Abstract:
A communication apparatus comprises a data receiving unit, a display, a selection receiving unit and a controller. The controller is configured to acquire the content summary information via the data receiving unit and to control the display to display a plurality of titles included in the acquired content summary information with scrolling in a single line. The controller is further configured to accept a first selection and to determine a first selected title which is displayed when the first selection is inputted. The controller is still further configured to control the display to display a list of a plurality of titles of content summary information acquired from the external server. Moreover, the controller is configured to accept a second selection received via the selection receiving unit and determine a second selected title among the plurality of titles displayed in the list. The controller is further configured to acquire a content corresponding to the second selected title via the data receiving unit.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-252874, filed Sep. 30, 2008, the entire subject matter and disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a communication apparatus for displaying a title of a content which is opened to the public on a network. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A variety of contents are opened to the public on a network. There are servers that open content summary information including the URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) and the titles of respective contents to the public. An example of the content summary information is feed information. Examples of the format of the feed information are RSS (Resource Description Framework Site Summary) and Atom. 
     In a known system structure, RSS feed information (each including an image of an article) is acquired from a plurality of RSS servers and titles of the articles are displayed as a list. When one of the titles is selected, the title, the description, the image of the selected article and a link button for accessing the Web page of the article are displayed. When the link button is selected, the information of the Web page is acquired to be displayed. 
     When titles of articles are displayed as a list in a comparatively small display apparatus, the entire list of the titles cannot be displayed but merely a part of the list is displayed in the display apparatus. This is disadvantageous because it takes time and effort to find desired article information by, for example, scrolling the list of the titles. 
     SUMMARY 
     A need has arisen to provide a communication apparatus which may enable a user to readily find and access desired article information. According an embodiment of the present invention, a communication apparatus comprises a data receiving unit configured to receive content summary information from an external server, a display configured to display information and a selection receiving unit configured to receive a selection inputted by a user. The communication apparatus comprises a controller. The controller is configured to acquire the content summary information via the data receiving unit and to control the display to display a plurality of titles, which are included in the acquired content summary information, in a predetermined order with scrolling within a single line. The controller is further configured to accept a first selection received via the selection receiving unit and to determine a first selected title which is displayed when the first selection is inputted by the user. The controller is still further configured to control the display to display a list of a plurality of titles of content summary information acquired from the external server which is a source of the content summary information of the determined first selected title. Moreover, the controller is configured to accept a second selection received via the selection receiving unit and determine a second selected title among the plurality of titles displayed in the list. The controller is further configured to acquire a content corresponding to the second selected title via the data receiving unit. 
     According an embodiment of the present invention, a control method for a communication apparatus comprising a data receiving unit, a display and a selection receiving unit, comprises a step of acquiring content summary information via the data receiving unit. The method further comprises a step of controlling the display to display a plurality of titles, which are included in the acquired content summary information, in a predetermined order with scrolling in a single line. The method still further comprises a step of accepting a first selection received via the selection receiving unit and a step of determining a first selected title which is displayed when the first selection is inputted by the user. Moreover, the method comprises a step of controlling the display to display a list of a plurality of titles of content summary information acquired from the external server which is a source of the content summary information of the determined first selected title. The method further comprises a step of accepting a second selection received via the selection receiving unit and a step of determining a second selected title among the plurality of titles displayed in the list when the second selection is inputted by a user. The method still further comprises a step of acquiring a content corresponding to the second selected title via the data receiving unit. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the needs satisfied thereby, and the features and advantages thereof, reference now is made to the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating the architecture of a multifunctional machine system. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a multifunctional machine. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating exemplary memory contents of a URL memory area. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating exemplary memory contents of a display information memory area. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a feed information analysis process executed by the multifunctional machine. 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart (of a first part) of a display process executed by the multifunctional machine. 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart (of a second part) of the display process executed by the multifunctional machine. 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart (of a first part) of a list display process executed by the multifunctional machine. 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart (of a second part) of the list display process executed by the multifunctional machine. 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart (of a first part) of an RSS menu display process executed by the multifunctional machine. 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart (of a second part) of the RSS menu display process executed by the multifunctional machine. 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating an example of details displayed on a display panel. 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram illustrating another example of the details displayed on the display panel. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the present invention and their features and advantages may be understood by referring to  FIGS. 1-13 , like numerals being used for like corresponding parts in the various drawings. 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a multifunctional machine system  2  according to this embodiment. The multifunctional machine system  2  includes a multifunctional machine  10 , a plurality of PCs  70  and  71  and a plurality of content distribution servers  90  and  91 . The multifunctional machine  10  is connected to a LAN  4 . Each of the PCs  70  and  71  is connected to the LAN  4 . The LAN  4  is connected to the Internet  8  through a router  6 . Each of the content distribution servers  90  and  91  is connected to the Internet  8 . In this embodiment, the content distribution server  90  opens one website to the public and the content distribution server  91  opens another website to the public. Each website includes a plurality of contents. Furthermore, each content distribution server  90  or  91  stores feed information (in the RSS format) corresponding to summary information of the plural contents included in its website. Details of the information will be described in detail later. 
