Abstract: The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus in which push distribution data can be preferentially played back. On a station display screen displayed for a client, an icon 531-7 corresponding to a “recommended music” station in which push distribution data is registered is added. The icon 531-7 is displayed at the topmost level (highest portion) of the screen so that it can be more noticeable than icons 531-1 through 531-6 corresponding to the other stations. When power is supplied to the client, the icon 531-7 is selected to play back a so-called “melodious portion” or a climax portion of music data (push distribution data) registered in the “recommended music” station. In a message window 571, for example, a method for purchasing content corresponding to the push distribution data which is currently played back can be indicated.

Abstract: There is provided a novel menu selection method in a mobile phone. Also provided is a cursor displaying method with which a user can intuitively recognize a moving direction and moving speed. In addition, a novel scrollbar with which the user can recognize, in a case of displaying menus beyond a display screen, a range currently displayed on a display screen among all the menus and a current cursor position within the menus displayed on the current display screen.

Abstract: An automatic transmission having seven gear speeds for forward driving is provided, in which a planetary gear P1 of a first planetary gear set 12 and an outer planetary gear P2out of a second planetary gear set 14 are integrally coupled, a first rotational element M1 is formed by a sun gear S1, a second rotational element M2 is formed by carriers CA1, CA2 coupled with each other, a third rotational element M3 is formed by a ring gear R2, a fourth rotational element is formed by a ring gear R1, and a fifth rotational element M5 is formed by a sun gear S2. The rotational elements M5, M3, M2 are connectable to an input shaft 16 via clutches C1, C2, C3, respectively, and the rotational elements M3, M2, M1 are connectable to a case 20 via brakes B1, B2, B3, respectively. The rotational element M4 is integrally coupled with an output gear 18.

Abstract: In a lubrication groove, which is formed in an insertion hole into which is inserted an output shaft, and which winds around the circumference of the insertion hole while advancing in the axial direction of the insertion hole, there is a portion that is farther to the outside than a perpendicular plane that is perpendicular to a center plane of a differential case on which lie the axial centers of the insertion hole and a pinion gear shaft, the perpendicular plane including a line of intersection of the center plane and the insertion hole. That portion is a perpendicular groove portion which is parallel to a plane that is perpendicular to the axial center of the insertion hole. Accordingly, when extracting a core for forming the insertion hole and the lubrication groove from a die, projections formed on the core for forming the lubrication groove will not interfere with the die. As a result, it is possible to form the lubrication groove during casting of the differential case using that core.

Abstract: An automatic transmission of a motor vehicle includes first, second and third planetary gear sets, two clutches and three brakes. A first-speed gear stage having the largest gear ratio is established when the first clutch and the first brake are engaged, a second-speed gear stage is established when the first clutch and the second brake are engaged, a third-speed gear stage is established when the first clutch and the third brake are engaged, a fourth-speed gear stage is established when the first clutch and the second clutch are engaged, a fifth-speed gear stage is established when the second clutch and the third brake are engaged, a sixth-speed gear stage is established when the second clutch and the second brake are engaged, and a seventh-speed gear stage is established when the second clutch and the first brake are engaged.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a friction device of a vehicle that is disposed in a power transmission path of the vehicle and is adapted to be engaged upon a start of the vehicle is provided. The control apparatus controls the engagement pressure of the friction device so as to eliminate a pulsation component contained in variations in an engagement torque of the friction device.

Abstract: According to the present invention, when displaying a jog-dial window menu on a liquid crystal display, hierarchically-structured menu items are displayed with a hierarchy icon, thereby enabling the user to easily recognize whether or not that menu item is hierarchically structured and improving the operation of menu selection. Furthermore, scroll display of a character string indicating a menu item is performed in an identification frame, thereby enabling the user to read the entire character string from beginning to end for easy recognition thereof and improving the operation of menu selection. Still further, a character string of a menu selected from among a plurality of menu items is displayed in a different color from other character strings, thereby enabling the user to easily recognize the selected menu item and improving the operation of menu selection.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to allow a client to make a request for music data stored in a server and to receive it and play it back. A client program 421 controls the sending of a request signal to a server 401, the reception and playback processing of music data from the server 401, and the display of a GUI performed by a display controller 426, and outputs the music data received by a communication unit 423 from the server 401 to an audio data converter 424. A server program 411 controls the sending of music data to the client 402, and registration of information in a music database 415, a link information database 416, and a ranking information database 417, searches the music database 415 for the requested music data, and sends the music data to the client 402. The present invention can be applied to a personal computer, a PDA, a cellular telephone, a desk-top playback device, a portable playback device, and a simplified playback device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a portable terminal apparatus having a novel surface lighting portion which can appeal to user's vision intensively and variously and can effectively make the notification of incoming calls or the like by means of light. The portable terminal apparatus includes a housing, a surface lighting portion provided on the outer surface of the housing, and a panel member detachably mounted on the housing so as to cover the surface lighting portion. At least a part of the panel member is transparent or semitransparent. The surface lighting portion has a flat outer surface, and the panel member is a flat plate like member, wherein the housing has a device for holding the flat plate like member placed on the flat outer surface of the surface lighting portion. The whole of the surface lighting portion is illuminated upon receiving an incoming call, for example, and the panel member is also illuminated according to a pattern formed thereon.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus in which a display screen for assisting a user utilizing a client to make a request for music data to a server can be provided. Icons 431-1 through 431-6 correspond to stations of a link information list. For example, when a music piece registered in a “user A's favorites” station is being played back, a cursor line 432 is adjusted to the icon 431-1 corresponding to the “user A's favorites” station, and an icon 421-1 is displayed in an enlarged size, and the station name (“A Station”) corresponding to the icon is displayed. The user is then able to move the cursor line 432 by operation a remote commander to change the station (selecting the radio station when receiving radio broadcasting) or to zoom in on (tracing the hierarchy to lower levels) the selected station.

