Information providing apparatus and method, information processing apparatus and method, program storage medium, program, and information providing system

An information providing method comprising the steps of:

• controlling the reception, from a first information processing apparatus, of user identification data for identifying a user of said first information processing apparatus and a request for purchasing a content;
• controlling in response to said request for purchasing said content the transmission of said request for purchasing said content to a second information processing apparatus;
• controlling the reception of said content and usage conditions thereof supplied from said second information processing apparatus;
• controlling the storing of said content and usage conditions thereof in correlation with said user identification data;
• controlling the reception of said user identification data and a request for sending said content supplied from said first information processing apparatus;
• and
• controlling, in response to said request for sending said content, the transmission of said content stored in correlation with said user identification data.

A program storage medium storing a computer-readable program comprising the steps of:

• controlling the reception, from a first information processing apparatus, of user identification data for identifying a user of said first information processing apparatus and a request for purchasing a content;
• controlling in response to said request for purchasing said content the transmission of said request for purchasing said content to a second information processing apparatus;
• controlling the reception of said content and usage conditions thereof supplied from said second information processing apparatus;
• controlling the storing of said content and usage conditions thereof in correlation with said user identification data;
• controlling the reception of said user identification data and a request for sending said content supplied from said first information processing apparatus;
• and
• controlling, in response to said request for sending said content, the transmission of said content stored in correlation with said user identification data.

A program for instructing a computer to execute the steps of:

• controlling the reception, from a first information processing apparatus, of user identification data for identifying a user of said first information processing apparatus and a request for purchasing a content;
• controlling in response to said request for purchasing said content the transmission of said request for purchasing said content to a second information processing apparatus;
• controlling the reception of said content and usage conditions thereof supplied from said second information processing apparatus;
• controlling the storing of said content and usage conditions thereof in correlation with said user identification data;
• controlling the reception of said user identification data and a request for sending said content supplied from said first information processing apparatus;
• and
• controlling, in response to said request for sending said content, the transmission of said content stored in correlation with said user identification data.

An information processing apparatus comprising:

• first transmission control means for controlling the transmission, to a first information providing apparatus, of user identification data for identifying a user of said information processing apparatus and a request for purchasing a content to make said first information providing apparatus purchase said content from a second information providing apparatus and record the purchased content;
• second transmission control means for controlling the transmission, to said first information providing apparatus, of a request for said content recorded in said first information providing apparatus in correlation with said user identification data;
• and
• reception control means for controlling the reception of said content supplied from said first information providing apparatus.

An information processing method comprising the steps of:

• controlling the transmission, to a first information providing apparatus, of user identification data for identifying a user of said information processing apparatus and a request for purchasing a content to make said first information providing apparatus purchase said content from a second information providing apparatus and record the purchased content;
• controlling the transmission, to said first information providing apparatus, of a request for said content recorded in said first information providing apparatus in correlation with said user identification data;
• and
• controlling the reception of said content supplied from said first information providing apparatus.

A program storage medium storing a computer-readable program comprising the steps of:

• controlling the transmission, to a first information providing apparatus, of user identification data for identifying a user of said information processing apparatus and a request for purchasing a content to make said first information providing apparatus purchase said content from a second information providing apparatus and record the purchased content;
• controlling the transmission, to said first information providing apparatus, of a request for said content recorded in said first information providing apparatus in correlation with said user identification data;
• and
• controlling the reception of said content supplied from said first information providing apparatus.

A program for instructing a computer to execute the steps of:

• controlling the transmission, to a first information providing apparatus, of user identification data for identifying a user of said information processing apparatus and a request for purchasing a content to make said first information providing apparatus purchase said content from a second information providing apparatus and record the purchased content;
• controlling the transmission, to said first information providing apparatus, of a request for said content recorded in said first information providing apparatus in correlation with said user identification data;
• and
• controlling the reception of said content supplied from said first information providing apparatus.

