Broadcast program and digest view display apparatus and method

Received by a program display apparatus are: programs for each of which a receiving time has been determined; digest views corresponding to the programs; and receiving-time information for the programs. The received digest views and receiving-time information are stored in a memory. A moving picture is displayed on a main screen zone of a monitor screen, with the digest views that have been stored in the memory on a sub screen zone of the monitor screen, as being superposed on the moving picture, according to the user's operation. Each digest view is allowed to be displayed on the sub screen zone when a remaining time of the program corresponding the digest view, obtained based on the receiving-time information, is longer than the reference time. The digest view is, however, inhibited from being displayed on the sub screen zone when the remaining time is equal to or shorter than the reference time.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-260232 filed on Oct. 7, 2008, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a broadcast program display apparatus and a broadcast program display method for displaying a broadcast program and digest views of other broadcast programs as superposed on the displayed broadcast program.

In viewing a television broadcast program (referred to as a program, hereinafter), users generally refer to the TV program guide of a news paper or an electronic program guide (referred to as an EPG, hereinafter).

An EPG is a convenient tool for users because it allows users to: use a key word according to their preference to pick up a particular program that includes the key word; and record a program or make viewing reservation so that users will not miss a chance of viewing their favorite programs.

However, users sometimes cannot know the contents of a program by just referring to the title of the program on the EPG.

In order to solve such a problem, there is a technique to display digest views for programs on an EPG so that users can select a program based on the digest views.

With such a known technique, users can quickly find out their favorite programs. However, the known technique still has problems in that digest views are continuously displayed on an EPG even if the remaining time of a program is very short when he or she refers to its digest view or the program has already been finished, due to no time management being applied to the digest views. Thus, it could happen that a program is almost finished or has already been finished when users select the program by referring to the digest views, which makes them disappointed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A purpose of the present invention is to provide a broadcast program display apparatus and a broadcast program display method for controlling the timing of displaying digest views to display particular digest views only for the programs valuable for users to watch in view of the program remaining time, thus achieving a higher level of user satisfaction.

The present invention provides a program display apparatus comprising: a program receiver to receive programs for each of which a receiving time has been determined; a digest receiver to receive digest views corresponding to the programs and receiving-time information for the programs; a memory to store the received digest views and receiving-time information; a displayer to display a moving picture on a main screen zone of a monitor screen and the digest views that have been stored in the memory on a sub screen zone of the monitor screen, as being superposed on the moving picture; and a display limiter to allow each digest view to be displayed on the sub screen zone when a remaining time of the program corresponding the digest view, obtained based on the receiving-time information, is longer than a reference time, whereas inhibit the digest view from being displayed on the sub screen zone when the remaining time is equal to or shorter than the reference time.

Moreover, the present invention provides a program display method comprising the steps of: receiving programs for each of which a receiving time has been determined; receiving digest views corresponding to the programs and receiving-time information for the programs; storing the received digest views and receiving-time information in a memory; displaying a moving picture on a main screen zone of a monitor screen and the digest views that have been stored in the memory on a sub screen zone of the monitor screen, as being superposed on the moving picture; and allowing each digest view to be displayed on the sub screen zone when a remaining time of the program corresponding the digest view, obtained based on the receiving-time information, is longer than a reference time whereas inhibiting the digest view from being displayed on the sub screen zone when the remaining time is equal to or shorter than the reference time.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be disclosed with reference to the drawings attached herewith.

FIG. 1illustrates an overall configuration of a broadcast program display system100.

The broadcast program display system100includes a broadcast program display apparatus110, a remote controller112, a monitor screen120, a broadcast station130, a communication network140with Internet, ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) lines, dedicated lines, etc., and a program management server150connected to the communication network140.

The broadcast program display apparatus110receives a broadcast wave from the broadcast station130and displays a program selected among the programs carried by the broadcast wave on the monitor screen120. Moreover, the apparatus110acquires an EPG and other information from the broadcast wave transmitted from the broadcast station130or downloads them through the communication network140and displays them on the monitor screen120for users to find out their favorite programs.

Moreover, the broadcast program display apparatus110displays digest views for several viewable programs on the monitor screen120. The digest views may be displayed alone or in addition to the EPG on the screen120. A digest view is a combination of still or moving picture clips with/without audio, that shows the summary of the contents of a program.

