Content providing/acquiring system

• US 20040215469A1
• Filed: 10/18/2002
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ozaki, Hiroshi, Fujii, Hajime, Fukushima, Osamu
• Application Number:
  US10/258,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20040215469A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

A content providing apparatus previously receives customer identification information and content identification information as customer reservation information via a terminal device, and sends customer desired content data corresponding to the content identification information to a content obtaining apparatus, so as to provide a customer with the customer desired content data via the content obtaining apparatus more easily, thus making it possible to significantly improve the usability of a content obtaining/providing system. In addition, a content providing server sends three-dimensional images to a portable dedicated terminal in response to a preview request sent from the portable dedicated terminal to display it, and then sends commercial data corresponding to a preview request sent according to the display state of the three-dimensional images to reproduce it, so as to make the customer view and preview the content to allow the customer to accurately judge whether the content meets his/her taste, thus making it possible to select content data lightheartedly.

Claims

1. A content providing/obtaining system comprising a content providing apparatus for providing content data and a content obtaining apparatus for obtaining said content data provided from the content providing apparatus, wherein:

said content providing apparatus comprises;

content data storage means for storing a plurality of said content data;

customer reservation information receiving means for receiving customer identification information on a customer accessing the content providing apparatus with a prescribed terminal device and content identification information on customer desired content data desired by said customer, as customer reservation information;

search means for searching said content data storage means for said customer desired content data corresponding to said content identification information, and

content data sending means for sending said customer desired content data found by said search means to said content obtaining apparatus; and

said content obtaining apparatus comprises;

interface means accessible to said content providing apparatus only;

content data recording means for recording said customer desired content data received via said interface means from said content providing apparatus, on a storage medium; and

reproducing/outputting means for reproducing and outputting said customer desired content data from said storage medium.

2. The content providing/obtaining system according to claim 1, wherein

said content obtaining apparatus is located far away from said prescribed terminal device.

3. The content providing/obtaining system according to claim 2, wherein

said content data recording means records said customer desired content data on said storage means built in said content obtaining apparatus.

4. The content providing/obtaining system according to claim 3, wherein

said content obtaining apparatus is small enough to carry.

5. The content providing/obtaining system according to claim 1, wherein

said content providing apparatus comprises content obtaining apparatus identification information sending means for sending content obtaining apparatus identification information which is identification information unique to said content obtaining apparatus, to said prescribed terminal device.

6. The content providing/obtaining system according to claim 1, wherein:

said customer reservation information receiving means receives system specifying information specifying a rental system or purchase system by which said customer desired content data is received, as one item included in said customer reservation information, from said terminal device; and

said content data sending means sends said customer desired content data to said content obtaining apparatus by the rental system or purchase system according to said system specifying information.

7. The content providing/obtaining system according to claim 6, wherein

said content data sending means, when sending said customer desired content data to said content obtaining apparatus by said rental system, sends, at least, rental period information indicating the rental period as well, to said content obtaining apparatus.

8. The content providing/obtaining system according to claim 7, wherein

said reproducing/outputting means forbids the reproduction of said customer desired content data from said storage medium if said rental period of the customer desired content data based on said rental period information expires.

9. The content providing/obtaining system according to claim 6, wherein:

said customer reservation information receiving means receives payment information specifying the payment method of charge for said customer desired content data by said rental system or said purchase system, as said customer reservation information; and

said content providing apparatus comprises accounting information generating means for generating accounting information according to said customer identification information and said charge and sending the generated accounting information to an external settlement processing device.

10. A content providing/obtaining method for obtaining content data provided from a content providing apparatus with a content obtaining apparatus, wherein:

said content providing apparatus comprises;

the customer reservation information receiving step of receiving customer identification information on a customer having access with a prescribed terminal device and content identification information on customer desired content data desired by said customer, as customer reservation information;

the search step of searching content data storage means;

storing a lot of said content data for said customer desired content data corresponding to said content identification information; and

the content data sending step of sending said customer desired content data found by said search step to said content obtaining apparatus; and

said content obtaining apparatus comprises;

the content data recording step of recording said customer desired content data received from said content providing apparatus via interface means accessible to said content providing apparatus only, on a storage medium; and

the reproducing/outputting step of reproducing and outputting said customer desired content data from said storage medium.

11. The content providing/obtaining method according to claim 10, wherein

said content data sending step sends said customer desired content data to said content obtaining apparatus located far from said prescribed terminal device.

12. The content providing/obtaining method according to claim 11, wherein

said content data recording step records said customer desired content data on said storage medium built in said content obtaining apparatus.

13. The content providing/obtaining method according to claim 12, wherein

said content obtaining apparatus is small enough to carry.

14. The content providing/obtaining method according to claim 10, wherein

said content providing apparatus comprises the content obtaining apparatus identification information sending step of, sending content obtaining apparatus identification information which is identification information unique to said content obtaining apparatus, to said prescribed terminal device.

15. The content providing/obtaining method according to claim 10, wherein:

said customer reservation information receiving step receives system specifying information specifying a rental system or purchase system by which said customer desired content data is received, as one item included in said customer reservation information; and

said content data sending step sends said customer desired content data to said content obtaining apparatus by the rental system or the purchase system according to said system specifying information.

