Abstract: A reproducing device includes: one or more input source selectors for selecting content to reproduce; two or more decoding processors for decoding the content; two or more output controllers for reproducing and outputting the decoded content; an instruction reception unit for receiving a reproduction instruction specifying arbitrary content, to have the specified content reproduced and output by one of the output controllers; a reproducibility determiner for deciding, on a basis of usage conditions of the input source selectors and the decoding processors, whether or not the specified content can be reproduced with one of the decoding processors; a reproduction path determiner for designating, on a basis of the decision, which decoding processor and which output controller to use to reproduce the specified content; and a reproduction controller for using the designated decoding processor and output controller to reproduce the specified content.

Abstract: A slave device is equipped with: a parameter setting portion for setting different values according to the content of commands sent from a master device, as parameter values for detecting anomalies; and an anomaly detecting portion for detecting anomalies by comparing the time corresponding to a parameter value that has been set by the parameter setting portion and the measured time of a process carried out in response to a command.

Abstract: A display system is provided which determines an effective image area by automatically detecting a boundary between the effective image area and a non-image area created owing to the difference between the pixel numbers of the camera image sensor and television signal, to thereby display the images on a monitor by adjusting a display size and position suitable for the effective image area, whereby an inappropriate display size and position are avoided from being set while a lighting device for illuminating a camera's field of vision is off. The display system receives a signal notifying about activation of the lighting device from the lighting controller that provides on/off control of the device; the system then determines the effective image area if the device is on, and does not if it is off.

Abstract: Each of image information playback units (11, 21) detects that image display has started, on the basis of a change in digital video data (VDa, VDb), and generates a frame number (FNa, FNb) (103, 203). One of the image information playback units (11) combines frame signals that output frame synchronization signals (FSa) (104). The other image information playback unit (21) separates the frame synchronization signals (FSa) and generates a frame number (SFNa) (205). The generated frame number (SFNa) and the frame number (FNb) generated in the second image information playback unit (21) are compared, and on the basis of the comparison results the frequency of the decoding reference clock signal is controlled (206). When images are displayed by a plurality of display units (15, 25) connected to the image information playback units (11, 21), the images can be synchronized with a simple structure.

Abstract: A reproducing device includes: one or more input source selectors for selecting content to reproduce; two or more decoding processors for decoding the content; two or more output controllers for reproducing and outputting the decoded content; an instruction reception unit for receiving a reproduction instruction specifying arbitrary content, to have the specified content reproduced and output by one of the output controllers; a reproducibility determiner for deciding, on a basis of usage conditions of the input source selectors and the decoding processors, whether or not the specified content can be reproduced with one of the decoding processors; a reproduction path determiner for designating, on a basis of the decision, which decoding processor and which output controller to use to reproduce the specified content; and a reproduction controller for using the designated decoding processor and output controller to reproduce the specified content.

Abstract: An information processing device including a reader unit connected through a connection switch to a first control section and a second control section. The first control section is connected to the connection switch by a first bus supporting a first specification. The second control section is connected to a conversion unit by a second bus supporting a second specification. The conversion unit is connected to the connection switch by a third bus supporting the first specification. When the connection switch connects the reader unit to the first control section, the second control section halts communication with the conversion unit, thereby avoiding unnecessary use of processing resources.

Abstract: A file transfer method and a file transfer system are provided for making it possible to minimize aggregate waiting time of the whole users for data transfer using a multicast protocol. In the file transfer method of transferring a plurality of program files from a recorder storing a plurality of program files via a network to a plurality of mobile terminals using a multicast protocol, the recorder determines order of transfers of the plurality of program files for the purpose of transferring the plurality of program files in order of digital data files, which is the ascending order of file size of the plurality of program files (step S102), the recorder transfers the plurality of program files on the basis of the order of transfers (steps S104-S109), and the plurality of mobile terminals selectively receives the plurality of program files (steps S204-S207), thereby reducing aggregate waiting time that is a sum total of transfer time of the whole users.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus in which its function can be improved by installing an additional module to an existing module in a module configuration system. A video information processing apparatus 100, which is an existing module, has the function of reading, from a network module 150 as an additional module, software held in the network module 150. The software held in the network module 150 includes control software for the network module and software for making the control software available to the existing video information processing apparatus 100. The software held in the network module 150 is added to the video information processing apparatus 100, and the network module 150 is operated by the video information processing apparatus 100.

Abstract: Provided is a gateway device for interconnecting an IEEE1394 network and an IP network, which automatically detects and operates an AV device connected to the IEEE1394 network from a player device connected to the IP network, thereby enabling the player device to watch and hear contents stored in the AV device. The gateway device interconnects a network, to which an AV/C installed IEEE1394 device is connected, and a network, to which a player device compliant with a UPnP is connected, and includes: a conversion unit for converting Plug-and-Play processing of the IEEE1394 device to each step of Plug-and-Play of the UPnP; a conversion unit for converting an action of a UPnP AV to an AV/C command of the IEEE1394 device; and a stream transfer unit for transferring stream data transmitted from the IEEE1394 device to the IP network.

