Content management apparatus, content management system, and content management program

• US 20050050181A1
• Filed: 08/26/2004
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Morioka, Yasuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,447,793 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services

Abstract

A content management apparatus includes a content information provider, a table generator, a table update unit, and a location information replacement unit. The content information provider provides content information including permanent identification information indicating a storage location of contents The table generator generates an equipment information management table which associates permanent identification information for identifying a first communication apparatus and temporary communication address information for communicating with the first communication apparatus with each other. The table update unit is configured to update information of the equipment information management table. The location information replacement unit is configured to replace the permanent identification information in the content information by the temporary communication address, based on the equipment information management table.

Claims

1. A content management apparatus, comprising:

a content information provider which provides content information including permanent identification information indicating a storage location of contents;

a table generator which generates an equipment information management table which associates permanent identification information for identifying a first communication apparatus and temporary communication address information for communicating with said first communication apparatus with each other;

a table update unit configured to update information of said equipment information management table; and

a location information replacement unit configured to replace the permanent identification information in the content information by the temporary communication address, based on said equipment information management table.

2. The content management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said content information provider provides to a control apparatus content information relating to contents provided to a second communication apparatus by said first communication apparatus, when said control apparatus requests the content information.

3. The content management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first and second communication apparatuses and said control apparatus communicate with a standard of UPnP (Universal Plug and Play).

4. The content management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said table update unit updates said equipment information management table at start-up time.

5. The content management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said table update unit updates said equipment information management table when disclosure of content information relating to contents provided by said first communication apparatus is requested.

6. The content management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said table update unit updates content information relating to the contents in which a predetermined time has been passed after previous update, which is registered in said equipment information management table.

7. The content management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the permanent identification information is at least one of UDN (Unique Device Name) and MAC address.

8. The content management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said table generator adds information indicating whether or not the communication address of said first communication apparatus which provides contents changes depending on time, to said equipment information management table.

9. A content management system, comprising:

a first communication apparatus which provides contents to be held;

a second communication apparatus which receives contents provided from said first communication apparatus;

a content management apparatus which provides content information relating to contents provided by said first communication apparatus; and

a control apparatus which performs control for providing contents from said first communication apparatus to said second communication apparatus,

said content management apparatus includes;

a content information provider which provides content information including permanent identification information indicating a storage location of contents;

a table generator which generates an equipment information management table which associates permanent identification information for identifying a first communication apparatus and temporary communication address information for communicating with said first communication apparatus with each other;

a table update unit configured to update information of said equipment information management table; and

a location information replacement unit configured to replace the permanent identification information in the content information by the temporary communication address, based on said equipment information management table.

10. The content management system according to claim 9, wherein said content information provider provides to a control apparatus content information relating to contents provided to a second communication apparatus by said first communication apparatus, when said control apparatus requests the content information.

11. The content management system according to claim 9, wherein said table update unit updates said equipment information management table when disclosure of content information relating to contents provided by said first communication apparatus is requested.

12. The content management system according to claim 9, wherein said table update unit updates content information relating to the contents in which a predetermined time has been passed after previous update, which is registered in said equipment information management table.

14. The content management program according to claim 10, wherein a control apparatus is provided with content information relating to contents provided to a second communication apparatus by said first communication apparatus, in accordance with said control apparatus.

15. The content management program according to claim 14, wherein said first and second communication apparatuses and said control apparatus communicate depending on a standard of UPnP (Universal Plug and Play).

13. A content management program which makes a computer execute the steps of comprising:

providing content information including permanent identification information indicating a storage location of contents;

generating an equipment information management table which associates permanent identification information for identifying a first communication apparatus and temporary communication address information for communicating with said first communication apparatus with each other;

updating information of said equipment information management table; and

replacing the permanent identification information in the content information by the temporary communication address, based on said equipment information management table.

16. The content management program according to claim 13, wherein said equipment information management table is updated at start-up time.

17. The content management program according to claim 13, wherein when disclosure of the content information relating to the contents provided by said first communication apparatus is requested, said equipment information management table is updated.

18. The content management program according to claim 13, wherein content information relating to the contents is updated in terms of contents in which a predetermined time has been passed after previous update, which is registered in said equipment information management table.

19. The content management program according to claim 13, wherein the permanent identification information is at least one of UDN (Unique Device Name) and MAC address.

20. The content management program according to claim 13, wherein when a new content information is registered, information indicating whether or not the communication address of said first communication apparatus providing the contents changes depending on time is added to said equipment information management table.