Information processing apparatus and method, recording medium, and program

Information processing methods to make it possible to reserve recording of a program without imposing a large burden on a user. A server transmits program attribute information to a video recording and reproducing apparatus via a network. The program attribute information includes program attribute names and program attribute retrieval conditions. The video recording and reproducing apparatus causes a display apparatus to display a list of the program attribute names. The user selects from the list a program attribute name to which a program that the user wishes to reserve for recording seems to be most closely related. The video recording and reproducing apparatus compares the retrieval conditions corresponding to the selected program attribute name and EPG (electronic program guide) information and, when the retrieval conditions are satisfied, records a program represented by the EPG in a recording reservation list. The methods can be applied to a hard disk video recorder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, a recording medium, and a program, and in particular, to an information processing apparatus and method, a recording medium, and a program that allows a user to reserve a program easily.

2. Background Art

PCT Application WO00/02386 discloses a technique for recording a televised program and classifying the recorded program based on a performer of the program or a keyword.

In addition, Japanese Applications JP-A-7-12193 or JP-A-2000-295554 discloses a technique in which a user designates information such as a genre, a performer, a time frame of a program, and in which the user reserves to record, in detail and reserves to record the program on the basis of the designated conditions.

However, the invention disclosed in PCT Application WO00/02386 simply classifies a recorded program and does not allow a user to reserve to record a program easily.

On the other hand, the invention disclosed in Japanese Applications JP-A-7-12193 and JP-A-2000-295554 makes it possible to automatically reserve to record a program.

However, in such an invention, a user has to designate parameters such as a genre, a performer, and a time frame which imposes a large burden on the user. Thus, the user cannot easily and promptly reserve to record a program.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention addresses the above situation and allows a user to reserve to record a program easily and surely without imposing an excessive burden on the user.

A first information processing apparatus of the present invention comprises: presenting means for presenting a plurality of program attribute names comprising program attribute information concerning attributes of a program; accepting means for accepting a selection of the program attribute information by a user based on the presented program attribute names; storing means for storing the accepted selection of program attribute information; first acquiring means for acquiring broadcast program information concerning a program to be broadcast; second acquiring means for acquiring retrieval conditions for retrieving a program comprising the stored program attribute information; comparing means for comparing the acquired broadcast program information and the acquired retrieval conditions; and reserving means for reserving recording of a program that corresponds to the acquired broadcast program information, when the acquired broadcast program information satisfies the acquired retrieval conditions.

The program attribute names can include at least one of foreign film, soap opera, rebroadcast drama, baseball, soccer, midnight vaudeville, melodramatic Japanese popular song, classical music, news, cooking, hot spring, or go/shogi.

The retrieval conditions can include at least one of a genre of a program, a day of week on which the program is broadcast, a time frame in which the program is broadcast, a length of the program, a keyword included in a title of the program or in detailed information introducing contents of the program, or an escape keyword that is excluded from the title of the program or from the detailed information introducing contents of the program.

The first information processing apparatus further comprises: receiving means for receiving the program attribute information including the program attribute names and the retrieval conditions from another information processing apparatus via a network, wherein the presenting means presents the program attribute names included in the program attribute information received by the receiving means.

A first information processing method of the present invention comprises: presenting a plurality of program attribute names comprising program attribute information concerning attributes of a program; accepting a selection of the program attribute information by a user based on the presented program attribute names; storing the accepted selection of program attribute information; acquiring broadcast program information concerning a program to be broadcast; acquiring retrieval conditions for retrieving a program comprising the stored program attribute information; comparing the acquired broadcast program information and the acquired retrieval conditions; and reserving recording of a program that corresponds to the acquired broadcast program information when the acquired broadcast program information satisfies the acquired retrieval conditions.

A first recording medium of the present invention recorded with a computer readable program for making a computer execute a method of processing information, the method comprising: presenting a plurality of program attribute names comprising program attribute information concerning attributes of a program; accepting a selection of the program attribute information by a user based on the presented program attribute names; storing the accepted selection of program attribute information; acquiring broadcast program information concerning a program to be broadcast; acquiring retrieval conditions for retrieving a program comprising the stored program attribute information; comparing the acquired broadcast program information and the acquired retrieval conditions; and reserving recording of a program that corresponds to the acquired broadcast program information when the acquired broadcast program information satisfies the acquired retrieval conditions.

