Abstract: A microwave oven of the present invention includes: a liquid crystal touch panel configured to display display screen images each including operation buttons, each of which accepts input from a user; a proximity detector portion configured to detect, as proximity input from the user, proximity of the user to the operation button included in the display screen image; a heating control portion and a display control portion configured to execute functions in accordance with the input to the operation buttons, the functions being respectively associated with the operation buttons; a standard button image storage portion configured to store proximity input enable/disable information pieces such that each of the proximity input enable/disable information pieces is associated with at least a part of the display screen image, the proximity input enable/disable information pieces each indicating whether to permit the proximity detector portion to detect the proximity input; and an enable/disable determining portion co

Abstract: A low cost communication apparatus enables detection of an apparatus present on a different network in a router multistage network having a plurality of routers. When a communication apparatus cannot detect, on a network thereof, a desired apparatus, the communication apparatus requests a connection support server securing communication paths with all the apparatuses on a home network, to relay an apparatus detection request. The connection support server transfers the request to relay the apparatus detection request, to an arbitrary apparatus belonging to a different network from the network to which the communication apparatus belongs, and the arbitrary apparatus, by proxy, performs an apparatus detection, and transfers information about a detected apparatus to the connection support server. By obtaining the information from the connection support server, the communication apparatus detects the apparatus on the different network.

Abstract: To provide, without requiring a user to have special knowledge or to pay a high cost, a communication apparatus which enables detection of an apparatus present on a different network in a router multistage network comprising a plurality of routers. When a communication apparatus (101) cannot detect, on a network thereof, a desired apparatus, the communication apparatus requests a connection support server (001) securing communication paths with all the apparatuses on a home network, to relay an apparatus detection request. The connection support server (001) transfers the request to relay the apparatus detection request, to an arbitrary apparatus belonging to a different network from the network to which the communication apparatus (101) belongs, and the arbitrary apparatus, by proxy, performs an apparatus detection, and transfers information about a detected apparatus to the connection support server (001).

Abstract: A secret information setting device includes a generation instruction receiving unit receiving a secret information generation instruction from a user; a secret information generation unit generating the secret information in response to the secret information generation instruction received with the generation instruction receiving unit; a secret information storage unit storing the secret information generated by the secret information generation unit; a secret information transfer unit transferring the secret information stored in the secret information storage unit to the plurality of appliances; and a secret information deleting unit deleting the secret information stored in the secret information storage unit when a predetermined condition is satisfied.