16. The content providing obtaining method according to claim 15, wherein

said content data sending step, when sending said customer desired content data to said content obtaining apparatus by said rental system, sends, at least, rental period information indicating the rental period as well, to said content obtaining apparatus.

17. The content providing/obtaining method according to claim 16, wherein

said reproducing/outputting step forbids the reproduction of said customer desired content data from said storage means if said rental period of said customer desired content based on said rental period information expires.

18. The content providing/obtaining method according to claim 15, wherein:

said customer reservation information receiving step receives payment information indicating the payment method of charge for said customer desired content data by said rental system or said purchase system, as said customer reservation information; and

said content providing apparatus comprises the accounting information generating step of generating accounting information according to said customer identification information and said charge based on said payment information and sending the generated accounting information to an external settlement processing device.

19. A content providing apparatus for providing content data to a dedicated content obtaining apparatus only, comprising:

content data storage means for storing a plurality of said content data;

customer reservation information receiving means for receiving customer identification information on a customer having access with a prescribed terminal device and content identification information on customer desired content data desired by said customer, as customer reservation information;

search means for searching said content data storage means for said customer desired content data corresponding to said content identification information; and

content data sending means for sending said customer desired content data found by said search means to said content obtaining apparatus.

20. The content providing apparatus according to claim 19, comprising

content obtaining apparatus identification information sending means for sending content obtaining apparatus identification information which is identification information unique to said content obtaining apparatus, to said prescribed terminal device.

21. The content providing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein:

said customer reservation information receiving means receives system specifying information specifying a rental system or purchase system by which said customer desired content data is received, as one item included in said customer reservation information, from said terminal device; and

said content data sending means sends said customer desired content data to said content obtaining apparatus by the rental system or the purchase system based on said system specifying information.

22. The content providing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein

said content data sending means sends, when sending said customer desired content data to said content obtaining apparatus by said rental system, sends, at least, rental period information indicating the rental period as well, to said content obtaining apparatus.

23. The content providing apparatus according to claim 21, comprising

accounting information generating means for generating accounting information according to said customer identification information and said charge based on payment information specifying the payment method of charge for said customer desired content data by said rental system or said purchase system and sending the generated accounting information to an external settlement processing device, wherein

said customer reservation information receiving means receives said payment information as said customer reservation information.

24. A content providing method for providing content data to a dedicated content obtaining apparatus only, comprising:

the customer reservation information receiving step of receiving customer identification information on a customer having access with a prescribed terminal device and content identification information on customer desired content data desired by said customer, as customer reservation information;

the search step of searching content data storage means storing a plurality of said content data for said customer desired content data corresponding to said content identification information; and

the content data sending step of sending said customer desired content data found by said search step to said content obtaining apparatus.

25. The content providing method according to claim 24, comprising

the content obtaining apparatus identification information sending step of sending content obtaining apparatus identification information which is identification information unique to said content obtaining apparatus, to said prescribed terminal device.

26. The content providing method according to claim 24, wherein:

said customer reservation information receiving step receives system specifying information specifying a rental system or purchase system by which said customer desired content data is received, as one item included in said customer reservation information from said terminal device; and

said content data sending step sends said customer desired content data to said content obtaining apparatus by the rental system or the purchase system based on said system specifying information.

27. The content providing method according to claim 26, wherein

said content data sending step, when sending said customer desired content data to said content obtaining apparatus by said rental system, sends, at least, rental period information indicating the rental period as well, to said content obtaining apparatus.

28. The content providing method according to claim 26, comprising

the accounting information generating step of generating accounting information according to said customer identification information and said charge based on payment information specifying the payment method of charge for said customer desired content data by said rental system or said purchase system and sending the generated accounting information to an external settlement processing device, wherein

said customer reservation information receiving step receives said payment information as said customer reservation information.

29. A content providing program storage medium for making a content providing apparatus execute a content providing program comprising:

the customer reservation information receiving step of receiving customer identification information on a customer having access with a prescribed terminal device and content identification information on customer desired content data desired by said customer, as customer reservation information;

the search step of searching content data storage means storing a plurality of content data for said customer desired content data corresponding to said content identification information; and

the content data sending step of sending said customer desired content data found by said search step, to a dedicated content obtaining apparatus.

30. The content providing program storage medium according to claim 29, comprising

said content obtaining apparatus identification information sending step of sending content obtaining apparatus identification information which is identification information unique to said content obtaining apparatus, to said prescribed terminal device.

31. The content providing program storage medium according to claim 29, wherein:

said customer reservation information receiving step receives system specifying information specifying a rental system or purchase system by which said customer desired content data is received, as one item included in said customer reservation information, from said terminal device; and

said content data sending step sends said customer desired content data to said content obtaining apparatus by the rental system or the purchase system based on said system specifying information.

32. The content providing program storage medium according to claim 31, wherein

said content data sending step sends, when sending said customer desired content data to said content obtaining apparatus:

by said rental system, sends, at least, rental period information indicating the rental period as well, to said content obtaining apparatus.

