Program recording and playing apparatus and portable terminal for recording and playing programs

• US 8,413,203 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2001
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kawana, Koichi, Takahashi, Yoko, Korehisa, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Hossain, Farzana
• Application Number:
  US09/929,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20020023266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,249 Days
• Field of Search: 725/80, 725/82, 725/133, 725/141, 725/153, 725/62, 725/81, 725/83, 725 39- 61, 725/131, 725/139, 725/151, 348/734
• US Class Current: 725/131
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• 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 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver

Abstract

A broadcast program recording and playing apparatus includes a program management unit that manages a database storing program information for broadcast programs. A transmission unit transmits the program information stored in the database to an electronic apparatus using wireless communication. Under the control of the electronic apparatus, a control unit controls an apparatus having functions of recording and playing the broadcast programs.

Claims

1. A program processing apparatus comprising:

a transmission unit that transmits program information stored in a database to one of a plurality of electronic apparatuses using wireless communication, wherein the transmitted program information is a user'"'"'s most recent individual program information;

where the program processing apparatus extracts the program information for programs in accordance with personal preferences manages the database that stores the extracted program information for programs, and controls a plurality of program recording and playing apparatuses in accordance with received selection information, the plurality of program recording and playing apparatuses including a hard disk device, a video recorder, and a television that are connected with the program processing apparatus by a daisy-chain;

a determination unit that determines whether the selection information indicates information that has been recorded previously by one of the plurality of programs recording and playing apparatuses and determining which one of the plurality of programs recording and playing apparatuses the information is recorded on, and for designating a point for which to begin playback as a function of the selection information when the determination unit determines the information has been recorded previously and determines which one of the programs recording and playing apparatuses the information is recorded on,

wherein the plurality of electronic apparatus control the plurality of programs recording and playing apparatus through the program processing apparatus, wherein a user of one of the plurality of electronic apparatus chooses whether the user is indoor or outside by operating an operation switch and sends to the program processing apparatus a link request indicating whether the user is indoor or outside,

wherein the plurality of programs recording and playing apparatus prepares for playing in accordance with the designation and transmits an acknowledgement, and wherein, when the acknowledgement is confirmed, playback is ready to begin; and

a switching unit that switches a wireless communication unit between communication using a public circuit based on a spread spectrum communication system and short-distance wireless communication based on the spread spectrum communication system; and

wherein the switching unit determines whether to display program information from a memory of the requesting electronic apparatus, as a function of, (1) whether a request to link from one of the plurality of electronic apparatuses is from indoors or from outside, and (2) whether the link is unstable, wherein when it is determined that data communication is performed by short-distance wireless communication and when it is determined that data communication is performed using a public circuit, a link is established with a portable electronic apparatus and most recent individual broadcast program information data is transmitted to the electronic apparatus and broadcast program information is displayed on a viewing screen of the electronic apparatus,

wherein a user of the portable electronic apparatus operates an operation switch to select desired broadcast program information,

wherein selection information for the desired broadcast program information selected by the user is transmitted, a confirmation receipt is received, and confirms the selection of the desired broadcast program information,

wherein when the selection of the broadcast program information is completed, the link is terminated,

wherein the program processing apparatus receives a termination request sent from the one of the plurality of electronic apparatus and terminates the link between the program processing apparatus and the one of the electronic apparatus when an operation switch of the one of the electronic apparatus is not operated for a predetermined period of time.

2. A program processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of electronic apparatus further comprises a portable terminal.

3. A program processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said portable terminal comprises a private apparatus.

4. A program processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the programs recording and playing apparatus comprises an audio apparatus or a video apparatus.

5. A program processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication with said electronic apparatus is switched between communication using a public circuit and short-distance wireless communication.

6. A program processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the short-distance wireless communication is based on the Bluetooth system.

7. A program processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the short-distance wireless communication is based on an infrared data communication system.

