Abstract: In a case where a secondary use of a communication line which is provided as a communication service is permitted, an appropriate communication charge to be charged to each user is computed in order to promote the use of the communication line. There is provided a communication relay system providing communication service which connects a communication device to an existing communication network.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for processing face-to-face mobile phone transactions. An agreed-upon price for a product is accepted from a buyer mobile phone and a seller mobile phone. Distinct random numbers are assigned to each of the buyer and seller mobile phones. The random number assigned to the seller mobile phone is received from the buyer mobile phone, and the random number assigned to the buyer mobile phone is received from the seller mobile phone. A match is ascertained between the buyer and seller mobile phones based on receipt from the buyer mobile phone the random number assigned to the seller mobile phone and receipt from the seller mobile phone the random number assigned to the buyer mobile phone.

Abstract: A relay adapter, a method for processing communication data through use of a relay adapter, and a process for leasing the relay adapter to a user by a service provider. The relay adapter includes: an authentication information storage section that stores authentication information of the relay adapter; a power plug; a power socket; and a push switch within the power plug or power socket. The push switch may be depressed. The power plug is detected to be plugged into a power socket of the user. The power socket is connected to a control server by a power line carrying a power signal. Responsive to ascertaining that the push switch is not depressed, mutual authentication is enabled between the relay adapter and the control server. After the mutual authentication, communication data is relayed from an information processing device of the user to a service provider server via the control server.

Abstract: To support a shopper to perform self-service shopping by using an electronic shelf label (ESL) while looking at actual items displayed in a store and to expand the functions of the electronic shelf label (ESL) to enable the linkage with other data processing systems expansively. A shopper uses a mobile processing device (typically, a cell phone owned by the shopper) in a store. The functions necessary to obtain contents from the electronic shelf label (ESL) are obtained by introducing an application program into the shopper's own cell phone, by which it is expected that the shopper is able to easily enjoy shopping. When photographing the electronic shelf label (ESL), the contents associated with items are encoded (the price display automatically changes to a barcode) and then decoded.

Abstract: An image database device which stores images shot by a lot of people who have freely participated to generate a photo-based virtual world. An image database device receives images shot by a plurality of users through communication over a network. The received image has a shooting position represented by common coordinates used among the users, which represent the position where the image is shot, its shooting conditions, and its image attributes. Then, the received image is compared with an image stored in association with a domain including the shooting position of the received image. On condition that the shooting condition lies within a predetermined range and the degree of similarity of images determined is off a predetermined range as the results of the comparison, the domain is divided, and the received image is stored in association with the divided domain, thereby creating an image database.

Abstract: A relay adapter, a method for processing communication data through use of a relay adapter, and a process for leasing the relay adapter to a user by a service provider. The relay adapter includes: an authentication information storage section that stores authentication information of the relay adapter; a power plug; a power socket; and a push switch within the power plug or power socket. The push switch may be depressed. The power plug is detected to be plugged into a power socket of the user. The power socket is connected to a control server by a power line carrying a power signal. Responsive to ascertaining that the push switch is not depressed, mutual authentication is enabled between the relay adapter and the control server. After the mutual authentication, communication data is relayed from an information processing device of the user to a service provider server via the control server.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for constructing virtual space. The system includes an image processing unit for processing images, a data receiving unit for receiving data over a network, an image acquisition unit for obtaining image information from an image database, a control unit for obtaining the image information, and a display unit for displaying the images rendered. The method and computer program product for processing images include the steps of receiving data over a network, acquiring image information from an image database, obtaining the image information and displaying the images rendered.

Abstract: A communication apparatus for connecting each of a plurality of information processing apparatuses to a communication line provided by an ISP (Internet Service Provider) by wirelessly communicating with each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses, the communication apparatus including a subscriber terminal determination unit for determining whether or not each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses is managed by a subscriber to the ISP who has been authorized based on a contract with the ISP to connect to the communication line by installing the communication apparatus, and a communication unit for wirelessly communicating with each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses giving a higher priority to a subscriber terminal that is an information processing apparatus managed by a subscriber than to a non-subscriber terminal that is an information processing apparatus not being a subscriber terminal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques controlling communication performed by a communication device in an information processing apparatus having an input device. An operation received by the input device is detected. A communication request directed to the communication device from a task executed by a central processing unit is detected. A relation is determined between the detected operation and the detected communication request. The communication performed by the communication device according to the communication request is prevented when there is no relation between the detected operation and the detected communication request.

Abstract: In an information processing system, a mobile phone obtains a setting program which makes security settings for ensuring security of communication by performing authentication with a communication destination on an unsecured communication link, from a registration server through a secure, first communication link; an information processing device executes the setting program obtained from the mobile phone to make security settings, communicates with a relay server through an unsecured, second communication link; the registration server receives access from the mobile phone through the first communication link, authenticates a user, and sends the setting program to the mobile phone; the relay server authenticates an information processing device in response to a connection request from the information processing device, makes security settings, and relays access from the information processing device to a communication network through the second communication link.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting an information processor to any network to perform communications are disclosed. A setting information indicating network settings to be set for an information processor when performing communications via a network is stored. A route setting packet, which is sent by a network device connected to the network to which the information processor is connected, is acquired to set a route to be used by the network device to communicate with another device. A device identification information for identifying a network device from which the route setting packet was sent is extracted from the route setting packet. The information processor is allowed to perform communications by acquiring the setting information associated with the extracted device identification information, and the information is specifically set for the information processor.