     (Configuration of Multifunctional Machine) 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the configuration of the multifunctional machine  10 . The multifunctional machine  10  includes a control unit  12 , a display panel  50 , a keypad  52 , a printing unit  54 , a scanning unit  56 , a fax unit  58 , a network interface  60 , a PSTN interface  62  and the like. The control unit  12  includes a CPU  14 , a ROM  16 , a RAM  30 , an NVRAM  40  and the like. 
     The CPU  14  executes various processes in accordance with programs  18  through  26  stored in the ROM  16 . The processes executed by the CPU  14  will be described in detail later. The ROM  16  stores the various programs  18  through  26 . The basic functional program  18  is a program for controlling the basic operation of the multifunctional machine  10 . The basic functional program  18  includes, for example, a program for creating display data to be displayed on the display panel  50 . Also, the basic functional program  18  includes, for example, a program for controlling the printing unit  54 , the scanning unit  56 , the fax unit  58  or the like. The internet connection program  20  is a program for attaining connection to the Internet  8 . The feed information is acquired from the content distribution servers  90  and  91  by the internet connection program  20 . The feed information analysis program  22  is a program for analyzing feed information acquired from the content distribution server  90  or  91  and creating information to be displayed on the display panel  50  (hereinafter designated as display information). The feed information display program  24  is a program for displaying display information. The PC management program  26  is a program for executing a process in accordance with PC activation notification transmitted from the PC  70  or  71 . 
     The RAM  30  includes a variety of memory areas  32  through  38 . The basic functional work area  32  is a memory area for storing various data created in executing the process in accordance with the basic functional program  18 . The feed information analysis work area  34  is a memory area for storing various data created in executing the process in accordance with the feed information analysis program  22 . The display information memory area  36  is a memory area for storing display information created in accordance with the feed information analysis program  22 . The PC information memory area  38  is a memory area for storing information on a PC corresponding to a sender of the PC activation notification. 
     The NVRAM  40  includes a variety of memory areas  42  through  46 . The basic functional parameter memory area  42  is a memory area for storing various parameters (such as print setting or scan setting) to be used when the CPU  14  executes the process in accordance with the basic functional program  18 . The URL memory area  44  is a memory area for storing the URLs of the feed information of the respective content distribution servers  90  and  91 . For example, a user should be registered for receiving a content distribution service from each content distribution server  90  or  91 . This registration may be executed by using the multifunctional machine  10  or by using the PC  70  or  71 . 
     The display panel  50  can display a variety of information. The display panel  50  has a display screen smaller than that of the PCs  70  and  71 . For example, the PCs  70  and  71  are equipped with an LCD of 17 inches or more while the size of the display screen of the display panel  50  is 6 inches or less. The display panel  50  functions as a touch panel. The keypad  52  includes a plurality of keys. A user can input various instructions and information to the multifunctional machine  10  by operating the keypad  52 . The network interface  60  is connected to the LAN  4 . The multifunctional machine  10  can communicate with the PCs  70  and  71  as well as get access to the Internet  8 . The PSTN interface  62  is connected to a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) not shown. The PSTN may be used in fax communication or telephone communication. 
     (Memory Contents of URL Memory Area) 
     Next, memory contents of the URL memory area  44  (see  FIG. 2 ) of the NVRAM  40  will be described.  FIG. 3  illustrates exemplary memory contents of the URL memory area  44 . The URL memory area  44  can store the URLs  102  of the feed information of each content distribution server  90  or  91 . In other words, the URL memory area  44  can store the URLs  102  of the feed information of respective websites. In the exemplary case illustrated in  FIG. 3 , n URLs  102  are stored. At this point, “n” is defined as the number of registered websites. Each URL  102  is provided with an identification number  100 . In this embodiment, the identification number  100  is indicated by “i”. 
     (Memory Contents of Display Information Memory Area) 
     Subsequently, memory contents of the display information memory area  36  (see  FIG. 2 ) of the RAM  30  will be described.  FIG. 4  illustrates exemplary memory contents of the display information memory area  36 . The display information memory area  36  can store display information  112  correspondingly to each URL stored in the URL memory area  44 . In other words, the display information memory area  36  can store the display information  112  correspondingly to each website stored in the URL memory area  44 . As described above, the URL memory area  44  stores n (wherein n is an integer not less than 1) URLs  102  (see  FIG. 3 ). Therefore, the display information memory area  36  also stores n display information  112 . Each display information  112  is provided with an identification number  110 . In this embodiment, the identification number  110  is indicated by “i”. 