8. A portable terminal for recording and playing programs, comprising:

a transmission unit that transmits program information stored in a database that stores the program information for programs to one of a plurality of electronic apparatuses using wireless communication,

wherein the program information stored in the database is extracted in accordance with personal preferences, and

wherein the transmitted program information is a user'"'"'s most recent individual program information;

a display unit that displays the program information obtained using said transmission unit;

a command transmission unit that transmits a command that controls a plurality of programs recording and playing apparatuses to a server that controls recording and playing performed by the programs recording and playing apparatuses, the plurality of program recording and playing apparatuses including a hard disk device, a video recorder, and a television that are connected with the server by a daisy-chain;

wherein whether the selection information indicates information that has been recorded previously by one of the plurality of programs recording and playing apparatuses is determined and which one of the plurality of programs recording and playing apparatuses the information is recorded on is determined, and

wherein a point is designated for which to begin playback as a function of the command when the information has been recorded previously, and

wherein a user of the portable terminal chooses whether the user is indoor or outside by operating an operation switch and sends to the server a link request indicating whether the user is indoor or outside,

wherein the portable terminal controls the plurality of programs recording and playing apparatus through the server,

wherein the determined programs recording and playing apparatus prepares for playing in accordance with the designation and transmits an acknowledgement, and

wherein, when the acknowledgement is confirmed, playback is ready to begin; and

a switching unit that switches a wireless communication unit between communication using a public circuit based on a spread spectrum communication system and short-distance wireless communication based on the spread spectrum communication system; and

wherein the switching unit determines whether to display program information from a memory of the requesting electronic apparatus, as a function of

whether a request to link from one of the plurality of electronic apparatuses is from indoors or from outside and

whether the link is unstable,

wherein when it is determined that data communication is performed by short-distance wireless communication and when it is determined that data communication is performed using a public circuit, a link is established with a portable electronic apparatus and most recent individual broadcast program information data is transmitted to the electronic apparatus and broadcast program information is displayed on a viewing screen of the electronic apparatus,

wherein a user of the portable electronic apparatus operates an operation switch to select desired broadcast program information,

wherein selection information for the desired broadcast program information selected by the user is transmitted, a confirmation receipt is received, and confirms the selection of the desired broadcast program information,

wherein when the selection of the broadcast program information is completed, the link is terminated,

wherein the portable terminal sends a termination request to the one of the plurality of electronic apparatus to terminate the link between the portable terminal and the one of the electronic apparatus when an operation switch of the portable terminal is not operated for a predetermined period of time.

9. A portable terminal for recording and playing programs according to claim 8, wherein said portable terminal is a feature of the electronic apparatus using wireless communication.

10. A portable terminal for recording and playing programs according to claim 9, wherein said portable terminal comprises a private apparatus.

11. A portable terminal for recording and playing programs according to claim 8, wherein the programs recording and playing apparatus comprises an audio apparatus or a video apparatus.

12. A portable terminal for recording and playing programs according to claim 8, wherein the wireless communication with said electronic apparatus is switched between communication using a public circuit and short-distance wireless communication.

13. A portable terminal for recording and playing programs according to claim 12, wherein the short-distance wireless communication is based on the Bluetooth system.

14. A portable terminal for recording and playing programs according to claim 12, wherein the short-distance wireless communication is based on an infrared data communication system.

15. A program processing method executed by a program processing apparatus, comprising:

extracting program information for programs in accordance with personal preferences,

managing a database that stores the extracted program information for programs;

transmitting the program information stored in the database to one of a plurality of electronic apparatuses using wireless communication,

wherein the transmitted program information is a user'"'"'s most recent individual program information;

determining whether a request to link is from indoors or from outside;

determining whether the link is unstable;

determining whether to display program information from a memory of a portable device as a function of the request to link and the determination of whether the link is unstable;

controlling a plurality of programs recording and playing apparatus in accordance with received selection information;

determining whether the selection information indicates information that has been recorded previously by one of the plurality of electronic apparatuses and determining which one of the plurality of electronic apparatuses the information is recorded on;

designating a point for which to begin playback as a function of the selection information when determining the selection information indicates information that has been recorded previously by one of the plurality of electronic apparatuses and when determining which one of the plurality of electronic apparatuses the information is recorded on;

