Abstract: A DVD player 11 reads disc control information recorded on a DVD medium M and causes a display 12 to display a start menu screen, thereby prompting a viewer to perform authentication (1). The viewer uses a remote controller 11a to display a first viewer authentication screen (2). Then, an acquisition code is indicated and an input of a password is requested. Here, the viewer uses a mobile telephone 13 to access the website indicated by an URL shown on the first viewer authentication screen (substantially, a server computer 2) and inputs a user ID and an acquisition code, thereby acquiring a password required for viewing the content of the DVD medium M ((3) and (4)). The viewer inputs the acquired password into the first viewer authentication screen (5). While a program recorded on the DVD medium M is executed, the DVD player 11 authenticates the password which has been input. If the password is judged to be valid, reproduction of the specified content is started.

Abstract: A DVD player 11 reads disc control information recorded on a DVD medium M and causes a display 12 to display a start menu screen, thereby prompting a viewer to perform authentication (1). The viewer uses a remote controller 11a to display a first viewer authentication screen (2). Then, an acquisition code is indicated and an input of a password is requested. Here, the viewer uses a mobile telephone 13 to access the website indicated by an URL shown on the first viewer authentication screen (substantially, a server computer 2) and inputs a user ID and an acquisition code, thereby acquiring a password required for viewing the content of the DVD medium M ((3) and (4)). The viewer inputs the acquired password into the first viewer authentication screen (5). While a program recorded on the DVD medium M is executed, the DVD player 11 authenticates the password which has been input. If the password is judged to be valid, reproduction of the specified content is started.

Abstract: A multimedia information playback apparatus includes a first input unit, second input unit, and playback unit. The first input unit receives multimedia information including video data and audio data distributed from a first distribution source. The second input unit receives control information distributed from a second distribution source. The playback unit plays back the multimedia information received by the first input unit on the basis of the control information received by the second input unit. A multimedia information playback method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A service system includes a digital versatile disc, terminal, and server. The digital versatile disc has a first file which stores video and audio information and a second file which stores playback control information for the information in the first file. The information cannot normally be played back. The terminal is connected to a network and receives the digital versatile disc. The server is arranged in the network and has repair information which can repair the information in the digital versatile disc. Upon receiving a playback request for the information in the digital versatile disc from the terminal when the terminal uses the digital versatile disc, the server returns the repair information to the terminal and causes the terminal to play back the information from the digital versatile disc.

Abstract: A multimedia information playback apparatus includes a first input unit, second input unit, and playback unit. The first input unit receives multimedia information including video data and audio data distributed from a first distribution source. The second input unit receives control information distributed from a second distribution source. The playback unit plays back the multimedia information received by the first input unit on the basis of the control information received by the second input unit. A multimedia information playback method is also disclosed.

Abstract: According to this invention, a panel controller converts display data having 64 gray scale levels for a color CRT output from an RAMDAC into display data having 57 gray scale levels to perform display driving of a color LCD. The panel display controller has a function of generating 7 intermediate pseudo gray scales between the base frames of R, G, and B signals by a frame rate control method in the color LCD having 8 base gray scale levels of each of the R, G, and B signals to generate (180K colors) display data having 57 gray scale levels and a function of generating 3 intermediate pseudo gray scales between the base gray scales of the signals by a dither method to generate (24K colors) display data having 39 gray scale levels. The selection of the frame rate control or the dither method and the selection of the 512-color, 180-K-color, or 24-K-color display are arbitrarily performed, or these selection operations are automatically performed in accordance with a display mode.

Abstract: Comparators are provided for monitoring a data write request output from CPU to a keyboard controller 113, and a request for inhibiting a memory access of 1 MB or more. Circuits are provided for generating a memory access disabling signal for disabling a memory access of 1 MB or more in response to the detection of the requests by the comparators. The memory access disabling signal is transmitted to the memory and KBC 113.

Abstract: When the expansion unit is connected to the computer system to which the expansion bus controller is connectable, the bus in the computer system is controlled by the expansion bus controller of the expansion unit in place of the bus controller of the computer system. When the expansion unit is connected to the option device and data reception and transmission is performed between the option device and the computer system, the bit conversion of received data is performed by the expansion bus controller in accordance with the number of bits of received data and the bus width of the bus where data is transmitted.