Abstract: The disclosure provides a cooking management method, a cooking management system, a cooking management server, and a cooking appliance capable of realizing cooking suitable for a user with less labor for the user. The cooking management method includes: acquiring consumer goods shipping information associated with a product identification code corresponding to a cooking appliance M; acquiring user information which is information about a user of the cooking appliance M corresponding to the product identification code; generating a custom sequence suitable for the user based on the consumer goods shipping information and the user information; and enabling the cooking appliance corresponding to the product identification code to download and execute the custom sequence.

Abstract: An information processing system, method for use with the system, information providing system, and method for use with the system, an information processing apparatus, method for use with the apparatus, a doll, an object, a program storage medium, and a program for authenticating users reliably are provided. A user acquires beforehand a doll called Pochara the Good Friend incorporating an IC chip that stores a user ID for authenticating the user. When the user mounts the doll on a platform connected to a personal computer, the user ID is read from the IC chip by a reader housed in the platform and transmitted over the Internet to a Pochara service server. The server has a Pochara database holding personal information about users of the service. The transmitted user ID is checked against the personal information in the database for authentication. This invention applies advantageously to servers offering services through networks.

Abstract: An information processing system, an information processing method for use with the system, an information providing system, and information providing method for use with the system, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method for use with the apparatus, a doll, an object, a program storage medium, and a program for authenticating users reliably are provided. A user acquires beforehand a doll called Pochara the Good Friend incorporating an IC chip that stores a user ID for authenticating the user. When the user mounts the doll on a platform connected to a personal computer, the user ID is read from the IC chip by a reader housed in the platform and transmitted over the Internet to a Pochara service server. The server has a Pochara database holding personal information about users of the service. The transmitted user ID is checked against the personal information in the database for authentication. This invention applies advantageously to servers offering services through networks.

Abstract: An information processing system, method for use with the system, information providing system, and method for use with the system, an information processing apparatus, method for use with the apparatus, a doll, an object, a program storage medium, and a program for authenticating users reliably are provided. A user acquires beforehand a doll called Pochara the Good Friend incorporating an IC chip that stores a user ID for authenticating the user. When the user mounts the doll on a platform connected to a personal computer, the user ID is read from the IC chip by a reader housed in the platform and transmitted over the Internet to a Pochara service server. The server has a Pochara database holding personal information about users of the service. The transmitted user ID is checked against the personal information in the database for authentication. This invention applies advantageously to servers offering services through networks.

Abstract: An information processing system, an information processing method for use with the system, an information providing system, and information providing method for use with the system, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method for use with the apparatus, a doll, an object, a program storage medium, and a program for authenticating users reliably are provided. A user acquires beforehand a doll called Pochara the Good Friend incorporating an IC chip that stores a user ID for authenticating the user. When the user mounts the doll on a platform connected to a personal computer, the user ID is read from the IC chip by a reader housed in the platform and transmitted over the Internet to a Pochara service server. The server has a Pochara database holding personal information about users of the service. The transmitted user ID is checked against the personal information in the database for authentication. This invention applies advantageously to servers offering services through networks.

Abstract: An information processing system, an information processing method for use with the system, an information providing system, and information providing method for use with the system, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method for use with the apparatus, a doll, an object, a program storage medium, and a program for authenticating users reliably are provided. A user acquires beforehand a doll called Pochara the Good Friend incorporating an IC chip that stores a user ID for authenticating the user. When the user mounts the doll on a platform connected to a personal computer, the user ID is read from the IC chip by a reader housed in the platform and transmitted over the Internet to a Pochara service server. The server has a Pochara database holding personal information about users of the service. The transmitted user ID is checked against the personal information in the database for authentication. This invention applies advantageously to servers offering services through networks.

