Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for communications between an information processing device operated by a first user, which is connected via a network to another information processing device operated by a second user, where an application executing on the information processing device and generating an application image on a basis of operation information provided by the first user is transmitted to the other information processing device over the network.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for downloading application software from a server, including: downloading the application software from the server, where a first application software file contains only a portion of the application software, and a second application software file contains more than the portion of the application software; executing the application software and generating application images based thereon, where execution of the first application software file contains enough of the application software to execute a limited amount of the application software; and displaying the application images on a display screen based on the execution of the application software, where the acquisition unit begins downloading the second application software file in a background process after downloading the first application software file and at least partially during the execution of the first application software file.

Abstract: An acquisition unit 200 acquires image data in which game play is recorded or image data of a game currently being played. A display processing unit 202 displays an image of game play using the acquired image data and displays an image for acquiring game software while the image of the game play is being displayed or after the completion of the display of the image of the game play. When a reception unit 204 receives an input operation in the image for acquiring the game software, a request generation unit 206 generates a request for downloading that indicates, as a destination of the game software, another information processing apparatus different from the information processing apparatus, and a transmission unit 208 transmits the generated request for downloading.

Abstract: When a content acquisition unit acquires a part of full-size application software, an installation processing unit installs the acquired part, and an execution unit sets the installed application software to be executable. While the execution unit is executing the application software, the content acquisition unit continues to download the application software. A display processing unit changes a display mode of an icon image differently when a part of the application software is installed and when the application software is installed in its entirety.

Abstract: When an acquisition unit acquires image data of a game being played on another information processing apparatus, a display processing unit displays, using the acquired image data, an image of game play. A participation processing unit allows a user to join the game being played on the other information processing apparatus, and a transmission unit transmits operation information from the user to the other information processing apparatus. When the acquisition unit acquires image data in which the transmitted operation information is reflected in the progress of the game in the other information processing apparatus, the display processing unit displays, using the image data, an image of game play in which the operation information is reflected.

Abstract: When an acquisition unit acquires image data of a game being played on another information processing apparatus, a display processing unit displays, using the acquired image data, an image of game play. A participation processing unit allows a user to join the game being played on the other information processing apparatus, and an execution unit activates game software after it is determined that the user joins the game. While the execution unit is activating the game software, the display processing unit continues to display the image of the game play.