Users are allowed to operate the broadcast program display apparatus110directly or through the remote controller112.

In this embodiment of the present invention, the display timing of the digest views is controlled by the broadcast program display apparatus110so that digest views only for the programs valuable for each user to watch in view of the program remaining time can be displayed, thus achieving a higher level of user satisfaction.

The broadcast program display apparatus110will be described in detail with respect to a block diagram shown inFIG. 2.

The broadcast program display apparatus110includes a program receiver210, an antenna212, a descrambler214, a demultiplexer216, a demultiplexer RAM218, a video decoder220, an audio decoder222, a graphics unit224, an audio output unit226, a CPU228, a bus230, a ROM232, a RAM234, a flash memory236, an RTC (Real Time Clock)238, a remote control I/F (interface)240, and a communication I/F (interface)242.

The program receiver210is, for example a tuner, which receives digital broadcast waves from broadcast stations, such as the broadcast station130, through the antenna212. The receiver210selects a channel from the digital broadcast waves, under control by the CPU228, in response to user's operations of the remote controller112.

Moreover, the program receiver210extracts programs from the selected channel. The programs to be selected are those for which at least the receiving time is predetermined. One example of the programs to be selected is a moving picture program. Another example is a program from streaming for which the receiving time or the term for receiving is predetermined, such as viewable by the end of this month.

Such programs may be received via a cable television, wire broadband, etc., in addition to broadcast waves.

The descrambler214descrambles a signal output from the program receiver210if the signal has been scrambled. The signal is scrambled mainly for billing users. The descrambler214then descrambles the signal only for the users who have paid for viewing or recording the program carried by the scrambled signal and returns the signal into a viewable condition.

The demultiplexer216separates data output from the descrambler214into video data, audio data, SI/PSI (Service Information/Program Specific Information), and data carousel information.

The video and audio data are supplied to the video decoder220and the audio decoder222, respectively. The SI/PSI and data carousel information are stored in the demultiplexer RAM218and then stored in the RAM234after processed by the CPU228. The processing at the CPU228includes conversion of the SI/PSI for an EPG display and extraction of BML (Broadcast Markup Language) text from the data carousel information.

The video decoder220decodes compressed video data from the demultiplexer216. The decoded video data is superposed with GUI images at the graphics unit224and then output to the monitor screen120, as video output.

When a user operates the remote controller112for the EPG, its signal is received by the graphics unit224via the remote control I/F240, the CPU228retrieves the EPG prestored in the RAM234, the graphics unit224superposes the EPG on the moving picture and displays it on the monitor screen120.

The EPG contains information for, for example, eight days from today, which includes information on programs, such as, the broadcast station130and other broadcast stations that will broadcast programs, a starting time, a duration, and a title of each program. Receiving-time information to be used in this embodiment according to the present invention includes the starting time and the ending time that is calculated from the starting time and the duration.

The audio decoder222decodes compressed audio data from the demultiplexer216. The audio decoder222and the video decoder220can also retrieve audio and video data, respectively, from the ROM232or RAM234. The decoded audio data is then output to a speaker160via the audio output unit226, as audio output.

The CPU228controls the program receiver210, the descrambler214, the demultiplexer216, the video decoder220, the audio decoder222, the graphics unit224, and the audio output unit226, through the bus230.

The CPU228is also connected to the ROM232, the RAM234, the flash memory236, the RTC238, the remote control I/F240, and the communication I/F242, through the bus230.

The ROM232stores programs to be executed by the CPU228. The RAM234stores variables to be used when the programs run on the CPU228. Moreover, in this embodiment, the RAM234also functions as a memory to store digest views received by the communication I/F242and the receiving-time information on the programs corresponding to the digest views. The flash memory236is a non-volatile memory so that it can keep data even if power is off. Thus, the digest views and the information stored in the RAM234can be sent to the flash memory236for retention. The flash memory236may be replaced with an HDD.

The RTC238, powered by an internal battery, measures time to be referred to by the CPU228and shows the current time. The RTC238has four options: (1) being equipped with a crystal oscillator to measure time by itself; (2) storing extracted time information TOT (Time Offset Table) from SI transmitted as being carried by a broadcast wave, to keep time; (3) keeping time given from the Internet via the communication I/F242; and (4) a combination of any of the above options.