Abstract: An information processing system, an information processing method for use with the system, an information providing system, and information providing method for use with the system, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method for use with the apparatus, a doll, an object, a program storage medium, and a program for authenticating users reliably are provided. A user acquires beforehand a doll called Pochara the Good Friend incorporating an IC chip that stores a user ID for authenticating the user. When the user mounts the doll on a platform connected to a personal computer, the user ID is read from the IC chip by a reader housed in the platform and transmitted over the Internet to a Pochara service server. The server has a Pochara database holding personal information about users of the service. The transmitted user ID is checked against the personal information in the database for authentication. This invention applies advantageously to servers offering services through networks.

Abstract: An information processing system, an information processing method for use with the system, an information providing system, and information providing method for use with the system, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method for use with the apparatus, a doll, an object, a program storage medium, and a program for authenticating users reliably are provided. A user acquires beforehand a doll called Pochara the Good Friend incorporating an IC chip that stores a user ID for authenticating the user. When the user mounts the doll on a platform 23 connected to a personal computer 22, the user ID is read from the IC chip by a reader housed in the platform 23 and transmitted over the Internet 1 to a Pochara service server 9. The server 9 has a Pochara database 10 holding personal information about users of the service. The transmitted user ID is checked against the personal information in the database for authentication.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus and method, information management apparatus and method, recording medium, and program that permit efficient use of hardware resources and distribute contents with ease are provided. When communication can be established via a network (when the line is available), clients 11-1 through 11-3, which have acquired contents from a contents distribution server and stored them, transmit the stored contents to remote clients in accordance with destination designation information attached to the contents. For example, client 11-1 transmits the contents, which have been acquired from the contents distribution server and stored, to clients 12-1 and 12-2, which are designated as destination clients by the destination designation information. The present invention can be applied, for example, to a router or a personal computer providing a communication section and a hard disk or other storage medium.

Abstract: An information management device and method, an information processing device and method, a recording medium, and a program that allow the provision of optimum content to each individual user are provided. In a Pochara service server 9, a matching is executed between the feature information of music selection Pochara and the feature information of the user of a personal computer 22 updated in response to the replies to questions asked by a music selection Pochara, thereby selecting a music selection Pochara which is optimum to the feelings of the user of the personal computer 22 at that time. On the personal computer 22, the image of the selected music selection Pochara is displayed and music content is selected by this music selection Pochara. The present invention is applicable to various kinds of devices such as personal computers that have a communication capability and a display capability.

Abstract: An agent system which provides information for a user, displaying a character, includes: an agent program provided in a user computer connectable to a communication channel network; a user information storage part that stores user information; and a character display data storage part that stores character display data for determining a display form of the character. The agent program performs processing of collecting the user information and information selected by the user information, processing of creating a key word specific to the user based on the user information and the selected information, and processing of providing information, varying the display form related to the character from the selected information and the character display data, for every item of information.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus and method are provided by which the user not only can merely see an album display but also can enjoy the album display satisfactorily as a memory. Image data are stored, and time information and position information are recorded in connection with the image data. Thumbnail icons representative of the image data are displayed in accordance with the time information, and a map image is displayed in concave/concave display. Position icons representative of the time information and the position information are displayed on the map image. The map and the thumbnail icons are moved on the display by at least one of different types of movement including horizontal movement, vertical movement, clockwise or counterclockwise rolling movement, upward or downward pitching movement and leftward or rightward yawing movement so that the user can enjoy various images.

Abstract: An information providing system, apparatus, and method, and a data recording medium wherein a user can frequently communicate with an imaginary electronic pet that virtually lives in a piece of electric equipment so that the user can operate the electric equipment with increased interest and happiness. The system includes a plurality of interconnected pieces of electric equipment for transmitting and receiving character data. Each piece of equipment includes a character system for processing the character data, a representation system for representing a character to indicate a representation to a user of the electric equipment, and a connection system for establishing a connection to another piece of equipment. The character system rocesses the character data based on character representation data for providing the character with a predetermined representation, and the representation system provides information from the character to the user.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus and method are provided by which the user not only can merely see an album display but also can enjoy the album display satisfactorily as a memory. Image data are stored, and time information and position information are recorded in connection with the image data. Thumbnail icons representative of the image data are displayed in accordance with the time information, and a map image is displayed in concave/concave display. Position icons representative of the time information and the position information are displayed on the map image. The map and the thumbnail icons are moved on the display by at least one of different types of movement including horizontal movement, vertical movement, clockwise or counterclockwise rolling movement, upward or downward pitching movement and leftward or rightward yawing movement so that the user can enjoy various images.