     The data structure of each display information  112  will be described. Each display information  112  includes website information  120 . The website information  120  includes a website title character string  122  and feed update time information  124 . The website title character string  122  is a character string corresponding to the title of the website. The title of the website may also be designated as the “name of the website”. The feed update time information  124  is information on date and time (the latest update date and time) when the feed information was updated in the content distribution server. 
     Each display information  112  also includes update content information  132 . The number of update content information  132  is equal to the number of contents included in the website. For example, in the exemplary case of  FIG. 4 , display information  112  corresponding to the identification number “i” of “0” includes m (wherein m is an integer not less than 1) update content information  132 . At this point, “m” is defined as the number of registered contents. This means that the website corresponding to the identification number “i” or “0” includes m contents. For example, when a given website includes a content on weather forecast and a content on sports, display information  112  corresponding to this website includes two update content information  132 . Each update content information  132  is provided with an identification number  130 . In this embodiment, the identification number  130  is indicated by “j”. 
     Furthermore, the identification number  130  allocated to each of the m update content information  132  represents the priority. It is assumed, in this embodiment, that update content information  132  allocated to, for example, an identification number  130  of “0” has the highest priority and that update content information  132  allocated to an identification number  130  of “m- 1 ” has the lowest priority. Alternatively, the priority can be determined by using various parameters. It is assumed, in this embodiment, that later update content information  132  has a higher priority. Specifically, it is assumed that a smaller identification number  130  is allocated to update content information  132  including later content update time information  142 . 
     Each update content information  132  includes a content title character string  140 , content update time information  142 , a content summary character string  144  and a content URL  146 . The content title character string  140  is a character string corresponding to the title of the content. The title of the content may be also designated as the “name of the content”. The content update time information  142  is information on date and time (the latest update date and time) when the content was updated in the content distribution server. The content summary character string  144  is a summary of character strings included in the content. In other words, the content summary character string  144  is a character string that includes a larger number of characters than the title of the content and a smaller number of characters than the whole content and reflects the details of the content. The content URL  146  is the URL of the content. 
     (Feed Information Analysis Process) 
     Next, a feed information analysis process in which the CPU  14  of the multifunctional machine  10  acquires and analyzes feed information will be described. The feed information analysis process is operated as an independent task and is executed from the activation of the multifunctional machine  10  in accordance with the internet connection program  20  and the feed information analysis program  22  (see  FIG. 2 ).  FIG. 5  is a flowchart of the feed information analysis process. 
     In S 48 , the display information  112  stored in the display information memory area  36  is initialized. Then, the process proceeds to S 50 . 
     In S 50 , the CPU  14  makes accesses successively to n websites for acquiring feed information from each website. The feed information includes the website information  120  and the update content information  132  illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     In S 52 , the CPU  14  analyzes the feed information so as to create the display information  112  illustrated in  FIG. 4 . In S 54 , the CPU  14  stores the created display information  112  in the display information memory area  36 . In S 56 , the CPU  14  waits until update time. The update time may be, for example, set by a user or determined in accordance with a program. When the update time has come, the process returns to S 50 . Through the execution of the procedures of S 48  through S 56  of  FIG. 5  in this manner, the latest feed information of each of the n websites is stored in the display information memory area  36 . 
     (Display Process) 
     Next, a display process in which the CPU  14  of the multifunctional machine  10  displays the feed information will be described with reference to the flowcharts of  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The display process is operated as an independent task and is executed from the activation of the multifunctional machine  10  in accordance with the feed information display program  24  (see  FIG. 2 ). In S 71  of  FIG. 6 , the CPU  14  reads the display information  112  from the display information memory area  36 . In S 72 , the CPU  14  acquires the number n of registered websites stored in the URL memory area  44  (see  FIG. 2 ) of the NVRAM  40 . In S 74 , the CPU  14  initializes a counter i. In S 76 , the CPU  14  determines whether or not the count of the counter i is smaller than the number n of registered websites. When the count of the counter i is not smaller than the number n of registered websites (NO in S 76 ), the process returns to S 74 . On the other hand, when the count of the counter i is smaller than the number n of registered websites (YES in S 76 ), the process proceeds to S 78 . 
     In S 78 , the CPU  14  acquires the website information included in the display information of the i-th website from the display information memory area  36  of the RAM  30 . In acquisition of the website information of, for example, the 0th website, the website information  120  (including the website title character string  122  and the feed update time information  124 ) is acquired in the exemplary case of  FIG. 4 . Subsequently, in S 80 , the CPU  14  acquires the number m of registered contents of the i-th website. In S 82 , the CPU  14  initializes a counter j. In S 84 , the CPU  14  determines whether or not the count of the counter j is smaller than the number m of registered contents. When the count of the counter j is not smaller than the number m of registered contents (NO in S 84 ), the process proceeds to S 86 , where the count of the counter i is incremented by 1, and the process returns to S 76 . On the other hand, when the count of the counter j is smaller than the number m of registered contents (YES in S 84 ), the process proceeds to S 88 . 
