Abstract: An electronic device includes a touch operation part that enables information to be input by touch operation to a predetermined input region, and a controller that controls validation and invalidation of an input function of the touch operation part. The controller invalidates the input function to a partial region in the input region of the touch operation part, validates the input function to the partial region in a predetermined period, when predetermined touch operation is performed to a specific region where the input function in the input region is valid, while the input function to the partial region is invalidated, and invalidates the input function to the partial region after the predetermined period has passed.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a touch operation part that enables information to be input by touch operation to a predetermined input region, and a controller that controls validation and invalidation of an input function of the touch operation part. The controller invalidates the input function to a partial region in the input region of the touch operation part, validates the input function to the partial region in a predetermined period, when predetermined touch operation is performed to a specific region where the input function in the input region is valid, while the input function to the partial region is invalidated, and invalidates the input function to the partial region after the predetermined period has passed.

Abstract: A communication device searches for a desired communication device and requests a service, without being conscious of the status of the power supply of other communication devices on a network, and achieves a reduction in power consumption. The communication device includes a main processing unit to process main service provided for other communication devices, a network processing unit to transmit and receive a request packet and a response packet among other communication devices, and an integrated power supply unit to stop supplying power to the main processing unit in a state of being able to supply it again and to supply the power to the network processing unit.

Abstract: There is provided a communication device which can search for a desired communication device and request a service, without being conscious of the status of the power supply of other communication devices on a network, and achieve a reduction in power consumption.

Abstract: The present invention provides an expiration date monitoring system capable of monitoring an expiration date of a terminal by an effective method. According to an expiration date monitoring system comprising a terminal and a server for monitoring an expiration date of this terminal, the server monitors the expiration date for each terminal, for each function of the terminal and for each content. The terminal receives a renewal command of the expiration date from the server and stores the renewed expiration date of each function. Then, the terminal can activate the terminal itself, each function of the terminal and the access to the content when the current date (current time) is within the expiration date thereof.

Abstract: When an instructor such as a finger moves along a flat surface of a touch-sensitive tablet, a touch-sensitive tablet generates an input signal indicative of information of points touched with the instructor on the flat surface. A frame is provided around the touch tablet with a predetermined gap measured from the edge thereof. A maximum moveable range of the instructor of the flat surface is defined by the frame. The predetermined gap is determined such that the instructor can touch the periphery of the flat surface even when the movement of the instructor is restricted by the frame.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus of synchronizing parallel processing among a plurality of processors including a plurality of synchronization units respectively corresponding to the plurality of processors and a control unit. The control unit and the synchronization units are connected in a loop. Each synchronization unit outputs a sync signal for informing that the synchronization unit has entered a wait state to an adjacent downstream unit. The control unit outputs a pulse for informing a completion of a synchronization among the processors to an uppermost-stream synchronization unit. The pulse is forwarded as far as an lowermost-stream synchronization unit.