Abstract: An apparatus for displaying information received from a communication apparatus including a key information producing unit configured to produce key information used to authenticate the communication apparatus; a key information distributing unit configured to distribute the key information; an authentication information receiving unit configured to receive authentication information; an authenticating unit configured to authenticate the communication apparatus by verifying whether or not the authentication information was formed based upon the key information; and a display information receiving unit configured to receive display information from the authenticated communication apparatus, wherein the authenticated communication apparatus has a distribution range during reception of the key information such that the outputted key information can be acquired.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a program guidance information holding section which holds electronic program guidance information, an algorithm holding section which holds separation point forming algorithms corresponding to a plurality of program attributes acquired from the electronic program guidance information, a program attribute determining section which determines one of the program attributes to which a to-be-processed program of the composite signal belongs based on the electronic program guidance information, an algorithm determining section which determines a separation point formation algorithm corresponding to the determined program attribute, and a separation point setting processing section which forms a separation point of the composite signal based on the determined algorithm.

Abstract: It is determined whether or not the total length or ratio of periods in which an audio signal is set in a first mode with respect to the preset length of recorded program video signals is not larger than the preset length or ratio. When the total length or ratio is not larger than the preset length or ratio, the audio mode of the main body portion of the recorded video signal is determined to be the second mode. When it is determined that the audio mode is not the second mode, the audio mode of the main body portion is determined to be the first mode. Then, an adaptive processing section (algorithm) which forms separation information in a desired period of the video signal is set according to the above determination result and the thus formed separation information is stored.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a program information display apparatus includes a signal processing module which acquires program information which announces contents of a scheduled program from a broadcast signal to output the program information for display, and a magnetic disk drive which accumulates the program information acquired by the processing module. The signal processing module analyzes the broadcast signal with respect to a common content characteristic which can identify program information. When it is confirmed as the analysis result that the program information is identified, program information related to at least a program name and broadcasting date and time is detected from the program information. The program attribute is accumulated in the magnetic disk drive in association with the program information.

Abstract: A video recording/reproducing apparatus comprises a receiver which receives a broadcast program, an acquiring unit which acquires program information of the broadcast program, a recording unit which records the broadcast program received by the receiver together with the program information acquired by the acquiring unit, a selector which selects a type of the program, and a searching unit which searches a latest program of the type selected by the selector based on the program information acquired by the acquiring unit and the program information recorded by the recording unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying information received from a communication apparatus including a key information producing unit configured to produce key information used to authenticate the communication apparatus; a key information distributing unit configured to distribute the key information; an authentication information receiving unit configured to receive authentication information; an authenticating unit configured to authenticate the communication apparatus by verifying whether or not the authentication information was formed based upon the key information; and a display information receiving unit configured to receive display information from the authenticated communication apparatus, wherein the authenticated communication apparatus has a distribution range during reception of the key information such that the outputted key information can be acquired.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying information received from a communication apparatus includes: a key information producing unit configured to produce key information for authenticating the communication apparatus; a key information display unit for displaying the key information; an authentication information receiving unit for receiving authentication information; an authenticating unit for authenticating the communication apparatus by verifying whether or not the authentication information was formed based upon the key information; and a display information receiving unit for displaying information from the authenticated communication apparatus.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a video recorder including: a program information acquisition section that acquires program information; a storage that stores a program viewing history and a recording history; a recommended program determination section that determines a recommended program based on the program information, the program viewing history, and the recording history; a program reception section that receives the recommended program; a record/reproduce control section that records the recommended program automatically and reproduces the recorded recommended program; and an output section that automatically starts to output the recommended program at a turn on time when the video recorder is turned on.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a monochrome frame detection method includes a first process and second process. The first process includes: (1) reading a video frame; (2) extracting pixel data for each from pixels included in the video frame; (3) calculating an average value of the pixel data; (4) calculating compared values by comparing each of the pixel data and the average value; and (5) determining whether or not the video frame is the monochrome frame based on the compared values. If the video frame is determined to be the monochrome frame the average value is stored as a reference value. In the second process, the calculation of the average value of the (3) is skipped, and the compared values are calculated by comparing each of the pixel data and the stored reference value.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a program guidance information holding section which holds electronic program guidance information, an algorithm holding section which holds separation point forming algorithms corresponding to a plurality of program attributes acquired from the electronic program guidance information, a program attribute determining section which determines one of the program attributes to which a to-be-processed program of the composite signal belongs based on the electronic program guidance information, an algorithm determining section which determines a separation point formation algorithm corresponding to the determined program attribute, and a separation point setting processing section which forms a separation point of the composite signal based on the determined algorithm.

