Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a digital television receiver for receiving television picture signals and a method of changing a graphical user interface (hereinafter, referred to as “GUI”) used for the digital television receiver.  
           [0003]    2. Related Background Art  
           [0004]    Up to now, operation screens for computer equipment can be changed in GUI by a user for the ease of use according to his/her purpose by changing decorative information (such as an appearance and a skin), changing an operation form (changing a chrome registry or an operation device), creating a set of aliases (such as links and shortcuts) of operation items (using a launcher etc.), or the like.  
           [0005]    Also, patches and software necessary for various changes can be obtained by being searched for through the Internet, being downloaded therefrom, and being installed into a system of the computer system.  
           [0006]    However, in the case of a digital television system, it requires difficult operations for a user to customize a menu screen by searching through the Internet for the patches and software and downloading them.  
           [0007]    It is also unpreferable that wide-ranging users of the digital television system perform customization of its operation screens, while the customization of operation screens is usually performed on the computer equipment by the users who are relatively accustomed to the customization operation.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital television receiver in which a user on a digital television side selects a program from among programs for changing an operation screen of a digital television system, which have undergone push-type distribution by being superposed on a broadcast wave, making it possible to customize a GUI by a simple operation, and also provide a GUI changing method for the digital television receiver.  
           [0009]    The gist of the present invention also resides in a digital television receiver, including:  
           [0010]    a television picture signal;  
           [0011]    receiving means for receiving a program for changing a GUI;  
           [0012]    installing means for selectively installing the program received by the receiving means; and  
           [0013]    changing means for executing the installed program to change the GUI.  
           [0014]    The installing means may preferably determine whether to install the program received by the receiving means based on an instruction by a user.  
           [0015]    The digital television receiver may further include display means for displaying a menu screen.  
           [0016]    The digital television receiver may further include storage means for storing user&#39;s preference information,  
           [0017]    keyword information relating to the program may be received, and  
           [0018]    when the keyword information coincides with the user&#39;s preference information stored in the storage means, the program received by the receiving means may be installed.  
           [0019]    The installing means may include:  
           [0020]    notifying means for notifying a user when the keyword information coincides with the user&#39;s preference information; and  
           [0021]    executing means for determining to execute installation of the program based on an instruction by the user.  
           [0022]    The changing of the GUI is performed by changing at least one selected from a layout of a menu screen (including addition of a menu item), a button assignment for a remote control, and a decoration of the menu screen.  
           [0023]    The keyword information is characteristics information of a remote control,  
           [0024]    the preference information is tendency information for a user&#39;s operation, and  
           [0025]    the program to be installed may be selected based on comparison between the characteristics information and the tendency information.  
           [0026]    The tendency information includes at least one of a history of an operation for executing a given  10  function, a type of misoperation caused before execution of the given function, a hand holding the remote control, and information as to whether the remote control is laid in use or held in use.  
           [0027]    Characteristics information of a remote control may be received, and  
           [0028]    the program to be installed may be selected based on the received characteristics information of the remote control.  
