Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a log acquirer, a first estimation model, a finder and a hint display controller. The log acquirer acquires a log at occurrence of a predetermined event. The log includes one or both of a user's input operation history and an application history. The first estimation model calculates, based on the input log, a first evaluation value for each of a plurality of hint items that are obtained by separating a plurality of hints into categories. Each of the plurality of hints is prepared as a usage hint for the user. The first evaluation value represents likelihood of each of the plurality of hint items is a hint item that includes a hint sought by the user. The finder finds, from among the plurality of hint items, one or more hint items, in each of which the first evaluation value is a first predetermined value or greater.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a log acquirer, a first estimation model, a finder and a hint display controller. The log acquirer acquires a log at occurrence of a predetermined event. The log includes one or both of a user's input operation history and an application history. The first estimation model calculates, based on the input log, a first evaluation value for each of a plurality of hint items that are obtained by separating a plurality of hints into categories. Each of the plurality of hints is prepared as a usage hint for the user. The first evaluation value represents likelihood of each of the plurality of hint items is a hint item that includes a hint sought by the user. The finder finds, from among the plurality of hint items, one or more hint items, in each of which the first evaluation value is a first predetermined value or greater.

Abstract: A download system capable of appropriately spreading loads on a server and on a transmission path, and further enhancing convenience in download of data. A reservation candidate acquirer of a communication terminal acquires from a software managing server reservation candidate information containing time information about time zones as candidates to which a reservation for download of an update file can be allocated. At the communication terminal a user selects a reserved time zone from the time zones corresponding to the time information included in the reservation candidate information, and the software managing server registers the reservation in the reserved time zone. Thereby, the reserved time zone can be selected from the candidate time zones transmitted by the software managing server and the candidate time zones are determined based on a reservation table set so as to spread loads on the software managing server and on the transmission path.

Abstract: The method of the present invention is an update method of a software which is stored in a rewritable non-volatile memory of a communication terminal and is directly executed. The method comprises: an update file transfer step in which an update software is transferred to the communication terminal from a software management server for managing the update software which is to be stored in the rewritable non-volatile memory as an update file, and the update file is stored in a rewritable volatile memory of the communication terminal; and an update software rewriting step in which the software, which is stored in the rewritable non-volatile memory and is directly executed, is rewritten with the update software stored in the rewritable volatile memory as the update file after the update file transfer step.

Abstract: A cleaning device is provided with a cleaning unit (35) disposed downstream from a position at which a toner image is transferred to a paper. The cleaning unit (35) is provided with a cleaning blade (35c) for scraping off residual toner attached to an image bearing member and a toner catching sheet (35e) for preventing the residual toner or paper dust which have been scraped off from falling outside the cleaning unit. The free length in the toner catching sheet (35e) between affixed positions of a first end portion which is affixed to the cleaning unit (35) and a second end portion which abuts an outer circumferential portion of the image bearing member is determined by an amount of paper dust buildup on the outer circumferential portion of the image bearing member.

Abstract: A cleaning device is provided with a cleaning unit (35) disposed downstream from a position at which a toner image is transferred to a paper. The cleaning unit (35) is provided with a cleaning blade (35c) for scraping off residual toner attached to an image bearing member and a toner catching sheet (35e) for preventing the residual toner or paper dust which have been scraped off from falling outside the cleaning unit. The free length in the toner catching sheet (35e) between affixed positions of a first end portion which is affixed to the cleaning unit (35) and a second end portion which abuts an outer circumferential portion of the image bearing member is determined by an amount of paper dust buildup on the outer circumferential portion of the image bearing member.

Abstract: A download system capable of appropriately spreading loads on a server and on a transmission path, and further enhancing convenience in download of data. A reservation candidate acquirer of a communication terminal acquires from a software managing server reservation candidate information containing time information about time zones as candidates to which a reservation for download of an update file can be allocated. At the communication terminal a user selects a reserved time zone from the time zones corresponding to the time information included in the reservation candidate information, and the software managing server registers the reservation in the reserved time zone. Thereby, the reserved time zone can be selected from the candidate time zones transmitted by the software managing server and the candidate time zones are determined based on a reservation table set so as to spread loads on the software managing server and on the transmission path.

Abstract: The method of the present invention is an update method of a software which is stored in a rewritable non-volatile memory of a communication terminal and is directly executed. The method comprises: an update file transfer step in which an update software is transferred to the communication terminal from a software management server for managing the update software which is to be stored in the rewritable non-volatile memory as an update file, and the update file is stored in a rewritable volatile memory of the communication terminal; and an update software rewriting step in which the software, which is stored in the rewritable non-volatile memory and is directly executed, is rewritten with the update software stored in the rewritable volatile memory as the update file after the update file transfer step.

Abstract: In a data structure identifying method, objects and/or data structures are differentiated by using an identifier. The identifier is formed by using an index in place of an address, thereby reducing a required number of bits for describing the address. A table is used for representing the relationship between the index and the address. To ensure that the identifier is unique on a time axis, the index is combined with a time stamp or a counter. The identifier further includes a format determining portion, such as an object identifier “OID” format bit and/or a reserved bit, which may be used for determining the presence or the absence of a network address. The identifier is thus applicable to an expandable system. As a result, it is possible to provide a data structure identifying method in which only a small number of bits are required and in which a high level of system performance can be maintained.

