Abstract: Disclosed is an information providing system which comprises: an information providing apparatus with elements for receiving a TV program, generating image data and sound data representing a received TV program, and transmitting the image data and sound data; and an information processing apparatus with connecting information set to specify whether or not to establish connection with the information providing apparatus, and a storing element for storing the name of the information providing apparatus. If the connecting information is judged set to establish connection, then the information processing apparatus establishes connection with the information providing apparatus based on the stored name of the latter, so that the image data and sound data are received by the information processing apparatus from the information providing apparatus.

Abstract: An information processing method is disclosed for use with an information processing apparatus for acquiring data and executing signal processing on the data.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus is disclosed which includes: a signal processing executing device for executing signal processing on data that has been acquired; a recording device for temporarily recording the data and information so that either the data or the information may be transmitted and received by the signal processing executing device, the information being necessary for the signal processing executing device to execute the signal processing on the data; and a data controlling device for controlling a destination to which to output the data after acquiring the data and the information and determining whether to execute signal processing. When determining that the signal processing is to be executed, the data controlling device writes the data and the information to the recording device. The signal processing executing device acquires either the data or the information from the recording device in order to execute the signal processing on the data.

Abstract: Disclosed is an information processing apparatus for switching a first session and a second session in executing processing, the apparatus comprising: storage controlling means which, if a first module belonging to a group is activated in the first session, then stores correspondence between the first session and the group; and activation controlling means which, if a second module belonging to the group is activated in the second session, then stops activation of the second module based on the stored correspondence between the first session and the group.

Abstract: Disclosed is an information providing system in which the information providing apparatus first receives a connection request from the first information processing apparatus. Upon receipt of the connection request, a check is made to see whether the information providing apparatus is providing any image data or sound data to the second information processing apparatus. If the information providing apparatus is judged to be providing any image data or sound data to the second information processing apparatus, then information related to a chat program is transmitted to the first and the second information processing apparatus. After transmitting the connection request to the information providing apparatus, the first information processing apparatus receives the information related to the chat program from the information providing apparatus. Upon reception of the information, the first information processing apparatus executes a process based on the received information related to the chat program.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus is disclosed which stores externally captured direct stream digital data into a file for management purposes. The apparatus includes: a file generating section generating the file in such a manner as to hold the direct stream digital data read and written in increments of a data volume higher than one sample of data according to a direct stream digital method, the file being further arranged to have a storage area for accommodating audio data encoded by an encoding method different from the direct stream digital method; and an audio data generating section generating the audio data encoded by the encoding method different from the direct stream digital method in accordance with the direct stream digital data, the audio data generating section further storing the generated audio data into the storage area of the file generated by the file generating section.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus is disclosed which includes: a signal processing executing device for executing signal processing on data that has been acquired; a recording device for temporarily recording the data and information so that either the data or the information may be transmitted and received by the signal processing executing device, the information being necessary for the signal processing executing device to execute the signal processing on the data; and a data controlling device for controlling a destination to which to output the data after acquiring the data and the information and determining whether to execute signal processing. When determining that the signal processing is to be executed, the data controlling device writes the data and the information to the recording device. The signal processing executing device acquires either the data or the information from the recording device in order to execute the signal processing on the data.

Abstract: An information processing method is disclosed for use with an information processing apparatus for acquiring data and executing signal processing on the data.

Abstract: Disclosed is an information processing apparatus for switching a first session and a second session in executing processing, the apparatus comprising: storage controlling means which, if a first module belonging to a group is activated in the first session, then stores correspondence between the first session and the group; and activation controlling means which, if a second module belonging to the group is activated in the second session, then stops activation of the second module based on the stored correspondence between the first session and the group.

Abstract: Disclosed is an information providing system which comprises: an information providing apparatus with elements for receiving a TV program, generating image data and sound data representing a received TV program, and transmitting the image data and sound data; and an information processing apparatus with connecting information set to specify whether or not to establish connection with the information providing apparatus, and a storing element for storing the name of the information providing apparatus. If the connecting information is judged set to establish connection, then the information processing apparatus establishes connection with the information providing apparatus based on the stored name of the latter, so that the image data and sound data are received by the information processing apparatus from the information providing apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is an information providing system in which the information providing apparatus first receives a connection request from the first information processing apparatus. Upon receipt of the connection request, a check is made to see whether the information providing apparatus is providing any image data or sound data to the second information processing apparatus. If the information providing apparatus is judged to be providing any image data or sound data to the second information processing apparatus, then information related to a chat program is transmitted to the first and the second information processing apparatus. After transmitting the connection request to the information providing apparatus, the first information processing apparatus receives the information related to the chat program from the information providing apparatus. Upon reception of the information, the first information processing apparatus executes a process based on the received information related to the chat program.