1. An arrangement for aligning interface contacts of a first device or assembly with interface contacts of a second device or assembly wherein:
the first device or assembly comprises:
first sensing contacts at a first surface thereof;
second sensing contacts at a second surface thereof; and
sensing paths leading from the first sensing contacts at the first surface to the second sensing contacts at the second surface;
the second device or assembly comprising third sensing contacts; and
a loop path, through the second device or assembly and detectable at the first sensing contacts, formed by placing the third sensing contacts in contact or near contact with the second sensing contacts for detecting an alignment condition of the first device or assembly and the second device or assembly.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the loop path is connected to at least an interface signal of the first device or assembly or the second device or assembly.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein
the first device or assembly and the second device or assembly are electronic devices or assemblies;
the first sensing contacts, the second sensing contacts, and the third sensing contacts are electrical contacts; and
the sensing paths and the loop path are electrical paths.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the loop path is formed through a direct contact electrical coupling.
5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the loop path is connected to power or ground through one of the third sensing contacts of the second device or assembly.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
the first sensing contacts, the second sensing contacts, and the third sensing contacts are optical elements; and
the sensing paths are optical paths.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the loop path is formed through near contact optical coupling.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first device or assembly is selected from the group:
an integrated circuit bare die,
a stacked integrated circuit die,
an integrated circuit encapsulated in a package,
a stacked integrated circuit chip,
an electronic device,
an optical device,
an electrical substrate, and
an electronic device laminated with anisotropic conducting elastomer at a surface of sensing contacts.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second device or assembly is selected from the group:
a printed circuit board,
a system mother board,
a integrated circuit bare die,
a stacked integrated circuit die,
an integrated circuit encapsulated in a package,
a stacked integrated circuit chip,
a flex circuit,
an electronic substrate,
an optical substrate, and
an electronic device laminated with anisotropic conducting elastomer at a surface of sensing contacts.
10. An arrangement for detecting an alignment condition of first interface contacts of a first device or assembly with second interface contacts of a second device or assembly, wherein:
the first device or assembly comprises:
first sensing contacts at a same surface as the first interface contacts, and
sensing paths connecting the first sensing contacts;
the second device or assembly comprising:
second sensing contacts at a same surface as the second interface contacts; and
a loop path through the first device or assembly and detectable at the second device or assembly, formed by placing the first sensing contacts in contact or near contact with the second sensing contacts for detecting the alignment condition.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the loop path is connected to at least an interface signal of the first device or assembly or the second device or assembly.
12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein
the first device or assembly and the second device or assembly are electronic devices or assemblies;
the first sensing contacts, and the second sensing contacts are electrical contacts; and
the sensing paths and the loop path are electrical paths.
13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first device or assembly and the second device or assembly are selected from the group:
a printed circuit board,
a system mother board,
a flex circuit,
an optical device,
an electronic substrate,
an insulator substrate,
an integrated circuit bare die,
a stacked integrated circuit die,
a stacked integrated circuit chip,
an integrated circuit encapsulated in a package, and
an electronic device laminated with anisotropic conducting elastomer at a surface of sensing contacts.
14. An arrangement for detecting an alignment condition, comprising:
a first device or assembly comprising sensing contacts and interface contacts placed at a surface thereof;
a second device or assembly comprising sensing contacts and interface contacts placed at a surface thereof, wherein a spatial relationship between the sensing contacts and the interface contacts of the first device or assembly corresponds to a spatial relationship between the sensing contacts and the interface contacts of the second device or assembly; and
a sensing probe for monitoring a positional relationship of sensing contacts of the first device or assembly and sensing contacts of the second electronic device or assembly to detect the alignment condition of the first device or assembly and the second device or assembly.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first device or assembly and the second device or assembly are selected from the group:
a printed circuit board,
a system mother board,
an electrical substrate,
an insulator substrate,
an optical device,
an integrated circuit bare die,
a stacked integrated circuit die,
an integrated circuit encapsulated in a package, and
an electronic device laminated with anisotropic conducting elastomer.
16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the sensing probe is an optical probe.
