Abstract: A resource management system, which manages a resource consumed by a user, includes: a processor that executes a program; and a storage device that stores the program. The processor executes: a resource consumption amount acquisition process of acquiring a resource consumption amount of the user; a user characteristic estimation process of estimating characteristics of the user based on the resource consumption amount; a target calculation process of calculating a target value related to the resource consumption amount for which the user needs to cooperate based on the characteristics of the user estimated by the user characteristic estimation process; a cooperation request generation process of generating cooperation request data related to reduction of the resource consumption amount for the user based on the target value calculated by the target calculation process; and an output process of outputting the cooperation request data generated by the cooperation request generation process.

Abstract: A wiring member includes a sheet material and a wire-like transmission member fixed on the sheet material. For example, the sheet material is considered to be made by combining a plurality of base materials to be processed to extend to regions different from each other.

Abstract: A precipitation hardening stainless steel powder, containing Cr at a concentration A within a range of 15.00 mass % or more and 17.50 mass % or less, Si at a concentration B within a range of 0.30 mass % or more and 1.00 mass % or less, Nb at a concentration C within a range of 0.15 mass % or more and 0.45 mass % or less, Ni at a concentration D within a range of 3.00 mass % or more and 5.00 mass % or less, Mn at a concentration E within a range of 0.05 mass % or more and 1.00 mass % or less, and Cu at a concentration F within a range of 3.00 mass % or more and 5.00 mass % or less, wherein a value of ? defined by the following formula (1) is 10.0 mass % or more and 14.0 mass % or less. ?=3(A+1.5B+0.5C)?2.8(D+0.5E+0.5F)?19.

Abstract: When the user designates the reproduction of searching audio data, the designated searching audio data and audio volume data are read from a searching data recording portion. The searching audio data is reproduced corresponding to the audio volume data. When the user designates the reproduction of main audio data, the selected audio data is read from a disc and reproduced. In addition, number-of-reproduction-times data, audio volume data, audio quality data, and time period data for the designated main audio data that are updated in the searching data storing portion. The searching audio data corresponding to the designated main audio data is read from the disc corresponding to the audio quality data and the time period data and recorded to the searching data storing portion.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a recording medium on which contents data of movie, etc. is recorded. At the position where reproduction is carried out prior to first data consisting of contents data in reproducing the first data, there is recorded second data like advertisement data in which contents concealment data for concealing contents data is buried. In reproduction of the first data recorded on this recording medium, contents concealment data is extracted from the second data, and cipher implemented to the first data which has been read out from the recording medium is decoded by using the extracted contents concealment data. Thus, the first data is reproduced subsequently to the second data.

Abstract: When the user designates the reproduction of searching audio data, the designated searching audio data and audio volume data are read from a searching data recording portion. The searching audio data is reproduced corresponding to the audio volume data. When the user designates the reproduction of main audio data, the selected audio data is read from a disc and reproduced. In addition, number-of-reproduction-times data, audio volume data, audio quality data, and time period data for the designated main audio data that are updated in the searching data storing portion. The searching audio data corresponding to the designated main audio data is read from the disc corresponding to the audio quality data and the time period data and recorded to the searching data storing portion.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide a text-to-speech synthesis apparatus, including a storage for storing phoneme data of a plurality of speakers; a selector for selecting one of the plurality of speakers in accordance with an operation performed by a user; a searcher for searching the storage for phoneme data of the speaker selected by the selector; a text-to-speech synthesis processor for linking the phoneme data of the speaker retrieved by the searcher to convert input data into a synthetic speech; and a fee-charge controller for controlling a fee-charge operation for the user in accordance with the phoneme data selected by the selector. Consequently, the user can perform text-to-speech synthesis on the desired input data such as drama data by use of the obtained phoneme data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a content-on-demand system capable of managing users' system-utilization frequencies such as download counts and connection times as well as changing the quality of a content transmitted from a server to a user in dependence on the system-utilization frequency of the user. Thus, a high-quality content or a highly functional content is provided to a user with a high system-utilization frequency. By differentiating contents provided to users in accordance with the system-utilization frequencies of the users, network businesses can be activated.

Abstract: A communication apparatus includes a storage unit, a receiving unit and a searching unit, all acting on speaker voice data. A communication system includes an accumulating unit, a requesting unit, a transmitting unit and a receiving unit, all acting on synthetic speech data.

