Apparatus capable of executing at least reproducing process on content, recording and reproducing system, and title information managing method

Abstract

According to one embodiment, there is provided an apparatus capable of executing at least a reproducing process on content. The apparatus includes a title information acquiring unit configured to acquire title information on content subjected at least to the reproducing process for each of content obtained via a network and content obtained from a removable recording medium, and a history holding unit configured to hold the title information acquired by the title information acquiring unit, as a history.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus configured to execute at least a reproducing process of a content, the apparatus comprising:
 a title information acquiring module configured to acquire title information of the content that is to be subjected to the reproducing process from a source of the content, before the content is reproduced, wherein the content is received from at least two sources selected from the group consisting of a broadcasting wave, a network, and a removable recording medium; and   a history holding module configured to hold, in a lump, the title information acquired by the title information acquiring module as a history.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein for the content received from the network, the title information acquiring module is configured to acquire title information via a server providing the content. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein for the content retrieved from the removable recording medium, the title information acquiring module is configured to acquire title information from the recording medium if the title information is recorded in the recording medium. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein for the content retrieved from the removable recording medium, the title information acquiring module is configured to acquire title information from a predetermined server via a network on the basis of information inherent in the content if the title information is not recorded in the recording medium. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is capable of executing a recording process on the content received from broadcast signals. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein for the content received through the broadcasting wave, the title information acquiring module is configured to acquire title information from an electronic program guide. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a control module configured to transmit a list of the title information contained in the history held in the history holding module to an external device in response to a predetermined command transmitted from the external device via the network. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a control module configured to search the history using title information or a part of the title information transmitted from an external device via the network, and to a search a search result to the external device. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a control module configured to search, when the content is either downloaded or programmed is be recorded, the history for title information on the content and to provide an indication to a user if the title information is present in the history. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a control module configured to cause a display of a screen which allows a user to specify whether or not to save title information as part of a history. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the history holding module is configured to hold title information of the content has been subjected to the recording process in addition to title information of the content that has been subjected to the reproducing process. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a control module configured to cause a display of a screen which allows a user to modify the history. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a control module configured to execute a predetermined authenticating process between the apparatus and the external device, and to permit the apparatus to provide information to the external device if the authentication succeeds. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the title information acquiring module is configured to acquire a second title information of a second content related to a first content, the second content retrieved separately from the first content, and   the history holding module is further is configured to hold the title information of the second content.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a control module configured to cause a display of a message related to the title information of the second content or to notify a user of the title information via a network. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a control module configured to cause a display of a screen which allows a user to specify whether or not to acquire title information via a network. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a control module configured to acquire title information from a predetermined server via a network and transmit the acquired title information to the external device when external device transmits a predetermined command to the apparatus via a network. 
     
     
         18 . A recording and reproducing system comprising:
 a reproducing apparatus configured to execute a reproducing process on a content; and   a recording and reproducing apparatus connected to the reproducing apparatus via a network and configured to execute a recording process and the reproducing process on a content,   each of the reproducing apparatus and the recording and reproducing apparatus comprising a title information acquiring module configured to acquire title information of a content to be subjected to the reproducing process from a source of the content, before the content is reproduced, wherein the content is received from at least two sources selected from the group consisting of a broadcasting wave, a network, and a removable recording medium, and a history holding module configured to hold, in a lump, the title information acquired by the title information acquiring module as a history.   
     
     
         19 . The recording and reproducing system of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the reproducing apparatus and the recording and reproducing apparatus further comprises a control module configured to transmit title information contained in the history held in the history holding module of each of the reproducing apparatus and the recording and reproducing apparatus, to an external device in response to a predetermined command transmitted from the external device via the network or a predetermined operation performed in one of the reproducing apparatus and the recording and reproducing apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . A title information managing method applied to an apparatus configured to execute at least a reproducing process of a content using a processor, the method comprising:
 acquiring title information of the content to be subjected to the reproducing process from a source of the content, before the content is reproduced, wherein the content is received from at least two sources selected from the group consisting of a broadcasting wave, a network, and a removable recording medium; and   holding, in a lump, the acquired title information as a history.   
     
     
         21 . An apparatus configured to output video content, comprising:
 a title information acquiring module configured to acquire title information of the content that is to be subjected to the reproducing process from a source of the content, before the content is reproduced, wherein the content is received from different types of sources; and   a control module configured to detect whether or not the content has already been reproduced, using the acquired title information of the content, and to output information indicating that the content has already been reproduced if the content has already been reproduced.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the control module is configured to cause a display of a message inquiring whether or not an acquisition of the content is to be executed as well as the message indicating that the content has already been reproduced if the content has already been reproduced. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the control module is configured to cause a display of a message inquiring whether or not a recording programming of the content is be set as well as the message indicating that the content has already been reproduced if the content has already been reproduced. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the title information comprises information indicating a reproduction count of the content. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the title information comprises information indicating at least one of a title, genre, synopsis, cast, director, reproduction count, and source. 
     
     
         26 . A title information managing method applied to an apparatus configured to execute at least a reproducing process of a content using a processor, the method comprising:
 acquiring title information of the content to be subjected to the reproducing process from a source of the content, before the content is reproduced, wherein the content is received from different types of sources; and   detecting whether or not the content has already been reproduced, using the acquired title information of the content, and outputting information indicating that the content has already been reproduced if the content has already been reproduced.