Abstract: A switch device comprises a first rubber switch having a dome provided with a movable contact on an inner ceiling; a second rubber switch having a dome provided with a movable contact on an inner ceiling; a plate spring mounted in a fixed manner onto a holder; a coil spring urged to a direction to space a slider away from a printed board; engagement sections for giving click feelings which are provided on the plate spring; engagement sections to be engaged with the aforementioned engagement sections for giving click feelings; and a pressing force absorbing section provided on the first rubber switch to absorb a pressing force from the slider.

Abstract: An interactive-type user interface device for a navigation system or the like in a car enables switching of application programs (APs) in the course of a single interaction with simple scenario descriptions for realizing interactive processing. A scenario for realizing interactive processing by a controller includes a root scenario and a plurality of AP scenario groups, each corresponding to a different AP. In each AP scenario group, only information for acquiring information needed by the respective AP is described. Processing for starting the APs and processing for loading the respective AP scenario groups are described together in the root scenario. Each AP scenario group includes an AP root scenario and multiple AP scenarios. Dialogue information relating to a predetermined topic for realizing interactive processing is described in each AP scenario, while information for branching to the AP scenarios is described in the AP root scenario.

Abstract: In a multi-module system, information required for linked operation of a plurality of modules is stored in a communication manager as profiles written in a specific format. The modules operate by referring to these profiles, and update the profiles as appropriate. The modules thereafter operate based on the updated profiles, and appropriately updates the profiles. The communication manager thus enables the linked operation among the modules based on continuously updated profiles.

Abstract: The computer interactive system of the present invention recognizes a question from a user and outputs an answer by a synthesized voice. The system includes; a selection unit for selecting the answer from a database; an evaluation unit for evaluating a dialog between the user and computer and determining whether of not to continue the dialog. The evaluation unit may evaluate a dialog consistency, or dialog circumstance. Further, the selection unit selects and combines on the basis of the determination result the answer with one of a plurality of dialog sentences. The system may further comprises a learning unit for storing a novel answer unknown to the computer, by interrogating by using synthesize unit the user about the novel answer and further storing the interrogation scenario.

Abstract: A vector retrieval/generation/correction unit of a user terminal generates, corrects, and optimizes an inquiry vector on the basis of a vector profile, an inquiry history, a user model, and a user profile. On the other hand, a vector retrieval/generation/correction unit in an information center generates/corrects/optimizes a feature vector on the basis of a vector table, a search history, and a contents description database. In the information center, when an inquiry profile including an inquiry vector is transmitted from the user terminal, an adaptive searching process is executed. According to evaluation made by a contents evaluating unit, proper contents are retrieved from a contents database.

Abstract: A process for preparing compounds represented by the following general formula (I) wherein X represents chlorine atom, bromine atom, or iodine atom, and R includes alkoxy group and amino group which comprises the step of allowing a compound represented by the formula: CH2═CXF react with a compound represented by the formula: N2CHCOR in the presence of a catalyst containing a metal atom such as a transition metal of group 8 together with chiral carboxylic-type or amide-type ligands to preferentially obtain a stereoisomer of the compound of the general formula (I) wherein the stereochemical configuration at the 1-position is S-configuration

Abstract: An apparatus includes a device for generating plural recognition candidates from a user's utterance including a series of words and a device for screening the candidates to select a few appropriate series of words from the candidates. In selecting the appropriate series of words, various factors are taken into consideration. Those factors include evaluation of sentence structures, grammar, relation among words and dialogue topics, and situations surrounding the user. For example, a dialogue topic is first determined, and then a recognition dictionary that only includes words relating to the determined topic is dynamically restructured in the system. Words included in the series of words are recognized and determined with reference to the restructured dictionary. Thus, recognition errors are minimized and determination of a correct series of words is effectively performed.

Abstract: A control information output apparatus has a memory unit, an extraction unit and an output unit. The memory unit stores a dependence relationship between each application and a predetermined dependency factor. The memory unit also stores dependency table indicating dependence on the dependence factor of each application. Using the dependency factor value determined with data extracted by the extracting unit, an application list indicating the application having a higher execution request, dependency factor list indicating effective dependency factor and control information comprising a dependence vector and dependence characteristic are outputted from the output unit based on the dependency table and dependence characteristic information of the memory unit.

Abstract: A user information inferring system defines user information according to five categories, that is, user environment, circumstance, condition, request, and action, and further defines a sixth category, that is, situation data encompassing these other five categories. User information in each of the defined categories, that is, environment, circumstance, condition, request, action, and situation, is then described using item values, and operating units infer the item values. The inference operation uses temporal-spatial characteristics indicative of the effect of temporal-spatial elements on the item values, information about inferred situations, a rule database containing rules describing the relationships between items, and an optimization process for the defined categories using vector expressions.

Abstract: In a media library apparatus, common addresses are imparted to storage shelves of a plurality of storage columns in corresponding relation to respective predetermined physical locations of the storage shelves in such a manner that each group of the storage shelves of the storage columns lying at a same physical location within the library apparatus is uniquely identifiable by a specific one of the common addresses. In a data striping process, a data read/write operation is performed on the media transported from a group of the storage shelves to which is imparted a specific one of the common addresses. Thus, a plurality of the media to be subjected to the data striping process can be managed collectively through designation of only one address. Namely, the media designation can be greatly simplified by just performing control such that the media stored in the same-address storage shelves of the individual storage columns are transported to the respective drive devices.

