Information processing device

• US 20040015989A1
• Filed: 04/04/2003
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Miyazaki, Takuma, Hanaya, Hiroyuki, Kaizu, Tatsuo
• Granted Patent: US 8,132,209 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/023 remotely controlled
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/00 Arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus with cameras or projectors G03B31/00 ; recording/reproducing of music for electrophonic musical instruments G10H1/0033; automatic arrangements for answering calls or for recording messages for absent subscribers H04M1/64; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with dictation recording and playback systems H04M11/10; connection of TV recorder with other related apparatus, e.g. TV camera or receiver, in which the TV signal is significantly involved H04N, e.g. H04N23/00, H04N5/765; combination of radio or TV with other apparatus, e.g. with vehicles H05K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/76 Wired systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/09 Arrangements for device control with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time; Arrangements for control of broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/39 for identifying broadcast space-time use of Electronic Programme Guides H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/80 characterised by transmission among terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 : involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 : Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 : the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 : using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction

Abstract

This invention relates to an information processing apparatus for allowing a user at a remote location to make easy and quick reservation of a TV program for unattended recording over a network. In step S103, the user accesses an EPG server to get an HTML-based TV program information screen displayed on the user'"'"'s camera-equipped digital mobile telephone and reserves through the screen a desired program for unattended recording. In response, a main control unit of the telephone requests the EPG server to attach recording reservation data about the program reserved by the user to an e-mail and to send the e-mail to the user'"'"'s personal computer along with the attachment. Given the send request, the EPG server retrieves the recording reservation data from an EPG information database in step S112, and attaches the retrieved data to an e-mail via the internet before sending the e-mail to the personal computer in step S113, the personal computer being located remotely such as in the user'"'"'s home.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

first requesting means for requesting a program information providing apparatus to provide program information about programs via a network;

selecting means for selecting any of said programs by controlling display of said program information provided by said program information providing apparatus; and

second requesting means which, if any of said programs is selected by said selecting means, then requests said program information providing apparatus to attach to an e-mail control data for controlling reservation of the selected program for unattended recording before sending said e-mail together with the attached control data to another information processing apparatus.

2. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

associating means for associating a predetermined music file with a mail address of said another information processing apparatus;

e-mail receiving means for receiving via the network from said another information processing apparatus an e-mail saying that the reservation of said selected program for unattended recording is completed; and

ringing tone outputting means which, if said e-mail received by said e-mail receiving means has a mail address associated with said music file by said associating means, then outputs said music file as a ringing tone upon receipt of said e-mail by said e-mail receiving means.

3. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control data include channel information, a recording start date, a recording start time, and a recording stop time.

4. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control data are added to said e-mail as an attachment file.

5. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control data are described in a message of said e-mail.

6. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second requesting means requests said program information providing apparatus to attach said control data to a general-purpose e-mail before sending said general-purpose e-mail together with the attached control data to said another information processing apparatus over said network.

7. An information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said general-purpose e-mail can be sent and received over the Internet.

8. An information processing method comprising the steps of:

requesting firstly a program information providing apparatus to provide program information about programs via a network;

selecting any of said programs by controlling display of said program information provided by said program information providing apparatus; and

if any of said programs is selected in said selecting step, then requesting secondly said program information providing apparatus to attach to an e-mail control data for controlling reservation of the selected program for unattended recording before sending said e-mail together with the attached control data via the network to another information processing apparatus.

9. A program storage medium which stores a computer-readable program comprising the steps of:

requesting firstly a program information providing apparatus to provide program information about programs via a network;

selecting any of said programs by controlling display of said program information provided by said program information providing apparatus; and

if any of said programs is selected in said selecting step, then requesting secondly said program information providing apparatus to attach to an e-mail control data for controlling reservation of the selected program for unattended recording before sending said e-mail together with the attached control data via the network to another information processing apparatus.

10. An information processing apparatus comprising:

e-mail receiving means for receiving an e-mail sent over a network from another information processing apparatus, said e-mail having control data attached thereto for controlling reservation of a program for unattended recording; and

recording controlling means for initially storing said control data attached to said e-mail received by said e-mail receiving means, before controlling unattended recording of said program based on the stored control data.

11. An information processing apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising e-mail sending means for sending to said another information apparatus an e-mail saying that the reservation of said program for unattended recording is completed.