The remote control I/F240receives infrared rays from the remote controller112to receive a command corresponding to a user input to the controller112. The command is then sent to the CPU228for executing a procedure corresponding to the command.

The communication I/F242can be connected to a variety of servers, such as the program management server150, via the communication network140, with the communication protocols, such as, TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)/IP (Internet Protocol), to receive an EPG carrying information on programs. Moreover, in this embodiment, the communication I/F242functions as a digest receiver to receive digest views and receiving-time information. The EPG, digest views and receiving-time information may, however, be supplied by broadcast waves. The communication I/F242may further receive programs themselves.

In addition to control of the several components included in the broadcast program display apparatus110, the CPU228functions as a video displayer250, a display limiter252, an information noticer254, and a program selector256, while co-operating with other components, such as the RAM234.

Illustrated inFIG. 3is an exemplary view to be displayed, by the video displayer250, on the monitor screen120.

The video displayer250displays a moving picture302(for example, a program broadcast at present) and digest views312stored in the RAM234(or the flash memory236) on a main screen zone300and a sub screen zone310(as being superposed on the main screen zone300), respectively, of the monitor screen120.

Each of the four digest views312shown inFIG. 3is a moving picture. Optionally, some of them might be a still picture. Moreover, the digest views312may be replaced with a text image indicating a title of the program, the broadcast station name, etc., with digest audio.

FIG. 4shows a perspective view of the appearance of the remote controller112.

The remote controller112is equipped with number keypads350(so-called “ten key”), a sub-screen-zone display keypad352, a 4-way cross keypad354, and an enter keypad356.

Illustrated inFIG. 5are exemplary views to be displayed on the monitor screen120by user operations of the remote controller112with GUI (Graphical User Interface) functions.

When a user presses the number keypads350, a moving picture, he or she wants to watch, such as the moving picture302, is displayed on the main screen zone300of the monitor screen120, as shown inFIG. 3. This state is referred to as an on-air sub mode.

Moreover, when the user presses the sub-screen-zone display keypad352, the sub screen zone310becomes active and is displayed on the monitor screen120, as being superposed on the main screen zone300. This state is referred to as a digest mode. In the digest mode, although the sub screen zone310is being displayed, it becomes just viewable with no sounds, or the sounds given by the audio output unit226via the speaker160are those for the moving picture302of the main screen zone300.

Views displayed on the sub screen zone310are several digest views, for example, four digest views312a,312b,312cand312d, as shown inFIG. 3. These are programs broadcast from, for example, four broadcast stations, such as the broadcast station130.

The data of the digest views312a,312b,312cand312dhave been stored in the RAM234(or the flash memory236). The video data stored in the RAM234are decoded by the video displayer250with a decoding program and converted into the digest views312a,312b,312cand312d. Each digest view is then displayed on the sub screen zone310for each frame, via the graphics unit224. All or some of the digest-view data decoding may be performed by a decoder that is a dedicated hardware, such as the video decoder220, for this decoding.

The video displayer250may have the following functions: displaying a title, a starting time, an ending time, a broadcasting station on the monitor screen120, etc., as being superposed on each digest view312; displaying a digest view312of a program selected based on a keyword entered by a user via the remote controller112; and displaying digest views312of several programs which will be broadcast by a particular broadcasting station.

Several known techniques can be used for displaying digest views, concerning the type of digest views.

When the user presses the enter keypad356of the remote controller112, upon the sub screen zone310is displayed like shown inFIG. 3, the digest view312abecomes focused, with its border color highlighted like shown in (a) ofFIG. 5. Such border coloring may be replaced with a symbol appearing on the view or coloring the view itself.

The term “focus” is used to define the situation in which a digest view is selected by a user, in the present invention.

While the digest view312ais being focused, the audio output unit226outputs the sounds corresponding to the focused view312athrough the speaker160instead of the sounds corresponding to moving pictures that are being displayed on the main screen zone300. The video and audio mechanism allows a user to know the contents of a focused digest view with a help of the sounds corresponding to the focused view even though the main screen zone300is active as being displayed.

A focused digest view can be shifted to another view, such as the digest view312c, as shown in (b) ofFIG. 5, through a user operation of the 4-way cross keypad354of the remote controller112, when he or she finds out a specific program while watching the digest views312a,312b,312c, and312d.