A first system of the present invention for processing information, the system comprising: a processor operable to execute instructions; and instructions for causing the processor to execute an information processing method, the method comprising: presenting a plurality of program attribute names comprising program attribute information concerning attributes of a program; accepting a selection of the program attribute information by a user based on the presented program attribute names; storing the accepted selection of program attribute information; acquiring broadcast program information concerning a program to be broadcast; acquiring retrieval conditions for retrieving a program comprising the stored program attribute information; comparing the acquired broadcast program information and the acquired retrieval conditions; and reserving recording of a program that corresponds to the acquired broadcast program information when the acquired broadcast program information satisfies the acquired retrieval conditions.

A second information processing apparatus of the present invention, comprising: accepting means for accepting an access request from another information processing apparatus via a network; receiving means for receiving from the another information processing apparatus a transfer request for transfer of program attribute information concerning attributes of a program to be reserved for recording, the program attribute information being used when a user of the another information processing apparatus selects the program to be reserved for recording; and transmitting means for transmitting the program attribute information to the another information processing apparatus via the network, the program attribute information including program attribute names and retrieval conditions for retrieving a program.

A second information processing method of the present invention, comprising: accepting an access request from another information processing apparatus via a network; receiving from the another information processing apparatus a transfer request for transfer of program attribute information concerning attributes of a program to be reserved for recording, the program attribute information being used when a user of the another information processing apparatus selects the program to be reserved for recording; and transmitting the program attribute information to the another information processing apparatus via the network, the program attribute information including program attribute names and retrieval conditions for retrieving a program.

A second recording medium of the present invention recorded with a computer readable program for making a computer execute a method of processing information, the method comprising: accepting an access request from another information processing apparatus via a network; receiving from the another information processing apparatus a transfer request for transfer of program attribute information concerning attributes of a program to be reserved for recording, the program attribute information being used when a user of the another information processing apparatus selects the program to be reserved for recording; and transmitting the program attribute information to the another information processing apparatus via the network, the program attribute information including program attribute names and retrieval conditions for retrieving a program.

A second system of the present invention for processing information, the system comprising: a processor operable to execute instructions; and instructions for causing the processor to execute an information processing method, the method including: accepting an access request from another information processing apparatus via a network; receiving from the another information processing apparatus a transfer request for transfer of program attribute information concerning attributes of a program to be reserved for recording, the program attribute information being used when a user of the another information processing apparatus selects the program to be reserved for recording; and transmitting the program attribute information to the another information processing apparatus via the network, the program attribute information including program attribute names and retrieval conditions for retrieving a program.

An information processing apparatus of the present invention, comprising: presenting mechanism operable to present a plurality of program attribute names comprising program attribute information concerning attributes of a program; accepting mechanism operable to accept a selection of the program attribute information by a user based on the presented program attribute names; storing mechanism operable to store the accepted selection of program attribute information; first acquiring mechanism operable to acquire broadcast program information concerning a program to be broadcast; second acquiring mechanism operable to acquire retrieval conditions for retrieving a program comprising the stored program attribute information; comparing mechanism operable to compare the acquired broadcast program information and the acquired retrieval conditions; and reserving mechanism operable to reserve recording of a program that corresponds to the acquired broadcast program information, when the acquired broadcast program information satisfies the acquired retrieval conditions.

An information processing apparatus of the present invention, comprising: accepting mechanism operable to accept an access request from another information processing apparatus via a network; receiving mechanism operable to receive from the another information processing apparatus a transfer request for transfer of program attribute information concerning attributes of a program to be reserved for recording, the program attribute information being used when a user of the another information processing apparatus selects the program to be reserved for recording; and transmitting mechanism operable to transmit the program attribute information to the another information processing apparatus via the network, the program attribute information including program attribute names and retrieval conditions for retrieving a program.

In a first invention, plural program attribute names are presented, and selection of the presented program attribute names by a user is accepted. Retrieval conditions corresponding to program attribute information for which the selection is accepted and broadcast program information are compared, and recording of a program corresponding to the broadcast program information is reserved on the basis of a result of the comparison.

In a second invention, program attribute information including program attribute names and retrieval conditions is transmitted to another information processing apparatus via a network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1shows an example of a structure of a network system in accordance with an embodiment of the present application. In this example, servers2-1and2-2and user apparatus3-1and3-2are connected to a network1such as the Internet, a WAN (Wide Area Network), a LAN (Local Area Network), or the like. In the example inFIG. 1, the two servers2-1and2-2(these servers will be hereinafter referred to simply as server when it is not necessary to distinguish the servers individually) and the two user apparatus3-1and3-2(these user apparatus will be hereinafter referred to simply as user apparatus3when it is not necessary to distinguish the user apparatus individually) are connected to the network1. However, the numbers of the servers and user apparatus are arbitrary and may be three or more, respectively.

