Apparatus and method for computing evaluation values of content data stored for reproduction

• US 8,180,731 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2006
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Konno, Tatsuya, Takatsuka, Susumu, Tsukazaki, Hideo, Kinouchi, Takashi, Asaka, Kotaro, Kawakami, Takashi, Seki, Yasuharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Cam-Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, CECILE H
• Application Number:
  US11/492,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20070091357A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,121 Days
• Field of Search: 707/621, 707/626, 707/999.107, 707999003- 9, 707/999.101, 707/999.1, 709/232, 709/248, 709/219, 386/252, 386240-248, 715/727
• US Class Current: 707/621
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually

Abstract

An information-processing apparatus, reproduction apparatus, communication method and computer program are disclosed wherein an evaluation value can be added automatically to contents stored in a storage apparatus or medium. The information-processing apparatus comprising an acquisition section which acquires, from a portable reproduction apparatus which is capable of reproducing contents data, reproduction history information of the contents data in the portable reproduction apparatus. An evaluation value arithmetic operation section arithmetically operates a computed evaluation value corresponding to the content data based on the reproduction history information acquired by the acquisition section. A transfer section transfers the computed evaluation value arithmetically operated by the evaluation value arithmetic operation section to the portable reproduction apparatus.

Claims

1. An information-processing apparatus, comprising:

a central processing unit;

an acquisition section configured to acquire, in conjunction with the processing unit, from a portable reproduction apparatus which reproduces content data stored therein, reproduction history information of the content data reproduced by the portable reproduction apparatus;

an evaluation value arithmetic operation section configured to arithmetically operate, in conjunction with the processing unit, a computed evaluation value corresponding to the content data based on the reproduction history information acquired by said acquisition section;

a transfer section configured to transfer, in conjunction with the processing unit, the computed evaluation value to the portable reproduction apparatus; and

a connection detection section configured to detect that the portable reproduction apparatus is connected to said information-processing apparatus;

wherein

if said connection detection section detects that the portable reproduction apparatus is connected, said acquisition section acquires the reproduction history information of the content data in the portable reproduction apparatus from the portable reproduction apparatus and said evaluation value arithmetic operation section arithmetically operates the computed evaluation value corresponding to the content data based on the reproduction history information of the content data in the portable reproduction apparatus acquired by said acquisition section, and said transfer section transfers the computed evaluation value arithmetically operated by said evaluation value arithmetic operation section to the portable reproduction apparatus;

if a continuous connection duration between the portable reproduction apparatus and the information-processing apparatus is detected to exceed the specific time period,

the arithmetically operating is executed to arithmetically re-operate the computed evaluation value, which is stored in the evaluation value storage section and corresponds to the content data stored in the portable reproduction apparatus, based on the reproduction history information newly produced in the producing, and

the transferring is executed to transfer the arithmetically re-operated computed evaluation value to the portable reproduction apparatus.

2. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a content storage section configured to store one or more content data;

a reproduction section configured to reproduce the content data stored in said content storage section;

a reproduction history production section configured to produce second reproduction history information of the content data reproduced by said reproduction section;

an evaluation value storage section configured to store the computed evaluation value; and

an evaluation value recording section configured to record the computed evaluation value in the evaluation value storage section in connection with the content data;

said evaluation value arithmetic operation section being operable to arithmetically operate the computed evaluation value based on both the reproduction history information acquired from the portable reproduction apparatus and the second reproduction history information produced by said reproduction history production section.

3. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a reproduction history storage section configured to store the second reproduction history information, wherein;

said evaluation value arithmetic operation section arithmetically operates the computed evaluation value based on both the reproduction history information acquired from the portable reproduction apparatus and the second reproduction history information stored in said reproduction history storage section.

4. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

said evaluation value arithmetic operation section arithmetically operates a second computed evaluation value corresponding to the content data based on the second reproduction history information produced by said reproduction history production section;

said evaluation value arithmetic operation section arithmetically operates the computed evaluation value corresponding to the content data stored in the portable reproduction apparatus based on the reproduction history information acquired from the portable reproduction apparatus and further arithmetically operates a new computed evaluation value corresponding to the content data based on the second computed evaluation value and the computed evaluation value stored in said evaluation value storage section; and

said evaluation value recording section stores the new computed evaluation value in said evaluation value storage section.

5. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said acquisition section acquires, from the portable reproduction apparatus, both of the reproduction history information and the computed evaluation value currently stored in the portable reproduction apparatus;

and

said evaluation value arithmetic operation section arithmetically operates the new computed evaluation value corresponding to the content data based on both the reproduction history information and the computed evaluation value which are acquired from the portable reproduction apparatus.

6. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, every time the content data is reproduced by said reproduction section, said evaluation value arithmetic operation section arithmetically operates and updates the computed evaluation value corresponding to the content data, and said evaluation value recording section records the updated computed evaluation value into said evaluation value storage section.

7. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, when the content data stored in said content storage section is transferred to the portable reproduction apparatus, said transfer section selectively transfers the content data based on the computed evaluation value of the content data.

8. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a playlist production section configured to produce a playlist in which content identification information corresponding to the content data is listed based on the computed evaluation value stored in said evaluation value storage section.

9. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

an evaluation value transmission section configured to transmit the computed evaluation value stored in said evaluation value storage section to an external apparatus which is configured to provide the content data to said information-processing apparatus.

10. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a registration ID storage section configured to store a device ID of the portable reproduction apparatus for permitting evaluation value arithmetic operation by said evaluation value arithmetic operation section;

wherein

said acquisition section acquires the device ID of the portable reproduction apparatus together with reproduction history information of the content data in the portable reproduction apparatus, and

said evaluation value arithmetic operation section arithmetically operates the computed evaluation value only when the device ID stored in said registration ID storage section and the device ID acquired by said acquisition section coincide with each other.

11. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the information-processing apparatus and the portable reproduction apparatus store group IDs each assigned by a group management server to which said information-processing apparatus and the portable reproduction apparatus are registered, a common group ID being assigned to the information-processing apparatus and the portable reproduction apparatus belonging to a common group;

said acquisition section acquires the group ID stored in the portable reproduction apparatus together with the reproduction history information of the content data in the portable reproduction apparatus; and

said evaluation value arithmetic operation section arithmetically operates the computed evaluation value only when the group ID stored in the information-processing apparatus and the acquired group ID coincide with each other.

12. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an evaluation value input section configured to set an input evaluation value corresponding to the content data stored in said content storage section based on a user input; and

an evaluation value recording section configured to record the computed evaluation value arithmetically operated by said evaluation value arithmetic operation section and the input evaluation value set by said evaluation value input section in a coordinated relationship with the content data;

wherein

said transfer section transfers the computed evaluation value and the input evaluation value stored in said evaluation value storage section to the portable reproduction apparatus.

13. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

said acquisition section acquires one or both of the computed evaluation value and the input evaluation value corresponding to the content data stored in the portable reproduction apparatus;

said evaluation value arithmetic operation section executes one or both of a process of arithmetically operating a new computed evaluation value corresponding to the content data based on the computed evaluation value of the content data acquired by said acquisition section and the computed evaluation value of the content data stored in said evaluation value storage section and another process of arithmetically operating a new input evaluation value corresponding to the content data based on the input evaluation value of the content data acquired by said acquisition section and the input evaluation value of the content data stored in said evaluation value storage section;

said evaluation value recording section records one or both of the arithmetically operated new computed evaluation value and the acquired new input evaluation value in a coordinated relationship with the content data into said evaluation value storage section; and

said transfer section transfers one or both of the arithmetically operated new computed evaluation value and the acquired new input evaluation value to the portable reproduction apparatus.

14. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a content storage section configured to store one or more content data; and

a reproduction section configured to reproduce the content data stored in said content storage section;

wherein

said evaluation value arithmetic operation section arithmetically operates the computed evaluation value so that the evaluation of the content data becomes higher every time reproduction of the content data is started by said reproduction section.

15. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said evaluation value arithmetic operation section arithmetically operates a continuous reproduction duration of the content data based on the reproduction history information of the content data and arithmetically operates the computed evaluation value so that the evaluation of the content data whose continuous reproduction duration is equal to or longer than a specific time period becomes higher.

16. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, if said evaluation value arithmetic operation section detects based on the reproduction history information of the content data that the object of reproduction is changed over to a different of the content data within a specific period of time after reproduction of one of the content data is started, then said evaluation value arithmetic operation section updates the computed evaluation value so that the evaluation of the one content data becomes lower.

17. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said evaluation value arithmetic operation section arithmetically operates a continuous reproduction duration of the content data based on the reproduction history information of the content data and arithmetically operates the computed evaluation value so that the evaluation of the content data whose continuous reproduction duration is equal to or shorter than a specific time period becomes lower.

18. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said acquisition section acquires content identification information corresponding to one or more content data designated as an object of deletion on the portable reproduction apparatus from the portable reproduction apparatus;

and

said evaluation value arithmetic operation section arithmetically operates the computed evaluation value so that the evaluation of the content data corresponding to the content identification information acquired by said acquisition section becomes lower.

19. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a content storage section configured to store one or more content data;

a reproduction section configured to reproduce the content data stored in said content storage section;

an evaluation value input section configured to set an input evaluation value corresponding to the content data stored in said content storage section based on a user input; and

an evaluation value recording section configured to record, where the content data corresponding to the reproduction history information acquired from the portable reproduction apparatus by said acquisition section is stored also in said content storage section, the computed evaluation value of the content data arithmetically operated by said evaluation value arithmetic operation section and the input evaluation value of the content data set by said evaluation value input section in a coordinated relationship with the content data into said evaluation value storage section.

20. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising:

a display control section configured to cause a display section to selectively display the computed evaluation value and the input evaluation value regarding the same content data recorded in said evaluation value storage section.

21. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said display control section causes said display section to display the input evaluation value preferentially to the computed evaluation value recorded in said evaluation value storage section.

22. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein

if the computed evaluation value is recorded but the input evaluation value is not recorded in said evaluation value storage section regarding specific content data, said display control section controls said display section to display the computed evaluation value;

and

if the input evaluation value regarding the specific content data is set by said evaluation value input section, said evaluation value recording section records the input evaluation value in a coordinated relationship with the specific content data into said evaluation value storage section and said display control section controls said display section to display the input evaluation value in place of the computed evaluation value.

23. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein, when said display control section controls said display section to display the input evaluation value corresponding to the specific content data, if the reproduction history information of the specific content data is acquired from the portable reproduction apparatus by said acquisition section or reproduction of the specific content data is performed by said reproduction section,

said evaluation value arithmetic operation section arithmetically re-operates the computed evaluation value corresponding to the specific content data based on the reproduction history information of the specific content data acquired by said acquisition section or on the reproduction history information of the specific content data reproduced by said reproduction section, and

said evaluation value recording section updates the computed evaluation value stored in said evaluation value storage section to the arithmetically re-operated new computed evaluation value.

24. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a content storage section configured to store one or more content data;

a reproduction section configured to reproduce the content data stored in said content storage section;

a reproduction history production section configured to produce reproduction history information of the content data by said reproduction section; and

an evaluation value recording section configured to record the computed evaluation value arithmetically operated by said evaluation value arithmetic operation section based on the reproduction history information produced by said reproduction history production section into said evaluation value storage section;

wherein

if said connection detection section detects that a continuous connection duration between the portable reproduction apparatus and said information-processing apparatus exceeds a specific time period, then said evaluation value arithmetic operation section arithmetically re-operates the computed evaluation value, which is stored in said evaluation value storage section and corresponds to the content data stored in the portable reproduction apparatus, based on the reproduction history information newly produced by said reproduction history production section, and said transfer section transfers the computed evaluation value arithmetically re-operated by said evaluation value arithmetic operation section to the portable reproduction apparatus.

25. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, after the computed evaluation value arithmetically operated by said evaluation value arithmetic operation section based on the reproduction history information of the content data in the portable reproduction apparatus is transferred to the portable reproduction apparatus by said transfer section, a command is issued to the portable reproduction apparatus to delete the reproduction history information stored in the portable reproduction apparatus.

26. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a content storage section configured to store a plurality of content data including content data same as the content data stored in the portable reproduction apparatus;

a search list production section configured to produce a list of content identification information corresponding to the plural content data; and

an evaluation value recording section configured to record the computed evaluation value arithmetically operated by said evaluation value arithmetic operation section in a coordinated relationship with the content data into said evaluation value storage section;

wherein

said search list production section produces a list in which the plural pieces of content identification information are sorted in response to the computed evaluation values stored in said evaluation value storage section.

27. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a content storage section configured to store one or more content data; and

a content deletion section configured to delete, when some or all of the content data stored in said content storage section are transferred to the portable reproduction apparatus by said transfer section, some of contents stored in a storage medium corresponding to the portable reproduction apparatus in response to the computed evaluation value of the content data; and

wherein

said transfer section transfers the content data to be transferred to the portable reproduction apparatus after the content data is deleted by said content deletion section.

28. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said deletion section includes:

a free capacity detection section configured to detect a free capacity of the storage medium corresponding to the portable reproduction apparatus;

a comparison section configured to compare the capacity of the content data to be transferred to the portable reproduction apparatus by said transfer section and the free capacity detected by said free capacity detection section;

an under-capacity detection section configured to detect an under-capacity where said comparison section decides that the free capacity is insufficient;

a selection section configured to select content data corresponding to the under-capacity from within the content data stored in the storage medium corresponding to the portable reproduction apparatus in response to the computed evaluation value of the content data; and

a deletion section configured to delete the content data selected by said selection section from the storage medium corresponding to the portable reproduction apparatus.

29. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said content deletion section does not delete the content data, which has been ripped from a removable storage medium and is stored in said content storage section by the information-processing apparatus, from the storage medium corresponding to the portable reproduction apparatus.

30. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reproduction history information includes content ID information of the content data reproduced by the portable reproduction apparatus and further includes information indicating how the content data is reproduced by the portable reproduction apparatus.

31. A reproduction apparatus, comprising:

a central processing unit;

a content storage section configured to store one or more content data;

a reproduction section configured to reproduce, in conjunction with the processing unit, the content data stored in said content storage section;

a reproduction history production section configured to produce, in conjunction with the processing unit, reproduction history information of the content data reproduced by said reproduction section;

a reproduction history storage section configured to store the reproduction history information;

a transfer section configured to transfer, in conjunction with the processing unit, the reproduction history information, which is stored in said reproduction history storage section, to an external apparatus in response to a request from the external apparatus;

an acquisition section configured to acquire, in conjunction with the processing unit, a computed evaluation value of the content data, the computed evaluation value being arithmetically operated by the external apparatus at least based on the reproduction history information transferred to the external apparatus;

an evaluation value storage section configured to store the computed evaluation value;

an evaluation value recording section configured to record, in conjunction with the processing unit, the computed evaluation value acquired by said acquisition section in the evaluation value storage section in connection with the content data; and

an evaluation value input section configured to set an input evaluation value corresponding to the content data stored in said content storage section in accordance with a user input;

wherein

said evaluation value recording section records the computed evaluation value acquired by said acquisition section and the input evaluation value set by said evaluation value input section in said evaluation value storage section in connection with the content data,

said transfer section transfers one or both of the computed evaluation value and the input evaluation value corresponding to the content data stored in said evaluation value storage section to the external apparatus in response to the request from the external apparatus;

said acquisition section acquires one or both of a first new input evaluation value, which is arithmetically operated by the external apparatus based on the transferred computed evaluation value and the computed evaluation value stored in the external apparatus, and a second new input evaluation value, which is arithmetically operated by the external apparatus based on the transferred input evaluation value and the input evaluation value stored in the external apparatus; and

said evaluation value recording section updates one or both of the computed evaluation value and the input evaluation value stored in said evaluation value storage section in connection with the content data, to one or both of the acquired new computed evaluation value and the acquired new input evaluation value, respectively.

32. The reproduction apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said transfer section transfers a device ID of the reproduction apparatus together with the reproduction history information of the content data to the external apparatus in response to the request from the external apparatus.

33. The reproduction apparatus according to claim 31, wherein:

the external apparatus and the reproduction apparatus store group IDs each assigned by a group management server to which the external apparatus and said reproduction apparatus are registered, a common group ID being assigned to the external apparatus and the reproduction apparatus belonging to a common group; and

said transfer section transfers the group ID stored in said reproduction apparatus together with the reproduction history information of the content data to the external apparatus in response to the request from the external apparatus.

34. The reproduction apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising:

a display section;

a display control section configured to control the display section to selectively display the computed evaluation value and the input evaluation value regarding the same content data recorded in said evaluation value storage section.

