Abstract: A contents distribution supporting apparatus which enables contents to be distributed on a network without using cash as the medium of transaction. A database records user's points, and a storage accumulates contents to be provided for the users. When contents are received from the users via the network and accumulated in the storage, a first additional point value is added to a value of points owned by a user who has provided contents. On the other hand, when contents read out from the storage are provided for the users via the network, a subtractive point value is subtracted from a value of the points owned by a user who has been provided with the contents, and a second additional point value is added to a value of the points owned by a user who has provided the contents.

Abstract: A fluorescence microscope 11 includes an objective lens 101, a dichroic mirror 102, a half mirror 105, a mirror 106, a laser light source 111, an ND filter 112, a beam expander 113, a mirror 114, a spatial light modulator 115, a lens 131, a band pass filter 132, a spatial light modulator 133, and a detector, etc. The spatial light modulator 115 can vary its spatial light modulation, and can set the number, positions, and shapes of regions to be irradiated with excitation light in the determined specimen 1 by irradiating the determined specimen 1 with spatially modulated excitation light via the subsequent optical system.

Abstract: A user accesses a sound data distribution server by operating a client terminal. The sound data distribution server transmits data for displaying a list of distributable music. The data are displayed on a display unit of the client terminal. While referring to the display on the display unit, the user requests the sound data distribution server for distribution of regular music data. This request is issued from the client terminal. A cellular phone to which the regular music data are to be distributed is specified by data (e.g., a mail address of the cellular phone) input at the client terminal. This enables the sound data distribution server to recognize the cellular phone and distribute the regular music data to the cellular phone.

Abstract: CPU 31 reads out plural chord data which are stored in external storage device 34 or the like and represent a series of chords, and presents to a user the chords represented by the chord data. In presenting the chords to the user, display 21 or external displayer 53 displays chord names along with a score or a lyric, or energizes key-press lamps 14 corresponding to the chord tones constituting the chords. External storage device 34 or the like is provided with a chord conversion table for converting hard-to-play chords to easy-to-play chords. In presenting the chords, CPU 31 presents the chords converted with the use of the chord conversion table. In this case, the hard-to-play chords may be controlled rank by rank or may be designated by the user. Thus, when chords are presented to a user, the user can perform chord playing smoothly at all times even if the user is a beginner player.

Abstract: Notification of upload of a fixed point observation image to a server. A response program captures a fixed point observation image upon controlling a camera through a camera control program. An image analysis program analyzes the captured image and sends the result of analysis to the response program that, then, makes the camera control program control and make the camera capture image based on setup data and under timing set in response to the result of analysis; the captured image is then uploaded to an image management server. A response program of the image management server acquires the uploaded image and stores the image in an image database (image DB) while reading out a transmission destination from a setup DB, then controls a mailing program so as to transmit notification of upload of the fixed point observation image to the PC. The present invention may be applied to an image management system.

Abstract: Notification of upload of a fixed point observation image to a server. A response program captures a fixed point observation image upon controlling a camera through a camera control program. An image analysis program analyzes the captured image and sends the result of analysis to the response program that, then, makes the camera control program control and make the camera capture image based on setup data and under timing set in response to the result of analysis; the captured image is then uploaded to an image management server. A response program of the image management server acquires the uploaded image and stores the image in an image database (image DB) while reading out a transmission destination from a setup DB, then controls a mailing program so as to transmit notification of upload of the fixed point observation image to the PC. The present invention may be applied to an image management system.

Abstract: In accordance with a request from a portable telephone 60, a sound data delivering server 20 delivers a trial-listening music data to the portable telephone without charging a fee to a user of the portable telephone, or delivers a regular music data to the portable telephone upon charging a fee to the user. The delivered trial-listening music data is actually reproduced by the portable telephone; however, the number of reproduction times is limited, and the trial-listening music data is erased from a memory (RAM 63) of the portable telephone after the trial-listening music data is reproduced for the predetermined number of reproduction times. Thus, a system is provided in which the user of the portable telephone can obtain the trial-listening music data of an incoming call melody without being charged for the fee, and can actually reproduce the trial-listening music data with the use of the user s portable telephone.

Abstract: An advertisement appending apparatus comprises a storage device that stores image, music, and advertisement data for creating the music card, a receiver that receives a request from a card sender via a network, a card creating device that creates the music card by selecting data from the storage device, an advertisement appending device that appends advertisement data stored in said storage device to the music card, if either the selected image data or music data is fee-charged, and a transmitter that transmits the music card appended with the advertisement data to a card receiver via the network.

Abstract: A musical tone signal-generating apparatus which is capable of easily reflecting user's settings on the apparatus based on user's usage data by a simple operation using a portable storage medium storing the user's usage data customized on a user-by-user basis. A server, which stores users' usage data concerning use of the apparatus, on a user-by-user basis. The user's usage data concerning the use of the musical tone signal-generating apparatus by a user is read from and written into a portable storage medium. When mounting of the storage medium in said reading and writing device is detected, the users' usage data associated with the user stored in the server and the user's usage data stored in the storage medium are compared to determine which is a newer one. The newer one of the users' usage data associated with the user stored in the server and the user's usage data stored in the storage medium is enabled, based on a result of the comparison.

Abstract: A program creation/supply apparatus connects with a client apparatus via a communication network, and prompts the client apparatus to select one or items of content and enter desired additional information in correspondence with the selected items of content. Program file is created on the basis of content selection information and the additional information transmitted from the client apparatus. The thus-created program file is added to a database. When a user selects a desired program, the program file of the selected program and one or more items of content defining the program are read out from the database and supplied to the user via the communication network. Also, content created by the user can be received via the network and added to the database. The content added to the database can be selected for use in program file creation.

