Abstract: A semiconductor device having favorable display quality is provided. The semiconductor device is provided with a display portion, a line-of-sight sensor portion, a control portion, and an arithmetic portion. The line-of-sight sensor portion has a function of obtaining first information showing a direction of a user's line of sight. The arithmetic portion has a function of determining a first region including a gaze point of the user on the display portion with use of the first information and a function of increasing a definition of an image displayed on the first region. Light emitted from the display portion may be used to obtain the first information showing the direction of the line of sight.

Abstract: A hand region (Rh) of an operator is detected from a captured image, and positions of a palm center (Po) and a wrist center (Wo) are determined, and origin coordinates (Cho) and a direction of an coordinate axis (Chu) of a hand coordinate system are calculated. A shape of the hand in the hand region (Rh) is detected using the hand coordinate system, and a shape feature quantity (D14) of the hand is calculated. Further, a movement feature quantity (D15f) of a finger is calculated based on the shape feature quantity (D14) of the hand. Gesture determination is made based on the calculated feature quantities. Since the gesture determination is made taking into consideration the differences in the angle of the hand placed in the operation region, and the direction in which the hand is moved, misrecognition of the operation can be reduced.

Abstract: There are provided with a video recording apparatus and a scene change extraction method, by which a scene change can be extracted from a video while recording the video. The video recording apparatus 100 includes an encoder 101 for encoding video data PIN, an HDD 105 for storing an encoded stream outputted from the encoder 101, a stream controller 103 for transferring the encoded stream outputted from the encoder 101 to the HDD 105, a scene change extractor 110 for decoding the encoded stream outputted from the encoder 101 and extracting a scene change in the decoded video data, and a recording controller 102 for receiving an encoding-completion notification IEN on a unit-of-encoding basis of the encoded stream from the encoder 101 and outputting a scene change extraction instruction CSC to the scene change extractor 110.

Abstract: A program recommendation apparatus includes a scene attribute extraction unit (24, 32) for extracting attributes of scenes included in audio-video content, a frequency distribution obtaining unit (25, 15) for counting occurrence frequencies of the scene attributes extracted scene by scene to obtain the frequency of each extracted attribute, and a recommended program selection unit that recommends audio-video content to be recorded or played back, based on a frequency distribution obtained by the frequency distribution obtaining unit (25,15). The program recommendation apparatus can recommend a program to be played back, from among recorded programs, according to users' preferences and interests, even if the recorded programs lack pre-provided program information or attribute information.

Abstract: A reproduction device (100) includes: a resume information generation unit (121) which generates first resume information (R1) indicating a reproduction stop operation position and second resume information (R2) indicating a reproduction position at one or more of the following moments: upon switching of the reproduction operation type, upon switching of the reproduction information title and/or the chapter, and at regularly spaced reproduction time intervals; a resume information acquisition unit (123) which acquires the first resume information (R1); and a resume information automatic acquisition means (124) which acquires the second resume information (R2). Upon resume reproduction, the reproduction stop operation position indicated by the first resume information (R1) or the reproduction position indicated by the second resume information (R2) is selected, so that the reproduction is resumed at the selected position.

Abstract: During video audio recording, key frames are temporarily stored from the video audio stream to be recorded, and metadata is later generated from the temporarily stored key frames. Even if a CPU or system configuration of a relatively low performance is used, metadata generation can be carried out in parallel with the video recording operation.

Abstract: There are provided steps of extracting parts of two image data as areas for analysis (S702, S704) and an image difference detection step (S707) of detecting an image difference between the two images, based on a difference in image characteristic values of the regions for analysis; the regions for analysis in the two image data have identical size. If no image difference is detected, the region extraction steps may expand the regions for analysis (S707) by adding part or all of the image data that was not previously included in the regions for analysis (S704). Scene changes can be done rapidly in images and video.

Abstract: A video/audio playback apparatus that can continue playback even if the external storage means are disconnected during playback, includes a virtual file system section 24 for merging the video/audio information and playback control information of the optical disc 12 with the video/audio information and playback control information of the local storage 7 to configure a virtual file system; a pseudo file system generator 2a for generating a pseudo file system 4a; a RAM 4 for storing the generated pseudo file system 4a; a disconnection detector 2b for detecting disconnection of the local storage 7 from the connecting section 15; and a playback manager 21 for causing the virtual file system section 24 to merge the video/audio information and the playback control information of the optical disc 12 with the information of the pseudo file system 4a immediately after the disconnection is detected, thereby newly configuring the virtual file system.

Abstract: A file transfer method and a file transfer system are provided for making it possible to minimize aggregate waiting time of the whole users for data transfer using a multicast protocol. In the file transfer method of transferring a plurality of program files from a recorder storing a plurality of program files via a network to a plurality of mobile terminals using a multicast protocol, the recorder determines order of transfers of the plurality of program files for the purpose of transferring the plurality of program files in order of digital data files, which is the ascending order of file size of the plurality of program files (step S102), the recorder transfers the plurality of program files on the basis of the order of transfers (steps S104-S109), and the plurality of mobile terminals selectively receives the plurality of program files (steps S204-S207), thereby reducing aggregate waiting time that is a sum total of transfer time of the whole users.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for programming the recording of broadcast programs, for programming recording by setting the recording start time and the recording end time of a given program in the broadcast program information is provided, wherein the apparatus and method for programming the recording of broadcast programs, delays the recording end time of programmed broadcast program, when a broadcast program is present in which an extension keyword is detected by searching electronic program guide information acquired regarding broadcast programs to be programmed, and electronic program guide information acquired regarding programs scheduled to be broadcast on the same channel and the same date as and prior to the programmed broadcast program, for predetermined extension keywords indicating program extension or delay.