35. The reproduction apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said display control section controls said display section to display the input evaluation value preferentially to the computed evaluation value recorded in said evaluation value storage section.

36. The reproduction apparatus according to claim 34, wherein, if the computed evaluation value is recorded but the input evaluation value is not recorded in said evaluation value storage section regarding specific content data, said display control section controls said display section to display the computed evaluation value;

and

if the input evaluation value regarding the specific content data is set by said evaluation value input section, said evaluation value recording section records the input evaluation value in said evaluation value storage section in connection with the specific content data, and said display control section controls said display section to display the input evaluation value in place of the computed evaluation value.

37. The reproduction apparatus according to claim 36, wherein, in a mode where said display control section controls said display section to display the input evaluation value corresponding to the specific content data,

said transfer section transfers the reproduction history information of the content data to the external apparatus in response to the request from the external apparatus;

said acquisition section acquires the computed evaluation value of the content data arithmetically operated by the external apparatus based on the reproduction history information; and

said evaluation value recording section records the computed evaluation value acquired by said acquisition section in a coordinated relationship with the content data into said evaluation value storage section.

38. The reproduction apparatus according to claim 31, wherein:

said transfer section transfers the reproduction history information and the computed evaluation value stored in said evaluation value storage section to the external apparatus in response to the request from the external apparatus;

said acquisition section acquires a new computed evaluation value corresponding to the content data arithmetically operated by the external apparatus at least based on the reproduction history information and the transferred computed evaluation value; and

said evaluation value recording section updates the computed evaluation value stored in a coordinated relationship with the content data in said evaluation value storage section to the acquired new computed evaluation value.

39. The reproduction apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising:

a deletion instruction section configured to record, if a deletion instruction for one or more content data stored in said content storage section is received, content identification information corresponding to the content data to be deleted in a deletion content storage section;

wherein

said transfer section transfers the content identification information recorded in said deletion content storage section together with the reproduction history information of the specific content data to the external apparatus in response to the request from the external apparatus.

40. The reproduction apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the reproduction history information stored in said reproduction history storage section is deleted after the computed evaluation value arithmetically operated by the external apparatus based on the reproduction history information is acquired by said acquisition section in response to the transfer of the reproduction history information of the content data by said transfer section.

41. The reproduction apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the reproduction history information includes content ID information of the content data reproduced by the reproduction section and further includes information indicating how the content data is reproduced by the reproduction section.

42. A communication method for an information-processing apparatus to communicate with a portable reproduction apparatus which reproduces content data, the method comprising:

acquiring, from the portable reproducing apparatus, reproduction history information of the content data reproduced by the portable reproduction apparatus;

arithmetically operating a computed evaluation value corresponding to the content data based on the reproduction history information acquired in the acquiring;

transferring the computed evaluation value to the portable reproduction apparatus;

detecting that the portable reproduction apparatus is connected to the information-processing apparatus;

wherein,

if the detecting detects that the portable reproduction apparatus is connected, the acquiring, the arithmetically operating and the transferring are executed;

reproducing one or more content data stored in a content storage section of the information-processing apparatus;

producing reproduction history information of the content data reproduced in the reproducing;

recording the computed evaluation value arithmetically operated based on the reproduction history information of the content data reproduced in the evaluation value storage section; and

detecting that a continuous connection duration between the portable reproduction apparatus and the information-processing apparatus exceeds a specific time period;

wherein,

if the continuous connection duration between the portable reproduction apparatus and the information-processing apparatus is detected to exceed the specific time period,

the arithmetically operating is executed to arithmetically re-operate the computed evaluation value, which is stored in the evaluation value storage section and corresponds to the content data stored in the portable reproduction apparatus, based on the reproduction history information newly produced in the producing, and

the transferring is executed to transfer the arithmetically re-operated computed evaluation value to the portable reproduction apparatus.

43. The communication method according to claim 42, further comprising:

reproducing one or more content data stored in a content storage section of the information-processing apparatus;

producing second reproduction history information of the content data reproduced in the reproducing; and

recording the computed evaluation value in an evaluation value storage section of the information-processing apparatus;

wherein,

in the arithmetically operating, the computed evaluation value corresponding to the content data is arithmetically operated based on both the reproduction history information acquired in the acquiring and the second reproduction history information produced in the producing.