           [0029]    The gist of the present invention resides in a GUI changing method for a digital television receiver, including:  
           [0030]    receiving a television signal;  
           [0031]    receiving a program for changing a GUI;  
           [0032]    selectively installing the received program; and  
           [0033]    changing the GUI by executing the installed program.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0034]    [0034]FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a digital television system to which a method of changing a graphical user interface according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of an operation for changing the graphical user interface;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a structure of a user profile;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a structure of distributed graphical user interface information;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of contents of a header for the distributed graphical user interface information;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another example of the user profile;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an additional operation screen image with a purpose of program advertisement;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for notifying a user of reception of software for adding an additional operation screen image;  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 9 shows a configuration of a digital television system to which a method of changing a graphical user interface according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is applied;  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a flow of an operation for changing the graphical user interface;  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a structure of a user profile;  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a structure of distributed graphical user interface information;  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of contents of a header for the distributed graphical user interface information;  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 14 is a diagram showing another example of the user profile;  
         [0048]    [0048]FIGS. 15A and 15B are diagrams showing an example of how a menu screen appears before and after changing a menu screen image;  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for notifying a user of reception of software including decoration information for the menu screen image;  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 17 shows a configuration of a digital television system to which a method of changing a graphical user interface according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention is applied;  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a flow of an operation for changing the graphical user interface;  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a structure of a user profile;  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a structure of distributed remote control information;  
         [0054]    [0054]FIGS. 21A, 21B and  21 C are diagrams showing a flow for calculating a degree of recommendation for the remote control to the user;  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for notifying the user of a new remote control suitable for the user;  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a main control device of the remote control;  
         [0057]    [0057]FIGS. 24A and 24B are diagrams showing an example of how a menu screen appears before and after changing an operation form for the menu screen;  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for notifying the user of reception of software including a program that provides an operation form corresponding to the remote control;  
         [0059]    [0059]FIG. 26 shows a configuration of a digital television system to which a method of changing a graphical user interface according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention is applied;  
         [0060]    [0060]FIGS. 27A, 27B and  27 C are diagrams showing a flow for calculating an adaptability of an operation form for a menu screen with respect to a remote control; and  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for notifying the user of a program that provides an operation form suitable for the remote control. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     Embodiment 1  
       [0062]    [0062]FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a digital television system to which a method of changing a graphical user interface according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied.  
         [0063]    In FIG. 1, a digital television system  101  includes a signal receiver  103  for receiving from a signal transmitter  102  a broadcast wave (including television picture signals) broadcast by a program broadcasting side, system software (computer program)  105  including a GUI controller  104  that serves to display a menu and data contents, a display  106  for displaying a picture and a GUI, a user profile database  107  for recording and storing preference information of a user.  
         [0064]    [0064]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of an operation for changing the graphical user interface according to this embodiment.  
         [0065]    In step S 201 , the signal transmitter  102  distributes an archive of software for adding a menu.  
         [0066]    In step S 202 , the digital television system  101  receives the archive at the signal receiver  103 .  
         [0067]    In step S 203 , a header is extracted from the received archive.  
         [0068]    In step S 204 , the user profile database  107  is searched through, and it is checked whether any of keywords included in the header belongs to (is included in) preference keywords included in the user profile database  107  or not. If included, the processing advances to step S 205 , and if not included, the processing advances to step S 207 . The software (program) for adding a menu is thus selected.  
         [0069]    In step S 205 , an inquiry (FIG. 8) is made to a user. If the user wishes to install an additional screen image, the processing advances to step S 206 , and if the user does not wish to, the processing advances to step S 207 .  
         [0070]    In step S 206 , it is determined to execute the installation of the program for adding a menu image, and the installation is executed.  
         [0071]    In step S 207 , the processing finishes.  
         [0072]    The digital television system  101  provides the system software  105  with a mechanism for having a user fill in a questionnaire form on his/her preference information at the time of purchasing a product, or a mechanism for learning the user&#39;s preference information through a user&#39;s operation. Accordingly, the user profile database  107  is created.  
         [0073]    Here, an example structure of the user profile database  107  is shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0074]    In the user profile database  107 , user identification information (user ID)  301  and user&#39;s preference keywords  302  are used to manage user information.  
         [0075]    The preference keywords  302  include words serving as keywords based on information of user&#39;s “favorites”.  
         [0076]    The signal transmitter  102  distributes information (a program) for changing a GUI to the digital television system  101  in each household by superposing the information on the broadcast wave used for a program or a commercial that is being broadcast. The information (program) for changing a GUI is used to display additional screen images for a menu screen of the digital television system  101  for the purpose of providing advertisements and public relations for arbitrary products and planned programs, and an initial operation screen (a portal screen) for relating contents, and other such purposes.  