33. The content providing program storage medium according to claim 31, comprising

accounting information generating step of generating accounting information according to said customer identification information and said charge based on payment information specifying the payment method of charge for said customer desired content data by said rental system or said purchase system and sending the generated accounting information to an external settlement processing device, wherein

said customer reservation information receiving step receives said payment information as said customer reservation information.

34. A content providing program for making a content providing apparatus execute:

the customer reservation information receiving step of receiving customer identification information on a customer having access with a prescribed terminal device and content identification information on customer desired content data desired by said customer, as customer reservation information;

the search step of searching content data storage means storing a plurality of said content data for said customer desired content data corresponding to said content identification information; and

the content data sending step of sending said customer desired content data found by said search step to a dedicated content obtaining apparatus.

35. The content providing program according to claim 34, comprising

the content obtaining apparatus identification information sending step of sending content obtaining apparatus identification information which is identification information unique to, said content obtaining apparatus, to said prescribed terminal device.

36. The content providing program according to claim 34, wherein:

said customer reservation information receiving step receives system specifying information specifying the rental system or the purchase system by which said customer desired content data is received, as one item included in said customer reservation information from said terminal device; and

said content data sending step sends said customer desired content data to said content obtaining apparatus by the rental system or the purchase system based on said system specifying information.

37. The content providing program according to claim 36, wherein

said content data sending step, when sending said customer desired content data to said content obtaining apparatus by said rental system, sends at least rental period information indicating the rental period as well, to said content obtaining apparatus.

38. The content providing program according to claim 36, comprising

the accounting information generating step of generating accounting information according to said customer identification information and said charge based on payment information specifying the payment method of charge for said customer desired content data by said rental system or said purchase system and sending the generated accounting information to an external settlement processing device, wherein

said customer reservation information receiving step receives said payment information as said customer reservation information.

39. A content obtaining apparatus for obtaining content data provided from a content providing apparatus, comprising:

interface means for accessing said content providing apparatus only, to receive customer desired content data which said content providing apparatus sent based on content identification information as a result of receiving customer identification information on a customer and said content identification information on customer desired content data desired by said customer as customer reservation information via a prescribed terminal device;

content data recording means for recording said customer desired content data received from said content providing apparatus via said interface means, on a storage medium; and

reproducing/outputting means for reproducing and outputting said content data from said storage medium.

40. The content obtaining apparatus according to claim 39, wherein

said content obtaining apparatus is located far away from said prescribed terminal device.

41. The content obtaining apparatus according to claim 40, wherein

said content data recording means records said customer desired content data on said storage means built in the apparatus.

42. The content obtaining apparatus according to claim 41, wherein

said apparatus is small enough to carry.

43. The content obtaining apparatus according to claim 39, wherein:

said interface means receives rental period information indicating the rental period of said customer desired content data sent from said content providing apparatus, together with the customer desired content data; and

said reproducing/outputting means forbids the reproduction of said customer desired content data from said storage means if said rental period of said customer desired content data based on said rental period information expires.

44. A content obtaining method for obtaining content data provided from a content providing apparatus, comprising:

the customer desired content data receiving step of receiving, via interface means accessible to said content providing apparatus only, said customer desired content data which said content providing apparatus sent based on content identification information as a result of receiving customer identification information on a customer and said content identification information on said customer desired content data desired by said customer as customer reservation information via said terminal device;

the content data recording step of recording said customer desired content data received by said customer desired content data receiving step on a storage medium; and

the reproducing/outputting step of reproducing and outputting said content data from said storage medium.

45. The content obtaining method according to claim 44, wherein

said customer desired content data receiving step receives said customer desired content data at a position far away from said prescribed terminal device.

46. The content obtaining method according to claim 45, wherein

said content data recording step records said customer desired content data on said storage means built in a content obtaining apparatus.

47. The content obtaining method according to claim 46, wherein

customer desired content data receiving step receives said customer desired content data with said content obtaining apparatus which is small enough to carry.

48. The content obtaining method according to claim 44, wherein:

said customer desired content data receiving step receives rental period information indicating the rental period of said customer desired content data sent from said content providing apparatus, together with the customer desired content data; and

said reproducing/outputting step forbids the reproduction of said customer desired content data from said storage means if said rental period of said customer desired content data based on said rental period information expires.

49. A content obtaining program storage medium for making a content obtaining apparatus execute a content obtaining program comprising:

the customer desired content data receiving step of receiving, via interface means accessible to a content providing apparatus only, customer desired content data which said content providing apparatus sent based on content identification information as a result of receiving customer identification information on a customer and said content identification information on said customer desired content data desired by said customer as customer reservation information via a prescribed terminal device;

the content data recording step of recording said customer desired content data received by said customer desired content data receiving step, on a storage medium; and

the reproducing/outputting step of reproducing and outputting said content data from said storage medium.

50. The content obtaining program storage medium according to claim 49, wherein

said customer desired content data receiving step receives said customer desired content data at a position far away from said prescribed terminal device.

51. The content obtaining program storage medium according to claim 50, wherein

said content data recording step records said customer desired content data on said storage means built in a content obtaining apparatus.

52. The content obtaining program storage medium according to claim 51, wherein

said customer desired content data receiving step receives said customer desired content data with said content obtaining apparatus which is small enough to carry.

