Patent ID: 7912952
Filing Date: 2011-03-22
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A content transferring method in a content transferring system including at least a first content management device and a second content management device, each including a storage device storing contents and having a networking function of transmitting and receiving a content to and from another device through a network, comprising the steps of: looking up a list of contents of the second content management device connected to said network by the first content management device; transmitting a content utilization request from the first content management device to the second content management device having a content designated from said content list; looking up content management information corresponding to the designated content, and judging whether or not said designated content is transmissible to the first content management device by the second content management device; in accordance with selection information defining relationship among content types, digital rights management information, and contents transfer methods to determine how to transfer a content, selecting a file transfer method when there is no digital right information for the designated content and transferring the designated content is not being performed, and selecting a streaming transfer method when there is digital right information for the designated content and storing the designated content in the first content management device is prohibited or transferring the designated content is being performed, the file transfer method being a method of burst-transferring content, the streaming transfer method being a method of performing a real time content transferring process; notifying from the second content management device to the first content management device that selecting the file transfer method or the streaming transfer method has been made and the designated content can be used; performing in the first content management device an authentication process with the second content management device and a digital rights management security setting, and notifying from the first content management device to the second content management device that the digital rights management security setting is completed; and in the second content management device, when the streaming transfer method is selected to transmit the content comprising a plurality of packets to the first content management device, defining a number of packets to be transferred per unit time based on a counter value showing play timing information contained in the packets, and splitting the content into the defined number of the packets such that transmission of the content is performed by transmitting the defined number of the packets to the first content management device.