17. A placement feedback arrangement for aligning an electronic device to a target platform, comprising:
an electronic device comprising of a set of alignment sensing contacts and a plurality of interface pads;
a target platform comprising of a set of reference sensing contacts and a plurality of target pads for making contact with the interface pads of the electronic device;
a probe comprising a plurality probe sensing contacts to monitor a first position of the set of reference sensing contacts at the target platform and a second position of the set of alignment sensing contacts at the electronic device; and
means for comparing the second position of the set of alignment sensing contacts with the first position of the set of reference sensing contacts to align the interface pads of the electronic device to the target pads of the target platform.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the alignment sensing contacts are a subset of the interface pads.
19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the reference sensing contacts are a subset of the target pads.
20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the set of alignment sensing contacts comprises at least one alignment sensing contact.
21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the set of reference sensing contact comprises at least one reference sensing contact.
22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the plurality of probe sensing contacts are adjoining so as to form a single probe contact array.
23. The apparatus of claim 17, comprising placement feedback means for adjusting for at least one of positional deviation error, rotational error, device outline error, and package outline error for placement of a fine pitch electronic device on the target platform.
24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the electronic device is selected from the group:
a bare die of an integrated circuit,
a stacked die, and
a packaged electronic component.
25. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the target platform is selected from the group:
a bare die of integrated circuit,
a stacked die,
a packaged component,
a printed circuit board,
a ceramic board,
a flex circuit board, and
a motherboard.
26. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the target contacts are selected from the group:
contact openings of an integrated circuit,
contact pads of a packaged device, and
contact pads of printed circuit board.
27. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the probe sensing contacts monitor contact resistance, and the plurality of probe sensing contacts is a set of resistance sensors, embedded with power excitation in the probe.
28. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the probe sensing contacts are laminated with a membrane of anisotropic conducting elastomer.
29. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the probe sensing contacts monitor near contact capacitance, and the plurality of probe sensing contacts is a set of capacitance sensors with AC electrical field excitation for sensing.
30. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the probe sensing contacts monitor optical signals, and the plurality of probe sensing contacts is a set of optical sensors with light emitting sources.
31. The apparatus of claim 17, comprising means for partially enabling or disabling the plurality of probe sensing contacts.
32. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the plurality of probe sensing contacts is reconfigurable into a different configuration of probe sensing contacts.
33. The apparatus of claim 17, comprising probe electronics coupled to the plurality of probe sensing contacts, the probe electronics comprising a set of latches for holding sensing data.
34. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the electronic device comprises ultra-fine pitch interface contacts and the target platform comprises ultra-fine pitch target contacts.
35. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the plurality of probe sensing contacts is arranged in one of the following:
a square array,
a rectangular array,
a circular array,
an oval array,
a triangular array,
a trapezoidal array, and
a combination of the above.
36. A placement feedback arrangement for aligning an electronic device to a target platform, comprising:
an electronic device comprising:
first sensing contacts at a first surface of the electronic device,
second sensing contacts at a second surface of the electronic device, and
sensing paths coupling the first sensing contacts to the second sensing contacts of the electronic device;
a target platform comprising a plurality of reference sensing contacts; and
a probe comprising a plurality of probe sensing contacts for monitoring a first position of the first sensing contacts of the electronic device and for monitoring a second position of the reference sensing contacts of the target platform; and
means for comparing the first position of the first sensing and the second position of the reference sensing contact to align the electronic device to the target platform.
37. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the sensing probe is a capacitance sensing probe.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. An information processing apparatus connected by a network to a first information processing apparatus for presenting a content comprising:
an acquisition means for acquiring information on said first information processing apparatus and information on a content presented by said first information processing apparatus from said first information processing apparatus;
a generation means for generating information processing apparatus identification information for identifying said first information processing apparatus and generating content identification information for identifying a content on the basis of said information on said first information processing apparatus and said information on a content, which are acquired by said acquisition means;
a storage means for storing said information processing apparatus identification information and said content identification information, which are generated by said generation means, by associating said information processing apparatus identification information with said content identification information; and
a transmission means for transmitting information on association stored in said storage means to a second information processing apparatus in response to a request made by said second information processing apparatus through said network.
2. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, if said information processing apparatus identification information and said content identification information are disseminated by broadcasting, said acquisition means further acquires broadcasting identification information (transmission identification information) assigned to said broadcasting; and
said storage means further stores said broadcasting identification information (transmission identification information) by associating said broadcasting identification information (transmission identification information) with said information processing apparatus identification information and said content identification information.
3. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said storage means further stores the address of said first information processing apparatus in said network; and
said apparatus further comprises an access controlling means for controlling accesses made to said first information processing means through said network on the basis of any one of said information processing apparatus identification information, said content identification information and said broadcasting identification information (transmission identification information), which have been acquired from a third information processing apparatus.
4. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said acquisition means further acquires a validity-condition concerning validity of presentation of a content from said first information processing apparatus; and
said storage means further stores said validity-condition by associating said validity-condition with said information processing apparatus identification information and said content identification information.
5. An information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said validity-condition includes information on additional information added by the user receiving data including said information processing apparatus identification information and said content identification information.
6. An information processing method adopted in an information processing apparatus connected by a network to a first information processing apparatus for presenting a content comprising the steps of:
acquiring information on said first information processing apparatus and information on a content presented by said first information processing apparatus from said first information processing apparatus;
generating information processing apparatus identification information for identifying said first information processing apparatus and generating content identification information for identifying a content on the basis of said information on a first information processing apparatus and said information on a content, which are acquired by the processing at said acquisition step;
storing said information processing apparatus identification information and said content identification information, which are generated by the processing at said generation step, by associating said information processing apparatus identification information with said content identification information; and
transmitting information on association stored by the processing at said storage step to a second information processing apparatus in response to a request made by said second information processing apparatus through said network.
7. A recording medium for recording a computer executable program of an information processing apparatus connected by a network to a first information processing apparatus for presenting a content, said program comprising:
an acquisition step of acquiring information on said first information processing apparatus and information on a content presented by said first information processing apparatus from said first information processing apparatus;
a generation step of generating information processing apparatus identification information for identifying said first information processing apparatus and generating content identification information for identifying a content on the basis of said information on a first information processing apparatus and said information on a content, which are acquired by the processing at said acquisition step;
a storage controlling step of controlling storage of said information processing apparatus identification information and said content identification information, which are generated by the processing at said generation step, by associating said information processing apparatus identification information with said content identification information; and
a transmission step of transmitting information on association, whose storage is controlled by the processing at said storage controlling step to a second information processing apparatus in response to a request made by said second information processing apparatus through said network.
8. An information processing apparatus comprising:
an extraction means for extracting content identification information for identifying a content presented by a first information processing apparatus and first information processing apparatus identification information for identifying said first information processing apparatus from a received signal;
a storage means for storing second information processing apparatus identification information for identifying said information processing apparatus itself; and
a request means for transmitting said content identification information and said first information processing apparatus identification information, which are extracted by said extraction means, along with said second information processing apparatus identification information stored in said storage means to a second information processing apparatus so as to request said first information processing apparatus to present a content identified by said content identification information.
9. An information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said information processing apparatus further includes a transfer means for transferring said second information processing apparatus identification information in advance to said second information processing apparatus for storing said second information processing apparatus identification information.
10. An information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said extraction means further extracts additional related information related to additional data added by a user; and
said apparatus further comprises an acquisition means for acquiring said additional data related to said additional related information.
11. An information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, if said first information processing apparatus identification information and said content identification information are disseminated by broadcasting, said extraction means further extracts broadcasting identification information (transmission identification information) assigned to said broadcasting; and
said storage means further stores said broadcasting identification information (transmission identification information) by associating said broadcasting identification information (transmission identification information) with said first information processing apparatus identification information and said content identification information.
12. An information processing method comprising the steps of:
extracting content identification information for identifying a content presented by a first information processing apparatus and first information processing apparatus identification information for identifying said first information processing apparatus from a received signal;
storing second information processing apparatus identification information for identifying an information processing apparatus adopting said information processing method itself; and
transmitting said content identification information and said first information processing apparatus identification information, which are extracted by the processing at said extraction step, along with said second information processing apparatus identification information stored by the processing at said storage step to a second information processing apparatus so as to request said first information processing apparatus to present a content identified by said content identification information.
