Abstract: In FIG. 1, a user selects a plurality of pieces of music data desired to be reproduced concurrently, at an input unit 18 of an audio processing apparatus 16, from music data stored in a storage device 12. A reproducing apparatus 14 reproduces selected music data respectively and generates a plurality of audio signals under the control of a control unit 20. An audio processing unit 24 performs allocation of frequency band, extraction of a frequency component, time-division, periodic modulation, processing and allocation of a sound image, to respective audio signals under the control of the control unit 20. Then the audio processing unit 24 attaches segregation information of audio signals and information on the degree of emphasis to respective audio signals. The down mixer 26 mixes a plurality of audio signals and outputs as an audio signal having a predetermined number of channels, then an output unit 30 outputs the signal as sounds.

Abstract: It is made possible to appreciate a material such as a single musical composition, a single video, and the like in various states. There is provided an optical head 31 for reading out contents data such as a musical composition, a video, and the like, metadata for arranging the contents data, and information for specifying the contents data from a CD-R 11 to which they are recorded. There is provided a circuit 35 for outputting the contents data read out by the optical head and data arranged by the metadata together.

Abstract: In a music selection mode, a reproduction object deciding unit in an audio reproducing apparatus selects a plurality of pieces of candidate music from music data stored in a storage unit and has a reproducing unit reproduce them simultaneously. An assigned position deciding unit controls an audio processing unit in such a manner as to assign the sound images of the pieces of candidate music respectively to different positions. An input by which one unit of sound is selected from among a plurality of sounds that a user hears from the different positions is entered to an input unit. Then the reproduction object deciding unit determines that music data corresponding to the sound has been selected. This causes a changeover to a normal mode and the selected music data only is reproduced.

Abstract: An image display field, a whole map display field, a cursor are displayed on the music data selection screen. In the image display field is displayed an array of images which belong to one partition that can be displayed at a time and which are included in an array of images which represent whole audio data and is defined fixedly in advance. In the whole map display field is displayed a whole map indicating a display-area guide which shows where a partition being displayed now is located in the whole array and indicating a trajectory line which represents the trajectory of the cursor in the past. A plurality of pieces of music data represented by an image, which the cursor indicates, and images located around the image are reproduced concurrently.

Abstract: An information processing system, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information record medium that are controlled to generate an operation effect sound that differs for each user of a card upon an operation for electronic money are provided. A card 10 records user information 12, balance information 13, and audio data 14. The card 10 makes a settlement of electronic money with a vending machine 20 to buy a commodity. When the card 10 is presented to the vending machine 20, it reads the user information 12, the balance information 13, and the audio data 14 from the card 10 through wireless communications. The vending machine 20 makes a settlement on the basis of both information of the commodity that a user has selected and the balance information 13. As a result, the vending machine 20 provides the selected commodity to the user. On the other hand, with audio data 14, at a predetermined timing of the settlement, a predetermined sound is output.

Abstract: In an outboard motor control system, equipped with two outboard motors and actuators for steering, changing shift position and regulating engine speed, two navigation units responsive to operations of the operator for producing outputs indicative of actuator operation commands, two ECUs that control the operation of the actuators based on the outputs from the navigation units, an output forwarding ECU which forwards the outputs of one of the navigation units to the ECUs, and two switchover buttons for changing the outputs to be forwarded. Therefore, only the set of outputs for the one navigation unit selected by the operator is sent to the ECUs. In other words, in the case where multiple navigation units are provided, use of the navigation units is limited to a desired one thereof, so that the outboard motors can be stably controlled even when the control inputs to the individual navigation units are different.

Abstract: In an outboard motor steering control system having a plurality of outboard motors each mounted on a stern of a boat by a shaft to be movable by an outboard motor actuator relative to the boat and each having an internal combustion engine and a propeller powered by the engine to propel the boat, a tie-bar motor (actuator) is operated such that the outboard motors can be finely operated synchronously to make desired steering angles finely, i.e., to achieve the desired steering angles in response to a detected rotation angle of a steering wheel. Also outboard motor actuators are individually operated to regulate the relative angles between the outboard motors, thereby enhancing both straight course-holding performance and turning performance.

Abstract: To allow desired information to be easily retrieved from various types of information. Information is registered at a music playing position of music data. Music data that are audio data or MIDI data are played. While music data are being played, registration instruction is issued for example with a keyboard. Information is registered at a music playing position corresponding to timing of issuance of the registration instruction. When information is retrieved, music data to which the information had been registered are played. When the music data have come to the music playing position at which desired information has been registered, a retrieval instruction is issued for example with the keyboard. Based on this instruction, information registered at the music playing position is retrieved. As a result, the information can be accessed. Since information is registered to a music playing position of the music data, information can be easily and intuitionally registered and retrieved.

Abstract: A method for attaching metadata includes steps of specifying at least two positions in head portions of bars of music data of music, and segmenting into segments a duration extending between the specified two positions and attaching time-series metadata to the segments.

