Abstract: A content evaluation apparatus and a content evaluation method that can distribute contents that a user potentially needs without any omissions. A history class separation unit generates a separation plane for separating in a separation plane a characteristic vector of a selected content and characteristic vectors of non-selected contents stored in a browsing history table. A user characteristic vector calculation unit generates a user characteristic vector based on an orthogonal vector perpendicular to the separation plane thus generated and stores the user characteristic vector in a user characteristic vector management table. Subsequently, when a recommendation request receiving unit receives a recommendation request, a content evaluation unit evaluates the contents based on the stored user characteristic vector.

Abstract: A mobile terminal that executes an application using context information in a plurality of environments in which determined context information is different. A storage stores an environment ID indicating environment in which a user is located and corresponding context information indicating user's context in association with an application ID; a receiver receives one environment ID and one condition determination result information from a context management server assigned in each environment, for delivering one environment ID indicating the environment and one condition determination result information indicating the user's context in the environment; a determining mechanism determines the application ID stored in the storage based on one environment ID and one condition determination result information received by the receiver means; and an execution mechanism executes the application corresponding to the application ID determined by the determining mechanism.

Abstract: A service recommendation system and a service recommendation method capable of improving the probability of the estimation of a user task and recommending a service depending on a user task can be provided. The user role obtaining unit 210 of the service recommendation server 100 obtains the role of a user, and the task estimating unit 207 estimates a user task from a task model associated with the obtained user role and stored in the task knowledge DB 103. The service knowledge retrieving unit 208 retrieves a service capable of assisting a user task obtained from the task estimating unit 207.

Abstract: A recommendation information generation apparatus and a recommendation information generation method that can select a similar user appropriately even if the amount of history information is small. In an information distribution server, a user characteristic vector calculation unit calculates a user characteristic vector of each of users, and a similar user calculation unit calculates the degree of similarity between the users based on the calculated user characteristic vector of each of the users. The similar user calculation unit then selects a similar user who is similar to a first user based on the calculated degree of similarity. A relevance evaluation unit generates recommendation information for the first user based on the characteristic vector of the selected similar user.

Abstract: An information management apparatus 50 according to the present invention comprises: a database 30d for storing information relevant to a printer 40 therein; output request reception means 20a for receiving an output request transmitted from a portable terminal 14; inquiry signal transmission means 20a for transmitting an inquiry signal on the printer 40 being an output destination to the portable terminal 14; communication means for receiving image data transmitted from the portable terminal 14; recognition means 30b for recognizing the identification information of the printer 40 by analyzing the image data transmitted in response to the inquiry signal; retrieval means 30c for retrieving the information relevant to the printer 40 from the data base 30d on the basis of the acquired recognition information; and printing means 20c for outputting the information to the printer 40 on the basis of the information relevant to the printer 40 retrieved by the retrieval means 30c.

Abstract: Providing an information providing system and an information providing method capable of providing detail information required for a user to execute his/her scheduled activity smoothly.

Abstract: A content evaluation apparatus and a content evaluation method that can distribute contents that a user potentially needs without any omissions. A history class separation unit generates a separation plane for separating in a separation plane a characteristic vector of a selected content and characteristic vectors of non-selected contents stored in a browsing history table. A user characteristic vector calculation unit generates a user characteristic vector based on an orthogonal vector perpendicular to the separation plane thus generated and stores the user characteristic vector in a user characteristic vector management table. Subsequently, when a recommendation request receiving unit receives a recommendation request, a content evaluation unit evaluates the contents based on the stored user characteristic vector.

Abstract: A scaleable graphical user interface system for migrating the running state of graphical user interface widgets between heterogeneous device platforms includes a platform independent presentation model. The current running state of a first platform specific presentation operating on a first heterogeneous device platform may update the running state of the platform independent presentation model. The platform independent presentation model may be customized to generate a second platform specific presentation for a second heterogeneous device platform. The running state of the platform independent presentation module may be applied to the second platform specific presentation module to implement the current running state from the first heterogeneous device platform on the second heterogeneous device platform.

Abstract: A guide apparatus 50 according to the present invention is provided with a service information DB 30d storing service information containing a service providing place and attribute information of a target user; a recognizing device 30b for acquiring an ID from image data transmitted from a cell phone 14; a retrieving device 30c for retrieving service information from the service information DB 30d on the basis of the acquired ID and for retrieving such service information that attribute information of the user of cell phone 14 coincides with attribute information of a target user, out of service information provided at service providing places near the service providing place; and a route retrieving device 20c for retrieving a route between the information about the service providing place retrieved and the cell phone 14; and transmits the route information and service information as guide information to the cell phone 14.

Abstract: A recommendation information generation apparatus and a recommendation information generation method that can select a similar user appropriately even if the amount of history information is small. In an information distribution server, a user characteristic vector calculation unit calculates a user characteristic vector of each of users, and a similar user calculation unit calculates the degree of similarity between the users based on the calculated user characteristic vector of each of the users. The similar user calculation unit then selects a similar user who is similar to a first user based on the calculated degree of similarity. A relevance evaluation unit generates recommendation information for the first user based on the characteristic vector of the selected similar user.

Abstract: A scaleable graphical user interface system utilizes a device platform independent model to provide dynamic layout of graphical user interface widgets migrated between any of a plurality of heterogeneous device platforms. The device platform independent model includes at least one platform independent graphical user interface widget. Based on the device platform independent model, platform specific graphical user interface widgets that correspond to each of the platform independent graphical user interface widgets may be laid out on a page and compared to the size of a display screen of a heterogeneous device platform. Where the page does not fit within the display screen, the platform independent graphical user interface widgets may be dynamically rearranged within the page to fit the display screen. In addition, where designated as splitable, the platform independent graphical user interface widgets may be split among multiple pages of a presentation to fit within the display screen.

