Information processing system, information processing apparatus, method and program

• US 8,768,841 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2004
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tokita, Megumi, Nakayama, Tsuyoshi, Tai, Yoshimasa, Ando, Kaori
• Primary Examiner(s): Reagan, James A
• Application Number:
  US10/512,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20060085271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,772 Days
• Field of Search: 705/59, 705/50
• US Class Current: 705/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/18 Licensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing apparatus and method, and a program in which the purchase of content can be facilitated. When a device to which content data is downloaded and a device for giving an instruction to purchase the content data are different, a purchase form for purchasing the content data is sent to the device for giving an instruction to purchase the content data. The user ID and password are input into the purchase form, and the device to which the content data is downloaded is determined by the user ID. If the device to which the content data is downloaded cannot be specified because the user registers a plurality of devices, a destination determination form for specifying the device to which the content data is downloaded is sent. The content data is then distributed to the device indicated in the destination determination form. The present invention is applicable to a server for executing processing concerning content data.

Claims

1. An information processing system comprising:

a first information processing apparatus including processing circuitry configured to control distribution of content;

a second information processing apparatus including processing circuitry configured to make a request to distribute the content after purchasing the content, the processing circuitry of the second information processing apparatus configured to make the request based on information directly input by a first user into a user interface of the second information processing apparatus; and

a third information processing apparatus including processing circuitry configured to receive the distribution of the purchased content,

wherein the processing circuitry of said first information processing apparatus is further configured to

manage a first ID identifying the purchased content,

manage a second ID identifying a second user of said third information processing apparatus, said second user being different than said first user,

supply the first ID and a request to specify the second ID to said second information processing apparatus in response to a request to distribute the purchased content from said second information processing apparatus,

identify, in response to receiving the first ID and the second ID from said second information processing apparatus, the second user as a recipient by using the second ID, and

distribute the purchased content identified by the first ID to said third information processing apparatus corresponding to the second ID, the purchased content being received from a distribution service provider and not from the second information processing apparatus,

wherein the processing circuitry of said second information processing apparatus is further configured to

request said first information processing apparatus to distribute the purchased content selected by the first user, and

send the first ID, received from said first information processing apparatus, and the second ID to the first information processing apparatus, and

wherein the processing circuitry of said third information processing apparatus is further configured to

receive and store the purchased content distributed by said first information processing apparatus.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the second ID is an email address of the second user.

3. An information processing apparatus comprising:

processing circuitry configured to

manage a first ID identifying a first user of a first apparatus,

manage a second ID identifying purchased content,

supply the second ID, which identifies the purchased content, to a second apparatus in response to a request to distribute the purchased content from the second apparatus, the second apparatus making the request based on information directly input by a second user into a user interface of the second apparatus, said second user being different than said first user,

identify, in response to receiving the second ID and the first ID from the second apparatus, the first user of the first apparatus as a recipient by using the first ID, and

distribute the purchased content identified by the second ID to the first apparatus corresponding to the first ID, the purchased content being received from a distribution service provider and not from the second apparatus.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

said processing circuitry is further configured to manage user information identifying the first user, a password, and the first ID in association with each other, and

said processing circuitry is further configured to receive information containing at least one of the user information and the password as the the first ID.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to form, when the first ID is identified, a schedule for distributing the purchased content identified by the second ID to the first apparatus corresponding to the specified first ID, and

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to distribute the purchased content based on the formed schedule.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to provide, when the schedule for the first apparatus is formed, the schedule to the first apparatus in response to a request to provide the schedule from the first apparatus.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first ID is an email address of the first user.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the identified recipient is the only user that has access to distribution of the purchased content.

9. An information processing method comprising:

managing, by processing circuitry of a service providing apparatus, a first ID identifying a first user of a first apparatus;

managing, by the processing circuitry of the service providing apparatus, a second ID identifying purchased content;

supplying, from the service providing apparatus, the second ID to a second apparatus in response to a request to distribute the purchased content from the second apparatus, the second apparatus making the request based on information directly input by a second user into a user interface of the second apparatus, said second user being different than said first user;

identifying, by the processing circuitry of the service providing apparatus, in response to receiving the second ID and the first ID from the second apparatus, the first user as a recipient by using the first ID; and

controlling distribution, from the service providing apparatus, of the purchased content identified by the second ID to the first apparatus corresponding to the first ID, the controlling distribution including receiving the content by the service providing apparatus from a distribution service provider and not from the second apparatus.

