Abstract: A server stores a media content and an execution program for processing the media content, and determines a usage rule for the media content to be transmitted to a terminal. The server distributes the usage rule, the media content, and the execution program to the terminal. The terminal stores the distributed usage rule, media content, and execution program. The terminal executes the stored execution program and processes the stored media content within the bounds of the usage rule as stored. The server may perform a billing process in accordance with the determined usage rule, or select and distribute a media content or an execution program in accordance with the processing ability of the terminal or a state of communications. Moreover, the server may distribute, in addition to the execution program, middleware for constructing an operating environment for the execution program.

Abstract: A server stores a media content and an execution program for processing the media content, and determines a usage rule for the media content to be transmitted to a terminal. The server distributes the usage rule, the media content, and the execution program to the terminal. The terminal stores the distributed usage rule, media content, and execution program. The terminal executes the stored execution program and processes the stored media content within the bounds of the usage rule as stored. The server may perform a billing process in accordance with the determined usage rule, or select and distribute a media content or an execution program in accordance with the processing ability of the terminal or a state of communications. Moreover, the server may distribute, in addition to the execution program, middleware for constructing an operating environment for the execution program.

Abstract: A server stores a media content and an execution program for processing the media content, and determines a usage rule for the media content to be transmitted to a terminal. The server distributes the usage rule, the media content, and the execution program to the terminal. The terminal stores the distributed usage rule, media content, and execution program. The terminal executes the stored execution program and processes the stored media content within the bounds of the usage rule as stored. The server may perform a billing process in accordance with the determined usage rule, or select and distribute a media content or an execution program in accordance with the processing ability of the terminal or a state of communications. Moreover, the server may distribute, in addition to the execution program, middleware for constructing an operating environment for the execution program.

Abstract: A server stores a media content and an execution program for processing the media content, and determines a usage rule for the media content to be transmitted to a terminal. The server distributes the usage rule, the media content, and the execution program to the terminal. The terminal stores the distributed usage rule, media content, and execution program. The terminal executes the stored execution program and processes the stored media content within the bounds of the usage rule as stored. The server may perform a billing process in accordance with the determined usage rule, or select and distribute a media content or an execution program in accordance with the processing ability of the terminal or a state of communications. Moreover, the server may distribute, in addition to the execution program, middleware for constructing an operating environment for the execution program.

Abstract: A server stores a media content and an execution program for processing the media content, and determines a usage rule for the media content to be transmitted to a terminal. The server distributes the usage rule, the media content, and the execution program to the terminal. The terminal stores the distributed usage rule, media content, and execution program. The terminal executes the stored execution program and processes the stored media content within the bounds of the usage rule as stored. The server may perform a billing process in accordance with the determined usage rule, or select and distribute a media content or an execution program in accordance with the processing ability of the terminal or a state of communications. Moreover, the server may distribute, in addition to the execution program, middleware for constructing an operating environment for the execution program.

Abstract: In the case where a user changes a set state of apparatuses, an apparatus operation control portion repressively controls the apparatuses, in spite of an instruction of a control signal according to that change, so that an increasing amount of power consumption of the apparatuses obtained from an apparatus power consumption measuring portion will not exceed an increasing amount of the generating capacity of a generator obtained from a generating capacity measuring portion so as to gradually bring it closer to a target set state set up by the user.

Abstract: A server stores a media content and an execution program for processing the media content, and determines a usage rule for the media content to be transmitted to a terminal. The server distributes the usage rule, the media content, and the execution program to the terminal. The terminal stores the distributed usage rule, media content, and execution program. The terminal executes the stored execution program and processes the stored media content within the bounds of the usage rule as stored. The server may perform a billing process in accordance with the determined usage rule, or select and distribute a media content or an execution program in accordance with the processing ability of the terminal or a state of communications. Moreover, the server may distribute, in addition to the execution program, middleware for constructing an operating environment for the execution program.

Abstract: A server stores a media content and an execution program for processing the media content, and determines a usage rule for the media content to be transmitted to a terminal. The server distributes the usage rule, the media content, and the execution program to the terminal. The terminal stores the distributed usage rule, media content, and execution program. The terminal executes the stored execution program and processes the stored media content within the bounds of the usage rule as stored. The server may perform a billing process in accordance with the determined usage rule, or select and distribute a media content or an execution program in accordance with the processing ability of the terminal or a state of communications. Moreover, the server may distribute, in addition to the execution program, middleware for constructing an operating environment for the execution program.

