Information reception apparatus, information reception method, computer program for information reception, and information distribution apparatus

A method executed by a video recorder to receive information relating to broadcast programs, comprising:

• an electronic program information acquisition step comprising acquiring by an electronic program information acquiring unit including a tuner, electronic program information from a broadcast station server through a bidirectional communication link;
• an announcement information acquisition step comprising acquiring by an announcement information acquisition unit including a processor, information announced in a program from information included in the electronic program information acquired by the electronic program information acquisition step or from data transmitted along with the electronic program information;
• and
• a recording reservation reception step comprising, when reserving recording of a program by a recording reservation reception unit including a processor, displaying whether or not the program to be reserved for recording includes the announced information on the basis of the information acquired by a process of the announcement information acquisition step,
• wherein:
• the announced information is prize information including at least information indicating an application period for applying for a prize through the bidirectional communication link with the broadcast station server, and
• the recording reservation reception step includes:
• determining, for each program to be reserved for recording, whether or not the application period of the prize information is limited within a receiving period of the program being broadcast in accordance with the at least information indicating the application period using information in “real-time or not” column in a data string of the prize information and, in accordance with the determined result, notifying of a program whose application period is within the receiving period of the program being broadcast;
• wherein the data string of the prize information is transmitted in the electronic program information, the data string of the prize information comprising a plurality of columns of information, the plurality of columns of information comprise:
• the “real-time or not” column, “prize application start date and time” column, and “prize application end date and time” column,
• wherein the “real-time or not” column provides information indicating whether or not the prize application is closed while the program is being broadcast, the “prize application start date and time” column and the “prize application end date and time” column provide information indicating limited application period of the prize.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform:

• an electronic program information acquisition step comprising acquiring by an electronic program information acquiring unit including a tuner, electronic program information from a broadcast station server through a bidirectional communication link;
• an announcement information acquisition step comprising acquiring by an announcement information acquisition unit including a processor, information announced in a program from information included in the electronic program information acquired by the electronic program information acquisition step or from data transmitted along with the electronic program information;
• and
• a recording reservation reception step comprising, when reserving recording of a program by a recording reservation reception unit including the processor, displaying whether or not the program to be reserved for recording includes the announced information on the basis of the information acquired by the announcement information acquisition step,
• wherein:
• the announced information is prize information including at least information indicating an application period for applying for a prize through the bidirectional communication link with the broadcast station server, and
• the recording reservation reception step further comprises determining, for each program to be reserved for recording, whether or not the application period of the prize information is limited within a receiving period of the program being broadcast in accordance with the at least information indicating the application period using information in “real-time or not” column in a data string of the prize information and, in accordance with the determined result, notifies of a program whose application deadline is within the receiving period of the program being broadcast;
• wherein the data string of the prize information is transmitted in the electronic program information, the data string of the prize information comprising a plurality of columns of information, the plurality of columns of information comprise:
• the “real-time or not” column, “prize application start date and time” column, and “prize application end date and time” column,
• wherein the “real-time or not” column provides information indicating whether or not the prize application is closed while the program is being broadcast, the “prize application start date and time” column and the “prize application end date and time” column provide information indicating limited application period of the prize.