Sony Corporation

Mikiko Sakurai

Toshihiro Morita

Tatsushi Nashida

Koichi Goto

Akio Yoshioka

Mitsuyuki Hatanaka

Kiyonobu Kojima

Osamu Shimoyoshi

Takayuki Kori

Tomohiro Onda

A touch panel is constructed by a display/sensor unit which is slightly larger than a display screen of an LCD and a sensor unit which is projected to the outside from one side, for example, from one side on the right. A finger of the user is touched to a selection item such as desired button, icon, or the like on the display/sensor unit and vertically moved on the sensor unit. A selection display constructed by a plurality of buttons is displayed along the side of the display screen by the LCD. A button beside the finger is highlighted. When the finger is released, the highlighted button is selected. If there are no buttons adjacent to the finger, the button is not highlighted. Even if the finger is released, the state is not changed. When finger is moved to the display/sensor unit, the selection display disappears.

Technique for executing a combined operation in response to a single press and release of a sensor unit

Touch screen input method and device

A display control apparatus configured to execute control such that a list of a plurality of programs is displayed, includes a data capturer, a two-dimensional arranger, a setter, and a superimposed-display controller.

Display control apparatus and method, program, and recording media for display of a list of program information using three axes

A touch panelis constructed by a display/sensor unitwhich is slightly larger than a display screen of an LCDand a sensor unitwhich is projected to the outside from one side, for example, from one side on the right. A fingerof the user is touched to a selection item such as desired button, icon, or the like on the display/sensor unitand vertically moved on the sensor unit. A selection displayconstructed by a plurality of buttons is displayed along the side of the right side of the display screen by the LCD. A button beside the fingeris highlighted and when the fingeris released, the highlighted button is selected. If there are no buttons adjacent to the finger, the button is not highlighted. Even if the fingeris released, the state is not changed. When fingeris moved to the display/sensor unit, the selection displaydisappears.

The present invention pertains to an information processing apparatus which allows users to easily know content which others are allowed to check out. A management serverrecords data relevant to content which others are allowed to check out. A web serverreceives a request for the data relevant to the content, and transmits the data relevant to the content when the data relevant to the content is requested. The present invention is applicable to an information processing apparatus for handling data relevant to copyright protected content.

Information processing apparatus

A play list of audio recordings made in the past is searched for, and is displayed in the event that it exists. The contents that have already been recorded in the past are displayed with the word 'recorded' affixed thereto in a manner corresponding with the track Nos. of the CD, and are further displayed with a number such as '2' affixed thereto in the event that the contents have been recorded twice in the past, for example. Further, in the event that play lists exist, a dialog box prompting selection of a play list is displayed, so the user can select between audio recording by adding the new contents to an already-existing play list or audio recording by creating a new play list. Thus, the contents recorded in the past are automatically searched, and the user is presented with a display thereof.

Information processing apparatus and method, and program storing medium

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.

Content playback apparatus, server connection method, and recording medium

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.

Rights information processing apparatus and method, and program storing medium using a display object for associating with contents

A tree display is made in a tree display area of a play list display area as of the contents files were classified in a directory structure, but in reality the contents files are not classified in a directory structure. In the tree display area, the heading &ldquo;All music pieces&rdquo; is not located at the lowest hierarchical level of the tree structure but partway up the structure, and in the event that &ldquo;All music pieces&rdquo; is selected, the contents are searched with an item corresponding to the parent thereof as the search key, and data relating to the corresponding contents is displayed in a list display area, so in a case described herein, contents matching the genre of &ldquo;Blues&rdquo; and artist name of &ldquo;4 hero&rdquo; are displayed on the list display area. Thus, desired contents files can be easily searched for.

Growing community of inventors

Kanagawa, Japan

Mikiko Sakurai