transmitting an acknowledgement, such that when the acknowledgement is confirmed, playback is ready to begin; and

switching a wireless communication unit between communication using a public circuit based on a spread spectrum communication system and short-distance wireless communication based on the spread spectrum communication system, and

receiving a termination request sent from the one of the plurality of electronic apparatus and terminating the link between the program processing apparatus and the one of the electronic apparatus when an operation switch of the one of the electronic apparatus is not operated for a predetermined period of time,

wherein a user of one of the plurality of electronic apparatus chooses whether the user is indoor or outside by operating an operation switch and sends to the program processing apparatus a link request indicating whether the user is indoor or outside, and

wherein when it is determined that data communication is performed by short-distance wireless communication and when it is determined that data communication is performed using a public circuit, a link is established with a portable electronic apparatus and most recent individual broadcast program information data is transmitted to the electronic apparatus and broadcast program information is displayed on a viewing screen of the electronic apparatus,

wherein a user of the portable electronic apparatus operates an operation switch to select desired broadcast program information,

wherein selection information for the desired broadcast program information selected by the user is transmitted, a confirmation receipt is received, and confirms the selection of the desired broadcast program information,

wherein when the selection of the broadcast program information is completed, the link is terminated,

wherein the plurality of electronic apparatus control the plurality of programs recording and playing apparatus through the program processing apparatus, and

wherein, the plurality of program recording and playing apparatuses include a hard disk device, a video recorder, and a television that are connected with the program processing apparatus by a daisy-chain.

16. A method, executed by a portable terminal, for processing programs, comprising:

transmitting program information stored in a database that stores the program information for programs to one of a plurality of electronic apparatuses using wireless communication,

wherein the program information stored in the database is extracted in accordance with personal preferences, and

wherein the transmitted program information is a user'"'"'s most recent individual program information;

determining whether a request to link is from indoors or from outside;

determining whether the link is unstable;

determining whether to display program information from a memory of a portable device as a function of the request to link and the determination of whether the link is unstable;

displaying the program information obtained;

transmitting a command that controls a plurality of programs recording and playing apparatus to a server that controls recording and playing performed by the plurality of recording and playing apparatuses;

determining whether the selection information indicates information that has been recorded previously by one of the plurality of electronic apparatuses and determining which one of the plurality of electronic apparatuses the information is recorded on;

designating a point for which to begin playback as a function of the selection information when determining the selection information indicates information that has been recorded previously by one of the plurality of electronic apparatuses and when determining which one of the plurality of electronic apparatuses the information is recorded on;

preparing the determined electronic apparatus for playing in accordance with the designation;

transmitting an acknowledgement such that when the acknowledgement is confirmed, playback is ready to begin; and

switching a wireless communication unit between communication using a public circuit based on a spread spectrum communication system and short-distance wireless communication based on the spread spectrum communication systems, and

transmitting a termination request to the one of the plurality of electronic apparatus to terminate the link between the portable terminal and the one of the electronic apparatus when an operation switch of the portable terminal is not operated for a predetermined period of time,

wherein a user the portable terminal chooses whether the user is indoor or outside by operating an operation switch and sends to the server a link request indicating whether the user is indoor or outside,

wherein when it is determined that data communication is performed by short-distance wireless communication and when it is determined that data communication is performed using a public circuit, a link is established with a portable electronic apparatus and most recent individual broadcast program information data is transmitted to the electronic apparatus and broadcast program information is displayed on a viewing screen of the electronic apparatus,

wherein a user of the portable electronic apparatus operates an operation switch to select desired broadcast program information,

wherein selection information for the desired broadcast program information selected by the user is transmitted, a confirmation receipt is received, and confirms the selection of the desired broadcast program information,

wherein when the selection of the broadcast program information is completed, the link is terminated,

wherein the portable terminal controls the plurality of programs recording and playing apparatus through the server, and

wherein the plurality of program recording and playing apparatuses include a hard disk device, a video recorder, and a television that are connected with the server by a daisy-chain.