Abstract: An image commercial transactions system and method, an image transfer system and method, an image distribution system and method, and a display device and method are disclosed. A reception dealer accepts the transfer of an image recorded on a recording medium in a predetermined format with a handling condition intrinsic to the image, and transfers the image with the handling condition, and an advertisement, in digital data format, and a charge accounting dealer effects an electronic charge accounting transaction for the transfer of data of the image with the handling condition and the advertisement. Accordingly, a forwarding request user is helpful in making public the advertisement by having the data of the advertisement along with the data of the image forwarded, instead of the reception dealer, whereby a transfer fee for the data of image can be made lower. Consequently, it is possible to enhance the usability for the transfer significantly.

Abstract: A sampling frequency conversion apparatus which easily controls the phase difference (time difference) between the input data and the output data in converting the sampling frequency, includes a storage device 13 for continuously writing the input data or the data obtained by over-sampling the input data and for continuously reading out the data written maintaining a predetermined address difference relative to the writable address, and an interpolation processing unit 14 for interpolating the data read-out from the storage device 13 to obtain data of which the sampling frequency is converted. In converting the sampling frequency, an address difference between a writable address and a readable address in the storage device 13 is optimized, the address difference being optimized without limitation for a predetermined period of time from the start of supplying the input data and, then, being optimized by imposing a predetermined limitation after the passage of the predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A portable telephone that executes a desired function with simple operations. The portable telephone that executes various functions selected from hierarchically structured menus is provided with dedicated execution keys 9 for instructing execution of functions, a function assigning device for assigning a desired function to an execution key 9, and a function executing device for executing a function assigned to an execution key 9 in response to a pressing of the execution key 9.

Abstract: The picture signal picked up by a MOS sensor 2a in the camera 2 is supplied to the storage medium body 3, converted to image data by the A/C converter 4, then digitally processed by the image processor 5 to be still image data or compressed image data composed of R, G and B image signals, for example, and then written into the RAM 7. Writing of the image data to the RAM 7 is made by access to the RAM 7 according to the directory structure in the ROM 6 and RAM.

Abstract: An audio signal processing device to enable accurate calculation of angles and displacements and to enable reduction of circuit scales includes a digital signal processing circuit (31) that performs virtual acoustic image localization processing such that an acoustic image is localized at an arbitrary position in the vicinity of the listener by reproducing, using headphones (2) or a plurality of speakers, output signals obtained by signal processing input audio signals, and is characterized in that analog detection signals from a sensor (1) that detects the state of action of the listener are input to the digital signal processing circuit (31) via an A/D converter (30), and the transmission characteristics of these audio signals are modified in realtime, according to values derived by processing the values of analog detection signals from the sensor (1) or by processing the analog detection signals.

Abstract: Providing an antenna device and a portable radio communication device whose conductive plate for use in reducing the amount of the electromagnetic waves to be absorbed into a human body can be reduced in size. The portable radio communication device 1 includes a circuit board (not shown) necessary for performing radio communication, shield case 2 as a ground conductor which shields the circuit board, a conductive plate 3, an antenna feeding portion 4, and an antenna 5. The circuit board, shield case 2, and conductive plate 3 are enclosed by a housing (not shown) made of nonconductive material. The conductive plate 3 has its one end along the longitudinal direction connected to the shield case 2 to form a short circuit via the conductor 7, and has its other end electrically opened from the shield case 2. The conductive plate 3 has two slits 8a, 8b near the conductor 7.

Abstract: In order to satisfactorily transmit audio data of various formats through a transmission line, when data having a predetermined data length as a unit is transmitted by a predetermined format between devices connected to a predetermined transmission line, label data indicating a system of transmitted audio data is located at a starting portion of the data having the predetermined data length, sub-label data is located at an interval behind label data if necessary and data accompanying with audio data is located and transmitted, whereby a side which receives this data can easily identify a system of audio data or the like.

Abstract: There are provided in a rate control command a clock rate select subfunction (SYNC SELECT) to which a digital signal receiver side corresponds, a base rate subfunction (BASE CONFIGURE), a flow rate control (FLOW CONTROL) subfunction, and a capability inquiry subfunction (CAPABILITY INQUIRY). The CAPABILITY INQUIRY subfunction is used to send to a transmitter side a clock rate select state (SYNC SELECT), base rate set state (BASE CONFIGURE), and flow rate control state (FLOW CONTROL). Thereby, a digital signal can be transmitted between specific units positively and successfully.

Abstract: A normalizer normalizes the power of a dither signal calculated by a power calculator based on the average power of a PCM signal in the range of 18 kHz to 20 kHz, wherein the average power is calculated by the power calculator. An oversampling processor oversamples the PCM signal with a quantization frequency of 44.1 kHz and a quantization word length of 16 bits, wherein the PCM signal is inputted from an input terminal at a sampling frequency of 2×44.1 kHz, and then supplies an output of the oversampling process to an adder. The adder adds the normalized output from the normalizer to the oversampling output from the oversampling processor, and then supplies the addition output to an oversampling processor.

