Communicating system, communicating apparatus, communicating method, record medium, and program

Abstract

A server system in the form of an automatic vending machine is disposed in a store. A distributor has a main server. A reproducing and connecting device is disposed in a home. The server system and the main server are connected through a bi-directional dedicated line and whole music information (music data and additional information) is transmitted therebetween. The main server 2 and the reproducing and connecting device are connected through the Internet. Additional information of music information is transferred from the main server to the reproducing and connecting device. The user searches for a song that he or she will buy corresponding to the additional information and decides to buy the selected song. In the store, the user can record a song that he or she has decided to buy corresponding to buying information to a record medium.

1 - 108 . (canceled) 
   
   
       109 . An apparatus comprising:
 a read-out unit configured to read data for obtaining one or more multimedia items from a memory upon connecting the memory to the apparatus, the data for obtaining the multimedia items being stored in the memory by a device in advance of the memory being connected to the apparatus; and   a display controller configured to display a multimedia item list based on the data for obtaining the multimedia items.   
   
   
       110 . The apparatus according to  claim 109 , further comprising:
 a controller configured to transmit the data for obtaining the multimedia items to a computer, and to receive the multimedia items from the computer.   
   
   
       111 . The apparatus according to  claim 110 , wherein the display controller is further configured to display status information indicating that one or more of the multimedia items is currently being downloaded from the computer. 
   
   
       112 . The apparatus according to  claim 109 , wherein the data for obtaining the multimedia items is based on additional information relating to the multimedia items, the additional information including identification information identifying the multimedia items. 
   
   
       113 . The apparatus according to  claim 112 , wherein the identification information includes titles of the multimedia items. 
   
   
       114 . The apparatus according to  claim 109 , wherein the additional information is transmitted from a second apparatus to the device via one-way communication. 
   
   
       115 . The apparatus according to  claim 109 , wherein the device is a mobile device. 
   
   
       116 . The apparatus according to  claim 109 , further comprising a local storage device for storing the multimedia items. 
   
   
       117 . The apparatus according to  claim 109 , wherein the controller is further configured to store the multimedia items in the memory. 
   
   
       118 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 reading, upon being connected to a memory, data for obtaining one or more multimedia items, the data for obtaining the multimedia items being stored in the memory by a device in advance of connecting to the memory; and   displaying a multimedia item list based on the data for obtaining the multimedia items.   
   
   
       119 . The method according to  claim 118 , further comprising:
 transmitting the data for obtaining the multimedia items to a computer, and receive the multimedia items from the computer.   
   
   
       120 . The apparatus according to  claim 119 , further comprising displaying status information indicating that one or more of the multimedia items is currently being downloaded from the computer. 
   
   
       121 . The method according to  claim 118 , wherein the data for obtaining the multimedia items is based on additional information relating to the multimedia items, the additional information including identification information identifying the multimedia items. 
   
   
       122 . The method according to  claim 121 , wherein the identification information includes titles of the multimedia items. 
   
   
       123 . The method according to  claim 118 , wherein the additional information is transmitted from a second apparatus to the device via one-way communication. 
   
   
       124 . The method according to  claim 118 , wherein the device is a mobile device. 
   
   
       125 . The method according to  claim 118 , further comprising storing the multimedia items on a local storage device. 
   
   
       126 . The method according to  claim 118 , further comprising storing the multimedia items in the memory. 
   
   
       127 . A computer-readable medium comprising instructions for causing a processor to execute a method, the method comprising:
 reading, upon being connected to a memory, data for obtaining one or more multimedia items, the data for obtaining the multimedia items being stored in the memory by a device in advance of connecting to the memory; and   displaying a multimedia item list based on the data for obtaining the multimedia items.   
   
   
       128 . The computer-readable medium according to  claim 127 , the method further comprising transmitting the data for obtaining the multimedia items to a computer, and receiving the multimedia items from the computer. 
   
   
       129 . The computer-readable medium according to  claim 128 , the method further comprising displaying status information indicating that one or more of the multimedia items is currently being downloaded from the computer. 
   
   
       130 . The computer-readable medium according to  claim 127 , wherein the data for obtaining the multimedia items is based on additional information relating to the multimedia items, the additional information including identification information identifying the multimedia items. 
   
   
       131 . The computer-readable medium according to  claim 130 , wherein the identification information includes titles of the multimedia items. 
   
   
       132 . The computer-readable medium according to  claim 127 , wherein the additional information is transmitted from a second apparatus to the device via one-way communication. 
   
   
       133 . The computer-readable medium according to  claim 127 , wherein the device is a mobile device. 
   
   
       134 . The computer-readable medium according to  claim 127 , the method further comprising storing the multimedia items on a local storage device. 
   
   
       135 . The computer-readable medium according to  claim 127 , the method further comprising storing the multimedia items in the memory.