Information processing system, information processing device and method, recording medium, and program

• US 7,784,078 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2003
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Weber Maschinenbau GmbH Breidenbach
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nakayama, Ayako, Ichioka, Hidetoshi, Wakai, Shinichi, Kimura, Hitoshi, Ohnuma, Kensuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley; Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hicks; Charles N
• Application Number:
  US10/491,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20050022251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,582 Days
• Field of Search: 725/87, 725/89, 725 91- 92
• US Class Current: 725/91
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction

Abstract

The present invention relates to an information processing system, information processing apparatus and method, recording medium and program, adapted to exchange picture-recording schedule information between the terminals. A user apparatus 3-2 registers generated picture-recording schedule information to a server 2-1 through a network 1, together with the information representative of a providing destination. The server 2-1, when registering the picture-recording schedule information, makes a notification to a user apparatus 3-1 as a providing destination thereof. The video recording/reproducing apparatus 11 of the user apparatus 3-1 accesses the server 2-1 through the network 1, and designates a picture-recording schedule program desired for scheduling of picture-recording of among the programs registered in the picture-recording schedule information. The server 2-1 sends the schedule information on a designated program to the video recording/reproducing apparatus 11 through the network 1. The video recording/reproducing apparatus 11 receives this and makes a scheduling of picture-recording on the basis of the picture-recording schedule information. The invention is applicable to the hard-disk video recorder.

Claims

1. An information processing system configured by a first information processing apparatus, a second information processing apparatus for exchanging information with said first information processing apparatus and a third information processing apparatus for controlling to exchange information between said first information processing apparatus and said second information processing apparatus, that are connected to a network, said information processing system characterized in that:

said first information processing apparatus

sends a destination of provision, where picture-recording program information is to be provided, to said third information processing apparatus through said network, together with said picture-recording program information about a to-be-picture-recorded program;

said third information processing apparatus

registering said picture-recording program information sent from said first information processing apparatus through said network, and

sending said picture-recording program information registered to said second information processing apparatus through said network in the case said second information processing apparatus is said destination of provision;

said second information processing apparatus receiving said picture-recording program information stored in said third information processing apparatus by said first information processing apparatus, from said third information processing apparatus through said network;

whereby the destination of provision information comprises a user identification identifying the second information processing apparatus, the picture-recording program information is provided from a user of the first information processing apparatus to the third information processing apparatus, and the third information processing apparatus is operable to provide the picture-recording program information to the second information processing apparatus as identified by the user identification,

the user identification being provided in response to an input of information about another user at the first information processing apparatus such that the user of the first information processing apparatus provides to the third information processing apparatus information about the another user identifying the second information processing apparatus.

2. An information processing method for an information processing system configured by a first information processing apparatus, a second information processing apparatus for exchanging information with said first information processing apparatus and a third information processing apparatus for controlling to exchange information between said first information processing apparatus and said second information processing apparatus, that are connected to a network, said information processing method characterized in that:

said first information processing apparatus

sends a destination of provision, where picture-recording program information is to be provided, to said third information processing apparatus through said network, together with said picture-recording program information about a to-be-picture-recorded program;

said third information processing apparatus

registering said picture-recording program information sent from said first information processing apparatus through said network, and

sending said picture-recording program information registered to said second information processing apparatus through said network in the case said second information processing apparatus is said destination of provision;

said second information processing apparatus receiving said picture-recording program information stored in said third information processing apparatus by said first information processing apparatus, from said third information processing apparatus through said network;

whereby the destination of provision information comprises a user identification identifying the second information processing apparatus, the picture-recording program information is provided from a user of the first information processing apparatus to the third information processing apparatus, and the third information processing apparatus is operable to provide the picture-recording program information to the second information processing apparatus as identified by the user identification,

the user identification being provided in response to an input of information about another user at the first information processing apparatus such that the user of the first information processing apparatus provides to the third information processing apparatus information about the another user identifying the second information processing apparatus.

3. An information processing apparatus comprising:

first acquiring means for acquiring picture-recording program information about a to-be-recorded program;

second acquiring means for acquiring destination-of-provision information for specifying a destination of provision where said picture-recording program information is to be provided; and

providing means for providing said picture-recording program information acquired by said first acquiring means to another information processing apparatus;

whereby the destination of provision information comprises a user identification identifying the other information processing apparatus, the picture-recording program information is provided to the information processing apparatus from a user of a third information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus is operable to provide the picture-recording program information to the other information processing apparatus as identified by the user identification,

the user identification being provided in response to an input of information about another user at the third information processing apparatus such that the user of the third information processing apparatus provides to the information processing apparatus information about the another user identifying the other information processing apparatus.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said providing means sends and registers said picture-recording program information and said destination-of-provision information to first another information processing apparatus of said other information processing apparatuses through a network, and further causes said first other information processing apparatus to provide said picture-recording program information to second another information processing apparatus of said other information processing apparatuses defined by said destination-of-provision information through said network.

