Abstract: Disclosed is a captioned video playback apparatus comprising a storage unit that stores a caption signal defining a plurality of caption lines and a video signal defining a plurality of video images in association with a playback timing; a caption select unit that selects one of the plurality of caption lines defined by the caption signal stored in the storage unit; a caption playback unit that plays back the caption line selected by the caption select unit; a video playback unit that plays back the video signal stored in the storage unit; and a mode changeover unit that changes between a caption view mode for playing back a caption line selected by the caption select unit and a video image corresponding to the caption line using the caption playback unit and the video playback unit, and a normal view mode for playing back a video image using the video playback unit.

Abstract: There is disclosed a handoff control method for registering a CDMA mobile station in such a way that battery power wastage is prevented if successive attempts to register the station fail. If it is judged that registration fails (step S106), idle handoff is inhibited (step S107). The mobile station shifts to a registration-waiting sleep mode (step S108 and state ST10) in which the sending and receiving operation of the mobile station is paused for a given time. When a sleep timer that is set in the step S108 times out, registration is resumed under certain conditions. On resumption, a new pilot signal is acquired.

Abstract: Disclosed is a captioned video playback apparatus comprising a storage unit that stores a caption signal defining a plurality of caption lines and a video signal defining a plurality of video images in association with a playback timing; a caption select unit that selects one of the plurality of caption lines defined by the caption signal stored in the storage unit; a caption playback unit that plays back the caption line selected by the caption select unit; a video playback unit that plays back the video signal stored in the storage unit; and a mode changeover unit that changes between a caption view mode for playing back a caption line selected by the caption select unit and a video image corresponding to the caption line using the caption playback unit and the video playback unit, and a normal view mode for playing back a video image using the video playback unit.

Abstract: The content reproduction apparatus comprises: an input unit to which a content is input; a reproduction position recording unit to record a reproduction position of a content being reproduced; a display unit to display the content; a sensor to detect a human's presence or absence in or from a predetermined area; and a timer to measure a time period of a human's absence from the predetermined area detected by the sensor; wherein, if the sensor detects a human's absence from the predetermined area, the reproduction position of the content being reproduced is recorded in the reproduction position recording unit and, according to the time period measured by the timer, the content reproduction apparatus is configured to control whether or not to present a screen image prompting to start reproducing the content from the reproduction position recorded in the reproduction position recording unit.

Abstract: In an operation control device for controlling the operation of an appliance such as television receiver, a human-perceiving sensor is used as a unit for detecting movements of the operator. Then, continuous movements are extracted therefrom, such as hand-waving movements performed by the operator with an intention of operating the appliance such as television receiver. Moreover, if the operator performs one and the same movement during a time-period which is longer than a certain constant time-period, a control determined in advance is exerted over the operation control device. Also, the situation in which the movements of the operator are detected is displayed on the appliance such as television receiver, so that the operator is permitted to perform a more accurate movement by the resultant feedback effect.

Abstract: A pointing device is placed in a through hole provided on an outer case of the portable information terminal. The terminal includes a fingerplate attached to a through hole via a hinge; an image pick-up element placed on a circuit board; a condensing lens that forms an image on an outer surface of the fingerplate on an image pick-up plane of the image pick-up element; and a light emitting device that irradiates the outer surface of the fingerplate with illumination light, and takes the image of a pattern such as a fingerprint that touches the outer surface of the fingerplate by using the image pick-up element. When the fingertip moves, the image taken by the image pick-up element changes and the pointer displayed on a display screen is moved in a direction according to the movement of the fingertip.

Abstract: An input apparatus includes an input unit via which a user can point specific coordinates on a screen, and a display unit for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI). A menu for selecting an arbitrary item from a plurality of items is displayed on the GUI. When the user conducts manipulation to move a location of coordinates pointed by the user on the screen so as to draw a circle, center coordinates of a circle locus of the manipulation are presumed regardless of the location of the coordinates. An item selected in the menu is moved so as to be associated with a rotation angle of the manipulation with respect to the center coordinates. The user can conduct selection manipulation of consecutive menu items without depending upon the location of coordinates pointed by the user on the screen.

Abstract: There is disclosed a handoff control method for registering a CDMA mobile station in such a way that battery power wastage is prevented if successive attempts to register the station fail. If it is judged that registration fails (step S106), idle handoff is inhibited (step S107). The mobile station shifts to a registration-waiting sleep mode (step S108 and state ST10) in which the sending and receiving operation of the mobile station is paused for a given time. When a sleep timer that is set in the step S108 times out, registration is resumed under certain conditions. On resumption, a new pilot signal is acquired.

Abstract: The input device of the present invention includes a camera for taking an image of an operator, an image recognition unit for recognizing a partial portion of body of the operator as the image taken by the camera, a display-area calculation unit for calculating a display area in such a manner that the partial portion of the body of the operator recognized by the image recognition unit is selected and used as its criterion, the display area being used for displaying a graphical user interface for the operator to perform an operation, and a display screen for displaying the graphical user interface as well as the partial portion of the body of the operator within the display area calculated by the display-area calculation unit.

