INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD, PROGRAM, RECORDING MEDIUM, RECOMENDATION APPARATUS AND METHOD, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM

• US 20090254548A1
• Filed: 04/07/2009
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Yoshiyuki, Nagano, Kae
• Application Number:
  US12/419,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20090254548A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

An information processing apparatus is provided whereby digital content can be viewed more comfortably and conveniently. A category information transmitter transmits, to a server, category information expressing one or more content categories associated with a recording medium loaded into the apparatus. A recommendation list presentation unit then receives and presents a recommendation list showing a server-generated list of content associated with the category information. The user selects content from the recommendation list. A selection information transmitter accepts the selection of content and then transmits, to the server, information specifying the selected content.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

category information transmitting means for transmitting, to a server, category information expressing one or more content categories associated with a recording medium loaded into the apparatus;

recommendation list presenting means for receiving and presenting a recommendation list showing a server-generated list of content associated with the category information; and

selection information transmitting means for accepting the selection of content included in the recommendation list, and then transmitting, to the server, information specifying the selected content.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the category information transmitting means additionally transmits a user ID specifying the user together with the category information.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, given a content viewing history accumulated on the server, the recommendation list presenting means presents a recommendation list that has been generated on the basis of the viewing history for content viewed on another information processing apparatus into which a recording medium has been loaded, wherein the category information of the recording medium is similar or identical to the category information transmitted by category information transmitting means.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

downloading means;

wherein, in the case where the recording medium is loaded into the apparatus, the downloading means downloads a portion of content data included in a wish list showing a list of content that the user of the recording medium desires to view in the future.

5. An information processing method, comprising the steps of:

transmitting, to a server, category information expressing one or more content categories associated with a recording medium;

receiving and presenting a recommendation list showing a server-generated list of content associated with the category information; and

accepting the selection of content included in the recommendation list, and then transmitting, to the server, information specifying the selected content.

6. A recording medium having recorded thereon category information expressing one or more predefined content categories, as well as a program for acquiring a recommendation list of content associated with the category information, the program causing a computer into which the recording medium is loaded to execute processing comprising the steps of:

communicating with a server and causing the category information to be transmitted to the server;

receiving and then presenting a recommendation list showing a server-generated list of content associated with the category information; and

accepting the selection of content included in the recommendation list, and then transmitting, to the server, information specifying the selected content.

7. A recommendation apparatus that recommends content for viewing by users of information processing apparatuses, the recommendation apparatus comprising:

storage means for storing viewing histories indicating the content viewed by the users of a plurality of information processing apparatuses, wherein each viewing history is categorized and stored on the basis of a user ID specifying a particular user as well as category information expressing one or more content categories associated with a recording medium loaded into a particular information processing apparatus;

specifying means for acquiring a particular user ID and category information transmitted from a particular information processing apparatus, and then specifying the viewing histories of other users stored in the storage means that are associated with the category information; and

generating means for generating, on the basis of the viewing histories specified by the specifying means, a recommendation list showing a list of content for viewing.

8. A recommendation method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is a method whereby content is recommended for viewing by users of information processing apparatuses, and comprises the steps of:

storing, in storage means, viewing histories indicating the content viewed by users of a plurality of information processing apparatuses, wherein each viewing history is categorized and stored on the basis of a user ID specifying a particular user as well as category information expressing one or more content categories associated with a recording medium loaded into a particular information processing apparatus;

acquiring a particular user ID and category information transmitted from a particular information processing apparatus, and then specifying the viewing histories of other users stored in the storage means that are associated with the category information; and

generating, on the basis of the viewing histories specified by the specifying means, a recommendation list showing a list of content for viewing.

9. An information processing system, comprising:

an information processing apparatus; and

a recommendation apparatus;

wherein the information processing apparatus is provided with

category information transmitting means for transmitting, to the recommendation apparatus, category information expressing one or more content categories associated with a recording medium loaded into the information processing apparatus,

recommendation list presenting means for receiving and presenting a recommendation list generated by the recommendation apparatus and showing a list of content associated with the category information, and

selection information transmitting means for accepting the selection of content included in the recommendation list, and then transmitting, to the recommendation apparatus, information specifying the selected content,

and wherein the recommendation apparatus is provided with

storage means for storing viewing histories indicating the content viewed by the users of a plurality of information processing apparatuses, wherein each viewing history is categorized and stored on the basis of a user ID specifying a particular user as well as category information expressing one or more content categories associated with a recording medium loaded into a particular information processing apparatus,

specifying means for acquiring a particular user ID and category information transmitted from a particular information processing apparatus, and then specifying the viewing histories of other users stored in the storage means that are associated with the category information, and

generating means for generating, on the basis of the viewing histories specified by the specifying means, a recommendation list showing a list of content for viewing.

10. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

a category information transmitter configured to transmit, to a server, category information expressing one or more content categories associated with a recording medium loaded into the apparatus;

a recommendation list presentation unit configured to receive and then present a recommendation list showing a server-generated list of content associated with the category information; and

a selection information transmitter configured to accept the selection of content included in the recommendation list, and then transmit, to the server, information specifying the selected content.

11. A recommendation apparatus that recommends content for viewing by users of information processing apparatuses, the recommendation apparatus comprising:

a storage unit configured to store viewing histories indicating the content viewed by the users of a plurality of information processing apparatuses, wherein each viewing history is categorized and stored on the basis of a user ID specifying a particular user as well as category information expressing one or more content categories associated with a recording medium loaded into a particular information processing apparatus;

a specifying unit configured to acquire a particular user ID and category information transmitted from a particular information processing apparatus, and then specify the viewing histories of other users stored in the storage unit that are associated with the category information; and

a list generator configured to generate, on the basis of the viewing histories specified by the specifying unit, a recommendation list showing a list of content for viewing.

12. An information processing system, comprising:

an information processing apparatus; and

a recommendation apparatus;

wherein the information processing apparatus is provided with

a category information transmitter configured to transmit, to the recommendation apparatus, category information expressing one or more content categories associated with a recording medium loaded into the information processing apparatus,

a recommendation list presentation unit configured to receive and then present a recommendation list generated by the recommendation apparatus and showing a list of content associated with the category information, and

a selection information transmitter configured to accept the selection of content included in the recommendation list, and then transmit, to the recommendation apparatus, information specifying the selected content,

and wherein the recommendation apparatus is provided with

a storage unit configured to store viewing histories indicating the content viewed by the users of a plurality of information processing apparatuses, wherein each viewing history is categorized and stored on the basis of a user ID specifying a particular user as well as category information expressing one or more content categories associated with a recording medium loaded into a particular information processing apparatus,

a specifying unit configured to acquire a particular user ID and category information transmitted from a particular information processing apparatus, and then specifying the viewing histories of other users stored in the storage unit that are associated with the category information, and

a list generator configured to generate, on the basis of the viewing histories specified by the specifying unit, a recommendation list showing a list of content for viewing.