Electronic apparatus, content reproducing system, content reproducing method, and program

A content reproducing system comprising a first electronic apparatus and a second electronic apparatus which are communicable via a network,

• wherein the first electronic apparatus includes:
• first storing means for storing priority information on priorities of contents capable of being used in the first electronic apparatus,
• receiving means for receiving a list of the contents stored in the second electronic apparatus with an attribute information indicating attribute of each of the contents in the list from the second electronic apparatus;
• determining means for determining whether a content in the list is a first content with a first priority or a second content with a second priority lower than the first priority based on the stored priority information, the received list and the received attribute information,
• transmitting means for transmitting a first transmission request signal requesting transmission of whole data of the first content to the second electronic apparatus if the content in the list is determined to be the first content as a result of the determination, and transmitting a second transmission request signal requesting transmission of a beginning portion data, which is a predetermined portion from the beginning of the second content, to the second electronic apparatus if the content in the list is determined to be the second content as the result of the determination,
• reception controlling means for causing the whole data and the beginning portion data to be received from the second electronic apparatus by the receiving means,
• second storing means for storing the received whole data and the beginning portion data, and
• reproduction controlling means (i) for causing the stored whole data of the first content to be reproduced and (ii) for causing a third transmission request signal requesting transmission of a subsequent portion data of the second content following the beginning portion data to be transmitted to the second electronic apparatus by the transmitting means and for causing the subsequent portion data to be received by the receiving means while the beginning portion data is being reproduced and to be reproduced following the reproduction of the beginning portion data such that the second content is reproduced by use of the beginning portion data and the subsequent portion data in a continuous manner from the beginning thereof without duplicating any portions thereof, and
• wherein the second electronic apparatus includes:
• storing means for storing the contents with the list and the attribute information,
• transmitting means for transmitting the stored list and attribute information to the first electronic apparatus,
• receiving means for receiving the first, the second, and the third transmission request signals, and
• transmission controlling means for causing the whole data to be transmitted to the first electronic apparatus by the transmitting means based on the received first, the second, and the third transmission request signals, for causing the beginning portion data to be generated from the content and to be transmitted to the first electronic apparatus by the transmitting means, and for causing the subsequent portion data to be generated from the content and transmitted to the first electronic apparatus by the transmitting means.

A content reproducing method by which an electronic apparatus communicable with another electronic apparatus via a network reproduces a content, the method comprising:

• storing priority information on priorities of contents capable of being used in the electronic apparatus;
• receiving a list of the contents stored in the other electronic apparatus with an attribute information indicating attribute of each of the contents in the list from the other electronic apparatus;
• determining whether a content in the list is a first content with a first priority or a second content with a second priority lower than the first priority based on the stored priority information, the received list and the received attribute information;
• receiving whole data of the first content from the other electronic apparatus if the content in the list is determined to be the first content as a result of the determination, and receiving a beginning portion data, which is a predetermined portion from a beginning of the second content, from the other electronic apparatus if the content in the list is determined to be the second content as the result of the determination;
• storing at least one of the received whole data and the beginning portion data;
• and
• causing the stored whole data of the first content to be reproduced and causing a subsequent portion data of the second content following the beginning portion data to be received from the other electronic apparatus while the stored beginning portion data is being reproduced and reproduced following the reproduction of the beginning portion data such that the second content is reproduced by use of the beginning portion data and the subsequent portion data in a continuous manner from the beginning thereof without duplicating any portions thereof.

A computer readable memory having stored thereon a program that causes an electronic apparatus to function as an apparatus communicable with another electronic apparatus via a network, the program comprising:

• storing priority information on priorities of contents capable of being used in the electronic apparatus;
• receiving a list of the contents stored in the other electronic apparatus with an attribute information indicating attribute of each of the contents in the list from the other electronic apparatus;
• determining whether a content in the list is a first content with a first priority or a second content with a second priority lower than the first priority based on the stored priority information, the received list and the received attribute information;
• receiving whole data of the first content from the other electronic apparatus if the content in the list is determined to be the first content as a result of the determination, and receiving a beginning portion data, which is a predetermined portion from a beginning of the second content, from the other electronic apparatus if it is determined that the content in the list is the second content as the result of the determination;
• storing at least one of the received whole data and the beginning portion data;
• and
• causing the stored whole data of the first content to be reproduced and causing a subsequent portion data of the second content following the beginning portion data to be received from the other electronic apparatus while the stored beginning portion data is being reproduced and to be reproduced following the reproduction of the beginning portion data such that the second content is reproduced by use of the beginning portion data and the subsequent portion data in a continuous manner from the beginning thereof without duplicating any portions thereof.

