Information processing system, portable information terminal apparatus, information processing method, program information providing apparatus, program information providing method, recording/reproducing apparatus, recording/reproducing method, computer-program storage medium, and computer-program

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a system that allows a user to preset a desired TV program for unattended recording by use of a PDA. A PDA acquires from a TV program information service provider TV program information by which to preset a desired TV program to be recorded unattended. When the user selects relevant TV information about the desired program, the PDA sends to a personal computer the information for presetting the TV program of interest for subsequent unattended recording. Based of the preset information sent from the PDA, the personal computer presets the specified TV program to be recorded unattended.

1 - 44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . A terminal apparatus for obtaining and displaying program information about programs previously recorded in program information providing apparatus, said terminal apparatus comprising:
 a communication unit configured for transmitting to said program information providing apparatus an acquisition request for requesting said program information;   the communication unit configured for receiving said program information from said program information providing apparatus based on the transmitted acquisition request;   a display controller configured for causing said received program information to be displayed as plural selectable program items;   a user interface configured to respond to a user input for identifying program items selected by the user, a selected program item identifying a desired program displayed by said display controller to be reproduced;   the communication unit configured for transmitting to the program information providing apparatus a reproduction request for requesting reproduction of the desired program; and   the communication unit configured for receiving the reproduced desired program in a format compatible with said terminal apparatus;   wherein said display controller further causes to be displayed a display screen used for displaying the reproduced desired program in the compatible format.   
     
     
         46 . The terminal apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the terminal apparatus is a portable hand-held terminal. 
     
     
         47 . The terminal apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the communication unit is configured to communicate with the program information providing apparatus via a wireless network. 
     
     
         48 . The terminal apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the communication unit is configured to communicate with the program information providing apparatus via a network. 
     
     
         49 . The terminal apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein the program information providing apparatus is a video recording apparatus. 
     
     
         50 . The terminal apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein the communication unit is further configured to receive streaming programs. 
     
     
         51 . The terminal apparatus of  claim 45 , further comprising a storage unit for storing the received reproduced desired program. 
     
     
         52 . The terminal apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the terminal apparatus is a computer terminal including the communication unit configured to communicate with the program information providing apparatus via a network. 
     
     
         53 . A terminal apparatus for obtaining and displaying program information about programs, said terminal apparatus comprising:
 a communication unit configured for transmitting to program information providing apparatus an acquisition request for requesting said program information;   the communication unit configured for receiving said program information from said program information providing apparatus based on the transmitted acquisition request;   a display controller configured for causing said received program information to be displayed as plural selectable program items;   a user interface configured to respond to a user input for identifying program items selected by the user, a selected program item identifying a desired program displayed by said display controller to be recorded unattended at a time represented by time information included in said program information; and   the communication unit configured for transmitting to the program information providing apparatus a recording request for requesting recording of the desired program at the time represented by said time information;   wherein said display controller further causes to be displayed a display screen used with said user interface for inputting user identification information about the user of said terminal apparatus that is stored in said program information providing apparatus.   
     
     
         54 . The terminal apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein the terminal apparatus is a portable hand-held terminal. 
     
     
         55 . The terminal apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein the communication unit is configured to communicate with the program information providing apparatus via a wireless network. 
     
     
         56 . The terminal apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein the communication unit is configured to communicate with the program information providing apparatus via a network. 
     
     
         57 . The terminal apparatus of  claim 56 , wherein the program information providing apparatus is a video recording apparatus. 
     
     
         58 . The terminal apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein the terminal apparatus is a computer terminal including the communication unit configured to communicate with the program information providing apparatus via a network. 
     
     
         59 . The terminal apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein user interface is further configured to respond to a user input for identifying a program item selected by the user to be reproduced, and the communication unit is further configured for transmitting a reproduction request for requesting reproduction of the identified program; and the communication unit is further configured for receiving the reproduced desired program from the program information providing apparatus in a format compatible with said terminal apparatus. 
     
     
         60 . A method performed by a terminal for obtaining and displaying program information about programs previously recorded in program information providing apparatus, comprising:
 transmitting to said program information providing apparatus an acquisition request for requesting said program information;   receiving said program information from said program information providing apparatus based on the transmitted acquisition request information;   displaying said received program information as plural selectable program items;   identifying program items selected by a user, a selected program item identifying a desired program, corresponding to the displayed program information, to be reproduced;   transmitting to the program information providing apparatus a reproduction request for requesting reproduction of the desired program;   receiving the reproduced desired program in a format compatible with said terminal; and   displaying the reproduced desired program on the terminal in the compatible format.   
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising communicating with the program information providing apparatus via a wireless network. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising receiving streaming programs via a network. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising storing the received reproduced desired program. 
     
     
         64 . A method performed by a terminal for obtaining and displaying program information about programs to be recorded in program information providing apparatus, comprising:
 transmitting to said program information providing apparatus an acquisition request for requesting said program information;   receiving said program information from said program information providing apparatus based on the transmitted acquisition request;   displaying said received program information as plural selectable program items;   identifying program items selected by the user, a selected program item identifying a desired program, corresponding to the displayed program information, to be recorded unattended at a time represented by time information included in said program information;   transmitting to the program information providing apparatus a recording request for requesting recording of the desired program at the time represented by said time information; and   displaying a display screen for inputting user identification information about the user of said terminal apparatus that is stored in said program information providing apparatus.   
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64 , further comprising communicating with the program information providing apparatus via a wireless network. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 64 , further comprising responding to a user input for identifying a program item selected by the user to be reproduced;
 transmitting a reproduction request for requesting reproduction of the identified program; and   receiving the reproduced desired program from the program information providing apparatus in a format compatible with said terminal.