Abstract: In order to display all information to be displayed on a computer screen in a manner which is easy to understand in hierarchical window displaying, an entire screen is taken as a root window, and display objects of windows and icons corresponding to child windows of the root window are arranged on the root window. Lower order windows and icons are also present within the child windows. The sizes of the windows are user-programmable, and each window has its own independent scale. The scales are decided in such a manner that a proportion occupied by the total surface area of the display objects within a window is fixed or does not exceed a fixed value with respect to the surface area of the window.

Abstract: A haptic display includes at least one haptic device that can give tactile feedback instead of visible feedback. Each of the haptic devices converts a signal from a signal producing unit into force or tactile pattern. The haptic device does not require a large mass, so that it can be provided on almost any portion or part within the body of a mobile apparatus. For example, the haptic device can be embedded under a touch panel display that constitutes both input and output device. By providing the haptic devices under respective menu/function button areas displayed on the touch panel display, it is possible to stimulate the specific button in response to the user-input-operation, thereby directly providing the tactile feedback to the user's finger touching the corresponding button.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an information processing terminal that makes it possible to implement a more preferable user interface. A user can input various processes by inclining a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants) 1, while depressing a control button 14. For example, when a menu screen for selecting application programs is displayed on a display section, the user moves a cursor by inclining the PDA 1 to select an application program for execution. The PDA 1 generates a clicking feel (feedback) to the user every time it moves the cursor. The present invention is applicable to portable information terminals such as PDAs, and various remote controllers for televisions, game machines and the like.

Abstract: An RF tag 25 is incorporated in a mouse 20, and an RF tag reader 15 is mounted on the main body side of a computer 10. When using the mouse 20 to a specified computer 10, a user moves the mouse close to the reader 15 to read identification information (ID) of the mouse 20, which is included in the RF tag 25. On the main body side of the computer 10, the mouse 20 is designated in accordance with the read ID and communication with the mouse 20 is set. There may be a case where a plurality of computers and peripheral equipment intermingle, but, by making joint use of the ID reader 15 in a short-range, a corresponding relationship between the main body of the computer 10 and the wireless equipment 20 is made clear.

Abstract: There is provided an input apparatus which makes it possible to reduce the size and weight of the apparatus on which it is mounted while improving the ease of use through its jog dial functionality. On a joint section for allowing a first housing and a second housing to be opened to a predetermined angle is provided the input apparatus (jog dial function section) that functions as a jog dial. This input apparatus is formed on at least a part of a cylindrical section of a structure in which the cylindrical section, which is part of the second housing, is fitted between a pair of shoulder portions of the first housing. As used above, “at least a part” refers to an area that can be touched by a user's finger when the first housing and the second housing are opened.

Abstract: A haptic display includes at least one haptic device that can give tactile feedback instead of visible feedback. Each of the haptic devices converts a signal from a signal producing unit into force or tactile pattern. The haptic device does not require a large mass, so that it can be provided on almost any portion or part within the body of a mobile apparatus. For example, the haptic device can be embedded under a touch panel display that constitutes both input and output device. By providing the haptic devices under respective menu/function button areas displayed on the touch panel display, it is possible to stimulate the specific button in response to the user-input-operation, thereby directly providing the tactile feedback to the user's finger touching the corresponding button.

Abstract: A system for executing personal authentication processing by communication through a human body, in which authentication corresponding to a service to be furnished can be executed efficiently. The authentication processing between a portable equipment worn by a user and a service furnishing terminal is executed by a human body touching a contact point of the service furnishing terminal. The processing occurs with a real physical feeling of user contact. A user-native identifier and a user-variable identifier generated from user to user depending on the service presented by a service terminal are stored in a user equipment. Responsive to the service identifier transmitted from the service terminal, service-native user identification data, derived at least from the user variable identifier, is generated in the portable equipment and forwarded to the service terminal. A variety of user management operations, such as user-based assessment operations, depending on service contents, are carried out.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus comprises a key and a proximity sensor. When the user places a finger on a depressing portion of the key, the proximity sensor detects the event, and inputs, to the information processing apparatus, proximity information indicating that the user's finger is in proximity to the key. Based on the proximity information which has been input, the information processing apparatus displays information relating to the function assigned to the key. When the depressing portion is depressed with the user's finger, the key inputs, to the information processing apparatus, information indicating that its contacts are in an on-state. Based on the input information, the information processing apparatus is able to execute the function. Thus, a function assigned to a physical key may easily be recognized by a user.

Abstract: Each device arranged in an information space and a computer are sustainedly connected and the connection can be visually recognized on the display screen of the computer. More specifically, there is provided a feature of “gaze-link” metaphor with which connection between the computer and an object viewed by a camera is established. A visible marker may be applied to the object of connection so that the object may be identified by shooting the object by means of a camera and connection may be established between the computer and the object. As the connection between the identified object and the computer is sustained, the user can specify the target of operation in an intuitive and direct manner without worrying about the ID of each device in a network environment where a large number of devices are mutually connected.

Abstract: The invention enables users to virtually attach information to situations in the real world, and also enables users to quickly and easily find out desired information. An IR sensor receives an IR signal transmitted from an IR beacon, and supplies the received signal to a sub-notebook PC. A CCD video camera takes in a visual ID from an object, and supplies the inputted visual ID to the sub-notebook PC. A user inputs, through a microphone, a voice to be attached to situations in the real world. The sub-notebook PC transmits position data, object data and voice data, which have been supplied to it, to a server through a communication unit. The transmitted data is received by the server via a wireless LAN. The server stores the received voice data in a database in correspondence to the position data and the object data.

