Abstract: A content explaining apparatus and method computes the degrees of similarity between a specified content and the other contents than the specified content of multiple contents based on content information stored in content information database means, computes a user realization degree for each of the other contents based on user information stored in user management database means or the content information stored in the content information database means, computes an explanation accuracy degree of each of the other contents for the specified content from the similarity degree and user realization degree of said each of the other contents, and presents content explaining information for the specified content according to the explanation accuracy degrees.

Abstract: A selection item display device allows the user to select a desired selection item in the case where a surrounding situation changes, with improved operability. The device includes: storage element for storing a selection item; retrieval element for retrieving a selection item to be displayed based on a surrounding situation from the storage element; generation element for generating an image of the retrieved selection item; display element for displaying the generated image of the selection item on a display screen; designation element for designating a selection item to be maintained from the displayed selection item; and holding element for holding the designated selection item. Even if the surrounding situation changes, and the retrieval element changes the selection item to be displayed, the generation element leaves the image of the selection item to be maintained on the basis of an instruction from the holding element on the display screen.

Abstract: A selection item display device allows the user to select a desired selection item in the case where a surrounding situation changes, with improved operability. The device includes: storage element for storing a selection item; retrieval element for retrieving a selection item to be displayed based on a surrounding situation from the storage element; generation element for generating an image of the retrieved selection item; display element for displaying the generated image of the selection item on a display screen; designation element for designating a selection item to be maintained from the displayed selection item; and holding element for holding the designated selection item. Even if the surrounding situation changes, and the retrieval element changes the selection item to be displayed, the generation element leaves the image of the selection item to be maintained on the basis of an instruction from the holding element on the display screen.

Abstract: An image display control apparatus comprises a menu creating unit displays an operation menu ME on a liquid crystal display unit of an image display apparatus, a camera with an infrared filter capable of recognizing an infrared signal coming from a remote controller, a remote controller position identifying unit identifies the position which the remote controller occupies during image capturing on the basis of the recognition result, a remote controller position signal creating unit displays the identified position of the remote controller on the liquid crystal display unit, and a user operation judging unit determines the operable specification object in the operation menu displayed on the liquid crystal display unit.

Abstract: A data inspecting device displays each of a plurality of data individually indicated as a mark which can be reproduced by a reproducing element and which has a length, so that the data inspecting device makes it possible to inspect a plurality of the data. The data inspecting device is provided with a calculating element for calculating the degree of mutual relevancy to predetermined kinds of parameters at different length points between one group of data which the reproducing element is reproducing out of a plurality of the data and the other groups of the data except such one group of the data and a display element for displaying the mark indicative of each of the other groups of data corresponding to the point in a different mode of display in accordance with the calculated relevancy. This makes a user recognize more accurately the relevancy of the mutual data.

Abstract: A content explaining apparatus and method computes the degrees of similarity between a specified content and the other contents than the specified content of multiple contents based on content information stored in content information database means, computes a user realization degree for each of the other contents based on user information stored in user management database means or the content information stored in the content information database means, computes an explanation accuracy degree of each of the other contents for the specified content from the similarity degree and user realization degree of said each of the other contents, and presents content explaining information for the specified content according to the explanation accuracy degrees.

Abstract: In an on-vehicle audio device (10), a CPU (111) executes a music composition search process. In the music composition search process, when an icon is selected from an icon selection region (220) on a display screen (210) and arranged in an icon setting region (230), the icon is set as an icon represent ting a search condition. Here, a music composition having a music composition characteristic amount corresponding to the attribute of the icon is searched from a music composition DB (151). On the other hand, when a plurality of icons are arranged while being superposed in the icon setting region (230), a synthesized icon corresponding to the superposition is displayed in the icon setting region (230) according to a preset correspondence, so as to search a music composition having the music composition characteristic amount corresponding to the attribute of the synthesized icon.

Abstract: An apparatus for recognizing contents of a video made of picture frames includes a splitting unit that splits the picture frames into a plurality of sets of video shots based on cut points indicating a change of screen; a similar-video-shot extracting unit that extracts video shots similar to each of the video shots from among the sets of video shots; a maximum-count-video-shot extracting unit that counts a number of similar video shots for each of the video shots and extracts a maximum count video shot having a maximum count of the similar video shots; and a representative-video-shot determining unit that takes the maximum count video shot as a representative video shot for the video.

Abstract: A storing-reproducing unit 200 recognizes a free space of a contents storage area by a storage-area-administrating device, sets a recording timing duration based on the recognized free space of the contents storage area, and selects a schedule information of a contents to be recorded from recording schedule list information. Hence, frequency of storing the contents in the HDD 270 can be reduced, thereby avoiding that the contents which has not yet watched is erased by self-erasing, so that the contents can be effectively recorded. Therefore, a user can secure flexibility in time in watching the contents.

Abstract: A storing/reproducing device includes a storing controller that recognizes programming information read out from timer recording list information and the data size of a content corresponding to the programming information, and compares the data size with free spaces of an automatic recording area 272 and a manual recording area 273 both forming a content recording area 271, the free spaces being recognized by a storing area manager. When the content is recorded based on the programming information set with input operation by a user, the storing controller records the content in the automatic recording area 272 if the storing controller judges that there is not enough free space in the manual recording area 273. Accordingly, other pieces of information will not be recorded in the manual recording area 273, thereby securing free space in the manual recording area. Therefore, manual recording with the input operation by the user can surely be performed.

