Content providing system, content providing apparatus and method, content distribution server, and content receiving terminal

A content distribution server connected to a content receiving terminal through a communication channel to form, together with the content receiving terminal, a content providing system, the content distribution server comprising:

• a content storage unit in which a plurality of content items are stored, the content storage unit further storing first and second time information in association with at least one of the plurality of content items, the content storage unit further storing first time attribute information indicating a first meaning of the first time information, and second time attribute information indicating a second meaning of the second time information, the second meaning being different from the first meaning, wherein the at least one of the plurality of content items comprises at least one of music, movie, television, news and book, and wherein the first and second time information each comprises at least one of a release date, a ranking date, a performance date, a broadcast date, and a printing date;
• search means for searching, in response to a content providing request sent from the content receiving terminal including input time information and accompanying information for specifying a range of content items to be searched, the content storage unit for at least one content item according to a search condition based on the input time information and the accompanying information included in the content providing request, wherein the accompanying information comprises input time attribute information associated with the input time information, and wherein searching the content storage unit for at least one content item comprises determining whether the input time information matches the first time information and whether the input time attribute information matches the first time attribute information;
• and
• distribution means for distributing said at least one content item searched by the search means to the content receiving terminal.

A content receiving terminal, comprising at least one processor, connected to a content distribution server through a communication channel to form, together with the content distribution server, a content providing system, a plurality of content items being stored in the content distribution server, the content distribution server further storing first and second time information in association with at least one of the plurality of content items, the content distribution server further storing first time attribute information indicating a first meaning of the first time information and second time attribute information indicating a second meaning of the second time information, the second meaning being different from the first meaning, the content receiving terminal comprising:

• time information input means for receiving input time information;
• request sending means for sending a content providing request including the input time information and accompanying information for specifying a range of content items to be searched by using the input time information to the content distribution server, wherein the accompanying information comprises input time attribute information associated with the input time information, and wherein the range of content items is to be searched at least in part by determining whether the input time information matches the first time information and whether the input time attribute information matches the first time attribute information;
• and
• means for providing at least one content item sent from the content distribution server to a user, wherein the at least one of the plurality of content items comprises at least one of music, movie, television, news and book, and wherein the first and second time information each comprises at least one of a release date, a ranking date, a performance date, a broadcast date, and a printing date.

A content providing apparatus comprising:

• a content storage unit in which a plurality of content items are stored, the content storage unit further storing first and second time information in association with at least one of the plurality of content items, the content storage unit further storing first time attribute information indicating a first meaning of the first time information, and second time attribute information indicating a second meaning of the second time information, the second meaning being different from the first meaning, wherein the at least one of the plurality of content items comprises at least one of music, movie, television, news and book, and wherein the first and second time information each comprises at least one of a release date, a ranking date, a performance date, a broadcast date, and a printing date;
• time information input means for receiving input time information;
• search means for searching the content storage unit for at least one content item according to a search condition based on the input time information received by the time information input means and accompanying information for specifying a range of content items to be searched by using the input time information, wherein the accompanying information comprises input time attribute information associated with the input time information, and wherein searching the content storage unit for at least one content item comprises determining whether the input time information matches the first time information and whether the input time attribute information matches the first time attribute information;
• and
• means for providing the at least one content item searched by the search means to a user.

A content providing method for a content providing system including a content distribution server and a content receiving terminal connected to the content distribution server through a communication channel, the content providing method comprising the steps of:

• receiving, by the content receiving terminal, input time information;
• sending, by the content receiving terminal, a content providing request including the input time information and accompanying information for specifying a range of content items to be searched by using the input time information to the content distribution server;
• providing, by the content receiving terminal, at least one content item sent from the content distribution server to a user;
• receiving, by the content distribution server, the content providing request from the content receiving terminal;
• searching, by the content distribution server, in response to the content providing request including the input time information and the accompanying information for specifying a range of content items to be searched by using the input time information sent from the content receiving terminal, a content storage unit for at least one content item according to a search condition based on the input time information and the accompanying information included in the content providing request, the content storage unit storing a plurality of content items, the content storage unit further storing first and second time information in association with at least one of the plurality of content items, the content storage unit further storing first time attribute information indicating a first meaning of the first time information, and second time attribute information indicating a second meaning of the second time information, the second meaning being different from the first meaning, wherein the at least one of the plurality of content items comprises at least one of music, movie, television, news and book, and wherein the first and second time information each comprises at least one of a release date, a ranking date, a performance date, a broadcast date, and a printing date, wherein the accompanying information comprises input time attribute information associated with the input time information, and wherein searching the content storage unit for at least one content item comprises determining whether the input time information matches the first time information and whether the input time attribute information matches the first time attribute information;
• and
• distributing the at least one content item which is searched to the content receiving terminal.

A content providing method for reading and providing a content item from a content storage unit in which a plurality of content items are stored, the content storage unit further storing first and second time information in association with at least one of the plurality of content items, the content storage unit further storing first time attribute information indicating a first meaning of the first time information, and second time attribute information indicating a second meaning of the second time information, the second meaning being different from the first meaning, the content providing method comprising the steps of:

• receiving input time information;
• searching the content storage unit for at least one content item according to a search condition based on the input time information and accompanying information for specifying a range of content items to be searched by using the input time information, wherein the accompanying information comprises input time attribute information associated with the input time information, and wherein searching the content storage unit for at least one content item comprises determining whether the input time information matches the first time information and whether the input time attribute information matches the first time attribute information;
• and
• providing said at least one content item which is searched to a user, wherein the at least one of the plurality of content items comprises at least one of music, movie, television, news and book, and wherein the first and second time information each comprises at least one of a release date, a ranking date, a performance date, a broadcast date, and a printing date.

