Abstract: A line providing apparatus has an acceptance processor accepting a line use request from the terminal apparatus, a contract determiner determines a state of conclusion of a first contract, a second contract or a combined contract obtained by substantially combining the first contract and the second contract at the terminal apparatus which is a source of the line use request accepted by the acceptance processor, and an assistance processor performing an assisting process for conclusion of a contract found not to be concluded according to a result of determination on the state of conclusion of the first contract, the second contract or the combined contract by the contract determiner, whereby the user of the terminal apparatus which does not yet conclude can sign the contract for the communication service or the information providing service through the terminal apparatus.

Abstract: A line providing apparatus has an acceptance processor accepting a line use request from the terminal apparatus, a contract determiner determines a state of conclusion of a first contract, a second contract or a combined contract obtained by substantially combining the first contract and the second contract at the terminal apparatus which is a source of the line use request accepted by the acceptance processor, and an assistance processor performing an assisting process for conclusion of a contract found not to be concluded according to a result of determination on the state of conclusion of the first contract, the second contract or the combined contract by the contract determiner, whereby the user of the terminal apparatus which does not yet conclude can sign the contract for the communication service or the information providing service through the terminal apparatus.

Abstract: Even if a communication resource needed for connection processing with a user (subscriber terminal) and an actual packet data communication is in a full condition in an active subscriber resource managing unit, when a communication resource needed for only maintaining a logical connection with a user is in a free condition in a dormant subscriber resource managing unit, for accommodating a new user in a dormant state through this free resource, a control unit carries out connection processing answering a new connection request through the use of a radio resource secured in advance or a free radio resource produced by shifting a portion of active users forcibly to a dormant state. This enables using a packet communication total resource without waste and considerably improving the packet service connectivity to a user.

Abstract: Each mobile station is accommodated in a base station through a radio transmission path. A base station control device controls each base station. A mobile station is accommodated in a first base station. Each of the base stations notifies the mobile station of the condition of the communication resources of the base station, respectively. If the mobile station judges that it is advantageous to be accommodated in a second base station instead of the first base station, the mobile station makes a request for hand-off to the base station control device. The base station control device issues a hand-off command to both of the first and second base stations. Then, the mobile station is accommodated in the second base station.

Abstract: Each mobile station is accommodated in a base station through a radio transmission path. A base station control device controls each base station. A mobile station is accommodated in a first base station. Each of the base stations notifies the mobile station of the condition of the communication resources of the base station, respectively. If the mobile station judges that it is advantageous to be accommodated in a second base station instead of the first base station, the mobile station makes a request for hand-off to the base station control device. The base station control device issues a hand-off command to both of the first and second base stations. Then, the mobile station is accommodated in the second base station.

Abstract: Each mobile station is accommodated in a base station through a radio transmission path. A base station control device controls each base station. A mobile station is accommodated in a first base station. Each of the base stations notifies the mobile station of the condition of the communication resources of the base station, respectively. If the mobile station judges that it is advantageous to be accommodated in a second base station instead of the first base station, the mobile station makes a request for hand-off to the base station control device. The base station control device issues a hand-off command to both of the first and second base stations. Then, the mobile station is accommodated in the second base station.

Abstract: Even if a communication resource needed for connection processing with a user (subscriber terminal) and an actual packet data communication is in a full condition in an active subscriber resource managing unit, when a communication resource needed for only maintaining a logical connection with a user is in a free condition in a dormant subscriber resource managing unit, for accommodating a new user in a dormant state through this free resource, a control unit carries out connection processing answering a new connection request through the use of a radio resource secured in advance or a free radio resource produced by shifting a portion of active users forcibly to a dormant state. This enables using a packet communication total resource without waste and considerably improving the packet service connectivity to a user.

Abstract: Each mobile station is accommodated in a base station through a radio transmission path. A base station control device controls each base station. A mobile station is accommodated in a first base station. Each of the base stations notifies the mobile station of the condition of the communication resources of the base station, respectively. If the mobile station judges that it is advantageous to be accommodated in a second base station instead of the first base station, the mobile station makes a request for hand-off to the base station control device. The base station control device issues a hand-off command to both of the first and second base stations. Then, the mobile station is accommodated in the second base station.

Abstract: By transmitting an analog CATV signal output from a CATV-HE (CAble TeleVision-Head End) to an HDT (Host Digital Terminal), an analog transmission channel for transmitting the analog CATV signal to an ONU (Optical Network Unit) is included in a path housing a digital transmission channel for transmitting a digital service signal for individual distribution service to the ONU. Furthermore, a digital service signal for multicast service is modulated and converted into an analog service signal by a modulator in the HDT. Then, the converted signal is mixed with the analog CATV signal, and transmitted to the ONU. Accordingly, each of the ONUs is equipped with only a built-in modulator for modulating the digital service signal for individual distribution service.

Abstract: A media information distribution service system, such as a video-on-demand service system, is disclosed which, even if the capacity of a line is small and the number of lines connected to a media server, such as a video server, has to be increased accordingly, permits an uneconomical increase in the number of line circuits in the media server to be checked. In the system, a subscriber group that a distributor accommodates can be associated with a plurality of distributor-side paths on a distributor-side line. Each of the distributor-side paths is connected to a respective one of server-side paths on separate server-side lines connecting the media server and an exchange. In sending media information to a subscriber group, an in-server path control unit installed in the media server is permitted to select a free one out of server-side paths on server-side lines allocated for that subscriber group and activates a line interface corresponding to the free server-side path.