Abstract: A camera system has: cameras; and an information-processing device connected through a communication network with the cameras, which acquires a shot image from the cameras. Each camera includes: an image-pickup part taking an image of a subject; and an image-pickup synchronizing part mutually synchronizing an image-pickup timing of the camera with an image-pickup timing of another camera.

Abstract: An input device includes: a contact detector configured to detect at least a size of contact area by detecting a physical contact with a control input section; a pressure detector configured to detect a pressure applied by the physical contact; and a controller configured to output signals in response to detection outputs from the contact detector and the pressure detector. The controller outputs a first signal carrying a value which varies in response to the pressure detected under a state of contact in which a contact detection result indicates that the detected contact area is equal to or smaller than a predetermined contact area, and outputs a second signal carrying a value which varies in response to the pressure detected under a state of contact in which the contact detection result indicates that the detected contact area is greater than the predetermined contact area.

Abstract: LEDs are driven by pseudorandom number sequences unique to the LEDs, respectively, and emit light having light intensity change corresponding to their respective pseudorandom number sequences. The light from the LEDs enters a PSD. The PSD outputs currents having levels corresponding to intensity of bright spot images occurring at incident positions of the light and the incident positions. Matched filters subject the outputs of the PSD to correlation operation processing, thereby separate outputs corresponding to each LED, and then supply the outputs to a decoding circuit. The decoding circuit generates an output signal for each light source photographed, which signal comprises information on the position on a plane of incidence of the PSD and an identifying number of the light source. The positions of the LEDs are determined by using the output signal.

Abstract: A two-dimensional code recognition processing method for recognizing a two-dimensional code made of a plurality of square cells arranged in accordance with predetermined layout rules. The method comprises the steps of: generating binary data from image information acquired externally in accordance with a predetermined threshold value; detecting a reference cell serving as a reference in recognizing the two-dimensional code based on the binary data generated in the binary data generating step; detecting corner cells each located in a predetermined search range with respect to the reference cell detected in the reference cell detecting step, on the basis of the binary data generated in the binary data generating step; and detecting code data assigned to the two-dimensional code existing inside an area of a code part enclosed by the reference cell and by the corner cells on the basis of the binary data generated in the binary data generating step.

Abstract: A two-dimensional code recognition processing method for recognizing a two-dimensional code lade of a plurality of square cells arranged in accordance with predetermined layout rules. The method comprises the steps of: generating binary data from image information acquired externally in accordance with a predetermined threshold value; detecting a reference cell serving as a reference in recognizing the two-dimensional code based on the binary data generated in the binary data generating step; detecting corner cells each located in a predetermined search range with respect to the reference cell detected in the reference cell detecting step, on the basis of the binary data generated in the binary data generating step; and detecting code data assigned to the two-dimensional code existing inside an area of a code part enclosed by the reference cell and by the corner cells on the basis of the binary data generated in the binary data generating step.

Abstract: At least a part of the three-dimensional community space is divided into regions and the right to use a region is sold at a particular price to a user who wants to obtain it. A user having the right to use a region is allowed to build an element such as a building or a signboard in the region via an avatar. If an attractive signboard with high originally is built, the region in which the signboard is built and also nearby regions become popular. As a result, the economic value of such a region becomes high. If desired, a user is allowed to resell his/her region via auction.

Abstract: The present invention is an information processing apparatus which obtains identification information of an electronic device and makes communication with the electronic device via a network based on the identification information. When a portable telephone (11) is placed on an input display section (2) of a personal computer (1), a reader/writer built in the personal computer (1) reads a telephone number of the portable telephone (11) stored in an RF tag built in the portable telephone (11). Based on the telephone number, a telephone line is connected between the portable telephone (11) and the personal computer (1). Data is interchanged between the portable telephone (11) and the personal computer (1) via the telephone line.

Abstract: A keyboard mode is switched according to the determination of a finger contact on a touch sensitive pad to assign mouse buttons to specific keys, such as the F and J keys, on the keyboard. The user can use the touch sensitive pad without separating the hands from the home positions. Keys other than the F and J keys can be substituted for the mouse buttons as desired. The touch sensitive pad can be used as a shift key, and the function thereof can be temporarily assigned to a key on the keyboard.

Abstract: The present invention is an information processing apparatus which obtains identification information of an electronic device and makes communication with the electronic device via a network based on the identification information. When a portable telephone (11) is placed on an input display section (2) of a personal computer (1), a reader/writer built in the personal computer (1) reads a telephone number of the portable telephone (11) stored in an RF tag built in the portable telephone (11). Based on the telephone number, a telephone line is connected between the portable telephone (11) and the personal computer (1). Data is interchanged between the portable telephone (11) and the personal computer (1) via the telephone line.

Abstract: An apparatus that controls the action of a pet robot. The apparatus includes a portable terminal (3) having an electrode that may contact a user (2). When the user touches the electrode provided on the head of the robot (1), the user ID stored in the memory section of the portable terminal (3) is transmitted to the robot (1) through the user (2). The robot (1) retrieves the information associated with the user ID it has received, thereby identifying the user (2). The robot (1) may determine that the user (2) touched it in the past. In this case, the robot (1) performs an action in accordance with the information about what the user (2) did to it in the past.