Abstract: A focus controller configured to control focus of an optical element includes a focus state detector configured to detect a focus state based on a contrast value of an image formed by the optical element, and a driving mechanism that moves the optical element including a motor, a position sensor configured to detect a position of a rotor in the motor, and a driving controller configured to select, in accordance with the contrast value, first driving configured to switch an electrization to a coil in accordance with an output of the position senor, or second driving configured to switch the electrization to the coil in the motor in accordance with a determined time interval.

Abstract: A method of preparing a server is disclosed that supports a plurality of purchaser systems to transmit over the Internet orders for collectibles being offered for sale on a primary and a secondary market. The method starts by constructing at the server a purchaser history database. Then, an initial placement of a number of lots of selected collectibles are offered for sale on the primary market. Next an account is created for each purchaser transmitting an order to the server. Each account includes a record of the purchasing activity of its purchasers. Then, the lots of selected collectibles are allocated to the successful purchasers. Then at the direction of certain of the successful purchasers, selected of the allocated collectibles are offered for sale on the secondary market.

Abstract: A terminal service management server compares a host address of a terminal apparatus received from a terminal manufacturing factory site, a network address acquired from a network address retrieval site and an Internet service provider, and a sender address of a packet sent by a terminal apparatus connected to a LAN, and provides a service to the terminal apparatus connected to the LAN in the case in which the host address, the network address, and the sender address coincide with each other.

Abstract: An information processing device which can communicate with an image processing device on a network is characterized by comprising a search indication unit for issuing a search indication for searching the image processing device on the network, a first transmission unit for transmitting a request for changing a power saving state of the image processing device on the network to a normal state in response to the search indication issued by the search indication unit, a second transmission unit for transmitting a search request for searching the image processing device after the request was transmitted by the first transmission unit, and a designation unit for designating a transmission range of the request transmitted by the first transmission unit, and characterized in that the second transmission unit transmits the search request to the transmission range designated by the designation unit.

Abstract: When having established communication with a data processing apparatus, a first apparatus determines whether or not to generate authentication information based on identification information about the data processing apparatus. If it is determined that generation of authentication information is necessary, then the first apparatus generates authentication information and saves it in a memory. If it is determined that generation of authentication information is necessary, the first apparatus sends the generated authentication information to the data processing apparatus with which communication has been established. If it is determined that generation of authentication information is unnecessary, then the first apparatus sends authentication information saved in the memory to the data processing apparatus with which communication has been established. Thereby, authentication between data processing apparatuses is performed with the use of the authentication information sent from the first apparatus.

Abstract: This invention shortens a time required for batch verification of a plurality of digital documents. To this end, whether or not an electronic signature in a long-term signature format is added to a digital document is checked. A first verification process is applied to a digital document which is determined to have an electronic signature in the long-term signature format added to it. A second verification process, which requires a shorter processing time than the first verification process, is applied to a digital document which is determined not to have an electronic signature in the long-term signature format added to it.

Abstract: The claimed invention is directed to a communication apparatus which comprises a monitor unit that monitors communication conditions with a plurality of networks; a setting unit that performs adjusting and setting a communication timing to communicate with each of the plurality of networks in accordance with the communication condition of each network and notifying the plurality of networks of information about the set communication timings; and a communication unit that switches communication to each of the plurality of networks on the basis of the setting of the communication timings, wherein said setting unit dynamically changes the communication timing on the basis of the communication condition monitored by said monitor unit.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus and method for analyzing structured document data and outputting the analytical results in units of structure. The apparatus detects a specific character string indicating a first data form contained in the structured document data. When the specific character string is detected, data corresponding to this specific character string is converted to a second data form that is different from the first data form and the data of the second data form is stored.

Abstract: A digital camera 100 groups items of image data matching in their image pickup condition into a group and generates a list of the grouped image data. The digital camera 100 selects a representative image from the grouped image data and transfers the representative image and the list to a PC 150. An application 160 runs on the PC 150. A user can use the application 160 to browse the grouped image data and cause any items of image data other than the representative image to be transferred from the digital camera 100 to the PC 150.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus is disclosed which can achieve excellent focus detection performance. The apparatus detects the focusing state of an image-pickup lens based on a phase difference in a plurality of images. The apparatus includes a field lens and a light-receiving element including plural focus detection areas. The light-receiving element includes at least first and second focus detection areas which detect a phase difference in a first direction, and third and fourth focus detection areas which detect a phase difference in a second direction. The intersection position of the first focus detection area and the third focus detection area with respect to the center of the first focus detection area is different from the intersection position of the second focus detection area and the fourth focus detection area with respect to the center of the second focus detection area.

Abstract: An electronic device which is capable of performing high-accuracy remaining battery capacity management. The electronic device has a plurality of battery pack compartments assigned specific addresses, respectively. A remaining capacity-detecting unit detects the remaining battery capacity of a battery pack mounted in a battery pack compartment. A control microcomputer receives information indicative of a remaining battery capacity sent from a battery pack accommodated in one of the battery pack compartments and address information on the battery pack compartment, and sends correction information concerning the remaining battery capacity to the battery pack.