Abstract: First, in a microcomputer of a communication terminal, data communication request is carried out. Next, a profile corresponding to contents of requested data is received from a communication control device. The microcomputer then selects one of communication systems based on the profile. The result of the selection is notified to the communication control device. Then, a transmission request signal is transmitted from the microcomputer. Thereafter, the data is received from the communication control device through the selected communication system. Thus, the download through the selected communication system is completed.

Abstract: A process for preparing compounds represented by the following general formula (I) wherein X represents chlorine atom or other and R represents alkoxy group, amino group or other, which comprises the step of allowing a compound represented by the formula: CH2═CXF react with a compound represented by the formula: N2CHCOR in the presence of a catalyst containing a metal atom such as a transition metal of group 8 together with chiral carboxylic-type or amide-type ligands to preferentially obtain a stereoisomer of the compound of the general formula (I) wherein the stereochemical configuration at the 1-position is S-configuration 1

Abstract: An interactive-type user interface device for a navigation system or the like in a car enables switching of application programs (APs) in the course of a single interaction with simple scenario descriptions for realizing interactive processing. A scenario for realizing interactive processing by a controller includes a root scenario and a plurality of AP scenario groups, each corresponding to a different AP. In each AP scenario group, only information for acquiring information needed by the respective AP is described. Processing for starting the APs and processing for loading the respective AP scenario groups are described together in the root scenario. Each AP scenario group includes an AP root scenario and multiple AP scenarios. Dialogue information relating to a predetermined topic for realizing interactive processing is described in each AP scenario, while information for branching to the AP scenarios is described in the AP root scenario.

Abstract: A cathode ray tube glass comprises a clean cathode ray tube made of glass and a coating film composed of at least one water-soluble material selected from the group consisting of water-soluble salts, acids being solid at room temperature, monosaccharides and polysaccharides, which is formed on a glass surface of the cathode ray tube in an amount of 0.01-100 &mgr;g/cm2 or to a film thickness of 0.1-200 nm.

Abstract: A cathode ray tube glass comprises a clean cathode ray tube made of glass and a coating film composed of at least one water-soluble material selected from the group consisting of water-soluble salts, acids being solid at room temperature, monosaccharides and polysaccharides, which is formed on a glass surface of the cathode ray tube in an amount of 0.01-100 &mgr;g/cm2 or to a film thickness of 0.1-200 nm.

Abstract: A switch device having an excellent external view, capable of maintaining stable operability of a finger grip portion over a long period of time by reducing a gap dimension between a panel and the finger grip portion (knob) of the switch device. The having a panel which has a concave portion provided with a pair of mutually-opposed inclined walls, the tip end sides of which are inclined so as to spread toward the outside, and a finger grip portion of the switch unit arranged within the concave portion, wherein the finger grip portion is constructed of an enclosure consisting of a top surface wall and side walls, wherein a pair of mutually-opposed side walls are inclined such that the distance therebetween becomes narrower toward the opening of the enclosure, and wherein the side walls run in parallel with the inclined wall of the panel.

Abstract: A supporting member for an electron gun, which is molded and processed from a composition comprising a glass component and an additive, wherein the additive is a material which does not decompose in a temperature range for the molding and processing and which decomposes and evaporates for the first time in the temperature range for embedding an electrode metal in the surface of the supporting member.

Abstract: A picture signal encoding system capable of transmitting a motion picture at an extremely low rate while sufficiently controlling the occurrence of a retransmission mode and the occurrence of a picture freeze. The encoding system comprises an encoding control section, an attribute memory, an attribute prediction section and an area extraction and recognition processing section. For realizing the extremely low rate transmission, the encoder system integrally performs the alteration of the syntax, the substitute of the code word, the adaptive control for the prediction of the current frame encoding attribute based on the past encoding attribute and the attribute decision, the object area extraction based on the motion and a model, the area-separated quantization control, and the control of the necessary number of transformation coefficients according to the use mode, the transmission rate and the motion occurrence quantity. A protocol transformer is provided to match the current picture compression standard (H.

Abstract: A process for producing a 2-fluorocyclopropane-carboxylic acid of formula ?I! ##STR1## by reducing a 2-halo-2-fluorocyclopropanecarboxylic acid of formula ?II! ##STR2## the reduction being carried out by developing a Raney nickel alloy in the presence of the 2-halo-2-fluorocyclo-propanecarboxylic acid of formula ?II!, or by contacting the 2-halo-2-fluorocyclopropanecarboxylic acid of formula ?II! with hydrogen in an aqueous solvent using a Raney nickel catalyst.

Abstract: A process is disclosed to produce an .alpha.-hydroxyiminophenylacetonitrile of the general formula [II]: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and Z are each as defined in the specification, characterized in that a crude nitrile containing a phenylacetonitrile of the general formula [I]: ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and Z are each as defined in the specification, is reacted with an alkyl nitrite in the presence of a base, after which the reaction mixture is extracted with water and then the separated aqueous layer is neutralized with an acid. According to this production process, the desired .alpha.-hydroxyiminophenylacetonitrile can be produced with high purity, in high yield and with ease by extracting the reaction mass with water and then neutralizing the separated aqueous layer with an acid.