A rule storage unit stores a plurality of pieces of specifying information each showing a feature of frames to be specified as start frames, and each corresponding to a different type of content. A program obtaining unit obtains a content of which start frames are to be specified. An information obtaining unit obtains type information showing the type of the obtained content. A selecting unit obtains, from the rule storage unit, apiece of specifying information corresponding to the obtained type information. A specifying unit specifies, as the start frames, frames in the obtained content having the feature shown by the obtained piece of specifying information.