Abstract: A negative electrode plate of a nickel hydrogen storage battery includes a nonaqueous polymer binder and has an effective surface area per unit capacity of 70 cm2/Ah or more. The density of the first and second separators between positive and negative electrode plates ranges from 450 kg/m3 to 600 kg/m3. The nonwoven fabrics of the separators are formed by combining microfibers and compound fibers through melting portions of the compound fibers. The fibers have a virtually circular cross-section. The microfibers and the compound fibers have a diameter ranging from 1 ?m to less than 5 ?m and a diameter ranging from 5 ?m to 15 ?m, respectively. The proportion of the microfibers to whole fibers ranges from 10 percent by mass to 20 percent by mass. At least one of the nonwoven fabrics of the separators is subjected to sulfonation treatment.

Abstract: A recording medium stores contents and contents keys to be used for encrypting the contents, in a plurality of storage formats. The storage formats include a storage format (a first format) for delivered contents acquired through a network, and a storage format (a second format) for local contents acquired by a method other than the delivery. The intrinsic storage formats of the contents to be stored in the recording medium are determined according to the kinds of the contents. The recording medium stores not only the contents and the contents keys but also original storage format information (an import flag) (851) which is information indicating the intrinsic storage formats of the contents. With reference to the original storage format information, a reproduction device selects a reproduction method in accordance with the intrinsic storage formats of the contents.

Abstract: A data processing device 10 is composed of a data storage unit 11 that stores first authentication data, second medium authentication data generated by applying a predetermined encryption to the first medium authentication data, and second device authentication data generated by applying the predetermined encryption to first device authentication data; a medium authentication data transmission unit 12 transmits the first medium authentication data; an encrypted data reception unit 13 receives first encrypted data; an authentication unit 14 authenticates an information recording medium 30 when the first encrypted data and the second medium authentication data are identical; a device authentication data reception unit 15 receives the first device authentication data; and a device authentication data transmission unit 16 transmits the second device authentication data. Mutual authentication processing can be performed without the data processing device having a unit for encrypting, and by using data each time.

Abstract: Imaging layers, image recording media, and methods of preparation of each, are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment of the imaging layer, among others, includes a matrix; a radiation absorbing compound dissolved in the matrix; an aromatic compound dissolved in the matrix; a color former; and an activator. One of the activator and the color former is dissolved in the matrix and the other of the activator and the color former is substantially insoluble in the matrix at ambient conditions and is substantially uniformly distributed in the matrix.

Abstract: A card information-storing portion is provided in a semiconductor memory card, and information relating to access performance such as access condition and access rate is held in the storing portion. Further, an access device acquires the held information from the semiconductor memory card to make it possible that the information can be used for control of a file system. This optimizes processing of the access device and the semiconductor memory card independent of differences in characteristics of semiconductor memory cards and management methods used, realizing high-rate access from the access device to a semiconductor memory card.

Abstract: In an image forming device, images of originals up to an upper limit number of stapling are read (S1 to S5) and image data thereof are processed (S6 to S8). If a paper sensor has detected a subsequent original even when the number of pages of the read images reaches NS0 (S1, S2), a finisher discharges a bundle of printed papers without stapling. Consequently, the number of the printed papers included in the discharged bundle is made less than the upper limit number. In a case where the number of the printed papers sent to the finisher (S12, S13) is less than a set number NS1 (S15), the bundle is discharged without being stapled after the number of the printed papers reaches NS1 (S17).

Abstract: A data processing apparatus is capable of playing back contents stored in a specified area in a recording medium. The recording medium stores content data and management information for managing the content data. When playing back a content which is managed by the management information on the recording medium but of which entity data is not present in the specified area of the recording medium, the data processing apparatus, searches, for the content, the other area of the recording medium with a search section. When the corresponding content is found, the link information setting section sets the link information (symbolic link, shortcut, etc.) on the recording medium so that the content can be accessed with the management information.

Abstract: Area management information is cached in a cache memory by controlling the access size when an information processor accesses the area management information in an information recording medium. When the processing content of the information processor is to retrieve an free area from the area management information, a physical management block size determined from the physical characteristics of the information recording medium is used. When the processing content is to acquire a link destination from the area management information, minimum access unit of the information recording medium is used. Consequently, overhead can be lessened when the area management information is accessed.

Abstract: An information recording medium (100) is a recording medium to/from which data can be written/read from a data processing apparatus. The recording medium includes a host interface (110) for communicating with the data processing apparatus, a data storage section (130) having a plurality of recording regions (#1, . . . ,#N) for storing data, and a region information storage section (124) for storing information on each recording region. The region information storage section (124) stores information about address attribute of each recording region of the data storage section (130). The information about the address attribute includes information indicating unit (byte or sector) of address specified on access to the recording region.

Abstract: While reproducing content stored in a recording medium, a user terminal as a data processing device downloads a related content as different content related to the reproduction target content from a content distribution server via a communication network. Immediately after the reproduction of the reproduction target content is completed, a notification prompting reproduction or purchase of the related content is provided. This permits immediate reproduction of the related content when the user purchases it, which reduces the user's waiting time, thus improving purchase motivation for the related content.