An electronic apparatus communicable with another electronic apparatus via a network, comprising:

• first storing unit to store priority information on priorities of contents capable of being used in the electronic apparatus;
• receiving unit to receive a list of contents stored in the other electronic apparatus with an attribute information indicating attribute of each of the contents in the list from the other electronic apparatus;
• determining unit to determine whether a content in the list is a first content with a first priority or a second content with a second priority lower than the first priority based on the stored priority information, the received list and the received attribute information;
• a reception controlling unit to cause a whole data of the first content to be received from the other electronic apparatus by the receiving unit if the content in the list is determined to be the first content and to cause a beginning portion data, which is a predetermined portion from the beginning of the second content, to be received from the other electronic apparatus by the receiving unit if the content in the list is determined to be the second content as a result of the determination;
• second storing unit to store at least one of the whole data and the beginning portion data;
• and
• a reproduction controlling unit (i) to cause the stored whole data of the first content to be reproduced, and (ii) to cause a subsequent portion data of the second content, that is the data following the beginning portion, to be received from the other electronic apparatus by the receiving unit while the stored beginning portion data is being reproduced and to be reproduced following the reproduction of the beginning portion data such that the second content is reproduced by use of the beginning portion data and the subsequent portion data in a continuous manner from the beginning thereof without duplicating any portions thereof.

A content reproducing system comprising a first electronic apparatus and a second electronic apparatus which are communicable via a network,

• wherein the first electronic apparatus includes:
• first storing unit to store priority information on priorities of contents capable of being used in the first electronic apparatus,
• receiving unit to receive a list of the contents stored in the second electronic apparatus with an attribute information indicating attribute of each of the contents in the list from the second electronic apparatus;
• determining unit to determine whether a content in the list is a first content with a first priority or a second content with a second priority lower than the first priority based on the stored priority information, the received list and the received attribute information,
• transmitting unit to transmit a first transmission request signal requesting transmission of whole data of the first content to the second electronic apparatus if the content in the list is determined to be the first content as a result of the determination, and transmitting a second transmission request signal requesting transmission of a beginning portion data, which is a predetermined portion from the beginning of the second content, to the second electronic apparatus if the content in the list is determined to be the second content as the result of the determination,
• reception controlling unit to cause the whole data and the beginning portion data to be received from the second electronic apparatus by the receiving unit,
• second storing unit to store the received whole data and the beginning portion data, and
• reproduction controlling unit to cause the stored whole data of the first content to be reproduced and to cause a third transmission request signal requesting transmission of a subsequent portion data of the second content following the beginning portion data to be transmitted to the second electronic apparatus by the transmitting unit and to cause the subsequent portion data to be received by the receiving unit while the beginning portion data is being reproduced and to be reproduced following the reproduction of the beginning portion data such that the second content is reproduced by use of the beginning portion data and the subsequent portion data in a continuous manner from the beginning thereof without duplicating any portions thereof, and
• wherein the second electronic apparatus includes:
• storing unit to store the contents with the list and the attribute information,
• transmitting unit to transmit the stored list and attribute information to the first electronic apparatus,
• receiving unit to receive the first, the second, and the third transmission request signals, and
• transmission controlling unit to cause the whole data to be transmitted to the first electronic apparatus by the transmitting unit based on the received first, the second, and the third transmission request signals, to cause the beginning portion data to be generated from the content and to be transmitted to the first electronic apparatus by the transmitting unit, and to cause the subsequent portion data to be generated from the content and transmitted to the first electronic apparatus by the transmitting unit.