Abstract: To select a recording device for recording a program in a digital television receiver to which a plurality of recorders (recording devices) are connected, control is performed to acquire image quality information about the program to be recorded and to compare the program image quality to be recorded with the recording image quality of a recording medium for each connected recording device. Based on the result of this comparison, a recorder is selected that can secondarily record the program onto a recording medium without compromising the program image quality.

Abstract: A display apparatus comprises a display panel, a backlight having emission brightness levels adjustable for each of divided sections, a graphic image generating unit that generates a graphic image signal, a synthetic image generating unit that generates a synthetic image signal representing a synthetic image in which an image based on the graphic image signal is overlapped on the image based on the input image signal, and a control unit, wherein the control unit controls the emission brightness levels of the backlight of a plurality of divided sections containing a graphic image display region, where a graphic image based on the graphic image signal is displayed, to be uniform, and controls the emission brightness levels of the backlight of other divided sections based on the input image signal.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to propose viewer-desired search words in searching for related programs. A view determining unit identifies viewed programs based on a view history including channel information and time information about the viewed programs, and based on program supplement data held in a program information holding unit. A search word extracting unit 13 extracts search words from the program supplement data about the programs identified by the view determining unit. A program search unit searches for related programs related to the search words by using the extracted search words and the program supplement data held in the program information holding unit.

Abstract: If there are program-related associated Web pages, a TV receiver 1000 acquires the content information of the associated Web pages from a Web server 2000 and stores it in a Web page storage unit 1006. The correspondence between the stored content information and recorded program is stored in a correspondence information holding unit 1005. The data of the program is outputted to a TV program recorder 3000, where it is recorded. The user can configure the timing, at which the storage of the associated Web pages is carried out.

Abstract: A video image processing apparatus outputs encoded video data which has been hierarchically encoded to a reproducing apparatus connected thereto in a communicatable manner. The video image processing apparatus includes a conversion unit configured to, if a high-resolution layer with a resolution equal to or greater than a base layer and a field of view wider than the base layer exists, perform resolution conversion processing to render video data corresponding to the high-resolution layer at least equal to or less than the display resolution, a coding unit configured to perform hierarchical coding on video data corresponding to the high-resolution layer subjected to resolution conversion processing by the conversion unit, and video data corresponding to each of the plurality of resolution layers other than the high-resolution layer.

Abstract: A content reception apparatus includes a decoding unit configured to decode coded video data including a plurality of layers and generate video data of each layer, an acquisition unit configured to acquire content information associated with the video data of each layer, an extraction unit configured to compare content information corresponding to each of the plurality of layers and extract content information different from each of the plurality of layers as content difference information, and a control unit configured to generate a content information display screen that displays the content information associated with video data of each layer decoded by the decoding unit on a display unit.

Abstract: In an EPG generating apparatus, a controller specifies a program which meet a predetermined condition and extends the display area of the specified program as a popup portion. When extending the display area of a specified program, the controller changes the configuration of the display area of the specified program so that the display area of the specified program does not overlap the display area of another specified program positioned close to the display area of the specified program.

Abstract: An electronic program guide (EPG) generation apparatus that generates an EPG, the apparatus comprising: an information acquisition unit configured to acquire information regarding each program to be displayed in the EPG; a first determination unit configured to determine the size of a first display area representing the broadcast times of each program in the EPG, based on information regarding the broadcast times of each program included in the information regarding each program; a second determination unit configured to determine the size of a second display area for displaying, in the EPG, information regarding details of each program included in the information regarding each program, based on the information regarding each program; and a display controller configured to control the display, on a display means, of the EPG based on the sizes of the first and second display areas, determined by the first and second determination means.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus which, in addition to displaying an electronic program guide in a display screen, uses URL information in order to display web pages when there is URL information associated with the programs displayed in the electronic program guide. Program information and the URL information concerning associated web pages are stored in correlated form and a determination is made, for instance, as to whether any URL information is associated with an in-focus program in the electronic program guide. If there is associated URL information, the URL information is used to display a web page. If the web page is switched, a determination is made as to whether there is a program associated with the web page obtained as a result of the switch and, if there is an associated program, the focus is changed to that program.

Abstract: In a web information processing apparatus (100), a web page information acquisition unit (106) acquires information of a web page being browsed with a web browser (103). Then, an association determination unit (202) determines whether or not that web page is stored in an associated web page information holding unit (109). If it is so stored, then a program search unit (203) searches for an associated program and notifies the existence of an associated program to a user through an associated-program notification unit (204).

Abstract: A television apparatus includes a plurality of receiving units. The television apparatus includes a first receiving unit configured to receive a channel which broadcasts a program whose video image is displayed on a display unit, a second receiving unit configured to receive a plurality of channels while the video image is being displayed, a program information management unit configured to store genre information about programs broadcasted on the plurality of channels, and a control unit configured to determine a periodic check order of receiving the plurality of channels based on the genre information about the programs read by the program information management unit and to control the second receiving unit to periodically check and receive the plurality of channels according to the periodic check order.