Abstract: A recording medium for recording digital data includes a content storage area for storing a plurality of content groups; a selector storage area for selecting one of the plurality of content groups; and a retrieved-information storage area for storing information to be retrieved. A data reproducing device switches selectors, whereby the data of all of the content groups can be reproduced in such a manner that the specification of the recording medium is conformed.

Abstract: In a target apparatus which stores at least one piece of domain key information in a first area and a plurality of pieces of content key information each associated with any one of the domain key information in a second area, a method for generating data for detecting tampering of the content key information. The method comprises the steps of encrypting the content key information associated with one of the domain key information using a chain encryption technique, extracting data at predetermined positions in the encrypted content key information, concatenating the pieces of data extracted at the predetermined positions in the encrypted content key information to obtain concatenated data, performing a hash calculation with respect to the concatenated data to obtain a hash value, storing check values corresponding to the data at the predetermined positions in plain text, in the target apparatus, and storing the hash value in the target apparatus.

Abstract: Imaging layers, image recording media, and methods of preparation of each, are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment of the imaging layer, among others, includes a matrix; a radiation absorbing compound dissolved in the matrix; an aromatic compound dissolved in the matrix; a color former; and an activator. One of the activator and the color former is dissolved in the matrix and the other of the activator and the color former is substantially insoluble in the matrix at ambient conditions and is substantially uniformly distributed in the matrix.

Abstract: An apparatus and method which can achieve high-speed data processing and long memory life and is effective to elimination of defragmentation of data, for example, is provided. A recording medium includes a logical-physical conversion table for storing correspondence of a logical address to a physical address of a block in a recording region. The recording medium has a function of replacing correspondence of a logical address to a physical address in the logical-physical conversion table, for a set of logical addresses. A data processing apparatus issues a replace command to the recording medium so that data can be rearranged on a consecutive region in the logical address space, thereby eliminating defragmentaion on the logical address space.

Abstract: An information recording medium includes a data storage section having a plurality of recording regions for storing data, and a region information storing section operable to store information about each recording region in the data storage section. The region information storing section stores information about a recording region (for example, a recording region has been accessed finally) which is set first as an accessible region when the information recording medium is initialized at the next time among a plurality of recording regions in the data storage section. A data processing apparatus refers to the information about the recording region and changes over a recording region to the recording region specified by the information about the recording region just after initialization of the recording medium.

Abstract: Areas in an information medium 507 having a plurality of information storing areas 506 which are managed by different file systems are switched by means of a display control part 502 and a medium control part 503, and information for clearly notifying the utilized information storing area 506 from the information medium 507 is displayed on a display part 501. In addition, a switched areas notifying part 508 is provided in order to notify to a user that the area has switched using a mode of display, sound, light or the like.

Abstract: Rights information concerning contents required by a user terminal and these contents are delivered via a data communication network from a contents provider having a contents delivery server. The user terminal overwrites rights information stored in an information memory within or attached to the terminal with rights information that is newly delivered from the contents delivery server. A variety of contents services are provided to users free of charge or at discounted rates on the condition that rights information is overwritten in this manner.

Abstract: With an alkaline storage battery according to the invention, a coating layer of a cobalt compound is provided on the surface a cathode active material composed mainly of nickel hydroxide, and at least one species of compound selected from the group consisting of a niobium compound, titanium compound, tungsten compound and molybdenum compound is added to the coating layer of the cobalt compound while an alkaline electrolytic solution contains lithium hydroxide, and a lithium hydroxide content is not less than 0.6 mol/L and not more than 1.6 mol/L.

Abstract: A data processing device 10 is composed of a data storage unit 11 that stores first authentication data, second medium authentication data generated by applying a predetermined encryption to the first medium authentication data, and second device authentication data generated by applying the predetermined encryption to first device authentication data; a medium authentication data transmission unit 12 transmits the first medium authentication data; an encrypted data reception unit 13 receives first encrypted data; an authentication unit 14 authenticates an information recording medium 30 when the first encrypted data and the second medium authentication data are identical; a device authentication data reception unit 15 receives the first device authentication data; and a device authentication data transmission unit 16 transmits the second device authentication data. Mutual authentication processing can be performed without the data processing device having a unit for encrypting, and by using data each time.

Abstract: After coating a hydrogen absorbing alloy slurry obtained by kneading a hydrogen absorbing alloy powder 12a, a polyethylene oxide (PEO) powder as a binder 12b, and a suitable amount of water (a solvent for binder) to both surfaces of a metal core plate (active material holder) made of a punching metal, the core plate is dried. Then, after removing the active material layer 13 from the core plate 11 by a means such as cutting and the like, a definite amount of water (a solvent for binder) is sprayed to the cut surface (the exposed surface of the core plate 11) to attach the water to the cur surface followed by drying to provide a hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode 10, which is disposed at the outermost side of the electrode group.