5. An information processing method for an information processing apparatus, said information processing method comprising:

a first acquiring step of acquiring picture-recording program information about a to-be-recorded program;

a second acquiring step of acquiring destination-of-provision information for specifying a destination of provision where said picture-recording program information is to be provided; and

a providing step of providing said picture-recording program information acquired by a process of said first acquiring step to another information processing apparatus;

whereby the destination of provision information comprises a user identification identifying the other information processing apparatus, the picture-recording program information is provided to the information processing apparatus from a user of a third information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus is operable to provide the picture-recording program information to the other information processing apparatus as identified by the user identification,

the user identification being provided in response to an input of information about another user at the third information processing apparatus such that the user of the third information processing apparatus provides to the information processing apparatus information about the another user identifying the other information processing apparatus.

6. A computer-readable non-transitory medium storing a computer-readable program for implementing an information processing method on an information processing apparatus, the method comprising:

a first acquiring step of acquiring picture-recording program information about a to-be-recorded program;

a second acquiring step of acquiring destination-of-provision information for specifying a destination of provision where said picture-recording program information is to be provided; and

a providing step of providing said picture-recording program information acquired by a process of the first acquiring step to another information processing apparatus;

whereby the destination of provision information comprises a user identification identifying the other information processing apparatus, the picture-recording program information is provided to the information processing apparatus from a user of a third information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus is operable to provide the picture-recording program information to the other information processing apparatus as identified by the user identification,

the user identification being provided in response to an input of information about another user at the third information processing apparatus such that the user of the third information processing apparatus provides to the information processing apparatus information about the another user identifying the other information processing apparatus.

7. A computer-readable non-transitory medium storing a computer-readable program for implementing an information processing method on an information processing apparatus, the method comprising:

a first acquiring step of acquiring picture-recording program information about a to-be-recorded program;

a second acquiring step of acquiring destination-of-provision information for specifying a destination of provision where said picture-recording program information is to be provided; and

a providing step of providing the picture-recording program information acquired by a process of the first acquiring step to another information processing apparatus;

whereby the destination of provision information comprises a user identification identifying the other information processing apparatus, the picture-recording program information is provided to the information processing apparatus from a user of a third information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus is operable to provide the picture-recording program information to the other information processing apparatus as identified by the user identification,

the user identification being provided in response to an input of information about another user at the third information processing apparatus such that the user of the third information processing apparatus provides to the information processing apparatus information about the another user identifying the other information processing apparatus.

8. An information processing apparatus comprising:

access means for accessing another information processing apparatus through a network;

receiving means for receiving picture-recording program information about a to-be-recorded program from said accessed other information processing apparatus through said network, wherein when said other information processing apparatus stores destination of provision information comprising a user identification identifying the information processing apparatus, said receiving means receives first picture-recording program information registered in said other information processing apparatus by a user other than a user on said information processing apparatus and second picture-recording program information provided by said other information processing apparatus by itself;

storing means for storing said picture-recording program information received from said other information processing apparatus;

schedule picture-recording means for picture-recording said program by scheduling, on the basis of said picture-recording program information stored in said storing means;

first acquiring means for acquiring selection information for selecting any one of said first picture-recording program information and said second picture-recording program information,

presenting means for presenting any one of said first picture-recording program information and said second picture-recording program information on the basis of said selection information acquired by said first acquiring means,

second acquiring means for acquiring designation information for designating any one of said first picture-recording program information and said second picture-recording program information presented by said presenting means, and

third acquiring means for acquiring designation information for designating a predetermined program, from said picture-recording program information corresponding to designation information acquired by said second acquiring means,

the user identification being provided to the other information processing apparatus from a third information processing apparatus, and

the user identification being provided in response to an input of information about another user at the third information processing apparatus such that the user of the third information processing apparatus provides to the other information processing apparatus information about the another user identifying the information processing apparatus.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising

sending means for sending said designation information acquired by said third acquiring means, to said other information processing apparatus through said network;

whereby said receiving means receives said picture-recording program information of said program sent from said other information processing apparatus through said network and corresponding to said designation information sent by said sending means;

said storing means for storing said picture-recording program information of said program sent by said sending means and corresponding to said designation information.

