Abstract: A life style-services suggestion system includes: an obtainer that obtains, from a measuring device, resource consumption per unit time by a specific appliance in a building; a monitor that identifies, as behavior information, presence or absence of a specific behavior associated with usage of the appliance for a management period based on the consumption obtained by the obtainer for the management period; and a provider that allows a presentation device to present service information associated with the specific behavior in case the behavior information represents the absence of the specific behavior for the management period.

Abstract: Upon obtaining second (first) class information corresponding to a second (first) device newly added to a network, the communication controller refers to fundamental request (notification) information and obtains request (notification) information corresponding to the obtained second (first) class information. The communication controller refers to notification (request) authorization information and obtains second (first) sender information associated with the notification (request) information indicative of the same processing as that indicated by the obtained request (notification) information.

Abstract: The communication controller (10) obtains second class information (first class information) corresponding to a second device (12) (first device (11)) newly added to a network (13). The communication controller (10) refers to fundamental request information (fundamental notification information) and obtains request information (notification information) corresponding to the obtained second class information (first class information). The communication controller (10) refers to notification authorization information (request authorization information) and obtains second sender information (first sender information) associated with the notification information (request information) indicative of the same processing as that indicated the obtained request information (notification information).

Abstract: A voice control system for managing home electrical appliances includes a home agent server (HAS) connected to the home electrical appliances, a microphone and a speaker linked to the agent server through an in-house network. An transaction processing (TP) program runs on HAS and interprets the user's voice request to find a destined appliance and a manner of control the same, and performs the requested control to the destined appliance. The result is notified to the user by means of a voice message.

Abstract: A voice control system for managing home electrical appliances includes a home agent server (HAS) connected to the home electrical appliances, a microphone and a speaker linked to the agent server through an in-house network. An transaction processing (TP) program runs on HAS and interprets the user's voice request to find a destined appliance and a manner of control the same, and performs the requested control to the destined appliance. The result is notified to the user by means of a voice message.

Abstract: A torque limiter has a shaft member and a cylinder member. A conical outer circumferential surface of the shaft member is fitted to a conical inner circumferential surface of the cylinder member. Top surfaces of convex portions form part of the conical outer circumferential surface, while top surfaces of convex portions form part of the conical inner circumferential surface. When the torque limiter is set up, the convex portions and the convex portions are urged against each other, whereby the cylinder member and the shaft member are frictionally coupled. When the shaft member and the cylinder member rotate relative to each other, the relative rotational position between the convex portions changes, so that the cylinder member and the shaft member are no longer frictionally coupled.