         [0077]    The distributed program has a header part as shown in FIG. 4. The header part includes a system compatibility information  401  and a preference keyword table  402  of archive. The system compatibility information  401  provided in the header part serves to judge an adaptability of the program with respect to the structure of the digital television system  101 , determine that the program can be applied to the system, and compare the information in the preference keyword table  402  with the user&#39;s preference information. If these information coincide with each other, according to the user&#39;s wish, a main part of data (a program)  403  for displaying the additional screen images is installed into the digital television system  101 .  
         [0078]    The preference keywords  302  included in the user profile database  107  of the digital television system  101  and the preference keyword table  402  included in the distributed information are respectively set by way of the questionnaire or by manual input. In addition, it is possible to (semi)automatically generate the preference keywords  302  by means of keyword extraction from program detail information with reference to a viewing history recorded in a usual state, and the preference keyword table  402  by means of keyword extraction from detail information included in the distributed information.  
         [0079]    For example, description will be made of a case where the structure of FIG. 5 is adopted for the distributed program consisting of the elements  401  to  403 , and the structure of FIG. 6 is adopted for the preference information of a given user included in the user profile database  107  of the digital television system  101 .  
         [0080]    [0080]FIG. 5 shows a system compatibility information  502 , a preference keyword table  503 , and a main part of data  501 . The main part of data  501 , which serves as a substantial information part of the distributed program, is assumed to be a software updater for providing the user with a menu screen image incorporated with a movie commercial as shown in FIG. 7.  
         [0081]    The program of FIG. 5 provides the additional menu screen image relating to the commercial of a new car action movie, and has keywords relating to the contents recorded into the preference keyword table  503  serving as a preference information part.  
         [0082]    From the comparison between the keywords in the preference keyword table  503  as the preference information part and a preference keywords  602  in the user profile database part  107  of the digital television system  101 , it is understood that there are matched keywords and the user may possibly be interested in the distributed program.  
         [0083]    Subsequently, a screen is displayed as shown in FIG. 8 to inquire the user&#39;s judgment as to whether the user will use the distributed program or not. In the case where the user will use the distributed program, the screen image shown in FIG. 7 is added to the menu screen, that is, the GUI is changed.  
         [0084]    According to the above description, it is possible for the user to easily add a menu screen image for utilizing services by being notified of only the image that suits the user&#39;s preference selected from among the distributed additional menu screen images.  
         [0085]    As to the use of user information, description is made in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-297657.  
       Embodiment 2  
       [0086]    [0086]FIG. 9 shows a configuration of a digital television system to which a method of changing a graphical user interface according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is applied.  
         [0087]    In FIG. 9, a digital television system  901  includes a signal receiver  903  for receiving from a signal transmitter  902  a broadcast wave broadcast by a program broadcasting side, system software  905  including a GUI controller  904  that serves to display a menu and data contents, a display  906  for displaying a picture and a GUI, a user profile database  907  for recording and storing preference information of a user.  
         [0088]    [0088]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a flow of an operation for changing the graphical user interface according to this embodiment.  
         [0089]    In step S 1001 , the signal transmitter  902  distributes an archive of software for decorating a menu.  
         [0090]    In step S 1002 , the digital television system  901  receives the archive at the signal receiver  903 .  
         [0091]    In step S 1003 , a header is extracted from the received archive.  
         [0092]    In step S 1004 , the user profile database  907  is searched through, and it is checked whether any of keywords included in the header belongs to (is included in) preference keywords included in the user profile database  907  or not. If included, the processing advances to step S 1005 , and if not included, the processing advances to step S 1007 .  
         [0093]    In step S 1005 , an inquiry (FIG. 16) is made to a user. If the user wishes to install decoration data, the processing advances to step S 1006 , and if the user does not wish to, the processing advances to step S 1007 . Accordingly, selective installation can be performed.  
         [0094]    In step S 1006 , the installation of the decoration data is performed as a program for changing the GUI.  
         [0095]    In step S 1007 , the processing finishes.  