     In S 88  of  FIG. 7 , the CPU  14  acquires the j-th update content information of the i-th website from the display information memory area  36  of the RAM  30 . Thus, the content title character string  140 , the content update time information  142 , the content summary character string  144  and the content URL  146  of one content are acquired. Subsequently, in S 90 , the CPU  14  transmits, to the display panel  50 , the website title character string  122  acquired in S 78 , the content title character string  140  acquired in S 88  and the content update time information  142  acquired in S 88 . 
     In S 92 , a display character string is displayed in the form of one-line scroll display on the display panel  50 . In the one-line scroll display, a content title character string  162  is displayed, in a telop-like manner, by moving characters of the title across the display panel  50  from the right to the left as illustrated in an upper section of  FIG. 12 . Thus, even though the display panel  50  is small, the whole of the content title character string  162  can be displayed. Incidentally, the website title character string  122  or the content update time information  142  may be displayed on the display panel  50 . After the procedure of S 92 , the process proceeds to S 100 . 
     In S 100 , the CPU  14  waits for occurrence of an event. Examples of the event to be waited for in S 100  are a character string scroll end event and a list display request event. When the event occurs, the process proceeds to S 102 . 
     In S 102 , the CPU  14  determines whether or not the character string scroll end event has occurred. The character string scroll end event is an event for informing that the scroll display of the content title character string  162  of one content has ended. When the character string scroll end event has occurred (YES in S 102 ), the process proceeds to S 104 . In S 104 , the CPU  14  increments the count of the counter j by 1, and the process proceeds to S 84  of  FIG. 6 . In this S 84 , when it is determined that the count of the counter j is smaller than the number m, the CPU  14  executes the procedures of S 88 , S 90  and S 92  again. Thus, the content title character string  162  of the next update content information (for example, the 1st update content information) is displayed in the telop-like manner. When the content title character strings  162  of all the update content information of one website have been displayed in the telop-like manner, it is determined as NO in S 84 . In this case, the CPU  14  increments the count of the counter i by 1 (S 86 ) and executes the procedures of S 78  through S 92  with respect to a next website (for example, the 1st website). In this manner, the content title character strings  162  of the update content information of the next website are displayed in the telop-like manner. 
     On the other hand, when it is determined in S 102  that the character string scroll end event has not occurred (NO in S 102 ), the process proceeds to S 106 . In S 106 , the CPU  14  determines whether or not a list display request event has occurred. The list display request event is an event for informing that a user has selected (or input with a key) the content title character string  162  while it is being displayed in the telop-like manner as illustrated in the upper section of  FIG. 12 . Thus, the user can select the update content information  132  corresponding to the content title character string  162 . When the list display request event has occurred (YES in S 106 ), the process proceeds to S 108 , where the CPU  14  executes a list display process. The list display process will be described in detail later. On the other hand, when the list display request event has not occurred (NO in S 106 ), the process proceeds to S 110 . 
     In S 110 , the CPU  14  determines whether or not an RSS menu display request event has occurred. The RSS menu display request event is an event for informing that an operation for selecting a content distribution server has been performed. The operation for selecting a content distribution server can be performed independently of the aforementioned operation for selecting the content title character string  162 . 
     In this embodiment, not only the content title character string  162  but also an RSS menu button  160  is displayed on the display panel  50  as illustrated in the upper section of  FIG. 12 . When a user selects (or input with a key) the RSS menu button  160 , the RSS menu display request event is generated. 
     In this manner, a user can browse a desired content not only by selecting the content title character string  162  scroll displayed but also by selecting the RSS menu button  160 . In other words, a user is provided with a plurality of means for browsing a desired content. Therefore, the accessibility to a content desired by a user can be further improved. 
     When the RSS menu display request event has not occurred (NO in S 110 ), the process returns to S 100 . On the other hand, when the RSS menu display request event has occurred (YES in S 110 ), the process proceeds to S 112 , where the CPU  14  executes an RSS menu display process. The RSS menu display process will be described in detail later. 
     (List Display Process) 
     Next, the list display process performed in S 108  will be described with reference to the flowcharts of  FIGS. 8 and 9 . In S 502 , the CPU  14  reads the display information  112  from the display information memory area  36 . In S 504 , the CPU  14  acquires the website information included in the display information of the i-th website from the display information memory area  36  of the RAM  30 . In S 506 , the CPU  14  acquires the number m of registered contents of the i-th website. 
