Information processing system, information providing apparatus and method, electronic device and method used therefor, information processing apparatus and method, recording medium, and program

• US 20060129678A1
• Filed: 11/17/2005
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Morita, Tadashi
• Application Number:
  US11/280,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20060129678A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/04 Signal transfer or data transmission arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/05 for wireless communication between components, e.g. for remote monitoring or control
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/28 Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/37 E-mail addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/301 Name conversion

Abstract

An information processing system includes an information providing apparatus, first and second electronic devices, and an information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes a receiver receiving a first message including a first address temporarily used for reporting predetermined information and a second address, i.e., the address of the second electronic device, transmitted from the first electronic device, an analyzer analyzing, on the basis of the received first message, the first and second addresses included in the first message, a storage unit storing the first and second addresses in association with each other on the basis of an analysis result obtained by the analyzer, and a transmitter transmitting to the second address, on the basis of the first and second addresses, a second message including the first address, which is data for providing the predetermined information to a user, transmitted from the information providing apparatus for providing the predetermined information.

Claims

1. An information processing system comprising:

an information providing apparatus;

a first electronic device;

a second electronic device; and

an information processing apparatus,

the information providing apparatus including

first generation means for generating a first address temporarily used for reporting predetermined information to a user,

first transmission means for transmitting the first address to the first electronic device,

generation means for generating the predetermined information when reporting the predetermined information to the user,

second generation means for generating, on the basis of the first address and the predetermined information, a first message including the first address and the predetermined information as data for providing the predetermined information to the user, and

second transmission means for transmitting the generated first message to the information processing apparatus,

the first electronic device including

first reception means for receiving the first address sent from the information providing apparatus,

storage means for storing the received first address, and

third transmission means for transmitting the stored first address to the second electronic device in response to a request from the second electronic device,

the second electronic device including

third generation means for generating, on the basis of the first address sent from the first electronic device, a second message including the first address and a second address, which is an address of the second electronic device, as data for transmitting the first message to the information processing apparatus,

fourth transmission means for transmitting the generated second message to the information processing apparatus,

second reception means for receiving the first message sent from the information processing apparatus,

first analyzing means for analyzing, on the basis of the received first message, the predetermined information included in the first message, and

reporting means for reporting the predetermined information included in the first message to the user on the basis of an analysis result obtained by the first analyzing means,

the information processing apparatus including

third reception means for receiving the second message sent from the second electronic device,

second analyzing means for analyzing, on the basis of the received second message, the first address and the second address included in the second message,

storage means for storing the first address and the second address in association with each other on the basis of an analysis result obtained by the second analyzing means, and

fifth transmission means for transmitting, on the basis of the first address and the second address stored in association with each other, the first message including the first address sent from the information providing apparatus to the second address.

2. An information providing apparatus for providing information to an electronic device, comprising:

first generation means for generating an address temporarily used for reporting predetermined information to a user;

first transmission means for transmitting the address to a different electronic device;

generation means for generating the predetermined information when reporting the predetermined information to the user;

second generation means for generating, on the basis of the address and the predetermined information, a message including the address and the predetermined information as data for providing the predetermined information to the user; and

second transmission means for transmitting the generated message to an information processing apparatus that transfers the message to the electronic device.

3. The information providing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first generation means generates the address from random numbers and a value identifying the information providing apparatus.

4. The information providing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first transmission means transmits, together with the address, category information indicating a type of the predetermined information to the different electronic device,

the second generation means generates a message including the category information, and

the second transmission means transmits the generated message to the information processing apparatus.

5. An information providing method for an information providing apparatus that provides information to an electronic device, comprising the steps of:

generating an address temporarily used for reporting predetermined information to a user;

controlling the transmission of the address to a different electronic device;

generating the predetermined information when reporting the predetermined information to the user;

generating, on the basis of the address and the predetermined information, a message including the address and the predetermined information as data for providing the predetermined information to the user; and

controlling the transmission of the generated message to an information processing apparatus that transfers the message to the electronic device.