53. The content obtaining program storage medium according to claim 49, wherein:

said customer desired content data receiving step receives rental period information indicating the rental period of said customer desired content data sent from said content providing apparatus, together with the customer desired content data; and

said reproducing/outputting means forbids the reproduction of said customer desired content data from said storage means if said rental period of said customer desired content data based on said rental period information expires.

54. A content obtaining program for making a content obtaining apparatus execute:

the customer desired content data receiving step of receiving, via interface means accessible to a content providing apparatus only, customer desired content data which said content providing apparatus sent based on content identification information as a result of receiving customer identification information on a customer and said content identification information on said customer desired content data desired by said customer as customer reservation information via said terminal device;

the content data recording step of recording said customer desired content data received by said customer desired content data receiving step on a storage medium; and

the reproducing/outputting step of reproducing and outputting said content data from said storage medium.

55. The content obtaining program according to claim 54, wherein

said customer desired content data receiving step receives said customer desired content data at a position far away from said prescribed terminal device.

56. The content obtaining program according to claim 55, wherein

said content data recording step records said customer desired content data on said storage means built in a content obtaining apparatus.

57. The content obtaining program according to claim 56, wherein

customer desired content data receiving step receives said customer desired content data with said content obtaining apparatus which is small enough to carry.

58. The content obtaining program according to claim 54, wherein:

said customer desired content data receiving step receives rental period information indicating the rental period of said customer desired content data sent from said content providing apparatus, together with the customer desired content data; and

said reproducing/outputting step forbids the reproduction of said customer desired content data from said storage means if said rental period of said customer desired content data based on said rental period information expires.

59. A content providing/obtaining system comprising a content providing apparatus for providing content data and a content obtaining apparatus for obtaining said content data provided from the content providing apparatus, wherein:

said content providing apparatus comprises;

image storage means for storing three-dimensional images for allowing customer desired content data desired by a customer to be selected out of a plurality of said content data;

transmission request receiving means for receiving an image request sent from said content obtaining apparatus;

image sending means for sending said three-dimensional images to said content obtaining apparatus in response to said image request;

preview request receiving means for receiving a preview request which was sent from said content obtaining apparatus according to the display state of said three-dimensional images; and

data sending means for sending preview data based on said content data corresponding to said preview request to said content obtaining apparatus; and

said content obtaining apparatus comprises;

input means for entering various operational commands;

image request sending means for sending said image request to said content providing apparatus in response to an image request command entered via said input means;

image receiving means for receiving said three-dimensional images which are sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said image request;

display control means for displaying said three-dimensional images on a prescribed display means and changing the display state of said three-dimensional image according to display state changing commands entered via said input means;

preview request sending means for sending said preview request to said content providing apparatus according to the display state of said three-dimensional images displayed on said display means;

data receiving means for receiving said preview data which was sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said preview request; and

reproducing means for reproducing said preview data.

60. The content providing system according to claim 59, wherein:

said image storage means stores said three-dimensional images including a human image representing a person movable;

said display control means changes the position of said human image in said three-dimensional images according to said display state changing commands entered via said input means;

said preview request sending means sends said preview request to said content providing apparatus according to said position of said human image in said three-dimensional images.

61. The content providing/obtaining system according to claim 60, wherein

said reproducing means reproduces by streaming said preview data sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said preview request.

62. The content providing/obtaining system according to claim 61, wherein

said data sending means sends said preview data having a reproduction time shorter than the reproduction time of said content data corresponding to said preview request, to said content obtaining apparatus.

63. The content providing/obtaining system according to claim 61, wherein

said reproducing means performs fade-in processing or fade-out processing;

and then streaming reproduction on said preview data sent from said content providing apparatus according to said preview request.

64. The content providing/obtaining system according to claim 59, wherein:

said image storage means stores said three-dimensional images including selection items for content preview requests;

said display control means changes the display state of said selection items in said three-dimensional images according to said display state changing commands entered via said input means; and

said preview request sending means sends said preview request to said content providing apparatus according to the display state of said selection items in said three-dimensional images.

65. The content providing/obtaining system according to claim 64, wherein

said preview request sending means sends said preview request indicating the genre of said content data, the artist of said content based on the content data and/or the title of said Content data to said content providing apparatus according to the display state of said selection items in said three-dimensional images.

66. The content providing/obtaining system according to claim 64, wherein:

said content obtaining apparatus comprises recording means for recording said preview data received by said data receiving means on a storage medium; and

said reproducing means reproduces said preview data from said storage medium.

67. The content providing/obtaining system according to claim 64, wherein

said reproducing means reproduces by streaming said preview data sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said preview request.

