Communication system, communication apparatus, communication method, recording medium and program

Abstract

A terminal generates predetermined music information on a reproduced piece of music and reproduction frequency information including a reproduction count of the piece of music. Then, the terminal transmits the reproduction frequency information and its own apparatus ID to a server. When receiving the reproduction frequency information and the apparatus ID, the server computes a similarity coefficient between pieces of music reproduced by the terminal and an other terminal on the basis of the terminals' reproduction frequency information and apparatus IDs. The server then catalogs the computed similarity coefficient on a favorite list by associating the similarity coefficient with the reproduction frequency information's music information and the apparatus IDs. The server also identifies at least a similar piece of music reproduced by the terminal and the other terminal by referring to the favorite list. Finally, the server selects a piece of music reproduced by the other terminal but not reproduced by the terminal among the similar pieces of music. As a result, it is possible to determine a piece of music favorite with the user by executing a simple procedure.

1 . A communication terminal capable of communicating with an external device over a network, the communication terminal comprising:
 a communication unit configured to communicate with the external apparatus;   a reproduction unit configured to reproduce first content; and   a controller configured to control the communication unit to transmit relevant information about the first content reproduced by the reproduction unit and identification information identifying the communication terminal to the external apparatus via the network, and to control the communication unit to receive recommendation information from the external apparatus via the network, the recommendation information including second content not previously reproduced by the reproduction unit, wherein the recommendation information is determined based on the relevant information and the identification information.   
   
   
       2 . The communication terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the relevant information includes a number of times the first content is reproduced by the reproduction unit. 
   
   
       3 . The communication terminal of  claim 1 , further comprising a reading unit configured to read out table of contents (TOC) and the first content from a compact disc, wherein the relevant information includes the TOC. 
   
   
       4 . The communication terminal of  claim 1 , further comprising a display unit configured to display recommendation information, wherein the controller controls the display unit to display the recommendation information received from the external device. 
   
   
       5 . The communication terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the relevant information includes at least one of a title of the first content, an album title of an album that includes the first content, and artist name of the first content. 
   
   
       6 . A method of receiving, at a communication terminal, content recommendations from an external device, the method comprising:
 reproducing first content at the communication terminal;   transmitting relevant information about the first content and identification information identifying the communication terminal from the communication terminal to the external device;   receiving recommendation information from the external device, the recommendation information determined based on the relevant information and the identification information and including second content not yet reproduced on the communication terminal.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the relevant information includes a number of times the first content is reproduced at the communication terminal. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising reading table of contents (TOC) and the first content from a compact disc at the communication terminal, and wherein the relevant information includes the TOC. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising displaying the recommendation information at the communication terminal. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the relevant information includes at least one of a title of the first content, an album title of an album that includes the first content, and artist name of the first content. 
   
   
       11 . A computer readable medium having instructions encoded thereon, the instructions, when executed by at least one processor, performing a method of receiving content recommendations, at a communication terminal, from an external device, the method comprising:
 reproducing first content at the communication terminal;   transmitting relevant information about the first content and identification information identifying the communication terminal from the communication terminal to the external device;   receiving recommendation information from the external device, the recommendation information determined based on the relevant information and the identification information and including second content not yet reproduced on the communication terminal.   
   
   
       12 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the relevant information includes a number of times the first content is reproduced at the communication terminal. 
   
   
       13 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11 , further comprising reading table of contents (TOC) and the first content from a compact disc at the communication terminal, and wherein the relevant information includes the TOC. 
   
   
       14 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11 , further comprising displaying the recommendation information at the communication terminal. 
   
   
       15 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the relevant information includes at least one of a title of the first content, an album title of an album that includes the first content, and artist name of the first content.