The servers2-1and2-2provide program attribute information (program attribute information431inFIG. 9to be described later) and broadcast program information (EPG (Electric Program Guide) information) to the user apparatus3via the network1, respectively.

The user apparatus3is arranged in a user's home, and the user apparatus includes a video recording and reproducing apparatus11, a display apparatus12, and an antenna13.

The video recording and reproducing apparatus11can be, for example, a hard disk video recorder. The video recording and reproducing apparatus11receives a broadcast wave via the antenna13and causes an auxiliary storage40(seeFIG. 2to be described later), which is incorporated in the video recording and reproducing apparatus11, to store a signal obtained by demodulating the broadcast wave. The video recording and reproducing apparatus11also provides the signal to the display apparatus12and causes the display apparatus12to display a video. The display apparatus12can be, for example, a television receiver or a monitor.

Although not shown in the figure, the user apparatus3-2is similar to the user apparatus3-1.

FIG. 2shows an embodiment of the video recording and reproducing apparatus11. A tuner31demodulates a broadcast signal corresponding to a broadcast wave of a ground wave television broadcast received by the antenna13and outputs a video signal component and a sound signal component to an encoder32. EPG information is included in a vertical blanking period of a ground wave television broadcast received by the antenna13, and the tuner31outputs the EPG information to an EPG acquisition module34.

The encoder32encodes a video signal and a sound signal input from the tuner31in, for example, a MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) system, supplies the video signal and the sound signal to the auxiliary storage40via a bus52, and causes the auxiliary storage40to store the video signal and the sound signal. The auxiliary storage40can be a hard disk, a magnetic tape, a removable disk, a flash memory, or the like.

The video signal and the sound signal stored in the auxiliary storage40are output to a decoder33via the bus52, decoded in the MPEG system and, then, supplied to the display apparatus12. When the received video signal and sound signal are not stored in the auxiliary storage40, the encoder32and the decoder33output a signal output from the tuner31to the display apparatus12directly.

A main storage39comprising, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory)38are connected to the bus52. Data and parameters, which are required when a CPU (Central Processing Unit)35executes various kinds of processing, are stored in the main storage39as required. A program to be executed by the CPU35is stored in the ROM38.

A network interface37, which executes interface processing with the network1, is further connected to the bus52.

The CPU35is connected to a bus51together with the encoder32, the decoder33, and the EPG acquisition module34. In addition, a main storage36such as a RAM or the like is connected to the bus51.

A functional structure comprising software of the video recording and reproducing apparatus11is shown inFIG. 3. A live broadcast reproducing unit61executes processing for a signal being received by the tuner31or a signal input from an external input terminal (not shown). A recording title reproducing unit62executes reproduction processing for a program (title) stored in the auxiliary storage40. A recording control unit63executes signal recording processing for the auxiliary storage40. An application managing unit64executes monitoring processing for startup, end, and operation states of a viewing control application68, a broadcast program information display application69, and a recording reservation application70.

The viewing control application68controls the live broadcast reproducing unit61, the recording title reproducing unit62, the recording title managing unit65, or the broadcast program information managing unit66based on an instruction from a user to reproduce a signal being received or input or performs reproduction of a program stored in the auxiliary storage40. In addition, when the viewing control application68controls the live broadcast reproducing unit61to cause the tuner31to receive a broadcast program of a channel designated by the user, the viewing control application68refers to broadcast program information stored in the broadcast program information managing unit66according to a particular application. Moreover, when the viewing control application68controls the recording title reproducing unit62to reproduce a program stored in the auxiliary storage40, the viewing control application68refers to management information of a program stored in the recording title managing unit65according to a particular application.

The broadcast program information display application69refers to the broadcast program information (EPG information) stored in the broadcast program information managing unit66and causes the display apparatus12to display the broadcast program information. The recording reservation application70executes recording reservation processing based on an instruction from the user. At this point, the recording reservation application70refers to the broadcast program information stored in the broadcast program information managing unit66as required. In addition, when the recording reservation application70performs recording reservation based on the operation from the user, the recording reservation application70controls the recording reservation managing unit67to execute recording reservation processing.

The recording title managing unit65manages information on a program (title) stored in the auxiliary storage40. The broadcast program information managing unit66manages broadcast program information acquired by the EPG acquisition module34. The recording reservation managing unit67controls the recording control unit63based on a request from the recording reservation application70or an automatic recording reservation control unit71to execute recording reservation processing.

