Patent ID: 8732762

Claim:
An information providing apparatus that is capable of connecting via a communication network with a broadcast information reception terminal, which obtains and displays program contents and program contents-related electronic contents guide (ECG) information related to the program contents, and with an information acquisition terminal, which obtains and displays the program contents-related ECG information, and provides said program contents-related ECG information to said broadcast reception terminal and said information acquisition terminal, comprising: an ECG information storage unit that stores said program contents-related ECG information in correspondence to the program contents; an ECG module configuring unit that configures an ECG module in correspondence to the program contents, made up with a plurality of sets of ECG information including ECG information containing tuning information to be used to allow said broadcast reception terminal to select the program contents; a timing information setting unit that sets timing information, which will allow said ECG module corresponding to the program contents to be provided to said information acquisition terminal by linking with consignment of the program contents to said broadcast reception terminal; and an ECG module providing unit that provides, in conformance to said timing information, said ECG module corresponding to the program contents to said information acquisition terminal capable of providing said tuning information to said broadcast reception terminal, wherein the ECG module includes correlating information, and when ECG information of an other ECG module is selected and identification information of the selected ECG information is included in the correlation information, then linkage between the ECG module and the other ECG module is enabled.