Communication device, network system, and communication method

Abstract

A communication device includes a communicating portion that sends content data to another device; and a controlling portion that acquires an operating status of the communication device, and generates a playback information list that comprises playback information corresponding to the content data based on the operation status, wherein the communicating portion sends to the other device the content data converted into a playback format based on the playback information selected by the other device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A communication device, comprising:
 a communicating portion that sends content data to another device; and   a controlling portion that
 acquires an operating status of the communication device, and 
 generates a playback information list that comprises playback information corresponding to the content data based on the operation status, wherein 
   the communicating portion sends to the other device the content data converted into a playback format based on the playback information selected by the other device.   
     
     
         2 . The communication device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein
 the controlling portion
 determines a data transfer rate of the content data depending on processing capability of the other device, and 
 generates the playback information in the playback information list based on the determined data transfer rate. 
   
     
     
         3 . The communication device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein
 the playback information list is published for the other device,   when a processing load on the communication device based on the operating status is small, the controlling portion makes publishable to the other device the playback information in the playback information list that can be selected by the other device, and   when the processing load on the communication device is large, the controlling portion does not publish to the other device the playback information in the payback format list evaluated as producing an impediment to playback operation in the other device due to an increase in the processing load accompanying the conversion of the content data to the playback format.   
     
     
         4 . The communication device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein
 the communication device is a mobile information terminal driven by a battery,   the controlling portion acquires remaining battery capacity information for the mobile information terminal, and   when the remaining battery capacity in the communication device, determined based on the remaining battery capacity information, is less than a specific amount, the controlling portion does not publish to the other device playback information in the playback information list evaluated as producing an impediment to playback operation in the other device due to an increase in the processing load accompanying the conversion of the content data to the playback format.   
     
     
         5 . The communication device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein
 playback history information is added to the selected playback information when content data is played back on the other device,   the controlling portion makes publishable to the other device the playback information in the playback information list for which a selection frequency, determined based on the playback history information, is relatively high, and   the controlling portion does not publish to the other device playback information in the playback information list for which the selection frequency is relatively low.   
     
     
         6 . The communication device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein
 the communication device and the other device each receive device certification through DLNA, and are digital media server and a digital media player that can recognize each other by performing communication through a home network,   the controlling portion acquires processing capability information of the digital media player that plays the content data and generates a playback information list that includes playback information corresponding to the content data based on the processing capability information acquired for the digital media player, and   the content data is converted into a playback format based on the playback information selected by the digital media player side from the playback information list, and is sent to the digital media player through the communicating portion of the digital media server.   
     
     
         7 . A network system comprising:
 a first communication device; and   a second communication device comprising:
 a communicating portion that sends content data to the first communication device; and 
 a controlling portion that
 acquires an operating status of the second communication device, and 
 generates a playback information list that comprises playback information corresponding to the content data based on the operation status, wherein 
 
   the communicating portion sends to the first communication device the content data converted into a playback format based on the playback information selected by the first communication device.   
     
     
         8 . The network system as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein
 the controlling portion
 determines a data transfer rate of the content data depending on processing capability of the first communication device, and 
 generates the playback information in the playback information list based on the determined data transfer rate. 
   
     
     
         9 . The network system as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein
 the playback information list is published for the first communication device,   when a processing load on the second communication device as discerned based on the operating status is small, the controlling portion makes publishable to the first communication device the playback information in the playback information list that can be selected by the first communication device, and   when the processing load on the second communication device is large, the controlling portion does not publish to the first communication device the playback information in the payback format list evaluated as producing an impediment to playback operation in the first communication device due to an increase in the processing load accompanying the conversion of the content data to the playback format.   
     
     
         10 . The network system as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein
 the second communication device is a mobile information terminal driven by a battery,   the controlling portion acquires remaining battery capacity information for the mobile information terminal, and   when the remaining battery capacity in the second communication device, determined based on the remaining battery capacity information, is less than a specific amount, the controlling portion does not publish to the first communication device playback information in the playback information list evaluated as producing an impediment to playback operation in the first communication device due to an increase in the processing load accompanying the conversion of the content data to the playback format.   
     
     
         11 . The network system as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein
 playback history information is added to the selected playback information when content data is played back on the first communication device, and   the controlling portion
 makes publishable to the first communication device the playback information in the playback information list for which a selection frequency, determined based on the playback history information, is relatively high, and 
 does not publish to the first communication device playback information in the playback information list for which the selection frequency is relatively low. 
   
     
     
         12 . The network system as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein
 the second communication device and the first communication device each receive device certification through DLNA, and are digital media server and a digital media player that can recognize each other by performing communication through a home network,   the controlling portion acquires processing capability information of the digital media player that plays the content data and generates a playback information list that includes playback information corresponding to the content data based on the processing capability information acquired for the digital media player, and   the content data is converted into a playback format based on the playback information selected by the digital media player side from the playback information list, and is sent to the digital media player through the communicating portion of the digital media server.   
     
     
         13 . A communication method performed by a communication device storing content data on a storage device, comprising:
 generating a playback information list to be published on a network;   connecting to another device via the network;   acquiring an operation status of the communication device;   adding playback information that corresponds to the content data to the playback information list based on the acquired operation status;   converting the content data into a playback format based on the playback information selected by the other device; and   sending the converted content data to the other device.   
     
     
         14 . The communication method as set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 determining a data transfer rate of the content data depending on processing capability of the other device; and   generating the playback information in the playback information list based on the determined data transfer rate.   
     
     
         15 . The communication method as set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 publishing the playback information list for the other device;   when a processing load on the communication device based on the operating status is small, making publishable to the other device the playback information in the playback information list that can be selected by the other device; and   when the processing load on the communication device is large, causing the communication device not to publish to the other device the playback information in the payback format list evaluated as producing an impediment to playback operation in the other device due to an increase in the processing load accompanying the conversion of the content data to the playback format.   
     
     
         16 . The communication method as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein
 the communication device is a mobile information terminal driven by a battery, and   the communication method further comprises:
 acquiring remaining battery capacity information for the mobile information terminal; and 
 when the remaining battery capacity in the communication device, determined based on the remaining battery capacity information, is less than a specific amount, causing the communication device not to publish to the other device playback information in the playback information list evaluated as producing an impediment to playback operation in the other device due to an increase in the processing load accompanying the conversion of the content data to the playback format. 
   
     
     
         17 . The communication method as set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 adding playback history information to the selected playback information when content data is played back on the other device;   making publishable to the other device the playback information in the playback information list for which a selection frequency, determined based on the playback history information, is relatively high; and   causing the communication device not to publish to the other device playback information in the playback information list for which the selection frequency is relatively low.   
     
     
         18 . The communication method as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein
 the communication device and the other device each receive device certification through DLNA, and are digital media server and a digital media player that can recognize each other by performing communication through a home network, and   the communication method further comprises:
 acquiring processing capability information of the digital media player that plays the content data and generates a playback information list that includes playback information corresponding to the content data based on the processing capability information acquired for the digital media player; 
 converting the content data into a playback format based on the playback information selected by the digital media player side from the playback information list; and 
 sending the content data to the digital media player through the communicating portion of the digital media server. 
   
     
     
         19 . The communication device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein
 based on a total number of playback times of the content data, the controlling portion determines whether to make publishable the playback information corresponding to the content data.   
     
     
         20 . The communication device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein
 when another new device is connected to a network to which the communication device is connected, the controlling portion produces new playback information and updates the playback information list.