The automatic recording reservation control unit71executes recording reservation processing based on program attribute information acquired from the server2-1. A network communication unit72communicates with the servers2-1and2-2via the network1and acquires program attribute information and broadcast program information.

FIG. 4shows an embodiment of the server2-1. InFIG. 4, a CPU (Central Processing Unit)221executes various kinds of processing in accordance with a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory)222or a program loaded to a RAM (Random Access Memory)223from a storage unit228. Data and the like, which are necessary when the CPU221executes various kinds of processing, are also stored in the RAM223according to a particular application.

The CPU221, the ROM222, the RAM223are connected to one another via a bus224. An input/output interface225is also connected to the bus224.

An input unit226can include a keyboard, a mouse, or the like, a display such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), or the like, an output unit227can include a speaker or the like, a storage unit228can include a hard disk or the like, and a communication unit229can include a modem or the like are connected to the input/output interface225. Program attribute information to be provided to the user apparatus3is stored in the storage unit228. The communication unit229performs communication processing via the network1such as the Internet.

A drive230is also connected to the input/output interface225as required, and a removable medium231such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory is mounted on the input/output interface225according to a particular application. A computer program read out from the removable disk is installed in the storage unit228as required.

Although not shown in the figure, the server2-2has basically the same structure as the server2-1shown inFIG. 4.

Next, with reference toFIG. 5, a description will be provided of processing in which the user apparatus3acquires program attribute information from the server2-1.

In step S1, the automatic recording reservation control unit71controls the network communication unit72to access the server2-1via the network1. In step S2, the automatic recording reservation control unit71controls the network communication unit72to request the server2-1to transfer program attribute information.

As described later with reference toFIG. 6, the server2-1having received this request transmits the program attribute information via the network1(step S23inFIG. 6). Thus, in step S3, the automatic recording reservation control unit71receives the program attribute information, which is transmitted from the server2-1via the network1, via the network communication unit72. In step S4, the automatic recording reservation control unit71causes the auxiliary storage40(or the main storage39) to store the program attribute information received from the server2-1.

In association with the program attribute information acquisition processing of the video recording and reproducing apparatus11as described above, the server2-1executes processing indicated in the flowchart inFIG. 6.

In step S21, the CPU221accepts an access request from the video recording and reproducing apparatus11via the network1. In step S22, the CPU221accepts the request for transfer of program attribute information in which the video recording and reproducing apparatus11transmitted in step S2. In step S23, the CPU221reads out the program attribute information stored in the storage unit228and controls the communication unit229to transmit the program attribute information to the video recording and reproducing apparatus11via the network1.

As described above, the video recording and reproducing apparatus11of the user apparatus3acquires the program attribute information from the server2-1in advance and causes the auxiliary storage40to store the program attribute information.

When the auxiliary storage40includes, for example, a removable disk or a flash memory, the user is provided with the medium, in which program attribute information is recorded, from an administrator of the server2-1, whereby it is possible to cause the auxiliary storage40to hold the information.

Therefore, it is possible to rewrite (update) program attribute information to new information as required. As a result, for example, it is possible to provide each user with program attribute information matching a period when a program is broadcast such as a feature program on an election or a feature program on the Olympics. By providing such program attribute information, the administrator of the server2-1can apply a charging processing to the user who is provided with the information and make a profit.

As described above, it is possible for the user, who has acquired the program attribute information, to easily reserve a desired program for recording. In performing the recording reservation, the user performs an operation designating the program attribute information. Next, processing in this case will be explained with reference to a flowchart inFIG. 7. This processing is started when the user instructs start of program attribute information designation processing.

In step S41, the automatic recording reservation control unit71reads out program attribute names of the program attribute information, which is stored in the auxiliary storage40by processing in step S4, and causes the display apparatus to display a list of the program attribute names. Consequently, for example, an image shown inFIG. 8is displayed on the display apparatus12.

In an example inFIG. 8, a message “please select program attribute information that you wish to record automatically” and program attribute names “foreign film”, “soap opera”, “rebroadcast drama”, “baseball”, “soccer”, “midnight vaudeville”, “melodramatic Japanese popular song”, “classical music”, “news”, “cooking”, “hot spring”, and “go/shogi” are displayed. It should be noted that program attribute names are not limited to these examples. The user designates a program attribute name, to which a program that the user wishes to reserve to record seems to correspond, out of the program attribute names displayed in this way. For example, the user designates the program attribute name “foreign film” when the user wishes to reserve to record a program of a foreign film. The user designates the program attribute name “soccer” when the user wishes to reserve to record a program of soccer. The user designates the program attribute name “news” when the user wishes to reserve to record a program of news.