Abstract: The present invention provides a task selection assistance apparatus, and a task selection assistance method, which enable burdens on a user to be alleviated in selecting a task for solving a problem. A domain candidate determining portion 210 determines domain candidates to be presented to the user from among domains stored in a task model DB 102, and a domain candidate transmitting portion 201 transmits the domain candidates to a portable terminal 101. A user selected domain obtaining portion 203 obtains a domain, which has been selected by the user, from the portable terminal 101, and the task candidate determining portion 211 determines task candidates to be presented to the user from among tasks stored in the task model DB 102 based on the domain selected by the user.

Abstract: A search server 14 comprises a plurality of search target databases 24, 26 each storing search target information and task IDs to indicate classifications according to the search target information in correspondence to each other; a user action database 22 storing searching information and task IDs in correspondence to each other; a query receiver 20 for receiving a query containing a query character string from a mobile communication terminal 12; a user action determiner 23 for specifying a task ID associated with the query, with reference to the query character string and the information stored in the user action database 22; a facility selector 25 and a Web content selector 28 for acquiring the search target information corresponding to the specified task ID from the plurality of search target databases 24, 26; and a search result information generator 30 for generating search result information to the query from the acquired search target information.

Abstract: The invention provides an information delivery apparatus and information delivery method that can improve the rate of access by a user. A task node designation unit acquires task information related to contents sent by a contents transmission unit, and the contents transmission unit sends the acquired task information to the user, thereby making it possible to assist the actions of the user suitably. Consequently, since task information that is related to the contents, for example, task information which can cause the user to consider performing an action of some kind in relation to the content can be also viewed, the user is encouraged to perform new actions, whereby the access rate to the content can be improved.

Abstract: An information management apparatus 50 according to the present invention comprises: a database 30d for storing information relevant to a printer 40 therein; output request reception means 20a for receiving an output request transmitted from a portable terminal 14; inquiry signal transmission means 20a for transmitting an inquiry signal on the printer 40 being an output destination to the portable terminal 14; communication means for receiving image data transmitted from the portable terminal 14; recognition means 30b for recognizing the identification information of the printer 40 by analyzing the image data transmitted in response to the inquiry signal; retrieval means 30c for retrieving the information relevant to the printer 40 from the data base 30d on the basis of the acquired recognition information; and printing means 20c for outputting the information to the printer 40 on the basis of the information relevant to the printer 40 retrieved by the retrieval means 30c.

Abstract: An information management apparatus 50 according to the present invention comprises: a database 30d for storing information relevant to a printer 40 therein; output request reception means 20a for receiving an output request transmitted from a portable terminal 14; inquiry signal transmission means 20a for transmitting an inquiry signal on the printer 40 being an output destination to the portable terminal 14; communication means for receiving image data transmitted from the portable terminal 14; recognition means 30b for recognizing the identification information of the printer 40 by analyzing the image data transmitted in response to the inquiry signal; retrieval means 30c for retrieving the information relevant to the printer 40 from the data base 30d on the basis of the acquired recognition information; and printing means 20c for outputting the information to the printer 40 on the basis of the information relevant to the printer 40 retrieved by the retrieval means 30c.

Abstract: A mobile terminal that executes an application using context information in a plurality of environments in which determined context information is different. A storage stores an environment ID indicating environment in which a user is located and corresponding context information indicating user's context in association with an application ID; a receiver receives one environment ID and one condition determination result information from a context management server assigned in each environment, for delivering one environment ID indicating the environment and one condition determination result information indicating the user's context in the environment; a determining mechanism determines the application ID stored in the storage based on one environment ID and one condition determination result information received by the receiver means; and an execution mechanism executes the application corresponding to the application ID determined by the determining mechanism.

Abstract: A notification-purpose user state managing apparatus, a notification controlling apparatus, an information notification apparatus, an information notification system and an information notification method capable of reducing an unpleasant feeling and a burden and encouraging a user to recognize information are provided. The information notification system includes a notification-purpose user state managing apparatus including user's internal state assuming means for assuming a user's internal state based on an observable state element and user's notification utility assuming means for assuming utility to a user receiving information when information is notified based on the user's internal state; and a notification controlling apparatus including notification executing means for determining whether or not information is notified based on the utility and notifying information based on the determination.

Abstract: A scalable graphical user interface system may dynamically transform platform specific graphical user interface widgets migrated within an application graphical user interface between any of a plurality of heterogeneous device platforms. The scalable graphical user interface system includes a platform independent presentation model that is mapped to platform specific graphical user interface widgets. The platform independent presentation model includes platform independent graphical user interface widgets. The platform independent graphical user interface widgets may be selectively transformed with transformation rules to generate a platform specific presentation for use by the application graphical user interface on one of the heterogeneous device platforms. Applicable transformation rules may be prioritized for each selected platform independent graphical user interface widget.

Abstract: A registry architecture for securely sharing personal devices among different users is disclosed. The registry architecture is a distributed architecture that includes at least one registry server communicating over a network with at least one personal device. The architecture provides verification and authorization of users and applications on personal devices registered with the registry server. In addition, secure migration of applications between a first personal device and at least one second personal device may be performed as a function of the registry architecture. Further, the ability to securely share a personal device among different users is provided by identification of potential users of the personal device within the registry architecture.