6. A recording medium recording thereon a computer-readable information providing program for an information providing apparatus that provides information to an electronic device, the computer-readable information providing program comprising the steps of:

generating an address temporarily used for reporting predetermined information to a user;

controlling the transmission of the address to a different electronic device;

generating the predetermined information when reporting the predetermined information to the user;

generating, on the basis of the address and the predetermined information, a message including the address and the predetermined information as data for providing the predetermined information to the user; and

controlling the transmission of the generated message to an information processing apparatus that transfers the message to the electronic device.

7. A program allowing a computer to execute processing for an information providing apparatus that provides information to an electronic device, comprising the steps of:

generating an address temporarily used for reporting predetermined information to a user;

controlling the transmission of the address to a different electronic device;

generating the predetermined information when reporting the predetermined information to the user;

generating, on the basis of the address and the predetermined information, a message including the address and the predetermined information as data for providing the predetermined information to the user; and

controlling the transmission of the generated message to an information processing apparatus that transfers the message to the electronic device.

8. An electronic device for transmitting or receiving data, comprising:

reception means for receiving an address which is transmitted from an information providing apparatus for providing predetermined information and which is temporarily used for reporting the predetermined information;

storage means for storing the received address; and

transmission means for transmitting the stored address to a different electronic device in response to a request from the different electronic device.

9. An information processing method for an electronic device that transmits or receives data, comprising the steps of:

controlling the reception of an address which is transmitted from an information providing apparatus for providing predetermined information and which is temporarily used for reporting the predetermined information;

storing the received address; and

controlling the transmission of the stored address to a different electronic device in response to a request from the different electronic device.

10. A recording medium recording thereon a computer-readable information processing program for an electronic device that transmits or receives data, the computer-readable information processing program comprising the steps of:

controlling the reception of an address which is transmitted from an information providing apparatus for providing predetermined information and which is temporarily used for reporting the predetermined information;

storing the received address; and

controlling the transmission of the stored address to a different electronic device in response to a request from the different electronic device.

11. A computer-readable program for allowing a computer to execute processing for an electronic device that transmits or receives data, comprising the steps of:

controlling the reception of an address which is transmitted from an information providing apparatus for providing predetermined information and which is temporarily used for reporting the predetermined information;

storing the received address; and

controlling the transmission of the stored address to a different electronic device in response to a request from the different electronic device.

12. An electronic device for receiving data from an information processing apparatus or transmitting data to the information processing apparatus, comprising:

generation means for generating, on the basis of a first address transmitted from a different electronic device and temporarily used for reporting predetermined information, a first message including the first address and a second address, which is an address of the electronic device;

transmission means for transmitting the generated first message to the information processing apparatus;

reception means for receiving a second message, which is data for providing the predetermined information to a user, transmitted from the information processing apparatus;

analyzing means for analyzing, on the basis of the received second message, the predetermined information included in the second message; and

reporting means for reporting the predetermined information included in the second message to the user on the basis of an analysis result obtained by the analyzing means.

13. The electronic device according to claim 12, further comprising:

selection means for selecting and allocating, if the second message transmitted from the information processing apparatus includes category information indicating a type of the predetermined information, the second message according to the category information,

wherein the reporting means reports the predetermined information included in the second message on the basis of the allocated second message.

14. An information processing method for an electronic device that receives data from an information processing apparatus or transmits data to the information processing apparatus, comprising the steps of:

generating, on the basis of a first address transmitted from a different electronic device and temporarily used for reporting predetermined information, a first message including the first address and a second address, which is an address of the electronic device;

controlling the transmission of the generated first message to the information processing apparatus;

controlling the reception of a second message, which is data for providing the predetermined information to a user, transmitted from the information processing apparatus;

analyzing, on the basis of the received second message, the predetermined information included in the second message; and

reporting the predetermined information included in the second message to the user on the basis of an analysis result obtained in the analyzing step.