44. The communication method according to claim 43, further comprising:

storing the second reproduction history information in a reproduction history storage section of the information-processing apparatus, wherein;

in the arithmetically operating, the computed evaluation value corresponding to the content data is arithmetically operated based on both the reproduction history information acquired from the portable reproduction apparatus and the second reproduction history information stored in the reproduction history storage section;

in the recording, the computed evaluation value is stored in the evaluation value storage section in connection with the data content; and

,

in the transferring, the computed evaluation value is transferred to the reproduction apparatus.

45. The communication method according to claim 43, further comprising:

firstly arithmetically operating a first computed evaluation value corresponding to the content data based on the reproduction history information of the content data reproduced in the reproducing;

firstly recording the computed evaluation value, which is arithmetically operated in the firstly arithmetically operating, in the evaluation value storage section;

secondly arithmetically operating a second computed evaluation value corresponding to the content data in the portable reproduction apparatus based on the reproduction history information acquired from the portable reproduction apparatus in the acquiring;

firstly transferring the computed evaluation value, which is arithmetically operated in the secondly arithmetically operating, to the portable reproduction apparatus;

thirdly arithmetically operating a new computed evaluation value corresponding to the content data based on both of the second computed evaluation value transferred in the firstly transferring and the first computed evaluation value recorded in the evaluation value storage section in the firstly recording; and

secondly transferring the new computed evaluation value, which is arithmetically operated in the thirdly arithmetically operating, to the portable reproduction apparatus.

46. The communication method according to claim 45, wherein, every time the content data is reproduced at the reproduction step, the processes in the firstly arithmetically operating and firstly recording are executed so that the new computed evaluation value corresponding to the content data is arithmetically operated and updated.

47. The communication method according to claim 45, further comprising:

issuing an instruction for the portable reproduction apparatus to delete the reproduction history information stored in the portable reproduction apparatus after the process in the firstly transferring is performed but before the process in the thirdly arithmetically operating is performed.

48. The communication method according to claim 42, further comprising:

setting an input evaluation value corresponding to the content data stored in a content storage section of the information-processing apparatus based on a user input;

recording the computed evaluation value arithmetically operated at the arithmetically operating and the input evaluation value set in the setting, in the evaluation value storage section;

wherein

in the transferring, the computed evaluation value and the input evaluation value recorded in the evaluation value storage section are transferred to the portable reproduction apparatus.

49. The communication method according to claim 48, wherein;

in the acquiring, one or both of the computed evaluation value and the input evaluation value corresponding to the content data stored in the portable reproduction apparatus are acquired from the portable reproduction apparatus;

the arithmetically operating includes one or both of

arithmetically operating a new computed evaluation value corresponding to the content data based on the computed evaluation value of the content data acquired in the acquiring and the computed evaluation value of the content data stored in the evaluation value storage section, and

arithmetically operating a new input evaluation value corresponding to the

content data based on the input evaluation value of the content data acquired in the acquiring and the input evaluation value of the content data stored in the evaluation value storage section;

in the recording, one or both of the new computed evaluation value and the new input evaluation value are recorded in the evaluation value storage section in connection with the content data; and

in the transferring, one or both of the new computed evaluation value and the new input evaluation value are transferred to the portable reproduction apparatus.

50. The communication method according to claim 42, further comprising:

setting an input evaluation value corresponding to the content data stored in a content storage section of the information-processing apparatus based on a user input;

recording the computed evaluation value arithmetically operated in the arithmetically operating and the input evaluation value set in the setting, in the evaluation value storage section; and

controlling a display section to selectively display the computed evaluation value and the input evaluation value regarding the same content data stored in the evaluation value storage section.

51. The communication method according to claim 50, wherein, in the controlling, the input evaluation value is displayed preferentially to the computed evaluation value recorded in the evaluation value storage section on the display section.

52. The communication method according to claim 50, wherein, if the computed evaluation value is recorded but the input evaluation value is not recorded in the evaluation value storage section regarding specific content data, the computed evaluation value is displayed by the display section in the controlling;

and,

if the input evaluation value regarding the specific content data is set in the setting, the input evaluation value is recorded in the evaluation value storage section, and in the controlling, the input evaluation value is displayed in place of the computed evaluation value on the display section.