         [0096]    The digital television system  901  provides the system software  905  with a mechanism for having a user fill in a questionnaire form on his/her preference information at the time of purchasing a product, or a mechanism for learning the user&#39;s preference information through a user&#39;s operation. Accordingly, the user profile database  907  is created.  
         [0097]    Here, an example structure of the user profile database  907  is shown in FIG. 11.  
         [0098]    In the user profile database  907 , user identification information (user ID)  1101  and user&#39;s preference keywords  1102  are used to manage user information.  
         [0099]    The preference keywords  1102  include words serving as keywords based on information of user&#39;s “favorites”.  
         [0100]    The signal transmitter  902  distributes information (a program) to the digital television system  901  in each household by superposing the information on the broadcast wave used for a program or a commercial that is being broadcast. The information (program) is used to decorate components (buttons and panels) of a menu screen image of the digital television system  901  for the purpose of enhancing the user&#39;s recognition of the services or increasing the user&#39;s sense of attachment by use of advertisements and public relations for arbitrary products and planned programs, or characters etc. symbolizing the services used as in character goods.  
         [0101]    The distributed program has a header part as shown in FIG. 12. The header part includes a system compatibility information  1201  and a preference keyword table  1202  of archive. The system compatibility information  1201  provided in the header part serves to judge an adaptability of the program with respect to the structure of the digital television system  901 , determine that the program can be applied to the system, and then compare the information in the preference keyword table  1202  with the user&#39;s preference information. If these information coincide with each other, according to the user&#39;s wish, a main part of data (a program)  1203  for decorating the screen components is installed into the digital television system  901 .  
         [0102]    The preference keywords  1102  included in the user profile database  907  of the digital television system  901  and the preference keyword table  1202  included in the distributed program are respectively set by way of the questionnaire or by manual input. In addition, it is possible to (semi)automatically generate the preference keywords  1102  by means of keyword extraction from program detail information with reference to a viewing history recorded in a usual state, and the preference keyword table  1202  by means of keyword extraction from detail information included in the distributed information.  
         [0103]    [0103]FIG. 13 shows system compatibility information  1302 , a preference keyword table  1303 , and a main part of data  1301 . For example, description will be made of a case where the structure of FIG. 13 is adopted for the distributed program consisting of the elements  1201  to  1203 , and the structure of FIG. 14 is adopted for the preference information of a given user included in the user profile database  907  of the digital television system  901 .  
         [0104]    The main part of data  1301 , which serves as a substantial information part of the distributed program, is assumed to provide data and program for changing components as of FIG. 15A into components as of FIG. 15B.  
         [0105]    The menu screen images of FIGS. 15A and 15B are structured by sets of menu items  1501   a  and  1501   b  and menu focuses  1502   a  and  1502   b , respectively. The menu screen image of FIG. 15B is added with a menu selection mascot.  1503   b  that exhibits a visual effect when moving the menu focus  1502   b.    
         [0106]    The program of FIG. 13 provides a screen decoration program relating to the soccer world cup, and the keywords relating to its contents are recorded in the preference keyword table  1303 .  
         [0107]    From the comparison between the keywords in the preference keyword table  1303  and preference keywords  1402  in the user profile database part  907  of the digital television system  901 , it is understood that there are matched keywords and the user may possibly be interested in the distributed program.  
         [0108]    Subsequently, a screen is displayed as shown in FIG. 16 to inquire the user&#39;s judgment as to whether the user will use the distributed program or not. In the case where the user will use the distributed program, the screen image (GUI) is changed as shown in FIG. 15B.  
         [0109]    According to the above description, it is possible to provide a user with a menu screen image suitable for his/her preference by notifying the user of only the function that suits the user&#39;s preference selected from among the distributed additional functions.  
         [0110]    As to the use of keywords, description is made in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-300483.  
       Embodiment 3  
       [0111]    [0111]FIG. 17 shows a configuration of a digital television system to which a method of changing a graphical user interface according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention is applied.  