15. A recording medium recording thereon a computer-readable information processing program for an electronic device that receives data from an information processing apparatus or transmits data to the information processing apparatus, the computer-readable information processing program comprising the steps of:

generating, on the basis of a first address transmitted from a different electronic device and temporarily used for reporting predetermined information, a first message including the first address and a second address, which is an address of the electronic device;

controlling the transmission of the generated first message to the information processing apparatus;

controlling the reception of a second message, which is data for providing the predetermined information to a user, transmitted from the information processing apparatus;

analyzing, on the basis of the received second message, the predetermined information included in the second message; and

reporting the predetermined information included in the second message to the user on the basis of an analysis result obtained in the analyzing step.

16. A program allowing a computer to execute processing for an electronic device that receives data from an information processing apparatus or transmits data to the information processing apparatus, comprising the steps of:

generating, on the basis of a first address transmitted from a different electronic device and temporarily used for reporting predetermined information, a first message including the first address and a second address, which is an address of the electronic device;

controlling the transmission of the generated first message to the information processing apparatus;

controlling the reception of a second message, which is data for providing the predetermined information to a user, transmitted from the information processing apparatus;

analyzing, on the basis of the received second message, the predetermined information included in the second message; and

reporting the predetermined information included in the second message to the user on the basis of an analysis result obtained in the analyzing step.

17. An information processing apparatus for receiving data from an electronic device or transmits data to the electronic device, comprising:

reception means for receiving a first message including a first address temporarily used for reporting predetermined information and a second address, which is an address of the electronic device, transmitted from the electronic device;

analyzing means for analyzing, on the basis of the received first message, the first address and the second address included in the first message;

storage means for storing the first address and the second address in association with each other on the basis of an analysis result obtained by the analyzing means; and

transmission means for transmitting to the second address, on the basis of the first address and the second address stored in association with each other, a second message including the first address, which is data for providing the predetermined information to a user, transmitted from an information providing apparatus for providing the predetermined information.

18. The information processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the storage means further stores transfer information indicating a number by which the second message is transmitted to the electronic device in association with the first address, and

the transmission means transmits the second message to the second address associated with the first address included in the second message on the basis of the transfer information.

19. An information processing method for an information processing apparatus that receives data from an electronic device or transmits data to the electronic device, comprising the steps of:

controlling the reception of a first message including a first address temporarily used for reporting predetermined information and a second address, which is an address of the electronic device, transmitted from the electronic device;

analyzing, on the basis of the received first message, the first address and the second address included in the first message;

storing the first address and the second address in association with each other on the basis of an analysis result obtained in the analyzing step; and

controlling, on the basis of the first address and the second address stored in association with each other, the transmission to the second address of a second message including the first address, which is data for providing the predetermined information to a user, transmitted from an information providing apparatus for providing the predetermined information.

20. A recording medium recording thereon a computer-readable information processing program for an information processing apparatus that receives data from an electronic device or transmits data to the electronic device, the computer-readable information processing program comprising the steps of:

controlling the reception of a first message including a first address temporarily used for reporting predetermined information and a second address, which is an address of the electronic device, transmitted from the electronic device;

analyzing, on the basis of the received first message, the first address and the second address included in the first message;

storing the first address and the second address in association with each other on the basis of an analysis result obtained in the analyzing step; and

controlling, on the basis of the first address and the second address stored in association with each other, the transmission to the second address of a second message including the first address, which is data for providing the predetermined information to a user, transmitted from an information providing apparatus for providing the predetermined information.

21. A program for allowing a computer to execute processing for an information processing apparatus that receives data from an electronic device or transmits data to the electronic device, comprising the steps of:

controlling the reception of a first message including a first address temporarily used for reporting predetermined information and a second address, which is an address of the electronic device, transmitted from the electronic device;

analyzing, on the basis of the received first message, the first address and the second address included in the first message;

storing the first address and the second address in association with each other on the basis of an analysis result obtained in the analyzing step; and

controlling, on the basis of the first address and the second address stored in association with each other, the transmission to the second address of a second message including the first address, which is data for providing the predetermined information to a user, transmitted from an information providing apparatus for providing the predetermined information.

