Patent Publication Number: US-2013254808-A1

Title: Electronic apparatus and display control method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-070096, filed Mar. 26, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein relate generally to an electronic apparatus which can receive a broadcast signal, and a display control method applied to the apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In recent years, a television receiver with a function of displaying an electronic program guide (EPG) has been used. A user manipulates a displayed electronic program guide, for example, by using a remote controller supplied with a television receiver, thus being able to confirm programs which are broadcast and select a program that is to be viewed, and to execute programmed viewing or programmed recording of a program. By the electronic program guide, the user can confirm the titles of programs, the names of performers appearing in programs, and brief descriptions of programs. 
     When the user wishes to learn detailed information relating to a program or a performer, the user accesses a search site on the Internet by using, for example, a personal computer (PC) or a smartphone, and executes a Web search (Internet search) with the title of the program or the name of the performer being used as a keyword. However, in some cases, a user who is not familiar with the operation of the PC or smartphone takes a long time in the operation of inputting a keyword for a Web search, and it is difficult for such a user to obtain detailed information in a short time. 
     In recent years, there has also been provided a television receiver which is connected to a network and has a Web browser function of displaying a Web page. By a predetermined operation, the user switches a screen that is displayed on the television receiver, from a television screen to a Web browser screen, and can execute a Web search by using the Web browser screen. 
     In this television receiver, for example, a process for a Web browser function is also executed by a processor (chip) for a television function for viewing a program. However, it is possible that a high-level function, such as a Web browser application program, which is executed on the PC, cannot be provided by the hardware capability of this processor. In addition, this processor executes a process for the television function and a process for the Web browser function by switching them. Thus, there is a possibility that when a Web search has been requested by the user, it is difficult to quickly present a search result. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A general architecture that implements the various features of the embodiments will now be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate the embodiments and not to limit the scope of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is an exemplary perspective view illustrating the external appearance of an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an exemplary block diagram illustrating a system configuration of the electronic apparatus of the embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is an exemplary block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of a television module provided in the electronic apparatus of the embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is an exemplary block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of a Web browser module provided in the electronic apparatus of the embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is an exemplary view for describing an example of switching between a television screen and a Web browser screen by the electronic apparatus of the embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is an exemplary view illustrating a Web browser screen displayed by the electronic apparatus of the embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is an exemplary view illustrating an example of the external appearance of a remote controller for operating the electronic apparatus of the embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is an exemplary view illustrating an example of the procedure of a display control process executed by the electronic apparatus of the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     In general, according to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a television module and a Web browser module. The television module includes a tuner, a video processor, program information storage, a program information extractor, a first communicator, and a video input. The tuner is configured to receive a broadcast signal of a first channel. The video processor is configured to display first video on a screen by using video data of a first broadcast program, wherein the video data is carried by the broadcast signal. The program information storage is configured to store electronic program guide information extracted from the broadcast signal in storage. The program information extractor is configured to extract first program information of the first broadcast program from stored electronic program guide information while the first video is being displayed. The first communicator is configured to transmit the first program information to the Web browser module. The video input is configured to receive external video data transmitted from the Web browser module. The video processor is configured to display second video on the screen by using the external video data while the first video is being displayed. The Web browser module includes a second communicator, a keyword extractor, a retriever, and a video output. The second communicator is configured to receive the first program information from the television module. The keyword extractor is configured to extract one or more keywords from the first program information. The retriever is configured to retrieve information relating to a first keyword of the one or more keywords after the first keyword is transmitted to a first server. The video output is configured to transmit the external video data to the television module, the external video data being suitable for displaying a list of the one or more keywords and the information relating to the first keyword. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the external appearance of an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment. This electronic apparatus is realized, for example, as a digital broadcast receiver  11 . This electronic apparatus may also be realized as various types of consumer equipment, such as a personal video recorder or a personal computer. The digital broadcast receiver  11  has a thin box-shaped housing, and a liquid crystal display (LCD)  103  is built in the housing. In addition, a signal receiver (e.g. photoreceptor)  114 , which receives a signal transmitted from a remote controller, is disposed at a lower part of the front surface of the housing. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an example of the system configuration of the digital broadcast receiver  11 . 
     The digital broadcast receiver  11  includes, for example, a television module  101 , a Web browser module  102 , the liquid crystal display (LCD)  103 , a router  104 , a speaker  105 , and a broadcast signal input terminal  107 . 
     An antenna  106  for receiving terrestrial digital broadcast is connected to the broadcast signal input terminal  107 . An antenna (not shown) for receiving BS/CS digital broadcast may be connected to the broadcast signal input terminal  107 . 