Abstract: Message passing is suitably performed even if there are a plurality of server objects, and even if a processing request is received and a processing result is returned by a different server object. When sending a message from a client object to a server object, a data area for storing a result of processing executed by the server object is reserved. In executing the processing by the server object, an authorization to return the processing result of the server object to the client object is delegated between the server objects. Then, the result of the processing executed by the object which was most recently delegated to possess the above authorization is stored in the data area. The client object then reads the data stored in the data area so as to receive the processing result by the server object.

Abstract: A method for data communication between objects or between object-oriented programming systems, such as object-oriented operating systems (OS), in which transparency to different environments is presented for convenience to a programmer. In the data communication method for having communication between the object-oriented operating systems or between objects, a tag (Tag), a future (Future) and continuation (Continuation) are handled as a tag (Tag) for controlling the synchronization and parallelism of communication between objects proper to different communication mechanisms having different properties or interfaces. These tags are communicated along with the communication message.

Abstract: If an object enters a waiting state due to some problem while future-based message passing is being performed, the object is able to exit from the waiting state without needing to execute time-out processing. When sending a message from a client object to a server object, a data area is reserved. If processing executed by the server object is correctly completed, the data indicating the processing result is stored in the data area. If processing executed by the server object is not correctly completed, the data indicating the status of the server object is stored in the data area. By reading the data stored in the data area, the client object receives the data of the processing result if the processing of the server object has been correctly completed. If the processing of the server object has not been correctly completed, the client object receives the status data.

Abstract: A automatic guided vehicle which drives drive wheels differentially to change its traveling direction applies braking by imposing reverse torque to wheel drive motors when cornering or when rapid braking is demanded. This braking corrects the traveling direction of the automatic guided vehicle when the vehicle is apt to depart from its intended path, enabling a automatic guided vehicle even having a large inertia to make a smooth turn at a sharp corner.

Abstract: A automatic guided vehicle travels on a prearranged travel path established by a path guide and detects lateral deviation of the vehicle from a path guide to control the direction of travel of the vehicle by steering the vehicle according to a prescribed relationship between steering angle and lateral deviation which is installed in the form of ruling maps in the vehicle.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image support medium; a charging member for charging the surface of the image support medium in contact with the surface of it; an exposure device for irradiating with light the surface of the image support medium charged by the charging member to form a static latent image; a developing device for supplying developer to the static latent image formed on the image support medium to develop the latent image and for removing the leftover developer on the image support medium; a transfer device for transferring the developer image, which has been developed on the image support medium by the developing device, to a member to be transferred; and a scraping member for scraping foreign matter such as dust and paper particles on the image support medium.

Abstract: A fixing unit for an image forming apparatus, for fixing a toner image transferred onto a recording sheet, which includes a fixing section having a heat roller and a pressure roller, includes a detector for detecting the time when the recording sheet reaches between the heat roller and the pressure roller; and a controller for controlling the moving speed of the fixing section to be gradually decreased when the recording sheet reaches the fixing section.

Abstract: A fine particle recovery device for recovering fine particles such as waste toner accumulating at a plurality of locations such as a photoreceptor and a transferring belt in an image forming apparatus. The fine particle recovery device possesses transport path, constituted by waste toner recovery pipes, which allows the waste toner from the plurality of locations to pass therethrough; a waste toner recovery container, attached to the exit of the transport path, which stores the waste toner in one lot; and auger axes, installed inside the transport path, which convey the waste toner toward the waste toner recovery container. Further, among transport distances from the respective locations to the waste toner recovery container, the transport distance from the location having the most waste toner to the waste toner recovery container is set to be the shortest.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compact electrophotographic device in which the gap between a screen and a photosensitive body can be kept uniform throughout the screen, no fogging is caused on a copied imaged, no wasteful space is around the photosensitive body, color contaminations are completely prevented and the quality of a color copied image is improved.

Abstract: An electrophotographic copying apparatus comprises a photosensitive member (4) exposed by light reflected from an original to form an image of the original thereon, mechanism (13) for developing the image on the photosensitive member with toner (9, 10, 11, 12) to produce a toner image corresponding the image mechanism (24) for transferring the toner image onto a transfer material, mechanism (26) for fixing the toner image transferred on the transfer material, mechanism (27) for producing a signal which represents that high surface glossiness of the image copy is required, and mechanism (31, 32) for feeding the transfer material in a first path when the signal is produced, the transfer material being fixed fully, and for feeding the transfer material in a second path shorter than the first path when the signal is not produced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a perovskite-type oxide catalyst. The process comprises the steps of reacting an aqueous solution containing plural metal salts, such as chloride, sulfate, nitrate, etc., and an aqueous solution of a neutralizer such as alkali carbonate, alkali hydroxide, ammonia, etc., so as to cause coprecipitation of neutral salts and firing the coprecipitated salts to provide a perovskite-type oxide. At least one organic substance selected from the group consisting of cellulose, polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyvinyl alcohol, starch, gelatin and saccharide is added prior to the firing step. The addition of the organic substance makes possible the attainment of a highly active perovskite-type oxide catalyst composed of very fine particles (primary particles).