INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD

1 . An information processing apparatus comprising:

a content management block configured to manage first content which may be viewed on a content reproduction apparatus side for reproducing content;

a database block configured to generate reference data by relating, with first signature data indicative of a feature of said first content extracted therefrom, rights management information about said first signature data and a content identifier indicative of said first content from which said first signature data was extracted and put said generated reference data into a database; and

an identification block configured, in response to a query which is transmitted from said content reproduction apparatus side and is including second signature data indicative of a feature of second content extracted from said second content being viewed by a user of said content reproduction apparatus, to identify said content by referencing said reference data stored in said database block, thereby returning a response indicative of a result of the identification.

2 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

said first signature data of said reference data is encrypted, and

said database block decrypts said encrypted first signature data after authentication with said content management block.

3 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said rights management information associated with said first signature data includes an item for selecting an existing rights management scheme for said first signature data.

4 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said rights management information associated with said first signature data further includes an item for setting, as desired, a rights management scheme for said first signature data.

5 . An information processing method for an information processing apparatus, comprising:

causing said information processing apparatus to generate reference data by relating, with first signature data indicative of a feature of first content extracted from said first content which may be viewed on a content reproduction apparatus side for reproducing content, rights management information about said first signature data and a content identifier indicative of said first content from which said first signature data was extracted, and put said generated reference data into a database; and

causing said information processing apparatus to identify said content by referencing said reference data stored in said database in response to a query which is transmitted from said content reproduction apparatus side and is including second signature data indicative of a feature of second content extracted from said second content being viewed by a user of said content reproduction apparatus, thereby returning a response indicative of a result of the identification.

6 . An information processing apparatus comprising:

a content management block configured to manage first content which may be viewed on a content reproduction apparatus side for reproducing content;

a database block configured to generate reference data by relating, with first signature data indicative of a feature of said first content extracted from said first content, a content identifier indicative of said first content from which said signature data was extracted, an application identifier indicative of an application to be executed on said content reproduction apparatus side in coordination with the progression of said first content if said first content is being viewed on said content reproduction apparatus side, and rendering control information for controlling rendering of said application, and put said generated reference data into a database; and

an identification block configured, in response to a query which is transmitted from said content reproduction apparatus side and is including second signature data indicative of a feature of second content extracted from said second content being viewed by a user of said content reproduction apparatus, to identify said content by referencing said reference data stored in said database block, thereby returning a response indicative of a result of the identification.

7 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said rendering control information includes at least one of an item for limiting a device to which a video created by said application is outputted and an item for limiting superimposed display of the video created by said application and a video of said content.

8 . An information processing method for an information processing apparatus, comprising:

causing said information processing apparatus to generate reference data by relating, with first signature data indicative of a feature of a first content extracted from said first content which may be viewed on a content reproduction apparatus side for reproducing content, a content identifier indicative of said first content from which said signature data was extracted, an application identifier indicative of an application to be executed on said content reproduction apparatus said in coordination with the progression of said first content if said first content is being viewed on said content reproduction apparatus, and rendering control information for controlling rendering of said application, and put said generated reference data into a database; and

causing said information processing apparatus to identify said content by referencing said reference data stored in said database in response to a query which is transmitted from said content reproduction apparatus side and is including second signature data indicative of a feature of second content extracted from said second content being viewed by a user of said content reproduction apparatus, thereby returning a response indicative of a result of the identification.

9 . An information processing apparatus comprising:

a query generation block configured to extract signature data indicative of a feature of content being reproduced, generate a query including said signature data, transmit said generated query to an identification server, and receive a response returned from said identification server in accordance with said query; and

an application execution block configured to acquire an application specified to be executed in coordination with the progression of said content being reproduced on the basis of an application identifier included in said received response, execute said acquired application, and, on the basis of rendering control information of said acquired application included in said response, control the rendering of said acquired application.

10 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein, on the basis of said rendering control information, said application execution block executes at least one of processing for limiting a device to which a video created by said application is outputted and processing for limiting superimposed display of a video created by said application and a video of said content.

11 . An information processing method for an information processing apparatus, comprising:

causing said information processing apparatus to extract signature data indicative of a feature of content being reproduced, generate a query including said signature data, and transmit said generated query to an identification server;

causing said information processing apparatus to receive a response returned from said identification server in accordance with said query; and

causing said information processing apparatus to acquire an application specified to be executed in coordination with the progression of said content being reproduced on the basis of an application identifier included in said received response, execute said acquired application, and, on the basis of rendering information of said acquired application included in said response, control the rendering of said acquired application.

12 . An information processing apparatus comprising:

a content management block configured to manage first content which may be viewed on a content reproduction apparatus;

a database block configured to generate reference data by relating, with first signature data indicative of a feature of said first content extracted from said first content, a content identifier indicative of said first content from which said first signature data was extracted, an application identifier indicative of an application to be executed on said content reproduction apparatus side in coordination with the progression of said first content if said first content is being viewed on said content reproduction apparatus side, and rights management information about said application, and put said generated reference data into a database; and

an identification block configured, in response to a query which is transmitted from said content reproduction apparatus side and is including second signature data indicative of a feature of second content extracted from said second content being viewed by a user of said content reproduction apparatus, to identify said content by referencing said reference data stored in said database block, thereby returning a response indicative of a result of the identification.

13 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein said rights management information about said application includes an item for selecting an existing rights management scheme for said application and a quoted content to be quoted by said application.

14 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein said rights management information about said application further includes an item for setting, as desired, a rights management scheme for said application and quoted content to be quoted by said application.

15 . An information processing method for an information processing apparatus, comprising:

causing said information processing apparatus to generate reference data by relating, with first signature data indicative of a feature of first content extracted from said first content which may be viewed on a content reproduction apparatus side for reproducing content, a content identifier indicative of said first content from which said first signature data was extracted, an application identifier indicative of an application to be executed on a content reproduction apparatus side in coordination with the progression of said first content if said first content is being viewed on said content reproduction apparatus side, and rights management information about said application, and put said generated reference data into a database; and

causing said information processing apparatus to identify said content by referencing said reference data stored in said database in response to a query which is transmitted from said content reproduction apparatus side and is including second signature data indicative of a feature of second content extracted from said second content being viewed by a user of said content reproduction apparatus, thereby returning a response indicative of a result of the identification.

16 . An information processing apparatus comprising:

a query generation block configured to extract signature data indicative of a feature of content being reproduced, generate a query including said signature data, transmit said query to an identification server, and receive a response returned from said identification server in accordance with said query; and

an application execution block configured to acquire an application specified to be executed in coordination with the progression of said content being reproduced on the basis of an application identifier included in said received response, execute said acquired application, and, on the basis of rights management information of said application included in said response, manage said application and quoted content to be quoted by said application.

17 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein said application execution block decrypts said encrypted application on the basis of said rights management information.

18 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein said application execution block manages copy processing for said application and said quoted content on the basis of said rights management information.

19 . An information processing method for an information processing apparatus, comprising:

causing said information processing apparatus to extract signature data indicative of a feature of content being reproduced, generate a query including said signature data, and transmit said query to an identification server;

causing said information processing apparatus to receive a response returned from said identification server in accordance with said query; and

causing said information processing apparatus to acquire an application specified to be executed in coordination with the progression of said content being reproduced on the basis of an application identifier included in said received response, execute said acquired application, and, on the basis of rights management information of said application included in said response, manage said application and quoted content to be quoted by said application.