Abstract: A file transfer method and a file transfer system are provided for making it possible to minimize aggregate waiting time of the whole users for data transfer using a multicast protocol. In the file transfer method of transferring a plurality of program files from a recorder storing a plurality of program files via a network to a plurality of mobile terminals using a multicast protocol, the recorder determines order of transfers of the plurality of program files for the purpose of transferring the plurality of program files in order of digital data files, which is the ascending order of file size of the plurality of program files (step S102), the recorder transfers the plurality of program files on the basis of the order of transfers (steps S104-S109), and the plurality of mobile terminals selectively receives the plurality of program files (steps S204-S207), thereby reducing aggregate waiting time that is a sum total of transfer time of the whole users.

Abstract: A display system is provided which determines an effective image area by automatically detecting a boundary between the effective image area and a non-image area created owing to the difference between the pixel numbers of the camera image sensor and television signal, to thereby display the images on a monitor by adjusting a display size and position suitable for the effective image area, whereby an inappropriate display size and position are avoided from being set while a lighting device for illuminating a camera's field of vision is off. The display system receives a signal notifying about activation of the lighting device from the lighting controller that provides on/off control of the device; the system then determines the effective image area if the device is on, and does not if it is off.

Abstract: Provided is a gateway device for interconnecting an IEEE1394 network and an IP network, which automatically detects and operates an AV device connected to the IEEE1394 network from a player device connected to the IP network, thereby enabling the player device to watch and hear contents stored in the AV device. The gateway device interconnects a network, to which an AV/C installed IEEE1394 device is connected, and a network, to which a player device compliant with a UPnP is connected, and includes: a conversion unit for converting Plug-and-Play processing of the IEEE1394 device to each step of Plug-and-Play of the UPnP; a conversion unit for converting an action of a UPnP AV to an AV/C command of the IEEE1394 device; and a stream transfer unit for transferring stream data transmitted from the IEEE1394 device to the IP network.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus in which its function can be improved by installing an additional module to an existing module in a module configuration system. A video information processing apparatus 100, which is an existing module, has the function of reading, from a network module 150 as an additional module, software held in the network module 150. The software held in the network module 150 includes control software for the network module and software for making the control software available to the existing video information processing apparatus 100. The software held in the network module 150 is added to the video information processing apparatus 100, and the network module 150 is operated by the video information processing apparatus 100.

Abstract: In an information distribution system for outputting information using an information output unit that is distributed from an information distribution unit, it is an object of the present invention to obtain an information distribution system capable of readily changing information in a short time to be outputted from the information output unit. In order to achieve this object, an information distribution system includes an output unit (10) for outputting information to be provided to a user, a distribution unit (11) for distributing a piece of information to the output unit (10) as the information to be provided, the piece of information being selected from several pieces of information prepared in advance, and an input unit (12) connected to the distribution unit (11) through a communication line and inputting a control signal to the distribution unit (11) through the communication line, the control signal selecting the information to be provided from the several pieces of information.

Abstract: A conventional display system carried on a railroad train has the problem that it cannot distribute image signal to the cars of the train when image information output means mounted in a lead car breaks down. Accordingly, a display system to be carried on a railroad train according to the invention includes: first image information output means provided in a given car in a train of a plurality of connected cars, for outputting first image information; second image information output means provided in a given car of said train, for outputting second image information; and display means provided in a given car of said train, for switchably displaying said first image information transmitted from said first image information output means and said second image information transmitted from said second image information output means.

Abstract: A system for presenting information to passengers in a conveyance, has a computer which stores operation diagram information; a storage medium which stores a plurality of advertisement data items to be presented to the passengers; and an information presenting device. The computer obtains an operation time in each operation section on the basis of the operation diagram information and identification data for identifying the conveyance, and selects and arranges some of the advertisement data items to generate presentation data for continuously presenting information to the passengers throughout a time period corresponding to the operation time. The information presenting device reproduces the presentation data corresponding to each operation section to present the information to the passengers in each operation section of the conveyance.

Abstract: A system for presenting information to passengers in a conveyance, has a computer which stores operation diagram information; a storage medium which stores a plurality of advertisement data items to be presented to the passengers; and an information presenting device. The computer obtains an operation time in each operation section on the basis of the operation diagram information and identification data for identifying the conveyance, and selects and arranges some of the advertisement data items to generate presentation data for continuously presenting information to the passengers throughout a time period corresponding to the operation time. The information presenting device reproduces the presentation data corresponding to each operation section to present the information to the passengers in each operation section of the conveyance.

Abstract: A conventional display system carried on a railroad train has the problem that it cannot distribute image signal to the cars of the train when image information output means mounted in a lead car breaks down.

Abstract: A system for presenting information to passengers in a conveyance, has a computer which stores operation diagram information; a storage medium which stores a plurality of advertisement data items to be presented to the passengers; and an information presenting device. The computer obtains an operation time in each operation section on the basis of the operation diagram information and identification data for identifying the conveyance, and selects and arranges some of the advertisement data items to generate presentation data for continuously presenting information to the passengers throughout a time period corresponding to the operation time. The information presenting device reproduces the presentation data corresponding to each operation section to present the information to the passengers in each operation section of the conveyance.

Abstract: A system for presenting information to passengers in a conveyance, has a computer which stores operation diagram information; a storage medium which stores a plurality of advertisement data items to be presented to the passengers; and an information presenting device. The computer obtains an operation time in each operation section on the basis of the operation diagram information and identification data for identifying the conveyance, and selects and arranges some of the advertisement data items to generate presentation data for continuously presenting information to the passengers throughout a time period corresponding to the operation time. The information presenting device reproduces the presentation data corresponding to each operation section to present the information to the passengers in each operation section of the conveyance.