Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus that, when a copying is limited as “Copy One Generation”, prevent the copying from being made into infinite number of storage media without limitation, and thereby protect the profit of a copyright holder concerned. In the present invention, when outputting digital information whose copying is limited to external appliances connected to plural outputting circuits (315A, 315B, or 72A to 72D), the total number of external appliances to which the digital information is to be outputted is limited within a predetermined constant. In particular, a control circuit (311, or 73) limits the number in which to perform authentications of the external appliances connected to the plural outputting circuits. This makes it possible to limit, within the predetermined constant, the total number of the external appliances to which the digital information is to be outputted.

Abstract: In a settlement transaction system or settlement transaction method using the system, the system includes a content providing server conducting a digital broadcast, for example, for a CS broadcast, a BS broadcast, a CATV, or a broadcast using ground waves; a settlement server to execute settlement transaction or settlement transaction, an order placement managing server to execute order placement processing, and an order managing server which receives an order of a request from a user to purchase articles and which sends an associated indication to the settlement server and the order placement managing server according to information of the order. The user operates a terminal in which an IC card communication application to communicate with an IC card is only installed. It then becomes possible to reduce a load imposed onto the system in association with a change to an existing digital broadcast system.

Abstract: A method for measuring impedance of a microprocessor chip, electronic packaging, and circuit board power supply system by generating a pseudo-impulse current having a width size in the time domain not larger than the inversion of a maximum frequency of interest and obtaining a voltage measurement in a frequency domain of the pseudo-impulse current. The mechanism of the present invention then predicts the normalized Fourier transformation of the current in the frequency domain, wherein the normalized Fourier transformation depends upon a switching charge of the pseudo-impulse current, measures the switching charge of the pseudo-impulse current, obtains a first current measurement at zero frequency using the measured switching charge, and obtains a second current measurement at a frequency of interest using the first current measurement.

Abstract: A digital signal recording and reproducing method and apparatus using first, second, third, and fourth information as information to protect a copyright, the first and second information are added to the digital signal, the third information is inputted from the digital interface together with the digital signal, a value of the fourth information is decided from a combination of the first to third information, and the fourth information is recorded onto the recording medium. The first information is information to control a copy restriction of the digital signal, the second information is information to perform a control about whether the signal is protected against the illegal use or not, the third information is information to indicate whether the signal has been encrypted or not, and the fourth information is information to control the copy restriction of the digital signal recorded on the recording medium.

Abstract: A hierarchical structure is established among a plurality of RFID tags, such that ID numbers can be read only from RFID tags which belong to a particular layer. RFID tag can control whether permission should be given to read its ID number therefrom to protect the ID number. Data held in the RFID tag can be read from the outside. RFID tag comprises a memory circuit having a function of holding data, and a logic circuit having a function of processing a control command received from outside. Memory circuit stores an own ID nmber for identifying the RFID tag itself, and a parent ID number for identifying a second RFID tag. When RFID tag receives an ID number read command which contains first data as a parameter from outside, the logic circuit outputs the own ID number to outside only when the first data matches the parent ID number.

Abstract: A semiconductor device of the generation with the minimum processing dimensions of 90 nm, or later, wherein variation of processing dimensions of gate electrodes in a logic block and a power source noise are suppressed; wherein a gate electrode formed to have a comb-shaped pattern is formed on a normal cell region, a dummy gate electrode formed to have a comb-shaped pattern is formed on a vacant region, a wiring for applying a predetermined voltage is connected respectively to at least a part of the dummy gate and the semiconductor substrate (source drain regions), and an electrostatic capacity between the part of the dummy gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate constitutes a decoupling capacitor of the power source.

Abstract: A digital information recording apparatus to record digital information to protect copyright of digital information that includes at least first digital information and first copy control information. The digital information recording apparatus records the digital information based upon the first copy control information, which denotes one of: a copy inhibition prohibiting copying of said first digital information; a limited copy permission authorizing a predetermined number of times of copying of said first digital information; and an unlimited copy permission authorizing unlimited copying of said first digital information.

Abstract: In a settlement transaction system or settlement transaction method using the system, the system includes a content providing server conducting a digital broadcast, for example, for a CS broadcast, a BS broadcast, a CATV, or a broadcast using ground waves; a settlement server to execute settlement transaction or settlement transaction, an order placement managing server to execute order placement processing, and an order managing server which receives an order of a request from a user to purchase articles and which sends an associated indication to the settlement server and the order placement managing server according to information of the order. The user operates a terminal in which an IC card communication application to communicate with an IC card is only installed. It then becomes possible to reduce a load imposed onto the system in association with a change to an existing digital broadcast system.

