Sony Corporation

Akiko Matsuoka

Yuichiro Deguchi

Naotaka Ando

Deguchi Yuichiro

A searching system for searching contents that were broadcast, the searching system having an inputting unit, a searching unit, and a terminal unit is disclosed, wherein the inputting unit comprises a first storing means for storing information representing at least time at which contents were broadcast corresponding to a predetermined operation, and a first communicating means for transmitting the information representing time stored in the storing means to an external unit, wherein the searching unit comprises a second storing means for correlatively storing information representing contents and broadcast time thereof, and a searching means for searching information representing the contents stored in the second storing means corresponding to the information representing time, and wherein the terminal unit comprises a second communicating means for receiving the information representing time transmitted from the inputting unit through the first communicating means, a third communicating means for transmitting the information representing time received by the second communicating means and receiving search results transmitted from the searching unit, and a first displaying means for displaying the information representing time received by the second communicating means and the search results by the searching unit.

Searching system, searching unit, searching method, displaying method for search results, terminal unit, inputting unit, and record medium

A communication apparatus transmits information to a search apparatus that stores related information associated with broadcast content. The search apparatus searches for the related information of the broadcast content based on a broadcast time. The communication apparatus includes an operation unit that executes an operation. The communication apparatus also includes a counter that initiates a count operation for counting a count value in response to the operation of the operation unit, and that resets the count value in response to a transmission of the count value to the search apparatus. The counter is kept stopped between a time of the transmission and a time the operation unit is next operated. The communication apparatus additionally includes a communication unit that transmits the transmission of the count value to the search apparatus for a derivation of the broadcast time using the count value and a current time.

A storage apparatus is provided, including a USB connector configured to communicate with an external device, a storage device including a cap for covering the USB connector, and an interface to control a communication with the external device via the USB connector. A memory stores data transferred from the external device via the USB connector and the interface. A controller manages the interface and the memory. A portable case is configured to contain the interface, the memory, and the controller. A user input button on an external surface of the portable case receives a user input so that the controller may control the memory to store different information based on how many times, or how long, the user actuates the button.

Storage apparatus including a USB connector

A play list comprising the names of music pieces broadcasted from a broadcast station and broadcast time information are accumulated in a data base. If a user likes a music piece broadcasted from the broadcast station, he activates a book marker which stores time information representing the time at which the book marker is activated. The time information is supplied through a gateway device to a search engine which searches the data base for those broadcast stations in the user's geographic area which broadcasted music pieces or the like at a time that matches the time information. The search results are transmitted to the gateway device and displayed.

Growing community of inventors

Chiba, Japan

Akiko Matsuoka