Searching system, searching unit, searching method, displaying method for search results, terminal unit, inputting unit, and record medium

• US 8,086,589 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2006
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Deguchi, Yuichiro, Matsuoka, Akiko
• Primary Examiner(s): CHANNAVAJJALA, SRIRAMA T
• Application Number:
  US11/475,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20060242134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,008 Days
• Field of Search: 707 3- 4, 707/10, 707/102, 707/104.1, 707705-709, 707/821, 707/82, 348 1401- 1405, 348/14.12, 348/55, 455/228, 455/158.2, 715/716, 725131-132, 725/136, 725/53, 725/56, 725 60- 61, 725 97- 98, 725/115, 368 72- 73, 386218-219, 386/220, 386/230, 386/243, 386/297, 709217-219, 709/229
• US Class Current: 707/706
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/005 Solid-state data loggers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/64 Browsing; Visualisation therefor generation of a list or set of audio data G06F16/638
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/687 using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9562 Bookmark management
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/40 for identifying broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/44 for identifying broadcast stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/64 for providing detail information
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A communication apparatus transmits information to a search apparatus that stores related information associated with broadcast content. The search apparatus searches for the related information of the broadcast content based on a broadcast time. The communication apparatus includes an operation unit that executes an operation. The communication apparatus also includes a counter that initiates a count operation for counting a count value in response to the operation of the operation unit, and that resets the count value in response to a transmission of the count value to the search apparatus. The counter is kept stopped between a time of the transmission and a time the operation unit is next operated. The communication apparatus additionally includes a communication unit that transmits the transmission of the count value to the search apparatus for a derivation of the broadcast time using the count value and a current time.

Claims

1. A search system for searching for related information associated with desired broadcast content, the search system comprising:

a terminal apparatus including;

an operation unit that receives user input at the broadcast time of the desired broadcast content,

a counter configured to initiate incrementing a count value in response to the operation unit receiving user input and the terminal apparatus being disconnected from a search apparatus, and configured to reset said count value in response to a transmission of said count value from the terminal apparatus to the search apparatus, wherein said counter does not increment the count value between a time of the transmission of said count value from the terminal apparatus to the search apparatus and a time said operation unit next receives user input, said counter initiating incrementing the count value at the time the operation unit next receives user input, and

a communication unit configured to transmit said count value to the search apparatus in response to the terminal apparatus being connected to the search apparatus through a gateway device,

the search apparatus including;

a timer configured to output a current time,

a storage device configured to store the related information,

an operation time determination mechanism configured to determine the broadcast time of the desired broadcast content based on said current time from said timer and said count value received from the terminal apparatus, and

a search unit configured to search for the related information of said desired broadcast content from said storage device based on the broadcast time of the desired broadcast content, as determined by said operation time determination mechanism according to said current time from said timer and said count value received from the terminal apparatus.

2. The search system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the search apparatus includes the gateway device and a search device,

said gateway device including:

said timer, and

said operation time determination mechanism; and

said search device including;

said storage device, and

said search unit.

3. The search system as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the search apparatus includes a storage medium configured to store predetermined broadcast station information associated with user identification information;

said terminal unit is configured to transmit said user identification information with said count value; and

said search unit is configured to search for the predetermined broadcast station information from said storage medium based on said user identification information transmitted from said terminal unit, and to search for the related information of said desired broadcast content broadcast at said broadcast time and a broadcast station associated with said predetermined broadcast station information.

4. The search system as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said search apparatus includes a storage medium configured to store a zip code associated with user identification information;

said terminal unit is configured to transmit said user identification information with said count value; and

said search unit is configured to search for said zip code from said storage medium based on said user identification information transmitted from said terminal unit, and to search for the related information of said desired broadcast content broadcast at said broadcast time and a broadcast station associated with said zip code.

5. The search system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said related information is defined by title information of music broadcast at said broadcast time.

6. The search system in accordance with claim 1, wherein when the operation unit receives user input, a bookmark is defined which is associated with said desired broadcast content for identifying the desired broadcast content.

7. A search apparatus for searching for related information associated with a desired broadcast content, the search apparatus comprising:

a timer configured to output a current time;

a storage device configured to store the related information;

an operation time determination mechanism configured to determine a broadcast time of the desired broadcast content according to said current time from said timer and a count value transmitted by a terminal apparatus in response to the terminal apparatus being connected to the search apparatus through a gateway device, said terminal apparatus having a counter configured to initiate incrementing said count value in response to the terminal apparatus receiving user input and the terminal apparatus being disconnected from the search apparatus, the counter being further configured to reset said count value in response to a transmission of said count value from the terminal apparatus to the search apparatus, wherein said counter does not increment the count value between a time of the transmission of said count value from the terminal apparatus to the search apparatus and a time said terminal apparatus next receives user input, the counter initiating incrementing the count value at the time the terminal apparatus next receives user input; and

a search unit configured to search for the related information of said desired broadcast content from said storage device based on said broadcast time of the desired broadcast content determined by said operation time determination mechanism according to said current time from said timer and said count value received from the terminal apparatus.

8. The search apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein

said search apparatus includes a storage medium configured to store predetermined broadcast station information associated with user identification information;

and

said search unit is configured to search for the predetermined broadcast station information from said storage medium based on said user identification information, which has been transmitted from said terminal apparatus, and to search for the related information of said desired broadcast content broadcast at said broadcast time and a broadcast station associated with said predetermined broadcast station information.

9. The search apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein

said search apparatus includes a storage medium configured to store a zip code associated with user identification information;

and

said search unit is configured to search for said zip code from said storage medium based on said user identification information, which has been transmitted from said terminal apparatus, and to search for the related information of said desired broadcast content broadcast at said broadcast time and a broadcast station associated with said zip code.

10. The search apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said related information is defined by title information of music broadcast at said broadcast time.

11. A terminal apparatus configured to transmit information used for determining a broadcast time of desired broadcast content to a search apparatus having a storage device configured to store related information associated with said desired broadcast content, said search apparatus being configured to search for the related information of said desired broadcast content based on said broadcast time from said storage device, the terminal apparatus comprising:

an operation unit that receives user input at the broadcast time of the desired broadcast content;

a counter configured to initiate incrementing a count value in response to the operation unit receiving user input and the terminal apparatus being disconnected from the search apparatus, and configured to reset said count value in response to a transmission of said count value from the terminal apparatus to said search apparatus, wherein said counter does not increment the count value between a time of the transmission of said count value from the terminal apparatus to the search apparatus and a time said operation unit next receives user input, said counter initiating incrementing the count value at the time the operation unit next receives user input; and

a communication unit configured to transmit said count value to said search apparatus for a derivation of said broadcast time using said count value and a current time in response to the terminal apparatus being connected to the search apparatus through a gateway device.

12. The communication apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the counter is configured to be operated with an M sequence clock signal generated by a shift register and an exclusive OR circuit.

13. The communication apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said broadcast time is derived by subtracting said count value from said current time.

14. The communication apparatus according to claim 11, wherein, when the count value is measured, the terminal apparatus transmits a period of the counter.