     The television module  101  includes a television function of outputting video and audio of a television program which is being broadcast, by using a broadcast signal received via the broadcast signal input terminal  107 . The television module  101  includes, for example, a tuner  111 , a television-integrated processor (television system-on-a-chip (SoC))  112 , a RAM  113 , and a remote control signal receiver  114 . 
     In order to realize viewing of a television program, the television SoC  112  executes a predetermined process, such as demodulation or decoding, on a broadcast signal such as a terrestrial digital broadcast signal or a BS/CS digital broadcast signal, which has been received by the tuner  111 . Thereby, the television SoC  112  displays first video on the LCD  103  by using video data of a broadcast program, and outputs audio to the speaker  105  by using audio data of the broadcast program. The video data and audio data are carried by the broadcast signal. The television SoC  112  also includes a function of storing electronic program guide (EPG) information, which is included in the broadcast signal, in the RAM  113 . 
     The television SoC  112  further includes a function of receiving external video data and external audio data (i.e. digital video signal and audio signal) which have been output by the Web browser module  102 , by using a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) connection with the Web browser module  102 . The television SoC  112  displays either first video using video data of a broadcast program, or second video using external video data output from the Web browser module  102 , on the LCD  103  by a function of switching an input video signal. In addition, the television SoC  112  includes a function of communicating with the Web browser module  102  (“inter-CPU communication”) by using a network connection such as a LAN (Ethernet™) with the Web browser module  102 . By using this communication, the operation of the entirety of the digital broadcast receiver  11  can be controlled. By using this LAN connection, the television SoC  112  requests the Web browser module  102  to execute, for example, a Web search relating to a broadcast program. 
     The remote control signal receiver  114  receives a control signal (e.g. an infrared signal) transmitted from the remote controller  108 . This control signal is associated with an operation by the user with use of the remote controller  108 . The remote control signal receiver  114  outputs the received control signal to the television SoC  112 . Based on the control signal output from the remote control signal receiver  114 , the television SoC  112  controls, for example, switching of a channel, turning up/down of sound volume, switching of an input signal, and operations on various menu screens. 
     The Web browser module  102  has a hardware configuration (motherboard) which is similar to the hardware configuration of a computer such as a notebook-type personal computer (PC) or a tablet-type PC, in order to execute a Web browser application program  123 A. There is known a digital broadcast receiver which also realizes a Web browser function, for example, by a television module for realizing a television function. With the hardware capability of this television module (television SoC), however, it is difficult to provide a sufficient function as a Web browser. In addition, there is a possibility that a response to a search request by the user delays. Taking this into account, in the present embodiment, the Web browser module  102  is provided separately from the television module  101 . Thereby, a Web browser function with a higher capability can be provided. 
     The Web browser module  102  includes, for example, a CPU  121 , a chip set  122 , and a RAM  123 . 
     The CPU  121  controls the operations of the respective components in the Web browser module  102 . The CPU  121  executes various programs, such as the Web browser application program  123 A loaded in the RAM  123 . The Web browser application program  123 A is software for executing a Web browser function. The Web browser application program  123 A executes, for example, a search process for executing a Web search (hereinafter, also referred to as “Internet search”) relating to a broadcast program which is being viewed, and a display control process for displaying a Web page including a search result, etc. on the LCD  103 . The Web browser application program  123 A may be executed on the background, while a broadcast program is being viewed by the television function of the television module  101 . Thereby, it is possible to enhance a response at a time when a Web search has been requested by the television module  101  (television SoC  112 ). 
     The chip set  122  includes a graphics function, and includes a function of transmitting (outputting) external video data and external audio data to the television module  101  by using the HDMI connection with the television module  101 . The chip set  122  includes a function of communicating with the television module  101  by using a network connection such as a LAN (Ethernet) with the television module  101 . In this network connection, the chip set  122  can further access the Internet via the router  104 . The Web browser application program  123 A, which is executed by the CPU  121 , executes a Web search by accessing the Internet via the router  104 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the functional configuration of the television module  101 . The television SoC  112  includes an airwave processor  201 , a video processor  202 , a controller  203 , an HDMI receiver  204 , an inter-module communication module  205 , an HDMI terminal  206 , and a LAN terminal  207 . 
     The airwave processor  201  demodulates a broadcast signal selected (received) by the tuner  111 , and extracts video data and audio data of a broadcast program, and service information (SI) including information for displaying an electronic program guide (EPG). The airwave processor  201  outputs the extracted video data and audio data, and service information to the video processor  202 . 