Abstract: A recording/reproduction system 100 operates a word retriever to retrieve a keyword from accumulated program information and operates a menu setting section to recognize the related word information KW related to the retrieved keyword and to generate menu index information based on the recognized related word information KW. A program classifier recognizes related number as related number information of content that relates to menu information Mi and classifies content of a program into menu information of the menu index information such that related number of programs related to each menu information Mi_n becomes substantially equal.

Abstract: This invention provides a data-recording/reproduction apparatus that creates hierarchical-structured video data for partial contents data based on telops, and that is capable of easily and accurately reproducing a summary searching for an arbitrary scene in contents data desired by the user. The data-recording/reproduction apparatus 100 detects change locations in extracted telop data, and when at least two or more change locations are detected from one or two or more telop data, it detects the number of changes and point of change at each detected change location. Also, the data-recording/reproduction apparatus 100 sets hierarchical levels for each change location based on the detected change locations and number of changes, and together with generating index data the indicates a plurality of scenes in the contents data based on the set hierarchical levels and detected points of change of for each change location, it reproduces contents data based on the generated index data.

Abstract: A CPU 290 of a recording/reproducing device 200 acquires automatic video recording request information, and generates, based on EPG data previously acquired, new automatic reservation information incorporating basic video recording information with video recording start date and time or video recording finish date and time for contents corresponding to a keyword in the automatic video recording reservation request information and priority information indicating that the priority is “intermediate”.

Abstract: An information terminal such as a PDA (personal digital assistant) having a plurality of display screens in particular. The information terminal is provided with a plurality of display devices stored so that they can be developed in a main unit of the information terminal. The information terminal includes a controller which controls start and display of any application displayed on each of the display devices. The controller displays a plurality of applications in a predetermined order each time the display devices are developed.

Abstract: A CPU 290 of a recording/reproducing device 200 acquires automatic video recording request information, and generates, based on EPG data previously acquired, new automatic reservation information incorporating basic video recording information with video recording start date and time or video recording finish date and time for contents corresponding to a keyword in the automatic video recording reservation request information and priority information indicating that the priority is “intermediate”.

Abstract: A storing-reproducing unit 200 recognizes a free space of a contents storage area by a storage-area-administrating device, sets a recording timing duration based on the recognized free space of the contents storage area, and selects a schedule information of a contents to be recorded from recording schedule list information. Hence, frequency of storing the contents in the HDD 270 can be reduced, thereby avoiding that the contents which has not yet watched is erased by self-erasing, so that the contents can be effectively recorded. Therefore, a user can secure flexibility in time in watching the contents.

Abstract: A CPU 290 of a recording/reproducing device 200 make a recording section 251 record contents reserved by a user for video recording in an HDD 270, and sets remaining time until the contents is automatically deleted. The CPU 290 determines, when a period T is over, whether access to the contents has been carried out or not, and adds additional time D to the remaining time when the CPU 290 determines that the access has been made, and subtracts the period T from the remaining time when the CPU 290 determines that the access has not been made. The CPU 290 executes the afore-mentioned processing once in each period T, and automatically deletes the contents from the HDD 270 when the CPU 290 recognizes that the remaining time is zero or below.

Abstract: A storing/reproducing device includes a storing controller that recognizes programming information read out from timer recording list information and the data size of a content corresponding to the programming information, and compares the data size with free spaces of an automatic recording area 272 and a manual recording area 273 both forming a content recording area 271, the free spaces being recognized by a storing area manager. When the content is recorded based on the programming information set with input operation by a user, the storing controller records the content in the automatic recording area 272 if the storing controller judges that there is not enough free space in the manual recording area 273. Accordingly, other pieces of information will not be recorded in the manual recording area 273, thereby securing free space in the manual recording area. Therefore, manual recording with the input operation by the user can surely be performed.

Abstract: An apparatus for recognizing contents of a video made of picture frames includes a splitting unit that splits the picture frames into a plurality of sets of video shots based on cut points indicating a change of screen; a similar-video-shot extracting unit that extracts video shots similar to each of the video shots from among the sets of video shots; a maximum-count-video-shot extracting unit that counts a number of similar video shots for each of the video shots and extracts a maximum count video shot having a maximum count of the similar video shots; and a representative-video-shot determining unit that takes the maximum count video shot as a representative video shot for the video.

Abstract: A data record-reproduce device includes a reception unit for obtaining contents data, a telop extraction unit for extracting telop from video data, a changed portion detection unit for detecting a changed portion of telop; a changed point detection unit for detecting a changed point of a changed portion, a retrieval key generation unit for generating a retrieval key using an image of a changed portion, a data setting unit for setting retrieval data indicating the correspondence between a retrieval key and a changed point, an operation unit used in selecting a retrieval key, a retrieval control unit for retrieving a changed point corresponding to a retrieval key based on retrieval data, and a reproduction control unit for reproducing contents data using a changed point as a starting point.