When a focused digest view is shifted to another one, such as the digest view312c, the sounds output by the audio output unit226is switched in accordance with the digest-view shifting. Then, when a user presses the enter keypad356of the remote controller112again to decide the focused (selected) digest view312cas a program-determination view for use in final determination of a program to be displayed on the main screen zone300, the program corresponding to the view312cis displayed on the zone300, as shown in (c) ofFIG. 5, by the program selector256, instead of the moving picture302of the currently broadcast program.

With this view switching on the main screen zone300, a digest view312eis displayed instead of the digest view312c,also as shown in (c) ofFIG. 5. What view comes as the digest view312edepends on each view switching on the main screen zone300.

In the digest-view shifting, when shifting is continued by the 4-way cross keypad354in a direction, for example, right in the sub screen zone310, other digest views not displayed at first can be displayed as the views being shifted in the left direction.

As one of the functions of the 4-way cross keypad354, the up and down keypads can be used for shifting digest views by day, which are received at the same receiving time. In detail, when the up keypad is pressed once, a view displayed is a digest view of the day subsequent to the day of the currently displayed digest view at the same receiving time. And, when the down keypad is pressed once, a view displayed is a digest view of the day previous to the day of the currently displayed digest view at the same receiving time.

Described next are several functions of the display limiter252of the CPU228, which is one of the features of the present invention.

The display limiter252retrieves receiving-time information for a program from the RAM234and calculates a remaining time of the program based on the receiving time. Then, the display limiter252compares the remaining time with a reference time to determine whether the former is longer than the latter. If it is determined that the remaining time is longer than the reference time, the display limiter252allows a digest view312of the program to be displayed on the monitor screen120. However, if it is determined that the remaining time is equal to or shorter than the reference time, the display limiter252inhibits the digest view312of the program from being displayed or deletes the view312from the sub screen zone310if already displayed.

The reference time may be a fixed time. Or, it might be 5 minutes, 30 minutes, etc., set by a user. Moreover, the reference time may be changed depending on a program duration. The reference time set at, for example, 25% of a program duration, allows no digest views312to be displayed for a 2-hour program when the remaining time of the program is 30 minutes or shorter.

As described above, in displaying digest views312on the sub screen zone310, no digest view312is displayed if the remaining time of the program corresponding to this view312is equal to or shorter than a predetermined time. This digest-view display control mechanism allows digest views312to be displayed only for the programs valuable for users to watch in view of the remaining time and guarantees that the programs for which digest views312are being displayed are viewable at least for a certain time, thus achieving a higher level of user satisfaction.

Moreover, as described with respect toFIG. 5, when any of the digest views312is being focused, instead of the sounds corresponding to the moving picture302of the currently broadcast program, the sounds corresponding to the focused view312is output, through user operations of the remote controller112. However, when the display limiter252deletes the focused digest view312from the sub screen zone310, the limiter252returns the focus to the moving picture302to the main screen zone300, with the sounds returning to those corresponding to the moving picture302. This view switching mechanism achieves seamless view focusing.

Another option is that, when the display limiter252deletes the focused digest view312, the limiter252may shift focus to another digest view312and display the newly focused view312on the main screen zone300, with the sounds corresponding to the newly focused view312from the audio output unit226. The newly focused view under the focus shifting function may be a digest view adjacent to the currently focused digest view, the top digest view, the last digest view, or any of the digest views.

When the display limiter252deletes the focused digest view312, the audio output unit226loses a target for which the unit226outputs sounds. In order to solve this problem, when the focused digest view312is deleted from the sub screen zone310, the display limiter252shifts focus to another digest view312and switches the sounds to the newly focused view312. This sound switching mechanism achieves seamless focus shift while allows users to continuously watch the digest views on the sub screen zone310and listen to the sounds corresponding to these views on the zone310.

Described next in detail is the digest-view deletion timing at the display limiter252.

The display limiter252has several functional options concerning the digest-view deletion timing. One requirement through the functional options is the time comparison in which the display limiter252compares the reference time and the remaining time of the program corresponding to a digest view312to determine whether the remaining time is equal to or shorter than the reference time.

As a first option, the display limiter252may perform the time comparison at the moment of the shift from the on-air sub mode to the digest mode to display the digest view312on the sub screen zone310that is superposed on the main screen zone300, by the video displayer250.

