Service providing apparatus and method, and information processing apparatus and method as well as program storage medium

Abstract

The invention provides a service providing apparatus and method and an information processing apparatus and method as well as a program storage medium by which a plurality of users can communicate with each other simultaneously. A plurality of client computers are connected to a shared server over a network and log in a common chat room of a chat system. If a user of one of those of the client computers which are in a group requests for reproduction of a predetermined tune, then the instruction is transmitted to the shared server over the network. The shared server receives the instruction transmitted thereto and reads out music data of the request stored in a music database therein, and transmits the music data to the client computers of the group.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An information processing method for providing a communication service in a system including a server and a plurality of information processing apparatuses connected to the server, the method comprising:
 establishing a chat room via the server in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses participate;   implementing a text chat between at least two information processing apparatus of the plurality of information processing apparatuses in the chat room; and   sharing a content stored at the server with the plurality of information processing apparatuses participating in the chat room, the sharing further comprising:
 identifying, by one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses, the content from contents stored at the server, 
 sending, from the one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses, a request for the identified content, and 
 receiving, at the other of the plurality of information processing apparatuses participating in the chat room, the content identified by the one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses, 
   wherein the text chat is implemented while the content is shared in the chat room.   
     
     
         3 . The information processing method according to  claim 2 , wherein the one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses receives a content list from the server for selection of the content which is available to be shared with the plurality of information processing apparatuses participating in the chat room. 
     
     
         4 . The information processing method according to  claim 2 , wherein the identifying further comprises sending a request for the content of the contents stored at the server. 
     
     
         5 . The information processing method according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 displaying, at the information processing apparatuses, the participants in the chat room.   
     
     
         6 . The information processing method according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 displaying the contents stored at the server in a content list display area for selection and sharing in the chat.   
     
     
         7 . The information processing method according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 reproducing the identified content simultaneously at each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses participating in the chat room.   
     
     
         8 . An information processing method for receiving a communication service at an information processing apparatus connected to a server, the method comprising:
 establishing a chat room via request to the server enabling communication with a plurality of other information processing apparatuses;   performing a text chat with the other information processing apparatuses participating in the chat room;   displaying user names, at each information processing apparatus participating in the chat room, in a user list display area;   displaying a content list that lists a plurality of contents, stored in the server, in a content list display area;   identifying one of the plurality of contents from the content list for sharing the content in the chat room; and   requesting that the one of the plurality of contents be transmitted to each information processing apparatus participating in the chat room,   wherein the text chat is performed in the chat room while the one of the plurality of contents is shared in the chat room.   
     
     
         9 . An information processing apparatus that receives a communication service via a connection to a server, comprising:
 circuitry configured to
 establish a chat room via request to the server enabling communication with a plurality of other information processing apparatuses; 
 perform a text chat with the plurality of other information processing apparatuses participating in the chat room; 
 display user names, displayed at each information processing apparatus participating in the chat room, in a user list display area; 
   display a content list that lists a plurality of contents, stored in the server, in a content list display area;
 identify one of the plurality of contents from the content list for sharing the content in the chat room; and 
 request that the one of the plurality of contents be transmitted to each information processing apparatus participating in the chat room, 
   wherein the text chat is performed in the chat room while the one of the plurality of contents is shared in the chat room.   
     
     
         10 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to receive the content list from the server for selection of the one of the plurality of contents which is available to be shared with the plurality of other information processing apparatuses participating in the chat room. 
     
     
         11 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to send a request for the one of the plurality of contents stored at the server. 
     
     
         12 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to display the participants in the chat room. 
     
     
         13 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to display the plurality of contents stored at the server in a content list display area for selection and sharing in the chat. 
     
     
         14 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to reproduce the identified content simultaneously with reproduction of the identified content at the plurality of other information processing apparatuses participating in the chat room. 
     
     
         15 . An information providing method for providing a content from a server, the method comprising:
 receiving a request for providing a chat environment from an information processing apparatus;   providing the chat environment based on the request for the information processing apparatus and other information processing apparatuses included in the request for providing the chat environment, each of the information processing apparatuses being configured to perform a text chat in the chat environment;   providing a content list of a plurality of contents stored at the server;   receiving a request for transmitting one of the plurality of contents from the displayed content list; and   transmitting the requested one of the plurality of contents to each of the information processing apparatuses participating in the chat environment,   wherein the server provides the chat environment to the information processing apparatuses while sharing the requested one of the plurality of contents in the chat environment.   
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a program that when executed by a server causes the server to implement an information providing method for providing a content from the server, the method comprising:
 receiving a request for providing a chat environment from an information processing apparatus;   providing the chat environment based on the request for the information processing apparatus and other information processing apparatuses included in the request for providing the chat environment, each of the information processing apparatuses being configured to perform a text chat in the chat environment;   providing a content list of a plurality of contents stored at the server;   receiving a request for transmitting one of the plurality of contents from the displayed content list; and   transmitting the requested one of the plurality of contents to each of the information processing apparatuses participating in the chat environment,   wherein the server provides the chat environment to the information processing apparatuses while sharing the requested one of the plurality of contents in the chat environment.   
     
     
         17 . An information providing server for providing a content from the server, comprising:
 circuitry configured to
 receive a request for providing a chat environment from an information processing apparatus; 
   provide the chat environment based on the request for the information processing apparatus and other information processing apparatuses included in the request for providing the chat environment, each of the information processing apparatuses being configured to perform a text chat in the chat environment;
 provide a content list of a plurality of contents stored at the server; 
 receive a request for transmitting one of the plurality of contents from the displayed content list; and 
 transmit the requested one of the plurality of contents to each of the information processing apparatuses participating in the chat environment, 
   wherein the server provides the chat environment to the information processing apparatuses while sharing the requested one of the plurality of contents in the chat environment.   
     
     
         18 . The information processing server according to  claim 17 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to provide the content list which is a list of the plurality of contents which is available to be shared with each of the information processing apparatuses participating in the chat environment. 
     
     
         19 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the chat environment includes display of the participants. 
     
     
         20 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the chat environment includes display of the plurality of contents stored at the server in a content list display area for selection and sharing in the chat. 
     
     
         21 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to transmit the requested one of the plurality of contents to each of the information processing apparatuses participating in the chat environment such that the identified content is reproduced simultaneously at each of the information processing apparatuses participating in the chat environment.