12. An information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said control data include channel information, a recording start date, a recording start time, and a recording stop time.

13. An information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said control data are added to said e-mail as an attachment.

14. An information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said control data are described in a message of said e-mail.

15. An information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said e-mail receiving means receives a general-purpose e-mail to which said control data are attached, said general-purpose e-mail being sent from said another information processing apparatus over said network.

16. An information processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said general-purpose e-mail can be sent and received over the Internet.

17. An information processing method comprising the steps of:

receiving an e-mail sent over a network from an information processing apparatus, said e-mail having control data attached thereto for controlling reservation of a program for unattended recording; and

controlling recording by initially storing said control data attached to said e-mail received in said e-mail receiving step, before controlling unattended recording of said program based on the stored control data.

18. A program storage medium which stores a computer-readable program comprising the steps of:

receiving an e-mail sent over a network from an information processing apparatus, said e-mail having control data attached thereto for controlling reservation of a program for unattended recording; and

controlling recording by initially storing said control data attached to said e-mail received in said e-mail receiving step, before controlling unattended recording of said program based on the stored control data.

19. A program information providing apparatus comprising:

storing means for storing control data for controlling reservation of a program for unattended recording;

providing means which, if a first information processing apparatus requests provision of program information about said program over a network, then provides said program information to said first information processing apparatus;

preparing means which, if said first information processing apparatus requests that said control data be sent over said network to a second information processing apparatus, then reads said control data from said storing means before preparing an e-mail by attaching the retrieved control data to said e-mail; and

sending means for sending said e-mail prepared by said preparing means to said second information processing apparatus over said network.

20. A program information providing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said control data include channel information, a recording start date, a recording start time, and a recording stop time.

21. A program information providing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said control data are added to said e-mail as an attachment.

22. A program information providing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said control data are described in a message of said e-mail.

23. A program information providing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said sending means attaches said control data to a general-purpose e-mail before sending said general-purpose e-mail together with the attached control data to said second information processing apparatus over said network.

24. A program information providing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said general-purpose e-mail can be sent and received over the Internet.

25. A program information providing method comprising the steps of:

controlling storage of control data for controlling reservation of a program for unattended recording;

if a first information processing apparatus requests program information about said program over a network, then providing said program information to said first information processing apparatus;

if said first information processing apparatus requests that said control data be sent over said network to a second information processing apparatus, then reading said control data stored in said storage controlling step before preparing an e-mail by attaching the retrieved control data to said e-mail; and

sending said e-mail prepared in said preparing step to said second information processing apparatus over said network.

26. A program storage medium which stores a computer-readable program comprising the steps of:

controlling storage of control data for controlling reservation of a program for unattended recording;

if a first information processing apparatus requests program information about said program over a network, then providing said program information to said first information processing apparatus;

if said first information processing apparatus requests that said control data be sent over said network to a second information processing apparatus, then reading said control data stored in said storage controlling step before preparing an e-mail by attaching the retrieved control data to said e-mail; and

sending said e-mail prepared in said preparing step to said second information processing apparatus over said network.

27. An image recording system comprising a program information providing apparatus, a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus, said program information providing apparatus providing over a network control data for controlling reservation of a program for unattended recording, said first information processing apparatus reserving said program for unattended recording, said second information processing apparatus recording said program in unattended fashion;

wherein said program information providing apparatus comprises;

storing means for storing said control data;

preparing means which, if said first information processing apparatus requests that said control data be sent over said network to said second information processing apparatus, then reads said control data from said storing means before preparing an e-mail by attaching the retrieved control data to said e-mail; and

sending means for sending said e-mail prepared by said preparing means to said second information processing apparatus over said network;

wherein said first information processing apparatus comprises;

selecting means for initially controlling display of program information provided by said program information providing apparatus over said network, before selecting said program from among the programs covered by said program information; and

requesting means which, if said program is selected by said selecting means, then requests said program information providing apparatus to send said control data to said second information processing apparatus over said network; and

wherein said second information processing apparatus comprises;

receiving means for receiving said e-mail sent from said program information providing apparatus over said network; and

recording controlling means for initially storing said control data attached to said e-mail received by said receiving means, before controlling unattended recording of said program based on the stored control data.