Abstract: A system for implementing a detailed and flexible searching function for programs to a data recording/playing device that records broadcast programs such as those delivered on TV. The system includes a search server 20 and a data recording/playing device 10 connected with each other over a network 30. The data recording/playing device 10 stores a data file of a given broadcast program and sends a search request specifying a program and a search condition to the search server 20. The search server 20 holds information on a given program, and at the same time, creates index information to be used for playing the program on the basis of information on the program, and sends the index information back to the data recording/playing device 10 in response to a search request from the data recording/playing device 10.