Abstract: a) Predicting, by conversation information, context patterns that can possibly occur in future, evaluating the predicted context patterns according to the rating criteria, b) selecting a system message which is to be output next among a highly evaluated context pattern, and outputting the system message, c) selecting at least one user message that is among the user messages correspond to the system message and that is included in the conversation information, and outputting the user message, d) accepting selection of any one of the user message, e) deciding the next position of a marker that shows current topic according to the selected user message, f) repeating the step a) to e).

Abstract: a) Predicting, by conversation information, context patterns that can possibly occur in future, evaluating the predicted context patterns according to the rating criteria, b) selecting a system message which is to be output next among a highly evaluated context pattern, and outputting the system message, c) selecting at least one user message that is among the user messages correspond to the system message and that is included in the conversation information, and outputing the user message, d) accepting selection of any one of the user message, e) deciding the next position of a marker that shows current topic according to the selected user message, f) repeating the step a) to e).

Abstract: An item data entry method by detecting a constituent element which represents an entry item from among received Internet documents, based on the document structure data of a document such as an HTML document containing the entry item key, comparing the entry item key of the detected entry item with the entry item key registered in a database, thereby automatically entering in the entry item the user's name, address, phone number, and the like corresponding to the entry item key registered in the database which has been matched as a result of comparison.

Abstract: A three-dimensional graphics display system jointly uses three-dimensional image representations and two-dimensional image representations, whereby the data processing amount can be effectively reduced. The data structure of the image data used in this system includes (a) three-dimensional polygon data for a three-dimensional object representing a three-dimensional image and (b) two-dimensional image representation data for a two-dimensional image representation object representing a three-dimensional object as a two-dimensional image arranged in a three-dimensional virtual space having two-dimensional image data and a Z-value. Input data is divided, and an object perspective control part determines a perspective order of objects. A rendering process part overlappingly draws objects according to their perspective order, to correctly represent overlap due to perspective representation. Virtual collisions can be rendered by exclusion control of the space areas of all objects.

Abstract: An item data entry method by detecting a constituent element which represents an entry item from among received Internet documents, based on the document structure data of a document such as an HTML document containing the entry item key, comparing the entry item key of the detected entry item with the entry item key registered in a database, thereby automatically entering in the entry item the user's name, address, phone number, and the like corresponding to the entry item key registered in the database which has been matched as a result of comparison.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to perform a constructive exchange of information between a user and a provider of products in virtual reality. A user places a product 154 that he is considering buying in a cart, designates product providers, and gives notification thereto of the cart contents. A designated product provider 153, by seeing the cart contents, can learn in what products the user is interested. The product provider 153 can provide to the cart from which the designation arose additional information 155, such as advertisements for its products. The user, by receiving various types of additional information from a product provider that he trusts, can find products that meet his desires, and can enjoy more satisfactory network-based shopping.

Abstract: The present invention provides a 3D real-time graphics generator for generating progressive polygon data for rendering 3D graphics that can reduce the amount of data processing by a computer and a storage area for polygon data, facilitates editing of an object by using the progressive polygon data so as to reduce the amount of work of an animator. The progressive polygon data includes information about vertices of a basic polyhedron approximate to a shape of a 3D object and information about detailed vertices of a polyhedron in a level of approximation to the object that is higher than the basic polyhedron, which are determined progressively based on the level of approximation. In the generation of 3D real-time graphics, detailed vertices are sequentially merged into the vertices of the basic polyhedron so as to produce 3D polygon data.

Abstract: Based on the importance of object portions, a three-dimensional polygon display apparatus adjusts the extent to which the amount of polygon data is reduced by progressive polygon data reduction. An object is divided into object portions, which are magnified and adjusted depending on their importance or conspicuity, or the extent to which polygon reduction processing is performed is set individually. Object portions hidden inside the object are rearranged on the outside, or the enclosing object portions are deformed to expose the internal object portions on the outside. After this adjustment, polygon reduction processing is performed. One set of texture information is assigned to each vertex in the case of a development into two dimensions. If polygon vertices have been moved, the used texture information is that of the closest vertex, or an intrapolation of the texture information of surrounding vertices.

Abstract: A water surface region is divided into elongated (or vertical) slice regions, an image is drawn by randomly swaying each slice region, and the foregoing process is repeated so that sway of the water surface is expressed. An ellipse is enlarged and the color is gradually made to be the same as the color of the surrounding water surface so that ripples are expressed. The water surface is divided into a plurality of regions which are sequentially subjected to a process for elongating the regions so that waves are expressed. Images of sprays and ellipses which are gradually enlarged are superimposed so that sprays occurring because of a rain are expressed.

