Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a specifier that specifies a version of firmware to be applied to any of multiple components included in an electronic device, an acquirer that acquires component information corresponding to a parts configuration included in a target component to which the firmware is to be applied, a determiner that determines whether or not the specified version of the firmware is usable with the parts configuration corresponding to the acquired component information, and an executer that executes a prohibition process of prohibiting application of the specified version of the firmware in a case in which the determiner determines that the specified version of the firmware is unusable.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a specifier that specifies a version of firmware to be applied to any of multiple components included in an electronic device, an acquirer that acquires component information corresponding to a parts configuration included in a target component to which the firmware is to be applied, a determiner that determines whether or not the specified version of the firmware is usable with the parts configuration corresponding to the acquired component information, and an executer that executes a prohibition process of prohibiting application of the specified version of the firmware in a case in which the determiner determines that the specified version of the firmware is unusable.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to determine a preference of a user based on a content of a broadcast selected by the user and a content of a recording medium, so that the content of the broadcast can be selectively recorded and provided.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a receiving unit, a paper information storing unit, an initializing unit, a paper information comparing unit, a temporary stopping unit, and a printing unit. The receiving unit receives print jobs. The paper information storing unit stores paper information preset in the printed page. The initializing unit initializes the paper information stored in the paper information storing unit during a certain period. The paper information comparing unit compares the paper information of the page to be printed in the print job with the stored paper information. The temporary stopping unit temporarily stops printing according to the result of the comparison. The printing unit prints the print data of the page to be printed in the case that the paper information of the page to be printed is the same as the stored paper information or the stored paper information has been initialized.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a receiving unit, a paper information storing unit, an initializing unit, a paper information comparing unit, a temporary stopping unit, and a printing unit. The receiving unit receives print jobs. The paper information storing unit stores paper information preset in the printed page. The initializing unit initializes the paper information stored in the paper information storing unit during a certain period. The paper information comparing unit compares the paper information of the page to be printed in the print job with the stored paper information. The temporary stopping unit temporarily stops printing according to the result of the comparison. The printing unit prints the print data of the page to be printed in the case that the paper information of the page to be printed is the same as the stored paper information or the stored paper information has been initialized.

Abstract: The present invention is particularly applied to a vehicle relating to a key-less entry system, and desired information is provided to a vehicle 5 corresponding to the information by monitoring a remote control signal from an electronic key 2 for the key-less entry system, and starting up operations in response to this remote control signal as a trigger.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to vehicle communication equipment capable of transferring information using light without adding new light emitting means, and further, between a stationary apparatus and a vehicle or between vehicles. A light emitted from a signal lamp (11) of a stationarily installed traffic signal (10) or a head lamp (35) or a tail lamp (36) of a vehicle (20) is superimposed with a signal by a modulator (13), the modulated light is received by a light receiving unit (21) of the vehicle (20) side, and the received modulated light is demodulated by a decoder (22) to be displayed on a display panel (24).

Abstract: A data file processing apparatus and a remote control apparatus and a control method for a data file processing apparatus are disclosed wherein a user can simply and easily find out a data file or the like recorded by the user itself from among a large number of data files recorded on a recording medium. In the data file processing apparatus, a user who operates a remote control apparatus is identified and an identification code is set based on a result of the identification, and a file is recorded together with the identification code.

Abstract: The present invention relates to optical communication equipment and a vehicle control method, and in particular, the present invention is applied to a system utilizing inter-vehicle communication equipment via optical communication to notify information of traffic regulation utilizing optical communication according to an inter-vehicle communication system so that traveling of a vehicle can be controlled easily and reliably even in such a complicated place where a plurality of roads intersect as in urban cities or the like.

Abstract: In an information transmitter (2) which is a portable personal information device, a system control circuit (26) analyzes information on vibration obtained from an acceleration sensor (22), information on temperature obtained from a temperature sensor (21), or external information such as user's personal information obtained from a communication section (24) and selects a light-emission pattern of LEDs (11 and 12), a vibration pattern of vibrators (30 and 31), and a sound generated by a sound-reproducing section (25).

