Abstract: With an object of disclosing various techniques for both usage and protection of content, the present invention has an object of providing a playback control apparatus, a position judgment apparatus, and a playback control system that permit playback of content only in one area. In other to achieve the object, with the present invention, when a user passes through an automated ticket barrier to enter a station, the automated ticket barrier transmits, to a memory card via the mobile telephone, a playback key for playing content. When the user passes through an automated ticket barrier to leave a station, the automated ticket barrier instructs the memory card, via the mobile telephone, to delete the playback key, and the memory card deletes the playback key.

Abstract: A mobile information terminal includes a case that is formed in tabular form and in the size of a palm, a display device that is stored such that the screen is exposed to the outside, an electronic circuit that is stored in the case and controls the display device, a protective frame that is arranged on the edge portion of the case and surrounds the edge portion, and a hooking portion that sticks out outward of the case from the protective frame, and is formed for fingers to be inserted.

Abstract: The present invention provides a value information management system capable of printing electronic data (e.g. electronic receipt) representing value information while restricting the electronic receipt to one of printed form and unprinted form so as to prevent fraudulent billing. A secure memory card 13 securely stores therein a payment-related electronic receipt, a printer 14 prints the electronic receipt, and deletes the electronic receipt from the secure memory card 13 after completion of the printing, and transmits a receipt ID identifying the electronic receipt to a receipt management server 17, so that the receipt management server 17 can manage the electronic receipt identified by the receipt ID as being printed out.

Abstract: An information presentation system simplifies entry of information relating to a package media of a user, and management of the information. The information presentation system is made up of a playback apparatus, a library information management apparatus, and a terminal apparatus. The playback apparatus reads an identifier identifying a content from a portable recording medium in which the content is recorded, and transmits the read identifier to the library information management apparatus via a network. The library information management apparatus receives the identifier, acquires attribute information showing attributes of the content identified by the identifier, generates library information including the attribute information and the identifier, and stores the library information. Further, upon request by the terminal apparatus, the library information management apparatus generates presentation information based on the library information, and transmits the presentation information.

Abstract: A program recording/playback apparatus for easily recording/playing back a program that matches a common preference between multiple viewers is provided. A recording/playback apparatus 100 obtains program recommendation information from a server apparatus 300, and retrieves program recommendation information from within. Based on these two pieces of program recommendation information, the recording/playback apparatus 100 generates and combines two search formulas, to generate one search formula. The recording/playback apparatus 100 then identifies one or more programs that satisfy the conditions shown by the one search formula, within EPG data extracted from received broadcast waves, thereby generating program presetting information. The recording/playback apparatus 100 generates a recorded program table based on the generated program presetting information, and displays the recorded program table.

Abstract: A useful ticket management system is provided, which can perform adjustment using a ticket to which non-updatable value information is assigned together with an electronic value, according to a payment form. The ticket management system includes an IC tag attached to a money ticket, a money ticket management server, and a mobile terminal. The IC tag holds a money ticket ID for identifying the money ticket, and reads the money ticket ID. The money ticket management server includes a storage unit, receives the money ticket ID from the mobile terminal, and writes a valid money ticket ID to the storage unit. The mobile terminal includes a storage unit, acquires the money ticket ID held in the IC tag, transmits the acquired money ticket ID to the money ticket management server, and writes amount information of the money ticket identified by the valid money ticket ID to the storage unit.

Abstract: To provide a content usage management device capable of correctly determining limitation-on-usage information about contents, such as an expiration date. A memory card 2 has a storage section 22 for storing coupon data 221 and expiration date data 222 as information about contents, and a processing section 21 for performing processing pertaining to the contents. When information about the time of the portable terminal 1 has been changed, card control means 212 of the processing section 21 detects a change-of-time event; acquires the current time of the portable terminal 1 achieved before and after the change of time, by way of data communications means 211; and updates the expiration date data 222 stored in the memory card 2 in accordance with the time information. When the expiration date of the coupon is determined, the expiration date data 222 stored in the memory card 2 are compared with the current time of the portable terminal 1, to thus determine whether or not the coupon is valid.

Abstract: A content-related information delivery system for delivering information related to a content to a user-owned apparatus. The system is composed of a playback apparatus and a server. The playback apparatus monitors a current playback position of the content during playback, generates playback position information specifying a segment of the content, and transmits the generated playback position information to the server. The server receives the playback position information from the playback apparatus, acquires information related to the segment of the content specified by the received playback position information, and transmits the acquired related information to the user-owned apparatus.

Abstract: A mounting device includes a case that has an insertion inlet for a mobile information terminal, a connector that establishes electrical connection to the mobile information terminal inserted in the insertion inlet, and an ejection mechanism that ejects the mobile information terminal after completion of processing through the connector. After the completion of the processing, by an action of the ejection mechanism, the mobile information terminal is popped up from the mounting device, and a user is understandably notified of the completion of the processing.

