Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: an interface unit that communicates with another device through a plurality of physical links; a setting unit that determines a value of a setting parameter for setting a signal transmission characteristic for each of the plurality of physical links by performing a negotiation with the other device and that outputs a plurality of determined values of the setting parameter, each of the plurality of determined values corresponding to one of the plurality of physical links; and a judgment unit that judges whether each of the plurality of determined values is correct or not by judging whether or not a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value among the plurality of determined values falls within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A storage control apparatus includes: a detector configured to detect a failure in one of a plurality of storages, each of a plurality of cabinets coupled in a cascade and having the plurality of storage units; a mover configured to move data in one or a plurality of first storages accommodated in a first cabinet including a failed storage having the failure detected by detector to one or a plurality of second storages accommodated in a second cabinet included in the plurality of cabinets; and a connection controller configured to control a first connection between the first cabinet and the plurality of cabinets other than the first cabinet and a second connection between the plurality of first storages in the first cabinet and the plurality of cabinets other than the first cabinet.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: an interface unit that communicates with another device through a plurality of physical links; a setting unit that determines a value of a setting parameter for setting a signal transmission characteristic for each of the plurality of physical links by performing a negotiation with the other device and that outputs a plurality of determined values of the setting parameter, each of the plurality of determined values corresponding to one of the plurality of physical links; and a judgment unit that judges whether each of the plurality of determined values is correct or not by judging whether or not a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value among the plurality of determined values falls within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A storage control apparatus includes: a detector configured to detect a failure in one of a plurality of storages, each of a plurality of cabinets coupled in a cascade and having the plurality of storage units; a mover configured to move data in one or a plurality of first storages accommodated in a first cabinet including a failed storage having the failure detected by detector to one or a plurality of second storages accommodated in a second cabinet included in the plurality of cabinets; and a connection controller configured to control a first connection between the first cabinet and the plurality of cabinets other than the first cabinet and a second connection between the plurality of first storages in the first cabinet and the plurality of cabinets other than the first cabinet.

Abstract: Program data and information associated with at least one consumer commodity that appears in a program of the program data are synchronously transmitted. The program data and the associated information are received, and the program is reproduced and displayed on a display. One of a plurality of displayed consumer commodities is selected, and at least part of information associated with the selected consumer commodity is extracted and displayed. The extracted information associated with the selected consumer commodity is stored and is accessible after the program is displayed.

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: Program data and information associated with at least a consumer commodity that appears in a program of the program data are synchronously transmitted. The program data and the information associated therewith are received. The received program data is reproduced. The reproduced data is displayed on a displaying portion. Information associated with one selected from a plurality of consumer commodities displayed on the displaying portion is extracted and displayed. The viewer can buy a consumer commodity at a store corresponding to the extracted information.

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: When the amount of money billed each time the information is distributed once is determined depending on the number of times that the information is distributed within a predetermined time period, the intention of information offerer and the estimation of user reflects automatically on the amount of money billed when the information is distributed.

Abstract: Program data and information associated with at least a consumer commodity that appears in a program of the program data are synchronously transmitted. The program data and the information associated therewith are received. The received program data is reproduced. The reproduced data is displayed on a displaying portion. Information associated with a selected one of a plurality of consumer commodities displayed on the displaying portion is extracted and displayed. A viewer can buy the selected consumer commodity at a store corresponding to the extracted information.

Abstract: A method for processing content data includes the steps of, when content data is transmitted from a data provider, adding usage rule information prescribing a rule of usage of the content data to the content data and transmitting the content data with the usage rule information; receiving the transmitted content data; extracting the usage rule information from the received content data; and notifying a user of the content data of the extracted usage information.

Abstract: Program data and information associated with at least one consumer commodity that appears in a program of the program data are synchronously transmitted. The program data and the associated information are received, and the program is reproduced and displayed on a display. One of a plurality of displayed consumer commodities is selected, and at least part of information associated with the selected consumer commodity is extracted and displayed. The extracted information associated with the selected consumer commodity is stored and is accessible after the program is displayed.

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: A recording medium includes at least a recording area in which pieces of content data are recorded, and a lead-in area in a position that is read before the recording area is read. In one of the recording area and the lead-in area, identification information which indicates whether the recording medium is for a rental use is recorded.

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: Contents data processing apparatus comprising a reproducing block for reproducing contents data from a recording medium, a character information generation block for generating character information based on first information accompanied with said contents data, and a character memory for storing second information regarding growth or change.

Abstract: A system control circuit 5 determines whether or not an external apparatus connected to an interface 14 is one that can store data, by transmitting data to the apparatus through the interface 14. It the system control circuit 5 determines that the external apparatus can store data, the circuit 5 turns off a switch 13, stopping the transmission of audio data to the external apparatus through the interface 14. As a result, illegal copying of the data can be effectively prevented.

Abstract: When the amount of money billed each time the information is distributed once is determined depending on the number of times that the information is distributed within a predetermined time period, the intention of information offerer and the estimation of user reflects automatically on the amount of money billed when the information is distributed.

Abstract: When the amount of money billed each time the information is distributed once is determined depending on the number of times that the information is distributed within a predetermined time period, the intention of information offerer and the estimation of user reflects automatically on the amount of money billed when the information is distributed.