Patents by Inventor Toshihiro Morita

Toshihiro Morita has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7430595
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a music file storage unit and a transport processor. The music file storage unit stores a music file, PC-use additional information that can be displayed by a personal computer, and PD-use additional information that can be displayed by a portable device as they are. At the time of move-out, the transport processor copies, to the portable device, the music file, the PC-use additional information, and the PD-use additional information that are stored in the music file storage unit. When the data is correctly written in the portable device, the transport processor deletes, from the music file storage unit, the music file, the PC-use additional information, and the PD-use additional information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiro Morita, Takayuki Kori
  • Patent number: 7426563
    Abstract: A client terminal searches for servers on a home network when a song-data playback application is started up. When the client terminal receives a response from a server which was in connection therewith at the preceding operation, the client terminal establishes a preferential connection with the server and stops a process of searching for the servers. The client terminal obtains a list of album names and song data from the connected server so as to display the list, and plays back song data selected by a user by streaming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiro Morita, Osamu Shimoyoshi, Mikiko Sakurai
  • Patent number: 7343327
    Abstract: In an information processing apparatus and method in which contents such as musical data, distributed via a predetermined network or such a content is divided, it is judged whether a first content has been checked out, it is judged whether a second content has been checked, and the first and second contents are combined together when it is determined that neither the first nor second content has been checked out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiro Morita, Mitsuyuki Hatanaka, Kiyonobu Kojima, Ippei Tambata, Shin Shiroma
  • Publication number: 20080052264
    Abstract: A content transfer system composed of a content reproduction terminal and an information processing apparatus is disclosed. A storage section stores information representing a file format and a bit rate of content reproducible by the reproduction terminal. A transmission section transmits the information stored in the storage section to the information processing apparatus. An obtainment section obtains the information representing the file format and the bit rate of the content reproducible by the reproduction terminal therefrom. A conversion section converts content having a predetermined file format and a predetermined bit rate as a transfer target into content having the file format and the bit rate represented by the information obtained by the obtainment section. A transfer section transfers the content converted by the conversion section to the reproduction terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicants: Sony Corporation, SONY ERICSSON MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS JAPAN, INC.
    Inventors: Hidetaka Nasu, Toshihiro Morita
  • Publication number: 20080052380
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an information processing apparatus that transmits information to a server, the apparatus including: connection determination means for determining whether a portable terminal has been connected to the information processing apparatus; information acquisition means for, when the connection determination means determines that the terminal has been connected to the information processing apparatus, acquiring, from the terminal, identification information of the terminal and operation information concerning playing of a content played by the terminal; and transmission means for transmitting, to the server, play history information of the terminal together with the identification information of the terminal, the play history information of the terminal being composed of the operation information acquired by the information acquisition means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiro Morita, Shin Ogata, Susumu Morita
  • Publication number: 20080046397
    Abstract: An information processing device includes: a storage unit; a first display control unit; and a demanding unit. The storage unit that stores attribute data representing specified attribute of contents and category data representing a category of the attribute correlated to each other. The first display control unit that provides controls for displaying information for a selected attribute and for displaying, in a categorized state, information for related attributes correlated to the same category as that of the attribute on a correlation display screen. The demanding unit that demands data search by referring to the correlated attribute selected corresponding to information selected from among those displayed on the correlation display screen to an information provision device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro SHIRAI, Toshihiro Morita, Susumu Morita, Taku Sugawara
  • Publication number: 20080027953
    Abstract: An apparatus and method allowing for high-quality data acquisition and playback processing based on content information transmitted from a server to a client are provided. Property information constituting meta-information corresponding to content-associated attribute information stores data-scheme information on original content held by the server, such as file format information, codec information representing an encoded-data scheme, and resolution information. In response to a content information acquisition request from the client, content information including the data-scheme information on the original content is generated and is transmitted to the client. This structure allows the client to output a content transmission request in which the optimum data scheme is determined based on the data scheme of the original content. Therefore, high-quality data acquisition and playback can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Toshihiro Morita, Yoshiyuki Takaku, Norifumi Kikkawa, Yoshiki Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20070282787
