Abstract: Provided herein is a network system (1) that includes: an electric apparatus (300); and a server (100) that computes a predicted absence time period by using prediction data concerning a user of the electric apparatus (300), and that detects an absence time in which nobody is detected, the server (100) causing the electric apparatus (300) to perform an absence-time operation upon detecting a first absence time in a period outside of the predicted absence time period, and causing the electric apparatus (300) to perform the absence-time operation upon detecting a second absence time, shorter than the first absence time, in a period within the predicted absence time period.

Abstract: In the present invention, a household appliance is controlled in accordance with a state of a user. An agent server (1) in accordance with the present invention includes a setting management section (21) which identifies a mode corresponding to a state of the user and a process executing section (22) which executes a process in accordance with the mode identified by the setting management section (21).

Abstract: Provided herein is a network system (1) that includes: an electric apparatus (300); and a server (100) that computes a predicted absence time period by using prediction data concerning a user of the electric apparatus (300), and that detects an absence time in which nobody is detected, the server (100) causing the electric apparatus (300) to perform an absence-time operation upon detecting a first absence time in a period outside of the predicted absence time period, and causing the electric apparatus (300) to perform the absence-time operation upon detecting a second absence time, shorter than the first absence time, in a period within the predicted absence time period.

Abstract: A network system includes a plurality of terminals including at least a first terminal and a second terminal, one or more devices including at least a first device, and a server adapted to refer to group information. The server refers to the group information and determines whether to accept a request for the first device from the second terminal, when in a state of accepting a request for the first device from the first terminal.

Abstract: In the present invention, a household appliance is controlled in accordance with a state of a user. An agent server (1) in accordance with the present invention includes a setting management section (21) which identifies a mode corresponding to a state of the user and a process executing section (22) which executes a process in accordance with the mode identified by the setting management section (21).

Abstract: In a remote control system that causes a controlled appliance to perform a function specified with use of a terminal device, a function managing device manages functions including a first function and a second function associated with the first function.

Abstract: An agent server determines a posting timing of a message on a family message board on the basis of urgency associated with situation information based on which a message is generated and a posting state, which is obtained by the posting state obtaining section, on the family message board.

Abstract: A smartphone includes: an image display section for displaying images in such a manner as to be selectable by a user, each of the images being associated with (i) specifying information for specifying a cleaning robot and (ii) instruction information for instructing the cleaning robot to execute a predetermined process; and a process instruction section for transmitting, in a case where the user selects at least one of the images thus displayed, image information (2) indicative of said at least one of the images to a server, so as to cause the cleaning robot specified by specifying information associated with said at least one of the images to execute a predetermined process that is instructed by instruction information associated with said at least one of the images.

Abstract: A network system includes a plurality of terminals including at least a first terminal and a second terminal, one or more devices including at least a first device, and a server adapted to refer to group information. The server refers to the group information and determines whether to accept a request for the first device from the second terminal, when in a state of accepting a request for the first device from the first terminal.

Abstract: A device-operation management apparatus of the present invention is an agent server for receiving a device operation instruction from a portable terminal via a user's input operation and managing an operation of a house device, and causes an operation button to be displayed on the user's portable terminal so that the user can perform a touch operation, which operation button is for transmitting, to the device, the operation instruction for operating the device in accordance with an operation proposal included in a message which indicates the operation proposal to the home device.

Abstract: The present invention includes function identifying means for identifying, from a functions listing table, a function to be processed so as to be available and function enabling means for processing the function identified, the function identifying means identifying, as a first function, a function selected by a user and further identifying, as a second function, a paired function to be processed, the second function being associated with the first function.

Abstract: An agent server determines a posting timing of a message on a family message board on the basis of urgency associated with situation information based on which a message is generated and a posting state, which is obtained by the posting state obtaining section, on the family message board.

