Content Reproduction Device and Content Reproduction Method

• US 20100121942A1
• Filed: 11/10/2009
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Ooi, Shinichi, Fukushima, Michihiro
• Application Number:
  US12/615,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20100121942A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440236 by media transcoding, e.g. video is transformed into a slideshow of still pictures, audio is converted into text
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8193 dedicated tools, e.g. video decoder software or IPMP tool
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a content reproduction device connected through a network to a content server comprises a content acquisition module configured to function as a server for a client computer which retrieves to select content registered in the content server and to acquire the content selected by the computer from the content server, and a signal processing module which decodes the content acquired by the content acquisition module, wherein the content acquisition module acquires a uniform resource locator (URL) of the selected content to be reported from the computer and acquires content registered in the URL from the content server.

Claims

1. A content reproduction device connected through a network to a content server, comprising:

a content acquisition module configured to function as a server for a client computer which retrieves to select content registered in the content server, and to acquire the content selected by the computer from the content server; and

a signal processing module configured to decode the content acquired by the content acquisition module,

wherein the content acquisition module acquires a uniform resource locator (URL) of the selected content to be reported from the computer and acquires content registered in the URL from the content server.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the content acquisition module further reports a reproduction correspondence situation including a kind of a CODEC usable by the signal processing module to the computer, and if it is determined by the computer that the signal processing module cannot reproduce the selected content on the basis of the reproduction correspondence situation, acquires content which is acquired from the content server by the computer, and which is provided through transcoding into a format of the CODEC usable by the signal processing module.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the content acquisition module is connected to a router wirelessly connected to the computer.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the content acquisition module is connected to the content server through the router.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the content acquisition module functions as a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) server to communicate with the computer in a POST method.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a network-compatible television device.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a set-top box for connecting a television device to the network.

8. A content reproduction method for use in a content reproduction device connected through a network to a content server, comprising:

causing the content reproduction device to function as a server for a client computer which retrieves to select content registered in the content server;

acquiring a uniform resource locator (URL) of the selected content reported by the computer;

acquiring content registered in the URL from the content server; and

decoding the acquired content by the content reproduction device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

reporting a reproduction correspondence situation including a kind of a CODEC usable by the content reproduction device;

acquiring content, which is acquired from the content server by the computer, and which is reported through transcoding into a format of the CODEC usable by the signal processing module if it is determined by the computer that the content reproduction device cannot reproduce the selected content on the basis of the reproduction correspondence situation; and

decoding the acquired content by the content reproduction device.