Abstract: A reproducing means for performing reproduction processing on digital data which is read out from a predetermined recording medium recording the digital data, a manipulating means for making an instruction of reproducing the digital data inserted in the recording medium, a control means for reading the digital data from the recording medium in accordance with the reproduction instruction input with the manipulating means and sending it to the reproducing means, and for controlling the reproducing means to perform reproduction processing on the digital data, and a cylindrical case for containing the reproducing means and the control means are provided, and wherein the manipulating means is provided on one end side on one plane in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical case. Thereby the user can manipulate the manipulating means without taking out a portable recording and/or reproducing device from a bag or a pocket, thus making it possible to remarkably improve its manipulation.

Abstract: A reproducing means for performing reproduction processing on digital data which is read out from a predetermined recording medium recording the digital data, a manipulating means for making an instruction of reproducing the digital data inserted in the recording medium, a control means for reading the digital data from the recording medium in accordance with the reproduction instruction input with the manipulating means and sending it to the reproducing means, and for controlling the reproducing means to perform reproduction processing on the digital data, and a cylindrical case for containing the reproducing means and the control means are provided, and wherein the manipulating means is provided on one end side on one plane in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical case. Thereby the user can manipulate the manipulating means without taking out a portable recording and/or reproducing device from a bag or a pocket, thus making it possible to remarkably improve its manipulation.

Abstract: A reproducing means for performing reproduction processing on digital data which is read out from a predetermined recording medium recording the digital data, a manipulating means for making an instruction of reproducing the digital data inserted in the recording medium, a control means for reading the digital data from the recording medium in accordance with the reproduction instruction input with the manipulating means and sending it to the reproducing means, and for controlling the reproducing means to perform reproduction processing on the digital data, and a cylindrical case for containing the reproducing means and the control means are provided, and wherein the manipulating means is provided on one end side on one plane in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical case. Thereby the user can manipulate the manipulating means without taking out a portable recording and/or reproducing device from a bag or a pocket, thus making it possible to remarkably improve its manipulation.

Abstract: A reproducing means for performing reproduction processing on digital data which is read out from a predetermined recording medium recording the digital data, a manipulating means for making an instruction of reproducing the digital data inserted in the recording medium, a control means for reading the digital data from the recording medium in accordance with the reproduction instruction input with the manipulating means and sending it to the reproducing means, and for controlling the reproducing means to perform reproduction processing on the digital data, and a cylindrical case for containing the reproducing means and the control means are provided, and wherein the manipulating means is provided on one end side on one plane in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical case. Thereby the user can manipulate the manipulating means without taking out a portable recording and/or reproducing device from a bag or a pocket, thus making it possible to remarkably improve its manipulation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a telephone set comprises a connection apparatus to execute a connecting process for enabling transmission and reception of an information signal to and from a home appliance such as a general audio device remote-controllable by radio communication; a control apparatus for generating, upon arrival of an incoming call, a remote control signal such as a pause command to the home appliance; and a radio communication apparatus for sending the remote control signal to the home appliance by radio communication. Thus, upon arrival of an incoming call at the telephone set, the remote control signal is sent to the audio device or the like either directly from the telephone set or via a communication adaptor installed therein, hence pausing or muting the output of the audio device under remote control. Such control action enables a user to perceive the incoming call with facility.

Abstract: The invention relates to a telephone set comprises a connection means to execute a connecting process for enabling transmission and reception of an information signal to and from a home appliance such as a general audio device remote-controllable by radio communication; a control means for generating, upon arrival of an incoming call, a remote control signal such as a pause command to the home appliance; and a radio communication means for sending the remote control signal to the home appliance by radio communication. Thus, upon arrival of an incoming call at the telephone set, the remote control signal is sent to the audio device or the like either directly from the telephone set or via a communication adaptor installed therein, hence pausing or muting the output of the audio device under remote control. Such control action enables a user to perceive the incoming call with facility.

Abstract: An address on a network of a control center which can order printed books is attached to corresponding electronic book data. When browsing an electronic book at a user terminal, the user accesses the control center by performing a predetermined operation on the basis of the network address. Upon reception of a user ID and the order request for a printed book, the control center searches for the address of the user on the basis of the user ID and, at the same time, searches for a bookstore server having the stock of the requested printed book, thereby placing an order for the printed book to the nearest bookstore server. The bookstore server which accepted the order notifies a printed book deliverer server of the order of the printed book and the address of the user to which the printed book is to be delivered.

Abstract: The invention relates to a telephone set comprises a connection means to execute a connecting process for enabling transmission and reception of an information signal to and from a home appliance such as a general audio device remote-controllable by radio communication; a control means for generating, upon arrival of an incoming call, a remote control signal such as a pause command to the home appliance; and a radio communication means for sending the remote control signal to the home appliance by radio communication. Thus, upon arrival of an incoming call at the telephone set, the remote control signal is sent to the audio device or the like either directly from the telephone set or via a communication adaptor installed therein, hence pausing or muting the output of the audio device under remote control. Such control action enables a user to perceive the incoming call with facility.

Abstract: In a personal data assistant, a main body includes an input sheet, which is turnable between a first position where at least a part of a display unit of the personal data assistant is covered and a second position where the display unit is not covered. The input sheet has various types of keys formed thereon. When any one of the keys is pressed on the input sheet, a pressure is applied to an input device formed on the display unit, and an input coordinate is detected by the change of, for example, the resistance value of the input device. Since the surface of the display unit is not entirely covered with the input sheet, the display in the range of the display unit which is not covered with the input sheet is not made dark. Further, since the input device is not directly touched with a finger, the input device is prevented from being made dirty, and the display of the display unit under the input device is prevented from being difficult to be seen.