A content providing system comprising:

• a content distribution server;
• and
• a content receiving terminal connected to the content distribution server through a communication channel,
• wherein the content distribution server includes:
• a content storage unit in which a plurality of content items are stored, the content storage unit further storing first and second time information in association with at least one of the plurality of content items, the content storage unit further storing first time attribute information indicating a first meaning of the first time information and second time attribute information indicating a second meaning of the second time information, the second meaning being different from the first meaning, wherein the at least one of the plurality of content items comprises at least one of music, movie, television, news and book, and wherein the first and second time information each comprises at least one of a release date, a ranking date, a performance date, a broadcast date, and a printing date;
• a search unit configured to search, in response to a content providing request including input time information and accompanying information for specifying a range of content items to be searched by using the input time information sent from the content receiving terminal, the content storage unit for at least one content item according to a search condition based on the input time information and the accompanying information included in the content providing request, wherein the accompanying information comprises input time attribute information associated with the input time information, and wherein the search unit is configured to search the content storage unit for at least one content item at least in part by determining whether the input time information matches the first time information and whether the input time attribute information matches the first time attribute information;
• and
• a distributor configured to distribute said at least one content item searched by the search unit to the content receiving terminal;
• and
• the content receiving terminal includes:
• a time information input unit configured to receive input time information,
• a request sender configured to send a content providing request including the input time information and accompanying information for specifying a range of content items to be searched by using the input time information to the content distribution server, and
• a provider configured to provide the at least one content item sent from the content distribution server to a user.

A content distribution server connected to a content receiving terminal through a communication channel to form, together with the content receiving terminal, a content providing system, the content distribution server comprising:

• a content storage unit in which a plurality of content items are stored, the content storage unit further storing first and second time information in association with at least one of the plurality of content items, the content storage unit further storing first time attribute information indicating a first meaning of the first time information, and second time attribute information indicating a second meaning of the second time information, the second meaning being different from the first meaning, wherein the at least one of the plurality of content items comprises at least one of music, movie, television, news and book, and wherein the first and second time information each comprises at least one of a release date, a ranking date, a performance date, a broadcast date, and a printing date;
• a search unit configured to search, in response to a content providing request including input time information and accompanying information for specifying a range of content items to be searched by using the input time information sent from the content receiving terminal, the content storage unit for at least one content item according to a search condition based on the input time information and the accompanying information included in the content providing request, wherein the accompanying information comprises input time attribute information associated with the input time information, and wherein the search unit is configured to search the content storage unit for at least one content item comprises determining whether the input time information matches the first time information and whether the input time attribute information matches the first time attribute information;
• and
• a distributor configured to distribute the at least one content item searched by the search unit to the content receiving terminal.

A content receiving terminal, comprising at least one processor, connected to a content distribution server through a communication channel to form, together with the content distribution server, a content providing system, a plurality of content items being stored in the content distribution server, the content distribution server further storing first and second time information in association with at least one of the plurality of content items, the content distribution server further storing first time attribute information indicating a first meaning of the first time information and second time attribute information indicating a second meaning of the second time information, the second meaning being different from the first meaning, the content receiving terminal comprising:

• a time information input unit configured to receive input time information;
• a request sender configured to send a content providing request including the input time information and accompanying information for specifying a range of content items to be searched by using the input time information to the content distribution server, wherein the accompanying information comprises input time attribute information associated with the input time information, and wherein the range of content items is to be searched at least in part by determining whether the input time information matches the first time information and whether the input time attribute information matches the first time attribute information;
• and
• a provider configured to provide at least one content item sent from the content distribution server to a user, wherein the at least one of the plurality of content items comprises at least one of music, movie, television, news and book, and wherein the first and second time information each comprises at least one of a release date, a ranking date, a performance date, a broadcast date, and a printing date.

A content providing apparatus comprising:

• a content storage unit in which a plurality of content items are stored, the content storage unit further storing first and second time information in association with at least one of the plurality of content items, the content storage unit further storing first time attribute information indicating a first meaning of the first time information and second time attribute information indicating a second meaning of the second time information, the second meaning being different from the first meaning, wherein the at least one of the plurality of content items comprises at least one of music, movie, television, news and book, and wherein the first and second time information each comprises at least one of a release date, a ranking date, a performance date, a broadcast date, and a printing date;
• a time information input unit configured to receive input time information;
• a search unit configured to search the content storage unit for at least one content item according to a search condition based on the input time information received by the time information input unit and accompanying information for specifying a range of content items to be searched by using the input time information, wherein the accompanying information comprises input time attribute information associated with the input time information, and wherein the search unit is configured to search the content storage unit for at least one content item at least in part by determining whether the input time information matches the first time information and whether the input time attribute information matches the first time attribute information;
• and
• a provider configured to provide said at least one content item searched by the search unit to a user.