Abstract: There is disclosed a handoff control method for registering a CDMA mobile station in such a way that the waste of battery power is prevented if successive attempts to register the station fail. If it is judged that registration fails (step S106), idle handoff is inhibited (step S107). The mobile station shifts to a registration-waiting sleep mode (step S108 and state ST10) in which the sending and receiving operation of the mobile station is paused for a given time. When a sleep timer that is set in the step S108 times out, registration is resumed under certain conditions. On resumption, a new pilot signal is acquired.

Abstract: Disclosed is a captioned video playback apparatus comprising a storage unit that stores a caption signal defining a plurality of caption lines and a video signal defining a plurality of video images in association with a playback timing; a caption select unit that selects one of the plurality of caption lines defined by the caption signal stored in the storage unit; a caption playback unit that plays back the caption line selected by the caption select unit; a video playback unit that plays back the video signal stored in the storage unit; and a mode changeover unit that changes between a caption view mode for playing back a caption line selected by the caption select unit and a video image corresponding to the caption line using the caption playback unit and the video playback unit, and a normal view mode for playing back a video image using the video playback unit.

Abstract: Some video recording and reproducing apparatus require predetermined initialization processing and so take a certain period of time after a power is turned on until library information is displayed. Also with removable recording media, it takes time from inserting a recording medium until library information appears on a display. To address this problem, a library function and apparatus are provided which display library information before the initialization processing is completed. Further, a library function and apparatus are provided which, when a recording medium that has been recorded by other video recording and reproducing apparatus is inserted, automatically update the library information.

Abstract: There is disclosed a handoff control method for registering a CDMA mobile station in such a way that the waste of a power is prevented if successive attempts to register the station fail. If it is judged that registration fails (step S106), idle handoff is inhibited (step S107). The mobile station shifts to a registration-waiting sleep mode (step S108 and state ST10) in which the sending and receiving operation of the mobile station is paused for a given time. When a sleep timer that is set in the step S108 times out, registration is resumed under certain conditions. On resumption, a new pilot signal is acquired.

Abstract: A pointing device is placed in a through hole provided on an outer case of the portable information terminal. The portable information terminal includes a fingerplate attached to a through hole via a hinge 4e; an image pick-up element placed on a circuit board; a condensing lens that forms an image on an outer surface of the fingerplate on an image pick-up plane of the image pick-up element; and a light emitting device that irradiates the outer surface of the fingerplate with illumination light, and takes the image of a pattern such as a fingerprint of a fingertip that touches the outer surface of the fingerplate by using the image pick-up element. When the fingertip moves while touching the fingerplate, the image taken by the image pick-up element changes and the pointer displayed on a display screen is moved in a direction according to a change direction and by a distance corresponding to a quantity of change.

Abstract: There is disclosed a handoff control method for registering a CDMA mobile station in such a way that battery power wastage is prevented if successive attempts to register the station fail. If it is judged that registration fails (step S106), idle handoff is inhibited (step S107). The mobile station shifts to a registration-waiting sleep mode (step S108 and state ST10) in which the sending and receiving operation of the mobile station is paused for a given time. When a sleep timer that is set in the step S108 times out, registration is resumed under certain conditions. On resumption, a new pilot signal is acquired.

Abstract: A pointing device is placed in a through hole provided on an outer case of the portable information terminal. The terminal includes a fingerplate attached to a through hole via a hinge; an image pick-up element placed on a circuit board; a condensing lens that forms an image on an outer surface of the fingerplate on an image pick-up plane of the image pick-up element; and a light emitting device that irradiates the outer surface of the fingerplate with illumination light, and takes the image of a pattern such as a fingerprint that touches the outer surface of the fingerplate by using the image pick-up element. When the fingertip moves, the image taken by the image pick-up element changes and the pointer displayed on a display screen is moved in a direction according to the movement of the fingertip.

Abstract: A communication apparatus is disclosed which communicates with a second communication apparatus via a base station. The communication apparatus includes an incoming call notice receiving unit for receiving an incoming call notice including picture transmission information signaling that the second communication apparatus is planning to send a picture via the base station; a picture receiving unit for receiving the picture sent from the second communication apparatus; and a display unit for displaying the picture received by the picture receiving unit. The picture transmission information has identification information for identifying the type of the picture to be sent by the second communication apparatus, and the display unit displays the picture type along with the picture.

Abstract: A delivery system capable of sending mail for free to alleviate the burden of a connecting fee on the mail receiver.

Abstract: A pointing device is placed in a through hole provided on an outer case of the portable information terminal. The portable information terminal includes a fingerplate attached to a through hole via a hinge 4e; an image pick-up element placed on a circuit board; a condensing lens that forms an image on an outer surface of the fingerplate on an image pick-up plane of the image pick-up element; and a light emitting device that irradiates the outer surface of the fingerplate with illumination light, and takes the image of a pattern such as a fingerprint of a fingertip that touches the outer surface of the fingerplate by using the image pick-up element. When the fingertip moves while touching the fingerplate, the image taken by the image pick-up element changes and the pointer displayed on a display screen is moved in a direction according to a change direction and by a distance corresponding to a quantity of change.