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 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 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 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 processing apparatus and method by which the user can see an album display and can enjoy the album display as a memory. Image data, time information and position information are recorded. Thumbnail icons representative of the image data are displayed along with the time information, and a map image is displayed in concave/convex 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 processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information providing medium that allow a user to check the still pictures of a moving picture to be searched at desired points of time and desired time intervals and in a desired quantity. The user operates a mouse or a keyboard to enter a time and a time interval at which a picture is displayed. On the basis of these time and time interval, the CPU generates picture thumbnails of the moving picture. Then, the CPU simultaneously displays the generated picture thumbnails as arranged in a time sequential manner.

Abstract: The invention provides an agent system, an agent buying/selling method, a data-providing apparatus and a data-recording medium, which are novel and enable the user to obtain, with ease, an electronic pet that can acts as an agent with various abilities. The agent system comprises at least one client computer which has a display device connected to a communications network, and at least one server computer connected to the client computer by the communications network and having a community (67) which can store an agent (63). The community (67) has an agent market (65z). In the community, the property right to the agent (63) can be transferred.

Abstract: An agent system (21) which provides information for a user, displaying a character, comprises at least: an agent program (22) provided in a user computer connectable to a communication channel network (2); a user information storage part (29) which stores user information; and a character display data storage part (32) which stores character display data for determining a display form of the character. The agent program (22) 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: The invention provides an information providing system, apparatus and method as well as a data recording medium by which the user can frequently communicate with a character which is an electronic pet as an imaginary living body and virtually lives in an electric equipment so that the user can operate the electric equipment with increased interest and happiness. The information providing system includes a plurality of electric equipments connected to each other for transmitting and receiving character data therebetween. Each electric equipment includes a character system for processing the character data, representation means for representing a character to indicate a representation to a user of the electric equipment, and connection means for establishing connection to another one of the electric equipments. The character data are transmitted and received in such a manner as to move between the electric equipments through the connection means.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an information-processing apparatus, an information-processing method and a data recording medium which allow a display of much interest to the user to be presented to the user. With the information-processing apparatus, an information-processing method and a data recording medium, it is possible to display a cyclical time concept which includes nature, creatures as well as integration of pictures and comments and is based on a predetermined regularity, wherein a cycle typically comprises a sequence of transitions among the four seasons, namely, the spring, the summer, the autumn and the winter, or a day consisting of a morning, a day time and a night, or a cycle can also be a temperature or humidity cycle.

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.