13. A recording medium for recording a program executable by a computer, said program comprising:
an extraction step of extracting content identification information for identifying a content presented by a first information processing apparatus and first information processing apparatus identification information for identifying said first information processing apparatus from a received signal;
storage step of storing second information processing apparatus identification information for identifying an information processing apparatus executing said program itself; and
a request step of transmitting said content identification information and said first information processing apparatus identification information, which are extracted by the processing at said extraction step, along with said second information processing apparatus identification information stored by the processing at said storage step to a second information processing apparatus so as to request said first information processing apparatus to present a content identified by said content identification information.
14. An information processing apparatus comprising:
a first acquisition means for acquiring content identification information for identifying a content presented by a first information processing apparatus, first information processing apparatus identification information for identifying said first information processing apparatus and second information processing apparatus identification information for identifying a second information processing apparatus from said second information identifying apparatus;
a judgment means for forming a judgment on validity of said content identification information, said first information processing apparatus identification information and said second information processing apparatus identification information which are acquired by said first acquisition means;
a second acquisition means for acquiring user information on a user of said second information processing apparatus; and
an output means for outputting the user information acquired by said second acquisition means in conformity with a result of said judgment formed by said judgment means as information for receiving a presented content identified by said content identification information.
15. An information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein, if said first information processing apparatus identification information and said content identification information are disseminated by broadcasting, said first acquisition means further acquires broadcasting identification information (transmission identification information) assigned to said broadcasting; and
said judgment means further forms a judgment on validity of said content identification information, said first information processing apparatus identification information, said second information processing apparatus identification information and said broadcasting identification information (transmission identification information).
16. An information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said first acquisition means further acquires additional information; and
said judgment means further forms a judgment on validity of said additional information.
17. An information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said information processing apparatus further includes an assignment means for assigning customer identification information for identifying a customer to said content identification information, said first information processing apparatus identification information and said second information processing apparatus identification information.
18. An information processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said output means outputs said customer identification information instead of outputting said second information processing apparatus identification information among pieces of information for receiving said content.
19. An information processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said information processing apparatus further includes a request means for requesting said first information processing apparatus to present a content identified by said content identification information through a network instead of requesting said second information processing apparatus.
20. An information processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said information processing apparatus further includes a presentation means for directly or indirectly presenting a content identified by said content identification information to said second information processing apparatus in place of said first information processing apparatus.
21. An information processing method comprising the steps of:
controlling acquisition, from said second information identifying apparatus, of content identification information for identifying a content presented by a first information processing apparatus, first information processing apparatus identification information for identifying said first information processing apparatus and second information processing apparatus identification information for identifying a second information processing apparatus;
forming a judgment on validity of said content identification information, said first information processing apparatus identification information and said second information processing apparatus identification information, whose acquisition is controlled by the processing at said first acquisition controlling step;
controlling acquisition of user information on a user of said second information processing apparatus; and
outputting said user information, whose acquisition is controlled by the processing at said second acquisition controlling step in conformity with a result of said judgment formed by the processing at said judgment step as information for receiving said content identified by said content identification information.
22. A recording medium for recording a program executable by a computer, said program comprising:
a first acquisition controlling step of controlling acquisition, from said second information identifying apparatus, of content identification information for identifying a content presented by a first information processing apparatus, first information processing apparatus identification information for identifying said first information processing apparatus and second information processing apparatus identification information for identifying a second information processing apparatus;
a judgment step of forming a judgment on validity of said content identification information, said first information processing apparatus identification information and said second information processing apparatus identification information, whose acquisition is controlled by the processing at said first acquisition controlling step;
a second acquisition controlling step of controlling acquisition of user information on a user of said second information processing apparatus; and
an output step of outputting said user information, whose acquisition is controlled by the processing at said second acquisition controlling step in conformity with a result of said judgment formed by the processing at said judgment step as information for receiving said content identified by said content identification information.
23. An information processing apparatus connected by a network to a first information processing apparatus for presenting a content comprising:
an acquisition means for acquiring content identification information for identifying a content, first information processing apparatus identification information for identifying said first information processing apparatus and second information processing apparatus identification information for identifying a second information processing apparatus to receive said content;
an assignment means for assigning customer identification information for identifying a customer to said content identification information, said first information processing apparatus identification information and said second information processing apparatus identification information;
a request means for requesting said first information processing apparatus to present a content identified by said content identification information through said network instead of requesting said second information processing apparatus; and
an output means for outputting customer identification information to said first information processing apparatus through said network as information for receiving said content instead of outputting said second information processing apparatus identification information.