Abstract: In a portable terminal having an IC card, the outstanding SF value, the commuter pass information and the conditions for the corresponding operation to charge the SF value or renew the validity period of the commuter pass are stored in the IC card. The outstanding SF value and the validity period of the commuter pass are checked at a predetermined timing. In the case where the outstanding SF value and the validity period satisfy the conditions for the corresponding operation (in the case where the outstanding SF value is reduced to less than a predetermined amount, for example), the set corresponding operation is performed. Thus, a predetermined amount is charged against the outstanding SF value, or the oncoming expiry of the validity period of the commuter pass is notified. The conditions for the corresponding operation can be set and changed appropriately at the portable terminal.

Abstract: Information recorded by an application provider in an IC card can be referred to, read out or changed by another application provider. The IC card has a plurality of cipher keys for reading out or writing the information recorded in the IC card, and provides a cipher key conversion function for encryption with a file capable of being managed, read out or written by the application provider himself using the cipher key. By the cipher key conversion function, data can be read out or written from or in the file of the other application provider.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a device, for use in a network over which data may be exchanged among devices, for providing data (executable code unit) for controlling other devices. To achieve this, a DCM Manager of a controller FAV first collects device control data from configROMs of the devices. The DCM Manager uses this information to search for the newest DCM for a new controlled device BAV that has been connected to a network. The DCM Manager reads the newest BAV1_DCM_b from the configROM of the BAV to install the DCM.

Abstract: A synchronous circuit comprising a first flip-flop which has a first clock input terminal inputting an input signal, a first output terminal outputting a first output signal based on the input signal, a second output terminal outputting a second output signal based on the input signal and a first data input terminal inputting the second output signal; a second flip-flop which has a second clock input terminal inputting a clock signal, a reset terminal inputting a reset signal, a third output terminal outputting a third output signal based on the clock signal and the reset signal, a fourth output terminal outputting a fourth output signal based on the clock signal and the reset signal and a second data input terminal inputting the fourth output signal; a third flip-flop which has a third clock input terminal inputting the third output signal of which voltage level is reversed, a fifth output terminal outputting a fifth output signal based on the reversed third output signal, a sixth output terminal outputting

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a smart card and a settlement terminal by which when common-key cryptography is used for value transfer between smart cards, the security of the whole system can be improved by enabling easy update of a cryptographic key used for the value transfer.

Abstract: An encrypting conversion apparatus, a decrypting conversion apparatus, a cryptographic communication system and an electronic toll collection apparatus are provided which are capable of changing algorithms of cryptographic conversion to hide the algorithm in use from a third party so that the apparatuses and system are resistant against a cryptographic attack from the third party and can operate at high speed. In the cryptographic communication system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus that, when a copying is limited as “Copy One Generation”, prevent the copying from being made into infinite number of storage media without limitation, and thereby protect the profit of a copyright holder concerned.

Abstract: A method and system for coordinating control of a remotely controllable electronic apparatus by a first and second control apparatus that use different standards to control the remotely controllable electronic apparatus. The remotely controllable electronic apparatus has a network connection and embedded software allowing a control apparatus to remotely control the remotely controllable electronic apparatus through a network. The first control apparatus has a network connection function and acquires the software from the remotely controllable electronic apparatus through the network. The first control apparatus remotely controls the remotely controllable electronic apparatus by execution of the software in the first control apparatus.

Abstract: Encrypting/decrypting conversion method and apparatus capable of controlling dynamically cyclic shift independent of data to undergo encrypting/decrypting conversion includes two or more different fixed circulating shift processing means for shifting cyclically the data by a fixed bit number leftward or rightward, a cyclic shift processing selecting means for selecting fixed cyclic shift processing means. The selecting sequence determined by the cyclic shift processing means is determined on the basis of data for determining the shift number selecting sequence.

Abstract: A synchronous circuit comprising a first flip-flop which has a first clock input terminal inputting an input signal, a first output terminal outputting a first output signal based on the input signal, a second output terminal outputting a second output signal based on the input signal and a first data input terminal inputting the second output signal; a second flip-flop which has a second clock input terminal inputting a clock signal, a reset terminal inputting a reset signal, a third output terminal outputting a third output signal based on the clock signal and the reset signal, a fourth output terminal outputting a fourth output signal based on the clock signal and the reset signal and a second data input terminal inputting the fourth output signal; a third flip-flop which has a third clock input terminal inputting the third output signal of which voltage level is reversed, a fifth output terminal outputting a fifth output signal based on the reversed third output signal, a sixth output terminal outputting

Abstract: A digital information recording apparatus to record digital information to protect copyright of digital information that includes at least first digital information and first copy control information. The digital information recording apparatus records the digital information based upon the first copy control information, which denotes one of: a copy inhibition prohibiting copying of said first digital information; a limited copy permission authorizing a predetermined number of times of copying of said first digital information; and an unlimited copy permission authorizing unlimited copying of said first digital information.

Abstract: An encrypting conversion apparatus, a decrypting conversion apparatus, a cryptographic communication system and an electronic toll collection apparatus are provided which are capable of changing algorithms of cryptographic conversion to hide the algorithm in use from a third party so that the apparatuses and system are resistant against a cryptographic attack from the third party and can operate at high speed. In the cryptographic communication system.