Abstract: A method for processing images that reduces an enormous number of images down to images suitable for measuring a similarity index and that measures the similarity index between the reduced number of images more suitably. Image data and attribute information stored in an HDD are read, and an image data unit is selected as a reference on the basis of displaying data according to an image-displaying program. Then, a similarity-measuring program is activated, and the attribute information of the selected image data unit is compared with the attribute information of other image data units. An image data unit to be used for measuring the similarity index is determined, and the similarity index is measured between the selected image data unit and the determined image data units.

Abstract: It is an object of this invention to easily search many photographed images for a desired image. In order to achieve this object, an image processing apparatus for processing a plurality of photographed images and image information having attributes attached to the plurality of images includes a similarity determination device which determines similarities between a query image and the plurality of images, an attribute comparing device which compares an attribute of the query image and attributes of the plurality of images, and a weighting device which weights a similarity determination result obtained by the similarity determination device on the basis of the comparison result obtained by the attribute comparing device.

Abstract: There is the possibility that the operator misunderstands as if an abnormality has occurred in an apparatus, depending on the state of reception of an image changing in accordance with situation. This problem is solved by providing a reception unit for receiving images generated from a plurality of communication terminals, an output unit for outputting the images received by the reception unit in order to dipslay the images on a display unit as multiple images, and a notification unit for grasping and notifying a state of reception of the images by the reception unit.

Abstract: This invention provides a system for managing information in a format that can be used based on the international standard time and local time. Upon storing and managing information (150), a) the local time (121) of a predetermined area, b) a standard difference (122) as the difference between the international standard time and the standard time of the predetermined area, and c) a season difference (122) as the difference between the standard time and the local time of the predetermined area in a corresponding season are appended.

Abstract: A terminal capable of switching among a plurality of types of information is provided. A display unit for displaying a plurality of video information and image information inputted by an information input unit, an input information selection unit for selecting desired information from the input information displayed on the display unit and a switching output unit for switching to the input information selected by the input selection unit for output are provided. The input information is always manifested in the display unit so that an operator may switch to the desired input information while watching the manifested content to prevent the output of unintended input information.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to perform, in a communication system or apparatus which can communicate an image and a voice, image displaying and voice outputting which are convenient to an operator or a user, and concretely to provide technique which can conveniently or easily direct or teach to the operator importance of the image and the voice to be communicated.

Abstract: A document editing apparatus for editing a document in which document elements are in a nested structure. A portion appointing device appoints a portion of the document into which a document element is to be inserted, and an alternative element insertion process inserts an alternative element into the appointed portion of the document. An alternative element developing process substitutes an appointed document element for the alternative element, and the appoint document element is stored in a storage device.

Abstract: A document processing apparatus capable of clearly indicating, to each user, the information changed since the last reference by the user, by storing the last referred document information for each user.At the end of each system function, the referred structured document is registered as past document information for each user in an auxiliary memory device, and, when the user refers again to this document information, the document information at the last reference is compared with the current document information in order to clarify the changes.

Abstract: A document processing apparatus has memory space for holding a plurality of documents, each of the documents being provided with respective update time data, and additional memory space for storing respectively, for each of a plurality of users, reference time data for the plurality of documents. When one of the plurality of users causes the documents to be read, the reference time data for that user can be read out for comparing, for each of the plurality of documents, the respective update time data with the read reference time data to determine whether or not a user other than the one user has confirmed any of the plurality of documents after a previous updating of that document. In response to the determination, the apparatus displays the plurality of documents, with any confirmed documents being displayed distinguishably from the rest of the documents. In this way, the user can tell if any of the documents has been updated by another user after he himself last updated the document.

Abstract: A document processing apparatus which permits the sharing of a document element in a document structure while ensuring that any change to the content appears in the document element in each document sharing it. In a document processing apparatus for managing a plurality of documents each containing a plurality of document elements, a document element having content to be shared with a second document is designated from a plurality of document elements of a first document, and the content of the designated document element is defined as the content of a predetermined document element of the second document to be shared as common content by the first and second documents. Further, any document element having shared content is detected from a document when the display of the document is commanded, and is displayed in a distinguishable manner from other portions.