Abstract: All the devices connected to a network are detected and profiles comprising information relating to categories of the detected devices are extracted. Integrated profile comprising information obtained by integrating the profiles of the devices is created. A table containing priority rankings for the use of the devices is created. A user interface enabling necessary categories to be selected from the categories which comprise the integrated profile is created, the execution conditions required by the user are input via this user interface and a device to be used is selected out of all the devices based on the selected categories and the table containing the priority rankings.

Abstract: A content billing method for performing billing processing corresponding to use of digital content. After the operation is started, search management processing is performed. In the search management processing, information on whether or not a search period expires is managed. When the search period expires, content is searched for in automatic-search-and-collection processing, and identification information of the content is extracted and use information is generated in identification-information recognition processing. The use information is recorded and managed in use-information management processing. Subsequently, in state-of-use recognition processing, a status of use in a predetermined period is recognized based on the use information, and state-of-use information is generated. Finally, in use-fee calculation processing, a use fee corresponding to the state-of-use information is calculated.

Abstract: An operation of describing a document link for linking a first document of a link source and a second document of a linking destination. An abstract link is described in the first document of the link source, and the abstract link describes a link establishing condition for determining the document link between the first document of the link source and the second document of the linking destination on a basis of a retrieval of document information of the first document of the link source and the second document of the linking destination.

Abstract: A WEB server includes a memory unit, an index data searching unit that searches plurality of item data in the memory unit, a sorting unit sorts the item data searched by the index data searching unit by date. When a search request for requesting a search with designation of a keyword and a search period is made on one of terminal devices, the index data searching unit searches a plurality of the index data in the memory unit using the keyword. If the number of the hits exceeds a predetermined number, the index data searching unit re-searches the index data after shortening the search period. The WEB server outputs the results of the search or the re-search to the terminal device.

Abstract: The present invention enables a person to specify the users of terminal devices that the person desires to access common information, as members of a group, enables the users of the terminal devices to specify information to be accessed by the members of the group as information to be shared, among information provided by an information providing system via a communication network, and presents the information to be shared by the users of the terminal devices that constitute a group and enables the users to arbitrarily access the information to be shared.

Abstract: A document search method for extracting document information similar in content to given document information, from a document database with high accuracy and efficiency. A first document database is searched based on a search query which is input by a user. First document information extracted by the search of the first document database is formatted into a format of a second document database. The second document database is searched by using the formatted first document information. Second document information which is similar in content to the formatted first document information is extracted. A degree of similarity between the formatted first document information and the second document information is calculated. The calculated degree of similarity is corrected in accordance with a condition of correction which is preset. The first and second document information and the corrected degree of similarity are output.

Abstract: A content billing method for performing billing processing corresponding to use of digital content. After the operation is started, search management processing is performed. In the search management processing, information on whether or not a search period expires is managed. When the search period expires, content is searched for in automatic-search-and-collection processing, and identification information of the content is extracted and use information is generated in identification-information recognition processing. The use information is recorded and managed in use-information management processing. Subsequently, in state-of-use recognition processing, a status of use in a predetermined period is recognized based on the use information, and state-of-use information is generated. Finally, in use-fee calculation processing, a use fee corresponding to the state-of-use information is calculated.

Abstract: Information regarding non-sellable products for each store is stored in a database. The non-sellable product is a product that cannot be sold at that particular store. If a purchaser selects a non-sellable product from a catalog of a store, then the purchaser is introduced to another store in which the same product is a sellable product.

Abstract: A storage management is carried out in an information processing system in which a program including functions each treating a list structure data is executed. The storage management method includes the steps of generating list cells in a cell storage area so that the list cells are successively arranged therein while a function is being executed, and of collecting disused list cells from the cell storage area when execution of the function is completed, each of the disused cells being defined as a list cell that will not be used in the program, so that the disused list cells may be reclaimed in the cell storage area.

Abstract: A fault diagnosis expert system for locating and eliminating sources of a machine trouble. The system comprises a storage part for storing an expert knowledge constructed in a hierarchical search tree structure in which cause-to-effect links connecting high-level effect events to low-level cause events are pre-defined and all possible low-level cause events are pre-enumerated for each high-level effect event, a user interface part for providing a user with questions and responses regarding the state of the machine trouble, an inference part for inferring a cause of the machine trouble with the expert knowledge and the user information, and an outputting part for allowing inference results from the inference part to be displayed for the user. The expert knowledge includes a cause candidate criterion pre-defined as an event used for selection of searching paths when the inference part makes a decision as to which path of the search tree should be traced back.

Abstract: A reagent mixture for measuring magnesium comprising Xylylazo Violet I or II as a color producing agent and at least one of sulfide compounds and thioureide compounds, and if necessary one or more surface active agents, can be stored for a long period of time stably and can give a stable color development.