Abstract: A content reproduction system that allow the user to rent or purchase any desired contents for reproduction without depending on a predetermined type of information of the user. The content reproduction system includes: a recording medium storing a license ticket including an encrypted master key; and a reproduction apparatus that receives from the user a request for a selected content and the information of the selected content, acquires distribution content information corresponding to the selected content, stores it in association with the license ticket into the recording medium. When reproducing the content, the reproduction apparatus generates a content using an encrypted content decryption key and an encrypted content that are contained in the distribution content information, and using a master decryption key information corresponding to the distribution content information, and reproduces the generated content.

Abstract: A communication device to be mounted on one automotive vehicle, comprising: a camera (11) for inputting images, a microphone (12) for inputting voices, a travel control section (17) for processing travel information, a communication section (16) for transmitting the images inputted by the camera (11), the voices inputted by the microphone (12), and travel information processed by the travel control section (17) to other automotive vehicles, and receiving information from said other automotive vehicles, and a liquid crystal display (13) and a loudspeaker (14) for outputting the information received by the communication section (16). The communication device outputs images/voices received from said other automotive vehicles to the liquid crystal display (13), and controls travel of said one automotive vehicle based on travel information received from travel control sections (17) on said other automotive vehicles.

Abstract: There is provided an information processing device for realizing interactive viewing in which a plurality of users thereof share an image, and an operation performed on the image by any user among the plurality of users is shown in real time on the image viewed by another user. A plurality of information processing devices (2) and (3) belonging to a same group respectively transmit, to a server (4), image information respectively stored in the devices (2) and (3). The server (4) collects and manages images transmitted from the plurality of information processing devices (2) and (3), and concurrently transmits, to the plurality of information processing devices (2) and (3), a shared image in accordance with an image operation requested from any of the information processing devices (2) and (3). The information processing devices (2) and (3) receive the shared image transmitted from the server (4), and display the shared image on the display sections (26) and (36), respectively.

Abstract: A reservation changing system provides diverse services. A memory card 200 obtains, via a mobile telephone 400, a distance from a present location to a boarding station for a train for which a reservation has been made, and judges whether to perform a train reservation change search depending on the relationship between the obtained distance and a time remaining until a departure time of the train. When it is judged that a reservation change search is to be performed, the memory card 200 obtains an expected arrival time at the station from a timetable server apparatus 500, compares the obtained expected arrival time with the departure time, and when a time margin between the two times is insufficient, the memory card 200 instructs a reservation center apparatus 300, via the mobile telephone 400, to change the reservation, and receives and stores reservation information.

Abstract: To provide a contents linkage information delivery system for use by a content provider to deliver contents in a manner that a user is allowed to acquire, according to a user request, a content that relates to another content. The present invention is directed to a contents linkage information delivery system for delivering a related content that is associated with another content. The contents linkage information delivery system is composed of a first playback apparatus for playing back the other content, a server for transmitting the related content, and a second playback apparatus for playing back the related content. The first playback apparatus, the server, and the second playback apparatus mutually communicate via a communications channel.

Abstract: An image information-inputting unit inputs image information including position information indicating a position where an image was shot. A reference distance-calculating unit calculates a reference distance from a predetermined reference position utilizing the image information. An image information-classifying unit classifies the image information based on the reference distance.

Abstract: A content playback apparatus prevents related content recorded on separate media that make up a virtual package from being played separately, thereby restricting playback of the content to only when the virtual package is assembled as intended by the creator, and protecting copyright of the content. A key obtaining unit obtains a second key, with use of key management information recorded on a recording medium on which related content relating to the encrypted content is also recorded. An information obtaining unit obtains the encrypted content and key generation information that relates to generation of the first key, from a source other than the recording medium. A key generation unit generates the first key with use of the second key and the obtained key generation information. A decryption unit decrypts the encrypted content with use of the first key.

Abstract: An information distribution system is composed of: an information distribution device that transmits advertisement information issued by an information provider; a communication terminal that receives the advertisement information and sends the received advertisement information to a memory card; the memory card that is portable and mountable on the communication terminal. The memory card is provided to the user at a cost borne by the information provider at least partly, and includes a storage unit having an area for storing advertisement information, a judging unit for judging whether the received advertisement in formation is issued by the information provider, and a writing unit for writing the received advertisement information if judged to be issued by the information provider. The information distribution system enables a memory card provider to provide a memory card to a user at no or lower cost than would otherwise be fully payable by the user.

Abstract: A mounting device comprises a case that has an insertion inlet for a mobile information terminal, a connector that establishes electrical connection to the mobile information terminal inserted in the insertion inlet, and an ejection mechanism that ejects the mobile information terminal after completion of processing through the connector. After the completion of the processing, by an action of the ejection mechanism, the mobile information terminal is popped up from the mounting device, and a user notifies the completion of the processing understandably.

Abstract: The mobile information terminal comprises; the case that is formed in tabular and in size of the palm; the display device that is stored such that the screen exposes to outside; the electronic circuit that is stored in the case and controls the display device; the protective frame that is arranged on the edge portion of the case and surrounds the edge portion; and the hooking portion that sticks out toward outside of the case from the protective frame, and is formed for fingers to be inserted.