         [0112]    In FIG. 17, a digital television system  1701  includes a signal receiver  1703  for receiving from a signal transmitter  1702  a broadcast wave broadcast by a program broadcasting side, system software  1707  including a GUI controller  1704  that serves to display a menu and data contents, a remote control receiver  1706  for receiving signals from a remote control  1705 , a display  1708  for displaying a picture and a GUI, a user profile database  1709  for recording and storing preference information and characteristics information of a user.  
         [0113]    [0113]FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a flow of an operation for changing the graphical user interface according to this embodiment.  
         [0114]    In step S 1801 , the signal transmitter  1702  distributes a new remote control information.  
         [0115]    In step S 1802 , the digital television system  1701  receives the new remote control information at the signal receiver  1703 .  
         [0116]    In step S 1803 , a header is extracted from the received archive.  
         [0117]    In step S 1804 , it is checked whether a degree of recommendation for the remote control is equal to or higher than a value set arbitrarily or not. If equal to or higher than the set value, the processing advances to step S 1805 , and if lower than the set value, the processing advances to step S 1807 . Accordingly, selective installation can be performed.  
         [0118]    In step S 1805 , if there is a user&#39;s instruction of purchase and the user wishes to install a program for changing an operating and displaying manner, the processing advances to step S 1806 , and if the user does not wish to, the processing advances to step S 1807 .  
         [0119]    In step S 1806 , it is determined to execute the installation of the program for changing an operating and displaying manner, and the installation is executed.  
         [0120]    In step S 1807 , the processing finishes.  
         [0121]    The remote control  1705  can be selected by the user from among a plurality of the remote controls  1705  that satisfy predetermined criteria (such as a transmission method for signals and a type of button required minimally). The remote control receiver  1706  of the digital television system  1701  is assumed to be capable of receiving signals from any remote control  1705  that satisfies the criteria.  
         [0122]    It is also assumed that the user can selectively use the remote control having an operation device that is his/her “favorite” one or “suitable for his/her physical conditions”.  
         [0123]    The digital television system  1701  provides the system software  1707  with a mechanism for having a user fill in a questionnaire form on his/her preference information and characteristics information at the time of purchasing a product, or a mechanism for learning the user&#39;s preference information and characteristics information through a user&#39;s operation. Accordingly, the user profile database  1709  is created.  
         [0124]    Here, an example structure of the user profile database  1709  is shown in FIG. 19.  
         [0125]    In the user profile database  1709 , user identification information (user ID)  1901 , user&#39;s preference keywords  1902 , and user&#39;s characteristics information parameter part  1903  are used to manage user information.  
         [0126]    The preference keywords  1902  include words serving as keywords based on information of user&#39;s “favorites”.  
         [0127]    The user&#39;s natures are stored in the user&#39;s characteristics information parameter part  1903 . For example, a user&#39;s whip hand, the presence or absence of a physical disability, basic operation using a remote control (whether to use a ten-key numeric pad or keys labeled as “+”, “.”, and “−”), the number of redos for an operation, etc. are recorded. The user&#39;s characteristics information (tendency information for a user&#39;s operation)  1903  includes at least one of a history of an operation for executing a given function, a type of misoperation caused before the execution, a hand holding a remote control, and information as to whether the remote control is laid or held in use.  
         [0128]    The signal transmitter  1702  is used by a manufacturer or the like manufacturing a remote control that can be used in the digital television system  1701  to distribute advertisement information of the manufactured remote control to the digital television system  1701  in each household by superposing the advertisement information on the broadcast wave.  
         [0129]    The distributed advertisement information has a header part and a main part of data as shown in the structure of FIG. 20. The header part includes system compatibility information  2002  and remote control characteristics information  2003 . The system compatibility information  2002  included in the header part is used to judge the adaptability of the remote control with respect to the digital television system  1701 , and check whether the remote control can be applied to the system.  
         [0130]    Then, the degree of recommendation for the remote control to the user is determined based on the remote control characteristics information  2003  notified of in the distributed advertisement information and the user&#39;s characteristics information parameter part  1903  stored in the user profile database  1709  of the digital television system  1701 .  
