Portable electronic device, content information server, content list providing method and recording medium

Abstract

Reception of a list including information on a content not receivable at a current location is avoided in acquiring a multicast content list.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These objects and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system structure according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the structure of a portable electronic device according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the structure of a content information server according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of multicast detailed information (list of transmittable programs) according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram of receiving multicast contents according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating transitions of a screen display according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram for a process of the content information server according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of screen display according to the first embodiment of the invention and the second embodiment thereof;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of multicast detailed information (list of transmittable programs) according to the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram of receiving multicast contents according to the second embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram for a process of a content information server according to the second embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising: a base station detection unit that detects a wireless base station which can communicate with the portable electronic device at a current location thereof;a base station information transmission unit that produces base station identification information for identifying the base station detected by the base station detection unit, and transmits the base station identification information to a content information server;a list reception unit that receives a content list, which represents a list of contents distributed by an information distribution device through the wireless base station indicated by the base station identification information transmitted from the base station information transmission unit, from the content information server;an output unit that outputs the content list received by the list reception unit;a content selection unit that selects a content from the contents indicated in the content list output by the output unit in accordance with manipulation of a user; anda content reception unit that receives the content selected by the content selection unit from the information distribution device through the wireless base station detected by the base station detection unit.

2. A portable electronic device comprising: a base station detection unit that detects a wireless base station which can communicate with the portable electronic device at a current location thereof;a content-identification-information transmission unit that transmits content identification information, which indicates contents distributed by an information distribution device through the wireless base station detected by the base station detection unit within a range where communication with the wireless base station is possible, to a content information server;a list reception unit that receives a content list, which is produced based on the content identification information transmitted by the content-identification-information transmission unit and represents a list of contents distributed by the information distribution device through the wireless base station detected by the base station detection unit, from the content information server;an output unit that outputs the content list received by the list reception unit;a content selection unit that selects a content from the contents indicated in the content list output by the output unit in accordance with manipulation of a user; anda content reception unit that receives the content selected by the content selection unit from the information distribution device through the wireless base station detected by the base station detection unit.

3. A content information server comprising: a content-detailed-information storing unit that stores information on a wireless base station and information representing a detail of a content distributed by an information distribution device through the wireless base station, in association with each other;a base station information reception unit that receives base station identification information for identifying a wireless base station which can communicate with a portable electronic device at a current location thereof from the portable electronic device;a list producing unit that produces a content list indicating a content distributed by the information distribution device through a wireless base station which can communicate with the portable electronic device at a current location thereof based on the base station identification information received by the base station information reception unit and information stored in the content-detailed-information storing unit; anda list transmission unit that transmits the content list produced by the list producing unit to the portable electronic device.

4. A content information server comprising: a content-detailed-information storing unit that stores information on a detail of a content distributed by an information distribution device through a wireless base station;a content-identification-information reception unit that receives content identification information representing a content distributed by an information distribution device though a wireless base station within a range where communication with the wireless base station, which can communicate with a portable electronic device at a current location thereof, is possible from the portable electronic device;a list producing unit that produces a content list indicating a content distributed by the information distribution device through a wireless base station which can communicate with the portable electronic device at a current location thereof based on the content identification information received by the content-identification-information reception unit and information stored in the content-detailed-information storing unit; anda list transmission unit that transmits the content list produced by the list producing unit to the portable electronic device.

5. The content information server according to claim 3, wherein the information on a content and stored in the content-detailed-information storing unit includes at least a multicast IP address used for distribution of the content.

6. The content information server according to claim 3, wherein the information on a content and stored in the content-detailed-information storing unit includes any one of a content title, an outline, a distribution start time, a distribution end time, and information for specifying a distribution sector.

7. The content information server according to claim 6, wherein the information for specifying a distribution sector includes any one of information for specifying a frequency band, information for specifying a channel, and information for specifying a pseudo random number for frequency diffusion modulation.

8. A content list providing method comprising: a content-detailed-information storing step where a content information server stores an associational relationship between a wireless base station and information on a detail of a content distributed by an information distribution server through the wireless base station;a base station detection step where a portable electronic device detects the wireless base station which can communicate with the portable electronic device at a current location thereof;a base station information transmission step where the portable electronic device produces base station identification information for identifying the wireless base station detected in the base station detection step, and transmits the base station identification information to the content information server;a base station information reception step where the content information server receives the base station identification information transmitted in the base station transmission step;a list production step of producing a content list indicating contents distributed by the information distribution device through the wireless base station which can communicate with the portable electronic device at a current location thereof based on the base station identification information received in the base station information reception step and information stored in the content information storing step;a list transmission step of transmitting the content list produced by the list production step from the content information server to the portable electronic device;a list reception step where the portable electronic device receives the content list transmitted in the list transmission step;an output step of outputting the content list received in the list reception step;a content selection step of selecting a content from the contents indicated in the content list output in the output step in accordance with manipulation of a user; anda content reception step of receiving the content selected in the content selection step from the information distribution server through the wireless base station detected in the base station detection step.