     In addition, the HDMI receiver  204  receives external video data and external audio data via the HDMI terminal  206 . The HDMI receiver  204  receives external video data and external audio data, for example, from the Web browser module  102  which is connected via the HDMI terminal  206 . The HDMI receiver  204  outputs the received external video data and external audio data to the video processor  202 . 
     The video processor  202  executes either a first process or a second process. The first process includes displaying on the LCD  103  video by using the video data which has been output by the airwave processor  201 . The second process includes displaying on the LCD  103  video by using the external video data which has been output by the HDMI receiver  204 . In the first process and second process, target video data is subjected to a predetermined digital signal process such as decoding. In the description below, first video, which is displayed by the first process, is also referred to as “television screen”, and second video, which is displayed by the second process, is also referred to as “Web browser screen”. For example, responding to a request by the controller  203 , the video processor  202  selects either the first process or the second process, thereby displaying either the television screen or the Web browser screen on the LCD  103 . Incidentally, in the first process, audio may also be output to the speaker  105  by using the audio data which has been output by the airwave processor  201 . In addition, in the second process, audio may be output to the speaker  105  by using the external audio data which has been output by the HDMI receiver  204 , or audio may be output to the speaker  105  by using the audio data which has been output by the airwave processor  201 . 
     Furthermore, the video processor  202  outputs the service information (SI) which has been output by the airwave processor  201 , to the controller  203 . 
     The controller  203  controls the operations of the respective components in the television SoC  101 . The controller  203  includes an EPG processor  203 A, a search instruction module  203 B and a user operation processor  203 C. 
     The EPG processor  203 A extracts information for displaying an EPG, from the service information (SI) which has been output by the video processor  202 . The EPG processor  203 A extracts, for example, an event information table (EIT) from the SI. In this EIT, EPG information, such as a start time, a program length, a program title, a performer name and a program genre, is described in association with each program (event). The EPG processor  203 A accumulates the EPG information by storing the EPG information in the RAM  113  or the like. 
     In accordance with various control signals which are received by the remote control signal receiver  114 , the user operation processor  203 C executes processes associated with the control signals. As described above, the remote control signal receiver  114  receives a control signal which is output in accordance with an operation using the remote controller  108 , and outputs the received control signal to the user operation processor  203 C. Accordingly, in the user operation processor  203 C, a process, which is associated with the operation using the remote controller  108 , is executed. 
     For example, while a broadcast program is being viewed, in response to a control signal indicative of channel switching output from the remote control signal receiver  114 , the user operation processor  203 C requests the tuner  111  to select a broadcast signal corresponding to a channel after switching. In addition, while a Web browser screen is being displayed, in response to a control signal indicative of channel switching output from the remote control signal receiver  114 , the user operation processor  2030  requests the tuner  111  to select a broadcast signal corresponding to a channel after switching, and also requests the video processor  202  to switch the screen of the LCD  103  from the Web browser screen to a television screen. 
     Besides, for example, while a broadcast program is being viewed (i.e. while a television screen is being displayed), in response to a control signal indicative of a Web search output from the remote control signal receiver  114 , the user operation processor  203 C notifies the search instruction module  203 B that a Web search relating to the viewed program has been requested, and also requests the video processor  202  to switch the screen of the LCD  103  from the television screen to a Web browser screen (i.e. to execute switching from the first process to the second process). In response to a control signal indicative of a Web search output from the remote control signal receiver  114  while a Web browser screen is being displayed, the user operation processor  203 C requests the video processor  202  to switch the screen of the LCD  103  from the Web browser screen to a television screen (i.e. to execute switching from the second process to the first process). 
     Furthermore, in response to the output of a control signal indicative of an operation on an object (e.g. a button, an input area, a link to a Web page, etc.) in a screen while a Web browser screen is being displayed, the user operation processor  203 C notifies the search instruction module  203 B of information indicative of the description of the operation. This operation on the object is, for example, an operation indicative of an upward/downward/leftward/rightward direction or an operation indicative of decision, like an operation on a menu screen. 
     Similarly, in response to a control signal output from the remote control signal receiver  114  to the user operation processor  203 C, the user operation processor  203 C requests the respective components in the television module  101  to execute processes for varying a sound volume, switching an input signal, operating an object (GUI) in a screen, etc. 
     In response to the notification of a Web search request from the user operation processor  203 C, the search instruction module  203 B requests the Web browser module  102  via the internal LAN connection to execute a Web search relating a program that is being viewed. In addition, the search instruction module  203 B transmits operation information indicative of the description of the operation on the Web browser screen, which has been output from the user operation processor  203 C, to the Web browser module  102  via the internal LAN connection. 
