Abstract: An information processing method for scanning, by an erasing device, a recording medium on which information is recorded in a predetermined area and erasing the recorded information is disclosed. The erasing device is driven for a period, including the period during which the erasing device is on the area, and longer than the period. The specification also discloses an information processing apparatus including a recording/erasing device for applying a light beam to an optical recording medium and selectively effecting recording and erasing of information, a scanning device for scanning the light beam relative to the recording medium, and a control arrangement for controlling the application time of the light beam so that during erasing, the light beam is applied to an area larger than the area of the recording medium in which information is recorded.

Abstract: An optical information recording/reproducing apparatus for stably recording, reproducing, or erasing the information by a laser beam with respect to different kinds of optical disks is represented. This apparatus includes a processor to record, reproduce, or erase the information for an optical disk, a disk sort detector to detect the sort of optical disk, and a controller to control the processing parameters of the processor in response to an output signal from the disk sort detector. The disk sort detector reads the disk sort identifying information preliminarily recorded on the optical disk by the processor to detect the sort of disk. Or, this detector irradiates light onto labels having different reflection factors or transmission factors preliminarily provided on the optical disks by the processor and detects the reflected light amounts or transmitted light amounts from the labels, thereby detecting the sort of disk.

Abstract: In an inventory control method and system, changes of sales for individual goods are forecasted and the excess or deficiency of a stock of each of the goods at the present point of time is estimated from the results of forecast. In order to facilitate an inventory control, merchandise information is sorted and displayed in accordance with the degree of urgency, the degree of importance or the like of inventory adjustment on the basis of the results of estimation.

Abstract: Method and system for extracting a characteristic from information handled by a computer and displaying the information in a manner to clarify the characteristic. A relationship among information items is analyzed from similarity and cluster analysis, and a characteristic related to the relationship is analyzed and displayed. The present invention is particularly useful in the analysis of merchandise information.

Abstract: In an inventory control method and system, changes of sales for individual goods are forecasted and the excess or deficiency of a stock of each of the goods at the present point of time is estimated from the results of forecast. In order to facilitate an inventory control, merchandise information is sorted and displayed in accordance with the degree of urgency, the degree of importance or the like of inventory adjustment on the basis of the results of estimation.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for recording information on an opto-magnetic recording medium by applying an A.C. magnetic field of a constant frequency to the opto-magnetic recording medium as a recording bias magnetic field and scanning the medium by a light beam modulated with a recording signal in synchronism with the A.C. magnetic field to record the information.

Abstract: A relay recording area is used in an information recording and reproducing apparatus for storing recording information or recorded information if a defective track or sector is found in a recording medium during data recording or reproduction. An information recording apparatus includes: an information recording medium divided into a plurality of recording areas; a record unit for recording information on the recording medium; a memory for storing information to be recorded on a first recording area of the recording medium when the information cannot be recorded on the first recording area; and a controller for controlling the record unit to record the information stored in the memory on a second recording area different from the first recording area.