9. A content list providing method comprising: a content-detailed-information storing step where a content information server stores information on a detail of a content distributed by an information distribution device through a wireless base station;a base station detection step where a portable electronic device detects a wireless base station which can communicate with the portable electronic device at a current location thereof;a content-identification-information transmission step of transmitting content identification information indicating a multicast content distributed by the information distribution device through the wireless base station detected in the base station detection step within a range where communication with the wireless base station is possible from the portable electronic device to the content information server;a content-identification-information reception step where the content information server receives the content identification information transmitted in the content-identification-information transmission step;a list production step of producing a content list indicating contents distributed by the information distribution device through the wireless base station which can communicate with the portable electronic device at a current location thereof based on the content identification information received in the content-identification-information reception step and information stored in the content-detailed-information storing step;a list transmission step of transmitting the content list produced in the list production step from the content information server to the portable electronic device;a list reception step where the portable electronic device receives the content list transmitted in the list transmission step;an output step of outputting the content list received in the list reception step;a content selection step of selecting a content from the contents indicated in the content list output in the output step in accordance with manipulation of a user; anda content reception step of receiving the content selected in the content selection step from the information distribution device through the wireless base station detected in the base station detection step.

10. A recording medium storing a program that allows a computer to execute: a base station detection step of detecting a wireless base station which can communicate with the computer at a current location thereof;a base station information transmission step of producing base station identification information for identifying the wireless base station detected in the base station detection step, and transmitting the base station identification information to a content information server;a list reception step of receiving a content list, which represents a list of contents distributed by an information distribution device through the wireless base station indicated in the base station identification information transmitted in the base station information transmission step, from the content information server;an output step of outputting the content list received in the list reception step;a content selection step of selecting a content from the contents indicated in the content list output in the output step in accordance with manipulation of a user; anda content reception step of receiving the content selected in the content selection step from the information distribution device through the wireless base station detected in the base station detection step.

11. A recording medium storing a program that allows a computer to execute: a base station detection step of detecting a wireless base station which can communicate with the computer at a current location thereof;a content-identification-information transmission step of transmitting content identification information, which indicates a multicast content distributed by an information distribution device through the wireless base station detected in the base station detection step within a range where communication with the wireless base station is possible, to a content information server;a list reception step of receiving a content list, which is produced based on the content identification information transmitted in the content-identification-information transmission step, and represents a list of contents distributed by the information distribution device through the wireless base station detected in the base station detection step, from the content information server;an output step of outputting the content list received in the list reception step;a content selection step of selecting a content from the contents indicated in the content list output in the output step in accordance with manipulation of a user; anda content reception step of receiving the content selected in the content selection step from the information distribution device through the wireless base station detected in the base station detection step.

12. A recording medium storing a program for allowing a computer, which has a content-detailed-information storing unit storing information on a wireless base station that relays distribution of a content from an information distribution device to a portable electronic device and information on a detail of a content corresponding to each wireless base station in association with each other, to execute: a base station information reception step of receiving base station identification information for identifying a wireless base station which can communicate with a portable electronic device at a current location thereof from the portable electronic device which receives a content distributed from the information distribution device through the wireless base station;a list production step of producing a content list indicating a content distributed by the information distribution device through the wireless base station which can communicate with the portable electronic device at a current location thereof based on the base station identification information received in the base station information reception step and information stored in the content-detailed-information storing unit; anda list transmission step of transmitting the content list produced in the list production step to the portable electronic device.

13. A recording medium storing a program for allowing a computer, which has a content-detailed-information storing unit storing information on a detail of a content distributed from an information distribution device to a portable electronic device through a wireless base station, to execute: a content-identification-information reception step of receiving content identification information for identifying a content distributed from the information distribution device through a wireless base station which can communicate with the portable electronic device at a current location thereof within a range where communication with the wireless base station is possible from the portable electronic device;a list production step of producing a content list indicating a content distributed by the information distribution device through the wireless base station which can communicate with the portable electronic device at a current location thereof based on the content identification information received in the content-identification-information reception step and information stored in the content-detailed-information storing unit; anda list transmission step of transmitting the content list produced in the list production step to the portable electronic device.