Abstract: A control method and system when a flash memory is used. as a semiconductor disk or a main memory in an information processing system. A semiconductor file system comprises a first nonvolatile memory electrically erasable, a second nonvolatile memory not electrically erasable, a volatile memory, a controller which controls the memories, and a control section which controls the controller wherein a physical address corresponding to a logical address specified from an external system is accessed. The first nonvolatile memory stores data for the external system to perform operations, first management information indicating the correspondence between physical addresses at which the data is stored and logical addresses, and second management information indicating a state of the first nonvolatile memory. The second nonvolatile memory previously stores interface information required for inputting and outputting the data from and to the external system and read-only data of the data.

Abstract: In each of the information processing apparatuses connected to each other via a network, there is arranged a quality of service (QOS) table to which functions and performance thereof are registered. When an information processing apparatus is additionally linked with the network, a QOS table thereof is automatically registered to a local directory of the network such that an agent converts the contents of the QOS table into service information to be supplied via a user interface to the user. Thanks to the operation, information of functions and performance of each information processing apparatus connected to the network is converted into service information for the user. Consequently, the user can much more directly receive necessary services.

Abstract: A control method and system when a flash memory is used as a semiconductor disk or a main memory in an information processing system. A semiconductor file system comprises a first nonvolatile memory electrically erasable, a second nonvolatile memory not electrically erasable, a volatile memory, a controller which controls the memories, and a control section which controls the controller wherein a physical address corresponding to a logical address specified from an external system is accessed. The first nonvolatile memory stores data for the external system to perform operations, first management information indicating the correspondence between physical addresses at which the data is stored and logical addresses, and second management information indicating a state of the first nonvolatile memory. The second nonvolatile memory previously stores interface information required for inputting and outputting the data from and to the external system and read-only data of the data.

Abstract: An information processing system includes a first bus, a second bus, a plurality of modules connected to both buses, a bus arbiter for arbitrating a bus access request of a bus master, and a storage means for storing access data up to a predetermined amount for one of modules when access destination information indicates that said module is the access destination. Each bus master outputs access destination information and when the bus arbiter judges that one of the bus masters issues a bus access request when it performs an access operation, the bus arbiter refers to whether the predetermined amount of access destination information is fully stored in the storage means, and decides whether or not to give a bus access to the bus master.

Abstract: A control method and system when a flash memory is used as a semiconductor disk or a main memory in an information processing system. A semiconductor file system comprises a first nonvolatile memory electrically erasable, a second nonvolatile memory not electrically erasable, a volatile memory, a controller which controls the memories, and a control section which controls the controller wherein a physical address corresponding to a logical address specified from an external system is accessed. The first nonvolatile memory stores data for the external system to perform operations, first management information indicating the correspondence between physical addresses at which the data is stored and logical addresses, and second management information indicating a state of the first nonvolatile memory. The second nonvolatile memory previously stores interface information required for inputting and outputting the data from and to the external system and read-only data of the data.

Abstract: A control method and system when a flash memory is used as a semiconductor disk or a main memory in an information processing system. A semiconductor file system comprises a first nonvolatile memory electrically erasable, a second nonvolatile memory not electrically erasable, a volatile memory, a controller which controls the memories, and a control section which controls the controller wherein a physical address corresponding to a logical address specified from an external system is accessed. The first nonvolatile memory stores data for the external system to perform operations, first management information indicating the correspondence between physical addresses at which the data is stored and logical addresses, and second management information indicating a state of the first nonvolatile memory. The second nonvolatile memory previously stores interface information required for inputting and outputting the data from and to the external system and read-only data of the data.

Abstract: An information processing system includes a modem communicating with a remote console through a telephone line, an information processing apparatus communicating with the remote console through the modem, a service processor, a power supply continuously supplying power to the modem and the service processor, a power supply supplying power to the information processing apparatus according to commands from the service processor, and a switch connecting the modem to the service processor or the information processing apparatus in accordance with a switching signal from the service processor. The service processor controls the switch to connect the modem to the service processor when the information processing apparatus power supply is in the off state.

Abstract: In each of the information processing apparatuses connected to each other via a network, there is arranged a quality of service (QOS) table to which functions and performance thereof are registered. When an information processing apparatus is additionally linked with the network, a QOS table thereof is automatically registered to a local directory of the network such that an agent converts the contents of the QOS table into service information to be supplied via a user interface to the user. Thanks to the operation, information of functions and performance of each information processing apparatus connected to the network is converted into service information for the user. Consequently, the user can much more directly receive necessary services.

