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Searching system, searching unit, searching method, displaying method for search results, terminal unit, inputting unit, and record mediumRelated Patent Categories: Television Signal Processing For Dynamic Recording Or Reproducing, Processing Of Television Signal For Dynamic Recording Or Reproducing, Having Another SignalSearching system, searching unit, searching method, displaying method for search results, terminal unit, inputting unit, and record medium description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070110401, Searching system, searching unit, searching method, displaying method for search results, terminal unit, inputting unit, and record medium. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a searching system, a searching unit, a searching method, a displaying method for search results, a terminal unit, an inputting unit, and a record medium that allow information that was broadcast to be searched and properly obtained. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] A database system that allows data to be searched from a database stored in a computer system is known. The user obtains desired information directly from the database system or using a terminal unit connected thereto through a network. The user inputs a keyword that he thinks it is proper from the terminal unit. The database system searches the database corresponding to the input keyword and provides the user with the search results through the terminal unit. When the database system has provided the user with much information, the user can filter the information using another keyword. [0005] Now, the case that the user searches music data from a database system will be considered. The user can know for example title information of a CD (Compact Disc) that contains his or her desired musical piece from the search results so as to purchase the CD. In this case, the music data is information about a musical piece as a unit of music. The music data is composed of for example a musical piece name, a performer name, an album name (namely, a music CD title), a released date, and a seller. The music data may contain audio data of a musical piece. In the database system, additional information that is for example a performer name, a title, an album name, and so forth is assigned as keywords of music data to each musical piece. [0006] For example, when the user likes a musical piece that was broadcast from a radio broadcasting station, he or she searches the musical piece from such a music database. In this case, the user searches his or her favorite musical piece using keywords corresponding to additional information that was announced along with the musical piece. [0007] In such a conventional music database system, unless the user inputs a proper keyword to the database system, he or she cannot obtain desired results. Thus, conventionally, when the user forgot additional information that was announced along with the musical piece, he or she cannot obtain desired information. [0008] There is a situation that the user always carries a terminal unit that can search a musical piece from a music database and he or she searches a desired musical piece that was broadcast from a radio broadcasting station with the terminal unit. In this case, if the user likes a music that he listened to only a last part thereof, he or she cannot obtain the additional information of the musical piece. Thus, even if the user has such a terminal unit, he or she cannot know a keyword that he or she should input. [0009] Thus, even if a contents provider who sells musical pieces and CDs provides listeners with a radio program, it does not directly contribute to sales of the musical pieces and CDs. [0010] In the case of a digital broadcast, additional information may be superimposed to music data that is broadcast. Thus, the user can obtain additional information about a musical piece from digital data. However, in this case, the broadcasting station should create additional data for each musical piece to be broadcast and superimpose the additional data to the musical piece. Thus, the cost on the broadcasting station side increases. In addition, the user side should prepare a receiving unit that can extract additional information from digital data. OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a searching system, a searching unit, a searching method, a displaying method for search results, a terminal unit, an inputting unit, and a record medium that allow the user to search contents that were broadcast without need to know an accurate keyword. [0012] A first aspect of the present invention is a searching system for searching contents that were broadcast, the searching system having an inputting unit, a searching unit, and a terminal unit, wherein the inputting unit comprises a first storing means for storing information representing at least time at which contents were broadcast corresponding to a predetermined operation, and a first communicating means for transmitting the information representing time stored in the storing means to an external unit, wherein the searching unit comprises a second storing means for correlatively storing information representing contents and broadcast time thereof, and a searching means for searching information representing the contents stored in the second storing means corresponding to the information representing time, and wherein the terminal unit comprises a second communicating means for receiving the information representing time transmitted from the inputting unit through the first communicating means, a third communicating means for transmitting the information representing time received by the second communicating means and receiving search results transmitted from the searching unit, and a first displaying means for displaying the information representing time received by the second communicating means and the search results by the searching unit. [0013] A second aspect of the present invention is a terminal unit for causing contents that were broadcast to be searched, comprising a first communicating means for receiving time information representing predetermined time from an inputting unit and transmitting the information representing the predetermined time to an external unit, a second communicating means for transmitting the information representing the predetermined time received from the first communicating means to a searching unit and receiving search results from the searching unit, the searching unit searching information representing contents from a storing means corresponding to the information representing the predetermined time, the storing means correlatively storing the information representing the contents and broadcast time thereof, and a displaying means for displaying the information representing the predetermined time received by the first communicating means and the search results of the searching unit. [0014] A third aspect of the present invention is a terminal unit for causing contents that were broadcast to be searched, comprising a first storing means for storing time information representing predetermined time corresponding to a predetermined operation, a communicating means for transmitting the information representing the predetermined time to a searching unit and receiving search results from the searching unit, the searching unit searching information representing contents from a second storing means corresponding to the information representing the predetermined time, the second storing means correlatively storing the information representing the contents and broadcast time thereof, and a displaying means for displaying the information representing the predetermined time stored in the first storing means and the search results of the searching unit. [0015] A fourth aspect of the present invention is a searching unit for searching contents that were broadcast, comprising