Abstract: An information storing apparatus for judging who requests personal information and for setting an access level for the personal information for the requester.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for producing a substrate for PDP, which can easily reduce ununiformity of a dielectric layer and defects of ribs. The apparatus is so constituted that it comprises: a table for the plate, a rib precursor supplying portion for providing a precusor of the ribs on the plate, a pliable mold having at least groove portions provided in parallel with each other at a fixed distance, which is disposed on the precursor of the ribs provided on the plate, a mold pressing portion for applying a pressure to the mold, thereby to contact the mold closely with the plate via the precursor of the ribs, and a driving portion for moving the mold pressing portion along the groove portions of the mold.

Abstract: When a group of still images are reproduced interactively, reproduction wait time to confirm the content of the images can be shortened. Image data representing the group of still images including the still images photographed from various viewpoints are formed into a hierarchy and recorded in an image file. A first layer has image data representing an index image comprising images viewed from 4 points whose resolution is ¼ of that of the original image. A second layer has hierarchical image data representing images viewed from 16 points and having a resolution which is ½ of the original image resolution. A third layer has hierarchical image data having the same resolution as the original image and viewed from 36 points. Upon reproduction, the hierarchical image data are reproduced from the first layer.

Abstract: A video image file constituted by video data and attendant data formed by an image pickup device is input to an image service providing apparatus. Image services such as image distribution, medium recording, and printing are described in the attendant data. In the image service providing apparatus, an image service type is specified by a service selecting device on the basis of the attendant data, and a service switching device is switched to output the video data to any one of a distribution device, a recording device, an image forming device, and a video editing device. Therefore, any one of distribution, recording, image formation, and image editing of the video image file can be easily executed.

Abstract: Embedded data is accurately detected from an image of a printed matter recording an image in which data has been embedded, which has been obtained by an imaging means, even if the imaging means is not of high-performance. An imaging portion of a camera equipped cellular phone images a printed matter, on which an image data in which the URL of the storage location of audio data has been embedded as a digital watermark is recorded, to obtain an image data. A distortion correcting portion corrects the image distortions caused by the imaging portion to obtain a corrected image data, and detects the URL from the corrected image data. The data representing the detected URL is sent to an image server, which retrieves, based on the URL, the audio data, and sends it to the camera equipped cellular phone. The camera equipped cellular phone reproduces the audio data.

Abstract: A method of producing a rib for a plasma display panel substrate, which comprises the steps of: (a) partially filling a groove portion of a mold with a first photo-sensitive glass-ceramic paste selected from a photosensitive black glass-ceramic paste and a photosensitive white glass-ceramic paste, and curing the paste by irradiating with radiation; (b) supplying a second photosensitive glass-ceramic paste, which is different from the first photosensitive glass-ceramic paste, selected from the photosensitive black glass-ceramic paste and the photosensitive white glass-ceramic paste, on a glass base, and laminating the mold with the glass base through the second paste to form a laminate; (c) irradiating the laminate with radiation to form a rib precursor molded article composed of two white and black layers; (d) removing the mold from the glass base and the rib precursor molded article to transfer the rib precursor molded article to the glass base; and (e) sintering the rib precursor molded article to form a ri

Abstract: Additional information of visual information printed on a printing medium can be stored in a large volume and can be provided easily. A photograph is printed on a photograph printing paper roll embedded with an IC chip having unique ID. A Web server stores additional information of the photograph in relation to the unique ID, and the URL address of the Web server is written in a ROM of the IC chip. The URL address sent from a transmission unit of the IC chip is received by a terminal, and the terminal accesses the server based on the URL address to obtain the additional information.

Abstract: Printing processing is carried out efficiently when a print order regarding image data is placed through a network. Order information C and thumbnail image data sets TS of image data sets S to be printed are sent from a user terminal 11 to an order reception server 21 in a DPE store 2. A controller 23 judges whether or not a communication line of a network 3 and/or a digital mini-laboratory 22 are heavily loaded, and sends a reception permit Q to the user terminal 11 if a result of the judgment is negative. The user terminal 11 receives the reception permit Q and accesses the order reception server 21 to send the image data sets S thereto. The digital mini-laboratory 22 carries out printing processing on the image data sets S to generate prints P.

Abstract: To deeply encrypt and embed auxiliary information into image data, table generation means generates a table, based on a quantization error which occurs when image data S0 is converted from a first color space, to which the image data S0 belongs, to a second color space that is a destination of conversion. The table represents which color coordinate of a second color space a color coordinate of a first color space is mapped onto. In coding means, information H0 to be embedded is coded by referring to the table, whereby coded auxiliary information H1 is obtained. When the image data S0 is converted in color conversion means, the auxiliary information H1 is embedded into the quantization error, whereby image data S1 embedded with the auxiliary information H1 is obtained.

Abstract: When a group of still images are reproduced interactively, reproduction wait time to confirm the content of the images can be shortened. Image data representing the group of still images including the still images photographed from various viewpoints are formed into a hierarchy and recorded in an image file. A first layer has image data representing an index image comprising images viewed from 4 points whose resolution is ¼ of that of the original image. A second layer has hierarchical image data representing images viewed from 16 points and having a resolution which is ½ of the original image resolution. A third layer has hierarchical image data having the same resolution as the original image and viewed from 36 points. Upon reproduction, the hierarchical image data are reproduced from the first layer.