Abstract: An oscillation apparatus is provided with a signal input unit for supplying a pulse sequence consisting of pulses sequentially continuously occurred; a state quantity generating unit for generating state quantity having a value which is monotonously increased with the passage of time; a state quantity transition unit for transferring a value of state quantity in the course of generation in said state quantity generating unit to a value changed by a predetermined amount in a varying direction of the value of the state quantity with respect to a present value of the state quantity, whenever one pulse is fed from said signal input unit to said state quantity transition unit; a state quantity reset unit for comparing the present value of the state quantity generated in said state quantity generating unit with a predetermined threshold value, and resetting the present value of the state quantity generated in said state quantity generating unit to a predetermined initial value when the present value reaches the thr

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a plurality of bin trays arranged in multiple levels with predetermined intervals; stacking device supported in said apparatus so as to be moved in an arrangement direction of the plurality of bins; discharging device for discharging a sheet; and transferring device for transferring the sheet to said stacking device from the bin tray having completed sheet reception.

Abstract: A display device and process used to display an image in which stationary objects and moving objects are displayed on a two-dimensional surface taking into consideration the depth relationship among the objects. By using the depth relationship among objects, moving objects may be seen to move in front of other objects and thereby obscure them or move behind other objects and thereby be obscured by them. This is accomplished by using prestored image data of the stationary objects and moving objects. A depth relationship relative to another moving object and stationary object is then obtained for each of portion of the prestored image data for each moving object for which a change has occurred between frames. The present invention uses an object buffer to expand difference data representing a difference between frames of prestored image data of a moving object. A bit map is used to contain bits uniquely assigned to each moving object.

Abstract: An image processing system of the invention has a reader which reads out an image of an original, a page memory which stores image information of the original in the form of electric signals, a disk memory which stores part or all of the image information in the disk memory and also stores image processing information, an image processing section, a digitizer for the operator to input the image processing information, a CRT which displays input information or corrections in convesation language, a DMA controller, and a printer. The image processing system of the invention is capable of DMA transfer without the intermediacy of a CPU. Fewer addresses are required for readout of the image information from the memory, and high speed image processing is achieved.

Abstract: An image generating apparatus has a command interpreting unit for interpreting external commands, an information storage unit storing information for image generation, an image selecting unit for selecting desired images from the information stored in the information storage unit, and an image display unit for displaying the images selected by the image selecting unit. The information storage unit includes an image information unit where image information is stored and a fake information unit where information for selecting images that do not produce unnatural visual effects is stored. Based on the information retrieved from the fake information unit, the image selecting unit selects and generates images in accordance with the content of interpretation from the command interpreting unit. The generated images are then within a range that does not produce unnatural visual effects.

Abstract: An oscillation apparatus is provided with a present value generating unit for generating a present value which is monotonously increased or decreased with the passage of time; a threshold value generating unit for generating a threshold of which a value is periodically varied; a comparing and detecting unit for comparing the present value generated in said present value generating unit with the threshold generated in said threshold value generating unit; a present value reset unit for resetting the present value to a predetermined initial value whenever said comparing and detecting unit detects a fact that the present value reached the threshold; and a signal generating unit for generating sequentially signals of which a period is defined by a time interval of timing-to-timing in which said comparing and detecting detects a fact that the present value reached the threshold.

Abstract: There is provided a periodic process load control system for controlling a load of a CPU in conjunction with an execution of a periodic process in a multiple-process operating system having the CPU in which a plurality of processes including a periodic process activated periodically are executed on a time division basis, and a periodic process recording medium for storing a periodic process into which such a load control function is incorporated. A time interval in which the periodic process is repeatedly executed is measured to evaluate a load evaluation value consisting of an accumulation value of the time intervals. A load of the periodic process itself is controlled in accordance with the load evaluation value.

Abstract: A sheet processing device which is mounted on an image forming apparatus having a both-side copy mode of forming an image on each side of a sheet member, including a bin module provided with a plurality of bins for accepting sheet members exhausted from the image forming apparatus, and a processor for taking out sheet members exhausted from the bin and processing the sheet members. When the maximum number of sheets continuously producible per unit in the both-side copy mode for the image forming apparatus is N, and the number of bins is m, the number of bins m is set to satisfy the following relational expression:m.gtoreq.N.

Abstract: An image generating apparatus has a command interpreting unit for interpreting external commands, an information storage unit for storing information for image generation, an image selecting unit for selecting desired images from the information stored in the information storage unit, and an image display unit for displaying the images selected by the image selecting unit. The information storage unit includes an image information unit where image information is stored and a reference information unit where information for selecting images that produce natural visual effects is stored. Based on the information retrieved from the reference information unit, the image selecting unit selects and generates images in accordance with the content of interpretation from the command interpreting unit and within a range that produces natural visual effects.

Abstract: An input protection device comprises a current limiting resistor externally connected to an integrated circuit which includes two Zener diodes, one functioning as a power supply Zener diode and the other functioning as a ground Zener diode. Owing to the resistance of the current limiting resistor and junction capacitances of the Zener diodes, electromagnetic interference noise is effectively damped or attenuated.

Abstract: A sheet stapling apparatus including a stapling device for stapling a set of sheets, a load detecting device for detecting a level of a load of the stapling device during a stapling operation, and a signal generating device for generating a signal when the load detected by the load detecting device is outside a predetermined range.