53. The communication method according to claim 52, wherein, if, when the input evaluation value corresponding to the specific content data is displayed on the display section in the controlling, the reproduction history information of the specific content data is acquired from the portable reproduction apparatus in the acquiring or reproduction of the specific content data stored in a content storage section of the information-processing apparatus is performed in the reproducing,

the arithmetically operating is executed to arithmetically re-operate the computed evaluation value corresponding to the specific content data based on the reproduction history information of the specific content data acquired in the acquiring or on the reproduction history information of the specific content data reproduced in the reproducing, and

the recording is executed to update the computed evaluation value stored in the evaluation value storage section to the arithmetically re-operated new computed evaluation value.

54. The communication method according to claim 42, further comprising:

deciding whether or not a storage medium corresponding to the portable reproduction apparatus has a free capacity;

deleting, if the deciding decides that the storage medium does not have a free capacity, some of the content data stored in the storage medium corresponding to the portable reproduction apparatus in response to the computed evaluation value of the content data; and

transferring some or all of the content data stored in a content storage section of the information-processing apparatus to the portable reproduction apparatus.

55. The communication method according to claim 42, wherein the reproduction history information includes content ID information of the content data reproduced by the portable reproduction apparatus and further includes information indicating how the content data is reproduced by the portable reproduction apparatus.

56. A communication method for a reproduction apparatus to communicate with an external apparatus, the method comprising:

reproducing one or more content data stored in a content storage section of the reproduction apparatus;

producing reproduction history information of the content data reproduced in the reproducing;

recording the reproduction history information into a reproduction history storage section of the reproduction apparatus;

transferring the reproduction history information, which is recorded in the reproduction history storage section, to the external apparatus in response to a request from the external apparatus;

acquiring a computed evaluation value of the content data arithmetically operated by the external apparatus at least based on the reproduction history information transferred to the external apparatus;

recording the computed evaluation value acquired in the acquiring into an evaluation value storage section of the reproduction apparatus in connection with the content data;

setting an input evaluation value corresponding to the content data stored in the content storage section in accordance with a user input;

wherein

in the recording, the computed evaluation value acquired in the acquiring and the input evaluation value set in the setting are recorded in the evaluation value storage section in connection with the content data, wherein

in the transferring, one or both of the computed evaluation value and the input evaluation value corresponding to the content data stored in the evaluation value storage section are transferred to the external apparatus in response to the request from the external apparatus;

in the acquiring, one or both of a first new input evaluation value, which is arithmetically operated by the external apparatus based on the transferred computed evaluation value and the computed evaluation value stored in the external apparatus, and a second new input evaluation value, which is arithmetically operated by the external apparatus based on the transferred input evaluation value and the input evaluation value stored in the external apparatus, are acquired, and

in the recording, one or both of the computed evaluation value and the input evaluation value stored in the evaluation value storage section in connection with the content data are updated to one or both of the acquired new computed evaluation value and the acquired new input evaluation value, respectively.

57. The communication method according to claim 56, further comprising:

controlling a display section to selectively display the computed evaluation value and the input evaluation value regarding the same content data recorded in the evaluation value storage section.

58. The communication method according to claim 57, wherein in the controlling, the display section is controlled to display the input evaluation value preferentially to the computed evaluation value recorded in the evaluation value storage section.

59. The communication method according to claim 58, wherein, if the computed evaluation value is recorded but the input evaluation value is not recorded in the evaluation value storage section regarding specific content data, the display section is controlled to display the computed evaluation value at the display control step;

and

if the input evaluation value regarding the specific content data is set in the setting, the input evaluation value is recorded in the evaluation value storage section in the recording in connection with the content data and the display section is controlled to display the input evaluation value in place of the computed evaluation value in the controlling.

60. The reproduction apparatus according to claim 59, wherein, in a mode where the display section is controlled to display the input evaluation value corresponding to the specific content data in the controlling,

the transferring, the acquiring and the recording are executed.

61. The communication method according to claim 56, further comprising:

receiving a deletion instruction for one or more content data stored in the content storage section; and

recording content identification information corresponding to the content data to be deleted in a deletion content storage section;

wherein

in the transferring, the content identification information recorded in the deletion content storage section is transferred together with the reproduction history information of the specific content data to the external apparatus in response to the request from the external apparatus.

