Patent ID: 9503774
Filing Date: 2016-11-22
CPC Classification: H04N

Claim Text:
1. An information display device comprising: a display unit; an obtaining unit configured to transmit, to an external server, a program identification information item identifying a video program displayed on a video display device, and obtain a program-related information item related to the video program in response to the transmission of the program identification information item; and a control unit configured to cause the display unit to display the program-related information item obtained by the obtaining unit, wherein when the obtaining unit transmits, to the external server, a first program identification information item identifying a first video program currently displayed on the video display device and is unable to obtain a first program-related information item related to the first video program, the control unit is configured to cause the display unit to display a second program-related information item or a third program-related information item, the second program-related information item being distributed before the first video program is displayed on the video display device, the third program-related information item being related to a second video program displayed on the video display device before the first video program is displayed on the video display device, the display unit includes a first number of display areas for displaying the program-related information item obtained by the obtaining unit, and when the obtaining unit obtains a second number of the first program-related information items following the first video program, the control unit is configured to cause the display unit to display each of the second number of the first program-related information items in a different one of the second number of the display areas, and to display the second program-related information item or the third program-related information item in one or more remaining display areas obtained by subtracting the second number of the display areas from the first number of the display areas, the second number being less than the first number.