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

• US 7,447,793 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2004
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Morioka, Yasuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Vaughn, Jr.; William C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mirzadegan; Saeed S
• Application Number:
  US10/926,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20050050181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,531 Days
• Field of Search: 709/225, 709/228, 709/231
• US Class Current: 709/231
• 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. 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 acquisition unit which acquires content information including permanent identification information for identifying a first communication apparatus as a storage location of contents;

an equipment information management table which associates the permanent identification information for identifying said first communication apparatus with temporary communication address information for communicating with said first communication apparatus;

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

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

a content information provider which provides the content information including the temporary communication address to a second communication apparatus; and

a recording medium for storing at least the equipment information management table.

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

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

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 information relating to the contents provided by said first communication apparatus is requested.

6. The content management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said table update unit updates information relating to the contents when a predetermined time has passed after a previous update 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 a UDN (Unique Device Name) and a MAC (Media Acess Control) address.

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

9. A content management system, comprising:

a first communication apparatus which provides contents;

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

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

a control apparatus which controls providing the contents from said first communication apparatus to said second communication apparatus, wherein said content management apparatus includes;

a content information provider which provides content information including permanent identification information for identifying the first communication apparatus as a storage location of the contents;

an equipment information management table which associates the permanent identification information for identifying said first communication apparatus with temporary communication address information for communicating with said first communication apparatus;

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

a location information replacement unit configured to replace the permanent identification information with the temporary communication address, based on said equipment information management table; and

a recording medium for storing at least the equipment information management table.

10. The content management system according to claim 9, wherein said content information provider provides to said control apparatus the information relating to the contents provided 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 the 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 the information relating to the contents when a predetermined time has passed after a previous update, is registered in said equipment information management table.