     In the communication via the internal LAN connection, the communication with the Web browser module  102 , which is connected via the LAN terminal  207 , is controlled by the inter-module communication module  205 . The inter-module communication module  205  transmits to the Web browser module  102 , for example, data including a Web search request that is output from the search instruction module  203 B, program information, operation information indicative of the description of an operation on the Web browser screen, etc. 
     In addition, the inter-module communication module  205  receives from the Web browser module  102  the data including a request for transmission of program information. The inter-module communication module  205  outputs the received data to the search instruction module  203 B. 
     In response to the request for transmission of program information output from the inter-module communication module  205 , the search instruction module  203 B extracts program information associated with a program, which is being viewed, from the EPG information stored in the RAM  113 , and then transmits the extracted program information to the Web browser module  102  via the internal LAN connection (inter-module communication module  205  and LAN terminal  207 ). 
     Next, referring to  FIG. 4 , a description is given of the functional structure of the Web browser module  102 . The CPU  121  (the Web browser application program  123 A executed by the CPU  121 ) includes an HTML page generator  301 , a keyword analyzer  302 , an internet search module  303 , an inter-module communication module  304 , and a display controller  305 . The chip set  122  includes an HDMI transmitter  306 , and HDMI terminal  307  and a LAN terminal  308 . 
     The inter-module communication module  304  controls communication with the television module  101  which is connected (“internal LAN connection”) via the LAN terminal  308 . The LAN terminal  207  of the television module  101  and the LAN terminal  308  of the Web browser module  102  are connected, for example, by a LAN cable. The inter-module communication module  304  receives from the television module  101 , for example, the data including a Web search request, program information, and operation information indicative of an operation on a Web browser screen. The inter-module communication module  304  outputs the received data to the HTML page generator  301 . 
     In the description below, to begin with, a description is given of the operation of the Web browser module  102  at a time when a Web search request, which was output from the inter-module communication module  304 , has been received. 
     The HTML page generator  301  generates, for example, a HTML-format Web page, in response to the Web search request output from the inter-module communication module  304 . To be more specific, in response to the Web search request, the HTML page generator  301  generates a Web page (hereinafter, also referred to as “in-search page”) which indicates that a search is being executed. The HTML page generator  301  outputs the generated in-search page to the display controller  305 . 
     Subsequently, the HTML page generator  301  generates a Web page including a Web search result relating to a program which is being viewed. To be more specific, the HTML page generator  301  requests, via the internal LAN connection, the television module  101  (search instruction module  203 B) to transmit program information associated with the program. The HTML page generator  301  acquires the program information which has been transmitted from the television module  101 . Then, the HTML page generator  301  outputs the acquired program information to the keyword analyzer  302 . 
     The keyword analyzer  302  analyzes the program information output from the HTML page generator  301 , thereby extracting a keyword relating to the program. The keyword analyzer  302  executes, for example, a morphological analysis of a character string (text information) included in the program information, thereby extracting a program title or a performer name of the program. The keyword analyzer  302  extracts a word corresponding to a program title or a performer name from program information in languages such as English, as well as program information in Japanese. The keyword analyzer  302  outputs a list of keywords including extracted program titles and performer names to the HTML page generator  301 . 
     The HTML page generator  301  outputs to the internet search module  303  a specific keyword (first keyword) of the keywords extracted by the keyword analyzer  302 . This specific keyword is, for example, a program title. 
     The internet search module  303  executes a Web search by using the keyword output from the HTML page generator  301 . The internet search module  303  accesses the Internet, for example, via the router  104  that is connected to LAN. The internet search module  303  transmits the specific keyword as a search word to a predetermined server (Web search site) on the Internet, thereby acquiring information relating to this keyword. Besides, the internet search module  303  may execute a Web search, for example, by using an API which is provided by a Web search site on the Internet and has the same function as a Web search based on a search word. Thereby, the internet search module  303  retrieves a search result including information of Web sites associated with the keyword (e.g. a URL of a Web site, or a part of the text in the Web site). The internet search module  303  outputs the retrieved search result to the HTML page generator  301 . 
     The HTML page generator  301  generates a Web page (hereinafter, also referred to as “search result page”) by using the search result output from the internet search module  303 . This Web page includes, for example, a list of keywords extracted by the keyword analyzer  302 , and a search result output from the internet search module  303 . The HTML page generator  301  outputs the generated search result page to the display controller  305 . 