10. The information processing method according to claim 9, wherein the first ID is an email address of the first user.

11. A non-transitory recording medium in which a computer-readable program is recorded, said computer-readable program comprising:

managing, in a service providing apparatus, a first ID identifying a first user of a first apparatus;

managing, in the service providing apparatus, a second ID identifying purchased content;

specifying, from the service providing apparatus, the second ID to a second apparatus in response to a request to distribute the purchased content from the second apparatus, the second apparatus making the request based on information directly input by a second user into a user interface of the second apparatus, said second user being different than said first user;

identifying, in the service providing apparatus, in response to receiving the second ID and the first ID from the second apparatus, the first user as a recipient by using the first ID; and

controlling distribution, from the service providing apparatus, of the purchased content identified by the second ID to the first apparatus corresponding to the first ID, the controlling distribution including receiving the content by the service providing apparatus from a distribution service provider and not from the second apparatus.

12. The medium according to claim 11, wherein the first ID is an email address of the first user.

13. An information processing system comprising:

a first information processing apparatus including first processing circuitry configured to control distribution of content;

a second information processing apparatus including second processing circuitry configured to make a request to distribute the content after purchasing the content, the second information processing apparatus making the request based on information directly input by a first user into a user interface of the second information processing apparatus; and

a third information processing apparatus including third processing circuitry configured to receive the distribution of the purchased content,

said first information processing apparatus including,

a first management unit implemented by the first processing circuitry and configured to manage a first ID identifying the purchased content;

a second management unit implemented by the first processing circuitry and configured to manage a second ID identifying a second user of said third information processing apparatus, said second user being different than said first user;

a supply unit implemented by the first processing circuitry and configured to supply the first ID, managed by said first management unit, and a request to specify the second ID to said second information processing apparatus in response to a request to distribute the purchased content from said second information processing apparatus; and

a distribution unit implemented by the first processing circuitry and configured to identify, in response to receiving the first ID and the second ID from said second information processing apparatus, the second user as a recipient by using the second ID, and to distribute the purchased content identified by the first ID to said third information processing apparatus corresponding to the second ID, the distribution unit receiving the content from a distribution service provider and not from the second information processing apparatus,

said second information processing apparatus including,

a request unit implemented by the second processing circuitry and configured to request said first information processing apparatus to distribute the purchased content selected by the first user; and

a sending unit implemented by the second processing circuitry and configured to send the first ID, received from said first information processing apparatus, and the second ID to the first information processing apparatus, and

said third information processing apparatus including,

a storage unit implemented by the third processing circuitry and configured to receive and to store the purchased content distributed by said distribution unit of the first information processing apparatus.

14. The information processing system according to claim 13, wherein the second ID is an email address of the second user.

15. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a first management unit implemented by processing circuitry and configured to manage a first ID identifying a first user of a first apparatus;

a second management unit implemented by the processing circuitry and configured to manage a second ID identifying purchased content;

a supply unit implemented by the processing circuitry and configured to supply the second ID, managed by said second management unit, and a request to specify the first ID to a second apparatus in response to a request to distribute the purchased content from the second apparatus, the second apparatus making the request based on information directly input by a second user into a user interface of the second apparatus, said second user being different than said first user;

a identifying unit implemented by the processing circuitry and configured to identify, in response to receiving the second ID and the first ID from the second apparatus, the first user as a recipient by using the first ID; and

a distribution unit implemented by the processing circuitry and configured to distribute the purchased content identified by the second ID to the first apparatus corresponding to the first ID, the distribution unit receiving the content from a distribution service provider and not from the second information processing apparatus.

16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein:

said first management unit is further configured to manage user information for identifying a user, a password, and the first ID in association with each other; and

said specifying unit is further configured to receive information containing at least one of the user information and the password as the first ID.

17. The information processing apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising:

a scheduling unit implemented by the processing circuitry and configured to form, when the first ID is identified by said identifying unit, a schedule for distributing the purchased content identified by the second ID to the first apparatus corresponding to the specified first ID, wherein

said distribution unit is further configured to distribute the purchased content based on the schedule formed by said scheduling unit.

18. The information processing apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising:

a providing unit implemented by the processing circuitry and configured to provide, when the schedule for the first apparatus is formed by said scheduling unit, the schedule to the first apparatus in response to a request to provide the schedule from the first apparatus.

19. The information processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the user interface includes a keyboard that receives text information from the user.

20. The information processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the first ID is an email address of the first user.