24. An information processing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said information processing apparatus further includes a presentation means for directly or indirectly presenting a content identified by said content identification information to said second information processing apparatus in place of said first information processing apparatus.
25. An information processing method adopted in an information processing apparatus connected by a network to a first information processing apparatus for presenting a content comprising the steps of:
controlling acquisition of content identification information for identifying a content, first information processing apparatus identification information for identifying said first information processing apparatus and second information processing apparatus identification information for identifying a second information processing apparatus to receive said content;
assigning customer identification information for identifying a customer to said content identification information, said first information processing apparatus identification information and said second information processing apparatus identification information;
requesting said first information processing apparatus to present a content identified by said content identification information through said network instead of requesting said second information processing apparatus; and
outputting customer identification information to said first information processing apparatus through said network as information for receiving said content instead of outputting said second information processing apparatus identification information.
26. A recording medium for recording a computer executable program of an information processing apparatus connected by a network to a first information processing apparatus for presenting a content, said program comprising:
an acquisition controlling step of controlling acquisition of content identification information for identifying a content, first information processing apparatus identification information for identifying said first information processing apparatus and second information processing apparatus identification information for identifying a second information processing apparatus to receive said content;
an assignment step of assigning customer identification information for identifying a customer to said content identification information, said first information processing apparatus identification information and said second information processing apparatus identification information;
a request step of requesting said first information processing apparatus to present said content identified by said content identification information through said network instead of requesting said second information processing apparatus; and
output step of outputting customer identification information to said first information processing apparatus through said network as information for receiving a presented content instead of outputting said second information processing apparatus identification information.
27. An information processing system comprising:
a second information processing apparatus connected by a network to a first information processing apparatus for presenting contents;
a third information processing apparatus for receiving information prescribed by said second information processing apparatus; and
a fourth information processing for the processing at a request made by said third information processing apparatus,
said information processing system characterized in that:
said second information processing apparatus comprises:
a first acquisition means for acquiring information on said first information processing apparatus and information on said content presented by said first information processing apparatus from said first information processing apparatus;
a generation means for generating first information processing apparatus identification information for identifying said first information processing apparatus and generating content identification information for identifying said content on the basis of said information on said first information processing apparatus and said information on said content, which are acquired by said first acquisition means;
a first storage means for storing said first information processing apparatus identification information and said content identification information, which are generated by said generation means, by associating said information processing apparatus identification information with said content identification information;
a first output means for directly or indirectly outputting said first information processing apparatus identification information and said content identification information, which are stored in said first storage means, to a third information processing apparatus; and
a transmission means for transmitting information on association stored in said first storage means to a fourth information processing apparatus in response to a request made by said fourth information processing apparatus through said network,
said third information processing apparatus comprises:
an extraction means for extracting said content identification information and said first information processing apparatus identification information from a received signal;
a second storage means for storing second information processing apparatus identification information for identifying said third information processing apparatus itself; and
a request means for transmitting said content identification information and said first information processing apparatus identification information, which are extracted by said extraction means, along with said second information processing apparatus identification information stored in said second storage means to a fourth information processing apparatus so as to request said first information processing apparatus to present said content identified by said content identification information, and
said fourth information processing apparatus comprises:
a second acquisition means for acquiring said content identification information, said first information processing apparatus identification information and said second information processing apparatus identification information from said third information processing apparatus;
a judgment means for forming a judgment on validity of said content identification information, said first information processing apparatus identification information and said second information processing apparatus identification information which are acquired by said second acquisition means;
a third acquisition means for acquiring user information on a user of said third information processing apparatus; and
a second output means for outputting said user information acquired by said third acquisition means in conformity with a result of said judgment formed by said judgment means as information for receiving said content identified by said content identification information.
