Abstract: Program data and information associated with at least one consumer commodity that appears in a program of the program data are synchronously transmitted. The program data and the associated information are received, and the program is reproduced and displayed on a display. One of a plurality of displayed consumer commodities is selected, and at least part of information associated with the selected consumer commodity is extracted and displayed. The extracted information associated with the selected consumer commodity is stored and is accessible after the program is displayed.

Abstract: Peculiar identification information to identify a recording medium itself is recorded onto the recording medium on which contents information as a target of a reproduction deadline management is recorded. At least the identification information recorded on the recording medium as mentioned above is read by a terminal apparatus and transmitted to a server apparatus. In the server apparatus, a reproduction possible deadline of the contents information recorded on the recording medium is managed on the basis of reproduction possible deadline information indicative of the reproduction possible deadline regarding the contents information recorded on the recording medium on the basis of at least the identification information. Thus, when the reproduction deadline of the contents recorded on the recording medium is managed, the operation for allowing the server apparatus side to set registration information such as personal information or the like of the user as in the conventional system is unnecessary.

Abstract: A communication system is disclosed which includes: a storing element for storing content data corresponding to an image associated with a distributed storage medium; a retrieving element for retrieving address information on a network from the distributed storage medium; an accessing element for accessing the storing element based on the address information retrieved by the retrieving element; and a recording element for recording to the distributed storage medium the content data acquired by the accessing element from the storing element.

Abstract: When the user designates the reproduction of searching audio data, the designated searching audio data and audio volume data are read from a searching data recording portion. The searching audio data is reproduced corresponding to the audio volume data. When the user designates the reproduction of main audio data, the selected audio data is read from a disc and reproduced. In addition, number-of-reproduction-times data, audio volume data, audio quality data, and time period data for the designated main audio data that are updated in the searching data storing portion. The searching audio data corresponding to the designated main audio data is read from the disc corresponding to the audio quality data and the time period data and recorded to the searching data storing portion.

Abstract: When the user designates the reproduction of searching audio data, the designated searching audio data and audio volume data are read from a searching data recording portion. The searching audio data is reproduced corresponding to the audio volume data. When the user designates the reproduction of main audio data, the selected audio data is read from a disc and reproduced. In addition, number-of-reproduction-times data, audio volume data, audio quality data, and time period data for the designated main audio data that are updated in the searching data storing portion. The searching audio data corresponding to the designated main audio data is read from the disc corresponding to the audio quality data and the time period data and recorded to the searching data storing portion.

Abstract: Program data and information associated with at least a consumer commodity that appears in a program of the program data are synchronously transmitted. The program data and the information associated therewith are received. The received program data is reproduced. The reproduced data is displayed on a displaying portion. Information associated with one selected from a plurality of consumer commodities displayed on the displaying portion is extracted and displayed. The viewer can buy a consumer commodity at a store corresponding to the extracted information.

Abstract: The present invention provides a content-on-demand system capable of managing users' system-utilization frequencies such as download counts and connection times as well as changing the quality of a content transmitted from a server to a user in dependence on the system-utilization frequency of the user. Thus, a high-quality content or a highly functional content is provided to a user with a high system-utilization frequency. By differentiating contents provided to users in accordance with the system-utilization frequencies of the users, network businesses can be activated.

Abstract: Program data and information associated with at least a consumer commodity that appears in a program of the program data are synchronously transmitted. The program data and the information associated therewith are received. The received program data is reproduced. The reproduced data is displayed on a displaying portion. Information associated with a selected one of a plurality of consumer commodities displayed on the displaying portion is extracted and displayed. A viewer can buy the selected consumer commodity at a store corresponding to the extracted information.

Abstract: A method for processing content data includes the steps of, when content data is transmitted from a data provider, adding usage rule information prescribing a rule of usage of the content data to the content data and transmitting the content data with the usage rule information; receiving the transmitted content data; extracting the usage rule information from the received content data; and notifying a user of the content data of the extracted usage information.

Abstract: Program data and information associated with at least one consumer commodity that appears in a program of the program data are synchronously transmitted. The program data and the associated information are received, and the program is reproduced and displayed on a display. One of a plurality of displayed consumer commodities is selected, and at least part of information associated with the selected consumer commodity is extracted and displayed. The extracted information associated with the selected consumer commodity is stored and is accessible after the program is displayed.

