Patent ID: 7640248

Claim:
A content-information-management system comprising: a meta-information server that handles meta information of contents on a network on which at least one content-providing device provides the contents, wherein the meta-information server provides the meta information to a content-use device which uses the contents, wherein the meta-information server converts an internet-protocol command received via a wired local area network into an infrared command for controlling a device that can be controlled by the infrared command, and wherein the meta-information server: discovers the at least one content-providing device on the network, acquires and stores the meta information of the contents provided by each of the at least one discovered content-providing device, and transmits the meta information of the contents according to a request for the contents, the request being made by the content-use device, and wherein the meta-information server initiates the device-discovery processing for the at least one content-providing device on the network according to a request for the meta information, the request being transmitted from the content-use device, and attempts to acquire the latest meta information.