Abstract: In a case where a secondary use of a communication line which is provided as a communication service is permitted, an appropriate communication charge to be charged to each user is computed in order to promote the use of the communication line. There is provided a communication relay system providing communication service which connects a communication device to an existing communication network.

Abstract: In an information processing system, a mobile phone obtains a setting program which makes security settings for ensuring security of communication by performing authentication with a communication destination on an unsecured communication link, from a registration server through a secure, first communication link; an information processing device executes the setting program obtained from the mobile phone to make security settings, communicates with a relay server through an unsecured, second communication link; the registration server receives access from the mobile phone through the first communication link, authenticates a user, and sends the setting program to the mobile phone; the relay server authenticates an information processing device in response to a connection request from the information processing device, makes security settings, and relays access from the information processing device to a communication network through the second communication link.

Abstract: On a printed circuit board, there are mounted a pair of first leads, a first semiconductor device mounted on each of the first leads, a pair of second leads, and a second semiconductor device mounted on each of the second leads. A semiconductor device connecting terminal portion of each of the first leads extends to an outer side from the first semiconductor device, and one end of an intermediate slope portion of each of the first leads is bent to an inner side, whereby a substrate connecting terminal portion is structured. Accordingly, since an entire length of each of the first leads is elongated, a stress is absorbed dispersedly, and a tape carrier package is made compact.

Abstract: A system and method wherein a master node 710 comprises, as its primary components, a protocol stack 715, a transceiver 720, a search scheduler 725, communication volume prediction means 730 and outside-channel, signal induced interference intensity measuring means 735. A slave node 750 comprises, as its primary components, a protocol stack 760, a transceiver 765 and a search routine 755. The signal induced interference intensity read by the signal induced interference intensity measuring means 735 is transmitted to the search scheduler 725. The search scheduler 725 then employs the signal induced interference intensity to determine the total amount of the resources that are to be allocated for a search.

Abstract: To change the frequency of a video clock without adversely affecting a display quality. To lower the frequency of a video clock, following steps are executed, detecting an opportunity which causes the reduction of the frequency of the video clock; lowering the frequency of the video clock in a frequency range within which a circuit employing the video clock (for example, a PLL (Phase Lock Loop) circuit) can follow a change in the frequency; and iterating the step of lowering the frequency of the video clock until a predetermined frequency is attained. In addition, the following steps are also performed, detecting an opportunity which causes the reduction of the frequency of the video clock; lowering the frequency of the video clock to a predetermined frequency during a vertical blanking interval of a display device that employs the video clock; and maintaining the predetermined frequency of the video clock until change of the frequency is required.

Abstract: The number of executed instructions (Iu) in a user mode as one of performance indexes of a computer, and the total number of executed instructions (It) as one of power consumption indexes are used. These parameters have a relationship of E−It/Iu with energy index E. An operating speed (operating frequency) of CPU is increased or decreased so that a value of the performance index may be increased within a range of the power consumption index specified by a user, or a value of the energy index E may be decreased. By doing so, power management processing may be performed, which balances the power saving with the performance.

Abstract: A network communication is performed automatically and in an optimal manner in radio ad-hoc communications. A communication terminal is configured to serve as one of a plurality of nodes composing a cluster as well as serve as a cluster head that allows communication with remaining nodes of cluster members and includes: a unit 11 for determining aptitude degree as cluster head that comprehends communication conditions with the cluster members; unit 12 for creating schedules for change of cluster head that creates schedule tables 15 to circulate the cluster members in order as a tentative cluster head; a unit 21 for monitoring aptitude degree of communication conditions that recognizes communication conditions with other nodes when the cluster member becomes the tentative cluster head; and a unit 26 for reconfiguring cluster that reconfigures the cluster based on the comprehended communication conditions and the recognized communication conditions.

Abstract: To enable a moving image to be clearly displayed on a hold-type of a display, such as a liquid crystal display, by setting a shutter function in an overlay processor, a computer having a display for displaying a moving image includes a memory with an on-screen area for storing display image information and an off-screen area for storing image information of the moving image. The on-screen area includes a memory area used as a display area of the moving image and which stores predetermined key color information. A data reading circuit reads the display image information from the on-screen area and the image information of the moving image from the off-screen area, and a shutter circuit outputs the image information of the moving image from the data reading circuit or predetermined color information by a predetermined frame.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus having a relatively small display screen, and in particular to a small information processing apparatus of a type adapted to be held in the hand of a user and that can switch the mode for displaying data on a display screen between a portrait mode and a landscape mode. More specifically, the present invention retains to a small information processing apparatus that provides appropriate scroll functions for both display modes, i.e., the portrait mode and the landscape mode, using a hand manipulable input device.