Abstract: A judging unit determines whether an accumulated rewrite count management table is in a flash memory. If the accumulated rewrite count management table is not in the flash memory, then a generating unit generates an accumulated rewrite count management table in the flash memory, and a recording unit records an accumulated rewrite count in the accumulated rewrite count management table which is generated. A monitoring unit monitors the lifetime of a storage device based on the accumulated rewrite count recorded in the accumulated rewrite count management table and a rewrite count limitative value recorded in the flash memory.

Abstract: A system and method for mediating a providing selling information over a network is provided.

Abstract: A literary work royalty meter rate accounting method is provided by which a royalty based on the frequency of use of literary works such as music data distributed through a communication circuit is imposed on a customer. A management terminal apparatus sells a right of use of music data to a customer through a communication circuit, receives literary work use situation information such as the number of times of use, the hour of use or the amount of use of the music data by the customer, and imposes a royalty on the customer through the communication circuit in accordance with the literary work use situation information. A literary work provider terminal apparatus distributes the literary works to a customer terminal apparatus through the communication circuit.

Abstract: A judging unit determines whether an accumulated rewrite count management table is in a flash memory. If the accumulated rewrite count management table is not in the flash memory, then a generating unit generates an accumulated rewrite count management table in the flash memory, and a recording unit records an accumulated rewrite count in the accumulated rewrite count management table which is generated. A monitoring unit monitors the lifetime of a storage device based on the accumulated rewrite count recorded in the accumulated rewrite count management table and a rewrite count limitative value recorded in the flash memory.

Abstract: A bar code system is composed of a bar code display device 100 and a bar code reader 110. The bar code display device 100 has a operation unit 101 which divides transfer information to be transmitted into a plurality of pages of divisional information, converts them into bar codes, and successively displays the bar codes on a display unit 104. The bar code reader 110 has a operation unit 111 which converts bar codes successively read by a scanner 116 into divisional information, connects the divisional information, and restores the divisional information into transfer information.

Abstract: A bar code system is composed of a bar code display device 100 and a bar code reader 110. The bar code display device 100 has a operation unit 101 which divides transfer information to be transmitted into a plurality of pages of divisional information, converts them into bar codes, and successively displays the bar codes on a display unit 104. The bar code reader 110 has a operation unit 111 which converts bar codes successively read by a scanner 116 into divisional information, connects the divisional information, and restores the divisional information into transfer information.

Abstract: A selling price information mediating service provides at least one information requester terminal, a plurality of information provider terminals, and a management server, the information requester terminal, which are connected to a network. A management server that is an information processing apparatus receives, from the terminal of an information requester, survey information about a commodity for which the information requester wants to survey a selling price or the like. The received survey information is publicized for the terminals of information providers who are registered as members in the management server, in order to collect pieces of selling price information. The management server extracts pieces with lower selling prices from pieces of selling price information provided by the terminals of information providers, sells the extracted pieces to the information requester through his terminal, and charges the information requester an information supply fee and a mediation commission.

Abstract: A literary work royalty meter rate accounting method is provided by which a royalty based on the frequency of use of literary works such as music data distributed through a communication circuit is imposed on a customer. A management terminal apparatus sells a right of use of music data to a customer through a communication circuit, receives literary work use situation information such as the number of times of use, the hour of use or the amount of use of the music data by the customer, and imposes a royalty on the customer through the communication circuit in accordance with the literary work use situation information. A literary work provider terminal apparatus distributes the literary works to a customer terminal apparatus through the communication circuit.

Abstract: A method and arrangement of multiplexing a plurality of serial data using wired-OR, are disclosed. The serial data are respectively generated from a plurality of serial data generators in a predetermined order. When the serial data from the serial data generators are interrupted, the transmission pause for a first predetermined time duration is detected. Following this, a serial data generation pause pulse is generated at each of the serial data generators. Subsequently, in response to the serial data generator pause pulse, the serial data is generated from one of the serial data generators according to the predetermined order. A reset signal issues when a predetermined number of serial data generating pause pulses is generated within a second predetermined time duration. In response to the reset signal thus generated, the predetermined order is initialized. Subsequently, the serial data are generated and multiplexed according to the predetermined order initialized.