Abstract: When a processing unit generates a display screen based on display data generated from a plurality of respective content data, and causes a display unit to display a predetermined area of the display screen, the processing unit reads stored previous arrangements of the content data in the display screen, and changes the arrangements of the plurality of respective content data in the display screen at predetermined timing, in accordance with a preset rule. Then, the processing unit stores the arrangements.

Abstract: A smart phone includes (i) a list obtaining section for obtaining a connectable device list for specifying a self-propelled cleaner which (a) have authenticated, as an indoor pairing, a communication connection which allows the self-propelled cleaner to be controlled by using a communication via a LAN and therefore (b) can authenticate, as an outdoor pairing, a communication connection which allows the self-propelled cleaner to be controlled by using a communication via a WAN and (ii) a transmitting section which transmits a connection request to a control target device, which has been selected by a user from the connectable device list, so as to establish the outdoor pairing with the self-propelled cleaner.

Abstract: A smartphone includes: an image display section for displaying images in such a manner as to be selectable by a user, each of the images being associated with (i) specifying information for specifying a cleaning robot and (ii) instruction information for instructing the cleaning robot to execute a predetermined process; and a process instruction section for transmitting, in a case where the user selects at least one of the images thus displayed, image information (2) indicative of said at least one of the images to a server, so as to cause the cleaning robot specified by specifying information associated with said at least one of the images to execute a predetermined process that is instructed by instruction information associated with said at least one of the images.

Abstract: Provided is a content playback apparatus capable of presenting, while playback a digital content, selling price information for the digital content being reproduced. The content playback apparatus is provided with a content playback portion which reproduces a digital content, a selling price information obtaining portion which obtains selling price information concerning the digital content, and a selling price information presentation portion which presents the obtained selling price information. The selling price information presentation portion presents, during playback of a digital content, the selling price information concerning the digital content.

Abstract: A digital television (1) of the present invention includes a relevant information storage section (170) which stores relevant information concerning the digital television (1), and a display data request processing section (32) which transmits, to a sidebar providing server (2), a display data request message for requesting display data. The display data request processing section (32) transmits, to the sidebar providing server (2), relevant information specified by a control script among relevant information stored in the relevant information storage section (170), the relevant information being transmitted in accordance with the control script for requesting the relevant information, the control script being transmitted from the sidebar providing server (2) in response to the display data request message. With this arrangement, it is possible to efficiently utilize information necessary for customization of contents. This allows an improvement in processing efficiency of the information display device.

Abstract: The content reproducing apparatus comprises a control section which includes: a content reproduction section for reproducing a content; and a content management section for acquiring an acquisition target content in accordance with acquisition instruction information included in the content reproduced by the content reproduction section, wherein the content which is highly likely to be subsequently reproduced is acquired in accordance with the acquisition instruction information and is stored into a storage section. Thus, it is possible to realize a content reproducing apparatus which allows a content, whish is highly likely to be subsequently reproduced, to be efficiently stored therein in advance.

Abstract: A television 1 of the present invention is a television 1 for processing display data and displaying an image based on the processed display data, the display data containing the image and a control script that defines at least a function of displaying the image, wherein the television 1 includes a basic function executing section 42 for executing a basic function program called from the control script, the basic function program being stored in a basic function program storage section 29; and a control script executing section 41 for controlling basic function executing section 42 according to the control script so as to perform a first function for displaying the image, the first function being defined by the control script, the control script further defines a second function which the television 1 performs while the image is being displayed by the first function, and the control script executing section 41 controls the basic function executing section 42 according to the control script so as to execute th

Abstract: A digital television of the present invention includes: (i) a change pattern list generating section for generating change pattern list representing a list of change patterns applicable to a content, in accordance with change pattern information indicating the change patterns; (ii) a change information acquiring section for acquiring, from outside, change information that defines a change procedure of changing the reproduction object and that corresponds to a change pattern designated by a user from the change patterns included in the change pattern list; and (iii) a change information combining section for changing the content in accordance with the change procedure defined by the acquired change information. This makes it possible to restrain (i) loads on communication lines or (ii) communication cost and to reproduce a customized content meeting a user's diverse needs.