Methods and apparatus for displaying contents using icon images

1. A server apparatus comprising:

receiving means configured to receive identification information for identifying a data content set comprising a plurality of data contents from a display apparatus connected via a network;

acquiring means configured to acquire an icon image corresponding to the identification information;

generating means configured to generate first specific icons, the first specific icons being different from each other, on the basis of the acquired icon image and a predetermined generation rule, wherein, for each data content, the generating means is configured to generate a corresponding first specific icon comprising at least one color tone selected based at least in part on a mood of the data content, and wherein the predetermined generation rule comprises at least one first attribute selected by a first user to reflect a design preference of the first user; and

transmitting means configured to transmit at least the first specific icons to the display apparatus, the transmitting means being further configured to transmit at least one second specific icon to the display apparatus, the at least one second specific icon representing at least one data content in the data content set identified by the identification information received from the display apparatus, the at least one second specific icon being generated by a second user different from the first user, wherein the second user is a user of the at least one data content represented by the at least one second specific icon, and wherein the at least one second specific icon comprises at least one second attribute selected by the second user to reflect a design preference of the second user.

2. The server apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the display apparatus is a first display apparatus, and wherein the receiving means is further configured to receive, from a second display apparatus different from the first display apparatus, the at least one second specific icon in association with the identification information for identifying the data content set.

3. A server apparatus comprising:

receiving means configured to receive identification information for identifying a data content set comprising a plurality of data contents from a display apparatus connected via a network;

identifying means configured to identify an icon image corresponding to the identification information; and

transmitting means configured to transmit to the display apparatus a predetermined generation rule for generating a plurality of first specific icons on the basis of the icon image, the plurality of first specific icons being different from each other and corresponding to the data contents, wherein the predetermined generation rule comprises a rule for selecting, for each data content and based at least in part on a mood of the data content, at least one color tone to be used in a first specific icon corresponding to the data content, and wherein the predetermined generation rule comprises at least one first attribute selected by a first user to reflect a design preference of the first user,

the transmitting means being further configured to transmit at least one second specific icon to the display apparatus, the at least one second specific icon representing at least one data content in the data content set identified by the identification information received from the display apparatus, the at least one second specific icon being generated by a second user different from the first user, wherein the second user is a user of the at least one data content represented by the at least one second specific icon, and wherein the at least one second specific icon comprises at least one second attribute selected by the second user to reflect a design preference of the second user.

4. The server apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the display apparatus is a first display apparatus, and wherein the receiving means is further configured to receive, from a second display apparatus different from the first display apparatus, the at least one second specific icon in association with the identification information for identifying the data content set.

5. A server apparatus comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive identification information for identifying a data content set comprising a plurality of data contents from a display apparatus connected via a network;

an acquiring unit configured to acquire an icon image corresponding to the identification information;

a generating unit configured to generate first specific icons, the first specific icons being different from each other, on the basis of the acquired icon image and a predetermined generation rule, wherein, for each data content, the generating unit is configured to generate a corresponding first specific icon comprising at least one color tone selected based at least in part on a mood of the data content, and wherein the predetermined generation rule comprises at least one first attribute selected by a first user to reflect a design preference of the first user; and

a transmitting unit configured to transmit at least the first specific icons to the display apparatus, the transmitting unit being further configured to transmit at least one second specific icon to the display apparatus, the at least one second specific icon representing at least one data content in the data content set identified by the identification information received from the display apparatus, the at least one second specific icon being generated by a second user different from the first user, wherein the second user is a user of the at least one data content represented by the at least one second specific icon, and wherein the at least one second specific icon comprises at least one second attribute selected by the second user to reflect a design preference of the second user.

6. The server apparatus of claim 5 , wherein:

the receiving unit is further configured to receive from the display apparatus an indication that the first user did not select a third specific icon generated by the generating unit;

the generating unit is further configured to, in response to the received indication, generate a fourth specific icon corresponding to a same data content as the third specific icon; and

the transmitting unit is further configured to transmit the fourth specific icon to the display apparatus.

7. The server apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the display apparatus is a first display apparatus, and wherein the receiving unit is further configured to receive, from a second display apparatus different from the first display apparatus, the at least one second specific icon in association with the identification information for identifying the data content set.

8. A server apparatus comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive identification information for identifying a data content set comprising a plurality of data contents from a display apparatus connected via a network;

an identifying unit configured to identify an icon image corresponding to the identification information; and

a transmitting unit configured to transmit to the display apparatus a predetermined generation rule for generating a plurality of first specific icons on the basis of the icon image, the plurality of first specific icons being different from each other and corresponding to the data contents, wherein the predetermined generation rule comprises a rule for selecting, for each data content and based at least in part on a mood of the data content, at least one color tone to be used in a first specific icon corresponding to the data content, and wherein the predetermined generation rule comprises at least one first attribute selected by a first user to reflect a design preference of the first user, the transmitting unit being further configured to transmit at least one second specific icon to the display apparatus, the at least one second specific icon representing at least one data content in the data content set identified by the identification information received from the display apparatus, the at least one second specific icon being generated by a second user different from the first user, wherein the second user is a user of the at least one data content represented by the at least one second specific icon, and wherein the at least one second specific icon comprises at least one second attribute selected by the second user to reflect a design preference of the second user.

9. The server apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the display apparatus is a first display apparatus, and wherein the receiving unit is further configured to receive, from a second display apparatus different from the first display apparatus, the at least one second specific icon in association with the identification information for identifying the data content set.