Abstract: Among multiple documents presented to a user, a high interest and a low interest document are specified, a word group in the high interest document is compared with a word group in the low interest document, and a string of word groups associated weight values is generated as a user feature vector. A word group included in each of multiple data items targeted for assigning priorities is extracted, and data feature vectors are generated specific to each data item, based on the word groups extracted. A degree of similarity between each data feature vectors of multiple data items and user feature vector is obtained, and according to the degree of similarity, priorities are assigned to the multiple data items to be presented to the user. Therefore, it is possible to extract user's feature information on which the user's interests and tastes are reflected more effectively.

Abstract: A method of managing downloading contents in a network system including a terminal device, a management server and a downloading site includes three phases of procedures. In a first phase procedure, the management server receives a request for downloading contents from the terminal device and performs a predetermined registration operation. In a second phase procedure, the management server transmits attribution data corresponding to the contents to be downloaded by the terminal device, the attribution data including information of the downloading site. In a third phase procedure, the terminal device accessed the downloading site in accordance with the information included in the attribution data and downloads the contents.

Abstract: A contact position detecting unit 122 detects the position on the touch panel touched by a controlling object. A rendering unit 104 determines the layout of a document file including a link and display the document in the layout thus determined. A link position specifying unit 106 specifies the position of the link in the screen. A detection area setting unit 114 sets an object detection area for determination that the link is selected by the user as a result of contact with the controlling object associated one-to-one with the link, such that the object detection area occupies a range different from that of the link and is spaced apart from an adjacent object detection area by a predefined minimum distance, that the display mode of the link is maintained, and that the object detection area is superposed on the link.

Abstract: In a portable communication terminal that functions as a communication instrument by installing an identification recording medium having subscriber information recorded therein, an application acquiring unit 104 is operative to transmit a contract number recorded in the identification recording medium to the server when the identification recording medium is installed for the first time, and downloads an application program linked to the contract number from the server. A checking unit 108 is operative to check identification information embedded in the application program against identification information embedded in the identification recording medium. A function restricting unit 110 is operative to restrict the use of at least a part of the functions of the application program when the identification information of the application program does not match the identification information of the identification recording medium.

Abstract: A home gateway apparatus is connected to a storage apparatus. A cell phone terminal is connected to the home gateway apparatus via an IP network. Upon acknowledging a telephone number from the cell phone terminal, the home gateway apparatus communicates an IP address of the home gateway apparatus to the cell phone terminal. Subsequently, upon acknowledging a connection request to the IP address thus communicated, the home gateway apparatus performs a process of authenticating the connection request, based on the telephone number of the cell phone terminal and the telephone number already acknowledged. Further, the home gateway apparatus makes the storage apparatus available for use by the cell phone terminal thus authenticated via the IP network.

Abstract: A registration server (40) is connected to a mobile terminal (20) via a communication network (10) and registers desired scene information specifying a desired scene of a user in a broadcast program together with the communication address information (telephone number or mail address or the like) of the mobile terminal (20). A scene management server (42) classifies and manages the scene information on the real scene appearing in the broadcast program. A message transmission server (46) checks whether the real scene corresponds to the desired scene. If it does, the scene management server (42) transmits scene information indicating that broadcast of the desired scene is or has been started via the communication network (10) or the data broadcast to the user, i.e., the mobile terminal (20). In response to the notification of the scene information, the user of the mobile terminal (20) can view the scene substantially in real time by the TV On instruction without performing channel setting.

Abstract: A message display terminal for displaying content existing on a network comprises reception means which receives an HTTP response message, a first display area for displaying a message body, a second display area for displaying other information, and display control means which lets the second display area display advertisement data.

Abstract: A user-dedicated storage area (97) of a cellular phone (10) is retained in a storage server (9) on a network (6). Software purchased by a user via a sales server (12) is not transferred directly to the user's cellular phone (10) but is stored in the user-dedicated storage area (97) of the user. The user downloads the software from his or her own dedicated storage area (97) to his or her own cellular phone (10) before using the software.

Abstract: A method of managing downloading contents in a network system including a terminal device, a management server and a downloading site includes three phases of procedures. In a first phase procedure, the management server receives a request for downloading contents from the terminal device and performs a predetermined registration operation. In a second phase procedure, the management server transmits attribution data corresponding to the contents to be downloaded by the terminal device, the attribution data including information of the downloading site. In a third phase procedure, the terminal device accessed the downloading site in accordance with the information included in the attribution data and downloads the contents.

Abstract: A user-dedicated storage area (97) of a cellular phone (10) is retained in a storage server (9) on a network (6). Software purchased by a user via a sales server (12) is not transferred directly to the user's cellular phone (10) but is stored in the user-dedicated storage area (97) of the user. The user downloads the software from his or her own dedicated storage area (97) to his or her own cellular phone (10) before using the software.

Abstract: A method of managing downloading contents in a network system including a terminal device, a management server and a downloading site includes three phases of procedures. In a first phase procedure, the management server receives a request for downloading contents from the terminal device and performs a predetermined registration operation. In a second phase procedure, the management server transmits attribution data corresponding to the contents to be downloaded by the terminal device, the attribution data including information of the downloading site. In a third phase procedure, the terminal device accessed the downloading site in accordance with the information included in the attribution data and downloads the contents.