         [0131]    For example, FIGS. 21A to  21 C shows a flow for obtaining the degree of recommendation. In the case of a user&#39;s profile shown in FIG. 21A, common characteristics with respect to the transmitted characteristics information of the remote control of FIG. 21B are selected. As shown in FIG. 21C, weighting factors (which have been assigned to the characteristics information of the remote control) of the common characteristics are summed up to set the resultant value as the degree of recommendation for the remote control.  
         [0132]    The degree of recommendation for the remote control is thus calculated according to the flow of FIGS. 21A to  21 C, and the user is notified of the remote control with the degree of recommendation exceeding a predetermined value as shown in FIG. 22.  
         [0133]    If the user notified of the information shown in FIG. 22 purchases the remote control, driverware and information (a program) for changing a graphical user interface are distributed.  
         [0134]    The program for changing a graphical user interface which is distributed at this time indicates a program for, in the case where the purchased remote control is, for example, equipped with a bidirectional shuttle device shown in FIG. 23, changing a menu image shown in FIG. 24A into a menu image shown in FIG. 24B.  
         [0135]    When the reception of the distributed program finishes, such notification as shown in FIG. 25 is made to have the user judge whether to adopt the change into a graphical user interface pattern (layout or button assignment for the remote control) suitable for the remote control in use. If the user wishes, the program for changing an operating and displaying manner is installed to the digital television system  1701 .  
         [0136]    According to the above description, the user can receive recommendation of a remote control suitable for the user, and the layout or the button assignment for the remote control can be variously set based on the forms of the remote controls.  
       Embodiment 4  
       [0137]    According to Embodiment 4 of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 26, a network connected portion  2611  for connection with a network and a server  2610  existing in the network are added to the system of FIG. 17 according to Embodiment 3.  
         [0138]    The server  2610  constantly accumulates programs for a graphical user interface (layout or button assignment for the remote control) which is transmitted from the signal transmitter  2602 .  
         [0139]    Although the notification of another remote control may not be received in Embodiment 3, in the case where the number of misoperations for a given operation exceeds a predetermined number, or in the case of having the characteristics information based on which it is judged as being desirable to change the graphical user interface (the judgment is performed by, for example, an agent function), the following process is performed. That is, the digital television side searches through the server  2610  based on the characteristics information, and automatically downloads information (a program) for changing the graphical user interface.  
         [0140]    The server  2610  accumulates programs for changing the graphical user interface, and is accompanied with characteristics information indicating a compatibility with an arbitrary remote control.  
         [0141]    The digital television system  2601  transmits the information on a remote control  2605  currently in use to the server  2610 . The server  2610  that has received the information on the remote control  2605  compares the characteristics information accompanying graphical user interface patterns with the received information, and calculates the adaptability according to the procedure of FIGS. 27A to  27 C.  
         [0142]    In the case where the characteristics information of a given remote control is structured as shown in FIG. 27A, the characteristics information is compared with the characteristics information of a graphical user interface pattern of FIG. 27B, which accompanies an archive of the programs for changing a graphical user interface pattern stored in the server, to select the common characteristics. As shown in FIG. 27C, the weighting factors (which have been assigned to the characteristics information of the graphical user interface pattern) of the common characteristics are summed up to set the resultant value as the adaptability.  
         [0143]    If the calculated adaptability exceeds a predetermined value, the program for changing for the graphical user interface with the adaptability is transmitted to the digital television system  2601 .  
         [0144]    In the digital television system  2601  that has been received the information for changing the graphical user interface, such notification as shown in FIG. 28 is made to have the user judge whether to adopt the change into another graphical user interface pattern (layout or button assignment for the remote control) suitable for the remote control in use. If the user wishes to adopt the change, the digital television system  2601  selectively installs the received program.  
         [0145]    According to the above description, the user can set another operation form (layout or button assignment for the remote control) suitable for the remote control currently in use.  
