Information processing apparatus, information processing method, program, information providing apparatus, and information processing system

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing form data representing a form are disclosed. In one embodiment, an information-providing apparatus has a communication unit configured to communicate with an information-processing apparatus over a network, a storage unit storing a container, and a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to receive, via the communication unit, a request to access the container from the information-processing apparatus, to retrieve, from the container, form data representing a form, to send, via the communication unit, the form data to the information-processing apparatus, and to receive, via the communication unit, a form execution request from the information-processing apparatus, the form execution request including an identification of the container and user-supplied information added to the form date. The processing unit is further configured to execute the form execution request based on the identification of the container and on the user-supplied information.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A computer-implemented method for managing form data representing a form, the method comprising:
 receiving, from an information-processing apparatus over a network, a request to access a container stored at an information-providing apparatus;   retrieving, from the container, form data representing a form;   sending the form data to the information-processing apparatus over the network;   receiving, from the information-processing apparatus over the network, a form execution request comprising:
 an identification of the container; and 
 user-supplied information added to the form data; and 
   executing the form request, based on the identification of the container and on the user-supplied information.   
     
     
         10 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . An information-providing apparatus for managing form data representing a form, the apparatus comprising circuitry configured to:
 receive a request to access a container from an information-processing apparatus over a network;   retrieve, from the container, form data representing a form;   send the form data to the information-processing apparatus; and   receive a form execution request from the information-processing apparatus, the form execution request including:
 an identification of the container; and 
 user-supplied information added to the form data; and 
   execute the form execution request, based on the identification of the container and on the user-supplied information.   
     
     
         15 . The information-providing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the information-processing apparatus comprises a Digital Media Player (DMP) in a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) environment. 
     
     
         16 . The information-providing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
 determine whether the requested container contains the form data representing the form; and   when it is determined that the container contains the form data, send the form data contained in the container to the information-processing apparatus.   
     
     
         17 . The information-providing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
 determine whether the requested container contains electronic content; and   when it is determined that the container contains electronic content, send, a list of the electronic content to the information-processing apparatus.   
     
     
         18 . The information-providing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the form execution request includes predetermined information included in the form; and   the circuitry executes the form execution request, based on the predetermined information and on the user-supplied information added to the form.   
     
     
         19 . The information-providing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the predetermined information included in the form comprises a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) identifying a resource for executing the form data. 
     
     
         20 . The information-providing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
 store operation information in association with container identification information;   obtain the operation information corresponding to the identified container; and   execute the form execution request, based on the obtained operation information.   
     
     
         21 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by an information-providing apparatus, cause the information-providing apparatus to perform a method for managing form data representing a form, the method comprising:
 receiving, from an information-processing apparatus over a network, a request to access a container stored at an information-providing apparatus;   retrieving, from the container, form data representing a form;   sending the form data to the information-processing apparatus over the network;   receiving, from the information-processing apparatus over the network, a form execution request comprising:
 an identification of the container; and 
 user-supplied information added to the form data; and 
   executing the form request, based on the identification of the container and on the user-supplied information.   
     
     
         22 . An information-processing apparatus for sending a form execution request, the information-processing apparatus comprising circuitry configured to:
 receive input from a user of the information-processing apparatus over a network; and   receive user input indicative of a request to access a container stored at the information-providing apparatus;   send the request to access the container to the information-providing apparatus;   receive form data representing a form contained in the container from the information-providing apparatus;   receive user-supplied information added to the form data;   send a form execution request including an identification of the container and the user-supplied information to the information-providing apparatus; and   receive, via the communication unit, a result of executing the form execution request based on the identification of the container and on the user-supplied information.   
     
     
         23 . A computer-implemented method for sending a form execution request, the method comprising:
 receiving, at an information-processing apparatus, input from a user indicative of a request to access a container stored at an information-providing apparatus;   sending the request to access the container to the information-providing apparatus over a network;   receiving, from the information-providing apparatus, form data representing a form contained in the container;   receiving user-supplied information added to the form data;   sending, to the information-providing apparatus, a form execution request including an identification of the container and the user-supplied information; and   receiving a result of executing the form execution request based on the identification of the container and on the user-supplied information.   
     
     
         24 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by an information-processing apparatus, cause the information-processing apparatus to perform a method for sending a form execution request, the method comprising:
 receiving, at an information-processing apparatus, input from a user indicative of a request to access a container stored at an information-providing apparatus;   sending the request to access the container to the information-providing apparatus over a network;   receiving, from the information-providing apparatus, form data representing a form contained in the container;   receiving user-supplied information added to the form data;   sending, to the information-providing apparatus, a form execution request including an identification of the container and the user-supplied information; and   receiving a result of executing the form execution request based on the identification of the container and on the user-supplied information.