Abstract: To start-up a computer system promptly at the time of power-on. The system includes an expansion card having an initialization command set in advance and a main body unit on which the expansion card is mounted. The main body unit includes a central processing section for executing initialization of the expansion card at the time of power-on based on the initialization command, a history holding section for storing the initialized expansion card, and a dictionary section for storing a common command which is the initialization command common to different expansion cards. The central processing section executes the common command, and also executes the initialization command set in the expansion card other than the expansion card stored in the history holding section and not included in the common command.

Abstract: Disclosed is an information processing apparatus that has an update procedure semaphore, and a generation management information as management information of a shared data area that requires exclusion control. The generation management information specifies one item of generation information of the shared data area. As generation information provided for every generation, the apparatus has a reference-count measuring counter, a semaphore for updating generation information, a pointer for pointing to old generation information, and a pointer for pointing to the substance of the shared data area. In a case where the latest shared data is updated, a duplicate of the latest shared data area is created, new generation information corresponding to the duplicated shared data area is generated, data in the duplicated shared data area is updated and generation information, which corresponds to the shared data area after the updating thereof, is registered as the latest generation information.

Abstract: To start-up a computer system promptly at the time of power-on. The system includes an expansion card having an initialization command set in advance and a main body unit on which the expansion card is mounted. The main body unit includes a central processing section for executing initialization of the expansion card at the time of power-on based on the initialization command, a history holding section for storing the initialized expansion card, and a dictionary section for storing a common command which is the initialization command common to different expansion cards. The central processing section executes the common command, and also executes the initialization command set in the expansion card other than the expansion card stored in the history holding section and not included in the common command.

Abstract: Disclosed is an information processing apparatus that has an update procedure semaphore, which is necessary for exclusion control, and generation management information, which is for managing new and old generations of a shared data area, as management information of a shared data area that requires exclusion control. The generation management information specifies one item of generation information of the shared data area. As generation information provided for every generation, the apparatus has a reference-count measuring counter for measuring reference count, a semaphore for updating generation information, a pointer for pointing to old generation information, and a pointer for pointing to the substance of the shared data area.

Abstract: In an electronic transaction carried out in a virtual commerce space closed on an internet, when persons concerned with the transaction belong to different counties, it has hitherto been practiced that the persons concerned with the transaction manually proceed with business processes inherent in trading such as acquisition of export application and customs procedures on paper base in addition to an electronic payment process carried out on the virtual space region. To eliminate the manual business processing, an electronic commerce system connected to the virtual commerce space constructed on the internet and having a trading function, includes server units in which tax, carriage and insurance premium incurred, when a trading transaction is carried out, are automatically calculated, added, as reference information, to estimation information and then registered.

Abstract: Data processing methods and apparatus, wherein an object to be appraised is inputted; the inputted object to be appraised is divided into at least one structural elements which are stored in storage unit; information is inputted which indicates an appraisal for the inputted object to be appraised; a combination of elements constituting the object to be appraised is corresponded to the inputted appraisal, and the correspondence is classified into at least one criterions which are stored in the storage means; an arbitrary criterion is selected from among stored criterions; a combination of structural elements is obtained on the basis of the selected criterion; appraisal information is inputted for the obtained combination of structural elements; the correspondence of the obtained combination of structural elements to the appraisal is compared with the selected criterion to identify a criterion.

Abstract: An object to be appraised is input and divided into structural elements which are stored in a storage unit. Information is input which indicates an appraisal for the object to be appraised and a combination of elements constituting the object to be appraised is corresponded to the appraisal. The correspondence is classified into criteria which are stored and an arbitrary criterion is selected. A combination of structural elements is obtained on the basis of the selected criterion and appraisal information is inputted for the obtained combination of structural elements.

