Abstract: A store apparatus 1 stores a point calculation method that is applied usually, and stores also specific combinations of commodities names, as well as a specific point calculation method that is applied to those specific combinations. When an order of commodities is received from an ordering apparatus 1, it is judged if those commodities are one of the specific combinations of commodities When it is one of the specific combinations, points are calculated using the specific point calculation method. By making the specific point calculation method more advantageous to customers than the usual point calculation method, it is possible to excite customers' will to purchase the specific commodities.

Abstract: Using a preset, temporary ID, a user accesses an on-line shop where he is not registered. When the user buys a commodity, the on-line shop sends order data to a money gate. In response to a request from the money gate, a mall-operating company where the user is registered sends the money gate information necessary for settlement such as a credit number. The money gate generates final order data by combining the order data and the information necessary for settlement. Settlement processing with a card company is performed by using the final order data.

Abstract: Selling prices of commodities in a virtual shop on the Internet are automatically managed in accordance with price variation factors such as the number of goods in stock to perform a proper price setting. When an order of a commodity is accepted, a Web server computer (16) renews an inventory DB (32), refers to a table (34) in which the number of pieces of the commodity and the price variation are associated with each other, calculates the selling price corresponding to the number of pieces of the commodity, and renews a selling price DB (31). The new selling price is reflected to the selling price information displayed in the virtual shop.

Abstract: A stock number situation based on the stock number of articles owned by a retail shop 20 and the stock number of articles owned by a wholesale house is set, and information corresponding to the order content and the stock number situation is displayed on a terminal 11 of an order source 10. The article allocation processing to the order accepted is carried out by investigating the stock number of articles owned by the retail shop and allocating the articles in stock if it is possible to allocate the articles in stock, or requesting the allocation to the wholesale house if it is impossible to allocate the articles in stock. Accordingly, the stock risk of the retail shop can be reduced, and the loss of sale opportunities due to out of stock can be reduced.

Abstract: In a method for making optical fiber preforms, the time taken for sintering and annealing the clad or jacket layer is significantly reduced by only partially sintering the jacket soot boule in an atmosphere of helium. For example, instead of using one hundred forty-three minutes to sinter completely the soot boule, the boule is only partially sintered by heating in a helium atmosphere for fifty-nine minutes. At this stage of course, the soot boule is still partially porous and is generally opaque. The completion of the sintering and the annealing is then done in a single step in an atmosphere of nitrogen. Surprisingly, we have found that this process does not entrap nitrogen in the soot jacket layer to any noticeable or harmful extent, and the total time for sintering and annealing is significantly reduced.

Abstract: A rear axlecase is manufactured by casting the differential gear housing and the axle housings into an integral body from nodular graphite cast iron, and ensuring good ductility therefor by reducing the hardness as a whole on one hand, and ensuring toughness to bear up under the stress acting on the axles by performing hardening treatment on the root parts of the endtubes of the axle housing.

Abstract: A rear axlecase is manufactured by casting the differential gear housings and the axle housings into an integral body from nodular graphite cast iron, and ensuring good ductility therefor by reducing the hardness as a whole on one hand, and ensuring toughness to bear up under the stress acting on the axles by performing hardening treatment on the root parts of the endtubes of the axle housing.

Abstract: A process for producing an optical fiber preform in a muffle furnace by hydrolyzing a gaseous glass forming material with a flame from an oxyhydrogen burner and depositing the resulting soot in a rod shape and an apparatus therefor are described, wherein a gas is supplied to the muffle furnace other than from said burner, and the volume supply of said gas is held constant by controlling the amount of a control gas supplied into an intermediate portion of an exhaust pipe through which the gases formed in the muffle furnace and the fine glass particles that do not deposit in a rod shape are discharged.

Abstract: A process for producing a porous optical fiber preform by hydrolyzing a gaseous glass forming material with a flame from an oxyhydrogen burner and depositing the resulting soot in a rod form in a muffle furnace is described, wherein the muffle furnace is supplied with a gas other than that from the oxyhydrogen burner, and said gas is maintained at a constant temperature.

Abstract: A process for producing high-purity silica glass wherein glass-forming chlorides, hydrogen gas, oxygen and an inert gas are supplied from a glass burner, the chlorides are decomposed by flame oxidation to form fine grains of glass which are deposited on a starting member and the glass deposit is sintered to provide a transparent vitreous substance, the volume ratio of oxygen gas to the sum of the chlorides and hydrogen gas being greater than about 0.6, preferably greater than about 1.0, and less than about 20.

Abstract: A process for producing a preform for glass fiber for optical transmission by heating supply gases to form fine particles that are deposited on a rotating starter member to form an aggregate of fine glass particles which are then sintered to give a transparent vitreous material, characterized by a first heating stage wherein the aggregate of fine glass particles is sintered by increasing the temperature at a constant rate in a gaseous atmosphere which contains a halogen or halide and which has dehydrating activity, followed by holding the aggregate for a given period of time at a temperature in the range that causes considerable shrinkage of the aggregate, and a second heating stage where said aggregate is heated to the vitrifying temperature.

Abstract: A process for producing an optical fiber preform which comprises forming a particulate glass rod in which the dopant concentration gradually increases toward the center of its cross section, and gradually heating the rod starting at a temperature below the minimum collapsing point of the fine glass particles in the center of the rod in such a manner that the softening of the rod proceeds from the center outward, to thereby produce a transparent glass rod.