Abstract: A TPM chip installed in an image reading apparatus records an operation log, and encrypts recorded operation log with a secret key. The image reading apparatus transmits encrypted operation log to an evaluation apparatus. The evaluation apparatus receives the encrypted operation log, decrypted received operation log, and evaluates an operation performed on the image reading apparatus based on decrypted operation log.

Abstract: A TPM chip installed in an image reading apparatus records an operation log, and encrypts recorded operation log with a secret key. The image reading apparatus transmits encrypted operation log to an evaluation apparatus. The evaluation apparatus receives the encrypted operation log, decrypted received operation log, and evaluates an operation performed on the image reading apparatus based on decrypted operation log.

Abstract: An input device includes a magnet to be worn by a user on one fingertip of either a right hand or a left hand, a first magnetic sensor to be worn by the user on a wrist of either the right hand or the left hand to detect a magnetic field generated by the magnet at a corresponding position, a second magnetic sensor to be worn by the user on the same wrist on which the first magnetic sensor is worn and at a position that is farther from the magnet than the first magnetic sensor and eliminates effects of geomagnetism, and an output unit to output a difference between an output signal from the first magnetic sensor and an output signal from the second magnetic sensor.

Abstract: A character-recognition pre-processing apparatus includes extraction means for extracting an image of a character string to be subjected to character recognition; setting means for setting the smallest rectangle that surrounds the character string image extracted; specifying means for specifying the position of each character within the smallest rectangle set by the setting means; detection means for detecting, at each character position specified, the shortest distance between a character region and the lower edge of the smallest rectangle, and the shortest distance between the character region and the upper edge of the smallest rectangle; and judgment means for judging whether the character string extracted is in an upright state or an inverted state, on the basis of variations in the two shortest distances detected.

Abstract: According to the invention, a document is created through steps of inputting handwritten characters by the use of a mouse or a pen-tablet, recognizing the inputted characters, and determining to use the characters. A transparent virtual window is created on a screen of a display device. In the transparent virtual window, continuity is established between upper and lower boundaries and between left and right boundaries of an input region so as to remove upper, lower, left, and right frame boundaries which would otherwise limit the input region. A handwritten character is inputted and displayed on the thus-created transparent window. Accordingly, a visually handicapped person can input characters on a personal computer in a simple manner.

Abstract: A character recognition apparatus has space storage to store Eigen spaces made from a plurality of rotated character images, loci storage to store loci drawn for projection points obtained by projecting the plurality of rotated character images in corresponding Eigen spaces; an input unit to input the recognition target images; a distance calculation unit to obtain distances between projection points obtained by projecting the recognition target images in Eigen space and respective loci for the plurality of character types, and a candidate selection unit to select candidates for images for recognition target characters from the plurality of character types based on the distance.

Abstract: An input device includes a magnet to be worn by a user on one fingertip of either a right hand or a left hand, a first magnetic sensor to be worn by the user on a wrist of either the right hand or the left hand to detect a magnetic field generated by the magnet at a corresponding position, a second magnetic sensor to be worn by the user on the same wrist on which the first magnetic sensor is worn and at a position that is farther from the magnet than the first magnetic sensor and eliminates effects of geomagnetism, and an output unit to output a difference between an output signal from the first magnetic sensor and an output signal from the second magnetic sensor.

Abstract: The invention relate to a new procedure for physiologically draining bile into the duodenum, and provides a biliary drainage system for use in this procedure. The biliary drainage system comprises a puncture needle 2 having a sharp pointed portion 5 at a distal end thereof, an expandable metallic stent 1 provided on a distal end portion of the needle 2, and a delivery sheath 3 having the stent 1 enclosed therein in a contracted state. The system is useful for a surgical method comprising endoscopically puncturing the gallbladder 7 with the sharp pointed portion 5 of the needle 2 from the duodenum 6 while passing a high-frequency current through the needle 2, thereafter pulling the delivery sheath 3 to expand the stent 1 and cause both the duodenum 6 and the gallbladder 7 to retain the stent 1, and removing the needle 2.

Abstract: An image reading method controls an image reading system including an image reading apparatus having a mechanism for scanning photographic film and a host computer receiving image data from the image reading apparatus. The method has steps of detecting each of image component of dust resulting from dust stuck to the photographic film which is read by the image reading apparatus, and removing only the image component of the dust resulting from the read dust to correct the image data.

Abstract: A character-recognition pre-processing apparatus includes extraction means for extracting an image of a character string to be subjected to character recognition; setting means for setting the smallest rectangle that surrounds the character string image extracted; specifying means for specifying the position of each character within the smallest rectangle set by the setting means; detection means for detecting, at each character position specified, the shortest distance between a character region and the lower edge of the smallest rectangle, and the shortest distance between the character region and the upper edge of the smallest rectangle; and judgment means for judging whether the character string extracted is in an upright state or an inverted state, on the basis of variations in the two shortest distances detected.