Abstract: When the user designates the reproduction of searching audio data, the designated searching audio data and audio volume data are read from a searching data recording portion. The searching audio data is reproduced corresponding to the audio volume data. When the user designates the reproduction of main audio data, the audio data is read from a disc and reproduced. In addition, the number-of-reproduction-times data corresponding to the number of times the audio data has been reproduced, audio volume data, audio quality data, and time period data for the designated main audio data are updated in the searching data storing portion. The searching audio data corresponding to the designated main audio data is read from the disc in accordance with the audio quality data and the time period data and recorded to the searching data storing portion.

Abstract: A recording medium includes at least a recording area in which pieces of content data are recorded, and a lead-in area in a position that is read before the recording area is read. In one of the recording area and the lead-in area, identification information which indicates whether the recording medium is for a rental use is recorded.

Abstract: When the user designates the reproduction of searching audio data, the designated searching audio data and audio volume data are read from a searching data recording portion. The searching audio data is reproduced corresponding to the audio volume data. When the user designates the reproduction of main audio data, the selected audio data is read from a disc and reproduced. In addition, number-of-reproduction-times data, audio volume data, audio quality data, and time period data for the designated main audio data that are updated in the searching data storing portion. The searching audio data corresponding to the designated main audio data is read from the disc corresponding to the audio quality data and the time period data and recorded to the searching data storing portion.

Abstract: When the user designates the reproduction of searching audio data, the designated searching audio data and audio volume data are read from a searching data recording portion. The searching audio data is reproduced corresponding to the audio volume data. When the user designates the reproduction of main audio data, the selected audio data is read from a disc and reproduced. In addition, number-of-reproduction-times data, audio volume data, audio quality data, and time period data for the designated main audio data that are updated in the searching data storing portion. The searching audio data corresponding to the designated main audio data is read from the disc corresponding to the audio quality data and the time period data and recorded to the searching data storing portion.

Abstract: Contents data processing apparatus comprising a reproducing block for reproducing contents data from a recording medium, a character information generation block for generating character information based on first information accompanied with said contents data, and a character memory for storing second information regarding growth or change.

Abstract: A method of recording data to and reproducing data from a recording medium. Recording medium user identification data read from a recording medium upon which are recorded main data to be recorded and reproduced and the user identification data is compared with recorder and player user identification data read from a data recorder and player for recording and reproducing the main data and the main data are recorded to and reproduced from the recording medium when the recording medium user identification data are coincident with the recorder and player user identification data.

Abstract: The present invention is applied to a disk storage case adapted to store and carry, for example, a disk-shaped recording medium and to the recording medium, wherein the disk-shaped recording medium 21 is clamped and held from one surface and the other surface to be stored to prevent stress from being applied to the relevant recoding medium 21 when the recording medium 21 is stored and removed.

Abstract: A communication system is disclosed which includes: a storing element for storing content data corresponding to an image associated with a distributed storage medium; a retrieving element for retrieving address information on a network from the distributed storage medium; an accessing element for accessing the storing element based on the address information retrieved by the retrieving element; and a recording element for recording to the distributed storage medium the content data acquired by the accessing element from the storing element.

Abstract: A method of recording data from a recorder to a recording medium, where it is judged whether a terminal unit having user identification information recorded in memory therein is connected to the recorder. When the terminal unit is found connected, an encryption key is exchanged between the recorder and terminal unit, user identification information read from the memory of the terminal unit is encrypted with the exchanged encryption key, sent from the terminal unit to the recorder, and the encrypted user identification information is recorded to the recording medium.

Abstract: The invention provides an information recording medium, a storage medium, an information reproduction apparatus and method, and an information recording and reproduction apparatus and method as well as a providing medium by which information recorded on an information recording medium can be utilized only by a predetermined apparatus which corresponds to the information recording medium. A ROM has data for identification of a DVD player/recorder stored therein. A recording and reproduction section records data stored in the ROM onto a DVD and reproduces data for identification of the DVD player/recorder recorded on the DVD. A CPU controls the recording and reproduction section in accordance with the data stored in the ROM and the data reproduced by the recording and reproduction section.