Communication system and its method and communication apparatus and its method

• US 7,617,537 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Issued: 11/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Data Scape Limited (Atlantic IP Services Limited)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Morohashi, Akihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Zand, Kambiz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kaplan, Benjamin A
• Application Number:
  US11/046,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20050141367A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,744 Days
• Field of Search: 380/286, 713/153, 713/161, 713/165, 713/193, 726/26
• US Class Current: 726/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/60 of audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/213 Read-only discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2525 Magneto-optical [MO] discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/36 Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2207/16 Solid state audio deprecated, only for historical reasons, G06F3/16, G11B
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/00 Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 : Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26258 : for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand

Abstract

This invention relates to a communication system including a first apparatus having a first storage medium, and a second apparatus for transmitting data to the first apparatus, the second apparatus comprising: a second storage medium for storing management information of data to be transferred to the first storage medium; communication means for communicating data with the first apparatus; edit means capable of editing the management information; and control means for making a control to transfer data stored in the second storage medium to the first storage medium by way of the communication means on the basis of the management information edited by the edit means.

Claims

1. A communication method to transfer content data to a first apparatus from a second apparatus, comprising:

judging whether said first apparatus and said second apparatus are connected;

comparing, upon judging that said first apparatus and said second apparatus are connected, an identifier of said first apparatus with an identifier stored in said second apparatus;

comparing, when said identifier of said first apparatus corresponds to said identifier stored in said second apparatus, a first list of content data of said first apparatus and a second list of content data of said second apparatus;

transferring, from the second apparatus to the first apparatus, first content data, which is registered in said second list and is not registered in said first list; and

deleting, from the first apparatus, second content data, which is registered in said first list and is not registered in said second list.

2. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein said first apparatus is a portable audio player.

3. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein said second list of content data includes at least title of content data.

4. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein said first and second content data is made by compression-encoding technology.

5. The communication method according to claim 4, wherein said compression-encoding technique is ATRAC or MP3.

6. The communication method according to claim 1, further comprising:

creating said first list of content data at said first apparatus; and

supplying the created first list from said first apparatus to said second apparatus.

7. The communication method according to claim 1, further comprising:

editing said second list based on user input in advance of the transmission and the deletion of content data.

8. The communication method according to claim 7, wherein said user input is inputted to a touch sensor.

9. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein said second list is associated with said identifier of said first apparatus.

10. The communication method according to claim 9, said method further comprising:

extracting the second list which is associated with at least one identifier of said first apparatus among a plurality of said second list in said judging,

wherein the plurality of said second list exist at said second apparatus,

wherein each plurality of said second list is associated with the at least one identifier of said first apparatus.

11. The communication method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transferring said second list from said second apparatus to said first apparatus in said transferring of first content data.

12. The communication method according to claim 1, further comprising:

omitting transmission of said first content data which is included in both of said first list and second list in said transferring.

13. The communication method according to claim 1, further comprising:

charging a battery of said first apparatus in parallel with said transferring of said first content data.

14. The communication method according to claim 1, further comprising:

ripping content data from a CD into said second apparatus.

15. A communication apparatus configured to transfer content data to a portable apparatus, comprising:

a storing unit configured to store a program to control said communication apparatus; and

a processor configured to execute said program stored in the storing unit,

wherein said processor executing said program is operating to;

judge whether said portable apparatus and said communication apparatus are connected;

compare, upon judging that said portable apparatus and said communication apparatus are connected, an identifier of said portable apparatus with an identifier stored in said communication apparatus;

compare, when said identifier of said portable apparatus corresponds to said identifier stored in said communication apparatus, a first list of content data of said portable apparatus and a second list of content data of said communication apparatus;

transfer first content data, from the communication apparatus to the portable apparatus, which is registered in said second list and is not registered in said first list; and

delete second content data, from the portable apparatus, which is registered in said first list and is not registered in said second list.

16. The communication apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said processor executing said program is further operating to:

edit the second list of content data.

17. The communication apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said processor executing said program is further operating to:

edit said second list based on user input in advance of the transferring of first content data and the deletion of second content data.

18. The communication apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said user input is inputted to a touch sensor.

19. The communication apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said second list is associated with said identifier of said portable apparatus.

20. The communication apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a plurality of said second list exist at said communication apparatus,

wherein each plurality of said second list is associated with at least one identifier of the portable apparatus, and wherein said processor executing said program is further operating to:

extract said second list which is associated with said at least one identifier of said portable apparatus among said plurality of said second list in said judging.

21. The communication apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said processor executing said program is further operating to:

transfer said second list from said communication apparatus to said portable apparatus in said transfer of said first content data.

22. The communication apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said processor executing said program is further operating to:

omit transmission of said first content data which is included in both of said first list and second list in said transfer.

23. The communication apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said processor executing said program is further operating to:

charge a battery of said portable apparatus in parallel with said transfer of said first content data.

24. The communication apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said processor executing said program is further operating to:

rip content data from a CD into said communication apparatus.