68. A content providing/obtaining method for obtaining content data provided from a content providing apparatus with a content obtaining apparatus, wherein:

said content providing apparatus comprises;

the transmission request receiving step of receiving an image request sent from said content obtaining apparatus;

the image sending step of sending three-dimensional images for allowing customer desired content data desired by a customer to be selected out of a plurality of said content data, to said content obtaining apparatus in response to said image request;

the preview request receiving step of receiving a preview request sent from said content obtaining apparatus according to the display state of said three-dimensional images; and

the data sending step of sending preview data of content based on said content data corresponding to said preview request, to said content obtaining apparatus; and

said content obtaining apparatus comprises;

the image request sending step of sending said image request to said content providing apparatus according to an image request command entered via an input means for entering various operational commands;

the image receiving step of receiving said three-dimensional images which are sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said image request;

the display control step of displaying said three-dimensional images on a prescribed display means and changing the display state of said three-dimensional images according to display state changing commands entered via said input means;

the preview request sending step of sending said preview request to said content providing apparatus according to the display state of said three-dimensional images displayed on said display means;

the data receiving step of receiving said preview data which was sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said preview request; and

the reproducing step of reproducing said preview data.

69. The content providing/obtaining method according to claim 68, wherein:

said image sending step sends said three-dimensional images including a human image indicating a person movable, to said content obtaining apparatus in response to said image request;

said display control step changes the position of said human image in said three-dimensional images according to said display state changing commands entered via said input means; and

said preview request sending step sends said preview request to said content providing apparatus according to said position of said human image in said three-dimensional images.

70. The content providing/obtaining method according to claim 69, wherein

said reproducing step reproduces by streaming said preview data which was sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said preview request.

71. The content providing/obtaining method according to claim 70, wherein

said data sending step sends said preview data having a reproduction time shorter than the reproduction time of said content data corresponding to said preview request, to said content obtaining apparatus.

72. The content providing/obtaining method according to claim 70, wherein

said reproducing means performs fade-in processing and/or fade-out processing, and then streaming reproduction on said preview data which was sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said preview request.

73. The content providing/obtaining method according to claim 68, wherein:

said image sending step sends said three-dimensional images including selection items for content preview requests to said content obtaining apparatus in response to said image request;

said display control step changes the display state of said selection items in said three-dimensional images according to said display state changing commands entered via said input means; and

said preview request sending step sends said preview request to said content providing apparatus according to the display state of said selection items in said three-dimensional images.

74. The content providing/obtaining method according to claim 73, wherein

said preview request sending step sends said preview request indicating the genre of said content data, the artist of said content based on the content data and/or the title of said content data to said content providing apparatus according to the display state of said selection items in said three-dimensional images.

75. The content providing/obtaining method according to claim 73, wherein:

said content obtaining apparatus comprises the recording step of recording said preview data received by said data receiving step on a storage medium; and

said reproducing step reproduces said preview data from said storage medium.

76. The content providing/obtaining method according to claim 73, wherein

said reproducing step reproduces by streaming said preview data which was sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said preview request.

77. A content providing apparatus for providing content data to a content obtaining apparatus, comprising:

image storage means for storing three-dimensional images for allowing customer desired content data desired by a customer to be selected out of a plurality of said content data;

transmission request receiving means for receiving an image request sent from said content obtaining apparatus;

image sending means for sending said three-dimensional images to said content obtaining apparatus in response to said image request;

preview request receiving means for receiving a preview request which was sent from said content obtaining apparatus according to the display state of said three-dimensional images; and

data sending means for sending preview data of content based on said content data corresponding to said preview request to said content obtaining apparatus.

78. The content providing apparatus according to claim 77, wherein:

said image storage means stores said three-dimensional images including a human image representing a person movable; and

said preview request receiving means receives said preview request which was sent from content providing apparatus according to the position of said human image in said three-dimensional images displayed on a prescribed display means.

79. The content providing apparatus according to claim 78, wherein

said data sending means sends by streaming said preview data to said content obtaining apparatus in response to said preview request which was sent from said content providing apparatus according to the position of said human image in said three-dimensional images displayed on said display means.

80. The content providing apparatus according to claim 79, wherein

said data sending means sends said preview data having a reproduction time shorter than the reproduction time of said content data corresponding to said preview request, to said content obtaining apparatus.

81. The content providing apparatus according to claim 77, wherein:

said image storage means stores said three-dimensional images including selection items for content preview requests; and

said preview request receiving means receives said preview request which was sent from said content obtaining apparatus according to the display state of said selection items in,said, three-dimensional images displayed on a prescribed display means.

82. The content providing apparatus according to claim 81, wherein

said preview request receiving means receives said preview request indicating the genre of said content data, the artist of said content based on the content data and/or the title of said content data, said preview request sent from said content obtaining apparatus according to the display state of said selection items in said three-dimensional images displayed on said display means.

83. The content providing apparatus according to claim 81, wherein

said data sending means sends said preview data to said content obtaining apparatus by TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) in response to said preview request.

84. The content providing apparatus according to claim 81, wherein

said data sending means sends by streaming said preview data to said content obtaining apparatus, in response to said preview request which was sent from said content providing apparatus according to the display state of said selection items in said three-dimensional images displayed on said display means.

85. A content providing method for providing content data to a content obtaining apparatus, comprising:

the transmission request receiving step of receiving an image request sent from said content obtaining apparatus;

the image sending step of sending three-dimensional images for allowing customer desired content data desired by a customer to be selected out of a plurality of said content data, to said content obtaining apparatus in response to said image request;

the preview request receiving step of receiving a preview request which was sent from said content obtaining apparatus according to the display state of said three-dimensional images; and

the data sending step of sending preview data of content based on said content data corresponding to said preview request, to said content obtaining apparatus.

