Abstract: An autonomous control apparatus includes a service-structure analyzing unit for generating service policy information indicating a configuration requirement, in response to business policy information indicating a business requirement; a policy compiler for generating a control policy, which serves an actual IT-resource control requirement, from the service policy information generated by the service-structure analyzing unit, based on previous-case information stored in an operation database; and a flow controller for controlling IT resources in accordance with the control policy generated by the policy compiler.

Abstract: The information retrieving apparatus according to the present invention obtains required information through the Internet. It comprises an input/output unit for inputting first data for use in obtaining retrieved information through the information communications network and second data for use in obtaining advertising information through the information communications network; a retrieved information obtaining unit for obtaining the retrieved information from the retrieving server connected to the information communications network using the first data; an additional information obtaining unit for obtaining the advertising information from a predetermined information server connected to the information communications network using the second data; and an information converting unit for incorporating the advertising information obtained by the additional information obtaining unit into the retrieved information obtained by the additional information obtaining unit.

Abstract: A mediation computer accepts service linkage request condition information, which indicates a service linkage condition and requests service linkage, from a first service providing computer and accepts service linkage permission condition information, which indicates a condition for permitting service linkage, from a second service providing computer. The mediation computer generates a linkage service list, which shows a combination of services that can be linked, on the basis of the accepted service linkage request condition information and service linkage permission condition information. It becomes possible to provide a user with linkage service including a plurality of combined services by which both of the user and the servicer can request merits.

Abstract: A demand forecasting system and a demand forecasting method capable of forecasting demands for IT resources in a data center accurately are provided. The demand forecasting system includes: a classification unit that classifies a plurality of users who use IT resources in a data center into a plurality of user's behavior classes; an event characteristics model generation unit that generates an event characteristics model representing a variation over time in a usage state of the IT resources caused by an event and the number of the users moving among the user's behavior classes caused by the event; an event influence calculation unit that calculates a predicted value of the variation over time in a usage state of the IT resources and a predicted value of the number of the users moving among the user's behavior classes that will be caused by an event scheduled to be held in the future using the event characteristics model; and a demand forecasting unit that calculates a variation in load on the IT resources.

Abstract: A medical record information disclosure system includes a medical record information server for storing medical record information of patients, a policy information setting portion for setting policy information indicating an attribution of a medical expert who can see contents of medical record information for each medical record information, an authority system for setting authority information for certifying an attribution of a medical expert for each of the medical experts, a disclosure permissibility decision portion for deciding whether it is permissible or not to disclose contents of the medical record information to the medical expert by comparing the authority information of the medical expert with the policy information set in the medical record information, and a medical record information output portion for delivering the medical record information to the medical expert when it is decided the disclosure of contents of the medical record information to the medical expert is permissible.

Abstract: To enable reporting user status more precisely and over a wide range, the present invention includes an information terminal PC1 having a generating device, a mobile terminal M having a transmitting device, and an information terminal PC2 having a receiving device. The information terminal PC1 and the mobile terminal M can communicate directly wirelessly or through a wire. The mobile terminal M and the information terminal PC2 can communicate in real time via status notification devices. The information terminal PC1 reports the user status it detected to a mobile terminal M that is in a communicable area. The mobile terminal M sends the user status to the information terminal PC2 via the status notification device if the user status it received is the status of the user that has been stored therein in advance.

Abstract: A plurality of user terminals regularly accessing Internet Relay Chat (IRC) services are also in communication with a service selecting host. The service selecting host is configured to collect data from the plurality of user terminals. The collected data includes information about the users at the user terminals and information about the user terminals activity in the accessing of the IRC services. The service selecting host compiles and sorts the collected data concerning IRC services to produce information provided to the user terminals. The information provided to the user terminals allows users at the user terminals to more easily select sorted IRC services.

Abstract: Polling method that encourages freely opinionated replies and makes for extensive collection of diverse replies. Free reply processing module 9 assigns an option ID to a free reply contained in reply data and associates this free reply with a survey ID and question ID and stores the same in a survey form database 41. A survey form creation module 6 creates a survey form page based on data in the survey form database 41 using HTML or the like and stores this on a Web server 3. The Web server 3 sends the stored survey form page to a respondent terminal 2.

Abstract: A mobile communication terminal having a phonebook with information corresponding to alternative communication services. The information can be entered remotely from another mobile communication terminal. When a sender selects a recipient and a service from the phonebook, the mobile phone displays the information with the phonebook. The sender selects the most convenient and available communication service for the selected recipient. In an alternative embodiment, a mobile communication network maintains communication statuses of a plurality of mobile communication terminals in a status database. Upon detection of a status change of one of the mobile communication terminals, a notifying portion notifies the other mobile communication terminals of the status change.

Abstract: Information is quickly offered to users who require the information. In a system in which questions and answers are exchanged, when a given user other than the questioner becomes interested in a question, the user requests a notification server 1 to present the question. The answers to the question are automatically sent to a notification client 2 of the user. The answers to be sent may be either all the answers to the question or only the effective answers. Supports to the answers and comments on the answers may be accepted to decide the effectiveness of the answers.

