memorized as retrieval information in said retrieval information memorizing unit.

3. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein a displaying unit controlled by said control unit is provided and said control unit has said displaying unit display a display for selecting from said plurality of retrieval information based on the secondary information read out from said retrieval information memorizing unit.

4. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said control unit has said displaying unit display a selecting screen for the user for selecting said read out plurality of retrieval information based on said secondary information by using said manipulating unit.

5. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said control unit reproduces said secondary information of said selected retrieval information.

6. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said secondary information is at least information related to an advertisement, a movie and a broadcast in which information memorized in said memorizing unit is used.

7. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a billing unit is provided for carrying out a billing process every time said information corresponding to information identifying data read out by said control unit is output, and history information is supplied to said bill processing unit showing whether information identifying data is read out from said control unit by using retrieval information memorized in said retrieval information memorizing unit or said information identifying data is read out based on an input from said manipulating unit.

8. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said bill processing unit carries out different billing processes based on history information supplied from said control unit in one case where information identifying data is read out from said control unit by using retrieval information memorized in said retrieval information memorizing unit and in a case where said information identifying data is read out based on an input from said manipulating unit.

9. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said bill processing unit carries out a billing reducing process when said history information shows a case where information identifying data is read out by using retrieval information memorized in said retrieval information memorizing unit.

10. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a memorizing unit is provided for memorizing information corresponding to information identifying data which is read out by said control unit and outputted from said retrieving unit.

11. A information processing method wherein retrieval information corresponding to an input from a manipulating unit is selected from a plurality of retrieval information read out from a retrieval information memorizing unit,

said information identifying data corresponding to any one of an input from said manipulation and said retrieval information selected based on correspondence information for having retrieval identifying data attached to said each retrieval information memorized in said retrieval information memorizing unit and information identifying data each attached to a plurality of information memorized in information memorizing unit, correspond to each other is read out, and

based on said read-out information identifying data, information corresponding to said information identifying data read out from a plurality of information memorized in said information memorizing unit is retrieved and outputted.

12. An information processing method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said retrieval information is a secondary information related to a plurality of information memorized in said information memorizing unit.

13. An information processing method as claimed in claim 12, wherein a display for selecting said plurality of retrieving information based on secondary information read out from said retrieval information memorizing unit.

14. An information processing method as claimed in claim 13, wherein a selecting screen for selecting said plurality of retrieval information read out based on said secondary information by the user using said manipulating unit is displayed.

15. An information processing method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said secondary information of said selected retrieval information is reproduced to verify said selected retrieval information.

16. An information processing method as claimed in claim 15, wherein after said selected retrieval information is verified, said information identifying data corresponding to said selected retrieval information is read out and outputted.

17. An information processing method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said secondary information is information related to an advertisement, a movie and a broadcast in which information at least memorized in said memorizing unit is used.

18. An information processing method as claimed in claim 11, wherein a billing process is carried out based on history information showing whether said information identifying data is read out by using retrieval information memorized in said retrieval information memorizing unit or said information identifying data is read out based on an input from said manipulating unit.

19. An information processing method as claimed in claim 18, wherein different billing processes are carried out in one case where information identifying data is read out by using retrieval information memorized in said retrieval information memorizing unit based on said history information, and in a case where said information identifying data is read out based on an input from said manipulating unit.

20. An information processing method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said billing process is a billing reduction process in a case where information identifying data is read out by using retrieval information memorized in said retrieval information memorizing unit.

21. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

a retrieval information memorizing unit for memorizing correspondence information for having a plurality of retrieving information each attached with retrieval identifying data, said retrieval identifying data and information identifying data each attached to a plurality of information correspond to each other,

a manipulating unit manipulated by the user, and

a control unit for selecting retrieval information corresponding to an input from said manipulating unit from a plurality of retrieval information read out from said retrieval information memorizing unit as well as reading out said information identifying data corresponding to any one of an input from said manipulating unit and said retrieval information selected based on correspondence information memorized in said retrieval information memorizing unit.

22. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein secondary information related to a plurality of information memorized in said information memorizing unit is memorized in said retrieval information memorizing unit as secondary information.

23. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein a displaying unit is provided, which is controlled by said control unit and said control unit has said displaying unit display a display for selecting said plurality of retrieval information based on secondary information read out from said retrieval information memorizing unit.

24. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein said control unit has said displaying unit display a selection screen for the user to select a plurality of retrieval information read out based on said secondary information by using said manipulating unit.

25. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein said control unit reproduces said secondary information of said selected retrieval information.

26. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein said secondary information is information related to an advertisement, a movie and a broadcast in which information at least memorized in said memorizing unit is used.

27. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein a memorizing unit is provided for memorizing information corresponding to information identifying data read out by said control unit from among said plurality of information to be retrieved.

28. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 27, comprising;

a main body unit in which said manipulating unit, said retrieval memorizing unit and said control unit are provided, and a terminal unit having said memorizing unit removably provided in said main body.

30. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein secondary information related to an advertisement, a movie and a broadcast in which information memorized in at least said information memorizing unit is used with respect to a plurality of information memorized in said information memorizing unit is memorized in said retrieval information memorizing unit as retrieval information.

31. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein a displaying unit controlled by said control unit is provided and based on secondary information read out from said retrieval information memorizing unit, said control unit has said displaying unit display a display for selecting said plurality of secondary information.

32. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein said control unit has said displaying unit display a selection screen for selecting said plurality of retrieval information read out based on said secondary information by the user manipulating said manipulating unit.

33. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 32, wherein said control unit reproduces said secondary information of said selected retrieval information.

34. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein a billing process unit is provided for carrying out a billing process every time information corresponding to information identifying data read out by said control unit is outputted from said retrieving unit, and history information showing whether information identifying data is read out from said control unit by using retrieval information memorized in said retrieval information memorizing unit or said information identifying data is read out based on an input from said manipulating unit is supplied to said billing process unit.

35. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 34, wherein said billing processing unit carries out different billing processes based on history information supplied from said control unit in a case where said information identifying data is read out from said control unit by using retrieval information memorized in said retrieval information memorizing unit, and in a case where said information identifying data is read out based on an input from said manipulating unit.

36. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein said billing processing unit carries out a billing reduction process when said history information shows a case where information identifying data is read out by using retrieval information memorized in said retrieval information memorizing unit.

37. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein a memorizing unit is provided for memorizing information corresponding to information identifying data read out by said control unit as well as outputted from said retrieving unit.

38. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 37, comprising a main body unit in which said manipulating unit, said retrieval memorizing unit and said control unit are provided and a terminal unit having said memorizing unit removably provided in said main body.

29. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

an information memorizing unit in which a plurality of information each attached with information identifying data including at least audio data is memorized;

a retrieval information memorizing unit for memorizing a plurality of retrieval information each attached with retrieval identifying data and correspondence information for having said retrieval identifying data and said information identifying data correspond to each other;

a manipulating unit manipulated by the user;

a control unit for selecting retrieval information corresponding to an input from said manipulating unit from among a plurality of retrieval information read out from said retrieval information memorizing unit as well as reading out said information identifying data corresponding to any one of an input from said manipulating unit and said selected retrieval information based on correspondence information memorized in said retrieval information memorizing unit; and

a retrieving unit for retrieving and outputting information corresponding to information identifying data read out by said control unit from among a plurality of information memorized in said information memorizing unit based on information identifying data read out by said control unit.