System and method for searching and providing contents, and software storage media

A content searching/providing method for searching a record content from a randomly accessible memory apparatus storing a plurality of contents and for providing the record content to a user, comprising the steps of:

• classifying the record contents of said memory apparatus in accordance with a predetermined rule;
• assigning a virtual channel to each classification;
• arranging the record contents classified into the same classification into a program schedule on each of the corresponding virtual channels;
• receiving a user operation for selecting a channel and searching for a particular content of a channel;
• and
• acquiring a record content from a selected virtual channel in response to the user operation received in said user operation receiving step and providing the record content for playback;
• receiving one or more further selected user operations and modifying a playback of said provided record content in accordance with said selected user operations;
• and
• dynamically re-scheduling a program schedule for said virtual channel based upon said one or more selected further user operations.

A software memory medium storing computer readable software described so as to control a computer system to execute a content searching/providing processing for searching a record content from a randomly accessible memory apparatus storing a plurality of contents and for providing the record content to a user, said software comprising:

• content classification step for classifying the record contents of said memory apparatus in accordance with a predetermined rule;
• channel assignment step assigning a virtual channel to each classification;
• content arrangement step for arranging the record contents classified into the same classification into a program schedule on each of the corresponding virtual channels;
• user operation receiving step for receiving a user operation for selecting a channel and searching for a particular content of a channel;
• and
• content providing step for acquiring a record content from a selected virtual channel in response to the user operation received in said user operation receiving step and providing the record content for playback;
• receiving step for reeiving one or more further selected user operations and modifying a playback of said provided record content in accordance with said selected user operations;
• and
• rescheduling step for dynamically re-scheduling a program schedule for said virtual channel based upon said one or more selected further user operations.

A computer readable program to control a computer system to execute a content searching/providing processing for searching a record content from a randomly accessible memory apparatus storing a plurality of contents and for providing the record content to a user, said program comprising the steps of:

• classifying the record contents of said memory apparatus in accordance with a predetermined rule;
• assigning a virtual channel to each classification;
• arranging the record contents classified into the same classification into a program schedule on each of the corresponding virtual channels;
• receiving a user operation for selecting a channel and searching for a particular content of a channel;
• and
• acquiring a record content from a selected virtual channel in response to the user operation received in said user operation receiving step and providing the record content for playback;
• receiving one or more further selected user operations and modifying a playback of said provided record content in accordance with said selected user operations;
• and
• dynamically re-scheduling a program schedule for said virtual channel based upon said one or more selected further user operations.