In the example of display inFIG. 8, program attribute names designated by the user are displayed as shaded program attribute names301, and program attribute names not designated by the user are displayed as unshaded program attribute names302.

FIG. 9shows an example of a structure of program attribute information. As shown inFIG. 9, program attribute information431includes a program attribute name432and program attribute retrieval conditions433. In an example inFIG. 9, the program attribute name432is set as “soccer”. Further, the program attribute retrieval conditions433include respective parameters of a keyword441, an escape keyword442, a genre443, a day of week444, a time frame445, a program length446, and a broadcasting station447. It should be noted that program attribute retrieval conditions are not limited to these examples.

The keyword441is a keyword for, when the keyword is included in a title of a program included in EPG (broadcast program information) or detailed information introducing contents of the program, extracting the program as a program that is reserved to be recorded. In this example inFIG. 9, “J1” and “J2” are set as keywords. Therefore, in the case of this example, when characters of “J1” or “J2” are included in a title or detailed information of a program, the program is retrieved as a recording reservation program.

The escape keyword442is a keyword for, when the keyword is included in a title or detailed information of a program of EPG, excluding the program from a program that is reserved to be recorded. In the case of this example, “baseball” is set as an escape keyword. In the case of this example, since the program attribute name432is “soccer”, when the word “baseball” is included in a title or detailed information of a program, the program is excluded from recording reservation objects.

The genre443designates a genre of a program that is reserved to be recorded. In the case of this example, programs of genres with IDs “64” and “0” are set as reservation objects. The ID of “64” is a genre of, for example, soccer, and the genre of “0” is a genre of sports.

The day of week444designates a day of week on which a program set as a recording reservation object is broadcast. In the case of this example, a day of week with an ID “0” and a day of week with an ID “1” are designated. The day of week with the ID “0” is, for example, Sunday, and the day of week with the ID “1” is, for example, Monday.

The time frame445defines a time frame of a program set as a recording reservation object. In the case of this example, programs, which are broadcast between 17:00 and 23:00, are programs set as reservation objects.

The program length446defines a length of a program set as a reservation object. In the case of this example, programs with lengths of 15 minutes or more and 120 minutes or less are set as reservation objects.

The broadcasting station447designates a broadcasting station that broadcasts a program set as a reservation object. In the case of this example, a broadcasting station with an ID “2128” and a broadcasting station with an ID “2138” are designated.

The keyword441, the escape keyword442, the genre443, the day of week444, the time frame445, the program length446, and the broadcasting station447comprising the program attribute retrieval conditions443described above are not designated by each user but are set by the server2-1in advance in association with the program attribute name432of “soccer”. In other words, when a user designates the program attribute name “soccer” inFIG. 8, this means that the user designates the retrieval conditions inFIG. 9associated with the program attribute name. Since retrieval conditions are not designated by the user but are designated by the server2-1, the user only has to performonly operation for selecting the program attribute name “soccer”. Therefore, it is possible to set parameters for recording reservation in an easy, sure, and prompt manner.

Referring back toFIG. 7, in step S42, the automatic recording reservation control unit71determines whether one of the program attribute names, which are displayed as shown inFIG. 8by processing in step S41, is designated by the user. When one program attribute name is designated, the processing proceeds to step S43and the automatic recording reservation control unit71determines whether an effective flag is set in association with the selected program attribute name. The effective flag indicates that program attribute information is program attribute information for which the user designated recording reservation.

If it is determined in step S43that an effective flag is not set, then processing proceeds to step S44and the automatic recording reservation control unit71sets an effective flag in program attribute information of the program attribute name for which designation is accepted by processing in step S42. More specifically, in the state shown inFIG. 8, for example, when the program attribute name “baseball” is designated by the user, an effective flag is set in program attribute information corresponding to this program attribute name “baseball”, and the program attribute name “baseball” is displayed as the shaded program attribute name301.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S43that an effective flag is already set, the processing proceeds to step S45and the automatic recording reservation control unit71cancels the effective flag of program attribute information of the designated program attribute name. More specifically, for example, in the example of display inFIG. 8, when the program attribute name “soccer” is designated, since this program attribute name is in a state in which an effective flag is already set, the setting of the effective flag is cancelled when this program attribute name is designated again, and the program attribute name “soccer” is displayed as the unshaded program attribute name302.

If it is determined in step S42that a program attribute name is not designated, or after the effective flag setting processing in step S44or the effective flag cancellation processing in step S45is executed, in step S46, the automatic recording reservation control unit71determines whether end of the program attribute information designation processing is instructed by the user. If the end is not instructed, then processing returns to step S42and the automatic recording reservation control unit71executes the processing in step S42and subsequent steps repeatedly. If it is determined in step S46that the end of the program attribute information designation processing is instructed, the automatic recording reservation control unit71ends the processing.