An information providing apparatus comprising:

• first reception control means for controlling the reception, from a first information processing apparatus, of user identification data for identifying a user of said first information processing apparatus and a request for purchasing a content;
• first transmission control means for controlling, in response to said request for purchasing said content, the transmission of said request for purchasing said content to a second information processing apparatus;
• second reception control means for controlling the reception of said content and usage conditions thereof sent from said second information processing apparatus;
• storage control means for controlling the storing of said content and usage conditions thereof in correspondence with said user identification data;
• and
• second transmission control means for controlling, if said content has been stored, the execution of the transmission of said content stored in correspondence with said user identification data.

An information providing method comprising the steps of:

• controlling the reception, from a first information processing apparatus, of user identification data for identifying a user of said first information processing apparatus and a request for purchasing a content;
• controlling, in response to said request for purchasing said content, the transmission of said request for purchasing said content to a second information processing apparatus;
• controlling the reception of said content and usage conditions thereof sent from said second information processing apparatus;
• controlling the storing of said content and usage conditions thereof in correspondence with said user identification data;
• and
• controlling, if said content has been stored, the execution of the transmission of said content stored in correspondence with said user identification data.

A program storage medium storing a computer-readable program comprising the steps of:

• controlling the reception, from a first information processing apparatus, of user identification data for identifying a user of said first information processing apparatus and a request for purchasing a content;
• controlling, in response to said request for purchasing said content, the transmission of said request for purchasing said content to a second information processing apparatus;
• controlling the reception of said content and usage conditions thereof sent from said second information processing apparatus;
• controlling the storing of said content and usage conditions thereof in correspondence with said user identification data;
• and
• controlling, if said content has been stored, the execution of the transmission of said content stored in correspondence with said user identification data.

A program for instructing a computer to execute the steps of:

• controlling the reception, from a first information processing apparatus, of user identification data for identifying a user of said first information processing apparatus and a request for purchasing a content;
• controlling, in response to said request for purchasing said content, the transmission of said request for purchasing said content to a second information processing apparatus;
• controlling the reception of said content and usage conditions thereof sent from said second information processing apparatus;
• controlling the storing of said content and usage conditions thereof in correspondence with said user identification data;
• and
• controlling, if said content has been stored, the execution of the transmission of said content stored in correspondence with said user identification data.

An information providing apparatus comprising:

• storage control means for controlling the storing of a first content, a second content, and usage conditions thereof in correspondence with user identification data for identifying a user of an information processing apparatus;
• reception control means for controlling the reception of a request for checking in of said first content and a request for checking out of said second content along with said user identification data sent from said information processing apparatus;
• check-in control means for controlling, in response to the check-in request, the checking in of said first content on the basis of said usage conditions stored in correspondence with said user identification data;
• and
• check-out control means for controlling, in response to the check-out request when the checking in of said first content has ended, the checking out of said second content on the basis of said usage conditions stored in correspondence with said user identification data.

An information providing method comprising the steps of:

• controlling the storing of a first content, a second content, and usage conditions thereof in correspondence with user identification data for identifying a user of an information processing apparatus;
• controlling the reception of a request for checking in of said first content and a request for checking out of said second content along with said user identification data sent from said information processing apparatus;
• controlling, in response to the check-in request, the checking in of said first content on the basis of said usage conditions stored in correspondence with said user identification data;
• and
• controlling, in response to the check-out request if the checking in of said first content has ended, the checking out of said second content on the basis of said usage conditions stored in correspondence with said user identification data.

A program storage medium storing a computer-readable program comprising the steps of:

• controlling the storing of a first content, a second content, and usage conditions thereof in correspondence with user identification data for identifying a user of an information processing apparatus;
• controlling the reception of a request for checking in of said first content and a request for checking out of said second content along with said user identification data sent from said information processing apparatus;
• controlling, in response to the check-in request, the checking in of said first content on the basis of said usage conditions stored in correspondence with said user identification data;
• and
• controlling, in response to the check-out request if the checking in of said first content has ended, the checking out of said second content on the basis of said usage conditions stored in correspondence with said user identification data.