     The display controller  305  generates external video data for displaying the Web page (in-search page, search result page) output from the HTML page generator  301 . The display controller  305  outputs the generated external video data to the HDMI transmitter  306 . 
     The HDMI transmitter  306  transmits the external video data, which has been output from the display controller  305 , to the television module  101  (HDMI receiver  204 ) which is connected (HDMI connection) via the HDMI terminal  307 . The HDMI terminal  206  of the television module  101  and the HDMI terminal  307  of the Web browser module  102  are connected, for example, by an HDMI cable. In the television module  101 , a Web browser screen is displayed on the LCD  103  by using this external video data. 
     Next, a description is given of the operation of the Web browser module  102  at a time when operation information indicative of an operation on the Web browser screen, which is displayed on the LCD  103 , has been received. When the search instruction module  203 B of the television module  101  has received, while the Web browser screen is being displayed, a control signal indicative of an operation, such as movement of a focus or selection (decision) of an object, from the remote control signal receiver  114 , the search instruction module  203 B transmits the corresponding operation information to the Web browser module  102  in association with each operation (control signal). The Web browser module  102  updates the Web page that is displayed, in accordance with the operation information which has been output from the inter-module communication module  304  and is indicative of the description of the operation on the Web browser screen. 
     Specifically, when the operation information is indicative of an operation of selecting a new keyword, the HTML page generator  301  causes the Internet search module  303  to execute a Web search using the new keyword, thereby generating a Web page including a search result relating to the new keyword. In addition, when the operation information is indicative of an operation of selecting a link embedded in the Web page, the HTML page generator  301  causes the Internet search module  303  to access the destination of this link, thereby receiving a Web page at the destination of the link. Specifically, the HTML page generator  301  generates (or receives) a Web page which is to be newly displayed, in accordance with the operation indicated in the operation information. 
     The display controller  305  generates external video data for displaying a Web browser screen including the Web page generated by the HTML page generator  301 . In the meantime, the display controller  305  may update the external video data for displaying the Web browser screen in accordance with operation information each time the operation information has been received. For example, the display controller  305  updates the external video data so that a Web browser screen in response to an operation by the user (e.g. animation at a time when a button on the Web browser screen has been pressed, or movement of the focus in the keyword list) is displayed. By the above-described operation, the user can intuitively execute an operation on not only the television screen but also the Web browser screen. 
     In the meantime, the HDMI terminal  206  of the television module  101  and the HDMI terminal  307  of the Web browser module  102  are provided within the housing of the digital broadcast receiver  11  and are connected by a dedicated HDMI cable. Specifically, since the HDMI terminals  206  and  306  are invisible from the outside of the housing and are not opened for the use by the user, the user is unable to connect an external video device, etc., which output video data, to the HDMI terminals  206  and  306 . 
     Next, referring to  FIG. 5 , a description is given of an example in which a television screen  5  and a Web browser screen  6  are switched and displayed on the LCD  103 . For example, while the user is viewing a program “News X” on the television screen  5 , the user performs an operation of requesting a Web search. In response to this operation, the Web browser screen  6  including a program information search page is displayed. The Web browser screen (program information search page)  6  includes, for example, a program title area  61 , a performer name area  62 , a keyword area  63 , and a search result area  64 . In the program title area  61 , a program title included in EPG information, which corresponds to the program that is being viewed, is displayed. In the performer name area  62 , a list of performer names included in the EPG information is displayed. In the keyword area  63 , a keyword that is used for a Web search is input. In the search result area  64 , a Web search result is displayed. 
     The user performs an operation of selecting one of keywords in the program title area  61  and performer name area  62 , thus being able to check information relating to the program that is being viewed (i.e. “News X”). Thus, the user can easily acquire information relating to the program that is being viewed, without performing an operation of manually inputting a character string of a search target by using a keyboard, etc. 
     In addition, when the television screen  5  has been switched to the Web browser screen  6 , a Web search can automatically be executed by using a keyword (specific keyword) belonging to a predetermined category. For example, it is assumed that a program title is set as this predetermined category. In this case, as in the Web browser screen  6  shown in  FIG. 5 , “News X” is set in the keyword area  63 , and a Web search result for the “News X” is displayed in the search result area  64 . That is, a Web search using the program title “News X” is automatically executed. Thereby, the search result relating to the program that is being viewed (e.g. a search result relating to the program title “News X”) can be displayed on the Web browser screen  6 , by simply switching the television screen  5  to the Web browser screen  6 . 
     Next, referring to  FIG. 6 , a description is given of an operation on a program information search page  65  which is displayed on the Web browser screen  6 . On the Web browser screen  6 , a plurality of Web pages can be switched and displayed by using a plurality of tabs. It is now assumed that the program information search page  65  is displayed on a tab  65 A. 