Abstract: A fabric system connects a plurality of fabric groups into a plurality of stages between terminal nodes and performs exchange of variable length frame. The fabric has an assignment signal transmitting portion transmitting an assignment signal fixedly assigned an identifier per port connected to other fabrics, a configuration information transmitting portion transmitting a configuration information indicative of correspondence of identifiers of the fabrics connected to the ports, a retrieval information preparing portion preparing a retrieval information for determining a fabric of transfer destination of the received frame per port and a port number on the basis of the identifier of each fabric and the configuration information, and a transfer destination determining portion determining the transfer destination of the frame on the basis of the retrieval information.

Abstract: A fabric system connects a plurality of fabric groups into a plurality of stages between terminal nodes and performs exchange of variable length frame. The fabric has an assignment signal transmitting portion transmitting an assignment signal fixedly assigned an identifier per port connected to other fabrics, a configuration information transmitting portion transmitting a configuration information indicative of correspondence of identifiers of the fabrics connected to the ports, a retrieval information preparing portion preparing a retrieval information for determining a fabric of transfer destination of the received frame per port and a port number on the basis of the identifier of each fabric and the configuration information, and a transfer destination determining portion determining the transfer destination of the frame on the basis of the retrieval information.

Abstract: Data processing methods and apparatus, wherein an object to be appraised is inputted; the inputted object to be appraised is divided into at least one structural elements which are stored in storage unit; information is inputted which indicates an appraisal for the inputted object to be appraised; a combination of elements constituting the object to be appraised is corresponded to the inputted appraisal, and the correspondence is classified into at least one criterions which are stored in the storage means; an arbitrary criterion is selected from among stored criterions; a combination of structural elements is obtained on the basis of the selected criterion; appraisal information is inputted for the obtained combination of structural elements; the correspondence of the obtained combination of structural elements to the appraisal is compared with the selected criterion to identify a criterion; a combination of elements constituting the object to be appraised is created on the basis of the identified criterion;

Abstract: A database preparing method prepares a design database from which design database image elements are retrievable to build composite design images for decision making. The entire design image, including a plurality of separable image elements, is input into a processing unit. At least one of the image elements is extracted from the entire design image. The characteristic data which (i) identifies the extracted image element and (ii) corresponds to the entire design image is recorded and stored into a memory. The foregoing steps are repeated to build the design database. In a database retrieving method, a partial image of an entire image is input as a retrieval key. The entire image which corresponds to the retrieval key is retrieved from a database stored in a memory. The retrieved entire image is output.

Abstract: A questionnaire producing and aiding system according to the present invention is arranged to store a questionnaire element including a question and a plurality of reply choices which have been previously produced in a memory thereof. When a questionnaire is produced, the saved questionnaire element is used while adding, correcting and deleting the contents so that a questionnaire sheet is produced. Therefore, the questionnaire producing operation can be performed efficiently. The data about the produced questionnaire sheet are stored in a portable recording medium.The questionnaire reply gathering system according to the present invention is arranged to read data about the questionnaire sheet from the storage medium to display the contents of the questionnaire sheet on the terminal display apparatus, and to gather reply data supplied from the terminal input apparatus to be stored in the portable storage medium.

Abstract: Data processing methods and apparatus, wherein an object to be appraised is inputted; the inputted object to be appraised is divided into at least one structural elements which are stored in storage unit; information is inputted which indicates an appraisal for the inputted object to be appraised; a combination of elements constituting the object to be appraised is corresponded to the inputted appraisal, and the correspondence is classified into at least one criterions which are stored in the storage means; an arbitrary criterion is selected from among stored criterions; a combination of structural elements is obtained on the basis of the selected criterion; appraisal information is inputted for the obtained combination of structural elements; the correspondence of the obtained combination of structural elements to the appraisal is compared with the selected criterion to identify a criterion; a combination of elements constituting the object to be appraised is created on the basis of the identified criterion;

Abstract: A merchandising system for conducting a control of article display positions that are generally changed by the customers includes a method of obtaining article display positions based on the present display state. In this system, when selecting coordinate items to be suitably combined with an article, the display positions thereof can be easily determined, which advantageously helps the customer to search the store or floor for the desired items.