Abstract: A sound control apparatus is provided in a portable terminal for sounding a music tone in association with operation of the portable terminal, which is controlled by a main CPU. In the sound control apparatus, a memory memorizes music information representing a music tone and configuration information associated to a timbre of the music tone. An information acquiring section acquires the music information and the configuration information from the memory. A tone generating section is configured by the acquired configuration information to create a timbre specified by the configuration information. The tone generating section operates according to the acquired music information to generate the music tone being represented by the music information and having the specified timbre. A dedicated CPU is provided separately from the main CPU for controlling the memory, the information acquiring section and the tone generating section.

Abstract: A musical tone data communications system having a unit for generating MIDI data of a musical performance by a player, a unit for transmitting the generated MIDI data over a communications network and a unit for receiving the transmitted MIDI data and reproducing musical tones corresponding to the MIDI data in real time.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a piston using a swaging tool includes the step of positioning a portion of a first member and a portion of a second member of the piston within a first end of an opening formed through the swaging tool, such that a reduced diameter portion of the second member is substantially aligned with a first ring portion of the first member and an end portion of the second member contacts a second ring portion of the first member to create an annular space adjacent to the first ring portion and the reduced diameter portion. The method also includes the step of subsequently swaging the first ring portion by moving the first ring portion in a direction toward a second end of the swaging tool, such that a portion of the first ring portion is positioned within the annular space to fix the first member to the second member.

Abstract: A sound control apparatus is provided in a portable terminal for sounding a music tone in association with operation of the portable terminal, which is controlled by a main CPU. In the sound control apparatus, a memory memorizes music information representing a music tone and configuration information associated to a timbre of the music tone. An information acquiring section acquires the music information and the configuration information from the memory. A tone generating section is configured by the acquired configuration information to create a timbre specified by the configuration information. The tone generating section operates according to the acquired music information to generate the music tone being represented by the music information and having the specified timbre. A dedicated CPU is provided separately from the main CPU for controlling the memory, the information acquiring section and the tone generating section.

Abstract: Client is connected to a selected program serving site via a communication network. The program serving site includes a database storing plural types of contents having various different characters and can supply a program file defining a reproducing sequence of a plurality of contents including those of different characters. The client includes a plurality of types of reproduction engines which are capable of reproducing the contents of the respective characters. The client receives a program file from the program serving site and also receives, from the database of the site, contents specified by the received program file. For reproduction of a desired program file, the client reproduces the individual contents in a reproducing sequence defined by the program file, using any one of the reproduction engines which corresponds to the type of each content to be reproduced. The program progression can be fast-forwarded or fast-reversed by fast-forwarding or fast-rewinding a currently-reproduced content.

Abstract: CPU 31 reads out plural chord data which are stored in external storage device 34 or the like and represent a series of chords, and presents to a user the chords represented by the chord data. In presenting the chords to the user, display 21 or external displayer 53 displays chord names along with a score or a lyric, or energizes key-press lamps 14 corresponding to the chord tones constituting the chords. External storage device 34 or the like is provided with a chord conversion table for converting hard-to-play chords to easy-to-play chords. In presenting the chords, CPU 31 presents the chords converted with the use of the chord conversion table. In this case, the hard-to-play chords may be controlled rank by rank or may be designated by the user. Thus, when chords are presented to a user, the user can perform chord playing smoothly at all times even if the user is a beginner player.

Abstract: CPU 31 reads out plural chord data which are stored in external storage device 34 or the like and represent a series of chords, and presents to a user the chords represented by the chord data. In presenting the chords to the user, display 21 or external displayer 53 displays chord names along with a score or a lyric, or energizes key-press lamps 14 corresponding to the chord tones constituting the chords. External storage device 34 or the like is provided with a chord conversion table for converting hard-to-play chords to easy-to-play chords. In presenting the chords, CPU 31 presents the chords converted with the use of the chord conversion table. In this case, the hard-to-play chords may be controlled rank by rank or may be designated by the user. Thus, when chords are presented to a user, the user can perform chord playing smoothly at all times even if the user is a beginner player.

Abstract: A music work filed for application through on-line transmission or the like is subjected to viewing/listening by audiences through plural kinds of media. The audiences make access to an internet homepage on an internet server 4 of the holder of the audition through a PC (personal computer) 1 or 2, and performs trial-listening of the music work. The audiences also view and/or listen to a live performance in a performance hall. Alternatively, the audiences may view and/or listen to a video performance of television broadcast. Evaluation data based on the results of viewing/listening is input on the internet homepage by the audiences through a PC 6 or a portable communication terminal device 7 on evaluation items conforming to the characteristics of the media. A music work is selected based on the above evaluation.

Abstract: A musical tone data communications system having a unit for generating MIDI data of a musical performance by a player, a unit for transmitting the generated MIDI data over a communications network and a unit for receiving the transmitted MIDI data and reproducing musical tones corresponding to the MIDI data in real time.

Abstract: A semiconductor photocathode of the present invention is provided with: a support substrate 10; a photoelectric surface 30 which is formed of a plurality of semiconductor layers layered on this support substrate 10 and which emits photoelectrons from a photoelectron emitting surface 341 in response to the incidence of light to be detected; and a metal electrode 35 which is formed in film form so as to coat at least a portion of support substrate 10 and a portion of photoelectric surface 30 and which makes ohmic contact with the photoelectric surface, wherein metal electrode 30 in film form includes titanium and the electron affinity of photoelectron emitting surface 341, which is an exposed portion of photoelectric surface 30 without being coated with metal electrode 35 in film form, is in a negative condition.