A program for instructing a computer to execute the steps of:

• controlling the storing of a first content, a second content, and usage conditions thereof in correspondence with user identification data for identifying a user of an information processing apparatus;
• controlling the reception of a request for checking in of said first content and a request for checking out of said second content along with said user identification data sent from said information processing apparatus;
• controlling, in response to the check-in request, the checking in of said first content on the basis of said usage conditions stored in correspondence with said user identification data;
• and
• controlling, in response to the check-out request if the checking in of said first content has ended, the checking out of said second content on the basis of said usage conditions stored in correspondence with said user identification data.

An information processing apparatus comprising:

• transmission control means for controlling the transmission, to an information providing apparatus, of a request for checking in of a first content and a request for checking out of a second content;
• check-in control means for controlling checking in of said first content on the basis of controlling by said information providing apparatus;
• and
• check-out control means for controlling checking out of said second content supplied from said information providing apparatus when checking in of said first content has ended.

An information processing method comprising the steps of:

• controlling the transmission, to an information providing apparatus, of a request for checking in of a first content and a request for checking out of a second content;
• controlling checking in of said first content on the basis of controlling by said information providing apparatus;
• and
• controlling checking out of said second content supplied from said information providing apparatus when checking in of said first content has ended.

A program storage medium storing a computer-readable program comprising the steps of:

• controlling the transmission, to an information providing apparatus, of a request for checking in of a first content and a request for checking out of a second content;
• controlling checking in of said first content on the basis of controlling by said information providing apparatus;
• and
• controlling checking out of said second content supplied from said information providing apparatus when checking in of said first content has ended.

A program for instructing a computer to execute the steps of:

• controlling the transmission, to an information providing apparatus, of a request for checking in of a first content and a request for checking out of a second content;
• controlling checking in of said first content on the basis of controlling by said information providing apparatus;
• and
• controlling checking out of said second content supplied from said information providing apparatus when checking in of said first content has ended.

An information providing apparatus comprising:

• first reception control means for controlling the reception, from a first information processing apparatus, of user identification data for identifying a user of said first information processing apparatus and a request for purchasing a content;
• first transmission control means for controlling in response to said request for purchasing said content the transmission of said request for purchasing said content to a second information processing apparatus;
• second reception control means for controlling the reception, from said second information processing apparatus, device identification information for identifying said second information processing apparatus and usage conditions of said content;
• storage control means for controlling the storing of said device identification information and said usage conditions in correspondence with said user identification data;
• and
• second transmission control means for controlling in response to a request from said first information processing apparatus said device identification information and said usage conditions recorded in correspondence with said user identification data to said first information processing apparatus.

An information providing method comprising the steps of:

• controlling the reception, from a first information processing apparatus, of user identification data for identifying a user of said first information processing apparatus and a request for purchasing a content;
• for controlling in response to said request for purchasing said content the transmission of said request for purchasing said content to a second information processing apparatus;
• controlling the reception, from said second information processing apparatus, device identification information for identifying said second information processing apparatus and usage conditions of said content;
• controlling the storing of said device identification information and said usage conditions in correspondence with said user identification data;
• and
• controlling in response to a request from said first information processing apparatus said device identification information and said usage conditions recorded in correspondence with said user identification data to said first information processing apparatus.

A program storage medium storing a computer-readable program comprising the steps of:

• controlling the reception, from a first information processing apparatus, of user identification data for identifying a user of said first information processing apparatus and a request for purchasing a content;
• controlling in response to said request for purchasing said content the transmission of said request for purchasing said content to a second information processing apparatus;
• controlling the reception, from said second information processing apparatus, device identification information for identifying said second information processing apparatus and usage conditions of said content;
• controlling the storing of said device identification information and said usage conditions in correspondence with said user identification data;
• and
• controlling in response to a request from said first information processing apparatus said device identification information and said usage conditions recorded in correspondence with said user identification data to said first information processing apparatus.

