Abstract: A user-friendly cooperative process execution method for causing household electric devices that are registered to a server to execute cooperative processes. The server stores correspondence information associating a particular operation to be executed by a particular household electric device with one or more groups each composed of one or more household electric devices, and indicating, for each of the household electric devices in each of the groups, a control signal to be transmitted to the household electric device. The method includes: detecting whether or not the particular operation is executed; selecting one of the groups that is composed of one or more household electric devices that are registered to the server by referring to the correspondence information when the execution of the particular operation is detected; and transmitting the control signal to each of the household electric devices in the selected group.

Abstract: A user-friendly cooperative process execution method for causing household electric devices that are registered to a server to execute cooperative processes. The server stores correspondence information associating a particular operation to be executed by a particular household electric device with one or more groups each composed of one or more household electric devices, and indicating, for each of the household electric devices in each of the groups, a control signal to be transmitted to the household electric device. The method includes: detecting whether or not the particular operation is executed; selecting one of the groups that is composed of one or more household electric devices that are registered to the server by referring to the correspondence information when the execution of the particular operation is detected; and transmitting the control signal to each of the household electric devices in the selected group.

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 order to protect a content holder, a server device (20) holds a content and distribution control information specifying a number of terminals to which the same part of the content can be streamed at the same time. When a playback request pertaining to the content is received from a plurality of terminals, distribution of the content to the terminals is controlled such that the number of terminals specified in the distribution control information is not exceeded.

Abstract: The broadcast program transmission/reception system includes a pay broadcast program site containing pay broadcast programs, multiple CM information management sites each of which stores multiple commercials, multiple viewer's terminals, and a commercial sponsor site. The viewer's terminal requests a pay broadcast program list from one of the CM information sites and then a pay broadcast program among the pay broadcast program list. The CM information management site requests the pay broadcast program requested by the viewer's terminal from the pay broadcast program site, and receives the pay broadcast program. After that, the CM information management site edits the received pay broadcast program by inserting commercials therein and transmits the pay broadcast program with commercials to the viewer's terminal. Concurrently, the CM information management site accumulates the number of transmitted pay broadcast program/commercials.

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 nonlinear editing server 1 receives video editing information, which is then analyzed by an audio/video (AV) data managing unit 14. In accordance with the analyzed video editing information, AV data specified in the video editing information is read and sent to at least one of decoders 121 and 122 to be reproduced. An AV data processing unit 123 performs editing for the reproduced AV data based on the video editing information and generates a single AV stream. An encoder 124 encodes this AV stream. The nonlinear editing server 1 then transmits the encoded AV stream to a nonlinear editing client. In this way, the nonlinear editing server 1 only transmits a single AV stream to a nonlinear editing client.

Abstract: A video data storing unit stores video data pieces. An editing information generating unit generates editing information sets. A copyright information storing unit stores a standard copyright royalty fee for each video data piece. A royalty fee calculation unit calculates a total copyright royalty fee using the editing information sets and the standard copyright royalty fees. An upper limit judging unit judges whether the total copyright royalty fee exceeds an upper limit. If the total copyright royalty fee exceeds the upper limit, a reediting unit deletes part of a clip to reduce the total copyright royalty fee to a level no more than the upper limit.

Abstract: A distribution content provided with conditions that are only effective to part of a content body is created. On a time axis, a section of a content body is specified. Management data is then created which indicates use conditions that are only effective to the specified section, and the created management data is provided to the content body for distribution.

Abstract: An Internet broadcast system includes a video file providing apparatus and a video receiving/reproducing apparatus that are connected via the Internet. The providing apparatus includes a storing unit for storing a video file consecutively storing a plurality of sets of sectional video data. The receiving/reproducing apparatus stores a plurality of video reproduction tables specifying sets of sectional video data in an order of reproduction. A viewer designates one of the video reproduction tables. An information processing unit in the receiving/reproducing apparatus generates a transfer instruction for each set of sectional video data specified in the designated table, and transmits the generated instruction to the providing apparatus. Upon receiving the instruction, the providing apparatus reads a set of sectional video data from the video file, and transmits the read set to the receiving/reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes two semiconductor chips that are interposed between a pair of radiation members, and thermally and electrically connected to the radiation members. One of the radiation members has two protruding portions and front ends of the protruding portions are connected to principal electrodes of the semiconductor chips. The radiation members are made of a metallic material containing Cu or Al as a main component. The semiconductor chips and the radiation members are sealed with resin with externally exposed radiation surfaces.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes two semiconductor chips that are interposed between a pair of radiation members, and thermally and electrically connected to the radiation members. One of the radiation members has two protruding portions and front ends of the protruding portions are connected to principal electrodes of the semiconductor chips. The radiation members are made of a metallic material containing Cu or Al as a main component. The semiconductor chips and the radiation members are sealed with resin with externally exposed radiation surfaces.

Abstract: A resource management system is composed of a plurality of application programs, a resource management information database, and a resource manager. Each application program executes data transfer using resources. The resource management database stores resource management information and key information for each resource. Upon receipt of a resource use request from an application program, the resource manager judges whether the requested resource can be allocated to the application program by referring to the resource capacity and the currently-allocated volume of the resource that are included in the information database. If judging that the requested resource can be allocated, the resource manager gives authorization to the application program to use the resource. The resource manager also controls resource allocation by restricting a data transfer bandwidth used by an application program and requesting a resource release on expiration of the valid time period.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes two semiconductor chips that are interposed between a pair of radiation members, and thermally and electrically connected to the radiation members. One of the radiation members has two protruding portions and front ends of the protruding portions are connected to principal electrodes of the semiconductor chips. The radiation members are made of a metallic material containing Cu or Al as a main component. The semiconductor chips and the radiation members are sealed with resin with externally exposed radiation surfaces.

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.