Abstract: A method of assessing a probe by measuring a known sample whose shape is known with the probe in an electronic microscope, the known sample having a projection part on a surface thereof, and the projection part having a shape tapered toward a vertex thereof, the method comprising a step of measuring circle equivalent radius of the projection part, a step of comparing the circle equivalent radius with a first threshold value, and a step of determining that the probe is satisfactory when the width is less than the first threshold value, and a step of determining that the probe is unsatisfactory when the width is equal to or greater than the first threshold value.

Abstract: A video playback system includes a video distribution server and at least one information processing device. The video distribution server includes a video distribution portion that performs streaming distribution of a video stream, an alternative video distribution portion that distributes an alternative video, and a control information distribution portion that distributes control information. The information processing device includes a receiving portion that receives the video stream, the alternative video, and the control information, a storage portion that stores the alternative video and the control information, a video stream playback portion that performs streaming playback of the video stream, an alternative video playback portion that plays back the stored alternative video, and a playback switching control portion that, based on the stored control information, controls switching between the streaming playback and the playback of the alternative video.

Abstract: A video playback system includes a video distribution server and at least one information processing device. The video distribution server includes a video distribution portion that performs streaming distribution of a video stream, an alternative video distribution portion that distributes an alternative video, and a control information distribution portion that distributes control information. The information processing device includes a receiving portion that receives the video stream, the alternative video, and the control information, a storage portion that stores the alternative video and the control information, a video stream playback portion that performs streaming playback of the video stream, an alternative video playback portion that plays back the stored alternative video, and a playback switching control portion that, based on the stored control information, controls switching between the streaming playback and the playback of the alternative video.

Abstract: A video playback system includes a video distribution server and at least one information processing device. The video distribution server includes a video distribution portion that performs streaming distribution of a video stream, an alternative video distribution portion that distributes an alternative video, and a control information distribution portion that distributes control information. The information processing device includes a receiving portion that receives the video stream, the alternative video, and the control information, a storage portion that stores the alternative video and the control information, a video stream playback portion that performs streaming playback of the video stream, an alternative video playback portion that plays back the stored alternative video, and a playback switching control portion that, based on the stored control information, controls switching between the streaming playback and the playback of the alternative video.

Abstract: In service providing apparatus and method, system identification data for specifying a service target device and the user of the device concerned are issued to the device concerned, and authentication processing is carried out on the basis of the system identification data to provide a service to the device concerned.

Abstract: In service providing apparatus and method, system identification data for specifying a service target device and the user of the device concerned are issued to the device concerned, and authentication processing is carried out on the basis of the system identification data to provide a service to the device concerned.

Abstract: A video playback system includes a video distribution server and at least one information processing device. The video distribution server includes a video distribution portion that performs streaming distribution of a video stream, an alternative video distribution portion that distributes an alternative video, and a control information distribution portion that distributes control information. The information processing device includes a receiving portion that receives the video stream, the alternative video, and the control information, a storage portion that stores the alternative video and the control information, a video stream playback portion that performs streaming playback of the video stream, an alternative video playback portion that plays back the stored alternative video, and a playback switching control portion that, based on the stored control information, controls switching between the streaming playback and the playback of the alternative video.

Abstract: A first client device is allowed to run software that a second client device owned by the same user has been allowed to run. At that time, a user ID of the user, a device ID of the second client device, and a software ID of the software, registered in association with each other, are deleted from a database server, and the software ID of the software is registered in association with the user ID of the user and the device ID of the first client device. When it has been verified that the software ID is registered in association with the user ID of the user and the device ID of the first client device, a license key is issued to the first client device.

Abstract: In service providing apparatus and method, system identification data for specifying a service target device and the user of the device concerned are issued to the device concerned, and authentication processing is carried out on the basis of the system identification data to provide a service to the device concerned.

Abstract: A refrigerator for vehicles has a cooling unit and a cool-keeping container adapted to be detachably connected to the cooling unit and contain goods to be cooled. The cooling unit includes a refrigerator evaporator connected to a refrigeration cycle of an automotive airconditioning refrigeration cycle on a vehicle and a coldness accumulating medium supported in heat exchange relationship with the evaporator. During evaporator operation, the coldness is accumulated in the coldness-accumulating medium and simultaneously transferred to the goods in the cool-keeping container. When the goods are cooled to a desired temperature, the cool-keeping container can be disconnected from the cooling unit and taken out of the vehicle with a heat insulating lid closing an opening formed in the container for the insertion and removal of the goods into and out of the container.