A program for instructing a computer to execute the steps of:

• controlling the reception, from a first information processing apparatus, of user identification data for identifying a user of said first information processing apparatus and a request for purchasing a content;
• controlling in response to said request for purchasing said content the transmission of said request for purchasing said content to a second information processing apparatus;
• controlling the reception, from said second information processing apparatus, device identification information for identifying said second information processing apparatus and usage conditions of said content;
• controlling the storing of said device identification information and said usage conditions in correspondence with said user identification data;
• and
• controlling in response to a request from said first information processing apparatus said device identification information and said usage conditions recorded in correspondence with said user identification data to said first information processing apparatus.

An information processing apparatus comprising:

• first reception control means for controlling the reception of device identification information for identifying an information providing apparatus for providing a content and usage conditions of said content;
• transmission control means for controlling, if the reproduction of said content is requested, the transmission of the request of said content to said information providing apparatus on the basis of said device identification information and said usage conditions;
• and
• second reception control means for controlling the reception of said content from said information providing apparatus.

An information processing method comprising the steps of:

• controlling the reception of device identification information for identifying an information providing apparatus for providing a content and usage conditions of said content;
• controlling, if the reproduction of said content is requested, the transmission of the request of said content to said information providing apparatus on the basis of said device identification information and said usage conditions;
• and
• controlling the reception of said content from said information providing apparatus.

A program storage medium storing a computer-readable program comprising the steps of:

• controlling the reception of device identification information for identifying an information providing apparatus for providing a content and usage conditions of said content;
• controlling, if the reproduction of said content is requested, the transmission of the request of said content to said information providing apparatus on the basis of said device identification information and said usage conditions;
• and
• controlling the reception of said content sent from said information providing apparatus.

A program for instructing a computer to execute the steps of:

• controlling the reception of device identification information for identifying an information providing apparatus for providing a content and usage conditions of said content;
• controlling, if the reproduction of said content is requested, the transmission of the request of said content to said information providing apparatus on the basis of said device identification information and said usage conditions;
• and
• controlling the reception of said content from said information providing apparatus.

An information providing apparatus comprising:

• first reception control means for controlling the reception, from a first information processing apparatus, of a request for purchasing a content;
• first transmission control means for controlling in response to said request for purchasing said content the transmission of device identification information for identifying said information providing apparatus and usage conditions of said content to said first information processing apparatus;
• second reception control means for controlling the reception of a request for said content from a second information processing apparatus;
• and
• second transmission control means for controlling in response to said request for said content the transmission of said content to said second information processing apparatus.

An information providing method comprising the steps of:

• controlling the reception, from a first information processing apparatus, of a request for purchasing a content;
• controlling in response to said request for purchasing said content the transmission of device identification information for identifying said information providing apparatus and usage conditions of said content to said first information processing apparatus;
• controlling the reception of a request for said content from a second information processing apparatus;
• and
• controlling in response to said request for said content the transmission of said content to said second information processing apparatus.

A program storage medium storing a computer-readable program comprising the steps of:

• controlling the reception, from a first information processing apparatus, of a request for purchasing a content;
• controlling in response to said request for purchasing said content the transmission of device identification information for identifying said information providing apparatus and usage conditions of said content to said first information processing apparatus;
• controlling the reception of a request for said content from a second information processing apparatus;
• and
• controlling in response to said request for said content the transmission of said content to said second information processing apparatus.

A program for instructing a computer to execute the steps of:

• controlling the reception, from a first information processing apparatus, of a request for purchasing a content;
• controlling in response to said request for purchasing said content the transmission of device identification information for identifying said information providing apparatus and usage conditions of said content to said first information processing apparatus;
• controlling the reception of a request for said content from a second information processing apparatus;
• and
• controlling in response to said request for said content the transmission of said content to said second information processing apparatus.

