Abstract: A selection set evaluation device comprises selection item storage means (201) where information concerning selection items are stored, selection item presenting means (202) for presenting selection items to a user, selection item selection means (203) for allowing the user to select one or more of the presented selection items, evaluation criterion storage means (207) where evaluation criteria used for evaluating a selection set consisting of the one or more selection items selected by the user, and selection set evaluating means (209) for evaluating the selection set on the basis of the evaluation criteria. Thus a selection set evaluation device for evaluating a selection set which is a combination of selection items selected by the user on the basis of predetermined evaluation criteria.

Abstract: When an action tag included in an animation description script of a second character is described to synchronize with an action tag included in an animation description script of a first character, a script interpreting means (106) interprets the action tag included in the animation description script of the first character on the basis of the combination with the synchronized action tag included in the animation description script of the second character with reference to a script interpretation table stored in an interpretation table storing means (105). Thus, it is possible to provide an animation reproduction device and a communication network system capable of automatic modification at reproduction of animation having a plurality of characters so that the respective actions of the plurality of characters are coordinated with each other even without modifying the animation description script of the first character.

Abstract: In an information retrieval method that allows the user to retrieve information in an intuitive way even when the user only has a vague requirement, information is retrieved from a memory device in which a plurality of information are stored. The information retrieval method includes the steps of determining whether any of a predetermined number of sub-information displayed in advance is selected or not: setting selected information as main information when any of the sub-information is selected; calculating the level of relationship with the main information for each information other than the main information stored in the memory device when any of the sub-information is selected and selecting the predetermined number of sub-information according to the level of relationship; displaying the main information; and displaying the predetermined number of sub-information.

Abstract: A data management method of obtaining accurately the number of data satisfying a retrieval condition and the number of data not satisfying a retrieval condition is employed in a data management apparatus including: a storage device storing a plurality of data, each data having an attribute and an attribute value associated with each attribute; a display device; a control circuit for displaying on the display device a region for each attribute value of a certain attribute and a plurality of icons representing the plurality of data, respectively, on each region; and a circuit to retrieve data by a filter to which an attribute and an attribute value are related.

Abstract: A data communication device for data communication through radio among a plurality of devices includes a reception circuit receiving data, a storage circuit connected to the reception circuit to store received data, a transmission circuit connected to the storage circuit to search for one data communication device capable of communication therewith, and transmitting the data stored in the storage circuit into the found data communication device, and a control unit connected to the storage circuit, controlling the storage circuit to delete the data transmitted to the found data communication device in response to receiving reception complete data representing reception of data from the found data communication device.

Abstract: A method for enabling a user to interactively manipulate data retained in a computer system includes the steps of: comparing a variable value with a predetermined threshold value, the variable value varying in accordance with a predetermined instruction which is input to the computer system; selecting one of a plurality of interaction tools in accordance with the result of comparison of the variable value with the predetermined threshold value, each of the plurality of interaction tools providing a different method for manipulating the same data; and displaying the selected one of the plurality of interaction tools.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: an input device for receiving input information; a display device for displaying information on a display screen; and a database for storing words and information related to the words to allow information related to a related word related to an input word be retrieved.

Abstract: The information display apparatus of this invention, includes: an information storing section for storing information to be displayed; a display section for displaying the information on a display screen; an attention point setting section for setting an attention point defining a specified point to which a user desires to direct attention on the display screen; an importance degree calculating section for calculating an importance degree of the information; a display color changing section for changing a color in which the information is displayed on the display screen in accordance with the importance degree of the information calculated by the importance degree calculating section and a distance between the information and the attention point set by the attention point setting section.

Abstract: The data search apparatus includes: a data storage section for holding and storing data about all of the plurality of data items in a state where each of the plurality of data items is represented as a row, on which a plurality of attribute values about the data item are arranged in line, and the rows corresponding to the plurality of data items are sorted in a predetermined order decided by a designated attribute; a display control section for selectively displaying a predetermined number of data items from the plurality of data items in the predetermined order decided by the designated attribute on the display screen of the display device such that the attribute values of each of the displayed data items are arranged in line and that a designated data item row and a designated attribute value column are displayed in a different state from the other data item rows and the other attribute value columns; a designation change section for changing the designated row and the designated attribute value column; and