     The program information search page  65  includes, for example, two panes, namely a left pane  65 L and a right pane  65 R. In the left area  65 L, a list of keywords (program title area  61  and performer name area  62 ), which are usable for a Web search, is displayed. An item  611  corresponding to a program title in the program title area  61  and items  621 ,  622  and  623  corresponding to performer names in the performer name area  62  are displayed such that these items are selectable. In response to one of the items  611 ,  621 ,  622  and  623  having been selected, a Web search using the selected item as a keyword is executed. 
     In addition, in the right pane  65 R, the keyword area  63 , which indicates a keyword selected from the list, and the search result area  64 , which indicates a result of the Web search using the selected keyword, are displayed. In the search result area  64 , for example, a search result, which is described in HTML, is displayed. The search result is described, for example, such that a title of a Web page and a part of the content of the Web page, are arranged in association with each of Web pages. The described title of the Web page includes a link function of a link to this Web page associated with the keyword used for the Web search. Titles (character strings)  641 ,  642  and  643  having the link function of links to Web pages are displayed to be selectable. In response to the title  641 ,  642 ,  643  having been selected, a Web page associated with (i.e. linked to) this title is displayed. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 6 , in response to the user having selected the item “Tanaka Ichiro”  621  of the performer name, the performer name “Tanaka Ichiro” is displayed in the keyword area  63 , and a Web search result of the Web search using “Tanaka Ichiro” as a keyword is displayed in the search result area  64 . In addition, in response to the user having selected one title (character string) of the character strings  641 ,  642  and  643  corresponding to the titles in the search result area  64 , a Web page  66 , which is linked to the selected title, is displayed. This Web page  66  is displayed, for example, on a tab  66 A. Accordingly, by selecting either of the tabs  65 A and  66 A, the user can cause the program information search page  65  or Web page  66 , which corresponds to the selected tab, to be displayed. 
     The above-described operation is performed by using, for example, the remote controller  108 . 
       FIG. 7  shows an example of the remote controller  108  for inputting various control signals which are transmitted to the remote control signal receiver  114 . In response to the pressing of an operation button, the remote controller  108  transmits a control signal corresponding to this operation button. The remote controller  108  includes, for example, a “search” button  401 , an “up” button  402 U, a “down” button  402 D, a “left” button  402 L, a “right” button  402 R, a “decision” button  403 , a plurality of “channel number” buttons  404 , an “input switch” button  405 , a “channel ascending-order switch” button  406 U, and a “channel descending-order switch” button  406 D. 
     The “search” button  401  is a button for starting an Internet search relating to a broadcast program that is being viewed. In response to the pressing of the “search” button  401  while the video of broadcast program data (i.e. television screen  5 ) is being displayed on the LCD  103 , the video displayed on the LCD  103  is switched from the television screen  5  to the Web browser screen  6  for the Internet search relating to the broadcast program. In addition, in response to the pressing of the “search” button  401  while the Web browser screen  6  is being displayed on the LCD  103 , the video displayed on the LCD  103  is switched from the Web browser screen  6  to the television screen  5 . In short, each time the “search” button  401  is pressed, the television screen  5  and Web browser screen  6  are alternately displayed. 
     The “decision” button  403 , “up” button  402 U, “down” button  402 D, “left” button  402 L, and “right” button  402 R are buttons for manipulating a graphical user interface (GUI) such as a menu displayed on the screen. In the program information search page  65  shown in  FIG. 6 , for example, in response to the pressing of the “right” button  402 R at a time when the item “News X”  611  in the left pane  65 L is in the selected state (focused state), the keyword area  63  in the right pane  65 R is set in the selected state. In addition, for example, in response to the pressing of the “down” button  402 D at a time when the item “News X”  611  is in the selected state, the item “Tanaka Ichiro”  621  is set in the selected state. Specifically, in response to the pressing of the “up” button  402 U, “down” button  402 D, “left” button  402 L, and “right” button  402 R, the select state (focus) for an object in the screen is moved. In response to the pressing of the “decision” button  403  at a time when any one of objects is set in the selected state, a process which is associated with this object is executed. For example, in response to the pressing of the “decision” button  403  at a time when the item “Tanaka Ichiro”  621  is set in the selected state, a Web search by a keyword “Tanaka Ichiro” is executed, and the search result is displayed in the search result area  64 . Thus, the user can instruct execution of a Web search relating to the broadcast program, by selecting one keyword from the list of keywords in the program title area  61  and performer name area  62 . In addition, when the title  641  in the search result area  64  is in the set in the selected state, the Web page  66  linked to the title  641  is displayed in response to the pressing of the “decision” button  403 . 