Abstract: The invention relates to a telephone set comprises a connection apparatus to execute a connecting process for enabling transmission and reception of an information signal to and from a home appliance such as a general audio device remote-controllable by radio communication; a control apparatus for generating, upon arrival of an incoming call, a remote control signal such as a pause command to the home appliance; and a radio communication apparatus for sending the remote control signal to the home appliance by radio communication. Thus, upon arrival of an incoming call at the telephone set, the remote control signal is sent to the audio device or the like either directly from the telephone set or via a communication adaptor installed therein, hence pausing or muting the output of the audio device under remote control. Such control action enables a user to perceive the incoming call with facility.

Abstract: A reproducing means for performing reproduction processing on digital data which is read out from a predetermined recording medium recording the digital data, a manipulating means for making an instruction of reproducing the digital data inserted in the recording medium, a control means for reading the digital data from the recording medium in accordance with the reproduction instruction input with the manipulating means and sending it to the reproducing means, and for controlling the reproducing means to perform reproduction processing on the digital data, and a cylindrical case for containing the reproducing means and the control means are provided, and wherein the manipulating means is provided on one end side on one plane in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical case. Thereby the user can manipulate the manipulating means without taking out a portable recording and/or reproducing device from a bag or a pocket, thus making it possible to remarkably improve its manipulation.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to display page space layout images substantially similar to the page space images of actual newspapers and magazines and, on the basis of these images, display news items having legible character size. Display blocks for displaying images based on the electronic information having the image information of a page space having a plurality of news items and the news-item contents information associated with each news item and operation means such as a jog lever are arranged. Page space images of a newspaper for example are displayed on these display block and news-item markers corresponding to news items are displayed. When the news-item marker corresponding to a desired news item is selected, an image of the news-item contents information associated with the news-item indicated by the displayed news-item marker is displayed on the display block.

Abstract: A mobile device includes a vertically-oriented handheld housing and keys corresponding to keys of a horizontally-oriented keyboard of a personal computer divided into a plurality of groups, each group of keys being shifted in a vertical direction of the housing with respect to one another, to allow a mobile device to accommodate a key layout similar to the key layout of the computer keyboard.

Abstract: A radio communication CPU controls each section of a radio communication device included in a short distance radio communication network by using network setting information in a network setting storage section. A connection relation with a communication network (for example, the Internet) is set and transmission/reception of data to/from equipment included in the communication network via the short distance radio communication network is controlled. Thus, the network setting or the like for connecting to the Internet or the like is simplified for each portable equipment existing in the short distance radio communication network.

Abstract: A reproduction apparatus and a reproduction method by which an error of time information that arises from interruption of power supplied to a timer that manages the term of term-managed contents data is minimized to allow accurate term management of the contents data. The timer produces time information when power is supplied to the timer from a cell, but the timer stops operating when no power is supplied thereto. The time information produced by the timer is stored into a memory, and the memory holds the stored time information when no power is supplied to the timer. When power from the cell is restored to the timer, the timer is set accordingly to the time information stored in the memory, so that the timer may thereafter produce correct time information thereby allowing term management of the term-managed contents data to be performed accurately.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to display page space layout images substantially similar to the page space images of actual newspapers and magazines and, on the basis of these images, display news items having legible character size. Display blocks for displaying images based on the electronic information having the image information of a page space having a plurality of news items and the news-item contents information associated with each news item and operation means such as a jog lever are arranged. Page space images of a newspaper for example are displayed on these display block and news-item markers corresponding to news items are displayed. When the news-item marker corresponding to a desired news item is selected, an image of the news-item contents information associated with the news-item indicated by the displayed news-item marker is displayed on the display block.

Abstract: An information communication system includes a server device and information communication terminals connected by a network, in which the server device provides data communication services according to requests from the information communication terminals. The server device stores information relating to users of the information communication terminals including the identification information thereof, and provides advertisement information to the information communication terminals via the network, this advertisement information corresponds with the information relating to the user of the requesting party stored in server, according to requests from the information communication terminal including the identification information of the user. The information communication terminal generates and sends requests to be sent to the server device, including user identification information, and obtains the advertisement information from the server device and outputs this obtained advertisement information.

Abstract: An information communication system includes a portable radiocommunication terminal, an information provision system in which various provided information can be readily acquired, and a server. The server and a plurality of portable radiocommunication terminals are connected via a network by a wireless connection. Send information and receive information are communicated between the terminal and the server according to a predetermined protocol and a predetermined communication data format respectively suitable for the network and independent of an established communication system. When a user of the terminal performs an operation for calling specifying a party according to the established communication system, the server receives send information including a request for calling and executes processing for information communication suitable for the established communication system. Data addressed to each terminal is received by the server and stored in the storage means of the server.

Abstract: In a personal data assistant, a main body of it includes an input sheet, which is turnable between a first position, where at least a part of a display unit of the personal data assistant is covered, and a second position where the display unit is not covered. The input sheet has various types of keys formed thereon. When any one of the keys is pressed on the input sheet, a pressure is applied to an input device formed on the display unit, and an input coordinate is detected by the change of, for example, the resistance value of the input device. Since the surface of the display unit is not entirely covered with the input sheet, the display in the range of the display unit which is not covered with the input sheet is not made dark. Further, since the input device is not directly touched with a finger, the input device is prevented from being made dirty, and the display of the display unit under the input device is prevented from being difficult to be seen.