Abstract: A multiprocessor system is provided with processor units which are grouped beforehand into some groups, a system status monitoring unit for monitoring a key input operation of a keyboard, a power demand monitoring unit for calculating the difference between the total power demand of the processor units at the present time and the total power demand of the processor units in a low power-demand mode which is measured beforehand, when the key input operation is not carried out in a normal operation mode for a predetermined time, and an operation clock controller for successively reducing or stopping operation clocks supplied to the respective processor units for each group in turn to shift the current mode to the low power-demand mode. With this construction, a power variation which occurs at the time of the switching operation between the normal operation mode and the low power-demand mode or at the time of power supply/power shut-off can be reduced.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for growing fruit bodies of Fistulina hepatica which comprises the steps of cutting off some parts of side wall of a cultivation vessel close to the fruit body primordium-forming part on a solid medium contained in the vessel having at least the bottom and side walls to form perforations on the wall, and making the fruit bodies to grow out of the vessel through the perforations. By this method, the large mature fruit bodies can be efficiently obtained in a short period of time.

Abstract: Bus clock generation circuits divide an output of an oscillation circuit with respect to frequency and output phase state signals. A synchronization circuit judges a setup condition on a second bus on the basis of the phase state signals and, when judging the satisfied setup condition, outputs a shift request signal to a CLK2 generation circuit. This causes the CLK2 generation circuit to change a phase of a clock CLK2 in such a manner that data transmission ends always within one period of the clock CLK2, thus a reducing synchronization overhead.

Abstract: A control method and system when a flash memory is used as a semiconductor disk or a main memory in an information processing system. A semiconductor file system comprises a first nonvolatile memory electrically erasable, a second nonvolatile memory not electrically erasable, a volatile memory, a controller which controls the memories, and a control section which controls the controller wherein a physical address corresponding to a logical address specified from an external system is accessed. The first nonvolatile memory stores data for the external system to perform operations, first management information indicating the correspondence between physical addresses at which the data is stored and logical addresses, and second management information indicating a state of the first nonvolatile memory. The second nonvolatile memory previously stores interface information required for inputting and outputting the data from and to the external system and read-only data of the data.

Abstract: A centrifugal separation apparatus comprises a rotatable cylindrical member including a side perforated wall and an opened bottom and a bottom lid member including a central raised portion and a side wall inclined downwardly and outwardly. The bottom lid member is moveable between an upper position in which said bottom lid member is engaged by the lower end face of said cylindrical member and a lower position in which said bottom lid member is spaced apart from the lower end of said cylindrical member to form a gap therebetween.

Abstract: A continuous vacuum frier feeds material along a path of conveyance within a vacuum frying chamber while maintaining the chamber vacuum. A frier comprises material conveying means for conveying the material through frying oil. The material conveying means includes endless belt means having a plurality of openings formed therein and a plurality of partitioning members extending downwardly from the endless belt means and each having a plurality of apertures formed therein. The partitioning members defines a plurality of compartments which receive the material and in which the material are fried and conveyed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing starting material for dried sweet potato chips comprises heating raw sweet potatoes at a temperature ranging from 70.degree. to 100.degree. C. for 180 to 8 minutes to adjust hardness of the sweet potatoes to 1,800 to 12,000 and then slicing the heated sweet potatoes to a desired thickness. The sweet potato slices are further subjected to a second heat treatment to convert starches present therein to .alpha.-starches and then dried as such or after freezing to obtain dried sweet potato chips edible as a snack food.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus which can manufacture dried foods giving the person who eats the dried foods a soft-dried and spongy feeling pleasant to the palate by evaporating the greater part of the moisture in the raw materials to be removed in as short a time as possible after the commencement of the drying process. According to the present invention, this is achieved by a method for manufacturing dried foods wherein raw food materials are radiated with microwaves under reduced pressure conditions while immersed in oil as well as by an apparatus for manufacturing dried foods comprising an oil tank arranged within a pressure reducing chamber having a pressure reducing device; a retainer for containing raw food materials immersed in oil in said oil tank; and a microwave radiating device for radiating said raw food materials with microwave while immersed in the oil.

Abstract: An apparatus for swelling and drying foods under reduced pressure in which the apparatus comprises a reduced pressure treating chamber connected to a vacuum pump directly or through a reservoir tank, a drying chamber having a pressure reducing means, a heating means and a conveying means, and an outlet chamber having a pressure reducing means and in which said reduced pressure treating chamber, said drying chamber and said outlet chamber are continuously arranged in this order.

Abstract: A method of drying raw meat is disclosed wherein the meat is predried by a deep frying treatment under a vacuum and is then vacuum freeze-dried.

Abstract: A method of producing a dehydrated food product capable of rehydration to produce reconstituted food of good quality which comprises applying microwave radiation to the food received in a container with a lid, or which comprises rotating a container in which the food is received and applying microwave radiation to the food received in the container. The dehydrated food product produced in accordance with the above methods is useful as an ingredient for use in instant food and as snack food.

Abstract: An improved low pressure microwave drying apparatus comprises a drying chamber made of a microwave-permeable and gas-impermeable material and a microwave applying chamber made of a microwave-impermeable material which encloses the drying chamber at a distance therefrom. The drying chamber is provided with a gas exhaust system and the microwave applying chamber with a microwave generator.