Portable information terminal apparatus, information processing method, computer-program storage medium, and computer-program

Abstract

A portable information terminal apparatus connected to a recording/reproducing apparatus, including a first generating element for generating a first signal for causing the recording/reproducing apparatus to acquire program information about a program, the generation of the first signal being based on an operation performed by a user, a first transmitting element for transmitting to the recording/reproducing apparatus the first signal generated by the first generating element, second generating element for generating a second signal for causing the recording/reproducing apparatus to display the acquired program information, the generation of the second signal being based on an operation performed by the user, second transmitting element for transmitting to the recording/reproducing apparatus the second signal generated by the second generating element, third generating element for generating a third signal for causing the recording/reproducing apparatus to preset the program for unattended recording, the generation of the third signal being based on an operation performed by the user, and third transmitting element for transmitting to the recording/reproducing apparatus the third signal generated by the third generating element.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A portable information terminal apparatus connected to a recording/reproducing apparatus, comprising: 
 first generating means for generating a first signal for causing said recording/reproducing apparatus to acquire program information about a program, the generation of said first signal being based on an operation performed by a user;    first transmitting means for transmitting to said recording/reproducing apparatus said first signal generated by said first generating means;    second generating means for generating a second signal for causing said recording/reproducing apparatus to display the acquired program information, the generation of said second signal being based on an operation performed by said user;    second transmitting means for transmitting to said recording/reproducing apparatus said second signal generated by said second generating means;    third generating means for generating a third signal for causing said recording/reproducing apparatus to preset said program for unattended recording, the generation of said third signal being based on an operation performed by said user; and    third transmitting means for transmitting to said recording/reproducing apparatus said third signal generated by said third generating means.    
     
     
         2 . A portable information terminal apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said first transmitting means, said second transmitting means and said third transmitting means transmit infrared rays modulated to represent said first signal, said second signal and said third signal generated by said first generating means, said second generating means and said third generating means respectively.  
     
     
         3 . A portable information terminal apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said first transmitting means, said second transmitting means and said third transmitting means transmit radio waves modulated to represent said first signal, said second signal and said third signal generated by said first generating means, said second generating means and said third generating means respectively.  
     
     
         4 . A portable information terminal apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 fourth generating means for generating a fourth signal for causing said recording/reproducing apparatus to reproduce and convert the recorded program to video data in a predetermined file format before outputting the converted video data, the generation of said fourth signal being based on an operation performed by said user; and    fourth transmitting means for transmitting to said recording/reproducing apparatus said fourth signal generated by said fourth generating means.    
     
     
         5 . A portable information terminal apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said fourth transmitting means transmits infrared rays modulated to represent said fourth signal generated by said fourth generating means.  
     
     
         6 . A portable information terminal apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said fourth transmitting means transmits radio waves modulated to represent said fourth signal generated by said fourth generating means.  
     
     
         7 . An information processing method for use with a portable information terminal apparatus connected to a recording/reproducing apparatus, comprising the steps of: 
 firstly generating a first signal for causing said recording/reproducing apparatus to acquire program information about a program, the generation of said first signal being based on an operation performed by a user;    firstly transmitting to said recording/reproducing apparatus said first signal generated in said first generating step;    secondly generating a second signal for causing said recording/reproducing apparatus to display the acquired program information, the generation of said second signal being based on an operation performed by said user;    secondly transmitting to said recording/reproducing apparatus said second signal generated in said second generating step;    thirdly generating a third signal for causing said recording/reproducing apparatus to preset said program for unattended recording, the generation of said third signal being based on an operation performed by said user; and    thirdly transmitting to said recording/reproducing apparatus said third signal generated in said third generating step.    
     
     
         8 . A computer-program storage medium which stores a computer-program readable by a computer for controlling a portable information terminal apparatus connected to a recording/reproducing apparatus, comprising the steps of: 
 firstly generating a first signal for causing said recording/reproducing apparatus to acquire program information about a program, the generation of said first signal being based on an operation performed by a user;    firstly transmitting to said recording/reproducing apparatus said first signal generated in said first generating step;    secondly generating a second signal for causing said recording/reproducing apparatus to display the acquired program information, the generation of said second signal being based on an operation performed by said user;    secondly transmitting to said recording/reproducing apparatus said second signal generated in said second generating step;    thirdly generating a third signal for causing said recording/reproducing apparatus to preset said program for unattended recording, the generation of said third signal being based on an operation performed by said user; and    thirdly transmitting to said recording/reproducing apparatus said third signal generated in said third generating step.    
     
     
         9 . A computer-program for causing a computer connected to a recording/reproducing apparatus to execute the steps of: 
 firstly generating a first signal for causing said recording/reproducing apparatus to acquire program information about a program, the generation of said first signal being based on an operation performed by a user;    firstly transmitting to said recording/reproducing apparatus said first signal generated in said first generating step;    secondly generating a second signal for causing said recording/reproducing apparatus to display the acquired program information, the generation of said second signal being based on an operation performed by said user;    secondly transmitting to said recording/reproducing apparatus said second signal generated in said second generating step;    thirdly generating a third signal for causing said recording/reproducing apparatus to preset said program for unattended recording, the generation of said third signal being based on an operation performed by said user; and    thirdly transmitting to said recording/reproducing apparatus said third signal generated in said third generating step.    
     
