Contents providing system and method, providing apparatus and method, reproduction apparatus and method, and program

A contents providing method implemented on a contents providing system, which includes a providing apparatus and a reproduction apparatus, for providing layered encoding contents from the providing apparatus to the reproduction apparatus over a network, comprising:

• selecting, at the content providing apparatus, contents based on first preference information stored in advance and representative of a preference of a user, said contents including a plurality of sub-contents, the first preference information indicating a reproduction quality for at least one genre of the contents and at least one type of apparatus of the user, and indicating a separate cost associated with each genre and each type of apparatus listed in the first preference information for controlling a network band of the network, wherein the first preference information includes information of a picture quality, image process, sound quality and CPU processing capacity associated with each of the genres and the types of apparatuses listed in the first preference information;
• reproducing, at the reproduction apparatus, the contents selected by reproducing respective ones of the plurality of sub-contents;
• detecting, at the reproduction apparatus, second preference information representative of a preference of the user for one of the plurality of sub-contents reproduced, said second preference information being based on a reaction of the user which is detected during reproduction of the one of the plurality of sub-contents;
• and
• adjusting, at the content providing apparatus, the contents during the reproducing of the contents, by adjusting a level of reproduction quality to be used when reproducing the one of the plurality of sub-contents for the user based on the first preference information and adjusting the level of reproduction quality to be used when reproducing another one of the plurality of sub-contents based on the second preference information detected for the one of the plurality of sub-contents.

A providing apparatus for providing layered encoding contents to a reproduction apparatus over a network, comprising:

• first preference information acquisition means for acquiring first preference information stored in advance and representative of a preference of a user, the first preference information indicating a reproduction quality for at least one genre of the contents and at least one type of apparatus of the user, and indicating a separate cost associated with each genre and each type of apparatus listed in the first preference information for controlling a network band of the network, wherein the first preference information includes information of a picture quality, image process, sound quality and CPU processing capacity associated with each of the genres and the types of apparatuses listed in the first preference information;
• selection means for selecting contents based on the first preference information acquired by said first preference information acquisition means, said contents including a plurality of sub-contents;
• adjustment means for adjusting a level of reproduction quality to be used when reproducing the contents selected by said selection means based on the first preference information;
• reproduction means for reproducing the contents adjusted by said adjustment means by reproducing respective ones of the plurality of sub-contents;
• and
• second preference information acquisition means for acquiring second preference information representative of a preference of the user for one of the plurality of sub-contents adjusted by said adjustment means, said second preference information being based on a reaction of the user which is detected during reproduction of the one of the plurality of sub-contents;
• wherein said adjustment means further adjusts the contents during the reproducing of the contents by the reproduction means, by adjusting the level of reproduction quality to be used when reproducing another one of the plurality of sub-contents based on the second preference information acquired for the one of the plurality of sub-contents.

A providing method implemented on a providing apparatus for providing layered encoding contents to a user terminal over a network, comprising:

• acquiring, at the providing apparatus, first preference information stored in advance and representative of a preference of a user, the first preference information indicating a reproduction quality for at least one genre of the contents and at least one type of apparatus of the user, and indicating a separate cost associated with each genre and each type of apparatus listed in the first preference information for controlling a network band of the network, wherein the first preference information includes information of a picture quality, image process, sound quality and CPU processing capacity associated with each of the genres and the types of apparatuses listed in the first preference information;
• selecting, at the providing apparatus, contents based on the first preference information acquired, said contents including a plurality of sub-contents;
• adjusting, at the providing apparatus, a level of reproduction quality to be used when reproducing the contents selected based on the first preference information;
• reproducing, at the providing apparatus, the contents by reproducing respective ones of the plurality of sub-contents;
• acquiring, at the providing apparatus, second preference information representative of a preference of the user for one of the plurality of sub-contents adjusted, said second preference information being based on a reaction of the user which is detected during reproduction of the one of the plurality of sub-contents;
• and
• adjusting, at the providing apparatus, the contents during the reproducing of the contents, by adjusting the level of reproduction quality to be used when reproducing another one of the plurality of sub-contents based on the second preference information acquired for the one of the plurality of sub-contents.

A computer readable storage medium encoded with computer executable instructions for providing layered encoding contents to a reproduction apparatus over a network, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform a method comprising:

• acquiring first preference information stored in advance and representative of a preference of a user, the first preference information indicating a reproduction quality for at least one genre of the contents and at least one type of apparatus of the user, and indicating a separate cost associated with each genre and each type of apparatus listed in the first preference information for controlling a network band of the network, wherein the first preference information includes information of a picture quality, image process, sound quality and CPU processing capacity associated with each of the genres and the types of apparatuses listed in the first preference information;
• selecting contents based on the first preference information acquired, said contents including a plurality of sub-contents;
• adjusting a level of reproduction quality to be used when reproducing the contents selected based on the first preference information;
• reproducing the contents by reproducing respective ones of the plurality of sub-contents;
• acquiring second preference information representative of a preference of the user for one of the plurality of sub-contents adjusted, said second preference information being based on a reaction of the user which is detected during reproduction of the one of the plurality of sub-contents;
• and
• adjusting the contents during the reproducing of the contents, by adjusting the level of reproduction quality to be used when reproducing another one of the plurality of sub-contents based on the second preference information acquired for the one of the plurality of sub-contents.