22. An electronic device for receiving data from an information processing apparatus or transmitting data to the information processing apparatus, comprising:

first reception means for receiving a first address which is transmitted from an information providing apparatus for providing predetermined information and which is temporarily used for reporting the predetermined information;

generation means for generating, on the basis of the received first address, a first message including the first address and a second address, which is an address of the electronic device;

transmission means for transmitting the generated first message to the information processing apparatus;

second reception means for receiving a second message, which is data for providing the predetermined information to a user, transmitted from the information processing apparatus;

analyzing means for analyzing, on the basis of the received second message, the predetermined information included in the second message; and

reporting means for reporting the predetermined information included in the second message to the user on the basis of an analysis result obtained by the analyzing means.

23. The electronic device according to claim 22, further comprising:

selection means for selecting and allocating, if the second message transmitted from the information processing apparatus includes category information indicating a type of the predetermined information, the second message according to the category information,

wherein the reporting means reports the predetermined information included in the second message on the basis of the allocated second message.

24. An information processing method for an electronic device that receives data from an information processing apparatus or transmits data to the information processing apparatus, comprising the steps of:

controlling the reception of a first address which is transmitted from an information providing apparatus for providing predetermined information and which is temporarily used for reporting the predetermined information;

generating, on the basis of the received first address, a first message including the first address and a second address, which is an address of the electronic device;

controlling the transmission of the generated first message to the information processing apparatus;

controlling the reception of a second message, which is data for providing the predetermined information to a user, transmitted from the information processing apparatus;

analyzing, on the basis of the received second message, the predetermined information included in the second message; and

reporting the predetermined information included in the second message to the user on the basis of an analysis result obtained in the analyzing step.

25. A recording medium recording thereon a computer-readable information processing program for an electronic device that receives data from an information processing apparatus or transmits data to the information processing apparatus, the computer-readable information processing program comprising the steps of:

controlling the reception of a first address which is transmitted from an information providing apparatus for providing predetermined information and which is temporarily used for reporting the predetermined information;

generating, on the basis of the received first address, a first message including the first address and a second address, which is an address of the electronic device;

controlling the transmission of the generated first message to the information processing apparatus;

controlling the reception of a second message, which is data for providing the predetermined information to a user, transmitted from the information processing apparatus;

analyzing, on the basis of the received second message, the predetermined information included in the second message; and

reporting the predetermined information included in the second message to the user on the basis of an analysis result obtained in the analyzing step.

26. A program allowing a computer to execute processing for an electronic device that receives data from an information processing apparatus or transmits data to the information processing apparatus, comprising the steps of:

controlling the reception of a first address which is transmitted from an information providing apparatus for providing predetermined information and which is temporarily used for reporting the predetermined information;

generating, on the basis of the received first address, a first message including the first address and a second address, which is an address of the electronic device;

controlling the transmission of the generated first message to the information processing apparatus;

controlling the reception of a second message, which is data for providing the predetermined information to a user, transmitted from the information processing apparatus;

analyzing, on the basis of the received second message, the predetermined information included in the second message; and

reporting the predetermined information included in the second message to the user on the basis of an analysis result obtained in the analyzing step.

27. An information processing system comprising:

an information providing apparatus;

a first electronic device;

a second electronic device; and

an information processing apparatus,

the information providing apparatus comprising

a first generator configured to generate a first address temporarily used for reporting predetermined information to a user,

a first transmitter configured to transmit the first address to the first electronic device,

a generator configured to generate the predetermined information when reporting the predetermined information to the user,

a second generator configured to generate, on the basis of the first address and the predetermined information, a first message including the first address and the predetermined information as data for providing the predetermined information to the user, and

a second transmitter configured to transmit the generated first message to the information processing apparatus,

the first electronic device comprising

a first receiver configured to receive the first address sent from the information providing apparatus,