     
         10 . A portable information terminal apparatus connected to a recording/reproducing apparatus, comprising: 
 first generating means for generating a first signal for causing said recording/reproducing apparatus to acquire program information about a program, the generation of said first signal being based on an operation performed by a user;    first transmitting means for transmitting to said recording/reproducing apparatus said first signal generated by said first generating means;    second generating means for generating a second signal for causing said recording/reproducing apparatus to display the acquired program information, the generation of said second signal being based on an operation performed by said user;    second transmitting means for transmitting to said recording/reproducing apparatus said second signal generated by said second generating means;    third generating means for generating a third signal for causing said recording/reproducing apparatus to preset said program for unattended recording, the generation of said third signal being based on an operation performed by said user;    third transmitting means for transmitting to said recording/reproducing apparatus said third signal generated by said third generating means; and    receiving means for receiving a fourth signal transmitted from said recording/reproducing apparatus.    
     
     
         11 . A portable information terminal apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein said first transmitting means, said second transmitting means and said third transmitting means transmit infrared rays modulated to represent said first signal, said second signal and said third signal generated by said first generating means, said second generating means and said third generating means respectively.  
     
     
         12 . A portable information terminal apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein said first transmitting means, said second transmitting means and said third transmitting means transmit radio waves modulated to represent said first signal, said second signal and said third signal generated by said first generating means, said second generating means and said third generating means respectively.  
     
     
         13 . A portable information terminal apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein said fourth signal is carried either by infrared rays or by radio waves.  
     
     
         14 . A portable information terminal apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 fourth generating means for generating a fifth signal for causing said recording/reproducing apparatus to reproduce and convert the recorded program to video data in a predetermined file format before outputting the converted video data, the generation of said fifth signal being based on an operation performed by said user; and    fourth transmitting means for transmitting to said recording/reproducing apparatus said fifth signal generated by said fourth generating means.    
     
     
         15 . A portable information terminal apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein said fourth transmitting means transmits infrared rays modulated to represent said fifth signal generated by said fourth generating means.  
     
     
         16 . A portable information terminal apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein said fourth transmitting means transmits radio waves modulated to represent said fifth signal generated by said fourth generating means.  
     
     
         17 . An information processing method for use with a portable information terminal apparatus connected to a recording/reproducing apparatus, comprising the steps of: 
 firstly generating a first signal for causing said recording/reproducing apparatus to acquire program information about a program, the generation of said first signal being based on an operation performed by a user;    firstly transmitting to said recording/reproducing apparatus said first signal generated in said first generating step;    secondly generating a second signal for causing said recording/reproducing apparatus to display the acquired program information, the generation of said second signal being based on an operation performed by said user;    secondly transmitting to said recording/reproducing apparatus said second signal generated in said second generating step;    thirdly generating a third signal for causing said recording/reproducing apparatus to preset said program for unattended recording, the generation of said third signal being based on an operation performed by said user;    thirdly transmitting to said recording/reproducing apparatus said third signal generated in said third generating step; and    receiving a fourth signal transmitted from said recording/reproducing apparatus.    
     
     
         18 . A computer-program storage medium which stores a computer-program readable by a computer for controlling a portable information terminal apparatus connected to a recording/reproducing apparatus, comprising the steps of: 
 firstly generating a first signal for causing said recording/reproducing apparatus to acquire program information about a program, the generation of said first signal being based on an operation performed by a user;    firstly transmitting to said recording/reproducing apparatus said first signal generated in said first generating step;    secondly generating a second signal for causing said recording/reproducing apparatus to display the acquired program information, the generation of said second signal being based on an operation performed by said user;    secondly transmitting to said recording/reproducing apparatus said second signal generated in said second generating step;    thirdly generating a third signal for causing said recording/reproducing apparatus to preset said program for unattended recording, the generation of said third signal being based on an operation performed by said user;    thirdly transmitting to said recording/reproducing apparatus said third signal generated in said third generating step; and    receiving a fourth signal transmitted from said recording/reproducing apparatus.    
     
     
         19 . A computer-program for causing a computer connected to a recording/reproducing apparatus to execute the steps of: 
 firstly generating a first signal for causing said recording/reproducing apparatus to acquire program information about a program, the generation of said first signal being based on an operation performed by a user;    firstly transmitting to said recording/reproducing apparatus said first signal generated in said first generating step;    secondly generating a second signal for causing said recording/reproducing apparatus to display the acquired program information, the generation of said second signal being based on an operation performed by said user;    secondly transmitting to said recording/reproducing apparatus said second signal generated in said second generating step;    thirdly generating a third signal for causing said recording/reproducing apparatus to preset said program for unattended recording, the generation of said third signal being based on an operation performed by said user;    thirdly transmitting to said recording/reproducing apparatus said third signal generated in said third generating step; and    receiving a fourth signal transmitted from said recording/reproducing apparatus.