When a user selects a program through the digest views312, it is highly likely that he or she selects a certain program just after that the digest views312are displayed on the sub screen zone310by the video displayer250. Therefore, the time comparison at the moment of the shift from the on-air sub mode to the digest mode requires less processing load while achieving the purpose of the invention.

As a second option, the display limiter252may perform the time comparison at the moment of every completion of reproduction of a digest view312that is a moving picture having a certain duration and repeatedly reproduced and displayed.

Shown inFIG. 6is a timing chart, showing a program and a digest view312repeatedly displayed at a specific timing, for explaining the second option of the display limiter252. Shown in (a) ofFIG. 6is a certain program to be identified by the digest view312. Shown in (b) ofFIG. 6is the digest view312repeatedly displayed.

Illustrated inFIG. 6is that the time comparison is performed at the moment of every completion of repeated reproduction of the digest view312and then the view312is deleted from the sub screen zone310if the remaining time is equal to or shorter than the reference time whenever each repeated reproduction finishes.

The digest-view deletion illustrated inFIG. 6allows users to watch the moving picture of the digest view312until the view312disappears, thus achieving a higher level of user satisfaction.

As a third option, the display limiter252may intermittently calculate a remaining time of a program corresponding to a repeatedly displayed digest view312and inhibit display of the view312on the sub screen zone310whenever it is determined that the calculated remaining time becomes equal to or shorter than the reference time.

Shown inFIG. 7is a timing chart, showing a program and a digest view312repeatedly displayed at a specific timing, for explaining the third option of the display limiter252. Shown in (a) ofFIG. 7is a certain program to be identified by means of the digest view312. Shown in (b) ofFIG. 7is the digest view312repeatedly displayed.

Illustrated inFIG. 7is that the digest view312is deleted from the sub screen zone310immediately when the remaining time is determined as being equal to or shorter than the reference time during the intermittent calculation of the remaining time and comparison.

The digest-view deletion illustrated inFIG. 7achieves real-time deletion of digest views so that users can change programs quickly.

Moreover, as a fourth option, the display limiter252may: intermittently perform the time comparison when a digest view312is a moving picture and while the view312is being repeatedly reproduced and displayed; and allow the digest view312to be displayed until the view312finishes in each reproduction even if the remaining time is equal to or shorter than the reference time.

Shown inFIG. 8is a timing chart, showing a program and the digest view312repeatedly displayed at a specific timing, for explaining the fourth option of the display limiter252. Shown in (a) ofFIG. 8is a certain program to be identified by means of the digest view312. Shown in (b) ofFIG. 8is the digest view312repeatedly displayed.

Illustrated inFIG. 8is that that the current digest view312is decided to be deleted from the sub screen zone310immediately when the remaining time of the program is determined as being equal to or shorter than the reference time during the intermittent calculation of the remaining time; however, when the current digest view312is a moving picture having a certain duration that is shorter than the reference time, the current digest view312is allowed to be displayed as far as the current repetition is performed whereas the succeeding digest view312is inhibited from being displayed.

When the digest view is suddenly disappeared in the third option for digest-view real-time deletion, it could disappoint users who want to watch at least the digest view, or the program corresponding to this view even if the program remaining time is short.

On the contrary, the fourth option illustrated inFIG. 8, a modification to the third option, allows a moving picture of the current digest view321to be displayed until this view321finishes, thus meeting the demands of users who want to watch a program even if the remaining time of the program is equal to or shorter than the reference time.

Described next are several functions of the program selector256that is one of the features of the present invention.

As described with respect toFIG. 5, when one of the digest views312is selected and displayed on the sub screen zone310through user operations of the remote controller112, the program selector256displays the selected digest view312on the main screen zone300of the monitor screen120, instead of the moving pictures of the currently broadcast program.

Moreover, when one of the digest views312is focused through user operations of the remote controller112, the program selector256may display a supplemental digest view on the sub screen zone310instead of the focused digest view312. The supplemental digest view is a prepared view that has different contents from the focused digest view312, with a larger data amount than the focused view312, for example.

The focused digest view312ain (a) ofFIG. 5or the focused digest view312cin (b) ofFIG. 5may, for example, be replaced with the supplemental digest view. The digest view312aor312cappears again when the focus is shifted and the supplemental digest view finishes.