86. The content providing method according to claim 85, wherein:

said image sending step sends three-dimensional images including a human image representing a person movable to said content obtaining apparatus in response to said image request; and

said preview request receiving step receives said preview request which was sent from content providing apparatus according to the position of said human image in said three-dimensional images displayed on a prescribed display means.

87. The content providing method according to claim 86, wherein

said data sending means sends by streaming said preview data to said content obtaining apparatus in response to said preview request which was sent from said content providing apparatus according to the position of said human image in said three-dimensional images displayed on said display means.

88. The content providing method according to claim 87, wherein

said data sending step sends said preview data having a reproduction time shorter than the reproduction time of said content data corresponding to said preview request, to said content obtaining apparatus.

89. The content providing method according to claim 85, wherein:

said image sending step sends three-dimensional images including selection items for content preview requests to said content obtaining apparatus in response to said image request; and

said preview request receiving step receives said preview request which was sent from said content obtaining apparatus according to the display state of said selection items in said three-dimensional images displayed on a prescribed display means.

90. The content providing method according to claim 89, wherein

said preview request receiving means receives said preview request indicating the genre of said content data, the artist of said content based on the content data and/or the title of said content data, said preview request sent from said content obtaining apparatus according to the display state of said selection items in said three-dimensional images displayed on said display means.

91. The content providing method according to claim 89, wherein

said data sending means sends said preview data to said content obtaining apparatus by TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) in response to said preview request.

92. The content providing method according to claim 89, wherein

said data sending means sends by streaming said preview data to said content obtaining apparatus, in response to said preview request which was sent from said content providing apparatus according to the display state of said selection items in said three-dimensional images displayed on said display means.

93. A content providing program storage medium for making a content providing apparatus execute a content providing program comprising:

the transmission request receiving step of receiving an image request sent from a content obtaining apparatus;

the image sending step of sending three-dimensional images for allowing customer desired content data desired by a customer to be selected out of a plurality of said content data, to said content obtaining apparatus in response to said image request;

the preview request receiving step of receiving a preview request which was sent from said content obtaining apparatus according to the display state of said three-dimensional images; and

the data sending step of sending preview data of content based on said content data corresponding to said preview request, to said content obtaining apparatus.

94. The content providing program storage medium according to claim 93, wherein:

said image sending step sends three-dimensional images including a human image representing a person movable to said content obtaining apparatus in response to said image request; and

said preview request receiving step receives said preview request which was sent from content providing apparatus according to the position of said human image in said three-dimensional images displayed on a prescribed display means.

95. The content providing program storage medium according to claim 94, wherein

said data sending step sends by streaming said preview data to said content obtaining apparatus in response to said preview request which was sent from said content providing apparatus according to the position of said human image in said three-dimensional images displayed on said display means.

96. The content providing program storage medium according to claim 95, wherein

said data sending step sends said preview data having a reproduction time shorter than the reproduction time of said content data corresponding to said preview request, to said content obtaining apparatus.

97. The content providing program storage medium according to claim 93, wherein:

said image sending step sends three-dimensional images including selection items for content preview requests to said content obtaining apparatus in response to said image request; and

said preview request receiving step receives said preview request which was sent from said content obtaining apparatus according to the display state of said selection items in said three-dimensional images displayed on a prescribed display means.

98. The content providing program storage medium according to claim 97, wherein

said preview request receiving means receives said preview request indicating the genre of said content data, the artist of said content based on the content data and/or the title of said content data, said preview request sent from said content obtaining apparatus according to the display state of said selection items of said three-dimensional images displayed on said display means.

99. The content providing program storage medium according to claim 97, wherein

said data sending means sends said preview data to said content obtaining apparatus by TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) in response to said preview request.

100. The content providing program storage medium according to claim 97, wherein

said data sending means sends by streaming said preview data to said content obtaining apparatus in response to said preview request which was sent from said content providing apparatus according to the display state of said selection items in said three-dimensional images displayed on said display means.

101. A content providing program for making a content providing apparatus execute:

the transmission request receiving step of receiving an image request sent from said content obtaining apparatus;

the image sending step of sending three-dimensional images for allowing customer desired content data desired by a customer to be selected out of a plurality of said content data, to said content obtaining apparatus in response to said image request;

the preview request receiving step of receiving a preview request which was sent from said content obtaining apparatus according to the display state of said three-dimensional images; and

the data sending step of sending preview data of content based on said content data corresponding to said preview request, to said content obtaining apparatus.

102. The content providing program according to claim 101, wherein:

said image sending step sends three-dimensional images including a human image representing a person movable, to said content obtaining apparatus in response to said image request; and

said preview request receiving step receives said preview request which was sent from content providing apparatus according to the position of said human image in said three-dimensional images displayed on a prescribed display means.

103. The content providing program according to claim 102, wherein

said data sending step sends by streaming said preview data to said content obtaining apparatus in response to said preview request which was sent from said content providing apparatus according to the position of said human image in said three-dimensional images displayed on said display means.

104. The content providing program according to claim 103, wherein

said data sending step sends said preview data having a reproduction time shorter than the reproduction time of said content data corresponding to said preview request, to said content obtaining apparatus.