Abstract: An intangible product sales server for selling intangible products and a tangible product sales server for selling tangible products associated with the intangible products cooperate to simplify purchase procedures to be followed by users in purchasing tangible and intangible products in combination.

Abstract: A projection lens of the retrofocus type that has a long back focus and that can project with a high contrast, exhibits small aberrations and converts a light path inside the lens. A first lens set having a negative refractive power, a light path converter, and an iris and a second lens set having a positive refractive power and an aspheric lens are disposed in order from the screen side. The first lens set includes a lens set having a negative refractive power and one or more aspheric lenses, a bending mirror serving as the light path converter, and a lens set having a positive refractive power. The lenses in the first lens set have an outer shape with a portion thereof cut outside an effective light ray in a direction of the light path conversion, and the direction of the light path conversion is a direction of a shorter side of rectangular image formation element.

Abstract: A driving device includes a holder movably carried by a chassis and adapted for transporting a disc cartridge that the holder holds between an insertion/ejection position and a loading position, and an ejection lever for ejecting the disc cartridge from the holder. The driving device also includes a slider movable in a direction of inserting the disc cartridge into the holder and in a direction of ejecting the disc cartridge from the holder. The slider causes the holder to be moved to the loading position when the slider is moved in the disc cartridge inserting direction, while causing the holder to be moved to the insertion/ejection position when the slider is moved in the disc cartridge ejecting direction. The driving device also includes a spring member provided between the ejection lever and the slider for biasing the ejection lever in a direction of ejecting the disc cartridge from the holder and for biasing the slider in the disc cartridge inserting direction.

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 disk recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a mechanical deck having a disk receiver with a disk carrying unit for carrying a disk, a disk recording and/or reproducing section for recording and/or reproducing the disk received in the disk receiver, and an outer case housing the mechanical deck. A relaxation mechanism and a lock mechanism are disposed between the mechanical deck and the outer case. The relaxation mechanism prevents vibration from being transmitted mutually between the mechanical deck and the outer case. The lock mechanism locks the mechanical deck to the outer case in such a manner as to oppose a relaxing operation of the relaxation mechanism. Thereby, operational vibration, noise and the like caused to the mechanical deck during recordation and/or reproduction can be prevented from being transmitted to the outer case's side.

Abstract: A digital television (DTV) operating screen is displayed on the cathode ray tube (CRT) display screen of a DTV which is the controlling apparatus of a network. In the event that the user selects a digital video home system (DVHS) from the buttons displayed on the DTV operating screen, data corresponding to the DVHS operation screen is input to the DTV, and a DVHS operation screen is displayed on the CRT display screen 61. The user operation instructions executed regarding the DVHS operation screen are notified from the digital television DTV to the DVHS, so the DTV can execute control corresponding to the operations of the user, without transmitting commands for directly controlling the DVHS.

Abstract: A remote commander in which a switching element connected in series to an infrared light-emitting diode is turned on and off in response to carrier pulses to energize the infrared light-emitting diode to generate an infrared remote control signal includes varying means for varying duty ratios of carrier pulses.

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: An information processing apparatus for separating input musical number information into a vocal information part containing lyrics in a first language and an accompaniment information part, and for producing second musical number information made of the accompaniment part and a translated vocal information part superimposed thereon. A vocal separation unit separates the first vocal information part and the accompaniment information part from the input first musical information. A processing unit generates first language lyric information by speech recognition of the separated first vocal information part, translates the generated first language lyric information into second language lyric information, and supplies the second language lyric information. A synthesis unit synthesizes the supplied second language lyric information, the accompaniment information part, and the separated first vocal information part to generate second musical information.

Abstract: A knowledge information managing apparatus and method that collects and registers knowledge information in a knowledge database, providing users with the convenience of acquiring information efficiently. After the knowledge information is registered, it is then opened in the knowledge database, allowing users to select knowledge information. The selected knowledge information is then registered in a user's knowledge account, where a knowledge account is set up for every user and is a storage area formed in an account database. The apparatus also includes a knowledge information managing program and a storage medium for storing that program.

Abstract: A tape library wherein a number of cassette tapes are accommodated and adjusted. One or more expansion units are connected to a basic unit. When a transport mechanism is within the basic unit, a control circuit section controls the transport mechanism by referencing a position reference point of the basic unit, and when the transport mechanism is within an expansion unit the control circuit section controls referencing a position reference point of the expansion unit. The control circuit section and the transport mechanism of the basic unit are interconnected by an elongated-belt-like flat cable which includes a plurality of conductors extending in parallel and joined with an insulating material, and when an expansion unit is coupled the cable need not be replaced, allowing coupling of an expansion unit and smooth transportation of a recording medium in the expansion unit to a recording and/or playback section by the transport mechanism.