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

Abstract

Disclosed is an information providing apparatus comprising first reception control means for controlling the reception, from a first information processing apparatus, of user identification data for identifying a user of the first information processing apparatus and a request for purchasing a content, first transmission control means for controlling in response to the request for purchasing the content the transmission of the request for purchasing the content to a second information processing apparatus, second reception control means for controlling the reception of the content and usage conditions thereof supplied from the second information processing apparatus, storage control means for controlling the storing of the content and usage conditions thereof in correlation with the user identification data, third reception control means for controlling the reception of the user identification data and a request for sending the content supplied from the first information processing apparatus, and second transmission control means for controlling, in response to the request for sending the content, the transmission of the content stored in correlation with the user identification data.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A server comprising:
 circuitry configured to control
 reception of user identification data identifying a user of a mobile device and a request for purchasing content data from the mobile device, 
 reception of usage condition of the content data from a distribution server, the usage condition indicating a number of available copies of the content data to a plurality of mobile devices, 
 transmission of a list of a plurality of the content data to the mobile device, the list including:
 (i) a number of remaining available copies of each of the content data based on the usage condition, and 
 (ii) identification information of other mobile devices that have already obtained a copy of each of the content data, and 
 
 transmission, to the mobile device, of content data corresponding to a request from the mobile device, the request is generated at the mobile device based on the list. 
   
     
     
         3 . The server according to  claim 2 , wherein the content data include a music file. 
     
     
         4 . The server according to  claim 2 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to transmit a payment request to a charging server based on the received request for purchasing the content data, the payment request including credit card information relating to the received user identification data. 
     
     
         5 . The server according to  claim 2 , wherein the usage condition further includes reproduction conditions, duplication conditions, movement conditions, and accumulation conditions. 
     
     
         6 . The server according to  claim 2 , wherein the usage condition further includes at least one of reproduction conditions, duplication conditions, movement conditions, and accumulation conditions. 
     
     
         7 . An information providing method of a server comprising:
 receiving user identification data identifying a user of a mobile device and a request for purchasing content data from the mobile device,   receiving usage condition of the content data from a distribution server, the usage condition indicating a number of available copies of the content data to a plurality of mobile devices,   transmitting of a list of a plurality of the content data to the mobile device, the list including:
 (i) a number of remaining available copies of each of the content data based on the usage condition, and 
 (ii) identification information of other mobile devices that have already obtained a copy of each of the content data, and 
   transmitting, to the mobile device, of content data corresponding to a request from the mobile device, the request is generated at the mobile device based on the list.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the content data include a music file. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 transmitting a payment request to a charging server based on the received request for purchasing the content data, the payment request including credit card information relating to the received user identification data.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the usage condition further includes reproduction conditions, duplication conditions, movement conditions, and accumulation conditions. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the usage condition further includes at least one of reproduction conditions, duplication conditions, movement conditions, and accumulation conditions. 
     
     
         12 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having a computer program recorded thereon, the computer program configured to perform a method when executed on a computer, the method comprising:
 receiving user identification data identifying a user of a mobile device and a request for purchasing content data from the mobile device,   receiving usage condition of the content data from a distribution server, the usage condition indicating a number of available copies of the content data to a plurality of mobile devices,   transmitting of a list of a plurality of the content data to the mobile device, the list including:
 (i) a number of remaining available copies of each of the content data based on the usage condition, and 
 (ii) identification information of other mobile devices that have already obtained a copy of each of the content data, and 
   transmitting, to the mobile device, of content data corresponding to a request from the mobile device, the request is generated at the mobile device based on the list.   
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 12 , wherein the content data include a music file. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises:
 transmitting a payment request to a charging server based on the received request for purchasing the content data, the payment request including credit card information relating to the received user identification data.   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 12 , wherein the usage condition further includes reproduction conditions, duplication conditions, movement conditions, and accumulation conditions. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 12 , wherein the usage condition further includes at least one of reproduction conditions, duplication conditions, movement conditions, and accumulation conditions.