     In S 508 , the CPU  14  specifies, in the display information memory area  36  of the RAM  30 , a page number p in which the j-th update content information  132  is included. The page number p is specified as follows: The number of rows of a list  170  to be displayed on the display panel  50  is defined as a display row number L. The list  170  includes, with respect to each of a plurality of (for example, m) contents, the content update time information  142  and the content title character string  140  of the content. In the exemplary case illustrated in a lower section of  FIG. 12 , four content title character strings  140  and four pieces of content update time information  142  of the update content information  132  are displayed. Therefore, the display row number L is  4 . Also, in this exemplary case, a website title character string  172  of the content distribution server is displayed as “XXX.COM”. 
     Furthermore, in the exemplary case illustrated in the lower section of  FIG. 12 , the number of rows of the list  170  scrolled up or down by selecting an up button  175  or a down button  176  once is defined as a scroll row number S. When the scroll row number S is 1, the list is scrolled by one row at a time. 
     Furthermore, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the display information memory area  36  stores m update content information  132  to which the identification numbers  130  of  0  through (m- 1 ) are respectively allocated. The content title character strings of the update content information  132  are successively displayed in the form of the one-line scroll display on the display panel  50 . The update content information  132  corresponding to the content title character string  162  displayed in the form of the one-line scroll display when the list display request event (of S 106 ) occurs is dealt with as the j-th update content information  132  of S 508 . 
     The page number p where the j-th update content information  132  is included is obtained as a quotient in accordance with p=((j+L−1)/L). 
     For example, while a content title character string  162  (21:34 Sports flash . . . ) of the update content information  132  corresponding to the identification number j of  3  is being displayed in the form of the one-line scroll display as illustrated in the upper section of  FIG. 12 , when a user selects by touching this content title character string  162  (namely, when the list display request event occurs), p=(3+4−1)/4=1 (with a remainder of 2). Therefore, the page number p is 1. 
     In S 510 , the CPU  14  reads content information to be displayed on the p-th page. Then, the CPU  14  creates list data (a display character string) including the website title character string  122  acquired in S 504 , the content title character string  140  acquired in S 508  and the content update time information  142  acquired in S 508 . 
     In S 512 , the CPU  14  transmits the list data created in S 510  to the display panel  50 . As a result, as illustrated in the lower section of  FIG. 12 , four rows of titles of update content information  132  acquired from the content distribution server corresponding to the source of the update content information  132  corresponding to the title displayed in the form of the one-line scroll display (i.e., the server having the website name of XXX.COM) are displayed as the list  170 . The title of the article displayed in the form of the one-line scroll display on the display panel  50  when the user touched the content title character string  162 , namely, “21:34 Sports flash . . . ” is included in the third row of the displayed list  170 . 
     In S 514  of  FIG. 9 , the CPU  14  waits for occurrence of an event. As described later, the display panel  50  is controlled depending upon receipt of four kinds of events. Procedures of S 516  through S 530  of  FIG. 9  are related to control of up or down scroll display of the list  170 . On the other hand, procedures of S 532  through S 536  are related to control of content display. 
     First, the control of the scroll display of the list  170  performed in S 516  through S 530  will be described. In S 516 , the CPU  14  determines whether or not an up key selection event has received. The up key selection event is an event informing that a user has selected (or input with a key) the up button  175  when the list  170  is displayed as illustrated in the lower section of  FIG. 12 . Every time the up button  175  is selected, a value corresponding to the scroll row number S is subtracted from a value of the identification number  130  (i.e., the count of the counter j) of the content title character string displayed in the list. Therefore, the list  170  is scrolled up in the display panel  50  correspondingly to the scroll row number S, so as to display a content title character string with a smaller identification number  130  (a smaller count of the counter j). 
     When the up key selection event has received (YES in S 516 ), the process proceeds to S 518 . In S 518 , the CPU  14  determines whether or not a value obtained by subtracting the scroll row number S from the count of the counter j is larger than 0. When the result of the subtraction is not larger than 0 (NO in S 518 ), the update content information  132  corresponding to the count of the counter j of  0  (namely, the update content information  132  with the highest priority) has already been displayed. In other words, the list cannot be scrolled up any more in the display panel  50 . Therefore, the process proceeds to S 520 , where the CPU  14  informs the user of this by sounding a rejection tone. Thereafter, the process returns to S 514 . On the other hand, when the result of the subtraction is larger than 0 (YES in S 518 ), the process proceeds to S 522 . In S 522 , the CPU  14  sets a value obtained by subtracting the scroll row number S from the count of the counter j as a new count of the counter j. Accordingly, the list  170  is scrolled up correspondingly to the scroll row number S. Thereafter, the process returns to S 508 . 
     Alternatively, when it is determined in S 516  that the up key selection event has not been received (NO in S 516 ), the process proceeds to S 524 . In S 524 , the CPU  14  determines whether or not a down key selection event has received. The down key selection event is an event for informing that a user has selected (or input with a key) the down button  176  in the lower section of  FIG. 12 . Every time the down button  176  is selected, a value corresponding to the scroll row number S is added to a value of the identification number  130  (i.e., the count of the counter j) of the content title character string displayed in the list. Therefore, the list  170  is scrolled down in the display panel  50  correspondingly to the scroll row number S, so as to display a content title character string with a larger identification number  130  (a larger count of the counter j). 