Abstract: A contact position detecting unit 122 detects the position on the touch panel touched by a controlling object. A rendering unit 104 determines the layout of a document file including a link and display the document in the layout thus determined. A link position specifying unit 106 specifies the position of the link in the screen. A detection area setting unit 114 sets an object detection area for determination that the link is selected by the user as a result of contact with the controlling object associated one-to-one with the link, such that the object detection area occupies a range different from that of the link and is spaced apart from an adjacent object detection area by a predefined minimum distance, that the display mode of the link is maintained, and that the object detection area is superposed on the link.

Abstract: In a portable communication terminal that functions as a communication instrument by installing an identification recording medium having subscriber information recorded therein, an application acquiring unit 104 is operative to transmit a contract number recorded in the identification recording medium to the server when the identification recording medium is installed for the first time, and downloads an application program linked to the contract number from the server. A checking unit 108 is operative to check identification information embedded in the application program against identification information embedded in the identification recording medium. A function restricting unit 110 is operative to restrict the use of at least a part of the functions of the application program when the identification information of the application program does not match the identification information of the identification recording medium.

Abstract: A basic information recording unit 122 stores version data in which the versions of a plurality of application programs stored in a portable information device is written. An update verifying unit 110 receives update status data indicating whether an update to the version of at least one of the plurality of application programs is available. An update identifying unit 112 refers to the update status data and identifies an application program assigned an older version number in comparison with the updated version. A display processor 114 displays a menu screen where a plurality of startup icons for the plurality of application programs are located, and changes the appearance of the startup icon for the application program identified by the update identifying unit 112 to indicate that an update to the version is available.

Abstract: A home gateway apparatus is connected to a storage apparatus. A cell phone terminal is connected to the home gateway apparatus via an IP network. Upon acknowledging a telephone number from the cell phone terminal, the home gateway apparatus communicates an IP address of the home gateway apparatus to the cell phone terminal. Subsequently, upon acknowledging a connection request to the IP address thus communicated, the home gateway apparatus performs a process of authenticating the connection request, based on the telephone number of the cell phone terminal and the telephone number already acknowledged. Further, the home gateway apparatus makes the storage apparatus available for use by the cell phone terminal thus authenticated via the IP network.

Abstract: A weight processor 120 selects keywords that match a plurality of phrases extracted from an accessed file, from a keyword storage unit 110. The processor 120 determines a priority keyword based on the weights linked to the selected keywords. A useful information selector 150 selects useful information for use by the user and associated with the priority keyword, from a useful information storage unit. A feedback receiving unit 154 receives from the user an input for evaluation indicating whether user is interested in the content of the file. A weight adjusting unit 156 adjusts the weight linked to the keyword selected by the weight processor 120, based on the input evaluation, and records the adjusted weight in the keyword storage unit 110.

Abstract: A use frequency communicating unit 108 creates use frequency information for intra-terminal applications by referring to a record of the status of activation of the intra-terminal applications, and present the use frequency information for at least one of the intra-terminal applications. An information storage unit 112 stores substitute application information in association with each intra-terminal application, the substitute application information being related to a substitute application suggested to a user as a substitute when an intra-terminal application is deleted. An application deleting unit acknowledges a direction from the user requesting deletion of at least one of the intra-terminal applications for which the use frequency information is presented.

Abstract: In the case where a single user selectively uses plural wireless communication terminals by mounting and demounting a subscriber identification card thereon and therefrom, user convenience in such selective use of the plural terminals can be enhanced by synchronizing user data among those plural terminals. For this purpose, at least updated portion of the data stored in the memory in terminal is uploaded from the first terminal 10a on which SIM card (subscriber information card) 12 is mounted, to a server 50 via a communication network 20, according to a user's request or automatically. After the SIM card 12 demounted from the first terminal is mounted on the second terminal 10b or 10c, data to be downloaded to the second terminal from the server 50 is determined according to the user's request or automatically, and the data is downloaded to the second terminal from the server 50. In the second terminal, thus downloaded data is used to update the contents in the memory.

Abstract: The interest of a user of an information terminal is extracted by a file operation and information suited to the interest is provided. When a system call for file access is issued from an application program, an access processor 104 selects from a file storage unit 102 a file designated by the system call, and then performs the file access. A phrase extractor 106 extracts a plurality of phrases from the file in accordance with a predetermined extraction rule. Those of the keywords stored in a keyword storage unit 110 that match the extracted phrases are selected. A score processor 120 assigns to the selected keyword a weight suited to the situation of access to the file by the access processor 104.<br></br> An information selector 150 receives the weighted keyword and determines a prioritized keyword. Useful information corresponding to the priority keyword is selected from a useful information storage unit 130 and displayed on a display of an information terminal.

Abstract: By performing initial user registration via an SSL-compliant browser in an information home electric appliance 100, user's private key, digital certificate, and member information are downloaded (b2) into the storage device in the information home electric appliance. At card use time, when the user selects products on a merchant's SSL-compliant server and issues a purchase instruction (c1), the user is identified locally in the information home electric appliance based on a personal identification number. Subsequently, the information home electric appliance accesses an SSL-compliant settlement server 220 (C4) and sends a digital certificate and member information stored in the appliance. Then, mutual authentication is performed between the user and the settlement server and, based on the member information, an authorization gateway 241 authorizes the account settlement (c5).