Abstract: There is provided a broadcast receiving apparatus having a broadcast receiving unit. The apparatus includes: an instruction receiving unit which receives a broadcasting type selection instruction or a channel number selection instruction, and a control unit which, when the instruction receiving unit receives the broadcasting type selection instruction, controls the broadcast receiving unit to receive a broadcast wave specified by a combination of a current channel number and a type of broadcasting corresponding to the received selection instruction if an elapsed time from latest reception of a channel number selection instruction is not more than a predetermined time, and receive a broadcast wave specified by a combination of a type of broadcasting corresponding to the received selection instruction and a default channel number associated with the type of broadcasting if the elapsed time from the latest reception of a channel number selection instruction is more than the predetermined time.

Abstract: The content switching apparatus includes at least a position identifying unit (800) and a play control unit (700). In switching from a first content (broadcast program) to a second content (VOD content), the position identifying unit identifies the position of the image in the second content, the image being the same as the first image of the first content. The play control unit determines a play starting position in the second content based on the position identified by the position identifying unit. By determining the play starting position of the second content in this way, the image can be properly switched even in the case where the time length or the content configuration is different.

Abstract: To provide a television broadcast receiving apparatus capable of receiving image data of a program at a scheduled time and a control method for controlling the apparatus, the broadcast time period of a program broadcasted via a broadcast wave is acquired and stored in a storing unit. If the already-acquired broadcast time period is different from the newly-acquired broadcast time period, the already-acquired broadcast time period is managed as an originally scheduled broadcast time period. When a certain channel is tuned in, if a program whose tuning time is within the originally scheduled broadcast time period exists among programs broadcasted on the tuned channel and having originally scheduled broadcast time periods, the same program broadcasted during the originally scheduled broadcast time period is searched for among programs broadcasted via a network. When the same program has been found, image data of the found program is received.

Abstract: A recorder control apparatus which controls execution of broadcast program recording in a plurality of recorders connected thereto, comprises an acceptance unit configured to accept a request to execute broadcast program recording, an acquisition unit configured to acquire, from each recorder, reservation information related to reserved program recording to be executed by the recorder after a point at which the execution request is accepted, a selection unit configured to select, from the plurality of recorders, a recorder capable of executing broadcast program recording corresponding to the execution request for a longest duration, based on the reservation information, and a request unit configured to request the recorder selected by the selection unit to execute broadcast program recording corresponding to the execution request.

Abstract: A recording control apparatus is connected to and in communication with a recording apparatus capable of recording a broadcasting video image on a storage unit and has two or more operating state levels that differ in power consumption. The recording control apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire program information about a program currently being viewed, a determination unit configured to determine a user's recording tendency level as to a program currently being viewed based on the program information acquired by the acquisition unit, and a control unit configured to issue a command to control the operating state level of the recording apparatus based on the recording tendency level determined by the determination unit.

Abstract: To select a recording device for recording a program in a digital television receiver to which a plurality of recorders (recording devices) are connected, control is performed to acquire image quality information about the program to be recorded and to compare the program image quality to be recorded with the recording image quality of a recording medium for each connected recording device. Based on the result of this comparison, a recorder is selected that can secondarily record the program onto a recording medium without compromising the program image quality.

Abstract: There is provided a broadcast receiving apparatus having a broadcast receiving unit. The apparatus includes: an instruction receiving unit which receives a broadcasting type selection instruction or a channel number selection instruction, and a control unit which, when the instruction receiving unit receives the broadcasting type selection instruction, controls the broadcast receiving unit to receive a broadcast wave specified by a combination of a current channel number and a type of broadcasting corresponding to the received selection instruction if an elapsed time from latest reception of a channel number selection instruction is not more than a predetermined time, and receive a broadcast wave specified by a combination of a type of broadcasting corresponding to the received selection instruction and a default channel number associated with the type of broadcasting if the elapsed time from the latest reception of a channel number selection instruction is more than the predetermined time.

Abstract: If there are program-related associated Web pages, a TV receiver 1000 acquires the content information of the associated Web pages from a Web server 2000 and stores it in a Web page storage unit 1006. The correspondence between the stored content information and recorded program is stored in a correspondence information holding unit 1005. The data of the program is outputted to a TV program recorder 3000, where it is recorded. The user can configure the timing, at which the storage of the associated Web pages is carried out.

Abstract: An electronic program guide (EPG) generation apparatus that generates an EPG, the apparatus comprising: an information acquisition unit configured to acquire information regarding each program to be displayed in the EPG; a first determination unit configured to determine the size of a first display area representing the broadcast times of each program in the EPG, based on information regarding the broadcast times of each program included in the information regarding each program; a second determination unit configured to determine the size of a second display area for displaying, in the EPG, information regarding details of each program included in the information regarding each program, based on the information regarding each program; and a display controller configured to control the display, on a display means, of the EPG based on the sizes of the first and second display areas, determined by the first and second determination means.