10. An information processing method for an information processing apparatus, the information processing method comprising:

an access step of accessing another information processing apparatus through a network;

a receiving step of receiving picture-recording program information about a to-be-recorded program from said accessed other information processing apparatus through said network;

a storing step of storing said picture-recording program information received from said other information processing apparatus; and

a schedule picture-recording step of picture-recording the program by scheduling, on the basis of said picture-recording program information stored by a process of said storing step;

whereby the picture-recording program information and destination provision information are provided to the other information processing apparatus from a user of a third information apparatus, the destination of provision information comprising a user identification identifying the information processing apparatus, and the other information processing apparatus is operable to provide the picture-recording program information to the information processing apparatus as identified by the user identification,

the user identification being provided in response to an input of information about another user at the third information processing apparatus such that the user of the third information processing apparatus provides to the other information processing apparatus information about the another user identifying the information processing apparatus.

11. A computer-readable non-transitory medium storing a computer-readable program for implementing an information processing method on an information processing apparatus, the method comprising:

an access step of accessing another information processing apparatus through a network;

a receiving step of receiving picture-recording program information about a to-be-recorded program from said accessed other information processing apparatus through said network;

a storing step of storing said picture-recording program information received from said other information processing apparatus; and

a schedule picture-recording step of picture-recording said program by scheduling, on the basis of said picture-recording program information stored by a process of said storing step;

whereby the picture-recording program information and destination provision information are provided to the other information processing apparatus from a user of a third information apparatus, the destination of provision information comprising a user identification identifying the information processing apparatus, and the other information processing apparatus is operable to provide the picture-recording program information to the information processing apparatus as defined by the user identification,

the user identification being provided in response to an input of information about another user at the third information processing apparatus such that the user of the third information processing apparatus provides to the other information processing apparatus information about the another user identifying the information processing apparatus.

12. A computer-readable non-transitory medium storing a computer-readable program for implementing an information processing method on an information processing apparatus, the method comprising:

an access step of accessing another information processing apparatus through a network;

a receiving step of receiving picture-recording program information about a to-be-recorded program from said accessed other information processing apparatus through said network;

a storing step of storing said picture-recording program information received from said other information processing apparatus; and

a schedule picture-recording step of picture-recording said program by scheduling, on the basis of said picture-recording program information stored by a process of the storing step;

whereby the picture-recording program information and destination provision information are provided to the other information processing apparatus from a user of a third information apparatus, the destination of provision information comprising a user identification identifying the information processing apparatus, and the other information processing apparatus is operable to provide the picture-recording program information to the information processing apparatus as identified by the user identification,

the user identification being provided in response to an input of information about another user at the third information processing apparatus such that the user of the third information processing apparatus provides to the other information processing apparatus information about the another user identifying the information processing apparatus.

13. An information processing apparatus connected to a network together with first another information processing apparatus and second another information processing apparatus for exchanging information with said first other information processing apparatus, and for controlling to exchange information between said first other information processing apparatus and said second other information processing apparatus, said information processing apparatus comprising:

first accepting means that said first other information processing apparatus accepts an access through said network;

receiving means for receiving picture-recording program information about a to-be-recorded program and destination-of-provision information specifying a destination of provision where said picture-recording program information is to be provided, sent from said first other information processing apparatus whose access has been accepted by said first receiving means;

registering means for registering said picture-recording program information and destination-of-provision information received by said receiving means;

second receiving means for receiving an access through said network by said second other information processing apparatus;

determining means for determining whether or not said second other information processing apparatus whose access has been accepted by said second accepting means is said destination of provision where said picture-recording program information is to be provided; and

first sending means for sending said picture-recording program information registered in said registering means to said second information processing apparatus through said network in a case determined by said determining means that said second other information processing apparatus whose access has been accepted by said second accepting means is said destination of provision where said picture-recording program information is to be provided;

whereby the destination of provision information comprises a user identification identifying the second other information processing apparatus, the picture-recording program information is provided from a user of the first other information processing apparatus to the information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus is operable to provide the picture-recording program information to the second other information processing apparatus as identified by the user identification,

the user identification being provided in response to an input of information about another user at the first other information processing apparatus such that the user of the first other information processing apparatus provides to the information processing apparatus information about the another user identifying the second other information processing apparatus.

14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising

first acquiring means for acquiring designation information for designating said program selected based on said picture-recording program information sent by said first sending means from said second other information processing apparatus through said network, and

second sending means for sending said picture-recording program information of said program corresponding to said designation information acquired by said first acquiring means to said second information processing apparatus through said network.

15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said first sending means sends, to said second other information processing apparatus, first picture-recording program information registered by said first other information processing apparatus and selection information for selecting second picture-recording program information provided by said information processing apparatus by itself,

said acquiring means acquiring said designation information for designating said program selected based on said picture-recording program information as a selected one by said first other information processing apparatus of any one of said first picture-recording program information and second picture-recording program information sent by said first sending means.

