Sony Corporation

Natsuko Nishikata

Manabu Onishi

Kazuyuki Ikeda

Tamao Katayama

Kazunori Suto

A receiving apparatus contains a local area network interface for communication, a signal-processing device that decodes program information received by the local area network interface, and an encoding device that encodes the decoded program information to reconstitute program information to which a synchronizing signal is added and to generate any one of a composite signal and a separate signal. The receiving apparatus also contains an output terminal that the encoding device supplies with any one of a composite signal and a separate signal.

Receiving apparatus

A sending apparatus sends program information to which accompanying information is added with the program information and the accompanying information being suitable for sending. The sending apparatus contains a detection portion that detects the accompanying information, a separation portion that separates the accompanying information from the program information. The sending apparatus also contains a signal-processing portion that compresses and encodes the separated accompanying information and program information, respectively, and then packetizes the accompanying information and the program information, respectively, and a local area network interface for communication. The accompanying information and the program information are sent following separated data formats.

Sending apparatus and receiving apparatus

A communication-processing method performs communication processing on any network-connected equipment. The method includes the steps of sending an identification signal through a network to every apparatus that is connected in an identical network circuit to identify a local apparatus, and determining whether a reply signal including identification information in reply to the sent identification signal is received or not. The method also includes the steps of deciding that the local apparatus is connected to the identical network circuit if receiving the reply signal including the identification information to secure a communication-processing condition for the identified local apparatus, communicating with the identified local apparatus, and sending the communication-processing condition to the identified local apparatus.

Communication-processing method on network-connected equipment and receiving apparatus

An information processing system may include first apparatus and second apparatus coupled to each other through communications means. The first apparatus may include a transmitting/receiving unit effecting two-way communications with the second apparatus, and a control unit that transmits data corresponding to the operating signal from the transmitting/receiving unit to the second apparatus in response to an operating signal transmitted from the second apparatus, and to perform control of the first apparatus. The second apparatus may include a transmitting/receiving unit effecting two-way communications with the first apparatus, a display displaying an image based on the data transmitted from the first apparatus, and a control unit that displays, on a screen of the display, a first operating image for operating the first apparatus and a second operating image for operating a menu screen related to the first apparatus, in response to a remote controller signal supplied from a remote controller.

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Kanagawa, Japan

Natsuko Nishikata