Abstract: A film thickness measurement apparatus includes: a stage that places a substrate having a film formed thereon and measures a thickness of the film in-situ in a film forming apparatus; a film thickness meter including a light emitter that emits light toward the substrate disposed on the stage and a light receiving sensor that receives the light reflected by the substrate for measuring the thickness of the film in-situ; a moving mechanism including a multi-joint arm that moves an irradiation point of the light on the substrate; a distance meter that measures a distance between the light receiving sensor and the irradiation point on the substrate; and a distance adjustor that adjusts the distance between the light receiving sensor and the irradiation point on the substrate.

Abstract: A promotion method and a system which can realize thoughtful promotion by facilitating changing settings such as the number of points issued for each commodity, a promotion period and the like without the necessity for changing settings of target automatic vending machines all at once. A commodity code peculiar to each commodity is added to point information, and a data center selectively adds the number of points of the point information of the specific commodity on the basis of the commodity code.

Abstract: The terminal device of the present invention comprises a transmitting means for transmitting, to a contact-less IC medium, commands and carrier signals used for receiving responses, a receiving means for receiving responses from the contact-less IC medium, and a controlling means for controlling at least one of the transmitting means and the receiving means so as to adjust a maximum distance at which the terminal device can communicate with the contact-less IC medium. The terminal device firstly transmits an inquiry request command from the transmitting means to the contact-less IC medium, and receives an inquiry request response to the transmitted inquiry request command at the receiving means from the contact-less IC medium. Then, the terminal device transmits a data processing command from the transmitting means to the contact-less IC medium, and receives a data processing response to the transmitted data processing command at the receiving means from the contact-less IC medium.

Abstract: A promotion system which can manage a promotion system depending on various conditions and independently configure a plurality of promotion systems for individual distributors. A sub-code comprised of a distributor, date information, price information, an area code, etc. is added to point information.

Abstract: To send point information indicated by an automatic vending machine to a center unit by a packet communication function of a portable telephone of a user of the automatic vending machine, a free space in a single packet of the point information to be sent from the automatic vending machine to the center unit is used to send management information such as sales information, stock information, failure information and the like of the automatic vending machine to the center unit.

Abstract: A mobile telephone call fee pre-payment registration system and device capable of registering telephone call permission without requiring a complicated input operation causing erroneous input. A telephone call fee pre-payment registration device (20) performs money deposit processing for recognizing amount information (money deposit information) relating to money introduced into a money deposit processing section by a user, and performs control for obtaining identification information from the mobile telephone terminal (10) via a first communications unit (23), and sending the identification information thus obtained and the money deposit information processed by the money deposit processing unit, to a registration center device (40) via a second communications unit (24).

Abstract: A mobile telephone call fee pre-payment registration system and device capable of registering telephone call permission without requiring a complicated input operation causing erroneous input. A telephone call fee pre-payment registration device (20) performs money deposit processing for recognizing amount information (money deposit information) relating to money introduced into a money deposit processing section by a user, and performs control for obtaining identification information from the mobile telephone terminal (10) via a first communications unit (23), and sending the identification information thus obtained and the money deposit information processed by the money deposit processing unit, to a registration center device (40) via a second communications unit (24).

Abstract: A cashless vending system using a portable communication terminal, which can make a conventional vending machine into the cashless type with ease without requiring users to perform a complex operation. When a vending machine 1 detects that a change return lever is operated by a user after a settlement request code is issued, the vending machine 1 issues a settlement cancellation request code requesting the cancellation of a settlement according to the settlement request code, and a center device 3 performs cancel processing of the settlement according to the settlement cancellation request code received from the vending machine 1 via a portable telephone terminal 2.

Abstract: A cashless automatic vendor system comprises a portable communication terminal which enables a user to dispense with troublesome operations and to execute the cashless operation of even an existing automatic vendor. An automatic vendor (1) issues a settlement request code for requesting the settlement of a selected commodity on the basis of user's operation. A center apparatus (3) processes settlement on the basis of the settlement request code received from the automatic vendor (1) via a cellular phone terminal (2), processes the settlement request code as predetermined to generated a sale permission code, and transmits it to the cellular phone terminal (2). The automatic vendor (1) reads the sale permission code displayed on the display section of the cellular phone terminal (2) and controls commodity sale on the basis of the sale permission code.

Abstract: An information transmission method and a system capable of transmitting information without requiring a troublesome operation and at a low cost is provided. A portable communication terminal such as a cellular phone, a PHS or the like capable of making a telephone call and performing communications over a telephone line changes an image to be displayed on a display portion with time to transmit information to an information-receiving device. The information-receiving device receives a change in display of the image on the portable communication terminal by a receiver portion and recognizes the information from the received change in display (e.g., a display interval, etc.).

Abstract: A method for judging unauthorized use of point information and a promotion system, which realize effective use of a point issue number added to the point information. Of the used point numbers, only the numbers contained in a predetermined range are stored. If the point issue number of the point information sent from the user lies in the predetermined range, whether or not it has been used is confirmed by comparing it with the used point issue number stored.

Abstract: A promotion system which can manage a promotion system depending on various conditions and independently configure a plurality of promotion systems for individual distributors. A sub-code comprised of a distributor, date information, price information, an area code, etc. is added to point information.

Abstract: To send point information indicated by an automatic vending machine to a center unit by a packet communication function of a portable telephone of a user of the automatic vending machine, a free space in a single packet of the point information to be sent from the automatic vending machine to the center unit is used to send management information such as sales information, stock information, failure information and the like of the automatic vending machine to the center unit.

Abstract: A promotion method and a system which can realize thoughtful promotion by facilitating changing settings such as the number of points issued for each commodity, a promotion period and the like without the necessity for changing settings of target automatic vending machines all at once. A commodity code peculiar to each commodity is added to point information, and a data center selectively adds the number of points of the point information of the specific commodity on the basis of the commodity code.

Abstract: Point information is sold from a vending machine. A user sends purchased point information to a data center via the Internet using a portable telephone set or a personal computer. Points corresponding to this point information are accumulated and the user can download digital contents in accordance with the accumulated points.