Abstract: Address information of a mail to be transmitted by a mail communication function is extracted from the mail to be transmitted; a transmission time of the mail to be transmitted is extracted from a portable information terminal; and judgment is made as to whether the address information matches predetermined address information and whether the transmission time belongs to a predetermined time zone. When the address information matches the predetermined address information, and the address information belongs to the predetermined time zone, an activation time at which a household appliance is to be activated is determined on the basis of the transmission time, and a control command for activating the household appliance at the activation time is transmitted to a network.

Abstract: Address information of a mail to be transmitted by a mail communication function is extracted from the mail to be transmitted; a transmission time of the mail to be transmitted is extracted from a portable information terminal; and judgment is made as to whether the address information matches predetermined address information and whether the transmission time belongs to a predetermined time zone. When the address information matches the predetermined address information, and the address information belongs to the predetermined time zone, an activation time at which a household appliance is to be activated is determined on the basis of the transmission time, and a control command for activating the household appliance at the activation time is transmitted to a network.

Abstract: Address information of a mail to be transmitted by a mail communication function is extracted from the mail to be transmitted; a transmission time of the mail to be transmitted is extracted from a portable information terminal; and judgment is made as to whether the address information matches predetermined address information and whether the transmission time belongs to a predetermined time zone. When the address information matches the predetermined address information, and the address information belongs to the predetermined time zone, an activation time at which a household appliance is to be activated is determined on the basis of the transmission time, and a control command for activating the household appliance at the activation time is transmitted to a network.

Abstract: Upon receiving a new CRL, a device with a large storage capacity in an authentication system detects another device connected to a controller to which this device is connecting, and determines whether or not to transmit the new CRL depending on the magnitude of the storage capacity of the device that has been detected.

Abstract: Address information of a mail to be transmitted by a mail communication function is extracted from the mail to be transmitted; a transmission time of the mail to be transmitted is extracted from a portable information terminal; and judgment is made as to whether the address information matches predetermined address information and whether the transmission time belongs to a predetermined time zone. When the address information matches the predetermined address information, and the address information belongs to the predetermined time zone, an activation time at which a household appliance is to be activated is determined on the basis of the transmission time, and a control command for activating the household appliance at the activation time is transmitted to a network.

Abstract: Address information of a mail to be transmitted by a mail communication function is extracted from the mail to be transmitted; a transmission time of the mail to be transmitted is extracted from a portable information terminal; and judgment is made as to whether the address information matches predetermined address information and whether the transmission time belongs to a predetermined time zone. When the address information matches the predetermined address information, and the address information belongs to the predetermined time zone, an activation time at which a household appliance is to be activated is determined on the basis of the transmission time, and a control command for activating the household appliance at the activation time is transmitted to a network.

Abstract: A server holds correspondence information in which a device identifier of a device for which an authentication process is successful and area network information concerning an area network including a controller are associated with each other. In the case where the authentication process is successful, the device holds area network information concerning an area network including a controller for which authentication is successful. In response to a connection request from a new device, the server checks whether an identifier of the new device is registered in the correspondence information. If the identifier is registered, the server determines whether the area network information associated with the identifier matches the area network information held by the new device. If the pieces of information do not match, the server detects the new device as an unauthorized device.

Abstract: A method of managing map information including: attaching a retrieval identifier, according to input information, to map information which is obtained by retrieval based on the input information, the retrieval identifier indicating whether the map information is personal data or public data; storing the map information as the personal data into a storage device, the map information being indicated to be the personal data by the retrieval identifier attached in the attaching, and storing the map information as the public data into the storage device, the map information being indicated to be the public data by the retrieval identifier; and executing a navigation process using at least one of the personal data and the public data which are stored in the storage device.

Abstract: Address information of a mail to be transmitted by a mail communication function is extracted from the mail to be transmitted; a transmission time of the mail to be transmitted is extracted from a portable information terminal; and judgment is made as to whether the address information matches predetermined address information and whether the transmission time belongs to a predetermined time zone. When the address information matches the predetermined address information, and the address information belongs to the predetermined time zone, an activation time at which a household appliance is to be activated is determined on the basis of the transmission time, and a control command for activating the household appliance at the activation time is transmitted to a network.

Abstract: Upon receiving a new CRL, a device with a large storage capacity in an authentication system detects another device connected to a controller to which this device is connecting, and determines whether or not to transmit the new CRL depending on the magnitude of the storage capacity of the device that has been detected.

Abstract: A server holds correspondence information in which a device identifier of a device for which an authentication process is successful and area network information concerning an area network including a controller are associated with each other. In the case where the authentication process is successful, the device holds area network information concerning an area network including a controller for which authentication is successful. In response to a connection request from a new device, the server checks whether an identifier of the new device is registered in the correspondence information. If the identifier is registered, the server determines whether the area network information associated with the identifier matches the area network information held by the new device. If the pieces of information do not match, the server detects the new device as an unauthorized device.

Abstract: A method of managing map information including: attaching a retrieval identifier, according to input information, to map information which is obtained by retrieval based on the input information, the retrieval identifier indicating whether the map information is personal data or public data; storing the map information as the personal data into a storage device, the map information being indicated to be the personal data by the retrieval identifier attached in the attaching, and storing the map information as the public data into the storage device, the map information being indicated to be the public data by the retrieval identifier; and executing a navigation process using at least one of the personal data and the public data which are stored in the storage device.