A reproduction apparatus for reproducing layered encoding contents received from a providing apparatus over a network, comprising:

• preference information acquisition means for acquiring first preference information stored in advance and representative of a preference of a user, the first preference information indicating a reproduction quality for at least one genre of the contents and at least one type of apparatus of the user, and indicating a separate cost associated with each genre and each type of apparatus listed in the first preference information for controlling a network band of the network, wherein the first preference information includes information of a picture quality, image process, sound quality and CPU processing capacity associated with each of the genres and the types of apparatuses listed in the first preference information;
• contents acquisition means for acquiring contents to be reproduced, said contents including a plurality of sub-contents;
• adjustment means for adjusting a level of reproduction quality to be used when reproducing the contents acquired by said contents acquisition means based on the first preference information;
• reproduction means for reproducing the contents adjusted by said adjustment means by reproducing respective ones of the plurality of sub-contents;
• and
• detection means for detecting second preference information representative of a preference of the user for one of the plurality of sub-contents reproduced by said reproduction means, said second preference information being based on a reaction of the user which is detected during reproduction of the one of the plurality of sub-contents;
• wherein the adjustment means further adjusts the contents during the reproducing of the contents by the reproduction means, by adjusting a level of reproduction quality to be used when reproducing another one of the plurality of sub-contents based on the second preference information detected for the one of the plurality of sub-contents.

A reproduction method implemented on a reproduction apparatus for reproducing layered encoding contents received from a providing apparatus over a network, comprising:

• acquiring, at the reproduction apparatus, first preference information stored in advance and representative of a preference of a user, the first preference information indicating a reproduction quality for at least one genre of the contents and at least one type of apparatus of the user, and indicating a separate cost associated with each genre and each type of apparatus listed in the first preference information for controlling a network band of the network, wherein the first preference information includes information of a picture quality, image process, sound quality and CPU processing capacity associated with each of the genres and the types of apparatuses listed in the first preference information;
• acquiring, at the reproduction apparatus, contents to be reproduced, said contents including a plurality of sub-contents;
• adjusting, at the reproduction apparatus, a level of reproduction quality to be used when reproducing the contents acquired based on the first preference information;
• reproducing, at the reproduction apparatus, the contents adjusted, by reproducing respective ones of the plurality of sub-contents;
• acquiring, at the reproduction apparatus, second preference information representative of a preference of the user for one of the plurality of sub-contents adjusted, said second preference information being based on a reaction of the user which is detected during reproduction of the one of the plurality of sub-contents;
• and
• adjusting, at the reproduction apparatus, the contents during the reproducing of the contents, by adjusting a level of reproduction quality to be used when reproducing another one of the plurality of sub-contents based on the second preference information acquired for the one of the plurality of sub-contents.

A computer readable storage medium encoded with computer executable instructions for reproducing layered encoding contents received from a content providing apparatus over a network, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform a method comprising:

• acquiring first preference information stored in advance and representative of a preference of a user, the first preference information indicating a reproduction quality for at least one genre of the contents and at least one type of terminal of the user, said first preference information indicating a separate cost associated with each genre and each type of terminal listed in the first preference information for controlling a network band of the network, wherein the first preference information includes information of a picture quality, image process, sound quality and CPU processing capacity associated with each of the genres and the types of apparatuses listed in the first preference information;
• acquiring contents to be reproduced, said contents including a plurality of sub-contents;
• adjusting a level of reproduction quality to be used when reproducing the contents acquired based on the first preference information;
• reproducing the contents adjusted, by reproducing respective ones of the plurality of sub-contents;
• acquiring second preference information representative of a preference of the user for one of the plurality of sub-contents adjusted, said second preference information being based on a reaction of the user which is detected during reproduction of the one of the plurality of sub-contents;
• and
• adjusting the contents during the reproducing of the contents, by adjusting a level of reproduction quality to be used when reproducing another one of the plurality of sub-contents based on the second preference information acquired for the one of the plurality of sub-contents.

