Abstract: When registering content in a data storage unit (101), a data registration unit (102) transmits, to another content management apparatus, metadata that is assigned to the content. The content management apparatus which has received the metadata returns related metadata that is related to the received metadata. An import determination unit (105) determines whether or not each of the metadata elements included in the returned related metadata is importable. The metadata elements which have been determined to be importable, within the related metadata, are added by a metadata editing unit 106 as a part of the metadata of the content that is to be registered.

Abstract: A network device restricts functions thereof in a special case such as theft, and comprises: an acquisition unit for acquiring one or more identification information pieces corresponding to one or more local devices in a communicable state; a calculation unit for calculating an index value for each local device; a holding unit for holding, for each local device whose identification information piece was acquired in the past, the identification information piece of the local device and the index value thereof; a difference specifying unit for specifying a difference between (i) one or more identification information pieces currently acquired and (ii) the one or more identification information pieces acquired in the past, thereby specifying a local device as the difference; and a judgment unit for judging whether to restrict the access based on the index value of the local device specified as the difference.

Abstract: A terminal device for recording broadcast information including means to select a program to be recorded; first and second filter means for discerning program information relative to the program being recorded; and means to record related audio and video data relative to the selected recorded program and the location of that selected program on the recording medium.

Abstract: The present invention achieves maintenance of service quality and efficient operation of a system by dynamically and optimally relocating contents in each of an archive server, edge servers, and terminal storage devices. To achieve the object, the present invention provides a contents delivery system in which a CDN (contents delivery network) having plural edge servers intervenes between a center device managing an archive server storing contents and user terminals having large-capacity storage devices, wherein the center device includes: a viewing results collection part; a viewing results analysis part; a contents allocation part for relocating contents to each of the archive server, relay servers, and user terminals, based on an analyzed viewing tendency; a portal creation part for automatically creating a portal after the relocation; and a price decision part for automatically deciding contents prices after the relocation.

Abstract: The present invention makes arrangements for preventing data overflow from storage areas of store-type terminals in a data broadcast system distributing data over broadcast. There are provided a storage management part for managing storage areas of receiving machines, a database part for holding contents data and storage management information, which is data for managing the capacities of storage areas of the receiving machines, and a schedule management part for scheduling data distribution, wherein the storage management part uses a change history of storage management information and data contents held in the database part to perform control such as deletion, size decrease, addition, and size increase of the contents data, and the schedule management part manages the capacities of storage areas of the receiving machines by scheduling the distribution of data to the receiving machines.

Abstract: A function managing apparatus allows a user to avoid a fault likely to occur in a user terminal before a new function is installed on the user terminal. A function managing apparatus for communicating with a user terminal is provided. Specifically, the function managing apparatus includes a receiving unit, predicting unit, and alerting unit. The receiving unit receives from the user terminal the new function ID identifying the new function to be installed on the user terminal, and the installed function IDs identifying one or more functions previously installed on the user terminal. The predicting unit specifies the new function and one or more installed functions based on the new function ID and installed function IDs received by the receiving unit, and predicts the result when the new function is installed on the user terminal. The alerting unit notifies the user terminal of the prediction result of the predicting unit.

Abstract: A memory card 13 includes wireless network communication unit for having electronic equipment to access a storage server 11 on a network. The storage server 11 includes at least a non-authentication area 111. Data such as contents is written into a non-authentication area of the memory card 13 or the non-authentication area 111 of the storage server 11. In other words, an area of a storage area to which data can be written is expanded by the non-authentication area 111 of the storage server 11. Thus, the non-authentication area of the memory card 13 increases apparently. Encoding key used for encoding and decoding contents protected by copyrights is written to an authentication area on the memory card 13. Anyone can access content data in the non-authentication area 111 of the storage server 11, but an encoding key required for decoding the content is in the memory card 13.

Abstract: To provide a terminal device capable of independently determining an occurrence of an event, and autonomously processing a service in response to the event. An event detection section (205) detects a predetermined event. A service retrieving section (206) retrieves a service corresponded to the detected event. A service execution section (207) determines an application program related to the retrieved service, and another terminal device which cooperatively executes the application program. Then, the service execution section (207) instructs an application management section (203) and an application execution section (204) of the own terminal device and the other terminal device to obtain and execute the program.

Abstract: A digital multimedia recorder that makes good use of EPG data to have at least one of the following capabilities of: (a) selecting a program to be played from a displayed program guide for recorded programs; (b) including, in the displayed program guide, program information on programs relating to each of the recorded programs thereby to permit the user to program the recorder to record a selected one of the related program; (c) recording a plurality of programs broadcast at the same time; (d) record a multi-channel program whose channel configuration changes in the middle of the program so as to support the capability (a); and (e) playing a recorded program within a limit prescribed in a contract with a provider. The information includes information on related programs, if any (which are related with each program), and information on recommended programs which a broadcasting party recommends to the subscribers.

Abstract: A terminal device for recording broadcast information including means to limit the number of times a recorded program can be played.