25. A communication apparatus for transferring content data to a portable apparatus, comprising:

a storing means for storing a program for controlling said communication apparatus; and

a processing means for executing said program stored in the storing means;

wherein said processing means performs;

judging whether said portable apparatus and said communication apparatus are connected;

comparing, upon judging that said portable apparatus and said communication apparatus are connected, an identifier of said portable apparatus with an identifier stored in said communication apparatus;

comparing, when said identifier of said portable apparatus corresponds to said identifier stored in said communication apparatus, a first list of content data of said portable apparatus and a second list of content data of said communication apparatus;

transferring first content data, from the communication apparatus to the portable apparatus, which is registered in said second list and is not registered in said first list; and

deleting second content data, from the portable apparatus, which is registered in said first list and is not registered in said second list.

26. The communication apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said processing means performs:

editing said second list based on user input in advance of the transfer of said first content data and the deletion of said second content data.

27. The communication apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said user input is inputted to a touch sensor.

28. The communication apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said second list is associated with said identifier of a portable apparatus.

29. The communication apparatus according to claim 28, wherein a plurality of said second list exist at said communication apparatus,

wherein each plurality of said second list is associated with at least one identifier of the portable apparatus, and wherein said processing means performs:

extracting said second list which is associated with said at least one identifier of said portable apparatus among said plurality of said second list in said judging.

30. The communication apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said processing means performs:

transferring said second list from said communication apparatus to said portable apparatus in said transferring of said first content data.

31. The communication apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said processing means performs:

omitting transmission of said first content data which is included in both of said first list and second list in said transferring.

32. The communication apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said processing means performs:

charging a battery of said portable apparatus in parallel with said transferring of said first content data.

33. The communication apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said processing means performs:

ripping content data from a CD into said communication apparatus.

34. A communication apparatus for transferring content data to a portable apparatus comprising:

a storing means for storing a program into a storage for controlling said communication apparatus; and

a processing means for executing said program stored in said storage;

wherein said processing means performs;

judging whether said portable apparatus and said communication apparatus are connected;

comparing, upon judging that said portable apparatus and said communication apparatus are connected, lists of content data of said portable apparatus and said communication apparatus;

comparing, when said identifier of said portable apparatus corresponds to said identifier stored in said communication apparatus, a first list of content data of said portable apparatus and a second list of content data of said communication apparatus;

transferring first content data, from the communication apparatus to the portable apparatus, which is registered in said second list and is not registered in said first list; and

deleting second content data, from the portable apparatus, which is registered in said first list and is not registered in said second list.

35. The communication apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said processing means performs:

editing said second list based on user input in advance of the transferring of said first content data and the deletion of said second content data.

36. The communication apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said user input is inputted to a touch sensor.

37. The communication apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said second list is associated with said identifier of said portable apparatus.

38. The communication apparatus according to claim 37, wherein a plurality of said second list exist at said communication apparatus,

wherein each plurality of said second list is associated with at least one identifier of a portable apparatus, and wherein said processing means performs:

extracting said second list which is associated with said identifier of said communicated portable apparatus among said plurality of said second list in said judging.

39. The communication apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said processing means performs:

transferring said second list from said communication apparatus to said portable apparatus in said transferring of said first content data.

40. The communication apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said processing means performs:

omitting transmission of said first content data which is included in both of said first list and second list in said transferring.

41. The communication apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said processing means performs:

charging a battery of said portable apparatus in parallel with said transferring of said first content data.

42. The communication apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said processing means performs:

ripping content data from a CD into said communication apparatus.

43. A computer readable storage medium encoded with computer program instructions executable by a computer to implement a method of transferring content data to a first apparatus from a second apparatus, said computer program instructions comprising instructions that:

judge whether said first apparatus and said second apparatus are connected;

compare, upon judging that said first apparatus and said second apparatus are connected, an identifier of said first apparatus with a corresponding identifier in said second apparatus;

compare, when said identifier of said first apparatus corresponds to said identifier stored in said second apparatus, a first list of content data of said first apparatus and a second list of content data of said second apparatus;

transfer first content data, from the second apparatus to the first apparatus, which is registered in said second list and is not registered in said first list; and

delete second content data, from the first apparatus, which is registered in said first list and is not registered in said second list.

44. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 43, wherein said first apparatus is a portable audio player.

45. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 43, wherein said second list of content data includes at least title of content data.

46. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 43, wherein said first and second content data is made by a compression-encoding technique.

47. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 46, wherein said compression-encoding technique is ATRAC or MP3.

48. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 43, further comprising:

creating said first list of content data at said first apparatus after transferring of content data; and

supplying the created first list from said first apparatus to said second apparatus.

49. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 43, further comprising:

editing said second list based on user input in advance of the transferring of said first content data and the deletion of said second content data.

50. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 49, wherein said user input is inputted to a touch sensor.

51. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 43, wherein said second list is associated with said identifier of a first apparatus.

52. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 51,

further comprising:

extracting said second list which is associated with at least one identifier of said first apparatus among a plurality of said second list in said judging,

wherein the plurality of said second list exist at second apparatus,

wherein each plurality of said second list is associated with the at least one identifier of the first apparatus.

53. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 43, further comprising:

transferring said second list from said second apparatus to said first apparatus in said transferring of second first content data.

54. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 43, further comprising:

omitting transmission of said first content data which is included in both of said first list and second list in said transferring.

55. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 43, further comprising:

charging a battery of said first apparatus in parallel with said transferring of said first content data.

56. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 43, further comprising:

ripping content data from a CD into said second apparatus.