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus that performs processing for editing information on contents includes: an acquisition means for acquiring attribute data classification information in which a plurality of attribute data indicating predetermined attributes of contents is correlated with category data indicating categories for classifying the plurality of attributes; a selection means for selecting predetermined attribute data from the attribute data included in the attribute data classification information acquired by the acquisition means; and a correlation means for newly correlating the attribute data selected by the selection means with category data other than the category data, which is correlated in the attribute data classification information acquired by the acquisition means, in response to a user's instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Shirai, Toshihiro Morita, Taku Sugawara, Shin Ogata, Susumu Morita
  • Publication number: 20070255708
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus that controls reproduction of contents includes: a first storage means for storing contents and attribute data indicating predetermined attributes of the contents so as to correspond to each other; a second storage means for storing association among the attribute data; and a selection means for selecting a second content to be reproduced subsequent to a first content which is being reproduced or whose reproduction has been instructed. The selection means selects, as the second content, a content having attribute data that is stored in the second storage means so as to be associated with the attribute data of the first content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiro Morita, Yasuhiro Shirai, Shin Ogata, Susumu Morita, Taku Sugawara
  • Publication number: 20070252851
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a storing unit that stores first attribute data representing first attributes, which are attributes of content as an object to be played, and second attribute data representing second attributes, which are attributes of the first attributes, in association with each other, and a first display control unit that controls related display for displaying first attributes having the second attributes identical with a selected first attribute of the first attributes as related attributes. The first display control unit controls the related display to display a second attribute of the selected first attribute and display the related attributes by dividing the related attributes for each of the second attributes identical with the selected first attribute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shin Ogata, Yasuhiro Shirai, Toshihiro Morita, Susumu Morita, Taku Sugawara
  • Publication number: 20070116425
    Abstract: In an information processor having a function to check out a content to a portable device such as a portable disc player, a content is recorded to a content data base under the control of a content management program, and it is set under the control of a display/operation instruction program whether the recorded content has to be checked out to the portable device. If a content is recorded in case it has been set that the content has to be checked out, the content having been recorded in the content data base is checked out to the portable device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuyuki Hatanaka, Toshihiro Morita, Kiyonobu Kojima, Shin Shiroma
  • Patent number: 7175195
    Abstract: An occupant protection device of the present invention includes a knee-protecting airbag device and a container box. The airbag device includes an airbag for protecting knees of an occupant seated in front passenger's seat, an inflator, and a case opened rearward for housing the airbag and the inflator. The container box includes a box body and a lid. Before being mounted on the vehicle, the knee-protecting airbag device and the container box are integrally assembled into a mounting module. By mounting the module on the vehicle, the knee-protecting airbag device and the container box are mounted on the vehicle. The occupant protection device of the present invention contributes to reduce tact time per vehicle even if the knee-protecting airbag device and the container box are both mounted in front of front passenger's seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Morita
  • Publication number: 20060242152
    Abstract: Apparatus and a method are provided, which efficiently and properly execute information update processing and content reproduction processing based on transmission processing of content information from a server to a client. The server owning content attribute information extracts metadata based on an information acquisition request from the client, to generate the content information based on property information which is a component of the metadata, and for each property, sets data editing information allowed by each piece of the property information to transmit to the client. Furthermore, the server generates the content information including data mode information by which processing capability in a device on the client side can be judged, such as record quality level information and codec information, as the data mode information of the contents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Inventors: Yoshiki Tanaka, Yoichi Kobori, Norifumi Kikkawa, Toshihiro Morita, Takehiko Morita, Tatsuya Igarashi