Abstract: A large amount of appreciation data such as image data exceeding capacity of a recording medium is easily managed. Image data are recorded in a recording medium by a digital camera. When a user requests storage of the image data from a DPE store, the image data are read from the recording medium and stored in a storage system. The image data are deleted from the recording medium and thumbnail image data are generated. The thumbnail image data are recorded in the recording medium and provided to the user. In this manner, free space in the recording medium can be saved. By referring to the thumbnail image data, the image data that have been stored at the DPE store can be easily confirmed, which leads to easy management of the image data.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for producing a substrate for PDP, which can easily reduce ununiformity of a dielectric layer and defects of ribs. The apparatus is so constituted that it comprises: a table for the plate, a rib precursor supplying portion for providing a precusor of the ribs on the plate, a pliable mold having at least groove portions provided in parallel with each other at a fixed distance, which is disposed on the precursor of the ribs provided on the plate, a mold pressing portion for applying a pressure to the mold, thereby to contact the mold closely with the plate via the precursor of the ribs, and a driving portion for moving the mold pressing portion along the groove portions of the mold.

Abstract: Images having been subjected to image processing optimal for each user or each output device are obtained. Correction function calculation means calculates correction functions for correcting image data sets for each user ID or for each device ID, and correction function storing means stores the calculated correction functions. When the image processing is carried out on the image data sets, the correction functions corresponding to the user ID or the device ID added to the image data sets are searched for and correction parameter calculation means calculates correction parameters based on the correction functions. The image processing is then carried out on the image data sets according to the correction parameters to generate corrected image data sets.

Abstract: An information intermediary apparatus for communicating through a communication network with an information management apparatus having user information stored therein, the information intermediary apparatus, which includes: a first communication section for establishing communication through the communication network with the information management apparatus; a second communication section for communicating with a portable communication apparatus having identification information for identifying a user; an identification information-obtaining section, connected with said second communication section, for obtaining said identification information from said portable communication apparatus through said second communication section; a user information input unit, connected with said first communication section, for inputting user information for the user of the portable communication apparatus; and a data-identifying section, connected with said identification information-obtaining section and said user informa

Abstract: Recommended composition data, which represent composition images recommended at locations of photography, are stored in a recommended-composition storage medium in correlation with positional information which represents the photography locations. A GPS section receives radio waves from GPS satellites and inputs GPS information to a read-out section. Based on the positional information in the GPS information, the read-out section retrieves the recommended composition data stored in the recommended-composition storage medium. If recommended composition data is desired, it is read out and input to a superposition section. The image data obtained by an imaging section is also input to the superposition section. The desired, recommended composition data and the image data are superposed and displayed on a display unit. The image data is displayed on the display unit in real time so that photographing can be performed with the image data coincident with the desired, recommended composition data.

Abstract: A workload on a user for selecting and arranging images used for album generation is reduced. Images necessary for generating an album are photographed and image data sets representing the images and accompanying information thereof are recorded in a recording medium. Data reading means reads the image data sets and the accompanying information. A template to be used for album generation is also read from template storing means. The images can be inserted in image insertion areas of the template in photographing order. With reference to the accompanying information, the images are inserted in the image insertion areas in photographing order and composite image data are generated. A printer prints the composite image data as the album.

Abstract: A read-out image is acquired by covering an image storage sheet, which contains a color image, with an image storage sheet pushing surface of a platen cover and reading out an image of a region on the image storage sheet pushing surface of the platen cover, the region on the image storage sheet pushing surface containing the image storage sheet. A region corresponding to the image storage sheet in the read-out image is then recognized. The image storage sheet pushing surface of the platen cover has a color other than colors which are ordinarily contained in image storage sheets. The region corresponding to the image storage sheet is recognized by judging that a pixel in the read-out image, which pixel represents a color different from the color of the image storage sheet pushing surface of the platen cover, is a pixel falling within the region corresponding to the image storage sheet.

Abstract: A copied print giving the same impression as the original is generated. ID information is embedded in original picture data and stored in storage means while an original picture is printed and provided to a user. The user generates an original image by using the original picture and requests printing of the original image from a laboratory. In the laboratory, reading means reads the original image and reads the ID information from the original picture included in the original image. The original picture data corresponding to the ID information are read from the storage means to be used for generating composite image data. At this time, matching is carried out between initial image data representing the original image and the original picture data, and the original picture is positioned to be pasted on the composite image data. The composite image data are printed by a printer.

Abstract: In a printing method for embedding a pattern signal, which represents a predetermined pattern, into color print signals, and printing an image, in which the predetermined pattern has been embedded, the color print signals are modulated such that signal components of the color print signals corresponding to a pattern area, into which the pattern is embedded, approximately undergo conditional color matching with signal components of the color print signals corresponding to the other area. Modulated print signals are obtained from the modulation, and the printing is performed in accordance with the modulated print signals. Various kinds of information, such as information for prevention of illegal duplication and merchandise control information, can thus be embedded with a simple technique into a print.

Abstract: Layout data are classified into character data, line image data, and gradation image data by an interpreter, and the line image data and the gradation image data are converted into data depending on printing conditions and output conditions of an output apparatus by a color conversion processor. The gradation image data are converted into data to which an image structure produced upon printing is imparted, by a halftone dot simulation processor. These data are converted into image data for scanning recording by a raster image processor, and outputted as a color proof image from the output apparatus.