a database for correlatively storing information representing contents and broadcast time thereof, and a communication interface for receiving time information representing predetermined time and identification information of contents from an external unit, wherein the information representing the contents is searched corresponding to the received time information representing the predetermined time and the received identification information of the contents. [0016] A fifth aspect of the present invention is a searching method for searching contents that were broadcast, comprising the steps of (a) storing information representing at least time at which contents were broadcast corresponding to a predetermined operation of an inputting unit to a first storing means, (b) transmitting the information representing time stored in the first storing means to an external unit, (c) causing a searching unit to search information representing contents stored in a second storing means corresponding to the information representing time, (d) receiving the information representing time transmitted from the inputting unit at the first communicating step (b), (e) transmitting the information representing time received at the second communicating step (d) and receiving search results transmitted from the searching unit, (f) displaying the information representing time received at the second communicating step (d), and (g) displaying the search results of the searching unit. [0017] A sixth aspect of the present invention is a searching method for searching contents that were broadcast, comprising the steps of (a) receiving timing information representing predetermined time and identification information of contents from an external unit, (b) searching the information representing the contents from a database corresponding to the received time information representing time and the received identification information of the contents, the database correlatively storing the information representing the contents and broadcast time thereof, and (c) transmitting search results searched at the searching step (b) to the external unit. [0018] A seventh aspect of the present invention is a displaying method for causing a terminal unit to display search results of contents that were broadcast, comprising the steps of (a) receiving time information representing predetermined time from an inputting unit, (b) transmitting the information representing the predetermined time to an external unit, (c) transmitting the information representing the predetermined time received at the first communicating step (a) to a searching unit, the searching unit searching information representing contents from a database corresponding to the information representing the predetermined time, the database correlatively storing the information representing the contents and broadcast time thereof, (d) receiving search results from the searching unit, and (e) displaying the information representing the predetermined time received at the first communicating step (a) and the search results received at the fourth communicating step (d). [0019] An eighth aspect of the present invention is a displaying method for causing a terminal unit to display search results of contents that were broadcast, comprising the steps of (a) storing time information representing predetermined time corresponding to a predetermined operation, (b) transmitting the information representing the predetermined time stored at the storing step (a) to a searching unit, the searching unit searching information representing contents from a database corresponding to the information representing the predetermined time, the database correlatively storing the information representing the contents and broadcast time thereof, (c) receiving search results from the searching unit, and (d) displaying the information representing the predetermined time stored at the storing step (a) and the search results of the contents received at the second communication step (c). [0020] A ninth aspect of the present invention is a record medium for recording a control program that causes search results of contents to be displayed on a terminal unit, the control program causing the terminal unit to perform the steps of (a) receiving time information representing predetermined time from an inputting unit, (b) transmitting the information representing the predetermined time to an external unit, (c) transmitting the information representing the predetermined time to a searching unit, the searching unit searching information representing contents from a database corresponding to the information representing the predetermined time, the database correlatively storing the information representing the contents and broadcast time thereof, (d) receiving search results from the searching unit, and (e) displaying at least the received search results. [0021] A tenth aspect of the present invention is a record medium for recording a control program that causes search results of contents to be displayed on a terminal unit, the control program causing the terminal unit to perform the steps of (a) storing time information representing predetermined time corresponding to a predetermined operation, (b) transmitting the information representing the predetermined time stored at the storing step (a) to a searching unit, the searching unit searching information representing contents from a database corresponding to the information representing the predetermined time, the database correlatively storing the information representing the contents and broadcast time thereof, (c) receiving search results from the searching unit, and (d) displaying at least the search results on the terminal unit. [0022] An eleventh aspect of the present invention is a record medium for recording a control program that causes an inputting unit to input information representing time to a researching unit, the control program causing the inputting unit to perform the steps of (a) storing time information representing predetermined time corresponding to user's operation, (b) transmitting the time information representing the predetermined time stored at the storing step (a) to an external unit, and (c) inputting the time information representing the predetermined time to a searching unit, the searching unit searching information representing contents from a database corresponding to the time information representing the predetermined time at which contents were broadcast, the database correlatively storing the information representing the contents and broadcast time thereof. Continue reading about Searching system, searching unit, searching method, displaying method for search results, terminal unit, inputting unit, and record medium... Full patent description for Searching system, searching unit, searching method, displaying method for search results, terminal unit, inputting unit, and record medium Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Searching system, searching unit, searching method, displaying method for search results, terminal unit, inputting unit, and record medium patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Searching system, searching unit, searching method, displaying method for search results, terminal unit, inputting unit, and record medium or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Reproduction apparatus Next Patent Application: Video capture system input control Industry Class: Television signal processing for dynamic recording or reproducing ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Searching system, searching unit, searching method, displaying method for search results, terminal unit, inputting unit, and record medium patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.15565 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Accenture , Agouron Pharmaceuticals , Amgen , AT&T , Bausch & Lomb , Callaway Golf 174 |
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