Abstract: There is provided a system for controlling a dialog flow so that a user can purchase goods with the feeling closer to face-to-face sales in the sales of goods using the Internet.

Abstract: a) Predicting, by conversation information, context patterns that can possibly occur in future, evaluating the predicted context patterns according to the rating criteria, b) selecting a system message which is to be output next among a highly evaluated context pattern, and outputting the system message, c) selecting at least one user message that is among the user messages correspond to the system message and that is included in the conversation information, and outputing the user message, d) accepting selection of any one of the user message, e) deciding the next position of a marker that shows current topic according to the selected user message, f) repeating the step a) to e).

Abstract: a) Predicting, by conversation information, context patterns that can possibly occur in future, evaluating the predicted context patterns according to the rating criteria, b) selecting a system message which is to be output next among a highly evaluated context pattern, and outputting the system message, c) selecting at least one user message that is among the user messages correspond to the system message and that is included in the conversation information, and outputting the user message, d) accepting selection of any one of the user message, e) deciding the next position of a marker that shows current topic according to the selected user message, f) repeating the step a) to e).

Abstract: Products matching customer wishes are retrieved from among a large variety of merchandise. A topic net in which merchandise features from a customer's perspective are expressed is configured with needs information representing customer needs. Evaluation criteria for topic units are set in the topic net, and based on the needs information with which the topic net is configured, on the evaluation criteria, and on merchandise specifications, a combined suitability level indicating to what extent a product meets the customer's needs is calculated for each product. The product whose combined suitability level is highest may be surmised to be the product most befitting the customer's needs.

Abstract: There is provided a periodic process load control system for controlling a load of a CPU in conjunction with an execution of a periodic process in a multiple-process operating system having the CPU in which a plurality of processes including a periodic process activated periodically are executed on a time division basis, and a periodic process recording medium for storing a periodic process into which such a load control function is incorporated. A time interval in which the periodic process is repeatedly executed is measured to evaluate a load evaluation value consisting of an accumulation value of the time intervals. A load of the periodic process itself is controlled in accordance with the load evaluation value.

Abstract: When the system simulates changes of a virtual world and behavior of virtual creatures inhabiting it, the unit time of real time corresponding to the unit time necessary for one processing by the system is divided as time grading. Specifically, when the system is booted up, corresponding to the duration from the time the system power source is cut off previously, simulation is performed by setting the time grading in one second, one minute, one hour, one day, one week, one month, or one year, for one processing by the system. By upon starting-up of the system, introducing such concept of time grading for the time series, simulation is performed at the time grading corresponding to the duration of the period in which the system has been stopped so far, so that prompt simulation is realized.

Abstract: A production system including a network processing unit which allows a node, which refers to a data part which has changed, to execute a necessary change such that nodes in a data base are always kept in a latest state, and a production processing unit which selects and matches only a production rule, which refers to the node which has changed, so as to shorten the time required for the matching processing. A method of node control designates the direct node which is not necessary to be processed, when there is a change in the data part of a hierarchical network, so as to perform the processing in the network efficiently.