As described above, simply by selecting predetermined program attribute names in an arbitrary number out of the program attribute names provided from the server2-1, the user can set program attribute retrieval conditions associated with the program attribute names. Then, when this setting (selection) is performed, recording reservation is automatically performed as explained below.

Next, recording reservation processing, which is automatically executed by the automatic recording reservation control unit71after the user performs the designation processing for a program attribute name (program attribute information), will be explained with reference to a flowchart inFIG. 10. Note that processing shown in this flowchart inFIG. 10is executed periodically at a predetermined time period set in advance.

In step S61, the automatic recording reservation control unit71determines whether all pieces of broadcast program information (EPG information) are selected. As described above, the EPG information is acquired by the EPG acquisition module34and managed by the broadcast program information managing unit66. More specifically, the EPG information is stored in the auxiliary storage40.

FIG. 11shows an example of such EPG information (broadcast program information). Note that the example inFIG. 11represents broadcast program information of one program, and broadcast program information of immediately following programs, for example, programs to be broadcast in two days is stored in the auxiliary storage40.

In the example inFIG. 11, it is assumed that a broadcasting station that broadcasts the program is TV Japan and a broadcast date of the program is Mar. 26, 2002. In addition, it is assumed that broadcast start time of this program is 17:00 and end time is 18:00. Further, it is assumed that a genre of this program is vaudeville and a title of the program is “news17”. Moreover, information “prime minister resigned, yen increasing in value . . . ” is described as detailed information.

When it is determined in step S61that all pieces of broadcast program information are not selected yet, then processing proceeds to step S62and the automatic recording reservation control unit71selects one piece of broadcast program information from out of the stored broadcast program information for, for example, two days. For example, broadcast program information of one program as shown inFIG. 11is selected here.

Next, in step S63, the automatic recording reservation control unit71determines whether all effective pieces of program attribute information are selected. Here, effective program selection information means the program attribute information for which the effective flag is set by the processing in step S44inFIG. 7(the program attribute information for which program attribute names are displayed with a shade in the example of display inFIG. 8). In the example of display inFIG. 8, the effective program attribute information includes three pieces of program attribute information “foreign film”, “soccer”, and “news”. In step S63, it is determined whether all the three pieces of effective program attribute information are selected. If program attribute information not selected yet is still present, then processing proceeds to step S64and the automatic recording reservation control unit71selects one piece out of the program attribute information not selected yet. For example, the program attribute information “soccer” is selected out of the three pieces of effective program attribute information shown inFIG. 8.

At this point, processing proceeds to step S65and the automatic recording reservation control unit71reads out retrieval conditions for the program attribute information selected by processing in step S64. For example, when program attribute information corresponding to the program attribute name “soccer” is selected by the processing in step S64, then program attribute retrieval conditions433shown inFIG. 9are read out here.

Then, in the following steps S66to S71, judgment processing on whether the broadcast program information (EPG information) selected by processing in step S62is included in the retrieval conditions read out by processing in step S65is performed.

More specifically, in step S66, it is determined whether a genre of the broadcast program information selected by the processing in step S62(the genre inFIG. 11) is included in a genre of the retrieval conditions read out by the processing in step S65(the genre443inFIG. 9).

In step S67, it is determined whether a broadcast date of the broadcast program information selected by the processing in step S62(the broadcast date inFIG. 11) is included in a day of week of the retrieval conditions readout by the processing in step S65(whether the broadcast date inFIG. 11is a day of week defined in the day of week444inFIG. 9).

Moreover, in step S68, it is determined whether a start time of a program of the broadcast program information (the start time inFIG. 11) is included in a time frame of the retrieval conditions (the time frame445inFIG. 9).

In step S69, it is determined whether a length of a program of the broadcast program information (a time calculated as a difference between the end time and the start time inFIG. 11) is included in a program length of the retrieval conditions (the program length446inFIG. 9).

In step S70, it is determined whether a keyword of the retrieval conditions (the keyword441inFIG. 9) is included in a title and detailed information included in the broadcast program information (the title and the detailed information inFIG. 11).

Moreover, in step S71, it is determined whether at least one escape keyword of the retrieval conditions (the escape keyword442inFIG. 9) is included in a title and detailed information of the broadcast program information (the title and the detailed information inFIG. 11).

