Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and information processing program for generating content lists

• US 8,826,131 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2008
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Suito, Taro, Arishima, Yoshiaki, Isono, Yukihiro, Karimoto, Takashi, Sugiuchi, Rui, Takaoka, Ryo, Murayama, Takashi, Yanase, Kazuhiro, Yorikane, Yasuaki, Fujiwara, Nobuyuki, Narahara, Tatsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): RIEGLER, PATRICK F
• Application Number:
  US12/009,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20080209325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,419 Days
• Field of Search: 715/719, 715/716, 715/717, 715/810, 715/825, 715/828, 715/835, 715/838, 725/39, 725/44, 725/46, 725/49, 725/37, 386/291
• US Class Current: 715/716
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4393 Multimedia presentations, e.g. slide shows, multimedia albums
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/025 'Virtual' control panels, e.g. Graphical User Interface [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/462 Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8405 represented by keywords

Abstract

An information processing apparatus includes: a content-list creating unit for selecting, on the basis of a predetermined subject, contents out of recorded program contents, information contents concerning receivable program contents, contents acquired from an outside, and contents stored in the information processing apparatus in advance to thereby create a content list; a content-list selecting unit for selecting out of plural content lists created by the content-list creating unit, on the basis of at least one of contents of the content lists and a situation during user operation, plural content lists to be displayed; and a display control unit for causing a predetermined display unit to display the plural content lists selected by the content-list selecting unit.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus having a processor programmed to comprise:

a content-list creator that generates plural content lists for contents in the information processing apparatus, the contents in the information processing apparatus including recorded program contents received through an antenna for a broadcast network, program guide information concerning program contents, contents acquired from a USB apparatus, contents acquired from a digital video terminal, and contents acquired from a network apparatus;

a content-list selector that selects from the plural content lists generated by the content-list creator, on the basis of at least one of contents of the content lists and a situation during user operation, a predetermined number of content lists to be displayed;

and a display controller that causes a predetermined display unit to display the predetermined number of content lists selected by the content-list selector,

wherein the information processing apparatus further includes an event table that associates a festival event with an event keyword and an event period,

wherein when the present date and time are within an event period of a festival event included in the event table, the content-list creator acquires an event keyword associated with the festival event and uses the acquired event keyword to create a content list dedicated to the festival event,

wherein the content-list creator assigns at least two attributes to each content list;

a first attribute indicating a priority of the content list and a second attribute indicating a display size of the content list,

wherein the content-list selector selects a random first layout for displaying the predetermined number of content lists so that, for each layout selection, a layout different from a previously selected layout is used for displaying the content lists, and the content-list selector determines the predetermined number of content lists by selecting, among all of the content lists assigned a same display size, a number of content lists that have the highest priorities in accordance with the number of display areas that have the same display size in the layout,

and wherein the content-list selector selects a random second layout when the number of content lists having a same predetermined display size is less than the number of display areas having the same predetermined display size on the first layout.

2. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content list creator generates the content list on the basis of a subject selected from plural subjects set in advance.

3. An information processing apparatus according, to claim 1, wherein the content-list creator selects, on the basis of a predetermined subject, contents from contents added after a date and time when the content list is displayed on the display, program guide information concerning program contents, contents acquired from a USB apparatus, contents acquired from a digital video terminal, and contents acquired from a network apparatus.

4. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content-list selector adjusts priorities of the content lists on the basis of at least one of the contents of the content lists and the situation during user operation and selects, on the basis of the priorities after the adjustment plural content lists to be displayed.

5. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the content-list selector selects a pattern of a layout from plural patterns and selects plural content lists displayed in the layout corresponding to the selected pattern, and

the display controller causes the display unit to display the plural content lists selected by the content-list selector in the layout corresponding to the pattern selected by the content-list selector.

6. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display controller causes the display unit to display the plural content lists immediately after startup of the information processing apparatus or when a specific command is inputted.

7. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one of the subjects is defined to select a keyword corresponding to a present date and time from the keywords registered in association with specific data and times and to select contents having information including the selected keyword.

8. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one of the subjects is defined to select contents that are not yet viewed and have high user preference.

9. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one of the subjects is defined to select contents to be automatically deleted.

10. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one of the subjects is defined to select contents not reproduced at a predetermined percentage or more or for a predetermined time or more.

11. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one of the subjects is defined to select contents with large numbers of times of reproduction and with predetermined date and times.

12. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one of the subjects is defined to select contents that are bookmarked by a user.

13. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one of the subjects is defined to select contents from the contents in the information processing apparatus that are recorded during a predetermined period before the present date and time and are selected fewer than a predetermined number of times.

14. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one of the subjects is defined to create, when content recorded during a predetermined period before a present date and time is present, an image indicating that the content recorded during the predetermined period before the present date and time is present date and time is present, and the content-list creator generates the image on the basis of the subject.

15. An information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the subject is defined to create an image indicating the content recorded the predetermined period before the present date and time is present and showing a message for urging a user to perform predetermined operation for the content.

16. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one of the subjects is defined to create, when program contents belonging to a same series are present in the recorded program contents and program content, the series of which can be discriminated as having ended from program information, is present in the program contents, an images indicating that the program content, series of which have been ended, is present, and the content-list creator generates the image on the basis of the subject.

17. An information processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the subject is defined to create an image indicating that the program content, series of which have been ended, is present and showing a message for urging a user to perform predetermined operation for the content.

18. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one of the subjects is defined to select contents related to at least one of information representing a taste of a user and information set by the user.

19. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein program guide information concerning program contents are formed by data for a predetermined number of days and include program information for each of program contents receivable in each day.

20. An information processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein one of the subjects is defined to select keywords often appearing concentrated on one day as contents from the data for the predetermined number of days delivered as the information contents at a time.

21. An inform ion processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein

one of the subjects is defined to select cords often appearing concentrated on one day from the data for the predetermined number of days delivered as the information contents at a time, extract sentences including the selected keywords from data on a certain day, and select sentences representing contents of sentences extracted from the extracted sentence as contents, and

the content-list creator selects, on the basis of a number of keywords forming the sentences and a number of sentences in which the keywords are included, the sentences representing the contents of the extracted sentences from the extracted sentences to thereby create a content list.

22. An information processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein

one of the subjects is defined to select program information that belongs to a predetermined genre and has a high user preference as contents from the program information included in the data for the predetermined number of days delivered as the information contents at a time, and

the content-list creator extracts keywords representing characteristics of program contents from respective pieces of program information belonging to a predetermined genre included in the data for the predetermined number of days delivered as the information contents at a time, gives the extracted keywords to the program information, from which the keywords are extracted, as the characteristics of the program contents, and selects program information that belongs to the predetermined genre and has high user preference from the program information to thereby create a content list.

23. An information processing apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a storing unit that stores information contents delivered, in the past among information contents delivered at least once in one day, wherein

one of the subjects is defined to select program information that has a large number of keywords forming the program information and has a predetermined difference from program information selected last time from the information contents delivered in the past, and

the content-list creator selects, on the basis of the subject, program information that has a large number of keywords forming the program information and has a predetermined difference from program information selected last time from the information contents delivered in the past several days stored in the storing unit to thereby create a content list.

24. An information processing method performed by an information processing apparatus, comprising the steps of:

generating plural content lists for contents in the information processing apparatus, the contents in the information processing apparatus including recorded program contents received through an antenna for a broadcast network, program guide information concerning program contents, contents acquired from a USB apparatus, contents acquired from a digital video terminal, and contents acquired from a network apparatus;

selecting from the plural content lists created in the generating step, on the basis of at least one of contents of the content lists and a situation during user operation, a predetermined number of content lists to be displayed; and

causing a predetermined display unit to display the plural content lists selected in the selecting step,

wherein the generating step assigns at least two attributes to each content list;

a first attribute indicating a priority of the content list and a second attribute indicating a display size of the content list,

wherein the information processing method further includes associating a festival event with an event keyword and an event period in an event table,

wherein when the present date and time are within an event period of a festival event included in the event table, the generating step acquires an event keyword associated with the festival event and uses the acquired event keyword to create a content list dedicated to the festival event,

wherein the selecting step selects a random first layout for displaying the predetermined number of content lists so that, for each layout selection, a layout different from a previously selected layout is used for displaying the content lists, and the selecting step determines the predetermined number of content lists by selecting, among all of the content lists assigned a same display size, a number of content lists that have the highest priorities in accordance with the number of display areas that have the same display size in the layout, and

wherein the selecting step selects a random second layout when the number of content lists having a same predetermined display size is less than the number of display areas having the same predetermined display size on the first layout.

25. A non-transitory storage medium storing an information processing program for causing an information processing apparatus to execute the steps of:

generating plural content lists for contents in the information processing apparatus, the contents in the information processing apparatus including recorded program contents received through an antenna for a broadcast network, program guide information concerning program contents, contents acquired from a USB apparatus, contents acquired from a digital video terminal, and contents acquired from a network apparatus;

selecting from the plural content lists generated in the generating step, on the basis of at least one of contents of the content lists and a situation during user operation, a predetermined number of content lists to be displayed; and

causing a predetermined display unit to display the predetermined number of content lists selected in the selecting step,

wherein the generating step assigns at least two attributes to each content list;

a first attribute indicating a priority of the content list and a second attribute indicating a display size of the content list,

wherein the information processing program further includes an event table that associates a festival event with an event keyword and an event period,

wherein when the present date and time are within at, event period of a festival event included in the event table, the generating step acquires an event keyword associated with the festival event and uses the acquired event keyword to create a content list dedicated to the festival event,

wherein the selecting step selects a random first layout for displaying the predetermined number of content lists so that, for each layout selection, a layout different from a previously selected layout is used for displaying the content lists, and the selecting step determines the predetermined number of content lists by selecting, among all of the content lists assigned a same display size, a number of content lists that have the highest priorities in accordance with the number of display areas that have the same display size in the layout, and

wherein the selecting step selects a random second layout when the number of content lists having a same predetermined display size is less than the number of display areas having a same predetermined display size on the first layout.