Abstract: To provide a layout system suitable to implement layout with a high individuality. Layout result data of automatic layout processing is acquired as comparison destination layout result data. Business-type information, identical to business-type information corresponding to an input user ID, is retrieved from a user information registration database to read out a user ID corresponding to the associated business-type information. Comparison source layout result data, corresponding to the read-out user ID, is read out from layout result data registration database. Next, similarity between the comparison destination layout result data and the comparison source layout result data is calculated, and the comparison destination layout result data is corrected so that the degree of correction of the comparison destination layout result data increases as the calculated similarity increases.

Abstract: The invention provides a digital content delivery system that prevents information, that is much needed by a user, among public relations information from remaining unnoticed and allows the user to easily gain access to up-to-date public relations information. A content delivery terminal, including a user information registration DB that stores user information, compares the user's age and family structure among the user information in the user information registration DB with those of an intended person of each record in a government office public information registration table. The content delivery terminal also compares the user's age and family structure with those of an intended person of each record in a grade school public information registration table.

Abstract: A network data processing system is provided suitable for achieving reduction of network traffic volume and shortening of the time elapsed before first print out. A client unit generates printing data formed by segmenting data with respect to each component that constitutes printing contents, transmits a printing request including header information to a printer, searches for partial data from inside a storage part in response to an acquisition request, and transmits the retrieved partial data to the printer. When the printing request is received, the printer analyzes the received printing request, determines whether or not the partial data required for forming the printing data is stored in a storage part, acquires insufficient partial data from the client unit having a small hop count, stores the acquired partial data in the storage part, and forms the printing data based on the partial data of the storage part.

Abstract: To provide a layout system that is aesthetically neat even with a margin set in a text information container frame a content delivery terminal segments a text information container frame overlapping another information container frame so that none of the information container frames overlap each other, adjusts the size of a margin and a placement location of one of a plurality of text information container frames so that the spacing between two segmented information container frames having consecutive lines in proximity areas thereof is equal or substantially equal to a line height in each of the text information container frames, and places a selected article into the segmented information container frames.

Abstract: To provide a layout system that prevents a layout intended by a designer from being destroyed, a content delivery terminal segments a selected information container frame into information container frames that do not overlap with another information container frame, registers the segmented information container frames into a modification candidate list, selects one of the segmented information container frames from the modification candidate list, and modifies the selected information container frame to the selected modification candidate container frame. Regardless of the content of an article, the amount of information of the article, and the logical structure of the article, the information container frame is modified in size with the rectangular shape thereof maintained.

Abstract: In an image editing device of the present invention, a noticing area in an image is calculated by a noticing area calculating section. Also, a trimming method is designated by a trimming rule designating section. Also, a trimming scope (shape) is designated by a trimming shape designating section, or a template is selected by a template selecting section according to the designated trimming method. Also, a distribution ratio of the noticing area in the trimming scope or the template is calculated by a noticing area error calculating section. Also, the image, the trimming scope, and the template are enlarged, contracted, and rotated by an image processing section so as to adjust the distribution ratio of the noticing area in the trimming scope or the template. By doing this, it is possible to provide an image editing device which can trim the noticing area in the image automatically and easily.

Abstract: A picture layout processing apparatus including an attractive region calculation device which calculates an attractive region in a second picture which is overlapped and is behind a first picture, and a layout processing device which conducts layout processing so that the attractive region in the second picture is not hidden by the first picture.

Abstract: A layout system is provided which suitably reflects a designer s intention on a layout and achieves high flexibility for a layout.

Abstract: The invention provides a layout system suitable for producing an optimum layout when the attributes of the published information are not clearly determined in advance. The layout system can include a content distribution terminal that selects an article from the content registration DB and a page template from the template registration DB according to the number of characters of the selected article and produces a layout of the article according to the selected page template. Specifically, the total number of characters of an unpublished article is calculated, and the average number of characters in each of unprocessed pages is calculated on the basis of the total number of characters, the maximum number of pages and the current number of pages. Then, a page template with the number of publishable characters suitable for the calculated average number of characters is selected from the template registration DB.

Abstract: To provide a billing system for use in a content distribution service, in which a digital content requested by a user is provided to the user in accordance with a payment condition specified by the user without causing an unexpectedly high fee to be charged to the user. [Solving Means] In retrieval of digital contents, digital contents are selected such that the total fee for the digital contents to be selected does not become greater than the sum of the maximum value indicated by a user profile table 300 and the total discount value associated with selected advertisement information. In retrieval of advertisement information, advertisement information is selected such that the total fee for the selected digital contents does not become greater than the sum of the maximum value indicated by the user profile table 300 and the total discount value associated with the additional information to be selected.

Abstract: To provide an information providing system which is appropriate for delivering, to a user at a destination of a travel of the user, information much needed by the user, of information relating to the area of the destination. A content delivery terminal 300 includes a user information registration DB 40 which registers user information, and a content registration DB 42 which registers digital contents. Upon receiving a content delivery request, the content delivery terminal 300 receives position information of a mobile terminal 100 from a relay station 210, searches for a digital content in the content registration DB 42 based on the received position information and the user information in the user profile table 500, and prints out the retrieved digital content on an output terminal PR.

Abstract: A digital content distribution system that is suitable for providing digital content readable and outputting the digital content in a layout viewable for the user is provided.

Abstract: To provide a digital content delivery system that prevents information, much needed by a user, out of public relations information from going unnoticed and allows the user to easily gain up-to-date public relations information.