Abstract: When the user designates the reproduction of searching audio data, the designated searching audio data and audio volume data are read from a searching data recording portion. The searching audio data is reproduced corresponding to the audio volume data. When the user designates the reproduction of main audio data, the audio data is read from a disc and reproduced. In addition, the number-of-reproduction-times data corresponding to the number of times the audio data has been reproduced, audio volume data, audio quality data, and time period data for the designated main audio data are updated in the searching data storing portion. The searching audio data corresponding to the designated main audio data is read from the disc in accordance with the audio quality data and the time period data and recorded to the searching data storing portion.

Abstract: When the user designates the reproduction of searching audio data, the designated searching audio data and audio volume data are read from a searching data recording portion. The searching audio data is reproduced corresponding to the audio volume data. When the user designates the reproduction of main audio data, the selected audio data is read from a disc and reproduced. In addition, number-of-reproduction-times data, audio volume data, audio quality data, and time period data for the designated main audio data that are updated in the searching data storing portion. The searching audio data corresponding to the designated main audio data is read from the disc corresponding to the audio quality data and the time period data and recorded to the searching data storing portion.

Abstract: When the user designates the reproduction of searching audio data, the designated searching audio data and audio volume data are read from a searching data recording portion. The searching audio data is reproduced corresponding to the audio volume data. When the user designates the reproduction of main audio data, the selected audio data is read from a disc and reproduced. In addition, number-of-reproduction-times data, audio volume data, audio quality data, and time period data for the designated main audio data that are updated in the searching data storing portion. The searching audio data corresponding to the designated main audio data is read from the disc corresponding to the audio quality data and the time period data and recorded to the searching data storing portion.

Abstract: A digital data processing apparatus which receives digital data whose use is charged for through a data recording medium or a network and uses the received digital data by using use right data, wherein the apparatus has memory means in which use history information of the digital data has been stored, and an accumulation of uses of the digital data is monitored by use history information, and when the accumulation of the uses reaches a preset value, a transfer of the use history information is promoted.

Abstract: A digital data processing apparatus which receives digital data whose use is charged for through a data recording medium or a network and uses the received digital data by using use right data, wherein the apparatus has memory means in which use history information of the digital data has been stored, and an accumulation of uses of the digital data is monitored by use history information, and when the accumulation of the uses reaches a preset value, a transfer of the use history information is promoted.

Abstract: A digital data processing apparatus which receives digital data whose use is charged for through a data recording medium or a network and uses the received digital data by using use right data, wherein the apparatus has memory means in which use history information of the digital data has been stored, and an accumulation of uses of the digital data is monitored by use history information, and when the accumulation of the uses reaches a preset value, a transfer of the use history information is promoted.

Abstract: A digital data processing apparatus which receives digital data whose use is charged for through a data recording medium or a network and uses the received digital data by using use right data, wherein the apparatus has memory means in which use history information of the digital data has been stored, and an accumulation of uses of the digital data is monitored by use history information, and when the accumulation of the uses reaches a preset value, a transfer of the use history information is promoted.

Abstract: A digital data processing apparatus which receives digital data whose use is charged for through a data recording medium or a network and uses the received digital data by using use right data, wherein the apparatus has memory means in which use history information of the digital data has been stored, and an accumulation of uses of the digital data is monitored by use history information, and when the accumulation of the uses reaches a preset value, a transfer of the use history information is promoted.

Abstract: A digital data processing apparatus which receives digital data whose use is charged for through a data recording medium or a network and uses the received digital data by using use right data, wherein the apparatus has memory means in which use history information of the digital data has been stored, and an accumulation of uses of the digital data is monitored by use history information, and when the accumulation of the uses reaches a preset value, a transfer of the use history information is promoted.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide a text-to-speech synthesis apparatus, including a storage for storing phoneme data of a plurality of speakers; a selector for selecting one of the plurality of speakers in accordance with an operation performed by a user; a searcher for searching the storage for phoneme data of the speaker selected by the selector; a text-to-speech synthesis processor for linking the phoneme data of the speaker retrieved by the searcher to convert input data into a synthetic speech; and a fee-charge controller for controlling a fee-charge operation for the user in accordance with the phoneme data selected by the selector. Consequently, the user can perform text-to-speech synthesis on the desired input data such as drama data by use of the obtained phoneme data.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide a text-to-speech synthesis apparatus, including a storage for storing phoneme data of a plurality of speakers; a selector for selecting one of the plurality of speakers in accordance with an operation performed by a user; a searcher for searching the storage for phoneme data of the speaker selected by the selector; a text-to-speech synthesis processor for linking the phoneme data of the speaker retrieved by the searcher to convert input data into a synthetic speech; and a fee-charge controller for controlling a fee-charge operation for the user in accordance with the phoneme data selected by the selector. Consequently, the user can perform text-to-speech synthesis on the desired input data such as drama data by use of the obtained phoneme data.