a storage unit configured to store the received first address, and

a third transmitter configured to transmit the stored first address to the second electronic device in response to a request from the second electronic device,

the second electronic device comprising

a third generator configured to generate, on the basis of the first address sent from the first electronic device, a second message including the first address and a second address, which is an address of the second electronic device, as data for transmitting the first message to the information processing apparatus,

a fourth transmitter configured to transmit the generated second message to the information processing apparatus,

a second receiver configured to receive the first message sent from the information processing apparatus,

a first analyzer configured to analyze, on the basis of the received first message, the predetermined information included in the first message, and

a reporting unit configured to report the predetermined information included in the first message to the user on the basis of an analysis result obtained by the first analyzer,

the information processing apparatus comprising

a third receiver configured to receive the second message sent from the second electronic device,

a second analyzer configured to analyze, on the basis of the received second message, the first address and the second address included in the second message,

a storage unit configured to store the first address and the second address in association with each other on the basis of an analysis result obtained by the second analyzer, and

a fifth transmitter configured to transmit, on the basis of the first address and the second address stored in association with each other, the first message including the first address sent from the information providing apparatus to the second address.

28. An information providing apparatus for providing information to an electronic device, comprising:

a first generator configured to generate an address temporarily used for reporting predetermined information to a user;

a first transmitter configured to transmit the address to a different electronic device;

a generator configured to generate the predetermined information when reporting the predetermined information to the user;

a second generator configured to generate, on the basis of the address and the predetermined information, a message including the address and the predetermined information as data for providing the predetermined information to the user; and

a second transmitter configured to transmit the generated message to an information processing apparatus that transfers the message to the electronic device.

29. An electronic device for transmitting or receiving data, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive an address which is transmitted from an information providing apparatus for providing predetermined information and which is temporarily used for reporting the predetermined information;

a storage unit configured to store the received address; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the stored address to a different electronic device in response to a request from the different electronic device.

30. An electronic device for receiving data from an information processing apparatus or transmitting data to the information processing apparatus, comprising:

a generator configured to generate, on the basis of a first address transmitted from a different electronic device and temporarily used for reporting predetermined information, a first message including the first address and a second address, which is an address of the electronic device;

a transmitter configured to transmit the generated first message to the information processing apparatus;

a receiver configured to receive a second message, which is data for providing the predetermined information to a user, transmitted from the information processing apparatus;

an analyzer configured to analyze, on the basis of the received second message, the predetermined information included in the second message; and

a reporting unit configured to report the predetermined information included in the second message to the user on the basis of an analysis result obtained by the analyzer.

31. An information processing apparatus for receiving data from an electronic device or transmits data to the electronic device, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a first message including a first address temporarily used for reporting predetermined information and a second address, which is an address of the electronic device, transmitted from the electronic device;

an analyzer configured to analyze, on the basis of the received first message, the first address and the second address included in the first message;

a storage unit configured to store the first address and the second address in association with each other on the basis of an analysis result obtained by the analyzer; and

a transmitter configured to transmit to the second address, on the basis of the first address and the second address stored in association with each other, a second message including the first address, which is data for providing the predetermined information to a user, transmitted from an information providing apparatus for providing the predetermined information.

32. An electronic device for receiving data from an information processing apparatus or transmitting data to the information processing apparatus, comprising:

a first receiver configured to receive a first address which is transmitted from an information providing apparatus for providing predetermined information and which is temporarily used for reporting the predetermined information;

a generator configured to generate, on the basis of the received first address, a first message including the first address and a second address, which is an address of the electronic device;

a transmitter configured to transmit the generated first message to the information processing apparatus;

a second receiver configured to receive a second message, which is data for providing the predetermined information to a user, transmitted from the information processing apparatus;

an analyzer configured to analyze, on the basis of the received second message, the predetermined information included in the second message; and

a reporting unit configured to report the predetermined information included in the second message to the user on the basis of an analysis result obtained by the analyzer.