Abstract: Smooth cooperation between a service for distributing websites wherein contents that are reprintable to blogs are arranged and a plurality of blog creating services is established. In order to help a user computer with blog creation processing between a content server which distributes websites wherein news articles and images are arranged as contents and blog servers of various companies relating to providing a blog creating service according to the operation of a user, a linkage server which performs various kinds of linkage processing necessary for creating the blog is newly provided between the user computer and various servers. Due to the existence of the linkage server, when the user finds subject matters for creating the blog in the websites distributed by the content server, the user can easily lead the blog creating work to the web creating service on which the user has registered.

Abstract: A television set allowing a small amount of information to be processed to authenticate at least a portion of a face with high precision, is configured as follows: The television set includes a memory, a camera and a CPU. The memory stores feature information in association with a position. The CPU detects the position of the facial portion of a person in an image. The CPU extracts feature information based on the image. The CPU collates the feature information extracted thereby with that of the feature information stored in the memory which corresponds to the position detected thereby. The CPU selects a channel corresponding to a result of the collation. The television set further includes a tuner and a display. The tuner extracts a broadcast signal of the channel selected by the CPU. The display displays a video image corresponding to the signal extracted by the tuner.

Abstract: When the user takes a watching mode with respect to a television device, a broadcast audio signal generated at the television device is transmitted to a remote controller device, and output from a speaker of a headset via a jack. When the user takes a telephone mode, an incoming audio signal from a conversation party is transmitted from the television device to the remote controller device, and output from the speaker of the headset via the jack. Concurrently, the voice uttered by the user is converted into an outgoing audio signal at a microphone of the headset, and transmitted to the television device from the remote controller device to be sent to the conversation party.

Abstract: An audio device includes a connector to which a headphone or an earphone is connected, a receiver receiving a radio signal that is converted from an audio signal corresponding to video to be displayed at another device, a controller selecting music data or the received radio signal, and a second audio processor switching between conversion of music data to an audio signal or conversion of the received radio signal to an audio signal based on selection by the controller, and providing the converted audio signal to the headphone or the earphone via the connector.

Abstract: An internet telephone set includes a receiver receiving a first radio signal converted from an audio signal corresponding to video to be displayed at another device and a second radio signal converted from an internet telephone signal, a control unit selecting the first or second radio signal, and an audio processor converting the first or second radio signal to an audio signal based on the selection by the control unit.

Abstract: A remote controller device includes a first audio processor converting externally received sound to an external audio signal, an operation unit including a plurality of buttons, detecting whether each of the plurality of buttons is depressed or not to generate an operation signal representing the detected result, and a transmitter converting the external audio signal and the operation signal to a radio signal for transmission. A television device includes a receiver receiving the radio signal from the remote controller device for conversion to the external audio signal and the operation signal, a network interface unit transmitting a telephone signal onto a network based on the external audio signal and the operation signal, and a display unit displaying a depressed form or non-depressed form of each of the plurality of buttons based on the operation signal.

Abstract: An image display system allowing a plurality of users to enjoy viewing programs is provided. The image display system includes a plurality of television sets connected to the Internet, and an IP telephone management server. The IP telephone management server has a friend list as data including information about television sets allowing communications via IP telephones in a memory. The friend list includes identification numbers of the television sets connected to the IP telephone management server, IP addresses of the television sets and numbers of channels selected in the television sets. Information (e.g., the number of the selected channel and the user of the television set) representing images displayed on each television is transmitted as a viewing history to the IP telephone management server to prepare or update data items in the friend list.

Abstract: A system allowing a viewer of a program to know a rating is provided. A viewing information distribution system includes an IP telephone management server and each television connected to the Internet. The television is controlled by a signal emitted from a remote control terminal having an IP telephone function. The IP telephone management server includes a processor carrying out operational processing and communication control and a database. The IP telephone management server and the television communicate with each other in accordance with a session initiation protocol. The television transmits a selected channel to the IP telephone management server. The IP telephone management server summarizes viewing information received from each television and distributes the information to each television. Receiving statistic data, the television displays that figure in a video image display area.

Abstract: A communication terminal includes a base station antenna and the like, a measurement unit, a key operation unit, a memory, and a transmission control unit. The measurement unit acquires element information from a radio wave. A message is entered at the key operation unit. A plurality of types of element information from transmission sources different from each other and the message are stored in correspondence in the memory. The transmission control unit controls the base station antenna and the like such that a message is transmitted when the combination of the received element information corresponds to the combination of element information stored in the memory.

Abstract: A TV broadcast viewing and recording system, which can enhance viewing efficiency for each user to view TV programs even though several users use the system. The TV broadcast viewing and recording system (1) comprises a TV receiver (2), a recorder (3), and a camera (4) which takes an image in a predetermined imaging area in front of the TV receiver (2) or the recorder (3). When the user surfs the channels (S51), the TV receiver (2) transmits a request signal to the recorder (3) (S52). The recorder (3) performs facial recognition of an image data taken by the camera (4), identifies the user by calculating a feature quantity of the user who changes the channels (S53), and extracts data files of TV programs which has not been reproduced yet (S54). Subsequently, the recorder (3) transmits a message signal including information of un-reproduced data files of TV programs to the TV receiver (2) (S55).

Abstract: A hard disc recorder (1) comprises an imaging unit (8) that takes an image of a predetermined imaging area in front of the hard disc recorder (1), a user identification unit (3a) that calculates a feature quantity of a user who operates the hard disc recorder based on image data by performing facial recognition, and identifies the user who operates the hard disc recorder, a user attribution adding unit (3b) that adds the feature quantity calculated by the user identification unit (3a) to a data file of TV program to be recorded in the hard disc recorder when a user instructs to record a TV program. Thereby, information relating to the user who operates the hard disc recorder (1) is automatically added to the data file of TV program as an attribution of the user who records the TV program.

Abstract: A television set allowing a small amount of information to be processed to authenticate at least a portion of a face with high precision, is configured as follows: The television set includes a memory, a camera and a CPU. The memory stores feature information in association with a position. The CPU detects the position of the facial portion of a person in an image. The CPU extracts feature information based on the image. The CPU collates the feature information extracted thereby with that of the feature information stored in the memory which corresponds to the position detected thereby. The CPU selects a channel corresponding to a result of the collation. The television set further includes a tuner and a display. The tuner extracts a broadcast signal of the channel selected by the CPU. The display displays a video image corresponding to the signal extracted by the tuner.

Abstract: In a recorded image reproduction processing, when a program recorded in a hard disk device is reproduced, a navigation screen is initially displayed. Then, if a reproduction instruction operation is performed, a file corresponding to a designated program is reproduced. Alternatively, if a recording key is operated, all programs (files) recorded in the hard disk device are sequentially reproduced each for three seconds. If a play key is operated during three-second reproduction, the program (file) being reproduced will be reproduced from its beginning to end in an ordinary manner.