         [0146]    As described above, the digital television system according to Embodiment 1 includes the display means for organizing the menu screen of the digital television for display, the receiving means for receiving a program for adding an additional menu item and additional menu item group to the menu screen image, the accumulating means for accumulating the user&#39;s preference information, the notifying means for notifying the user of only the program suitable for the user&#39;s preference information based on the relating keywords accompanying the distributed program, and the executing means for executing the application of the program. Thus, the digital television system provides the additional operation screen image.  
         [0147]    According to Embodiment 1, it is possible for a user to easily add a menu screen image for utilizing services by being notified of only the function that suits the user&#39;s preference selected from among the distributed additional functions.  
         [0148]    The digital television system according to Embodiment 2 includes the display means for organizing the menu screen of the digital television for display, the receiving means for receiving a program for decorating the menu screen according to a given theme, the accumulating means for accumulating the user&#39;s preference information, the notifying means for notifying the user of only the program suitable for the user&#39;s preference information based on the relating keywords accompanying the distributed program, and the executing means for executing the application of the program. Thus, the digital television system decorates the operation screen for the user.  
         [0149]    According to Embodiment 2, it is possible to provide a user with a menu screen image suitable for his/her preference by notifying the user of only the function that suits the user&#39;s preference selected from among the distributed additional functions.  
         [0150]    The digital television system according to Embodiment  3  includes the display means for organizing the menu screen of the digital television for display, the remote control for operating the menu screen, the receiving means for receiving a command (indicating which key is depressed or the like) and information (manufacturer ID and equipment ID) unique to the remote control which are transmitted to the digital television by the operation of the remote control, the receiving means for receiving a program for changing the layout of the menu screen and the button assignment for the remote control for operation, and the accumulating means for accumulating the tendency information for the user&#39;s operation (such as the history of the operation for executing a given function, the type of misoperation caused before execution of the given function, the hand holding the remote control, and information as to whether the remote control is laid in use or held in use). The digital television system according to Embodiment 3 further includes the calculating means for calculating the characteristics information of the remote control included in the specification information of the distributed new remote control and the degree of recommendation for the remote control from the tendency information for the user&#39;s operation, the notifying means for notifying the user of the remote control whose degree of recommendation exceeds a predetermined value, the receiving means for receiving the program for providing the layout of a menu screen and the button assignment for the remote control which are suitable for the operation using the remote control, and the executing means for executing the application of the program. Thus, the layout of the menu screen and the button assignment for the remote control are changed for the user.  
         [0151]    According to Embodiment 3, the user can receive the recommendation of the remote control according to the user&#39;s operation environment, and the operation forms can be variously set based on the forms of the remote controls.  
         [0152]    The digital television system according to Embodiment 4 is structured by adding to the digital television system according to Embodiment 3 the network connecting means for connection with a network and the accumulating means for accumulating the programs for changing the layout of the menu screen and the button assignment for the remote control. From among the programs for changing the layout of the menu screen and the button assignment for the remote control, the user is provided with the program with the adaptability exceeding a predetermined value. The adaptability is calculated from the characteristics information of the remote control currently in use and the characteristics information of the graphical user interface to be attained by the program which accompanies the program for changing the layout of the menu screen and the button assignment pattern for the remote control.  
         [0153]    According to Embodiment 4, the user can easily set another operation form suitable for the remote control currently in use.  
         [0154]    Embodiment 4 can be realized by causing a computer (digital television system etc.) to execute the program. Further, as Embodiment 4, it is possible to adopt program providing means for providing a program to the computer, for example, a recording medium such as a CD-ROM that records the program therein or a transmission medium such as the Internet that transmits the program therethrough. The program, the recording medium, and the transmission medium are included in the scope of the present invention. As the recording medium, there can be used, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, and a ROM.  
         [0155]    Note that the above-mentioned embodiments have been respectively presented merely as specific examples for implementing the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited those embodiments. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the technical spirit or essential characteristics thereof.

Technology Category: 5