16. An information processing method for an information processing apparatus connected to a network together with first another information processing apparatus and second another information processing apparatus for exchanging information with said first other information processing apparatus, and for controlling to exchange information between said first other information processing apparatus and said second other information processing apparatus, said information processing method comprising:

a first accepting step of accepting an access through said network by said first other information processing apparatus;

a receiving step of receiving picture-recording program information about a to-be-recorded program and destination-of-provision information for specifying a destination of provision where said picture-recording program information is to be provided, sent from said first other information processing apparatus whose access has been accepted by a process of said first accepting step;

a registering step of registering said picture-recording program information and destination-of-provision information received by a process of said receiving step;

a second accepting step for accepting an access by said second other information processing apparatus through said network;

a determining step of determining whether or not said second other information processing apparatus whose access has been accepted by a process of said second accepting step is said destination of provision where said picture-recording program information is to be provided; and

a sending step of sending said picture-recording program information registered by a process of said registering step to said second information processing apparatus through said network in a case determined by a process of said determining step that said second other information processing apparatus whose access has been accepted by a process of said second accepting step is said destination of provision where said picture-recording program information is to be provided;

whereby the destination of provision information comprises a user identification identifying the second other information processing apparatus, the picture-recording program information is provided from a user of the first other information processing apparatus to the information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus is operable to provide the picture-recording program information to the second other information processing apparatus as identified by the user identification,

the user identification being provided in response to an input of information about another user at the first other information processing apparatus such that the user of the first other information processing apparatus provides to the information processing apparatus information about the another user identifying the second other information processing apparatus.

17. A computer-readable non-transitory medium storing a computer-readable program for implementing an information processing method on an information processing apparatus connected to a network together with first another information processing apparatus and second another information processing apparatus for exchanging information with said first other information processing apparatus, the method comprising:

a first accepting step of accepting an access through said network by said first other information processing apparatus;

a receiving step of receiving picture-recording program information about a to-be-recorded program and destination-of-provision information for specifying a destination of provision where said picture-recording program information is to be provided, sent from said first other information processing apparatus whose access has been accepted by a process of said first accepting step;

a registering step of registering said picture-recording program information and destination-of-provision information received by a process of said receiving step;

a second accepting step for accepting an access through said network by said second other information processing apparatus;

a determining step of determining whether or not said second other information processing apparatus whose access has been accepted by a process of said second accepting step is said destination of provision where said picture-recording program information is to be provided; and

a sending step of sending said picture-recording program information registered by a process of said registering step to said second information processing apparatus through said network in a case determined by a process of said determining step that said second other information processing apparatus whose access has been accepted by a process of said second accepting step is said destination of provision where said picture-recording program information is to be provided;

whereby the destination of provision information comprises a user identification identifying the second other information processing apparatus, the picture-recording program information is provided from a user of the first other information processing apparatus to the information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus is operable to provide the picture-recording program information to the second other information processing apparatus as identified by the user identification,

the user identification being provided in response to an input of information about another user at the first other information processing apparatus such that the user of the first other information processing apparatus provides to the information processing apparatus information about the another user identifying the second other information processing apparatus.

18. A computer-readable non-transitory medium storing a computer-readable program for implementing an information processing method on an information processing apparatus connected to a network together with first another information processing apparatus and second another information processing apparatus for exchanging information with said first other information processing apparatus, the method comprising:

a first accepting step of accepting an access through said network by said first other information processing apparatus;

a receiving step of receiving picture-recording program information about a to-be-recorded program and destination-of-provision information for specifying a destination of provision where said picture-recording program information is to be provided, sent from said first other information processing apparatus whose access has been accepted by a process of said first accepting step;

a registering step of registering the picture-recording program information and destination-of-provision information received by a process of said receiving step;

a second accepting step for accepting an access through the network by said second other information processing apparatus;

a determining step of determining whether or not said second other information processing apparatus whose access has been accepted by a process of said second accepting step is said destination of provision where said picture-recording program information is to be provided; and

a sending step of sending said picture-recording program information registered by a process of said registering step to said second information processing apparatus through said network in a case determined by a process of said determining step that said second other information processing apparatus whose access has been accepted by a process of said second accepting step is said destination of provision where said picture-recording program information is to be provided;

whereby the destination of provision information comprises a user identification identifying the second other information processing apparatus, the picture-recording program information is provided from a user of the first other information processing apparatus to the information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus is operable to provide the picture-recording program information to the second other information processing apparatus as identified by the user identification,

the user identification being provided in response to an input of information about another user at the first other information processing apparatus such that the user of the first other information processing apparatus provides to the information processing apparatus information about the another user identifying the second other information processing apparatus.