Abstract: A lubricant amount control apparatus and a lubricant amount control method make a lubricant amount in an automatic transmission appropriate based on input energy and a lubricant temperature. The lubricant amount control apparatus includes an input energy calculating device which calculates energy input to a power transmission mechanism, a supply amount calculating device which calculates a supply amount of lubricant based on the input energy and a controller which controls a lubricating device for supplying lubricant such that the calculated supply amount of lubricant is supplied to the power transmission mechanism. With this configuration, it is possible to efficiently cool a component of a power transmission. Also, since an unnecessarily excessive amount of lubricant is not supplied, it is possible to suppress consumption of driving energy supplied by a power source for driving a hydraulic device.

Abstract: An information processing method and apparatus free from a defect in a conventional system that complicated processing operations need to be executed before a user selects a desired application program on a task bar equipped with a start menu button and starts the selected program. A jog dial related application declares to a jog dial state monitor program 54C that it (application) itself is a jog dial related application. The jog dial state monitor program 54C then adds the application software to a list of the jog dial related applications. The display of the jog dial menu is then set to a display proper to the application and apprised to the user in the form of a jog dial guide. The jog dial related application advises the illustration of the jog dial operation in the current state to the jog dial state monitor program 54C in the form of a letter string.

Abstract: An automatic transmission having seven gear speeds for forward driving is provided, in which a planetary gear P1 of a first planetary gear set 12 and an outer planetary gear P2out of a second planetary gear set 14 are integrally coupled, a first rotational element M1 is formed by a sun gear S1, a second rotational element M2 is formed by carriers CA1, CA2 coupled with each other, a third rotational element M3 is formed by a ring gear R2, a fourth rotational element is formed by a ring gear R1, and a fifth rotational element M5 is formed by a sun gear S2. The rotational elements M5, M3, M2 are connectable to an input shaft 16 via clutches C1, C2, C3, respectively, and the rotational elements M3, M2, M1 are connectable to a case 20 via brakes B1, B2, B3, respectively. The rotational element M4 is integrally coupled with an output gear 18.

Abstract: The invention relates to: germinated brown rice having a degree of starch gelatinization of from 30 to 90%, a water content of from 20 to 70%, an &agr;-amylase activity of not greater than 5 IU/g, and a population of attached microorganisms of not greater than 10,000/g, which has good safety and low contamination by microorganisms and little or no fermentation odor or other unpleasant odors; a process for producing the per-germinated brown rice, comprising treating the germinated brown rice with hot water or steam; and a processed food prepared by processing the germinated brown rice.

Abstract: An automatic transmission of a motor vehicle includes first, second and third planetary gear sets, two clutches and three brakes. A first-speed gear stage having the largest gear ratio is established when the first clutch and the first brake are engaged, a second-speed gear stage is established when the first clutch and the second brake are engaged, a third-speed gear stage is established when the first clutch and the third brake are engaged, a fourth-speed gear stage is established when the first clutch and the second clutch are engaged, a fifth-speed gear stage is established when the second clutch and the third brake are engaged, a sixth-speed gear stage is established when the second clutch and the second brake are engaged, and a seventh-speed gear stage is established when the second clutch and the first brake are engaged.

Abstract: In the present invention, when menus are displayed on a display unit, they are colored and displayed according to their kinds, so that the user can easily and immediately recognize the kinds of menus.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying the program contents and a method for displaying the program contents in which either the channel condition setting or the category setting can be easily carried out in one screen at any one of the present program table and the program table of specified period of time, wherein there are provided a display having a screen, a selector for selecting and displaying a present program table indicating a title of program being broadcast at present in program data supplied through a broadcasting wave and a program table for specified period of time to indicate a title of program to be broadcast within a predetermined period of time and further displaying the table in the screen of the display in such a way that the present program table and the program table for specified period of time may be provided with a channel condition setting section for sorting channels and a category setting section for sorting categories of programs.

Abstract: A clutch apparatus includes a clutch disk; a pressure plate for moving the clutch disk through application of pressure; a diaphragm spring for applying a force to the pressure plate so as to urge the pressure plate toward a flywheel; a release bearing for pressing a central portion of the diaphragm spring; a release fork; and an actuator. The pressure plate and an outer circumferential portion of the diaphragm spring are in contact with each other via taper portions of the pressure plate and an adjust wedge member. The clutch apparatus counts the number of clutch operations. In order to obtain a desirable press-contact load according to the counted number of clutch operations, the adjust wedge member is rotated with respect to the pressure plate to thereby modify the attitude of the diaphragm spring.

Abstract: A clutch control apparatus includes a clutch disk, which is engaged with a flywheel, by means of a diaphragm spring; a release mechanism (including a rod and an electric motor) for pressing a central portion of the diaphragm spring; and a clutch control circuit. The clutch control circuit calculates an ideal clutch load and an output torque of the electric motor for a detected stroke of the rod. On the basis of these values, the clutch control circuit obtains the acceleration of the rod. The clutch control circuit estimates a stroke of the rod from the obtained acceleration and causes an adjust wedge member to rotate such that a detected actual stroke and the estimated stroke become equal, thereby modifying the attitude of the diaphragm spring accordingly.