Abstract: A comfort-analyzing device includes a display unit, a first control unit, an input unit, and a cognitive-structure constructing unit. The display unit is configured to present a questionnaire for extracting both a comfort level of a user in an environment and at least one environmental factor to determine the comfort level. The first control unit is configured to cause the display unit to present the questionnaire twice or more during a survey period. The input unit is configured to accept, from the user, input of each reply to the questionnaire presented twice or more. The cognitive-structure constructing unit is configured to construct a cognitive-structure model representing a cognitive structure of the user regarding comfort by extracting both the comfort level and the at least one environmental factor in chronological order based on each reply to the questionnaire presented twice or more.

Abstract: A receiving unit 200 receives, from broadcast stations (10, 11), EPG information related to all the programs to be broadcast on a plurality of channels. A program recommendation unit (300) extracts, from the programs indicated in the EPG information, a recommended program, which is estimated to meet the user's preferences, in accordance with history of program recording or program viewing by the user. A subscription suggestion unit (400) counts the broadcast frequency for each of the channels of recommended programs and for each day, and then compares the counting result with a threshold value, thereby suggesting to the user, via a display unit (20), that he or she makes or cancels any one of subscriptions to the channels in accordance with the broadcast frequency of recommended programs.

Abstract: An image data processing device includes a plurality of image data treating units, a storing unit, and a setting unit. The plurality of image data treating units treats image data. The storing unit stores a plurality of conditions relating to a property of image data to be treated by each of the image data treating units. The setting unit is configured to set a condition in the storing unit to each of at least two of the image data treating units at a time. The conditions set to the at least two of the image data treating units is associated with one another so that the at least two of the image data treating units treat image data with same concept of processing.

Abstract: The hierarchical structure display device includes a hierarchical structure storing unit, a display unit, and a display control unit. The hierarchical structure storing unit stores information about a hierarchical structure of menus where each item contained in a menu is linked to a directly beneath level menu. The display control unit controls the display unit to display at least one menu in the display screen and to preserve at least a first region in the display screen for displaying titles of items contained in a menu of interest. The titles of items contained in a menu are arranged one after another in the second direction with each title extending in the first direction, and the first region has a first length in the first direction long enough to entirely visibly indicate the titles of items.

Abstract: A recording apparatus contains a timer that measures the current time based on a time zone. When writing a VOB onto a DVD, the recording apparatus refers to TM_ZONE recorded on the DVD, and judges whether the time zone which the timer is based on matches the time zone that the TM_ZONE specifies. If the two time zones do not match, the recording apparatus operates as follows. First, the recording apparatus obtains VOB_REC_TM that indicates the recording date/time of the VOB based on TM_ZONE. The recording apparatus then writes the VOB onto the DVD together with VOBI that is information of the VOB and contains (a) the obtained VOB_REC_TM; (b) LOCAL_TZ_TY indicating that the two time zones do not match and (c) LOCAL_TZ specifying the time zone which the timer is based on.

Abstract: A playback apparatus judges whether a region code assigned to a BD-ROM matches a region code assigned to the playback apparatus. When the judgment result is in the affirmative, the playback apparatus plays back the content recorded on the optical disc. When the judgment result is in the negative, the playback apparatus does not play back the content, except when an exceptional playback is authorized. The exceptional playback is authorized when a combination of the content identifier of the content to be played back and the apparatus region code satisfies a predetermined condition defined by an owner of the rights of the content.

Abstract: An image information-inputting unit inputs image information including position information indicating a position where an image was captured. A reference distance-calculating unit calculates a reference distance from a predetermined reference position utilizing the image information. An image information-classifying unit classifies the image information based on the reference distance.

Abstract: An image data processing device for converting original data containing gradation-value data, into processed data containing multilevel-value data.

Abstract: A playback apparatus judges whether a region code assigned to a BD-ROM matches a region code assigned to the playback apparatus. When the judgment result is in the affirmative, the playback apparatus plays back the content recorded on the optical disc. When the judgment result is in the negative, the playback apparatus does not play back the content, except when an exceptional playback is authorized. The exceptional playback is authorized when a combination of the content identifier of the content to be played back and the apparatus region code satisfies a predetermined condition defined by the owner of the rights of the content.

