Information processing apparatus, system and program for enabling multiple devices to operate in coordination with each other

1. An information processing device comprising:

a memory device having a program stored therein;

a central processing unit (CPU) which, upon executing the stored program from the memory, operates to

to receive, from an associated device, an identifier of an associated device, and

to generate a first application specifier identifying a first application and a second application specifier identifying a second application; and

a first interface device and a second interface device, during operation,

(i) the CPU adds an identifier of the information processing device, the received identifier of the associated device, a content specifier, and a first role information item that indicates a role of the information processing device to generate the first application specifier,

(ii) the CPU adds the received identifier of the associated device, a second role information item that indicates a role of the associated device, and the content specifier, without the identifier of the information processing device, to generate the second application specifier,

such that the received identifier of the associated device and the content specifier are included in both the first application specifier and the second application specifier,

(iii) the first application specifier having the identifier of the information processing device, the received identifier of the associated device, the content specifier, and the first role information item are transmitted by way of the first interface device for receipt by a server for selection by the server of the first application,

(iv) the second application specifier having the received identifier of the associated device, the second role information item, and the content specifier, without the identifier of the information processing device, are transmitted by way of the second interface device to the associated device, for receipt by the server from the associated device, said second application specifier being used by the server for selection of the second application for the associated device, and

(v) the first application is received from the server by way of the first interface device.

2. The information processing system of claim 1 , in which the first role information is control information indicating that the information processing device is a controller, and the second role information is view information indicating that the associated information processing device is a viewer.

3. An information processing system comprising:

an associated information processing device; and

an information processing device having a memory device having a program stored therein;

a central processing unit (CPU) which, upon executing the stored program from the memory, operates

to receive an identifier of the associated information processing device,

to generate a first application specifier identifying a first application and a second application specifier identifying a second application; and

a first interface device and a second interface device, during operation,

(i) the CPU adds an identifier of the information processing device, the received identifier of the associated information processing device, a content specifier to generate the first application specifier, and a first role information item that indicates a role of the information processing device,

(ii) the CPU adds the received identifier of the associated information processing device, a second role information item that indicates a role of the associated information processing device, and the content specifier, without the identifier of the information processing device, to generate the second application specifier,

such that the received identifier of the associated information processing device and the content specifier are included in both the first application specifier and the second application specifier,

(iii) the first application specifier having the identifier of the information processing device, the received identifier of the associated information processing device, the content specifier, and the first role information item are transmitted by way of the first interface device for receipt by a server,

(iv) the second application specifier having the received identifier of the associated information processing device, the second role information item, and the content specifier, without the identifier of the information processing device, are transmitted by way of the second interface device to the associated information processing device without transmitting the second application specifier for receipt by the server,

(v) the first application is received from the server by way of the first interface device,

(vi) the associated information processing device transmits the identifier of the associated device to the information processing device, receives the second application specifier, transmits the second application specifier for receipt by the server, and receives the second application from the server, and

(vii) the server selects the first application based on the first application specifier, and selects the second application based on the second application specifier.

4. The information processing system of claim 3 , in which the associated information processing device includes a second memory device having a second program stored therein; and a second central processing unit (CPU).

5. The information processing system of claim 4 , in which the server includes a third memory device having a third program stored therein; and a third central processing unit (CPU).

6. The information processing system of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the information processing device and the associated information processing device is selected from the group consisting of a personal digital assistant, a tablet personal computer, a stationary personal computer, a television receiver having a network connection function, and an audio device.

7. An information processing system comprising:

a server; and

an information processing device communicable with the server, the information processing device having

a memory device having a program stored therein;

a central processing unit (CPU) which, upon executing the stored program from the memory, operates

to receive an identifier of an associated information processing device, and

to generate a first application specifier identifying a first application and a second application specifier identifying a second application; and

a first interface device and a second interface device, during operation,

(i) the CPU adds an identifier of the information processing device, the received identifier of the associated information processing device, a content specifier, and a first role information item that indicates a role of the information processing device to generate the first application specifier,

(ii) the CPU adds the received identifier of the associated information processing device, a second role information item that indicates a role of the associated information processing device, and the content specifier, without the identifier of the information processing device, to generate the second application specifier,

such that the received identifier of the associated information processing device and the content specifier are included in both the first application specifier and the second application specifier,

(iii) the first application specifier having the identifier of the information processing device, the received identifier of the associated information processing device, the content specifier, and the first role information item are transmitted by way of the first interface device to the server,

(iv) the second application specifier having the received identifier of the associated information processing device, the second role information item, and the content specifier, without the identifier of the information processing device, are transmitted by way of the second interface device to the associated information processing device without transmitting the second application specifier to the server,

(v) the first application is received from the server by way of the first interface device,

(vi) the associated information processing device transmits the identifier of the associated device to the information processing device, receives the second application specifier, transmits the second application specifier for receipt by the server, and receives the second application from the server, and

(vii) the server selects the first application based on the first application specifier, and selects the second application based on the second application specifier.

8. A method of accessing content on a network for use with an information processing device, said method comprising:

receiving, from an associated information processing device, an identifier of the associated information processing device;

generating a first application specifier identifying a first application and a second application specifier identifying a second application, in which

(i) an identifier of the information processing device, the received identifier of the associated information processing device, a content specifier, and a first role information item that indicates a role of the information processing device are added to generate the first application specifier,

(ii) the received identifier of the associated information processing device, a second role information item that indicates a role of the associated information processing device, and the content specifier, without the identifier of the information processing device, are added to generate the second application specifier,

such that the received identifier of the associated information processing device and the content specifier are included in both the first application specifier and the second application specifier;

transmitting the first application specifier having the identifier of the information processing device, the received identifier of the associated information processing device, the content specifier, and the first role information item for receipt by a server for selection, by the server of the first application;

transmitting the second application specifier having the received identifier of the associated information processing device, the second role information item, and the content specifier, without the identifier of the information processing device, to the associated information processing device for transmission from the information processing device to the server, said second application specifier being used by the server for selection of the second application for the associated device; and

receiving the first application from the server.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a program for use by a computer of an information processing device which upon execution causes the computer to:

receive, from an associated information processing device, an identifier of the associated information processing device;

generate a first application specifier identifying a first application and a second application specifier identifying a second application, in which

(i) an identifier of the information processing device, the received identifier of the associated information processing device, a content specifier, and a first role information item that indicates a role of the information processing device are added to generate the first application specifier,

(ii) the received identifier of the associated information processing device, a second role information item that indicates a role of the associated information processing device, and the content specifier, without the identifier of the information processing device, are added to generate the second application specifier,

such that the received identifier of the associated information processing device and the content specifier are included in both the first application specifier and the second application specifier;

transmit the first application specifier having the identifier of the information processing device, the received identifier of the associated information processing device, the content specifier, and the first role information item for receipt by a server for selection, by the server of the first application;

transmit the second application specifier having the received identifier of the associated information processing device, the second role information item, and the content specifier, without the identifier of the information processing device, to the associated information processing device for transmission from the information processing device to the server, said second application specifier being used by the server for selection of the second application for the associated device; and

receive the first application from the server.