Abstract: A side mirror apparatus for an automobile to obtain a field of view to the rear when the side mirror apparatus is drawn out to a drawn out position and to be stored when not in use, specifically capable to confirm the field of view to the rear when the side mirror apparatus is stored.

Abstract: A portable electronic information device with superb portability and/or amusement value is provided. This device A is a portable electronic information device A having an external housing 1 that can be equipped in a car, and the device A is provided with expression means 7, 8 and 9 for performing actions that can be sensed by the user of the vehicle, in accordance with vehicle status information of the vehicle or output signals from sensors 4 or 5 equipped inside external housing 1, and thus delivers superb amusement value. This device also functions as a vehicle key, providing high portability, and enabling information to be shared with a home computer, thus providing a high level of convenience.

Abstract: In the present invention, any change of devices in possession by a user who gets on or gets off, for example, a vehicle is detected by comparing the devices detected by wireless communication at the time of getting on or getting off, thereby enabling the easy and sure prevention of any personal belongings of the passenger from being lost or left without constantly monitoring them. The property management apparatus sums up in time series the detection results by the plurality of property detection apparatuses for notifying the user the place of where the user loses the property.

Abstract: A video camera capable of recording and/or reproducing multiple channel audio signals and video signals simultaneously in a single recording medium in such a manner as to reproduce omnidirectional ambient sounds as surround sound. The video camera includes a number of microphones and records first multiple audio signals obtained by processing the audio signals outputted from the microphones to generate the multiple channel audio signals and also records a second audio signal obtained by processing all of the audio signals outputted from the microphones in the recording medium simultaneously with the video signals, so that the first multiple audio signals and the second audio signal can be reproduced independently of each other.

Abstract: A steering device, a method for authenticating a driver, and a vehicle are disclosed. The steering device is equipped with an identification information acquisition unit. When a driver takes a position for operating the steering device, namely, a home position to the steering device, the identification information acquisition unit acquires a venous pattern of the driver as identification information. The steering device then outputs the identification information.

Abstract: The present invention is particularly applied to a vehicle relating to a key-less entry system, and desired information is provided to a vehicle 5 corresponding to the information by monitoring a remote control signal from an electronic key 2 for the key-less entry system, and starting up operations in response to this remote control signal as a trigger.

Abstract: A menu display apparatus includes a first display screen on which a plurality of first icons, each representing a selectable item, are sequentially disposed on a main circular arc; and a second display screen on which, of the plurality of first icons, the first icon selected by a user is moved and displayed and a plurality of second icons, each representing a selectable item belonging to the selected first icon, are displayed on the main circular arc. The first display screen and the second display screen are selectively displayed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to vehicle communication equipment capable of transferring information using light without adding new light emitting means, and further, between a stationary apparatus and a vehicle or between vehicles. A light emitted from a signal lamp (11) of a stationarily installed traffic signal (10) or a head lamp (35) or a tail lamp (36) of a vehicle (20) is superimposed with a signal by a modulator (13), the modulated light is received by a light receiving unit (21) of the vehicle (20) side, and the received modulated light is demodulated by a decoder (22) to be displayed on a display panel (24).

Abstract: An in-vehicle device, a vehicle, and a vehicle information processing method, which are used, for example, to assist in driving an automobile and can properly communicate a vehicle situation to a driver. Methods and mechanisms express user's handling of the vehicle by virtual feelings on the assumption that the vehicle has a personality, and displays the virtual feelings by facial expressions of a predetermined character.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program executed in the information processing apparatus. The invention is applied to the calculation of a premium and includes judging of driving of a driver on the basis of a detection result of an emotional state of the driver to enable a more objective judgment of the driving and the acquirement of a suitable judgment result. Another aspect relates to supplying the driver with various pieces of information obtained by a navigation system or the like. The driver is supplied with a prescribed piece of information while changing a transmission method according to an emotional state of the driver for enabling a suitable transmission of the various pieces of information to the driver.