Scheme for processing rental content in an information processing apparatus

Abstract

A purchase type determining unit 244 determines whether content is rental content, which has a valid time limit for enjoying, from purchasing type information included in the license information. An icon image processing unit 352 disposes an icon image of the content in a menu screen. In case the content is determined to be rental content by the purchase type determining unit 244, a rental mark disposing unit 356 disposes a rental mark indicating that associated content is rental content near the icon image of the content or disposes the rental mark so as to overlap with the icon image of the content.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 : An information processing apparatus for acquiring content from a distribution server and playing back the content, comprising a processor comprising a hardware,
 wherein the processor is configured to:   display an icon image of the content;   display information on a valid time limit in association with the icon image of the content;   dispose a rental mark near the icon image of the content or dispose the rental mark so as to overlap with the icon image of the content in a case where the content is rental content; and   generate a playback instruction for the content when a user operates the icon image of the content.   
     
     
         19 : The information processing apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 display (a) information of a user who is permitted to watch the content and (b) the information on the valid time limit, in the same display screen.   
     
     
         20 : The information processing apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 display the rental mark in such a manner as to call a user's attention when remaining time is less than a predetermined period before the valid time limit.   
     
     
         21 : The information processing apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 display (a) a thumbnail image of the content, (b) information on rental period, and (c) information that the content can be played back within a predetermined hours after the first play back, in the same display screen.   
     
     
         22 : The information processing apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 display (a) the thumbnail image of the content, (b) the information on rental period, and (c) the information that the content can be played back within the predetermined hours after the first play back, in a detailed information screen of the content.   
     
     
         23 : A method, comprising:
 displaying an icon image of content acquired from a distribution server;   displaying information on a valid time limit in association with the icon image of the content;   disposing a rental mark near the icon image of the content or disposing the rental mark so as to overlap with the icon image of the content in a case where the content is rental content; and   generating a playback instruction for the content when a user operates the icon image of the content.   
     
     
         24 : The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising:
 displaying (a) information of a user who is permitted to watch the content and (b) the information on the valid time limit, in the same display screen.   
     
     
         25 : The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising:
 displaying the rental mark in such a manner as to call a user's attention when remaining time is less than a predetermined period before the valid time limit.   
     
     
         26 : The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising:
 displaying (a) a thumbnail image of the content, (b) information on rental period, and (c) information that the content can be played back within a predetermined hours after the first play back, in the same display screen.   
     
     
         27 : The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising:
 displaying (a) the thumbnail image of the content, (b) the information on rental period, and (c) the information that the content can be played back within the predetermined hours after the first play back, in a detailed information screen of the content.   
     
     
         28 : A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs adapted to cause a processor-based system to execute steps comprising:
 displaying an icon image of content acquired from a distribution server;   displaying information on a valid time limit in association with the icon image of the content;   disposing a rental mark near the icon image of the content or disposing the rental mark so as to overlap with the icon image of the content in a case where the content is rental content; and   generating a playback instruction for the content when a user operates the icon image of the content.   
     
     
         29 : The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to  claim 28 , wherein the one or more programs are further adapted to cause the processor-based system to execute steps comprising:
 displaying (a) information of a user who is permitted to watch the content and (b) the information on the valid time limit, in the same display screen.   
     
     
         30 : The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to  claim 28 , wherein the one or more programs are further adapted to cause the processor-based system to execute steps comprising:
 displaying the rental mark in such a manner as to call a user's attention when remaining time is less than a predetermined period before the valid time limit.   
     
     
         31 : The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to  claim 28 , wherein the one or more programs are further adapted to cause the processor-based system to execute steps comprising:
 displaying (a) a thumbnail image of the content, (b) information on rental period, and (c) information that the content can be played back within a predetermined hours after the first play back, in the same display screen.   
     
     
         32 : The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to  claim 28 , wherein the one or more programs are further adapted to cause the processor-based system to execute steps comprising:
 displaying (a) the thumbnail image of the content, (b) the information on rental period, and (c) the information that the content can be played back within the predetermined hours after the first play back, in a detailed information screen of the content.