Information processing apparatus, information processing method, content distribution apparatus, content distribution method, and computer program

An information processing apparatus for making content transmission requests to a content providing server, characterized by a configuration comprising:

• a data transceiver unit for executing processing for transmitting and receiving data to and from said content providing server;
• and
• a control unit for display information for displaying at said output unit based on content information received from said server via said data transceiver unit;
• and
• a display unit for outputting and displaying display information generated by said control unit,
• wherein said control unit executes processing generating display information enabling identification as to whether or not content capable of being transmitted by said server is content requiring data conversion processing occurring at said server based on conversion identification information contained in content information received from said server.

A content distribution system characterized by comprising a server for executing content information transmission processing, and a client for making content transmission requests to said server,

• said server comprising:
• a storage unit for storing content;
• a data conversion confirmation unit for determining whether or not reproduction specification information contained in said content data list request and a content specification stored in said storage unit match, and when not matching, determining whether or not it is possible to cause matching with a client-specified reproduction specification by data conversion processing of stored content at a content distribution apparatuses, and generating a data conversion mode required by said stored content to enable matching with a client-specified reproduction specification as data conversion specifying information using data conversion;
• an address processing unit for generating virtual address information embedded with said data conversion specifying information at address information of content capable of being made to match with a client-specified reproduction specification by data conversion processing based on determination results of said data conversion confirmation unit;
• and
• a request processing unit for receiving a content data list request storing reproduction specification information from a client, and acquiring address information indicating the whereabouts of content stored in said storage unit based on said content data list request, and generating an address information list containing address information for said stored content of said storage unit matching with said client-specified reproduction specification information and virtual address information embedded with said data conversion specifying information at said address information of content capable of being made to match with said client-specified reproduction specification using data conversion processing, and executing processing for transmitting to said client,
• and said client comprises:
• a data transceiver unit for executing processing for transmitting and receiving data to and from said content providing server;
• a control unit for display information for displaying at said output unit based on content information received from said server via said data transceiver unit, and executes processing generating display information enabling identification as to whether or not content capable of being transmitted by said server is content requiring data conversion processing occurring at said server based on conversion identification information contained in content information;
• and
• a display unit for outputting and displaying display information generated by said control unit.

An information processing method for executing content information transmission processing, characterized by comprising:

• a step of receiving a content data list request storing reproduction specification information from a client;
• an address information acquisition step of acquiring address information indicating the whereabouts of content stored in a storage unit based on said content data list request;
• a data conversion confirmation step of determining whether or not reproduction specification information contained in said content data list request and a content specification stored in said storage unit match, and when not matching, determining whether or not it is possible to cause matching with a client-specified reproduction specification by data conversion processing of stored content at a content distribution apparatuses, and generating a data conversion mode required by said stored content to enable matching with a client-specified reproduction specification as data conversion specifying information using data conversion;
• an address processing step for generating virtual address information embedded with said data conversion specifying information at address information of content capable of being made to match with a client-specified reproduction specification by data conversion processing based on determination results of said data conversion confirmation step;
• and
• an address information list generation/transmission step of generating an address information list containing address information for said stored content of said storage unit matching with said client-specified reproduction specification information and virtual address information embedded with said data conversion specifying information at said address information of content capable of being made to match with said client-specified reproduction specification using data conversion processing, and transmitting to said client.

An information processing method for executing content information displaying processing characterized by comprising:

• a step of receiving content information from a content providing server;
• a display information generating step of generating display information enabling identification as to whether or not content capable of being transmitted by said server is content requiring data conversion processing occurring at said server based on conversion identification information contained in received content information;
• and
• a step of displaying display information generated in said display information generating step.

An information processing method for executing processing deciding request content based on content information, characterized by comprising:

• a step of receiving content information from a content providing server;
• a selection step of preferentially selecting content not requiring data conversion processing at said server as transmission request content for said server based on conversion identification information contained in received content information;
• and
• a step of transmitting identification information for transmission request content decided in said selection step to said content providing server.

A computer program for executing content information transmission processing, characterized by comprising:

• a step of receiving a content data list request storing reproduction specification information from a client;
• an address information acquisition step of acquiring address information indicating the whereabouts of content stored in a storage unit based on said content data list request;
• a data conversion confirmation step of determining whether or not reproduction specification information contained in said content data list request and a content specification stored in said storage unit match, and when not matching, determining whether or not it is possible to cause matching with a client-specified reproduction specification by data conversion processing of stored content at a content distribution apparatuses, and generating a data conversion mode required by said stored content to enable matching with a client-specified reproduction specification as data conversion specifying information using data conversion;
• an address processing step for generating virtual address information embedded with said data conversion specifying information at address information of content capable of being made to match with a client-specified reproduction specification by data conversion processing based on determination results of said data conversion confirmation step;
• and
• an address information list generation/transmission step of generating an address information list containing address information for said stored content of said storage unit matching with said client-specified reproduction specification information and virtual address information embedded with said data conversion specifying information at said address information of content capable of being made to match with said client-specified reproduction specification using data conversion processing, and transmitting to said client.