     When the down key selection event has received (YES in S 524 ), the process proceeds to S 526 . In S 526 , the CPU  14  determines whether or not a value obtained by adding the scroll row number S to the count of the counter j is larger than the number m of registered contents. When the result of the addition is larger than the number m of registered contents (YES in S 526 ), the update content information  132  corresponding to the count of the counter j of (m- 1 ) (namely, the update content information  132  with the lowest priority) has already been displayed. In other words, the list cannot be scrolled down any more in the display panel  50 . Therefore, the process proceeds to S 528 , where the CPU  14  informs the user of this by sounding a rejection tone. Thereafter, the process returns to S 514 . On the other hand, when the result of the addition is not larger than the number m of registered contents (NO in S 526 ), the process proceeds to S 530 . In S 530 , the CPU  14  sets a value obtained by adding the scroll row number S to the count of the counter j as a new count of the counter j. Accordingly, the list  170  is scrolled down correspondingly to the scroll row number S. Thereafter, the process returns to S 508 . 
     Next, the control of the content display performed in S 532  through S 536  will be described. When it is determined in S 524  that the down key selection event has not been received (NO in S 524 ), the process proceeds to S 532 . In S 532 , the CPU  14  determines whether or not a content selection operation event has been received. At this point, the content selection operation event is an event for informing that a user has selected (touched) one content (one content title character string) from a plurality of contents included in the list  170  when the list  170  is displayed as illustrated in the lower section of  FIG. 12 . When it is determined in S 532  that the content selection operation event has occurred (YES in S 532 ), the process proceeds to S 534 , where the content display process is executed. In the content display process, the CPU  14  transmits the content URL  146  of the content selected by the user to the PC  70  or  71 . The PC  70  or  71  downloads the content from the content distribution server on the basis of the content URL  146 . Thus, the details of the selected content can be displayed in the PC  70  or  71  having a display part larger than the display panel  50 . 
     It is noted that the content is not always displayed in the PC  70  or  71  in the content display process. The CPU  14  may transmit the display data of the content selected in the content selection operation event to the display panel  50 . Thus, the details of the selected content can be displayed on the display panel  50 . 
     On the other hand, when it is determined in S 532  that the content selection operation event has not occurred (NO in S 532 ), the process proceeds to S 536 , where the CPU  14  determines whether or not a list display terminating operation event has occurred. The list display terminating operation event is an event for informing that a user has selected (touched) a button  174  when the list  170  is displayed as illustrated in the lower section of  FIG. 12 . When the list display terminating operation event has occurred (YES in S 536 ), the CPU  14  terminates the list display process. On the other hand, when the list display terminating operation event has not occurred (NO in S 536 ), the process returns to S 514 , where the CPU  14  waits for occurrence of an event. 
     As described so far, in the list display process of this embodiment, the title of an article displayed in the form of the one-line scroll display on the display panel  50  when a user touches the content title character string  162  is displayed as a part of the list  170 . Therefore, it is possible to avoid time and effort to find the title of the desired article (namely, the title displayed in the form of the one-line scroll display selected by the user) by, for example, scrolling the list of titles. Accordingly, the user can easily make an access to a desired content. 
     (RSS Menu Display Process) 
     Next, the RSS menu display process executed in S 112  will be described with reference to the flowcharts of  FIGS. 10 and 11 . In S 602 , the CPU  14  reads the display information  112  from the display information memory area  36 . In S 604 , the CPU  14  acquires the number n of registered websites stored in the URL memory area  44  (see  FIG. 2 ) of the NVRAM  40 . In S 606 , the CPU  14  initializes the counter i by setting the count to “1”. 
     In S 608 , the CPU  14  specifies, in the display information memory area  36  of the RAM  30 , a page number p 2  where the i-th display information  112  is included. The page number p 2  is specified as follows: The number of rows of a website list  171  to be displayed on the display panel  50  is defined as a display row number L 2 . The website list  171  includes the website title character string  122  with respect to each of the n registered websites. In an exemplary case illustrated in a middle section of  FIG. 13 , four website titles are displayed. Therefore, the display row number L 2  is 4. 
     Furthermore, in the exemplary case illustrated in the middle section of  FIG. 13 , the number of rows of the website list  171  scrolled up or down by selecting an up button  195  or a down button  196  once is defined as a scroll row number S 2 . 
     Moreover, the display information memory area  36  stores n display informations  112  to which identification numbers  110  of  0  through (n- 1 ) are respectively allocated as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     The page number p 2  where the i-th display information  112  is included is obtained as a quotient in accordance with p2=((i+L2−1)/L2). 