     The “channel number” buttons  404  are buttons for switching to a channel corresponding to each of the buttons  404 . The “channel ascending-order switch” button  406 U is a button for switching channels in an ascending order. The “channel descending-order switch” button  406 D is a button for switching channels in a descending order. 
     The “input switch” button  405  is a button for switching an input signal (input source) which is used for video display on the LCD  103 . The input signal used for video display is, for example, video data which has been generated by the television module  101 , video data which has been generated by the Web browser module  102 , or video data which has been input via an external input terminal (not shown). Incidentally, the “input switch” button  405  may be a button for further switching an input signal used for audio output by the speaker  105 . The input signal which is used for audio output is, for example, audio data which has been generated by the television module  101 , audio data which has been generated by the Web browser module  102 , or audio data which has been input via the external input terminal. 
     Next, referring to  FIG. 8 , a description is given of an example of the procedure of a display control process by the digital broadcast receiver  11 . In the process shown in  FIG. 8 , it is assumed that the user requests a Web search relating to a broadcast program while the user is viewing this broadcast program. 
     To start with, the LCD  103  displays a television screen  5  by using video data output from the video processor  202  (block B 101 ). To be more specific, the airwave processor  201  demodulates a broadcast signal of a first channel which has been selected from receivable broadcast signals of channels by the tuner  111 . The airwave processor  201  then extracts video data and audio data, and service information (SI) including information (EPG information) for displaying an electronic program guide, form the demodulated signal. The video processor  202  executes the first process of displaying video on the LCD  103  and outputting audio to the speaker  105  by using the video data and audio data. The LCD  103  displays first video (i.e. a television screen  5 ) by using video data which has been subjected to the first process. The speaker  105  outputs audio by using audio data which has been subjected to the first process. In addition, the EPG processor  203 A extracts the EPG information included in the SI during the first process, and then stores the extracted EPG information in the RAM  113 , a storage device, or the like. 
     The user presses the “search” button  401  on the remote controller  108 , while the user is viewing a program (i.e. during the first process of broadcast program data) (block B 102 ). The remote control signal receiver  114  of the television module  101  receives a control signal (search command) for requesting a Web search relating to the program, from the remote controller  108 . The remote control signal receiver  114  outputs the received signal to the user operation processor  203 C. Then, in response to the control signal from the remote control signal receiver  114 , the user operation processor  203 C notifies the search instruction module  203 B and video processor  202  that the Web search has been requested. 
     In response to this notification, the search instruction module  203 B requests the Web browser module  102  to execute a search process via an internal LAN connection (inter-module communication module  205  and LAN terminal  207 ) (block B 103 ). In addition, in response to the notification by the user operation processor  203 C, the video processor  202  switches the screen that is displayed on the LCD  103  from the television screen  5  to the Web browser screen  6  (block B 104 ). Specifically, the video processor  202  switches the video data, which is output to the LCD  103 , from the video data output from the airwave processor  201  to the external video data output from the HDMI receiver  204 . The LCD  103  displays the Web browser screen  6  by using the external video data output from the video processor  202  (block B 105 ). 
     Next, the HTML page generator  301  of the Web browser module  102  generates a Web page (in-search page) which indicates that “a search is being executed”, in response to a request from the search instruction module  203 B of the television module  101 , and the display controller  305  transmits external video data for displaying the generated Web page to the television module  101  via the HDMI connection (HDMI transmitter  306  and HDMI terminal  307 ) (block B 106 ). 
     Since the external video data transmitted from the Web browser module  102  is output to the LCD  103  by the switching to the Web browser screen  6  in block B 105 , the LCD  103  displays the in-search page (block B 107 ). 
     Next, the HTML page generator  301  requests the television module  101  to transmit program information relating to the program that is being viewed (i.e. program information of the channel that is being viewed when the Web search has been requested) via the internal LAN connection (inter-module communication module  304  and LAN terminal  308 ) (block B 108 ). 
     In response to the request from the HTML page generator  301 , the search instruction module  203 B reads from the RAM  113  the program information corresponding to the program that is being viewed, and transmits the read program information to the Web browser module  102  via the internal LAN connection (block B 109 ). 
