Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide network devices and a network device control method which enable control network devices connected to an IP network, AV devices connected over 1394IF through gateway devices from the IP network, and home devices connected to ECHONET to be controlled without distinction among them. To achieve this object, a network device to serve as a controller comprises a controller application that detects a service of a target network device, using a message complying with an information exchange protocol common to the network, collects information such as an access method for the service, a function name, and parameters, and controls the network device upon request, and an information exchange protocol processing part that exchanges messages according to a protocol common to the network devices.

Abstract: An information processing system is configured such that which when an application handling multimedia, especially, moving images is performed by an information processor such as a personal computer, a sufficient processing performance is realized with the conventional CPU and bus capabilities. The information processing system includes a bus adaptor or bus converter for connecting a CPU bus and a system bus. The bus converter includes an operation processing unit (ALU) capable of performing a portion of an operating function performed by the conventional CPU or a portion of an operating function performed by an image processing board connected to the system bus, whereby the bus converter takes over a portion of a processing to be performed by the CPU or I/O module. Thereby, an overhead time for data transfer through the buses is reduced so that the total performance of the system is improved.

Abstract: Communication using IPv6 is carried out, and conversion is given to a prefix of an IPv6 address in a firewall. A security channel for mutual authentication with an out-of-home apparatus or the like is carried out by the firewall, and only identification of an in-home apparatus is carried out on an in-home network by the firewall. A PC is connected to a PC in-home network different from the in-home network, and communication between the PC and the in-home apparatus is always carried out via the firewall.

Abstract: An apparatus for offering a device operation history of a user to the outside as log information has not allowed for the fact that the ratio or proportion of disclosure of the log information is fixed, and the user sets and changes the proportion of disclosure of the log information according to user's purposes.

Abstract: An information processing system is configured such that which when an application handling multimedia, especially, moving images is performed by an information processor such as a personal computer, a sufficient processing performance is realized with the conventional CPU and bus capabilities. The information processing system includes a bus adaptor or bus converter for connecting a CPU bus and a system bus. The bus converter includes an operation processing unit (ALU) capable of performing a portion of an operating function performed by the conventional CPU or a portion of an operating function performed by an image processing board connected to the system bus, whereby the bus converter takes over a portion of a processing to be performed by the CPU or I/O module. Thereby, an overhead time for data transfer through the buses is reduced so that the total performance of the system is improved.

Abstract: An information processing system is configured such that which when an application handling multimedia, especially, moving images is performed by an information processor such as a personal computer, a sufficient processing performance is realized with the conventional CPU and bus capabilities. The information processing system includes a bus adaptor or bus converter for connecting a CPU bus and a system bus. The bus converter includes an operation processing unit (ALU) capable of performing a portion of an operating function performed by the conventional CPU or a portion of an operating function performed by an image processing board connected to the system bus, whereby the bus converter takes over a portion of a processing to be performed by the CPU or I/O module. Thereby, an overhead time for data transfer through the buses is reduced so that the total performance of the system is improved.

Abstract: A power supply section includes a capacity detector capable of detecting the remaining capacity in a battery and a controller issuing power consumption reduction instructions to independently operable function devices based on usage priorities thereof. This allows power consumption operations to be performed such as stopping function devices with low priorities first based on the remaining battery capacity. As a result, power to function devices with higher priorities can be maintained. Based on the remaining battery capacity, the controller controls the operations of the function devices and uses a display to show information allowing the operator to identify operable and inoperable function devices as the battery capacity drops.

Abstract: When conference conditions are set by a conference sponsor, a conference sponsor agent inquires of schedule management agents of requested attendants about available time within a range of set dates, determines an optimum conference schedule on the basis of the available time of the individual requested attendants, sends to the conference sponsor the conference schedule for confirmation thereof, and sends a conference notification to the requested attendants. In order to permit an input value set by a user to have a range in accordance with the kind of parameter requiring the input value and conditions at that time, an input value acquiring element acquires an input value of a parameter necessary for a processing realized by an application element, the input value being set by the user by an input element.

Abstract: An integrated information processing apparatus is provided with a display device and a generally transparent input tablet having an input surface placed on a display surface of the display device for outputting a pointing coordinate which is a coordinate on the input surface pointed by a user's finger or an indicator. The apparatus includes a circuit for determining an indication direction extended point coordinate from the pointing coordinate output by the input tablet and a predetermined value, and a display processing section for displaying a point on the display surface of the display device corresponding to the determined indication direction extended point coordinate so that it is distinguishably displayed on the display device.

Abstract: An input panel interface section is responsive to an input signal from an input panel to provide input coordinate data indicating an input position in a coordinate system used in the input panel. A converter converts the input coordinate data provided by the input panel interface section into display coordinate data. The display coordinate data is data in a coordinate system used for a display controller to determine a display position on a display. The display controller controls display output to the display by using the display coordinate data output by the coordinate converter. A CPU interface section controls access of a processor to the display controller, the input panel interface section, and the coordinate converter.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus can save an electric power when it is not in use and can be made active immediately after an operation medium such as a pen and a finger or the user approaches or comes in contact with the apparatus, the arrangement being such that a housing portion of the apparatus includes therein a sensor for detecting the approach or contact of a user operation medium or user and a state display unit for informing the user that the apparatus is in the active state or in the standby state, a power saving control unit controls a controlled object concerning a power consumption in response to the approach, contact or separation of the operation medium or user, and a timer included in the electric power saving control unit determines whether or not the operation medium or user is separate from the apparatus.