Abstract: The invention provides an information providing system, apparatus, method and recording medium by which the user can communicate with an electronic pet character as an imaginary living body and virtually lives in electric equipment so the user can operate the equipment with increased interest and happiness. The information providing system includes interconnected electric equipment for transmitting and receiving character data therebetween. Each piece of equipment includes a character system for processing character data, means for representing a character to indicate a representation to a user of the equipment, and means for establishing connection to another one of the electric equipment. Character data is transmitted and received so as to move between the electric equipment through the connection means.

Abstract: An information processing system, an information processing method for use with the system, an information providing system, and information providing method for use with the system, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method for use with the apparatus, a doll, an object, a program storage medium, and a program for authenticating users reliably are provided. A user acquires beforehand a doll called Pochara the Good Friend incorporating an IC chip that stores a user ID for authenticating the user. When the user mounts the doll on a platform 23 connected to a personal computer 22, the user ID is read from the IC chip by a reader housed in the platform 23 and transmitted over the Internet 1 to a Pochara service server 9. The server 9 has a Pochara database 10 holding personal information about users of the service. The transmitted user ID is checked against the personal information in the database for authentication.

Abstract: An information management device and method, an information processing device and method, a recording medium, and a program that allow the provision of optimum content to each individual user are provided. In a Pochara service server 9, a matching is executed between the feature information of music selection Pochara and the feature information of the user of a personal computer 22 updated in response to the replies to questions asked by a music selection Pochara, thereby selecting a music selection Pochara which is optimum to the feelings of the user of the personal computer 22 at that time. On the personal computer 22, the image of the selected music selection Pochara is displayed and music content is selected by this music selection Pochara. The present invention is applicable to various kinds of devices such as personal computers that have a communication capability and a display capability.

Abstract: An information-processing apparatus, an information-processing method and a data recording medium which allow a display to be presented to the user. The apparatus, method, and medium allow the display of a cyclical time concept which includes nature, creatures and integration of pictures and comments and is based on a predetermined cycle typically including a sequence of transitions among the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter, or of a day consisting of morning, afternoon, and night, or a cycle can also be a temperature or humidity cycle.

Abstract: An information processing system and method, an information processing device and method, a program storage medium, a program, and an object which are adapted to allow the use of content at any devices while protecting its copyright are provided. A Pochara service server 9 receives, from a personal computer 22, a user ID read from a friend Pochara figure mounted on a platform 23 and then receives a content ID. The Pochara service server 9 determines whether the content ID is registered on a Pochara database 10 in correspondence with the user ID. If the ID is found registered, the Pochara service server 9 reads encrypted content data from the personal computer 22, decodes the content data by a crypto key stored in the Pochara database 10, and supplies the decoded content data to the personal computer 22. The present invention is applicable to personal computers.

Abstract: A information management device and method, an information processing device and method, a recording medium, and a program that can easily and quickly receive the provision of content are provided. At a select shop set up on a network, sale Pocharas selected by its owner are prepared. In a select shop 1, when a sale Pochara for providing fortunetelling based on “Astrology” is selected by the user, the information stored in area D of a Pochara database 10 is transmitted to the device of the user, upon which an image of sale Pochara character is displayed on the display block of the device. Fortunetelling based on “Astrology” is performed by the displayed sale Pochara and its result is provided to the user. The present invention is applicable to devices such as personal computers.