Abstract: A digital multimedia recorder that makes good use of EPG data to have at least one of the following capabilities of: (a) selecting a program to be played from a displayed program guide for recorded programs; (b) including, in the displayed program guide, program information on programs relating to each of the recorded programs thereby to permit the user to program the recorder to record a selected one of the related program; (c) recording a plurality of programs broadcast at the same time; (d) record a multi-channel program whose channel configuration changes in the middle of the program so as to support the capability (a); and (e) playing a recorded program within a limit prescribed in a contract with a provider. The information includes information on related programs, if any (which are related with each program), and information on recommended programs which a broadcasting party recommends to the subscribers.

Abstract: The present invention achieves maintenance of service quality and efficient operation of a system by dynamically and optimally relocating contents in each of an archive server, edge servers, and terminal storage devices. To achieve the object, the present invention provides a contents delivery system in which a CDN (contents delivery network) having plural edge servers intervenes between a center device managing an archive server storing contents and user terminals having large-capacity storage devices, wherein the center device includes: a viewing results collection part; a viewing results analysis part; a contents allocation part for relocating contents to each of the archive server, relay servers, and user terminals, based on an analyzed viewing tendency; a portal creation part for automatically creating a portal after the relocation; and a price decision part for automatically deciding contents prices after the relocation.

Abstract: A digital multimedia recorder that makes good use of EPG data to have at least one of the following capabilities of: (a) selecting a program to be played from a displayed program guide for recorded programs; (b) including, in the displayed program guide, program information on programs relating to each of the recorded programs thereby to permit the user to program the recorder to record a selected one of the related program; (c) recording a plurality of programs broadcast at the same time; (d) record a multi-channel program whose channel configuration changes in the middle of the program so as to support the capability (a); and (e) playing a recorded program within a limit prescribed in a contract with a provider. The information includes information on related programs, if any (which are related with each program), and information on recommended programs which a broadcasting party recommends to the subscribers.

Abstract: It is unknown what information terminals and how many information terminals are connected to one contracted information terminal. Accordingly, contents licensed to use by only family members of one household may be used by other persons. In view of such a situation, it is necessary to create secure environments. The present invention manages subterminals registered in all main terminals in a subterminal management part of a host device, and confirms validity of registration and deregistration by contract-time personal authentication information managed in a main terminal contract management part. Thereby, contents can be delivered only to reliable home networks.

Abstract: In a data transmission system, the situation of a receiving terminal is made known or precisely estimated to control delivery data or prepare a data broadcast schedule, thereby preventing troubles in data transmission.

Abstract: In a program information broadcasting system, it is aimed to minimize time for retrieval of program by viewers in operating an electronic program guide or time for waiting when applying for subscription. As a program information broadcasting system, program elements constituting a broadcasting program are divided into a plurality of items and are turned to data at a center, and a master data 21 of a program information to recognize the program is prepared. From the data constituting the master data, minimal necessary items for preparation of a program table are extracted, and a program basic information 22 is prepared. Said master data and said program basic information are transmitted simultaneously with the broadcasting, and said program basic information is received, reproduced and displayed before receiving of the master data at a receiving terminal unit 31 is completed.

Abstract: A control information generating apparatus is provided which is used in broadcast systems designed to transmit audio and video signals and/or teletext signals together with video control information and program information in multiplexed form. The control information generating apparatus transmits EPG (Electronic Program Guide) information (i.e., control information) for transmission of the audio and video signals and includes a control information generating circuit and a control information outputting circuit. The control information generating circuit receives program schedule information on a program from a broadcast database to generate and output control information. The control information outputting circuit receives and output the control information to a multiplexer in which the control information and a data signal from an audio/video data transmitter are multiplexed and transmitted on a carrier wave.

Abstract: The present invention makes arrangements for preventing data overflow from storage areas of store-type terminals in a data broadcast system distributing data over broadcast. There are provided a storage management part for managing storage areas of receiving machines, a database part for holding contents data and storage management information, which is data for managing the capacities of storage areas of the receiving machines, and a schedule management part for scheduling data distribution, wherein the storage management part uses a change history of storage management information and data contents held in the database part to perform control such as deletion, size decrease, addition, and size increase of the contents data, and the schedule management part manages the capacities of storage areas of the receiving machines by scheduling the distribution of data to the receiving machines.

Abstract: A digital broadcasting system capable of causing any of physical channels selected by a broadcaster to be received as one of the channels available to users which is different from the physical channel selected by the broadcaster. For each of programs of each of the channels available to said users, a program information record comprising PSI (program specific information) is stored in a data base. The broadcaster is permitted to include, in the PSI, channel mapping information whose mapping destination is a channel (or a program) to be received instead of the channel for which said program information is intended. The program information records is inserted in broadcast transport streams on schedule and, if necessary, immediately after the broadcaster have included the channel mapping information in the PSI data.

Abstract: In a program information broadcasting system, it is aimed to minimize time for retrieval of program by viewers in operating an electronic program guide or time for waiting when applying for subscription. As a program information broadcasting system, program elements constituting a broadcasting program are divided into a plurality of items and are turned to data at a center, and a master data 21 of a program information to recognize the program is prepared. From the data constituting the master data, minimal necessary items for preparation of a program table are extracted, and a program basic information 22 is prepared. Said master data and said program basic information are transmitted simultaneously with the broadcasting, and said program basic information is received, reproduced and displayed before receiving of the master data at a receiving terminal unit 31 is completed.