Patent ID: 11924502
Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
Field: Audio-visual technology (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H  G | IPC G  H

Claim 11:
12. A digital content reproducing method implemented on a digital content reproducing apparatus, comprising the steps of:
receiving a user operation to request video on demand services;
receiving a digital content via a network corresponding to the user operation,
wherein the digital content being associated with attribute information including at least first attribute information that associates an appreciation term with the digital content and second attribute information corresponding to viewing history of the digital content;
reproducing the digital content;
controlling alternative display of either of a linear content operation panel instructing linear reproduction functions of the reproduced digital content or an interactive content operation panel allowing user-instruction of interactive functions to an outside of the digital content reproducing apparatus;
generating image data in which the reproduced digital content and either the linear content operation panel or the interactive content operation panel are superimposed; and
outputting the image data to be displayed on a display,
wherein the linear content operation panel and the interactive content operation panel are distinct panels from each other, which are not generated by disabling of buttons and which are displayed with the same reproduced digital content,
wherein only one of the linear content operation panel and the interactive content operation panel is displayed exclusively at any given time, together with the reproduced digital content,
wherein the reproduced digital content together with either the linear content operation panel or the interactive content operation panel, are displayed concurrently in one screen,
wherein the digital content is reproduced and displayed on the display when the appreciation term in the first attribute information has not lapsed, and
wherein the viewing history in the second attribute information provides an indication corresponding to an amount of the digital content that has been viewed.