62. The communication method according to claim 56, further comprising:

firstly transferring the reproduction history information of the content data in response to the request from the external apparatus;

firstly acquiring, from the external apparatus, the computed evaluation value of the content data stored in the reproduction apparatus, the computed evaluation value being arithmetically operated by the external apparatus based at least on the reproduction history information;

firstly recording the computed evaluation value acquired in the acquiring into the evaluation value storage section in connection with the content data;

secondly transferring to the external apparatus the computed evaluation value recorded in the first recording;

secondly acquiring, from the external apparatus, a new computed evaluation value corresponding to the content data, the new computed evaluation value being arithmetically operated by the external apparatus based on the computed evaluation value transferred in the second transferring and the computed evaluation value stored in the external apparatus; and

secondly recording the new computed evaluation value acquired in the second acquiring in the evaluation value storage section in connection with the content data.

63. The communication method according to claim 62, further comprising:

deleting the reproduction history information stored in the reproduction history storage section after the first acquiring but before the second transferring.

64. The communication method according to claim 56, wherein the reproduction history information includes content ID information of the content data reproduced in the reproducing and further includes information indicating how the content data is reproduced in the reproducing.

65. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions recorded thereon that when executed by a processor performs steps for an information-processing apparatus to communicate with a portable reproduction apparatus which reproduces content data, the steps comprising:

acquiring, from the portable reproduction apparatus, reproduction history information of the content data reproduced by the portable reproduction apparatus;

arithmetically operating a computed evaluation value corresponding to the content data based on the reproduction history information acquired in the acquiring;

transferring the computed evaluation value to the portable reproduction apparatus;

detecting that the portable reproduction apparatus is connected to the information-processing apparatus;

wherein,

if the detecting detects that the portable reproduction apparatus is connected, the acquiring, the arithmetically operating and the transferring are executed;

reproducing one or more content data stored in a content storage section of the information-processing apparatus;

producing reproduction history information of the content data reproduced in the reproducing;

recording the computed evaluation value arithmetically operated based on the reproduction history information of the content data reproduced in the evaluation value storage section; and

detecting that a continuous connection duration between the portable reproduction apparatus and the information-processing apparatus exceeds a specific time period;

wherein,

if the continuous connection duration between the portable reproduction apparatus and the information-processing apparatus is detected to exceed the specific time period,

the arithmetically operating is executed to arithmetically re-operate the computed evaluation value, which is stored in the evaluation value storage section and corresponds to the content data stored in the portable reproduction apparatus, based on the reproduction history information newly produced in the producing, and

the transferring is executed to transfer the arithmetically re-operated computed evaluation value to the portable reproduction apparatus.

66. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions recorded thereon that when executed by a processor performs steps for a reproduction apparatus to communicate with an external apparatus, the steps comprising:

reproducing one or more content data stored in a content storage section of the reproduction apparatus;

producing reproduction history information of the content data reproduced in the reproducing;

recording the reproduction history information into a reproduction history storage section of the reproduction apparatus;

transferring the reproduction history information, which is recorded in the reproduction history storage section, to the external apparatus in response to a request from the external apparatus;

acquiring a computed evaluation value of the content data arithmetically operated by the external apparatus at least based on the reproduction history information transferred to the external apparatus;

recording the computed evaluation value acquired in the acquiring into an evaluation value storage section of the reproduction apparatus in connection with the content data;

setting an input evaluation value corresponding to the content data stored in the content storage section in accordance with a user input;

wherein

in the recording, the computed evaluation value acquired in the acquiring and the input evaluation value set in the setting are recorded in the evaluation value storage section in connection with the content data, wherein

in the transferring, one or both of the computed evaluation value and the input evaluation value corresponding to the content data stored in the evaluation value storage section are transferred to the external apparatus in response to the request from the external apparatus;

in the acquiring, one or both of a first new input evaluation value, which is arithmetically operated by the external apparatus based on the transferred computed evaluation value and the computed evaluation value stored in the external apparatus, and a second new input evaluation value, which is arithmetically operated by the external apparatus based on the transferred input evaluation value and the input evaluation value stored in the external apparatus, are acquired, and

in the recording, one or both of the computed evaluation value and the input evaluation value stored in the evaluation value storage section in connection with the content data are updated to one or both of the acquired new computed evaluation value and the acquired new input evaluation value, respectively.