Information processing apparatus and method, information processing system using the same, and recording medium and program used therewith

• US 7,430,595 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2002
• Issued: 09/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Morita, Toshihiro, Kori, Takayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Jacobs; Lashonda T
• Application Number:
  US10/123,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20020194355A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,358 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217, 709/219, 709/223, 709/225, 709/229, 709/231, 725/131
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00847 wherein the usage restriction is defined by a licence file
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10546 specifically adapted for audio data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91328 the copy protection signal being a copy management signal, e.g. a copy generation management signal [CGMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2223 being a public access point, e.g. for downloading to or uploading from clients arrangements specially adapted to plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2358 for generating different versions, e.g. for different recipient devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4184 providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4332 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4335 Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• 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 21/44204 Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 : Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47205 : for manipulating displayed content, e.g. interacting with MPEG-4 objects, editing locally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 : comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 : specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/835 : Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 : for scrambling ; for copy protection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8063 : using time division multiplex of the PCM audio and PCM video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 : involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

An information processing apparatus includes a music file storage unit and a transport processor. The music file storage unit stores a music file, PC-use additional information that can be displayed by a personal computer, and PD-use additional information that can be displayed by a portable device as they are. At the time of move-out, the transport processor copies, to the portable device, the music file, the PC-use additional information, and the PD-use additional information that are stored in the music file storage unit. When the data is correctly written in the portable device, the transport processor deletes, from the music file storage unit, the music file, the PC-use additional information, and the PD-use additional information.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus for distributing content, said information processing apparatus comprising:

generating means for generating first additional information in a first file format which can be read by a first electronic device configured to display information stored in the first file format and second additional information in a second file format that is different than the first file format which can be read by a second electronic device, different than the first electronic device, and configured to display information stored in the second file format, the first additional information and the second additional information concerning the content; and

distribution control means for controlling distribution of the first additional information and the second additional information generated by said generating means with the content,

wherein the first additional information in the first file format is information described in a highly extensible format, the second additional information in the second file format is information described in a simple format that can be read and written by the second electronic device which is inferior in processing ability to the first electronic device.

2. A first information processing method for an information processing apparatus for distributing content, said first information processing method comprising:

generating first additional information in a first file format which can be read by a first electronic device configured to display information stored in the first file format and second additional information in a second file format that is different than the first file format which can be read by a second electronic device, different than the first electronic device, and configured to display information stored in the second file format, the first additional information and the second additional information concerning the content; and

controlling distribution of the first additional information and the second additional information generated by said generating with the content,

wherein the first additional information in the first file format is information described in a highly extensible format, the second additional information in the second file format is information described in a simple format that can be read and written by the second electronic device which is inferior in processing ability to the first electronic device.

3. A computer-readable recording medium encoded with instructions, which when executed by a computer causes the computer to implement a method for controlling an information processing apparatus for distributing content, said method comprising:

generating first additional information in a first file format which can be read by a first electronic device configured to display information stored in the first file format and second additional information in a second file format that is different than the first file format which can be read by a second electronic device, different than the first electronic device, and configured to display information stored in the second file format, the first additional information and the second additional information concerning the content; and

controlling distribution of the first additional information and the second additional information generated by said generating with the content,

wherein the first additional information in the first file format is information described in a highly extensible format, the second additional information in the second file format is information described in a simple format that can be read and written by the second electronic device which is inferior in processing ability to the first electronic device.

4. An information processing apparatus comprising:

acquisition means for acquiring content, first additional information on the content in a first file format, and second additional information on the content in a second file format different than the first file format;

recording means for recording the content, the first additional information, and the second additional information which are acquired by said acquisition means in a computer readable storage medium; and

transfer control means for controlling, when the content is directed to be transferred by a user'"'"'s operation to another information processing apparatus, a transfer to the another information processing apparatus of the content, the first additional information, and the second additional information which are recorded by said recording means,

wherein one of the first additional information and the second additional information is information described in a highly extensible format which can be read by said information processing apparatus, the other one is information described in a simple format which can be displayed by the another information processing apparatus, and the another information processing apparatus is inferior in processing ability to the information processing apparatus.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising display-control means for controlling display of the first additional information recorded in said recording means.

6. A first information processing method comprising:

acquiring content, first additional information on the content in a first file format, and second additional information on the content in a second file format that is different from the first file format;

recording the content, the first additional information, and the second additional information in a computer readable storage medium of a information processing apparatus; and

transferring, when the content is directed to be transferred by a user'"'"'s operation to another information processing apparatus, the content, the first additional information, and the second additional information in which are recorded by said recording,

wherein one of the first additional information and the second additional information is information described in a highly extensible format which can be read by said information processing apparatus, the other one is information described in a simple format which can be displayed by the another information processing apparatus, and the another information processing apparatus is inferior in processing ability to the information processing apparatus.

7. A computer-readable recording medium encoded with instructions, which when executed by a computer causes the computer to implement a processing method, said method comprising:

acquiring content, first additional information on the content in a first file format, and second additional information on the content in a second file format that is different from the first file format;

recording the content, the first additional information, and the second additional information in a computer readable storage medium of a information processing apparatus; and

transferring, when the content is directed to be transferred by a user'"'"'s operation to another information processing apparatus, the content, the first additional information, and the second additional information in which were recorded by said recording,

wherein one of the first additional information and the second additional information is information described in a highly extensible format which can be read by said information processing apparatus, the other one is information described in a simple format which can be displayed by the another information processing apparatus, and the another information processing apparatus is inferior in processing ability to the information processing apparatus.

