Sony Corporation

Shinichi Wakai

Hidetoshi Ichioka

Keiichi Yoshioka

Hitoshi Kimura

Shingo Utsuki

Ayako Nakayama

Koji Fujita

Kensuke Ohnuma

Hiroshi Takagi

Shigeharu Kondo

Yoshiaki Arishima

Toshiaki Notsuyu

Kunihiko Shindo

Takaaki Maeda

Mutsumi Kogawa

Nozomi Yamamoto

Osamu Yoshitake

Information processing methods to make it possible to reserve recording of a program without imposing a large burden on a user. A server transmits program attribute information to a video recording and reproducing apparatus via a network. The program attribute information includes program attribute names and program attribute retrieval conditions. The video recording and reproducing apparatus causes a display apparatus to display a list of the program attribute names. The user selects from the list a program attribute name to which a program that the user wishes to reserve for recording seems to be most closely related. The video recording and reproducing apparatus compares the retrieval conditions corresponding to the selected program attribute name and EPG (electronic program guide) information and, when the retrieval conditions are satisfied, records a program represented by the EPG in a recording reservation list. The methods can be applied to a hard disk video recorder.

Information processing apparatus and method, recording medium, and program

A reproducing operation of still image content and a reproducing operation of moving image content are carried out by similar inputs by a user. A video recording and reproducing processing unit reproduces video content, and a Web content processing unit automatically selects instructions, such as information for instructing another Web page to be displayed next, from data of a reproduced Web page, and reproduces the another Web page. As a result, a plurality of Web pages are continuously reproduced and output at predetermined time intervals. A main control unit controls the reproduction of video content by the video recording and reproducing processing unit and the continuous reproduction of Web content by the Web content processing unit based on signals input by operations to a single group of operating keys as interpreted by an input conversion table.

Image recording and reproducing apparatus, and image reproducing method

The present invention enables a user to retrieve his or her desired one of a number of image programs easily and to view it quickly. An image retrieval assisting apparatus () for assisting retrieval of broadcast contents in a broadcast-contents-recording/reproducing apparatus or a broadcast receiving set comprises a classification criterion information storage portion () for storing classification criterion for classifying broadcast contents into a plurality of categories, program information acquisition means () for acquiring program information of said broadcast contents, program information classification means () for classifying said program information into said categories according to said classification criterion, an HDD () for storing said classified program information, and display means () for displaying said categories defined by said classification criterion horizontally on a monitor screen in a selectable manner and displaying only the program information fallen in a selected category vertically on said monitor screen in a selectable manner.

Image retrieval assisting method, image retrieval assisting apparatus, and broadcast receiving set

An image retrieval assisting apparatus and method for retrieving a desired image program from a number of image programs, such as broadcast contents in a broadcast-contents-recording/reproducing apparatus or a broadcast receiving set. A classification criterion information storage portion stores classification criterion for classifying broadcast contents into a plurality of categories. A program information acquisition portion acquires program information of the broadcast contents. A program information classification portion classifies the program information into the plurality of categories according to the stored classification criterion. An HDD stores the classified program information, and a display displays categories defined by the stored classification criterion horizontally on a monitor screen in a selectable manner and displays only the program information categorized in a selected category vertically on the monitor screen in a selectable manner.

Video search assisting method, video search assisting device, and broadcast receiving apparatus

The present invention relates to an information processing system, information processing apparatus and method, recording medium and program, adapted to exchange picture-recording schedule information between the terminals. A user apparatus-registers generated picture-recording schedule information to a server-through a network, together with the information representative of a providing destination. The server-, when registering the picture-recording schedule information, makes a notification to a user apparatus-as a providing destination thereof. The video recording/reproducing apparatusof the user apparatus-accesses the server-through the network, and designates a picture-recording schedule program desired for scheduling of picture-recording of among the programs registered in the picture-recording schedule information. The server-sends the schedule information on a designated program to the video recording/reproducing apparatusthrough the network. The video recording/reproducing apparatusreceives this and makes a scheduling of picture-recording on the basis of the picture-recording schedule information. The invention is applicable to the hard-disk video recorder.

Information processing system, information processing device and method, recording medium, and program

There is provided a playing time limiting mode for controlling a picture image outputting apparatus by means of a playing time enabling the outputting operation of a picture image and a locking time disabling the outputting operation of a picture image, in which the playing time is set to be a preferable value by the setting operation of a user; a value set beforehand in the apparatus is used as the locking time; when a playing time limiting mode is selected by a mode selection, first, the timing of the playing time is begun according to a prescribed condition, and when the passing of the playing time is detected, the timing of the locking time is begun and the operation of the outputting of a picture image is made to be impossible until the locking time has passed.

Picture image outputting apparatus

Growing community of inventors

Tokyo, Japan

Shinichi Wakai