Abstract: Even if contents data distributed over a network are once destroyed, the contents data are restored, as the copyright protection is maintained. A PC memorizes backup of distributed music contents on a hard disc, at the same time as it transmits the using log information of the music contents stored in the hard disc to an EMD server. If the music contents in the hard disc are destroyed, the PC acquires the using log information from the EMD server to reproduce the backup data memorized in the hard disc depending on the using log information.

Abstract: A contents database 114 memorizes the discriminating information for discriminating contents and the temporal information as to the time of content duplication associated with the discriminating information. A recording program 113 acquires the discriminating information of contents to be duplicated and duplicates the contents in association with the acquired discriminating information and with the temporal information memorized in the contents database 114. This substantially prohibits duplication in large quantities without significantly impairing the interests of a user.

Abstract: A system for preventing recorded data from being illicitly read out and analyzed. An Internet connection interface 11 transmits a program executed by an adapter 7 to an authentication station, whilst receiving the program in an encrypted form from the authentication station. A hard disc 15 records the encrypted program, received from the authentication station. An interface 17 transmits the program recorded on the horizontal direction 15 on the adapter 7.

Abstract: Even if contents data distributed over a network are once destroyed, the contents data are restored, as the copyright protection is maintained. A PC memorizes backup of distributed music contents on a hard disc, at the same time as it transmits the using log information of the music contents stored in the hard disc to an EMD server. If the music contents in the hard disc are destroyed, the PC acquires the using log information from the EMD server to reproduce the backup data memorized in the hard disc depending on the using log information.

Abstract: The CPU 11 of the personal computer 1 controls the CPU 32 of the adaptor 26 made of a semiconductor IC to compute a hash value of a content-management music data base recorded in the HDD 21 and store it into the nonvolatile memory 34. When playing back a content recorded in the HDD 21, the CPU 11 computes the hash value of the music data base recorded in the HDD 21, compares it with hash values stored cumulatively in the nonvolatile memory 32, and controls the playback of the content from the HDD 21 based on the result of the comparison.

Abstract: There is provided a processing apparatus which increments and thereby restores a lendable number upon receiving a content returned from a portable device, and which confirms the return of the content and increments the lendable number even when the portable device does not have or deletes the content borrowed from the processing apparatus before returning the content.

Abstract: The CPU 11 of the personal computer 1 controls the CPU 32 of the adaptor 26 made of a semiconductor ID to compute a hash value of a content-managing music data base recorded in the HDD 21 and store it into the nonvolatile memory 34. When playing back a content recorded in the HDD 21, the CPU 11 computes the hash value of the music data base recorded in the HDD 21, compares it with hash values stored cumulatively in the nonvolatile memory 34, and controls the playback of the content from the HDD 21 based on the result of the comparison.

Abstract: Even if contents data distributed over a network are once destroyed, the contents data are restored, as the copyright protection is maintained. A PC memorizes backup of distributed music contents on a hard disc, at the same time as it transmits the using log information of the music contents stored in the hard disc to an EMD server. If the music contents in the hard disc are destroyed, the PC acquires the using log information from the EMD server to reproduce the backup data memorized in the hard disc depending on the using log information.

Abstract: Even if contents data distributed over a network are once destroyed, the contents data are restored, as the copyright protection is maintained. A PC memorizes backup of distributed music contents on a hard disc, at the same time as it transmits the using log information of the music contents stored in the hard disc to an EMD server. If the music contents in the hard disc are destroyed, the PC acquires the using log information from the EMD server to reproduce the backup data memorized in the hard disc depending on the using log information.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to allow an access to a communication apparatus other than a WWW server to be made from a WWW browser in a WWW system.

Abstract: There is provided a personal computer which increments and thereby restores a lendable number upon receiving a content returned from a portable device, and which confirms the return of the content and increments the lendable number even when the portable device does not have or deletes the content borrowed from the personal computer before returning the content.

Abstract: A client receives encrypted content from content server. The header of the content includes license-identifying information for identifying a license required to utilize the content. The client requests a license server to transmit the license identified by the license-identifying information. When receiving the request for a license, the license server carries out a charging process before transmitting the license to the client. The client stores the license received from the license server. The stored license serves as a condition for encrypting and playing back the content. As a result, content can be distributed with a high degree of freedom and only an authorized user is capable of utilizing the content.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus and method prevent the use of content by any unauthorized third parties and enable content to be used on any desired information processing apparatuses. An approval server receives data for identifying a content management program from a personal computer, generates a group key which is shared in a group, stores the data and the group key as related with each other, and transmits the group key to the personal computer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying a three-dimensional picture is disclosed. The picture display apparatus includes a display device for displaying a three-dimensional picture, a pointing device for pointing a position in the picture displayed in the display device, a holding device for holding the control information of a plurality of possible stop points pre-determined in a three-dimensional space, and a control device for causing the three-dimensional picture to be displayed on the display device based on the control information of the possible stop points in the three-dimensional space held by the holding device. The possible stop points correspond to positions in the picture pointed by the pointing device. The producer of a virtual reality can easily reflect the intention of a three-dimensional virtual reality, while the-user can easily walk in the three-dimensional virtual reality.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying a three-dimensional picture is disclosed. The picture display apparatus includes a display device for displaying a three-dimensional picture, a pointing device for pointing a position in the picture displayed in the display device, a holding device for holding the control information of a plurality of possible stop points pre-determined in a three-dimensional space, and a control device for causing the three-dimensional picture to be displayed on the display device based on the control information of the possible stop points in the three-dimensional space held by the holding device. The possible stop points correspond to positions in the picture pointed by the pointing device. The producer of a virtual reality can easily reflect the intention of a three-dimensional virtual reality, while the user can easily walk in the three-dimensional virtual reality.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing color graphics data converts an analog video information signal to a digital signal and stores one frame of the digital video signal corresponding to a desired still picture for display on a video monitor/receiver upon being read out from the storage element. The still picture read out from the storage element is also fed to a microcomputer in which a color picture corresponding to the displayed still picture is stored in a memory so that it may be displayed on the monitor and visually compared with the original picture. The data processing apparatus specifies a portion of the displayed picture and the appearance frequencies of respective colors relative to a plurality of picture elements contained within that specified portion are counted. These appearance frequencies are used to generate a limited number of colors in a color palette unit.