A reproduction apparatus for reproducing layered encoding contents received from a providing apparatus over a network, comprising:

• contents acquisition means for acquiring contents to be reproduced, said contents including a plurality of sub-contents;
• reproduction means for reproducing the contents acquired by said contents acquisition means, by reproducing respective ones of the plurality of sub-contents;
• detection means for detecting first preference information representative of a preference of the user for the contents reproduced by said reproduction means the first preference information indicating a reproduction quality for at least one genre of the contents and at least one type of apparatus of the user, and indicating a separate cost associated with each genre and each type of apparatus listed in the first preference information for controlling a network band of the network, wherein the first preference information includes information of a picture quality, image process, sound quality and CPU processing capacity associated with each of the genres and the types of apparatuses listed in the first preference information;
• adjustment means for adjusting a level of reproduction quality to be used when reproducing the contents based on the first preference information detected by said detection means;
• and
• second detection means for detecting second preference information representative of a preference of the user for one of the plurality of sub-contents reproduced by said reproduction means, said second preference information being based on a reaction of the user which is detected during reproduction of the one of the plurality of sub-contents,
• wherein the adjustment means further adjusts the contents during the reproducing of the contents by the reproduction means, by adjusting a level of reproduction quality to be used when reproducing another one of the plurality of sub-contents based on the second preference information detected for the one of the plurality of sub-contents.

A reproduction method implemented on a reproduction apparatus for reproducing layered encoding contents received from a providing apparatus over a network, comprising:

• acquiring, at the reproduction apparatus, contents to be reproduced, said contents including a plurality of sub-contents;
• reproducing, at the reproduction apparatus, the contents acquired by reproducing respective ones of said plurality of sub-contents;
• detecting, at the reproduction apparatus, first preference information representative of a preference of the user for the contents reproduced, the first preference information indicating a reproduction quality for at least one genre of the contents and at least one type of apparatus of the user, and indicating a separate cost associated with each genre and each type of apparatus listed in the first preference information for controlling a network band of the network, wherein the first preference information includes information of a picture quality, image process, sound quality and CPU processing capacity associated with each of the genres and the types of apparatuses listed in the first preference information;
• adjusting, at the reproduction apparatus, a level of reproduction quality to be used when reproducing the contents based on the first preference information detected;
• and
• detecting, at the reproduction apparatus, second preference information representative of a preference of the user for one of the plurality of sub-contents reproduced, said second preference information being based on a reaction of the user which is detected during reproduction of the one of the plurality of sub-contents;
• and
• adjusting, at the reproduction apparatus, the contents during the reproducing of the contents, by adjusting a level of reproduction quality to be used when reproducing another one of the plurality of sub-contents based on the second preference information acquired for the one of the plurality of sub-contents.

A computer readable storage medium encoded with computer executable instructions for reproducing layered encoding contents received from a providing apparatus over a network, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform a method comprising:

• acquiring contents to be reproduced, said contents including a plurality of sub-contents;
• reproducing the contents acquired, by reproducing respective ones of said plurality of sub-contents;
• detecting first preference information representative of a preference of the user for the contents reproduced, the first preference information indicating a reproduction quality for at least one genre of the contents and at least one type of apparatus of the user, and indicating a separate cost associated with each genre and each type of apparatus listed in the first preference information for controlling a network band of the network, wherein the first preference information includes information of a picture quality, image process, sound quality and CPU processing capacity associated with each of the genres and the types of apparatuses listed in the first preference information;
• adjusting a level of reproduction quality to be used when reproducing the contents based on the first preference information detected;
• and
• detecting second preference information representative of a preference of the user for one of the plurality of sub-contents reproduced, said second preference information being based on a reaction of the user which is detected during reproduction of the one of the plurality of sub-contents;
• and
• adjusting the contents during the reproducing of the contents, by adjusting a level of reproduction quality to be used when reproducing another one of the plurality of sub-contents based on the second preference information acquired for the one of the plurality of sub-contents.

A contents providing system which includes a providing apparatus and a reproduction apparatus, for providing layered encoding contents from the providing apparatus to the reproduction apparatus over a network, comprising:

• a storage unit configured to store first preference information representative of a preference of a user, the first preference information indicating a reproduction quality for at least one genre of the contents and at least one type of apparatus of the user, and indicating a separate cost associated with each genre and each type of apparatus listed in the first preference information for controlling a network band of the network, wherein the first preference information includes information of a picture quality, image process, sound quality and CPU processing capacity associated with each of the genres and the types of apparatuses listed in the first preference information;
• a selection unit configured to select contents based on the first preference information stored in said storage unit, said contents including a plurality of sub-contents;
• a reproduction unit configured to reproduce the contents selected by said selection unit by reproducing respective ones of the plurality of sub-contents;
• a detection unit configured to detect second preference information representative of a preference of the user for one of the plurality of sub-contents reproduced by said reproduction unit, said second preference information being based on a reaction of the user which is detected during reproduction of the one of the plurality of sub-contents;
• and
• an adjustment unit configured to adjust the contents during the reproducing of the contents by the reproduction means, by adjusting a level of reproduction quality to be used when reproducing the one of the plurality of sub-contents for the user based on the first preference information and adjusting the level of reproduction quality to be used when reproducing another one of the plurality of sub-contents based on the second preference information detected for the one of the plurality of sub-contents.