Abstract: A method, computer program product and system for constructing a virtual space in which simple, time sequential photographs are taken by one or more image capturing systems, including their positional and other pertinent data which are efficiently stored in an image database system. Based upon selective view points, images and image data are retrieved from the database, processed for visualization referenced to desired viewing positions and conditions and are then displayed in real time in response to user interaction and movement within the virtual space presentation.

Abstract: An image database device which stores images shot by a lot of people who have freely participated to generate a photo-based virtual world. An image database device receives images shot by a plurality of users through communication over a network. The received image has a shooting position represented by common coordinates used among the users, which represent the position where the image is shot, its shooting conditions, and its image attributes. Then, the received image is compared with an image stored in association with a domain including the shooting position of the received image. On condition that the shooting condition lies within a predetermined range and the degree of similarity of images determined is off a predetermined range as the results of the comparison, the domain is divided, and the received image is stored in association with the divided domain, thereby creating an image database.

Abstract: To create signature data which certifies the time when information existed and add it to the information more efficiently than before. A time certification system for certifying the time when information existed, comprising: an identity certification data acquisition section for acquiring identity certification data generated based on the information to certify the identity of the information; a time certification data generation section for observing a target object changing with time elapse from the outside and generating time certification data based on observation data obtained as a result of the observation, in response to an instruction received from a user; a signature data generation section for generating signature data indicating that the information existed at the time when the target object was observed, based on combination of the identity certification data and the time certification data; and an information recording section for recording the signature data in association with the information.

Abstract: [Object] To provide a system capable of performing optimum job scheduling in respect of the types and utilization of computers as well as the types of jobs, and readily accommodating changes to the system configuration, in a grid computing system. [Constitution] A center server 100 which requests process servers on a grid computing network to execute jobs includes a scheduler section 110 which assigns a job to be executed to a process server and issues a job execution request, and a PS agent section 120 which manages information about the process servers 200, receives a request issued by the scheduler section 110, and sends the request to the process server 200 to which the requested job has been assigned, depending on the operating status and access type of the process server 200.

Abstract: An image database device which stores images shot by a lot of people who have freely participated to generate a photo-based virtual world. An image database device receives images shot by a plurality of users through communication over a network. The received image has a shooting position represented by common coordinates used among the users, which represent the position where the image is shot, its shooting conditions, and its image attributes. Then, the received image is compared with an image stored in association with a domain including the shooting position of the received image. On condition that the shooting condition lies within a predetermined range and the degree of similarity of images determined is off a predetermined range as the results of the comparison, the domain is divided, and the received image is stored in association with the divided domain, thereby creating an image database.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for constructing virtual space. The system includes an image processing unit for processing images, a data receiving unit for receiving data over a network, an image acquisition unit for obtaining image information from an image database, a control unit for obtaining the image information, and a display unit for displaying the images rendered. The method and computer program product for processing images include the steps of receiving data over a network, acquiring image information from an image database, obtaining the image information and displaying the images rendered.

Abstract: [Object] To provide a system capable of performing optimum job scheduling in respect of the types and utilization of computers as well as the types of jobs, and readily accommodating changes to the system configuration, in a grid computing system. [Constitution] A center server 100 which requests process servers on a grid computing network to execute jobs includes a scheduler section 110 which assigns a job to be executed to a process server and issues a job execution request, and a PS agent section 120 which manages information about the process servers 200, receives a request issued by the scheduler section 110, and sends the request to the process server 200 to which the requested job has been assigned, depending on the operating status and access type of the process server 200.

Abstract: To create signature data which certifies the time when information existed and add it to the information more efficiently than before. A time certification system for certifying the time when information existed, comprising: an identity certification data acquisition section for acquiring identity certification data generated based on the information to certify the identity of the information; a time certification data generation section for observing a target object changing with time elapse from the outside and generating time certification data based on observation data obtained as a result of the observation, in response to an instruction received from a user; a signature data generation section for generating signature data indicating that the information existed at the time when the target object was observed, based on combination of the identity certification data and the time certification data; and an information recording section for recording the signature data in association with the information.

Abstract: The constitution of the subject invention provides a new input/output apparatus that adds or complements the functions of PC mainframe when connected with PC mainframe, and operates in the same manner as a conventional PDA when detached from the PC mainframe. The input/output apparatus operates either independently or operates in concert with the PC mainframe under the conditions housed in the PC mainframe. The input/output apparatus of this invention comprises the display screen consisting of touch panels etc., display screen visible from outside even when the lid of the PC mainframe is closed, port used to exchange data when housed in the PC mainframe, and transmitter/receiver used for radio communication.

Abstract: A high-speed method and an apparatus for color image quantization utilizing an adaptive sampling technique in which the processing time is substantially determined by the number of simultaneously displayed colors to be selected, but is not affected by the number of colors or the color distribution in the original image. Factors contributing to improve the speed of color image quantization are that all calculations necessary for selecting the representative colors can be performed in an integer operation, and there is no need of distance calculation for mapping to neighboring representative colors. All that is required as data are a histogram, a divided color-space management list, and a division priority management list, so that required storage capacity may be small. Accordingly the invention can be implemented on a personal computer.

Abstract: A feeder comprising a hopper and a pusher, the pusher comprising a pusher sleeve, which is provided at its bottom with a perforated plate, and a cylinder actuating the pusher sleeve along the wall surface of the hopper, which directly supplies a W/O emulsion explosive into a cartridge machine without mixing with air and without breakage of hollow microspheres.

Abstract: To achieve high speed line-thinning, an electronic picture to be processed is divided into sections, and the scanning for line-thinning is performed for each section. If no point removal is performed in the scanning of a section, the line-thinning is completed for that section. When points are removed in the scanning, incomplete areas that require further line-thinning are determined based on positions where the points are removed. In the next scanning, scanning for line-thinning is not performed for all of the sections, but is done for areas within sections that contain the incomplete areas. These areas are smaller than the sections and are variably determined according to the size of their incomplete area. Thus, the area to be scanned is reduced and dynamically controlled. It is because the incomplete areas become smaller and smaller as the scanning is repeated, that the area variably determined according to the size of the incomplete area also becomes smaller.

Abstract: A device utilizing energy conversion into heat by eddy currents for braking the descent of a refugee as from higher stories of a building in the event of a fire or other emergency. Included is a payoff reel rotatably mounted on a frame for paying off wire rope. The payoff reel is coupled via overdrive gears to a rotor of electrically conductive material which also is rotatably mounted on the frame and which rotates at a greatly increased speed in response to the rotation of the payoff reel. A permanent magnet or magnets of generally annular configuration are secured to the frame in an opposed relation to the rotor for inducing eddy currents therein upon rotation of the payoff reel. The induced eddy currents convert the energy of the revolving payoff reel into heat.