A computer program for executing content information displaying processing, characterized by comprising:

• a step of receiving content information from a content providing server;
• a display information generating step of generating display information enabling identification as to whether or not content capable of being transmitted by said server is content requiring data conversion processing occurring at said server based on conversion identification information contained in received content information;
• and
• a step of displaying display information generated in said display information generating step.

A computer program for executing processing deciding request content based on content information, characterized by comprising:

• a step of receiving content information from a content providing server;
• a selection step of preferentially selecting content not requiring data conversion processing at said server as transmission request content for said server based on conversion identification information contained in received content information;
• and
• a step of transmitting identification information for transmission request content decided in said selection step to said content providing server.

A content distribution apparatuses characterized by comprising:

• content storage means for storing a plurality of content;
• data list request receiving means for receiving data list requests designated by said content reproduction specification from said client equipment;
• address information acquisition means for acquiring address information indicating the whereabouts of corresponding content from said content storage means based on said content reproduction specification of said data list request received by said data list request receiving means;
• data conversion determination means for determining whether or not data conversion is necessary for content acquired using said address information by said address information acquisition means based on said content reproduction specification of said data list request;
• address information conversion means for embedding data conversion specifying information in address information for content acquired by said address information acquisition means when it is determined that data conversion is necessary by said data conversion determination means;
• address information returning means for returning address information for content acquired by said address information acquisition means and address information converted by said address information conversion means to said client equipment;
• address information receiving means for receiving said address information from said client equipment;
• analysis means for analyzing said address information received by said address information receiving means;
• content acquisition means for acquiring corresponding content from said content storage means based on address information from said client equipment;
• data conversion means for subjecting content acquired by said content acquisition means to data conversion based on said data conversion specifying information when analysis by said analysis means indicates that data conversion specifying information is embedded in address information from said client equipment;
• and
• content transmission means for transmitting content acquired by said content acquisition means or content data converted by said data conversion means to said client equipment.

A content distribution method characterized by:

• receiving data list requests designated by said content reproduction specification from said client equipment and acquiring address information indicating the whereabouts of corresponding content based on said content reproduction specification of said data list request;
• determining whether or not data conversion is necessary for content acquired by said address information based on said content reproduction specification of said data list request and embedding data conversion specifying information in said acquired address information when it is determined that data conversion is necessary;
• returning said acquired address information or said converted address information to said client equipment;
• receiving address information from said client equipment, acquiring one of said corresponding content based on said received address information, analyzing address information from said client equipment and subjecting said acquired content to data conversion based on said data conversion specifying information when it is analyzed that data conversion specifying information is embedded;
• and
• transmitting said acquired content or said data-converted content to said client equipment.

A content distribution program characterized by causing a computer to execute:

• a step of receiving data list requests designated by said content reproduction specification from said client equipment;
• a step of acquiring address information indicating the whereabouts of corresponding content based on content reproduction specification of said data list request;
• a step of determining whether or not data conversion is necessary for content acquired with said address information based on said content reproduction specification of said data list request;
• a step of embedding data conversion specifying information in said acquired address information when it is determined that said data conversion is necessary;
• a step of returning said acquired address information or said converted address information to said client equipment;
• a step of receiving address information from said client equipment;
• a step of acquiring one of said corresponding content based on said received address information;
• a step of analyzing address information from said client equipment;
• a step of subjecting said acquired content to data conversion based on said data conversion specifying information when it is analyzed that said data conversion specifying information is embedded;
• and
• a step of sending said acquired content or said data-converted content to said client equipment.

A content distribution program characterized by causing a computer to execute:

• a step of receiving data list requests designated by said content reproduction specification from said client equipment;
• a step of acquiring address information indicating the whereabouts of corresponding content based on content reproduction specification of said data list request;
• a step of determining whether or not data conversion is necessary for content acquired with said address information based on said content reproduction specification of said data list request;
• a step of embedding data conversion specifying information in said acquired address information when it is determined that said data conversion is necessary;
• and
• a step of returning said acquired address information or said converted address information to said client equipment;