     For example, when a user selects by touching the RSS menu button  160  (namely, when the RSS menu display request event occurs) as illustrated in an upper section of  FIG. 13 , since the identification number i is set to 1 in S 606 , p 2 =(1+4−1)/4=1 (with a remainder of 0). Therefore, the page number p 2  is 1. 
     In S 610 , the CPU  14  creates list data (a display character string) based on the website title character string  122  displayed on the p2th page. 
     In S 612 , the CPU  14  transmits the list data created in S 610  to the display panel  50 . As a result, four rows of website title character strings  122  (such as XXX.COM) of each content distribution server are displayed as a list as illustrated in the middle section of  FIG. 13 . 
     In S 614  of  FIG. 11 , the CPU  14  waits for occurrence of an event. Procedures of S 616  through S 630  of  FIG. 11  are related to control of up or down scroll display of the website list  171 . On the other hand, procedures of S 632  through S 636  are related to control of content display. 
     First, the control of the scroll display of the website list  171  performed in S 616  through S 630  will be described. In S 616 , the CPU  14  determines whether or not an up key selection event has been received. The up key selection event is an event for informing that a user has selected (or input with a key) the up button  195  when the website list  171  is displayed as illustrated in the middle section of  FIG. 13 . Every time the up button  195  is selected, the website list  171  is scrolled up in the display panel  50  correspondingly to the scroll row number S 2 , so that a website title character string  122  with a smaller identification number  110  (a smaller count of the counter i) can be displayed. 
     When the up key selection event has been received (YES in S 616 ), the process proceeds to S 618 . In S 618 , the CPU  14  determines whether or not a value obtained by subtracting the scroll row number S 2  from the count of the counter i is larger than 0. When the result of the subtraction is not larger than 0 (NO in S 618 ), the website list  171  cannot be scrolled up any more in the display panel  50 . Therefore, the process proceeds to S 620 , where the CPU  14  informs the user of this by sounding a rejection tone. Thereafter, the process returns to S 614 . On the other hand, when the result of the subtraction is larger than 0 (YES in S 618 ), the process proceeds to S 622 . In S 622 , the CPU  14  sets a value obtained by subtracting the scroll row number S 2  from the count of the counter i as a new count of the counter i. Accordingly, the website list  171  is scrolled up correspondingly to the scroll row number S 2 . Thereafter, the process returns to S 608 . 
     Alternatively, when it is determined in S 616  that the up key selection event has not been received (NO in S 616 ), the process proceeds to S 624 . In S 624 , the CPU  14  determines whether or not a down key selection event has received. The down key selection event is an event for informing that a user has selected (or input with a key) the down button  196  in the middle section of  FIG. 13 . Every time the down button  196  is selected, the website list  171  is scrolled down in the display panel  50  correspondingly to the scroll row number S 2 , so as to display a website title character string  122  with a larger identification number  110  (a larger count of the counter i). 
     When the down key selection event has received (YES in S 624 ), the process proceeds to S 626 . In S 626 , the CPU  14  determines whether or not a value obtained by adding the scroll row number S 2  to the count of the counter i is larger than the number n of registered websites. When the result of the addition is larger than the number n of registered websites (YES in S 626 ), the website list cannot be scrolled down any more in the display panel  50 . Therefore, the process proceeds to S 628 , where the CPU  14  informs the user of this by sounding a rejection tone. Thereafter, the process returns to S 614 . On the other hand, when the result of the addition is not larger than the number n of registered websites (NO in S 626 ), the process proceeds to S 630 . In S 630 , the CPU  14  sets a value obtained by adding the scroll row number S 2  to the count of the counter i as a new count of the counter i. Accordingly, the website list  171  is scrolled down correspondingly to the scroll row number S 2 . Thereafter, the process returns to S 608 . 
     Next, the control of the content display performed in S 632  through S 636  will be described. When it is determined in S 624  that the down key selection event has not been received (NO in S 624 ), the process proceeds to S 632 . In S 632 , the CPU  14  determines whether or not a website decision event has been received. At this point, the website decision event is an event for informing that a user has selected (touched) one website title character string  122  out of a plurality of website title character strings  122  of the website list  171  when the website list  171  is displayed as illustrated in the middle section of  FIG. 13 . 
     When it is determined in S 632  that the website decision event has occurred (YES in S 632 ), the process proceeds to S 633 . In S 633 , the CPU  14  determines the display order for displaying, as a list, content title character strings of the update content information  132  acquired from the selected content distribution server  90 . Specifically, the count of the counter j is set to “0”, and thus, the display order is determined so as to display the update content information  132  in the descending order of the priority in the list  170 . 
     In S 634 , the CPU  14  performs the list display process. It is noted that the list display process performed in S 634  is equivalent to the list display process performed in S 502  through S 536  of  FIGS. 8 and 9 , and hence the detailed description is omitted. 