The supplemental digest view is, for example, a longer version of a digest view312, with a longer duration than the digest view312but shorter than the corresponding program. When a digest view312lasts for, for example, 15 seconds, the supplemental digest view may last for 1 minutes, 5 minutes, etc.

The digest view312and its supplemental digest view are both edited with any scenes of the corresponding program. However, both views may or may not be edited as including the same scenes.

The digest view312and its supplemental digest view may be supplied from the same source, such as, the program management server150, or dedicated servers (not shown inFIGS. 1 and 2).

InFIG. 5, the digest views312are displayed before the corresponding supplemental digest views even if both of the digest views and the supplemental digest views are supplied at the same time.

As described above, in detail, the user can watch the digest views even he or she does not focus on a particular digest view. Moreover, users can watch a supplemental digest view carrying a moving picture of a long duration, with easy operations, when he or she focuses on a particular digest view, thus enjoying efficient program selection.

Described next with reference to a flowchart shown inFIG. 9is a method of displaying the digest views by the broadcast program display apparatus110(FIG. 2).

Received first are digest views312of programs, each to be received at a predetermined time, and receiving-time information for the programs to be identified by the digest views312, via the program receiver210or the communication I/F242, in step S400. The digest views312and the receiving-time information are then stored in the RAM234, in step S402.

A moving picture302(for example, a program broadcast at present) is selected by a user and displayed on the monitor screen120, in step S404.

It is determined in step S406whether the user is operating the remote controller112to press the sub-screen-zone display keypad352so that the sub screen zone310becomes active to be displayed as being superposed on the main screen zone300while he or she is watching a moving picture302on the main screen zone300.

When it is determined that the user is operating the remote controller112to activate the sub screen zone310(YES in step S406), the display limiter252determines, as described below, whether to allow each digest views312to be displayed or inhibit them from being displayed when the displayer250displays them on the sub screen zone310(the digest-view display permission determination procedure).

In detail, the display limiter252extracts one of the digest views312, in step S408, and calculates the remaining time of the program corresponding to the extracted digest view, in step S410.

Then, the display limiter252compares the calculated remaining time with the reference time to determine whether the former is equal to or shorter than the latter, in step S412.

When it is determined that the calculated remaining time is equal to or shorter than the reference time (YES in step S412), the display limiter252inhibits the digest view312(extracted in step S408) from being displayed, in step S414.

On the contrary, when it is determined that the calculated remaining time is longer than the reference time (NO in step S412), the display limiter252allows the digest view312(extracted in step S408) to be displayed, in step S416.

Then, it is determined in step S418whether there is another digest view312to be displayed, or more rooms in the sub screen zone310to display another digest view (four rooms being shown inFIG. 3).

When it is determined that there is another digest view312to be displayed, or another room in the sub screen zone310to display another digest view (NO in step S418), the process returns to step S408and repeats steps S408to5418.

When it is determined that every digest view312is being displayed, or there are no rooms to display digest views312any more (YES in step S418), it is determined in step S420whether the user is selecting one of the digest views312displayed on the sub screen zone310, in step S420.

When it is determined that the user is selecting one of the digest views312displayed on the sub screen zone310by depressing the enter keypad356(YES in step S420), the program selector256selects a program corresponding to the user-selected digest view so that this program is displayed on the main screen zone300, instead of the moving picture302, in step S422.

Not only the sequence shown inFIG. 9, steps S400and S402for acquiring the digest views may be executed in a manner of multitasking with step S406and the succeeding steps.

InFIG. 9, the digest-view display permission determination procedure is performed when the user operates the remote controller112to activate the sub screen zone310(YES in step S406). However, the determination procedure may be performed at the moment in which each digest image finishes, at regular intervals, etc.

The digest-view display timing control in the program display method described above achieves display of digest views only for programs valuable for users to watch, in view of the program remaining time, thus achieving a higher level of user satisfaction.

It is further understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing descriptions are preferred embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method and that various changes and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit of and scope thereof.

For example, the steps in the program display method may not be executed sequentially as shown inFIG. 9but may be executed in parallel for some steps or with a sub routine.

As described in detail, the present invention achieves display of digest views only for programs valuable for users to watch, in view of the program remaining time, thus achieving a higher level of user satisfaction.