Abstract: A reproduction device (100) includes: a resume information generation unit (121) which generates first resume information (R1) indicating a reproduction stop operation position and second resume information (R2) indicating a reproduction position at one or more of the following moments: upon switching of the reproduction operation type, upon switching of the reproduction information title and/or the chapter, and at regularly spaced reproduction time intervals; a resume information acquisition unit (123) which acquires the first resume information (R1); and a resume information automatic acquisition means (124) which acquires the second resume information (R2). Upon resume reproduction, the reproduction stop operation position indicated by the first resume information (R1) or the reproduction position indicated by the second resume information (R2) is selected, so that the reproduction is resumed at the selected position.

Abstract: During video audio recording, key frames are temporarily stored from the video audio stream to be recorded, and metadata is later generated from the temporarily stored key frames. Even if a CPU or system configuration of a relatively low performance is used, metadata generation can be carried out in parallel with the video recording operation.

Abstract: There are provided steps of extracting parts of two image data as areas for analysis (S702, S704) and an image difference detection step (S707) of detecting an image difference between the two images, based on a difference in image characteristic values of the regions for analysis; the regions for analysis in the two image data have identical size. If no image difference is detected, the region extraction steps may expand the regions for analysis (S707) by adding part or all of the image data that was not previously included in the regions for analysis (S704). Scene changes can be done rapidly in images and video.

Abstract: A program recommendation apparatus includes a scene attribute extraction unit (24, 32) for extracting attributes of scenes included in audio-video content, a frequency distribution obtaining unit (25, 15) for counting occurrence frequencies of the scene attributes extracted scene by scene to obtain the frequency of each extracted attribute, and a recommended program selection unit that recommends audio-video content to be recorded or played back, based on a frequency distribution obtained by the frequency distribution obtaining unit (25,15). The program recommendation apparatus can recommend a program to be played back, from among recorded programs, according to users' preferences and interests, even if the recorded programs lack pre-provided program information or attribute information.

Abstract: A file transfer method and a file transfer system are provided for making it possible to minimize aggregate waiting time of the whole users for data transfer using a multicast protocol. In the file transfer method of transferring a plurality of program files from a recorder storing a plurality of program files via a network to a plurality of mobile terminals using a multicast protocol, the recorder determines order of transfers of the plurality of program files for the purpose of transferring the plurality of program files in order of digital data files, which is the ascending order of file size of the plurality of program files (step S102), the recorder transfers the plurality of program files on the basis of the order of transfers (steps S104-S109), and the plurality of mobile terminals selectively receives the plurality of program files (steps S204-S207), thereby reducing aggregate waiting time that is a sum total of transfer time of the whole users.

Abstract: A video/audio playback apparatus that can continue playback even if the external storage means are disconnected during playback, includes a virtual file system section 24 for merging the video/audio information and playback control information of the optical disc 12 with the video/audio information and playback control information of the local storage 7 to configure a virtual file system; a pseudo file system generator 2a for generating a pseudo file system 4a; a RAM 4 for storing the generated pseudo file system 4a; a disconnection detector 2b for detecting disconnection of the local storage 7 from the connecting section 15; and a playback manager 21 for causing the virtual file system section 24 to merge the video/audio information and the playback control information of the optical disc 12 with the information of the pseudo file system 4a immediately after the disconnection is detected, thereby newly configuring the virtual file system.

Abstract: I-frames are extracted from a normal play stream in an extract section (12), coding parameters and control parameters, such as VBV delay, related to a decoder buffer are modified for trick play in an I-frame picture data conversion processor (15), repeat pictures that display the same image content as the I-frames are generated and added following the I-frames in a repeat picture adder (16), and the transfer rate is controlled in a picture data size controller (17). This solves the problem that when trick play is executed between a server and a terminal on a network, if only I-frames are used the necessary network bandwidth may increase, a buffer may fail in the decoder that reproduces the trick play stream, and the reproduced video image may be disrupted.

Abstract: There are provided with a video recording apparatus and a scene change extraction method, by which a scene change can be extracted from a video while recording the video. The video recording apparatus 100 includes an encoder 101 for encoding video data PIN, an HDD 105 for storing an encoded stream outputted from the encoder 101, a stream controller 103 for transferring the encoded stream outputted from the encoder 101 to the HDD 105, a scene change extractor 110 for decoding the encoded stream outputted from the encoder 101 and extracting a scene change in the decoded video data, and a recording controller 102 for receiving an encoding-completion notification IEN on a unit-of-encoding basis of the encoded stream from the encoder 101 and outputting a scene change extraction instruction CSC to the scene change extractor 110.

Abstract: A recommended program extracting apparatus that finds a number of a program(s) for each component (such as DRAMA or VARIETY) of the genre, the program(s) being included in the record history information (S103 and S104), determines a number of an assigned program(s) regarding a recommended program(s) for each component of the genre in accordance with the number of the program(s) for each component of the genre (S108), and extracts the recommended program(s) from programs included in the scheduled broadcast program information in such a way that the number of the recommended program(s) is within a range of the number of the assigned program(s) for each component of the genre (S109 to S114).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for programming the recording of broadcast programs, for programming recording by setting the recording start time and the recording end time of a given program in the broadcast program information is provided, wherein the apparatus and method for programming the recording of broadcast programs, delays the recording end time of programmed broadcast program, when a broadcast program is present in which an extension keyword is detected by searching electronic program guide information acquired regarding broadcast programs to be programmed, and electronic program guide information acquired regarding programs scheduled to be broadcast on the same channel and the same date as and prior to the programmed broadcast program, for predetermined extension keywords indicating program extension or delay.