Communication system, communication apparatus, communication method, storage medium, and package medium

Abstract

A communication system is disclosed which includes: a storing element for storing content data corresponding to an image associated with a distributed storage medium; a retrieving element for retrieving address information on a network from the distributed storage medium; an accessing element for accessing the storing element based on the address information retrieved by the retrieving element; and a recording element for recording to the distributed storage medium the content data acquired by the accessing element from the storing element.

1 . A communication system comprising: 
 a storage unit to store content data corresponding to an image associated with a storage medium;    a retrieval unit configured to retrieve address information on a network from the storage medium;    an access unit configured to access said storage unit based on the address information retrieved by said retrieval unit;    a recorder configured to record to said storage medium content data acquired by said access unit from said storage unit;    a judging unit configured to judge whether said storage medium is legitimate;    wherein said access unit or said recorder is operated in accordance with a judgment by said judging unit.    
   
   
       2 . A communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein said storage medium stores storage medium identification data for identifying said storage medium, along with said address information; 
 wherein said judging unit judges whether said storage medium is legitimate based on said storage medium identification data retrieved from said storage medium by said retrieval unit;    wherein said retrieval unit retrieves said storage medium identification data from said storage medium; and    wherein, if said judging unit judges said storage medium to be legitimate, then said access unit gains access to said storage unit.    
   
   
       3 . A communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein said storage unit stores storage medium identification data for identifying said storage medium, along with said content data corresponding to said image associated with said storage medium, said storage medium further storing storage medium identification data for identifying said storage medium along with said address information; 
 wherein said judging unit judges whether said storage medium is legitimate based on the storage medium identification data acquired by said access unit as well as based on the storage medium identification data retrieved by said retrieval unit from said storage medium; and    wherein, if said judging unit judges said storage medium to be legitimate, then said recorder records said content data on said storage medium.    
   
   
       4 . A communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein said storage medium stores storage medium identification data for identifying said storage medium, along with said address information; 
 wherein said judging unit judges whether said storage medium is legitimate based on said storage medium identification data;    wherein said retrieval unit retrieves said storage medium identification data from said storage medium along with said address information, and said access unit transmits said storage medium identification data in accordance with said address information;    wherein, if said judging unit judges said storage medium to be legitimate based on said storage medium identification data transmitted by said access unit, then said recorder records on said storage medium the content data acquired by said access unit.    
   
   
       5 . A communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein said storage medium stores storage medium identification data for identifying said storage medium, along with said address information; and 
 wherein said storage medium identification data is image data.    
   
   
       6 . A communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein said storage medium stores storage medium identification data for identifying said storage medium, along with said address information; and 
 wherein said storage medium identification data is provided corresponding to each content data item recorded on said storage medium.    
   
   
       7 . A communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein said content data stored in said storage unit is kept up to date.  
   
   
       8 . A communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein said content data stored in said storage unit is furnished with supplementary data.  
   
   
       9 . A communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein said content data stored in said storage unit is compressed data.  
   
   
       10 . A communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein said content data stored in said storage unit may be downloaded by said access unit during a specific time period.  
   
   
       11 . A communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein said content data stored in said storage unit may be downloaded by said access unit a predetermined number of times.  
   
   
       12 . A communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein said content data stored in said storage unit may be selected by a user.  
   
   
       13 . A communication method comprising the steps of: 
 causing a storage unit to store content data corresponding to an image associated with a storage medium;    retrieving address information on a network from said storage medium;    accessing said storage unit based on the retrieved address information; and    recording to said storage medium content data acquired in said accessing step from said storage unit.    
   
   
       14 - 23 . (canceled)  
   
   
       24 . A communication method comprising the steps of: 
 causing a storage unit to store storage medium identification data for identifying a storage medium, in association with content data corresponding to a jacket image of said storage medium;    receiving the storage medium identification data stored on said storage medium, said storage medium identification data being transmitted from a second apparatus based on an address stored on said storage medium;    making a judgement whether said storage medium is legitimate based on said storage medium identification data received;    searching through said storage unit for the content data corresponding to said storage medium identification data; and    transmitting said content data to said second apparatus in accordance with the judgment.    
   
   
       25 .- 42 . (canceled)