Abstract: There is provided an information recording apparatus which is capable of collective management concerning which content data is recorded on each one of a plurality of information storage media. The information recording apparatus includes: a content data storage section for recording content data; a management information generation section for generating management information for the management of at least one of a copy and move of the content data; and a management information storage section for recording the management information. When the content data is copied or moved to an information storage medium, the management information generation section generates management information containing: content data identification information for identifying the copied or moved content data; and information storage medium identification information for identifying the information storage medium to which the content data has been copied or moved.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for recording a solidly filled portion in an image using an inkjet recording apparatus. The method includes: recording an outline of the solidly filled portion with a first ink of a first color, recording at least one first area of the solidly filled portion on an inner side of the outline with a second ink of the first color, and recording at least one second area of the solidly filled portion on the inner side of the outline with a third ink of a second color which is brighter than the first color, at least a part of the second area overlapping the first area.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes a data processing section that issues a plurality of data transfer requests simultaneously; an internal memory provided inside a circuit including the data processing section; an internal memory control section that performs an access control for the internal memory; an external memory that exchanges data with the data processing section via an external bus; an external memory control section that performs an access control for the external memory; and a memory selecting section that assigns to at least one of the internal memory and the external memory a data transfer request from the data processing section.

Abstract: An image processing method and apparatus is provided that executes conversion processing of image data according to an error diffusion method. A unit processing for one pixel of the original image and another unit processing for an interpolate pixel that is inserted between lines of pixels of the original image are executed in the line direction. The processings for one line are sequentially repeated for each line of the original image. A calculating portion, for calculating an average error value which is an average of error values of a plurality of neighboring pixels, is utilized for converting a pixel value of a target pixel. A plurality of multiplying sections and addition memory sections are provided in correspondence with the alignment of a plurality of previous-line-neighboring pixels in a previous line located ahead of a pixel line in which the target pixel exists.

Abstract: The invention provides an information recording medium, such as an optical disk, having a large capacity and being capable of performing read/write operations at high speeds. The recording medium includes an audio stream prepared for after-recording data, and a audio attribute information having a bit rate information to the recorded audio stream as a management information. A recorder according to the invention has a check unit for checking, in advance, the possibility of after-recording operation of the recorder to the audio stream to be after-recorded with reference to the bit rate information of the audio attribute information.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a display including a first display portion, and a second display portion positioned adjacent to the first display portion. The device also includes a scaling factor designation device configured to designate a scaling factor, and an image display control device configured to display an image in the first display portion. Moreover, the device includes a scaled image display control device configured to apply the scaling factor to the image to generate a scaled image comprising a portion of the image, and to display the scaled image in the second display portion.

Abstract: An image data processing device includes a plurality of image data treating units, a storing unit, and a setting unit. The plurality of image data treating units treats image data. The storing unit stores a plurality of conditions relating to a property of image data to be treated by each of the image data treating units. The setting unit is configured to set a condition in the storing unit to each of at least two of the image data treating units at a time. The conditions set to the at least two of the image data treating units is associated with one another so that the at least two of the image data treating units treat image data with same concept of processing.

Abstract: The hierarchical structure display device includes a hierarchical structure storing unit, a display unit, and a display control unit. The hierarchical structure storing unit stores information about a hierarchical structure of menus where each item contained in a menu is linked to a directly beneath level menu. The display control unit controls the display unit to display at least one menu in the display screen and to preserve at least a first region in the display screen for displaying titles of items contained in a menu of interest. The titles of items contained in a menu are arranged one after another in the second direction with each title extending in the first direction, and the first region has a first length in the first direction long enough to entirely visibly indicate the titles of items.

Abstract: A receiving unit 200 receives, from broadcast stations (10, 11), EPG information related to all the programs to be broadcast on a plurality of channels. A program recommendation unit (300) extracts, from the programs indicated in the EPG information, a recommended program, which is estimated to meet the user's preferences, in accordance with history of program recording or program viewing by the user. A subscription suggestion unit (400) counts the broadcast frequency for each of the channels of recommended programs and for each day, and then compares the counting result with a threshold value, thereby suggesting to the user, via a display unit (20), that he or she makes or cancels any one of subscriptions to the channels in accordance with the broadcast frequency of recommended programs.

Abstract: Optical discs formatted to record plural audio streams of different content for reproduction with a single video stream can result in audio output of content unexpected by the user depending upon the audio stream configuration contained in the AV stream reproduced. This can confuse and cause the user to change the audio output after reproduction starts. To prevent this, information indicating the type of audio stream configuration contained in each AV stream on the optical disc is stored with each audio stream. This audio stream type information is presented to the user on the same screen from which an AV program is selected for playback. The use can thus know before playback starts what audio stream channel is preselected for playback, and can change the audio channel as desired before payback starts.

Abstract: An image data processing device for converting original data containing gradation-value data, into processed data containing multilevel-value data.