Terminal Device for Updating Computer Program and Update Method
A terminal apparatus performs update processing for a content prior to playback of the content when the content is of a high value. The terminal apparatus sets an allowed time and predicts a required time prior to update processing in advance. For a content being of a low value, the terminal apparatus immediately performs the update processing when the predicted required time is within the allowed time, and when the predicted required time exceeds the allowed time, performs the update processing after ending of usage of the computer program by a user.
1 . A content usage apparatus that uses a content, comprising:
a storage unit operable to store therein a computer program that controls usage of the content;
a value judgment unit operable to obtain a value of the content, and to judge whether the obtained value satisfies a certain standard;
a suitability judgment unit operable to judge whether the computer program stored in the storage unit is suitable for the content; and
an update unit operable to, when the suitability judgment unit judges in the negative but the value judgment unit judges in the affirmative, update the computer program stored in the storage unit to a suitable computer program before the content usage.
2 . The content usage apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
when the suitability judgment unit judges in the negative and the value judgment unit judges in the negative, the update unit updates the computer program stored in the storage unit to a suitable computer program after the content usage or at a idle time.
3 . The content usage apparatus of claim 2 , wherein
the value judgment unit obtains a created time at which the content was created, as information representing the value, and judges in the affirmative when the created time is within a predetermined period from a current time, and in the negative when the created time is more than a predetermined period from the current time.
4 . The content usage apparatus of claim 3 , wherein
the value judgment unit obtains the created time by reading the created time from a content recording medium storing therein the content.
5 . The content usage apparatus of claim 2 , wherein
the value judgment unit obtains a sales amount of the content in a market of the content, as information representing the value, and judges in the affirmative when the obtained sales amount is a predetermined value or above, and in the negative when the obtained sales amount is less than the predetermined value.
6 . The content usage apparatus of claim 2 , wherein
the value judgment unit obtains a quality of the content, as information representing the value, and judges in the affirmative when the obtained quality indicates a predetermined value or above, and in the negative when the obtained quality indicates less than the predetermined value.
7 . The content usage apparatus of claim 6 , wherein
the value judgment unit obtains the quality by reading the quality from a content recording medium storing therein the content.
8 . The content usage apparatus of claim 2 , wherein
the update unit obtains an update program in which specifics of update of the computer program are defined, and updates the computer program using the obtained update program.
9 . The content usage apparatus of claim 8 , wherein
a server apparatus connected to the content usage apparatus via a network pre-stores therein the update program, and
the update unit obtains the update program from the server apparatus via the network.
10 . The content usage apparatus of claim 8 , wherein
a content recording medium storing therein the content pre-stores the update program, and
the update unit obtains the update program by reading the update program from the content recording medium.
11 . The content usage apparatus of claim 2 , wherein
the suitability judgment unit judges in the affirmative when the computer program suitably corresponds to the content.
12 . The content usage apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:
a detection unit operable to detect insertion of a content recording medium storing therein the content, wherein
the value judgment unit and the suitability judgment unit respectively perform judgment when the detection unit has detected the insertion.
13 . The content usage apparatus of claim 2 , wherein
the update unit updates the computer program by undergoing a program introduction that at least includes an obtaining process of the update program and an update process of the computer program, and
the update unit includes:
a disturbance judgment subunit operable to, when the suitability judgment unit judges in the negative and the value judgment unit judges in the negative, judge whether execution of each process constituting the program introduction disturbs an operation of the content usage according to the computer program;
a first execution subunit operable to put on hold the process when the disturbance judgment subunit judges in the affirmative, and to execute the process when the disturbance judgment subunit judges in the negative;
an ending judgment subunit operable to judge whether the operation of the content usage according to the computer program has ended; and
a second execution subunit operable to execute, when the ending judgment subunit judges in the affirmative, one or more processes put on hold if any.
14 . The content usage apparatus of claim 13 , wherein
the program introduction includes either both or one of a verification process of verifying the update program and a decompressing process of decompressing the update program.
15 . The content usage apparatus of claim 13 , wherein
the disturbance judgment subunit compares a predicted time predicted to be required for the process execution and a predetermined time, and judges in the affirmative when the predicted time is longer than the predetermined time.
16 . The content usage apparatus of claim 15 , wherein
the disturbance judgment subunit compares the predetermined time and the predicted time predicted to be required for execution of the obtaining process.
17 . The content usage apparatus of claim 15 , wherein
the disturbance judgment subunit compares the predetermined time and the predicted time predicted to be required for execution of the update process.
18 . The content usage apparatus of claim 13 , being equipped with a microprocessor according to which each of the units operates, and calculating an operating ratio of the microprocessor, wherein
the disturbance judgment subunit judges in the affirmative when the operating ratio is a predetermined value or above.
19 . The content usage apparatus of claim 13 , wherein
the ending judgment subunit detects ending of processing according to the computer program, and judges in the affirmative when having detected the ending.
20 . The content usage apparatus of claim 13 , wherein
the ending judgment subunit detects an operation for turning off power supply to the content usage apparatus performed by a user, and judges in the affirmative when having detected the operation.
21 . A server apparatus that provides a value of a content, the server apparatus comprising:
a storage unit operable to store therein the value of the content;
a reception unit operable to receive an identifier of the content from a party requesting a judgment result regarding the value of the content;
a value judgment unit operable to read the value of the content identified by the received identifier, and to judge whether the read value satisfies a certain standard; and
a transmission unit operable to transmit a judgment result of the value judgment unit to the requesting party.
22 . An update control method used by a content usage apparatus that uses a content, the content usage apparatus including a storage unit storing therein a computer program that controls usage of the content, and the update control method comprising:
a value judgment step of obtaining a value of the content, and judging whether the obtained value satisfies a certain standard;
a suitability judgment step of judging whether the computer program stored in the storage unit is suitable for the content; and
an update step of, when the suitability judgment unit judges in the negative but the value judgment unit judges in the affirmative, updating the computer program stored in the storage unit to a suitable computer program prior to the content usage.
23 . An update control program used by a content usage apparatus that uses a content, the content usage apparatus including a storage unit storing therein a computer program that controls usage of the content, and the update control program makes a computer perform:
a value judgment step of obtaining a value of the content, and judging whether the obtained value satisfies a certain standard;
a suitability judgment step of judging whether the computer program stored in the storage unit is suitable for the content; and
an update step of, when the suitability judgment unit judges in the negative but the value judgment unit judges in the affirmative, updating the computer program stored in the storage unit to a suitable computer program prior to the content usage.
24 . The update control program of claim 23 , being stored in a computer-readable program recording medium.