An information providing system including a first information providing apparatus, an information processing apparatus, and a second information providing apparatus,

• said first information providing apparatus comprising:
• first reception control means for controlling the reception, from said information processing apparatus, user identification data for identifying a user of said information processing apparatus and a request for purchasing a content;
• first transmission control means for controlling in response to said request for purchasing said content the transmission of said request for purchasing said content to said second information providing apparatus;
• second reception control means for controlling the reception, from said second information providing apparatus, device identification information for identifying said second information providing apparatus and usage conditions of said content;
• storage control means for controlling the storing of said device identification information and said usage conditions in correspondence with said user identification data;
• and
• second transmission control means for controlling in response to a request from said information processing apparatus the transmission, to said information processing apparatus, said device identification information and said usage conditions stored in correspondence with said user identification data;
• said information processing apparatus comprising:
• third reception control means for controlling the reception of said device identification information and said usage conditions;
• third transmission control means for controlling, when reproduction of said content is requested, the transmission of the request for said content to said second information providing apparatus on the basis of said device identification information and said usage conditions;
• and
• fourth reception control means for controlling the reception of said content from said second information providing apparatus;
• and
• said second information providing apparatus comprising:
• fifth reception control means for controlling the reception of said request for purchasing said content from said first information providing apparatus;
• fourth transmission control means for controlling in response to said request for purchasing said content the transmission of said device identification information and said usage conditions to said first information providing apparatus;
• sixth reception control means for controlling the reception of a request for said content from said information processing apparatus;
• and
• fifth transmission control means for controlling in response to said request for said content the transmission of said content to said information processing apparatus.

An information providing apparatus comprising:

• transmission control means for controlling the transmission of a content in response to a request from an information processing apparatus;
• reception control means for controlling, when said content has been transmitted, the reception, sent from said information processing apparatus, of information for identifying a transmission destination of said content;
• and
• storage control means for controlling the storing of said information for identifying said transmission destination of said content in correspondence with data for identifying said content.

An information providing method comprising the steps of:

• controlling the transmission of a content in response to a request from an information processing apparatus;
• controlling, when said content has been transmitted, the reception, from said information processing apparatus, of information for identifying a transmission destination of said content;
• and
• controlling the storing of said information for identifying said transmission destination of said content in correspondence with data for identifying said content.

A program storage medium storing a computer-readable program comprising the steps of:

• controlling the transmission of a content in response to a request from an information processing apparatus;
• controlling, when said content has been transmitted, the reception, from said information processing apparatus, of information for identifying a transmission destination of said content;
• and
• controlling the storing of said information for identifying said transmission destination of said content in correspondence with data for identifying said content.

A program for instructing a computer to execute the steps of:

• controlling the transmission of a content in response to a request from an information processing apparatus;
• controlling, when said content has been transmitted, the reception, from said information processing apparatus, of information for identifying a transmission destination of said content;
• and
• controlling the storing of said information for identifying said transmission destination of said content in correspondence with data for identifying said content.

An information processing apparatus comprising:

• first transmission control means for controlling the transmission of a request for a content to an information providing apparatus;
• reception control means for controlling the reception of said content;
• and
• second transmission control means for controlling, when said content has been received, the transmission, to said information providing apparatus, of information for identifying a transmission destination of said content.

An information processing method comprising the steps of:

• controlling the transmission of a request for a content to an information providing apparatus;
• controlling the reception of said content;
• and
• controlling, when said content has been received, the transmission, to said information providing apparatus, of information for identifying a transmission destination of said content.

A program storage medium storing a computer-readable program comprising the steps of:

• controlling the transmission of a request for a content to an information providing apparatus;
• controlling the reception of said content;
• and
• controlling, when said content has been received, the transmission, to said information providing apparatus, of information for identifying a transmission destination of said content.

A program for instructing a computer to execute the steps of:

• controlling the transmission of a request for a content to an information providing apparatus;
• controlling the reception of said content;
• and
• controlling, when said content has been received, the transmission, to said information providing apparatus, of information for identifying a transmission destination of said content.