28. An information processing method adopted by an information processing system comprising:
a second information processing apparatus connected by a network to a first information processing apparatus for presenting a content;
a third information processing apparatus for receiving information prescribed by said second information processing apparatus; and
a fourth information processing for the processing at a request made by said third information processing apparatus,
said information processing method including:
an information processing method for said second information processing apparatus comprising the steps of:
controlling acquisition, from said first information processing apparatus, of information on said first information processing apparatus and information on a content presented by said first information processing apparatus;
generating first information processing apparatus identification information for identifying said first information processing apparatus and generating content identification information for identifying a content on the basis of said information on said first information processing apparatus and said information on a content, whose acquisition is controlled by the processing at said first acquisition controlling step;
controlling storage of said first information processing apparatus identification information and said content identification information, which are generated by the processing at said generation step, by associating said information processing apparatus identification information with said content identification information;
directly or indirectly controlling output of said first information processing apparatus identification information and said content identification information, whose storage is controlled by the processing at said first storage controlling step, to a third information processing apparatus; and
controlling transmission of information on association, whose storage is controlled by the processing at said first storage controlling step to a fourth information processing apparatus in response to a request made by said fourth information processing apparatus through said network,
an information processing method for said third information processing apparatus comprising the steps of:
controlling extraction of said content identification information and said first information processing apparatus identification information from a received signal;
controlling storage of second information processing apparatus identification information for identifying said third information processing apparatus itself; and
transmitting said content identification information and said first information processing apparatus identification information, whose extraction is controlled by the processing at said extraction controlling step, along with said second information processing apparatus identification information, whose storage is controlled by the processing at said second storage controlling step to a fourth information processing apparatus so as to request said first information processing apparatus to present said content identified by said content identification information, and
an information processing method for said fourth information processing apparatus comprising the steps of:
controlling acquisition of said content identification information, said first information processing apparatus identification information and said second information processing apparatus identification information from said third information processing apparatus;
forming a judgment on validity of said content identification information, said first information processing apparatus identification information and said second information processing apparatus identification information, whose acquisition is controlled by the processing at said second acquisition controlling step;
controlling acquisition of user information on a user of said third information processing apparatus; and
controlling output of said user information, whose acquisition is controlled by the processing at said third acquisition controlling step in conformity with a result of said judgment formed by the processing at said judgment step as information for receiving said content identified by said content identification information.
29. A recording medium for recording a computer executable program of an information processing system comprising:
a second information processing apparatus connected by a network to a first information processing apparatus for presenting a content;
a third information processing apparatus for receiving information prescribed by said second information processing apparatus; and
a fourth information processing for the processing at a request made by said third information processing apparatus,
said recording medium characterized in that said program includes:
an information processing method for a second information processing apparatus comprising the steps of:
controlling acquisition of information on said first information processing apparatus and information on a content presented by said first information processing apparatus from said first information processing apparatus;
generating first information processing apparatus identification information for identifying said first information processing apparatus and generating content identification information for identifying said content on the basis of said information on said first information processing apparatus and said information on a content, whose acquisition is controlled by the processing at said first acquisition controlling step;
controlling storage of said first information processing apparatus identification information and said content identification information, which are generated by the processing at said generation step, by associating said information processing apparatus identification information with said content identification information;
directly or indirectly controlling output of said first information processing apparatus identification information and said content identification information, whose storage is controlled by the processing at said first storage controlling step, to a third information processing apparatus; and
controlling transmission of information on association, whose storage is controlled by the processing at said first storage controlling step to a fourth information processing apparatus in response to a request made by said fourth information processing apparatus through said network,
an information processing method for said third information processing apparatus comprising the steps of:
controlling extraction of said content identification information and said first information processing apparatus identification information from a received signal;
controlling storage of second information processing apparatus identification information for identifying said third information processing apparatus itself; and
transmitting said content identification information and said first information processing apparatus identification information, whose extraction is controlled by the processing at said extraction controlling step, along with said second information processing apparatus identification information, whose storage is controlled by the processing at said second storage controlling step to a fourth information processing apparatus so as to request said first information processing apparatus to present said content identified by said content identification information, and
an information processing method for said fourth information processing apparatus comprising the steps of:
controlling acquisition of said content identification information, said first information processing apparatus identification information and said second information processing apparatus identification information from said third information processing apparatus;
forming a judgment on validity of said content identification information, said first information processing apparatus identification information and said second information processing apparatus identification information, whose acquisition is controlled by the processing at said second acquisition controlling step;
controlling acquisition of user information on a user of said third information processing apparatus; and
controlling output of said user information, whose acquisition is controlled by the processing at said third acquisition controlling step in conformity with a result of said judgment formed by the processing at said judgment step as information for receiving said presented content identified by said content identification information.