Abstract: A content reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is such that the content reproducing apparatus judges whether or not reproducing data of a replay segment pointed out by the skip instruction is skippable when a skip instruction from a user is accepted while a content is being reproduced. When a result of judgment is negative to the skip instruction, an alternative data is reproduced in place of data of the replay segment hat has been instructed to be skipped. When the reproducing of the alternative data is completed, so that data of the replay segment successive to the replay segment pointed out by the skip instruction is executed.

Abstract: A content reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is such that the content reproducing apparatus judges whether or not reproducing data of a replay segment pointed out by the skip instruction is skippable when a skip instruction from a user is accepted while a content is being reproduced. When a result of judgment is negative to the skip instruction, an alternative data is reproduced in place of data of the replay segment hat has been instructed to be skipped. When the reproducing of the alternative data is completed, so that data of the replay segment successive to the replay segment pointed out by the skip instruction is executed.

Abstract: In the case where a user changes a set state of apparatuses, an apparatus operation control portion repressively controls the apparatuses, in spite of an instruction of a control signal according to that change, so that an increasing amount of power consumption of the apparatuses obtained from an apparatus power consumption measuring portion will not exceed an increasing amount of the generating capacity of a generator obtained from a generating capacity measuring portion so as to gradually bring it closer to a target set state set up by the user.

Abstract: A communication system is provided, which includes: a transmitter for transmitting multi-dimensional stream data capable of representing a CG scene; and a receiver for receiving the multi-dimensional stream data.

Abstract: A content reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is such that the content reproducing apparatus judges whether or not reproducing data of a replay segment pointed out by the skip instruction is skippable when a skip instruction from a user is accepted while a content is being reproduced. When a result of judgment is negative to the skip instruction, an alternative data is reproduced in place of data of the replay segment hat has been instructed to be skipped. When the reproducing of the alternative data is completed, so that data of the replay segment successive to the replay segment pointed out by the skip instruction is executed.

Abstract: A communication system is provided, which includes: a transmitter for transmitting multi-dimensional stream data capable of representing a CG scene; and a receiver for receiving the multi-dimensional stream data.

Abstract: A server 1 stores a media content and an execution program for processing the media content, and determines a usage rule for the media content to be transmitted to a terminal 2. The server 1 distributes the usage rule, the media content, and the execution program to the terminal 2. The terminal 2 stores the distributed usage rule, media content, and execution program. The terminal 2 executes the stored execution program and processes the stored media content within the bounds of the usage rule as stored. The server 1 may perform a billing process in accordance with the determined usage rule, or select and distribute a media content or an execution program in accordance with the processing ability of the terminal 2 or a state of communications. Moreover, the server 1 may distribute, in addition to the execution program, middleware for constructing an operating environment for the execution program.

Abstract: A content distribution system composed of a server device for selecting and distributing video scenes according to a user request, and a terminal device for receiving the video scenes from the server device. The server device stores a plurality of content files. Each content file is composed of a plurality of pieces of scene data together with scene additional information regarding playback of each piece of scene data. The server device selects pieces of scene data matching the user request, reads scene additional information from each content file containing the selected pieces of scene data, generates, based on the read scene additional information, selected-scene additional information, and transmits the selected pieces of scene data in association with the generated selected-scene additional information. The terminal device receives and stores the selected pieces of scene data and the selected-scene additional information.

Abstract: What is provided is: a) a program production apparatus for producing a secondary program that is intended for distribution and is based on an original program produced in advanced; and b) a program distribution system that includes this program production apparatus. For every image scene that makes up the original program, the program production apparatus has corresponding scene data stored within it that includes usage restriction information, this information indicating whether the image scene in question is permitted to be distributed along specified distribution routes. After receiving inputs from the producer of the secondary program that indicate a preferred distribution route for the secondary program, the program production apparatus compares these inputs with the usage restriction information to determine whether each scene is permitted to be distributed along the requested distribution route.

Abstract: A program distribution system stores compressed program information created by compressing a plurality of consecutive frame images. Then, after receiving segment information that indicates a specific segment of frame images to be distributed, the system produces a plurality of decompressed frame images by decompressing a section of the compressed information that corresponds to the segment of frame images indicated by the segment information. Next, the system performs inter-frame compression on the plurality of decompressed frame images, thus producing a new stream of compressed information that is then transmitted as distribution program.

Abstract: A grounding device for use with an image forming machine includes an electric conductive member and radio wave absorbing device associated with the electric conductive member. The electric conductive member is composed of a metal plate or a metal bar. The radio wave absorbing device is composed of a radio wave absorbing member containing sintered ferrite or ferrite particles, a radio wave absorbing sheet piece containing ferrite particles, or a radio wave absorbing paint containing ferrite particles.