8. An information processing system comprising:

a first information processing apparatus for distributing content;

a second information processing apparatus for acquiring the content; and

a third information processing apparatus for acquiring the content, wherein said first information processing apparatus comprises;

generating means for generating first additional information in a first file format which can be read by said second information processing apparatus configured to display information stored in the first file format, and second additional information in a second file format that is different than the first file format which can be read by said third information processing apparatus configured to display information stored in the first file format, in which the first additional information and the second additional information concern the content; and

distribution-control means for controlling distribution of the first additional information and the second additional information generated by said generating means with the content,

wherein the first additional information in the first file format is information described in a highly extensible format, the second additional information in the second file format is information described in a simple format that can be read and written by a second electronic device which is inferior in processing ability to a first electronic device;

said second information processing apparatus comprises;

first acquisition means for acquiring the content, the first additional information, and the second additional information which are distributed from said first information processing apparatus;

first recording means for recording the content, the first additional information, and the second additional information which are acquired by said first acquisition means in a computer readable storage medium; and

transfer-control means for controlling, when the content is directed to be transferred by a user'"'"'s operation to the third information processing apparatus, a transfer to said third information processing apparatus of the content, the first additional information, and the second additional information which are recorded by said first recording means; and

said third information processing apparatus comprises;

second acquisition means for acquiring the content, the first additional information, and the second additional information which are transferred from one of the first and second information processing apparatus; and

second recording means for recording the content, the first additional information, and the second additional information which are acquired by said second acquisition means in another computer readable storage medium.

9. The information processing system according to claim 8, wherein said second information processing apparatus further comprises display-control means for displaying the first additional information acquired by said first acquisition means.

10. The information processing system according to claim 8, wherein said third information processing apparatus further comprises display-control means for displaying the second additional information acquired by said second acquisition means.

11. An information processing apparatus for distributing content, said information processing apparatus comprising:

a generating unit configured to generate first additional information in a first file format which can be read by a first electronic device configured to display information stored in the first file format and second additional information in a second file format that is different than the first file format which can be read by a second electronic device, different than the first electronic device, and configured to display information stored in the second file format, the first additional information and the second additional information concerning the content; and

a distribution unit configured to control distribution of the first additional information and the second additional information generated by said generating unit with the content,

wherein the first additional information in the first file format is information described in a highly extensible format, the second additional information in the second file format is information described in a simple format that can be read and written by the second electronic device which is inferior in processing ability to the first electronic device.

12. An information processing apparatus comprising:

an acquisition unit configured to acquire content, first additional information on the content in a first file format, and second additional information on the content in a second file format different than the first file format;

a recording unit configured to record the content, the first additional information, and the second additional information which are acquired by said acquisition unit in a computer readable storage medium; and

transfer control unit configured to control, when the content is directed to be transferred by a user'"'"'s operation to another information processing apparatus, a transfer to the another information processing apparatus of the content, the first additional information, and the second additional information which are recorded by said recording unit,

wherein one of the first additional information and the second additional information is information described in a highly extensible format which can be read by said information processing apparatus, the other one is information described in a simple format which can be displayed by the another information processing apparatus, and the another information processing apparatus is inferior in processing ability to the information processing apparatus.

13. An information processing system comprising:

a first information processing apparatus for distributing content;

a second information processing apparatus for acquiring the content; and

a third information processing apparatus for acquiring the content, wherein said first information processing apparatus comprises;

a generating unit configured to generate first additional information in a first file format which can be read by said second information processing apparatus configured to display information stored in the first file format, and second additional information in a second file format that is different than the first file format which can be read by said third information processing apparatus configured to display information stored in the first file format, in which the first additional information and the second additional information concern the content,

wherein the first additional information in the first file format is information described in a highly extensible format, the second additional information in the second file format is information described in a simple format that can be read and written by a second device which is inferior in processing ability to a first electronic device; and

a distribution-control unit configured to control distribution of the first additional information and the second additional information generated by said generating unit with the content;

said second information processing apparatus comprises;

a first acquisition unit configured to acquire the content, the first additional information, and the second additional information which are distributed from said first information processing apparatus;

a first recording unit configured to record the content, the first additional information, and the second additional information which are acquired by said first acquisition unit in a computer readable storage medium; and

a transfer-control unit configured to control, when the content is directed to be transferred by a user'"'"'s operation to the third information processing apparatus, a transfer to said third information processing apparatus of the content, the first additional information, and the second additional information which are recorded by said first recording unit; and

said third information processing apparatus comprises;

a second acquisition unit configured to acquire the content, the first additional information, and the second additional information which are transferred from one of the first and second information processing apparatus; and

a second recording unit configured to record the content, the first additional information, and the second additional information which are acquired by said second acquisition unit in another computer readable storage medium.

14. An information processing apparatus for distributing content, said information processing apparatus comprising:

generating means for generating first additional information in a first file format which can be read by a first electronic device configured to display information stored in the first file format and second additional information in a second file format that is different than the first file format which can be read by a second electronic device, different than the first electronic device, and configured to display information stored in the second file format, the first additional information and the second additional information concerning the content; and

distribution control means for controlling distribution of the second additional information and information for accessing a web site providing the first additional information generated by said generating means with the content,

wherein the first additional information in the first file format is information described in a highly extensible format, the second additional information in the second file format is information described in a simple format that can be read and written by the second electronic device which is inferior in processing ability to the first electronic device.