     For example, it is assumed that the second website title character string  122  from the top, that is, “Sports.COM”, is selected from the website list  171  illustrated in the middle section of  FIG. 13  in S 632 . In this case, as illustrated in a lower section of  FIG. 13 , four rows of titles of update content information  132  acquired from the content distribution server corresponding to the selected website title character string  122  (namely, the server having the website name of Sports.COM) are displayed as a list  170   a . The list  170   a  is displayed with the display order that a content title characteristic string of update content information  132  with a higher priority is displayed in an upper row. For example, when the priority is set to be higher as update content information  132  includes later content update time information  142 , a later information is listed in an upper row of the list  170   a  as illustrated in the lower section of  FIG. 13 . In the uppermost row of the list  170   a , the content title character string of the update content information  132  with the highest priority (namely, the update content information  132  corresponding to the count of counter j of  0 ) is displayed. Furthermore, in an upper portion of the display panel  50 , the website title character string  122  of the selected content distribution server is displayed as “Sports.COM”. 
     On the other hand, when it is determined in S 632  that the content selection operation event has not occurred (NO in S 632 ), the process proceeds to S 636 , where the CPU  14  determines whether or not an RSS menu terminating operation event has occurred. The RSS menu terminating operation event is an event for informing that a user has selected (touched) a button  194  when the website list  171  is displayed as illustrated in the middle section of  FIG. 13 . When the RSS menu terminating operation event has occurred (YES in S 636 ), the CPU  14  terminates the RSS menu display process. On the other hand, when the RSS menu terminating operation event has not occurred (NO in S 636 ), the process returns to S 614 , where the CPU  14  waits for occurrence of an event. 
     As described so far, according to the invention of this embodiment, a desired content can be browsed not only through the list display process but also through the RSS menu display process. In other words, a user can be provided with a plurality of means for browsing a desired content. Therefore, when a content distribution server corresponding to a source of update content information  132  of a content highly frequently browsed by a user is specified, the content can be browsed by making an access to the content distribution server through the RSS menu display process. In this case, there is no need to wait for the one-line scroll display of titles of the update content information  132  related to the desired content distribution server  90 . Therefore, the accessibility to a content desired by a user can be further improved. 
     Furthermore, in the RSS menu display process, the titles of update content information  132  related to the desired content distribution server  90  are displayed as a list in the order of the priority. Therefore, the title of content summary information with a higher priority is always displayed first on the display panel  50 . Accordingly, it is possible to reduce time and effort to find the title of a desired article by scrolling the list of titles, and the convenience for a user is further improved. 
     Although the specific embodiment of the invention has been described in detail so far, the embodiment is illustrative and not restrictive, and the scope of the invention is not defined by the description. All changes and modifications of the embodiment are intended to be within the scope of the present invention defined by the appended claims. Specific modifications of the embodiment are as follows: 
     The multifunctional machine  10  may be equipped with means for accepting an operation for selecting a content distribution server independently of the operation for selecting a content title character string  162  scroll displayed. Specifically, the website list  171  may be displayed as illustrated in the middle section of  FIG. 13  by, for example, selecting a right button  177  or a left button  178  once as illustrated in the lower section of  FIG. 12 . Then, when a user selects one website title from the website list  171 , the titles of the update content information  132  acquired from the content distribution server corresponding to the selected website title (the server having the website name of Sports.COM) may be displayed as the list  170   a  as illustrated in the lower section of  FIG. 13 . Also, at this point, the content title character string of update content information  132  with a higher priority may be displayed in an upper row in the list  170   a . Thus, a user can browse a desired content not only by the method for selecting a content title character string  162  scroll displayed but also by the method for selecting the right button  177  or the left button  178 . Therefore, the accessibility to a content desired by a user can be further improved. 
     Furthermore, the CPU  14  executes the list display process when the list display request event has occurred in S 108  of  FIG. 7  so as to display the list  170  on the display panel  50  in the embodiment, which does not limit the invention. It goes without saying that the CPU  14  may execute the content display process (of S 532 ) in S 108 . In this case, when a user selects (or inputs with a key) a content title character string  162  when the content title character string  162  is displayed in the telop-like manner, the selected content is displayed on the display panel  50  or on the display screen of the PC  70  or  71 . 
     Moreover, each of the technical elements explained in the description and the drawings exhibits the technical usefulness by itself or in any of various combinations and the invention is not limited to a combination defined in the claims appended in filing. Furthermore, the technique exemplarily described in the description and the drawings achieves a plurality of objects simultaneously and exhibits the technical usefulness solely by achieving one of the objects. 
     Incidentally, the update content information  132  is an example of content summary information, the PC  70  or  71  is an example of an information display apparatus, the multifunctional machine  10  is an example of a communication apparatus, and the display panel  50  is an example of a display part. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that other variations and modifications of the embodiments described above may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the specification or practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and the described examples are considered merely as exemplary of the invention, with the true scope of the invention being indicated by the flowing claims.