  • Patent number: 7029026
    Abstract: A knee protection airbag apparatus (S), which accommodates an airbag (73) and an inflator (62) and is opened at a vehicle rear side part thereof and has a casing assembly (22) fixedly attached to a vehicle body (B) and also has an airbag cover (46) that has a peripheral portion (47), whose upper part is assembled to a vehicle interior member (19b), and that is assembled to the casing assembly (22). The knee protection airbag apparatus (S) is mounted on a vehicle by assembling the airbag (73), the inflator (62), and the airbag cover (46) to the casing assembly (22). The airbag cover (46) is assembled to a knee panel (27) of the casing assembly (22) in such a manner as to be able to move only in a nearly upward or downward direction and in a nearly left-right direction so as to be enabled to absorb an error in assembling the airbag cover (46) to the interior member to be placed thereabove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Morita
  • Publication number: 20060059168
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided, which enable to perform an improved management processing based on an identifier information of a content on a server. The content providing server sets content-associated unique identifier information as property information that is a component of content-associated metadata, maintains the unique identifier information as content-associated metadata without changing the unique identifier information even if the logical/physical position of a content stored in the storage unit is changed, and maintains a setting value of unique identifier information, which is set associated with a received content, as metadata associated with the received content without changing the setting value of the unique identifier information. By this configuration, even if a content is moved between servers, a client can acquire the content based on the unique identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Inventors: Masaaki Hamada, Norifumi Kikkawa, Yoichi Kobori, Takehiko Morita, Toshihiro Morita, Yoshiki Tanaka, Noriyuki Sakoh, Tatsuya Igarashi
  • Patent number: 7007012
    Abstract: A music piece managing unit judges whether or not a music piece file name corresponding to a music piece ID received from a playing processing unit exists in a corresponding music piece file storing unit, and in the event that judgment is made that the file name does not exist, a drive letter in the obtained file name is changed to the drive letter of a currently-connected drive, thereby generating a new file name. The music piece managing unit then judges whether or not the newly-generated file name exists in the corresponding music piece file storing unit, and in the event that judgment is made that the file name exists, the file name of the music piece is updated to the newly-generated file name. Thus, music piece files can be readily searched for, even in the event that the configuration of the drives has been changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiro Morita, Mitsuru Tanabe
  • Patent number: 6976219
    Abstract: A transfer processing unit reads out data relating to contents and rights information corresponding to the contents, from a memory card. A GUI unit controls display so as to display a predetermined icon corresponding to the data, in the event that the rights information indicates permission to import the contents. Thus, the user can speedily know operations permitted for the contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiro Morita, Takayuki Kori, Mikiko Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20050257228
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus is disclosed which includes: a signal processing executing device for executing signal processing on data that has been acquired; a recording device for temporarily recording the data and information so that either the data or the information may be transmitted and received by the signal processing executing device, the information being necessary for the signal processing executing device to execute the signal processing on the data; and a data controlling device for controlling a destination to which to output the data after acquiring the data and the information and determining whether to execute signal processing. When determining that the signal processing is to be executed, the data controlling device writes the data and the information to the recording device. The signal processing executing device acquires either the data or the information from the recording device in order to execute the signal processing on the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideyuki Ono, Osamu Shimoyoshi, Kiyoshi Aida, Yoshinori Utsumi, Toshio Ohkouchi, Toshihiro Morita, Rie Usukura
  • Publication number: 20050246163
    Abstract: An information processing method is disclosed for use with an information processing apparatus for acquiring data and executing signal processing on the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hideyuki Ono, Osamu Shimoyoshi, Kiyoshi Aida, Yoshinori Utsumi, Toshio Ohkouchi, Toshihiro Morita, Rie Usukura
  • Publication number: 20050203926
    Abstract: In an information processor which records many contents or has many contents already recorded therein, and can generate an arbitrary combination of the contents, a weight is computed for each of the contents based on either data stored in a history data file (184) or data stored in a display data file (182) and data stored in a filtering data file (181), and a content is selected from the contents stored in a content file (161) based on the weight. The selected content is related with a package corresponding to the data stored in the filtering data file (181).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Inventors: Toshihiro Morita, Mitsuyuki Hatanaka, Kiyonobu Kojima, Shin Shiroma