Abstract: An aspect of the invention provides a commercial detection apparatus for detecting commercials that includes a silent detector configured to detect a silent segment based on the strength of the audio signal output in content, and a determination unit configured to determine a sound segment as a commercial if three or more silent segments are detected essentially within a set time span, and if the sound segment is found between two of the three silent segments.

Abstract: Characteristic amounts are calculated from each of multiple musical piece contents, and then time points when the characteristic amounts exceed a threshold are detected as cut points. Information on the cut point concerning each of the multiple musical piece contents is stored. Based on the stored information on the cut point, a judgment is made as to whether the multiple musical piece contents match each other.

Abstract: Characteristic amounts are calculated from each of multiple musical piece contents, and then time points when the characteristic amounts exceed a threshold are detected as cut points. Information on the cut point concerning each of the multiple musical piece contents is stored. Based on the stored information on the cut point, a judgment is made as to whether the multiple musical piece contents match each other.

Abstract: A video playback apparatus informs a user of scene change. The video playback apparatus includes a feature extraction unit to extract feature scenes having audio/video content and a playback unit to replay feature scenes that have been extracted by the feature extraction unit. The playback unit further includes an identification information output unit that outputs information that identifies a feature scene being replayed.

Abstract: A silent detector detects a silent segment based on output of an audio signal of contents. A determination unit determines a segment, in which the time length of each silent segment is essentially a multiplication of the predetermined time, as a first content segment regarding continuous plural silent segments that are detected in the silent detector, to determine a segment in which the time length of each silent segment is not essentially a multiplication of the predetermined time, as a second content segment, and to extract a silent segment between the first content segment and the second content segment as a changing segment. A playback controller sets a playback position of contents to the position before a predetermined time from the changing segment when a first action instruction is received.

Abstract: An aspect of the invention provides a commercial detection apparatus for detecting commercials that includes a silent detector configured to detect a silent segment based on the strength of the audio signal output in content, and a determination unit configured to determine a sound segment as a commercial if three or more silent segments are detected essentially within a set time span, and if the sound segment is found between two of the three silent segments.

Abstract: A video recording and reproducing apparatus includes: an audio signal decoder configured to acquire an audio signal from an inputted audio-video signal; a recording section configured to record the inputted audio-video signal; a peak time point detecting section configured to detect, as a peak time point, a time point having a power value, which satisfies a predetermined condition, selected from among power values in the acquired audio signal; a digest scene extracting section configured to select a predetermined number of peak time points from among the detected peak time points, and to extract, as a digest scene, each piece of the audio-video signal within a predetermined digest scene cutting time period set to each of the selected peak time points in advance; and a reproduction controlling section configured to reproduce the extracted digest scenes.

Abstract: A WebTV (a WebTV main unit) has: a display controller for displaying a Web page including a plurality of link information in which a linked page is set and which is divided into a plurality of areas on a display unit; an area switcher for inputting an area switching command for switching an active area which is an area in a state where a user can select into the display controller; and a link switcher for inputting a link information switching command for switching active link information which is link information in a state where the user can select in the active area into the display controller based on a link information switching signal.

Abstract: To provide a receiver supporting broadband broadcasting, in a broadband broadcast transmission/reception system which includes a content server and a receiver supporting broadband broadcasting connected with the content server over a network. The content server has a function of transmitting data obtained by interleaving content data of a size requested from the receiver supporting broadband broadcasting, and the receiver supporting broadband broadcasting has a function of restoring the original content by deinterleaving the content data received. The receiver is provided with a content size controller for changing the size of a content requested to the content server.