Abstract: A document management apparatus acquires block information of each page, which is obtained by executing block segmentation processing for each page of document data of a first version. A matched block and a mismatched block between the first version and a second version are discriminated on the basis of the block information acquired in association with the document of the first version and block information obtained by executing block segmentation processing for each page of document data of the second version. A page is generated by laying out a block that is determined as a matched block and exists in a page containing a block determined as a mismatched block in the document data of the first version and a block that is determined as a mismatched block in the document data of the second version while maintaining the block sequence in the whole document data of the second version.

Abstract: When a calibration jig (50) which includes an image sensing device (100) is moved within the image sensing range of an image sensing device (200), the image coordinates of an index (110) on the image sensing device (100) in a plurality of images sensed by the image sensing device (200) are extracted. The image coordinates of environment allocation indices (300) in a plurality of images sensed by the image sensing device (100) are extracted. An information processing apparatus (1000) calculates camera parameters of the image sensing device (200) based on the extracted image coordinates of the index (110) and the environment allocation indices (300).

Abstract: It is an object to provide an image sensing apparatus which can shorten the time required for the creation of correction data by reducing the amount of data used for the creation of correction data. In order to achieve the above object, an image sensing apparatus according to this invention includes a plurality of pixels, a first calculating unit which creates correction data by performing computation using signals which are acquired by image sensing in an unexposed state and smaller in number than said plurality of pixels, and a second calculating unit which corrects image data of the plurality of pixels, acquired by image sensing in an exposed state, by using the correction data.

Abstract: This invention can efficiently remove, within a short period of time, a foreign substance such as dust adhering on an optical element arranged on the front surface of an image sensor. An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor which photo-electrically converts an object image, an optical element inserted between the image sensor and a photographing optical system which forms the object image, a foreign substance position storage unit which stores the position of a foreign substance adhering on the surface of the optical element, a vibration unit which vibrates the optical element to remove the foreign substance adhering on the surface of the optical element, and a control unit which controls a driving parameter of the vibration unit on the basis of the foreign substance position information stored in the foreign substance position storage unit.

Abstract: This invention has as its object to record audio data by a simple operation upon recording the audio data as an operation sound or startup sound of an image sensing apparatus such as a digital camera or the like. To this end, upon recording audio data, since a startup sound, operation sound, shutter sound, and self-timer sound are set as purposes of audio data to be recorded, an audio recording time is set by selecting a desired one of these purposes. After the audio recording time is set, when audio recording is started by a user's intention, audio recording is executed for the set time, and other operations such as an audio recording stop operation and the like are inhibited during this interval. Hence, audio recording is executed until the set audio recording time elapses.

Abstract: A lens barrel with improved precision is obtained by reducing fitting play of a lens barrel. A coil and a magnetic member are fixed on a lens holding member, and a magnet and a yoke are fixed on an outer barrel. When energizing the coil, the lens holding member moves in the optical axis direction along guide bars by magnetic fluxes from the magnet. The magnetic member receives a magnetic attraction force toward the magnet by leakage fluxes. In the lens holding member, a bearing sleeve is biased by the attraction force perpendicularly to the axis of the guide bar, and the resultant force of the attraction force and a gravitational force exerted on the lens holding member removes play. A resultant force of a force toward the guide bar exerted on the bearing and the gravitational force thereon removes fitting play between the bearing and the guide bar.

Abstract: An image output apparatus has a communication unit which can communicate with a plurality of external devices, displays an image received from an external device through the communication unit, and acquires, from an external device serving as a provision source of the image being displayed, indication information related to sending of the image to an external device. The image output apparatus controls sending of the image being displayed to an external device other than the external device serving as the provision source on the basis of the acquired indication information.

Abstract: It is intended, in the mobile information terminal, to achieve compactization, cost reduction and reduction in the burden of information processing, while taking the enciphering process for the information into consideration. The cipher signal process unit for enciphering the transmission information and the cipher process selection unit for selecting whether or not to use the cipher signal process unit are provided to select whether or not to execute the enciphering of the transmission information, according to the necessity in executing the communication of information, thereby dispensing the enciphering process as far as possible and alleviating the burden of the process involved in the enciphering.

Abstract: An axially actuated valve for use in a pressurized container is controlled by a user to dispense the amount of product desired. The valve stem is moved in an up and down direction so that when dispensing, the user can control the amount of the valve openings that are in communication with the material to be dispensed. A resilient sealing grommet provides an interference fit around the lower part of the valve stem from the button up to the top of the valve stem openings. This interference fit effectively closes off the uncovered portion of the valve openings thereby permitting user control of the dispensing rate. The stem has openings partially tapered in the form of an inverted truncated pyramid to further facilitate user control of the dispensing of product.