Device and method for distributing program information and terminal and device relating to the same
OwnerKenji Sano, Koji Kamogawainventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides techniques that allow EPG(s) to be viewed and/or desired programs to be recorded remotely from the associated receiver, TV, and/or recording device. One embodiment provides a system that converts digital broadcast information, including program information, so that a handheld remote device, for example, a mobile telephone, or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), can receive program information and further provides for the handheld remote device controlling a network connected recording device to record a broadcast program based on this program information.
Claims42
A program information distributing method comprising:
- receiving digital broadcast information for a broadcast program, comprising Electronic Program Guide (EPG) information and program contents information from a broadcast station of a plurality of broadcast stations;
- extracting from said digital broadcast information, EPG information;
- and
- converting said EPG information to a mark-up language format.
A method for remotely controlling a video recorder using a remote handheld device, said video recorder for recording a broadcast program, said method comprising:
- said remote handheld device receiving program information on said broadcast program from a program information source;
- selecting said broadcast program for recording from said program information displayed by said handheld remote device;
- and
- said remote handheld device transmitting recording information to said video recorder via a communications network, said recording information for recording of said broadcast program by said video recorder.
A program information distributing device for receiving program information from a broadcaster of a plurality of broadcasters and for distributing said program information to a plurality of mobile devices, said program information distributing device comprising:
- a broadcast information receiving unit for receiving broadcast information, comprising program information, from a broadcaster of said plurality of broadcasters;
- a program extracting unit for extracting said program information from said broadcast information;
- a data format converting unit for converting said program information to mark-up language information;
- and
- a data information transmitting unit for sending said mark-up language information to a mobile device of said plurality of mobile devices.
A handheld device for controlling recording of a selected broadcast program of a plurality of broadcast programs by a video recording device via a communications network, said handheld device comprising:
- a receiving unit for receiving program guide information on said plurality of broadcast programs;
- a display for displaying to a user said program guide information;
- an input device for receiving a user selection of said selected broadcast program of said plurality of broadcast programs for recording;
- and
- an output device coupled with said communications network for sending to said video recording device control information to record said selected broadcast program.
A handheld device for controlling recording of a digital broadcast program by a video recording device via a communications network, said handheld device comprising:
- a processor coupled to a memory for executing a browser program stored in said memory;
- a receiving unit for receiving program information on said digital broadcast program;
- a display for displaying to a user said program information using said browser program;
- an input device for receiving a user selection of a selected digital broadcast program for recording;
- and
- when said user selection, comprises said program information, commanding said video recording device to record said digital broadcast program.
A recording device for recording a digital broadcast program from a broadcaster comprising:
- a receiving unit for receiving digital broadcast information, including program information and said broadcast program, from said broadcaster;
- a network interface unit for receiving recording instructions to record said broadcast program from a cell phone or a PDA, said cell phone or said PDA coupled to said network interface via a communications network;
- and
- a video recording unit responsive to said recording instructions for recording said broadcast program.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.