105. The content providing program according to claim 101, wherein:

said image sending step sends three-dimensional images including selection items for content preview requests to said content obtaining apparatus in response to said image request; and

said preview request receiving step receives said preview request which was sent from said content obtaining apparatus according to the display state of said selection items in said three-dimensional images displayed on a prescribed display means.

106. The content providing program according to claim 105, wherein

said preview request receiving step receives said preview request indicating the genre of said content data, the artist of said content based on the content data and/or the title of said content data, said preview request sent from said content obtaining apparatus according to the display state of said selection items in said three-dimensional images displayed on said display means.

107. The content providing program according to claim 105, wherein

said data sending step sends said preview data to said content obtaining apparatus by TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) in response to said preview request.

108. The content providing program according to claim 105, wherein

said data sending step sends by streaming said preview data to said content obtaining apparatus in response to said preview request which was sent from said content providing apparatus according to the display state of said selection items in said three-dimensional images displayed on said display means.

109. A content obtaining apparatus for obtaining said content data provided from a content providing apparatus, comprising:

input means for entering various operational commands;

image request sending means for sending an image request to said content providing apparatus according to image request commands entered via said input means;

image receiving means for receiving three-dimensional images for allowing customer desired content data desired by a customer to be selected out of a plurality of said content data, said three-dimensional images sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said image request;

display control means for displaying said three-dimensional images on a prescribed display means and changing the display state of said three-dimensional images according to display state changing commands entered via said input means;

preview request sending means for sending a preview request according to the display state of said three-dimensional images displayed on said display means, to said content providing apparatus;

data receiving means for receiving preview data of content based on said content data corresponding to said preview request, said preview data sent from said content providing apparatus in response to the preview request; and

reproducing means for reproducing said preview data.

110. The content obtaining apparatus according to claim 109, wherein:

said image receiving means receives said three-dimensional images including a human image representing a person movable, the three-dimensional images sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said image request;

said display control means changes the position of said human image in said three-dimensional images according to said display state changing commands entered via said input means; and

said preview request sending means sends said preview request to said content providing apparatus according to said position of said human image in said three-dimensional images.

111. The content obtaining apparatus according to claim 110, wherein

said reproducing means reproduces by streaming said preview data which was sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said preview request.

112. The content obtaining apparatus according to claim 111, wherein

said reproducing means performs fade-in processing and/or fade-out processing, and then streaming reproduction on said preview data sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said preview request.

113. The content obtaining apparatus according to claim 109, wherein:

said image receiving means receives said three-dimensional images including selection items for content preview requests, said three-dimensional images sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said image request;

said display control means changes the display state of said selection items in said three-dimensional images according to said display state changing commands entered via said input means; and

said preview request sending means sends said preview request according to the display state of said selection items in said three-dimensional images to said content providing apparatus.

114. The content obtaining apparatus according to claim 113, wherein

said preview request sending means sends said preview request indicating the genre of said content data, the artist of said content based on the content data, and/or the title of said content data, according to the display state of said three-dimensional images to said content providing apparatus.

115. The content obtaining apparatus according to claim 113, comprising

recording means for recording said preview data received by said data receiving means, on a storage medium, wherein

said reproducing means reproduces said preview data from said storage medium.

116. The content obtaining apparatus according to claim 113, wherein

said reproducing means reproduces by streaming said preview data which was sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said preview request.

117. A content obtaining method for obtaining said content data provided from a content providing apparatus, comprising:

the image request sending step of sending an image request to said content providing apparatus according to an image request command entered via an input means for inputting various operational commands;

the image receiving step of receiving three-dimensional images for allowing customer desired content data desired by a customer to be selected out of a plurality of said content data, said three-dimensional images sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said image request;

the display control step of displaying said three-dimensional images on a prescribed display means and changing the display state of said three-dimensional images according to, display state changing commands entered via said input means;

the preview request sending step of sending to said content providing apparatus a preview request according to the display state of said three-dimensional images displayed on said display means;

the data receiving step of receiving preview data of content based on said content data corresponding to said preview request, said preview data sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said preview request; and

the reproducing step of reproducing said preview data.

118. The content obtaining method according to claim 117, wherein:

said image receiving step receives said three-dimensional images including a human image representing a person movable, said three-dimensional images sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said image request;

said display control means changes the position of said human image in said three-dimensional images according to said display state changing commands entered via said input means; and

said preview request sending means sends said preview request according to the position of said human image in said three-dimensional images to said content providing apparatus.

119. The content obtaining method according to claim 118, wherein

said reproducing step reproduces by streaming said preview data which was sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said preview request.

120. The content obtaining method according to claim 119, wherein

said reproducing step performs fade-in processing and/or fade-out processing, and then streaming reproduction on said preview data which was sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said preview request.

121. The content obtaining method according to claim 117, wherein:

said image receiving step receives said three-dimensional images including selection items for content preview requests, said three-dimensional images sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said image request;

said display control step changes the display state of said selection items in said three-dimensional images according to said display state changing commands entered via said input means; and

said preview request sending step sends said preview request according to the display state of said selection items in said three-dimensional images to said content providing apparatus.

