Abstract: A communication terminal according to the invention aims at improving convenience by proper reflection of a user's intention changing in accordance with a status of the terminal. A portable phone terminal provided with a broadcast program reception function, including: a program reservation unit 31 for reserving a process for a broadcast program; a terminal status detection unit 42 for detecting a status of the terminal; and a terminal operation control unit 43 for performing control to correct the reserved process in accordance with the terminal status up to a predetermined point of time.

Abstract: There is provided a contents distribution method in which burdens imposed on a distribution service provider and a contents user are lightened so that the contents user can use contents as many as possible at low cost. A system comprises terminal apparatuses 1, a portal server 3, a contents DB 4, a contents distribution server 5, a cabinet management server 6, and an accounting server 7. The cabinet management server 6 manages the contents usable limit and contents storage status of each of the terminal apparatuses 1. The portal server 3 and the cabinet management server 6 cooperate with each other to generate the contents usable limit for each terminal apparatus 1 and instruct the contents distribution server 5 to distribute contents in accordance with a contents distribution request given from the terminal apparatus 1.

Abstract: An output method is changed optimally in response to a difference of a device connected to an output device and a combination of output media streams, and user's convenience is improved. Each of media state sensing unit 15, 25, 35, 45 for sensing a state of a media stream sends out a media state sensing signal to a control portion 90, and each of connection state sensing unit 62, 72, 82 for sensing a connection state between an outputting unit 51 and a providing device, which presents the media stream visually or audibly, sends out a connection state sensing signal to the control portion 90. The control portion 90 decides an output state based on priority output information 931, which specifies a preferential output state of the media stream, the media state sensing signal, and the connection state sensing signal, and then the outputting unit 51 outputs the media stream to the providing device.

Abstract: The present invention provides an audio control device and an audio control method capable of promptly controlling a desired sound source, by simply selecting the sound where the sound state should be adjusted among multiple sounds, without displaying the sound state of multiple sounds on a display for identifying.

Abstract: An information terminal of the present invention aims at informing the user of an occurrence of an event during the reproduction of contents without an unexpected feeling. An information terminal of the present invention, includes a contents reproducing unit 10 for reproducing contents, a contents reproducing unit 20 for informing an occurrence of an event by reproducing the contents, a superposing unit 70 for superposing respective outputs of the contents reproducing unit 10, 20, and a controlling unit 50 for causing an information of the occurrence of the event and a superposition of respective outputs of the contents reproducing unit 10, 20 to execute in a previously set reproducing procedure.

Abstract: The invention provides a system where additional services using other sites connected over a network are made available when a content is delivered via a network. According to the invention, when user A receives delivery of a content from a content delivery service server (1) by using a terminal (4), predetermined information is transmitted from the server (1) to user A or a community server (2). With this information, the preferential use of community sites or additional use of services is made available to user A. The preferential use is for example the preferential use of a community site bulletin board. The additional use is re-delivery of delivered contents by using community sites.

Abstract: A content delivery method for exporting content from a server to a terminal includes acquiring information on right management capability supported by the terminal, the information being reported from by terminal. The content that is appropriate to the terminal is selected based on the acquired information, and the selected content is delivered to the terminal in response to a request from the terminal.

Abstract: An information export method for exporting content and right information of the content to a repository includes referring to the right information when the content is exported to the repository and checking whether the repository is allowed to have the content based on a description of the right information. When the repository is not allowed to have the content, it is determined not to export the content and the right information to the repository.

Abstract: An image-taking apparatus 10 comprises: an image-taking section 18 for obtaining a taken image; a combination playback section 20 for reading stored data to compose a scenario image; a scenario storage section 12 for storing combination information for combining said scenario image and said taken image; a combination playback control section 22 for combining, according to combination information stored in said scenario storage section 12, said scenario image read by said combination playback section 20 and a taken image obtained by said image-taking section 18; and a display section 24 for displaying a combined image obtained by said combination playback control section 22.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to reuse the available part of data in cases where data is determined not to be authentic. The input section inputs the data, and the processing section generates the processed data. According to the generation of the processed data, the authentication data generation section generates the authentication data for authenticating the processed data and the output section outputs the data with authentication wherein the processed data is correlated with the authentication data. By including the data inputted into the processed data, even if the processed data cannot be authenticated, a process can be performed by using the data as long as the authenticity of the data can be guaranteed. Moreover, it becomes possible to specify a flexible process by including the status return information in the processed data required for the process in the case where the authenticity cannot be affirmed.

Abstract: An insurance system that guarantees re-distribution of electronically distributed authorized data. The insurance system is constructed in such a way that a right to receive re-distribution is generated contingent upon taking out an insurance policy, and can thereby implement an insurance system capable of smoothly carrying out re-distribution of contents electronically distributed through a network. Furthermore, the insurance system is constructed in such a way as to receive re-distribution through the insurance service server, which allows the insurance service server to control re-distribution independently and prevents illegal re-distributions as a consequence.

Abstract: A technique that can enhance convenience on each of both sides that distribute and use content under the conditions where use limitations intended to protect the copyright of content have diversified. According to this technique, a right gateway 100 is provided, that converts the condition of use in the right information of content subject to transmission from repository 20 at the transmitting end to repository 30 at the transmission destination in accordance with the right management capacity (capacity information 200) of content in repository 30 at the transmission destination. With right gateway 100 performing processing, the range of equipment and recording mediums capable of use of content expands, thereby promoting the use of content.

Abstract: The invention provides a system where additional services using other sites connected over a network are made available when a content is delivered via a network.