When it is determined in all of the processing in steps S66to S70that the object items are included in the retrieval conditions and it is determined in step S71that an escape keyword is not included in the title and the detailed information of the program, then processing proceeds to step S72and the automatic recording reservation control unit71controls the recording reservation managing unit67to add the program currently set as a processing object to a recording reservation list.

The escape keyword in step S71is a keyword for excluding a program from a retrieval object when the keyword is included in the program. Thus, a program satisfies the retrieval conditions when the program does not include the escape keyword. Therefore, only when all the items satisfy the retrieval conditions according to the processing from step S66to step S71, the recording reservation processing in step S72is performed.

In other words, when it is determined that the retrieval conditions are not satisfied in at least one kind of the judgment processing from step S66to step S71, the recording reservation processing in step S72is not executed, and the processing returns to step S63.

When it is judged in step S72that the recording reservation processing is completed, the processing also returns to step S63.

In step S63, it is determined again whether all the effective pieces of program attribute information are selected. If all the effective pieces of program attribute information are not selected yet, in the example inFIG. 8, next, for example, the program attribute information “foreign film” is selected by the processing in step S64and the processing from step S65to step S72is executed as in the case described above.

When the processing described above is repeated and if it is determined in step S63that all the effective pieces of program attribute information are selected (if it is judged that all the three pieces of program attribute information “soccer”, “foreign film”, and “news” inFIG. 8are selected), then processing returns to step S61. In step S61, the automatic recording reservation control unit71determines whether all the pieces of broadcast program information are selected. If it is judged that all the pieces of broadcast program information are not selected yet (if a program not selected yet is present), then processing proceeds to step S62, broadcast program information of the program is selected and the processing in step S63and subsequent steps is executed as in the case described above.

When the processing described above is repeated and if it is determined in step S61that all the pieces of broadcast program information are selected (if it is determined that broadcast program information for programs for two days is selected), then processing is ended.

As described above, the automatic recording reservation control unit71causes the recording reservation managing unit67to create a recording reservation list shown inFIG. 12.

In an example inFIG. 12, a broadcast date, a broadcasting station, a broadcast start time, and a broadcast end time of a program to be reserved for recording are registered. For example, a program to be broadcast from 16:00:00 to 16:30:00 in a broadcasting station TV Japan on Jul. 1, 2002 is registered as a program reserved for recording.

This recording reservation list is created automatically when a user simply performs operation for selecting program attribute names “foreign film”, “soccer”, and “news”. Therefore, the user is not forced to bear an excessive burden in creating this recording reservation list.

It should be mentioned that it is also possible that the user designates predetermined programs individually via the recording reservation application70to register the programs in the recording reservation list.

When the recording reservation list is created as described above, the recording reservation managing unit67executes recording processing for reserved programs. Next, this recording processing for reserved programs will be explained with reference to a flowchart inFIG. 13. Note that processing shown in this flowchart inFIG. 13is performed periodically at a fixed time period.

In step S91, the recording reservation managing unit67determines whether all programs reserved in the recording reservation list are retrieved. If a reserved program not retrieved yet is present, then processing proceeds to step S92and the recording reservation managing unit67extracts one program from the recording reservation list. In step S93, the recording reservation managing unit67reads out a broadcast date and time of the program extracted by processing in step S92. For example, when a program indicated by a number1inFIG. 12is extracted by the processing in step S92, Jul. 1, 2002 and 16:00:00, which are a broadcast date and a broadcast start time of the program, are read out as a broadcast date and time in processing in step S93.

In step S94, the recording reservation managing unit67reads a present date and time from a timer incorporated therein and judges whether the broadcast date and time read out by the processing in step S93is within a standard time from the present date and time. The standard time is a relatively short time such as, for example, thirty seconds or one minute. This standard time is determined taking into account a time required until recording processing is actually started after control is instructed via the recording control unit63.

If it is determined that the broadcast date and time is not within the standard time from the present date and time, then processing returns to step S91and the processing in step S91and subsequent steps is executed repeatedly.

For example, if the present date and time is 12:00:00 on Jul. 1, 2002, since the present date and time is four hours before the broadcast date and time, then it is determined that the broadcast date and time is not within the standard time. The processing returns to step S91and the determination processing on whether all the reserved programs are retrieved is performed again. In the present case, since all the programs are not retrieved yet, then processing proceeds to step S92and the next program is extracted. For example, a program indicated by a number2inFIG. 12is extracted and, in step S93, a broadcast date and time of the number2is read out as 17:30:00 on Jul. 1, 2002.

