Service providing apparatus and server providing method

Abstract

In service providing apparatus and method, system identification data for specifying a service target device and the user of the device concerned are issued to the device concerned, and authentication processing is carried out on the basis of the system identification data to provide a service to the device concerned.

1 . A terminal device, comprising:
 a communication unit, configured to communicate with at least one service server to receive an indication of at least one application available for installation on the terminal device;   a display unit, configured to display an indication of the at least one application;   an input unit, configured to receive input defining a selection of a first application from the at least one application, the selection being a particular version of the first application; and   a control unit, configured to:
 install the particular version of the first application on the terminal device; 
 automatically check, via communication with the at least one service server, whether a version of the first application that is newer than the particular version becomes available; and 
 notify a user via the display unit if a newer version of the first application becomes available. 
   
     
     
         2 . The terminal device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the communication unit is configured to receive an indication of available versions of a plurality of applications;   the display unit is configured to display an indication of the plurality of applications;   the input unit is configured to receive input defining a selection of one or more available application versions for installation on the terminal device; and   the control unit is configured to install the selected one or more application versions on the terminal device.   
     
     
         3 . The terminal device of  claim 1 , wherein the display unit is configured to, if the control unit notifies the user that a newer version of the first application is available, display detailed information about the newer version. 
     
     
         4 . The terminal device of  claim 1 , wherein the display unit is configured to display an indication of one or more applications installed on the terminal device. 
     
     
         5 . The terminal device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the communication unit is configured to provide an ID and password to the at least one service server to log on to the at least one service server, the ID and the password being associated with credit card information stored by the at least one service server;   one or more of the at least one application available for installation on the terminal device is a paid application; and   a charge to a credit card account associated with the credit card information is initiated when a paid application is selected for installation.   
     
     
         6 . The terminal device of  claim 5 , wherein the display unit is configured to display a price associated with each paid application. 
     
     
         7 . The terminal device of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to enable the terminal device to function as one or more of a game apparatus, set-top box, mobile telephone, personal digital assistant and media player. 
     
     
         8 . The terminal device of  claim 1 , wherein the communication unit is configured to provide an indication to the at least one service server that the particular version of the first application has been installed on the terminal device. 
     
     
         9 . A method, performed by a terminal device, comprising acts of:
 communicating with at least one service server to receive an indication of at least one application available for installation on the terminal device;   displaying an indication of the at least one application;   receiving input defining a selection of a first application from the at least one application, the selection being a particular version of the first application;   installing the particular version of the first application on the terminal device;   automatically checking, via communication with the at least one service server, whether a version of the first application that is newer than the particular version becomes available; and   notifying a user via the display unit if a newer version of the first application becomes available.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the act of communicating comprises receiving an indication of available versions of a plurality of applications;   the act of displaying comprises displaying an indication of the plurality of applications;   the act of receiving input comprises receiving input defining a selection of one or more available application versions for installation on the terminal device; and   the act of installing comprises installing the selected one or more application versions on the terminal device.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising an act of displaying, if the control unit notifies the user that a newer version of the first application is available, detailed information about the newer version. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising an act of displaying an indication of one or more applications installed on the terminal device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the act of communicating comprises providing an ID and password to the at least one service server to log on to the at least one service server, the ID and the password being associated with credit card information stored by the at least one service server, one or more of the at least one application available for installation on the terminal device is a paid application, and a charge to a credit card account associated with the credit card information is initiated when a paid application is selected for installation. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the act of displaying comprises displaying a price associated with each paid application. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the terminal device comprises one or more of a game apparatus, set-top box, mobile telephone, personal digital assistant and media player. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising an act of providing an indication to the at least one service server that the particular version of the first application has been installed on the terminal device. 
     
     
         17 . At least one computer-readable storage device, having instructions recorded thereon which, when executed by a terminal device, perform a method comprising acts of:
 communicating with at least one service server to receive an indication of at least one application available for installation on the terminal device;   displaying an indication of the at least one application;   receiving input defining a selection of a first application from the at least one application, the selection being a particular version of the first application;   installing the particular version of the first application on the terminal device;   automatically checking, via communication with the at least one service server, whether a version of the first application that is newer than the particular version becomes available; and   notifying a user via the display unit if a newer version of the first application becomes available.