Abstract: A content-preference-score determining method includes the steps of detecting a feature point or feature value of content; detecting body motion of a user during playback of the content; and calculating a preference score of the user for the content according to a predefined formula using the detected feature point or feature value and the detected body motion.

Abstract: In an outboard motor steering control system having a plurality of outboard motors each mounted on a stern of a boat by a shaft to be movable by an outboard motor actuator relative to the boat and each having an internal combustion engine and a propeller powered by the engine to propel the boat, a tie-bar motor (actuator) is operated such that the outboard motors can be finely operated synchronously to make desired steering angles finely, i.e., to achieve the desired steering angles in response to a detected rotation angle of a steering wheel. Also outboard motor actuators are individually operated to regulate the relative angles between the outboard motors, thereby enhancing both straight course-holding performance and turning performance.

Abstract: A key generating method is disclosed which includes the steps of: firstly detecting first change information as first change information data; secondly detecting second change information different from the first change information as second change information data; and merging the first change information and the second change information into key information.

Abstract: A music-synchronized display apparatus includes a beat extractor configured to detect a portion in which a power spectrum in a spectrogram of an input music signal greatly changes and to output a detection output signal that is synchronized in time to the changing portion in synchronization with the input music signal; a tempo value estimation section configured to detect the self-correlation of the detection output signal from the beat extractor and to estimate a tempo value of the input music signal; a variable frequency oscillator in which an oscillation center frequency is determined on the basis of the tempo value from the tempo value estimation section and the phase of the output oscillation signal is controlled on the basis of a phase control signal; a phase comparator; a beat synchronization signal generation and output section; an attribute information storage section; an attribute information obtaining section; and a display information generator.

Abstract: An audio-signal generation device includes a generation circuit which generates track data and an input unit which receives information input by a user. The generation circuit generates the track data on the basis of information about the user's body, information about an exercise to be done, and information about a characteristic of a track to which the user listens during the exercise that are input via the input unit.

Abstract: A content providing method includes the steps of preparing, on a network, a bulletin board server that provides an electronic bulletin board and a content server that accommodates content; enabling, by the bulletin board server, a second user to make a post on a topic when a first user introduces the topic under a predetermined title on the electronic bulletin board; outputting, by the bulletin board server, a list indicating recommended content as a playlist to an apparatus of a user who accesses via the network when the second user posts information on the recommended content that suits the title in the topic; and outputting, by the content server, designated content to the apparatus of the user to which the playlist is output when the content included in the playlist is designated.

Abstract: A content recommendation system includes first and second communication devices which are connected to each other and in which content recommendation information is transmitted and received between both devices. The first communication device includes a storage section for storing pieces of content recommendation information to be transmitted, a selecting section for selecting a piece of content recommendation information to be transmitted from the storage section, and a transmitting section for transmitting the selected piece of content recommendation information. The second communication device includes a receiving section for receiving the piece of content recommendation information transmitted from the first communication device, and a storage section for storing the received piece of content recommendation information.

Abstract: In an outboard motor control system, equipped with two outboard motors and actuators for steering, changing shift position and regulating engine speed, two navigation units responsive to operations of the operator for producing outputs indicative of actuator operation commands, two ECUs that control the operation of the actuators based on the outputs from the navigation units, an output forwarding ECU which forwards the outputs of one of the navigation units to the ECUs, and two switchover buttons for changing the outputs to be forwarded. Therefore, only the set of outputs for the one navigation unit selected by the operator is sent to the ECUs. In other words, in the case where multiple navigation units are provided, use of the navigation units is limited to a desired one thereof, so that the outboard motors can be stably controlled even when the control inputs to the individual navigation units are different.

Abstract: A content searching and presentation method in a terminal of an original user having a playlist includes the steps of accessing a playlist of a different user from the terminal and obtaining the playlist of the different user; computing a similarity between the obtained playlist of the different user and the playlist of the original user, which is a playlist owned by the terminal, in accordance with a predetermined computation equation; and presenting, as a searched result, content that is contained in the playlist of the different user and that is not contained in the playlist owned by the terminal when the computed similarity exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A communication terminal includes a communication unit configured to carry out communications with a communication terminal of an intended counterparty; a detector configured to detect information reflecting a status of a user of the own communication terminal; a condition checker configured to check whether a predetermined condition is satisfied by comparing information reflecting a status of a user of the communication terminal of the counterparty, received via the communication unit, with the information detected by the detector; and a controller configured to exercise control so that a communication circuit is established with the communication terminal of the counterparty via the communication unit when it is determined by the condition checker that the condition is satisfied.

Abstract: A player device uses playlists having names of contents. Users can update the playlists via network. The player device includes a storage device for storing digital data of the contents, a reception/reception circuit for downloading playlists, a display for displaying the titles of contents included in the playlists, a pointing device for specifying displayed titles, a circuit for retrieving digital data from the storage device in the event that digital data of a content specified by the pointing device is stored within the storage device, and an output circuit for outputting the retrieved digital data.