In step S94, it is determined whether the broadcast date and time is within the standard time from the present date and time. If the broadcast date and time is not within the standard time, then processing returns to step S91and the processing in step S91and subsequent steps is executed repeatedly.

For example, when the program of the number1is selected and a present date and time is 15:59:30 on Jul. 1, 2002, a broadcast date and time 16:00:00 on Jul. 1, 2002 is within thirty seconds from the present date and time 15:59:30 on Jul. 1, 2002 (within a standard time) and, in step S94, it is determined that the broadcast date and time is within the standard time from the present date and time. In this case, processing proceeds to step S95and the recording reservation managing unit67controls the recording control unit63to receive a program set as an object presently. In the present case, the recording reservation managing unit67controls the recording control unit63to receive a broadcast wave of the broadcasting station TV Japan with the tuner31.

In step S96, the recording reservation managing unit67controls the recording control unit63to store the program received by processing in step S95in the auxiliary storage40.

In other words, a video signal and a sound signal received by the tuner31are supplied to the encoder32and, after being encoded in the MPEG system, supplied to the auxiliary storage40and stored therein.

In step S97, the recording reservation managing unit67determines whether the program ends by comparing a broadcast end time of the program for which the recording processing is executed presently and the present time. When the program does not end yet, the recording reservation managing unit67is on standby mode until the program ends. When the program ends, the processing proceeds to step S98and the recording reservation managing unit67controls the recording control unit63to end the recording processing for the auxiliary storage40. In addition, in step S99, the recording reservation managing unit67controls the recording control unit63to end the reception processing of the program by the turner31.

In step S100, the recording reservation managing unit67deletes the program for which recording is completed presently from the recording reservation list.

If it is determined in step S91that all the reserved programs are retrieved, then processing from step S92to step S100is skipped, and processing is ended.

The processing described above is performed at fixed time period, and programs registered in the recording reservation list are sequentially recorded in the auxiliary storage40automatically.

It is possible to sort and arrange the recording reservation list shown inFIG. 12in an order of broadcast date and time. Consequently, a program extracted first by the processing in step S92is a program having a temporally earliest broadcast date and time and, if it is determined that the broadcast date and time is not within the standard time from the present date and time, broadcast date and times of all the remaining programs are not within the standard time from the present date and time. Thus, it is possible not to perform the determination processing for those programs.

When programs are recorded in the auxiliary storage40as described above, the recording title managing unit65registers and manages information such as titles and broadcast date and times of the recorded programs.

When the user instructs reproduction of a recorded program via the viewing control application68, the viewing control application68reads out program titles recorded in the auxiliary storage40with reference to the management information of the recording title managing unit65and causes the display apparatus12to display the program titles. When the user looks at this display and selects a program to be an object of reproduction, the viewing control application68instructs the recording title reproducing unit62to reproduce the program. The recording title reproducing unit62reproduces the instructed program from the auxiliary storage40. Video data and sound data reproduced from the auxiliary storage40are input to the decoder33and, after being decoded in the MPEG system, output to the display apparatus12and displayed thereon.

In the above description, broadcast program information is received from a broadcasting station via a broadcast wave. However, it is also possible to receive the broadcast program information from the server2-2via the network1.

The series of processing described above can be executed by hardware or can be executed by software.

When the series of processing is executed by software, a program comprising the software is installed in a computer, which is incorporated in dedicated hardware, a computer such as a personal computer, which is capable of executing various functions by installing various programs, or the like from a network or a recording medium.

As shown inFIG. 4, the recording medium can be a removable medium231comprising a magnetic disk (including a floppy disk), an optical disk (including a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory) and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), a magneto-optical disk (including an MD (Mini-Disk)), a semiconductor memory, or the like having a program recorded therein that is distributed separately from the apparatus main body in order to provide the user with the program, the ROM222, a hard disk included in the storage unit228, or the like having the program recorded therein that is provided to the user in a state in which the ROM222, the hard disk, or the like are incorporated in the apparatus main body in advance.

Note that, in this specification, the step of describing a program to be recorded in a recording medium includes not only processing that is performed in time series in accordance with a described order but also processing that is not always performed in time series but is executed in parallel or individually.

In addition, in this specification, the system represents an entire apparatus comprising a plurality of apparatus.

As described above, according to an embodiment of the invention, it is possible to reserve recording of a program. In particular, according to an embodiment of the invention, reserve recording of a program can be achieved easily and promptly while reducing a burden on a user.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a user of another information processing apparatus can reserve a program. In particular, another user can reserve recording of a program promptly and easily while reducing a burden on the user. In addition, profit can be made by receiving compensation from the user.