Abstract: It is determined whether or not the total length or ratio of periods in which an audio signal is set in a first mode with respect to the preset length of recorded program video signals is not larger than the preset length or ratio. When the total length or ratio is not larger than the preset length or ratio, the audio mode of the main body portion of the recorded video signal is determined to be the second mode. When it is determined that the audio mode is not the second mode, the audio mode of the main body portion is determined to be the first mode. Then, an adaptive processing section (algorithm) which forms separation information in a desired period of the video signal is set according to the above determination result and the thus formed separation information is stored.

Abstract: A video recording/reproducing apparatus comprises a receiver which receives a broadcast program, an acquiring unit which acquires program information of the broadcast program, a recording unit which records the broadcast program received by the receiver together with the program information acquired by the acquiring unit, a selector which selects a type of the program, and a searching unit which searches a latest program of the type selected by the selector based on the program information acquired by the acquiring unit and the program information recorded by the recording unit.

Abstract: An information display apparatus has a display unit which displays a list of contents and groups of contents, an input unit which receives a selection instruction of a content or a group name displayed in the list, and a display control unit which, when a group name is selected, makes the display unit display a list of contents corresponding to the group name and stop displaying the group name and stop displaying the list of contents included in a non-selected group.

Abstract: A communication device to be used in an ad hoc network environment for enabling the user to utilize an application easily with a desired partner. After a communicable communication device was discovered, a service information provided by the communication device is acquired to display only the selected communication devices in accordance with the service information. The user selects the communication partner and causes the communication device to execute a predetermined application.

Abstract: A communication device to be used in an ad hoc network environment for enabling the user to utilize an application easily with a desired partner. After a communicable communication device was discovered, a service information provided by the communication device is acquired to display only the selected communication devices in accordance with the service information. The user selects the communication partner and causes the communication device to execute a predetermined application.

Abstract: A multimedia recording and playback apparatus of the present invention is a multi-functional electronic apparatus which can deal with content of plural categories, such as television broadcasting data, video data, music data and photographic data, and can output image data and sound data of each content item from a television apparatus. Further, during playback of any content item, if an instruction is issued, by control of a remote controller, to display a title list of content items available at present, the multimedia recording and playback apparatus display the title list of the content items available at present, in a manner superposed on images of the content item being displayed, while image display of the content item being displayed is maintained.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying information received from a communication apparatus includes: a key information producing unit configured to produce key information for authenticating the communication apparatus; a key information display unit for displaying the key information; an authentication information receiving unit for receiving authentication information; an authenticating unit for authenticating the communication apparatus by verifying whether or not the authentication information was formed based upon the key information; and a display information receiving unit for displaying information from the authenticated communication apparatus.

Abstract: A communication network construction method comprises the steps of grouping the communication devices belonging to a communication network into one or a plurality of communication groups. In a selection step, one or a plurality of representative devices are selected in each communication group formed in the grouping step. In a communication step, each communication device communicates directly with the communication devices belonging to the same group, and communicates with the communication devices belonging to a different group by first transmitting data to the representative device of the same communication group and then causing the representative device to transfer a part or the whole of the data to the representative device of the different communication group.

Abstract: A communication equipment automatically interchanges business card information and displays such information on a display, thus making operation by a user for interchanging business card information unnecessary. The communication equipment includes a business card memory, a business card information display, a business card information reception function, a business card information transmission function, a communication equipment detection function, a network transmission/reception function, a storage device, a display and a mouse. When the communication equipment function detection function finds communicable equipment, the communication equipment displays a list of the communicable equipment. The user then starts communication with the desired counterpart. The business card information is automatically interchanged allowing direct input of the business card information to the equipment.

Abstract: A communication network construction method comprises the steps of grouping the communication devices belonging to a communication network into one or a plurality of communication groups. In a selection step, one or a plurality of representative devices are selected in each communication group formed in the grouping step. In a communication step, each communication device communicates directly with the communication devices belonging to the same group, and communicates with the communication devices belonging to a different group by first transmitting data to the representative device of the same communication group and then causing the representative device to transfer a part or the whole of the data to the representative device of the different communication group.