Content distribution system, content distribution method, and client terminal
AssigneeSony Corporation
InventorRyosuke NOMURA
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
If the user of a first portable terminal intends to let a second portable terminal try out a certain content, the user sends to a distribution server trial permission information including the user's own user ID, a content ID of the content of interest, and a digital signature. The distribution server authenticates the received information before distributing a streaming data of a trial-oriented content with the content ID and user ID attached to it as search keys. This allows the content that can be used on a given user terminal to be tried out on another user terminal without the latter user having recourse to the steps of searching for the content in question.
Claims4
1-16. (canceled)
A computer for distributing content over a network, comprising;
- a display unit,
- a processor programmed to display to a user an on-line user list of online users who can communicate over the network with the computer;
- a communication unit configured to establish communication with at least a user-selected one other computer listed in said online list:
- and
- a controller configured to allow the user to provide permission for real-time streaming of a video to the selected one of the online users in the online user list, and to control transmission of the video to the on-line user for streaming so that the user and the one other selected user can watch the same video at the same time.
A computer implemented method for distributing content over a network, comprising:
- displaying to a user on the user's computer an on-line user list of online users who can communicate over the network with the computer;
- establishing computer implemented communication between the user's computer and at least a user-selected one other computer listed in said online list;
- and
- providing permission initiated by the user for real-time streaming of a video to the selected one of the online users in the online user list, and controlling transmission of the video to the on-line user for streaming so that the user and the one other selected user can watch the same video at the same time.
A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed in a system, causes the system to perform a method for distributing content over a network, comprising:
- displaying to a user on the user's computer an on-line user list of online users who can communicate over the network with the computer;
- establishing computer implemented communication between the user's computer and at least a user-selected one other computer listed in said online list;
- and
- providing permission initiated by the user for real-time streaming of a video to the selected one of the online users in the online user list, and controlling transmission of the video to the on-line user for streaming so that the user and the one other selected user can watch the same video at the same time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.