     The HTML page generator  301  receives the transmitted program information via the internal LAN connection, and the keyword analyzer  302  of the Web browser module  102  detects keywords included in the program information by analyzing the received program information (block B 110 ). Using detected keywords, the keyword analyzer  302  generates a list of keywords in the program information (block B 111 ). Then, the internet search module  303  executes an Internet search (Web search) using a specific keyword of the keywords in the generated list (block B 112 ). The internet search module  303  acquires a Web search result relating the specific keyword, for example, by using the API for executing a search process which is similar to a search on a Web search site. 
     The HTML page generator  301  generates a Web page (search result page)  65  including the keyword list and the Web search result (block B 113 ). Then, the display controller  305  transmits external video data for displaying the generated search result page  65  to the television module  101  via the HDMI connection. The LCD  103  displays the search result page  65  including the keyword list and the Web search result, by using the transmitted external video data (block B 114 ). 
     For example, by an operation of pressing the “up” button  402 U or “down” button  402 D on the remote controller  108 , the user sets one keyword in the selected state, which is selected from the keyword list (program title area  61  and performer name area  62 ) displayed on the search result page (block B 115 ). Specifically, the user moves the focus of the keyword by the operation of pressing the “up” button  402 U or “down” button  402 D. Then, by an operation of pressing the “decision” button  403  on the remote controller  108 , the user requests a Web search relating to the selected keyword (focused keyword) (block B 116 ). Specifically, the remote control signal receiver  114  of the television module  101  receives a control signal indicative of “up”, a control signal indicative of “down” or a control signal indicative of “decision”, which has been output from the remote controller  108 . The remote control signal receiver  114  outputs the received control signal to the user operation processor  203 C. The user operation processor  203 C notifies the search instruction module  203 B of the operation information corresponding to the control signal output from the remote control signal receiver  114 . The search instruction module  203 B transmits the operation information to the Web browser module  102  via the internal LAN connection. 
     Using this operation information, the HTML page generator  301  detects a keyword in the keyword list, which has been selected by the user, and the internet search module  303  executes once again an Internet search by this keyword, thereby acquiring a search result relating to the selected keyword (block B 117 ). Using the acquired search result, the HTML page generator  301  updates the search result page  65  displayed on the LCD  103  (block B 118 ). The display controller  305  transmits external video data for displaying the updated search result page  65  to the television module  101  via the HDMI. Using the transmitted external video data, the LCD  103  displays the updated search result page  65  (block B 119 ). 
     Next, the user executes, for example, an operation of pressing the “search” button  401  or any one of the “channel” buttons  404  on the remote controller  108 , thereby requesting that the screen displayed on the LCD  103  be switched from the Web browser screen  6  to the television screen  5  (block B 120 ). Specifically, the remote control signal receiver  114  of the television module  101  receives a control signal for requesting the switching to the television screen  5 , from the remote controller  108 . The remote control signal receiver  114  outputs the received control signal to the user operation processor  203 C. Then, the user operation processor  203 C notifies the video processor  202  that the switching to the television screen  5  has been requested. In the meantime, when a control signal corresponding to the “channel” button  404  is received from the remote control signal receiver  114 , the user operation processor  203 C may further request the tuner  111  to select a broadcast signal of this channel. 
     In response to the notification by the user operation processor  203 , the video processor  202  switches the screen on the LCD  103  from the Web browser screen  6  to the television screen  5  (block B 121 ). Specifically, the video processor  202  switches the video data, which is output to the LCD  103 , from the external video data output from the HDMI receiver  204  to the video data output from the airwave processor  201 . The LCD  103  displays the television screen  5  by using the video data output from the video processor  202  (block B 122 ). 
     As has been described above, according to the present embodiment, a Web search result relating to a program that is being viewed can quickly be presented in response to a request by the user. When a predetermined operation by the user has been executed while the video of the broadcast program is being displayed on the LCD  103 , keywords are extracted from the EPG information which is associated with this broadcast program. Then, using a specific keyword of the extracted keywords, a Web search can also be automatically executed. Thereby, without the user performing an operation of inputting a character string by using a keyboard or the like, a Web search result using the keyword relating to the broadcast program can be displayed on the screen. 
     Besides, the digital broadcast receiver  11  of this embodiment is provided with the television module  101  which realizes a television function, and the Web browser module  102  which realizes a Web browser function. The television screen  5  and Web browser screen  6  are switched, for example, in accordance with an operation by the user, and are displayed. In this manner, by providing the separate modules for the television function and Web browser function, a Web search result relating to the program that is being viewed can quickly be presented in accordance with the request by the user. 
     The various modules of the systems described herein can be implemented as software applications, hardware and/or software modules, or components on one or more computers, such as servers. While the various modules are illustrated separately, they may share some or all of the same underlying logic or code. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.