Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for switching from a regular desktop screen to a password input screen for a user to input a password. An apparatus may comprise a first screen display as the password input screen, a second screen display as the regular desktop screen, and a switching system. The switching system may be configured to switch a screen item position between the first screen display and the second screen display. The switching system may receive a user selection of a sequence of screen items as a password input and may switch operation of the apparatus between the first screen display to the second screen display.

Abstract: The present invention is to support the retrieval of an ambiguous file stored on a computer. Desktop space images are generated at predetermined time intervals, and metadata for each desktop space image is created from internally used data and externally input data existing at the time. The metadata consists of multiple pieces of tag data, and part of tag data is a target file to be searched for. Upon searching for the target file, a user selects a desktop space image that evokes the target file from among the multiple desktop space images initially displayed. The selected desktop space image is displayed and the target file is selected from the metadata associated with the desktop space image displayed. The desktop space image can refresh a user's recollection about the target file, and hence allows the user to narrow down the scope of search.

Abstract: A computer system having an operating environment configured for enabling boot up in a relatively short time is disclosed. A hard disk is utilized to store a boot file. A run process list registers a process to be run during boot up. When the computer system is being booted up, if the run process list registers a process to load the boot file, a process control unit does not control a process management unit, so that the process is run as usual. If the process is not registered, the process management unit suspends the process. When the suspended process is called by another process later, the process control unit makes the process resumed on demand.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for switching from a regular desktop screen to a password input screen for a user to input a password. An apparatus may comprise a first screen display as the password input screen, a second screen display as the regular desktop screen, and a switching system. The switching system may be configured to switch a screen item position between the first screen display and the second screen display. The switching system may receive a user selection of a sequence of screen items as a password input and may switch operation of the apparatus between the first screen display to the second screen display.

Abstract: A keyboard includes first and second keyboard units. The first and second keyboard units comprise a first housing and a second housing, respectively. The first housing and the second housing are adapted to be attached and detached from an electronic device. A set of input keys may be disposed on at least one of the first and second housings.

Abstract: A computer system having an operating environment configured for enabling boot up in a relatively short time is disclosed. A hard disk is utilized to store a boot file. A run process list registers a process to be run during boot up. When the computer system is being booted up, if the run process list registers a process to load the boot file, a process control unit does not control a process management unit, so that the process is run as usual. If the process is not registered, the process management unit suspends the process. When the suspended process is called by another process later, the process control unit makes the process resumed on demand.

Abstract: The present invention is to support the retrieval of an ambiguous file stored on a computer. Desktop space images are generated at predetermined time intervals, and metadata for each desktop space image is created from internally used data and externally input data existing at the time. The metadata consists of multiple pieces of tag data, and part of tag data is a target file to be searched for. Upon searching for the target file, a user selects a desktop space image that evokes the target file from among the multiple desktop space images initially displayed. The selected desktop space image is displayed and the target file is selected from the metadata associated with the desktop space image displayed. The desktop space image can refresh a user's recollection about the target file, and hence allows the user to narrow down the scope of search.

Abstract: Data copying or playback is controlled, which does not require an additional information detector in a drive that has severe constraints on its cost and/or space. For recording control digital data, any additional information electronically embedded therein is detected and, if such additional information is detected, then access control of the digital data is performed using the additional information. Next, the digital data is scrambled for recording the same onto a medium. Note that the term "electronically embedded additional information" means herein such additional information that is embedded through a transformation of the data itself. Also, the term "access control" means herein to determine whether copying/recording of the digital data is to be stopped or continued. Depending on the content of the additional information, the term "access control" also embraces embedding control information such as a copy mark into the digital data.

Abstract: In providing a system that can manage access to data to effectively prevent illegal access to the data or the like, there is provided a system for embedding access management information that prepares management information for managing access to the data, and embeds the management information in the data through data transformation without changing amount of data. In managing access to data, there is provided a method that extracts management information embedded in the data through data deformation without changing amount of data, and manages access to the data according to the extracted management information. There is also provided a method for changing management of access to the data according to the type of medium in which the data is stored (RAM or ROM).

Abstract: An object of the Invention is to provide a system and method for effecting a secure data control using an electronic watermarking with a low manufacturing cost. A solution of the objective is a data control system is built which comprises; embedding a control flag indicating to control data using an electronic watermarking technique, preparing a token having information as to how to control the data by using the content of the data, distributing the token appended to the data, detecting the control flag from the distributed data, reading the token appended to the data when the control flag is detected, and controlling the data according to a predefined control rule of the token or the control flag. In addition, a subsequent data control is further suppressed by modifying the token in controlling the data.

Abstract: Management information is embedded by directly controlling media with a date hiding technique. A system which accesses (regenerates or records) media data by using the management information is controlled based on this management information, and according to the contents of the management information, the access to media data is inhibited. Therefore, illegal duplication of data can be prevented, and consequently, works can be effectively protected.