Abstract: A job brokering apparatus for brokering jobs in an open network environment, such as the internet, without complicated negotiations between a job provider and a contractor. A CGI program (broker program) started from a WWW server connected to a broker (300) in a network (500), such as the internet, receives registrations and applications for offered jobs from unspecified job-provider clients and unspecified contractor clients a process of a contractor selector portion (320), functionally realized by the broker program, refers to information about a job and to information about contractors to select a contractor, and notifies the job provider and the contractor using, for example, e-mail.

Abstract: Method and device for broadcasting over a network in a simple manner effective advertising likely to be taken in by users. Advertising registration process and advertising broadcast process are conducted. In advertising registration process an advertising server 1 accepts from an advertiser terminal 51 both the designation of an advertisement URL correlated with an advertisement and advertising information. This advertising information includes an advertisement icon and a hyperlink to an URL for details providing detailed advertising information. The advertising server 1 correlates advertising information it has received with the designated advertisement URL and stores this in an advertising DB 11.

Abstract: Promoting efficient communication among users. Uses having a symbol of the same network resource are led to the same virtual space. Specifically, intermediary server 2 converting ID of merchandise icon and ID of virtual space for chat is provided. When user terminal 1 obtained a merchandise icon reports merchandise icon ID to the intermediary server 2, ID of a virtual space corresponding to the merchandise icon is returned to the user terminal 1. A user can share information on each merchandise by participating in this virtual space. Namely, users having a common purpose can chat with each other.

Abstract: Enabling a symbolic image representing the service provider or information provider to be displayed on a user terminal, displaying the predetermined domain for sending an application for use of services and of information and an application for use of services and distribution of information and adjustment of amount and content of information to be distributed for the service provider and information distributing source by detecting that a symbolic image has been moved to the predetermined domain.

Abstract: Method for making delivery of products more efficient, and having deliveries made that are convenient for delivery recipients. When a user (delivery recipient 3) purchases a product from a vendor and applies for delivery, a management server 4 accepts a delivery application from a vendor client 1. The management server 4 notifies the delivery recipient client 3 of the application for delivery, and prompts the user to designate delivery terms. For example, a delivery terms designation form is provided on a web page, and the URL for that web page is provided in the application for delivery notification. The delivery recipient client 3 accesses the web page and refers to a list of products to be delivered to him or herself. Moreover, the delivery recipient designates delivery terms when he or she is certain of his or her schedule. A delivery business is notified of these delivery terms.

Abstract: Method and system for readily predicting consumer behavior from services purchased on a network and putting predicted results to effective use for marketing. From terminal 3 of a souvenir shop or restaurant advertiser, advertisements for its own commodities are registered in travel agent terminal 1 of a travel broker who makes travel arrangements. Travelers, e-mail addresses of the travelers, and travel schedules are correlatively stored in the travel agent terminal 1. The travel agent terminal 1 broadcasts registered advertisements to all the travelers at optimal timing. The broadcast timing is determined by consulting the travel schedules. For example, advertisements in connection with souvenir shops in Osaka are broadcast while travelers stay in Osaka, and just before transit to Osaka.

Abstract: A job brokering apparatus for brokering jobs in an open network environment, such as the internet, without complicated negotiations between a job provider and a contractor. A CGI program (broker program) started from a WWW server connected to a broker 300 in a network 500, such as the internet, receives registrations and applications for offered jobs from unspecified job-provider clients and unspecified contractor clients a process of a contractor selector portion 320, functionally realized by the broker program, refers to information about a job and to information about contractors to select a contractor, and notifies the job provider and the contractor using, for example, e-mail.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to perform a constructive exchange of information between a user and a provider of products in virtual reality. A user places a product 154 that he is considering buying in a cart, designates product providers, and gives notification thereto of the cart contents. A designated product provider 153, by seeing the cart contents, can learn in what products the user is interested. The product provider 153 can provide to the cart from which the designation arose additional information 155, such as advertisements for its products. The user, by receiving various types of additional information from a product provider that he trusts, can find products that meet his desires, and can enjoy more satisfactory network-based shopping.

Abstract: A prospective customer searching part searches a customer database on the Internet based on information regarding a target article, a shop searching part searches a shop database, and a prospective customer list generating part generates a prospective customer list for each shop. A prospective customer list presenting part presents the list, and a shop determines whether or not advertisement is to be distributed to each prospective customer by using an advertisement distribution selecting part. An advertisement distribution preliminary list generating part excludes customers selected not to receive advertisement to generate an advertisement distribution preliminary list. A name-embedded advertisement generating part generates advertisement using advertisement data in accordance with the advertisement distribution preliminary list, and a name-embedded advertisement distributing part distributes the name-embedded advertisement to customers.

Abstract: A plurality of user terminals regularly accessing Internet Relay Chat (IRC) services are also in communication with a service selecting host. The service selecting host is configured to collect data from the plurality of user terminals. The collected data includes information about the users at the user terminals and information about the user terminals activity in the accessing of the IRC services. The service selecting host compiles and sorts the collected data concerning IRC services to produce information provided to the user terminals. The information provided to the user terminals allows users at the user terminals to more easily select sorted IRC services.