122. The content obtaining method according to claim 121, wherein

said preview request sending step sends said preview request indicating the genre of said content data, the artist of said content based on the content data, and/or the title of said content data, according to the display state of said three-dimensional images to said content providing apparatus.

123. The content obtaining method according to claim 121, comprising:

the recording step of recording said preview data received by said data receiving means, on a storage medium, wherein

said reproducing step reproduces said preview data from said storage medium.

124. The content obtaining method according to claim 121, wherein

said reproducing step reproduces by streaming said preview data which was sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said preview request.

125. A content obtaining program storage medium for making a content obtaining apparatus execute a content obtaining program comprising:

the image request sending step of sending an image request to said content providing apparatus according to an image request command entered via an input means for entering various operational commands;

the image receiving step of receiving three-dimensional images for allowing customer desired content data desired by a customer to be selected out of a plurality of said content data, said three-dimensional images sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said image request;

the display control step of displaying said three-dimensional images on a prescribed display means and changing the display state of said three-dimensional images according to display state changing commands entered via said input means;

the preview request sending step of sending to said content providing apparatus a preview request according to the display state of said three-dimensional images displayed on said display means;

the data receiving step of receiving preview data of content based on said content data corresponding to said preview request, said preview data sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said preview request; and

the reproducing step of reproducing said preview data.

126. The content obtaining program storage medium according to claim 125, wherein:

said image receiving step receives said three-dimensional images including a human image representing a person movable, said three-dimensional images sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said image request;

said display control means changes the position of said human image in said three-dimensional images according to said display state changing commands entered via said input means; and

said preview request sending means sends said preview request according to the position of said human image in said three-dimensional images, to said content providing apparatus.

127. The content obtaining program storage medium according to claim 126, wherein

said reproducing step reproduces by streaming said preview data which was sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said preview request.

128. The content obtaining program storage medium according to claim 127, wherein

said reproducing step performs fade-in processing and/or fade-out processing, and then streaming reproduction on said preview data which was sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said preview request.

129. The content obtaining program storage medium according to claim 125, wherein:

said image receiving step receives said three-dimensional images including selection items for content preview requests, said three-dimensional images sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said image request;

said display control step changes the display state of said selection items in said three-dimensional images according to said display state changing commands entered via said input means; and

said preview request sending step sends said preview request according to the display state of said selection items in said three-dimensional images, to said content providing apparatus.

130. The content obtaining program storage medium according to claim 129, wherein

said preview request sending step sends said preview request indicating the genre of said content data, the artist of said content based on the content data, and/or the title of said content data, according to the display state of said three-dimensional images to said content providing apparatus.

131. The content obtaining program storage medium according to claim 129, comprising

the recording step of recording said preview data received by said data receiving step, on a storage medium, wherein

said reproducing step reproduces said preview data from said storage medium.

132. The content obtaining program storage medium according to claim 129, wherein

said reproducing means reproduces by streaming said preview data which was sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said preview request.

133. A content obtaining program for making a content obtaining apparatus execute:

the image request sending step of sending an image request to said content providing apparatus according to an image request command entered via an input means for entering various operational commands;

the image receiving step of receiving three-dimensional images for allowing customer desired content data desired by a customer to be selected out of a plurality of said content data, said three-dimensional images sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said image request;

the display control step of displaying said three-dimensional images on a prescribed display means and changing the display state of said three-dimensional images according to display state changing commands entered via said input means;

the preview request sending step of sending to said content providing apparatus a preview request according to the display state of said three-dimensional images displayed on said display means;

the data receiving step of receiving preview data of content based on said content data corresponding to said preview request, said preview data sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said preview request; and

the reproducing step of reproducing said preview data.

134. The content obtaining program according to claim 133, wherein:

said image receiving step receives said three-dimensional images including a human image representing a person movable, said three-dimensional images sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said image request;

said display control means changes the position of said human image in said three-dimensional images according to said display state changing commands entered via said input means; and

said preview request sending means sends said preview request according to the position of said human image in said three-dimensional images to said content providing apparatus.

135. The content obtaining program according to claim 134, wherein

said reproducing step reproduces by streaming said preview data which was sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said preview request.

136. The content obtaining program according to claim 135, wherein

said reproducing step performs fade-in processing and/or fade-out processing, and then streaming reproduction on said preview data which was sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said preview request.

137. The content obtaining program according to claim 133, wherein:

said image receiving step receives said three-dimensional images including selection items for content preview requests, said three-dimensional images sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said image request;

said display control step changes the display state of said selection items in said three-dimensional images according to said display state changing commands entered via said input means; and

said preview request sending step sends said preview request according to the display state of said selection items in said three-dimensional images to said content providing apparatus.

138. The content obtaining program according to claim 137, wherein

said preview request sending step sends said preview request indicating the genre of said content data, the artist of said content based on the content data, and/or the title of said content data, according to the display state of said three-dimensional images to said content providing apparatus.

139. The content obtaining program according to claim 137, comprising

the recording step of recording said preview data received by said data receiving step, on a storage medium, wherein

said reproducing step reproduces said preview data from said storage medium.

140. The content obtaining program according to claim 137, wherein

said reproducing step reproduces by streaming said preview data which was sent from said content providing apparatus in response to said preview request.