Abstract: When new music content is generated on the basis of replication of original music content, additional information including information indicating that the generated new music content is based on replication and replication source information identifying a replicated-from source of the replicated content is generated and added to the new music content based on the replication. When the new (i.e., replicated) music content is to be used, a search is made for original music content on the basis of information identifying a replicated-from source and use of the new (replicated) music content is permitted only when the c original music content has been successfully found. Such arrangements reliably allow the replicated content to be used by a given person only when the person possesses the original music content.

Abstract: In an apparatus capable of mounting a recording medium for recording content data, an information acquisition section acquires protection information from a server, which indicates whether or not content data supplied from the server needs to be protected. A protection determination section determines whether or not the content data needs to be protected according to the protection information. When the content data needs to be protected, an ID determination section further determines whether or not a unique identification code is provided which uniquely identifies a recording medium mounted on the apparatus. When the recording medium has the unique identification, a recording destination settling section settles that recording medium to be a content recording destination. A data acquisition section acquires content data from the server. An encryption section encrypts the acquired content data using the unique identification code.

Abstract: A browser portion BR obtains a reproduction manner specifying file from a content distribution server 30, and delivers the same to a reproduction control portion CT. The reproduction control portion CT obtains from the content distribution server 30 a music content file designated by a reproduction content list in the reproduction manner specifying file. The reproduction control portion CT reproduces, in cooperation with a tone generating circuit 43, a music piece corresponding to the music content in a reproduction manner specified by the reproduction manner specifying file. The reproduction control portion CT displays the music content on a display device 42 in a display manner specified by a reproduction manner specifying file. When a user operates an input operation element group 41 for changing the display manner of the display device 42, the reproduction control portion CT changes the display manner of the display device 42.

Abstract: In a content data reproducing apparatus having a temporary memory for stream reproduction, a content data acquisition section acquires content data from an external content provision server. A storage control section temporarily stores the content data acquired by the content data acquisition section in the temporary memory such that the stored content data should be erased from the temporary memory when a power supply is turned off. A reproduction condition acquisition section acquires reproduction condition data which defines a reproduction condition for reproducing the content data. A reproduction section reproduces the content data read from the temporary memory.

Abstract: An automatic performance apparatus which can make it difficult to discriminate between music contents which require copyright protection and music contents which do not require copyright protection. An encrypted content file distributed by a contents distributing site via a network is received, and copyright protection information indicative of whether or not the received encrypted content file requires copyright protection is acquired. The received encrypted content file is decoded to generate a decoded content file. When the acquired copyright protection information indicates that copyright protection is required, a storage medium stores the encrypted content file, or a re-encrypted content file generated by re-encrypting the decoded content file by an encrypting method different from an encrypting method used to obtain the encrypted content file.

Abstract: An electric music apparatus comprises an interface for connecting an external device, a memory that stores device drivers for external devices connected to the interface and a list recording relationships between external devices and corresponding device drivers, an obtaining device that obtains an external device information from an connected external device, a searching device that searches a device driver corresponding to the connected external device with reference to the list in accordance with the obtained external device information; a first determining device that determines the device driver corresponding to the connected external device when the searching device detects the corresponding device driver from the list, and a second determining device that executes a specific command to the connected external device by using a device driver stored in the memory when the searching device cannot detect the corresponding device driver and determines a driver without an error as a corresponding driver.

Abstract: An electronic musical apparatus which makes it possible to execute functions provided in advance in the electronic musical apparatus. Contents data including link information indicative of a link to a file in which at least one command for executing at least one predetermined function provided in the electronic musical apparatus is written is acquired. A predetermined screen is displayed based on the acquired contents data. The file linked by the link information is acquired when a user performs a predetermined operation on the link information presented on the displayed predetermined screen. At least one command written in the acquired file is interpreted, and the electronic musical apparatus is controlled to execute at least one predetermined function indicated by the interpreted command.

Abstract: An electronic musical apparatus M1 transmits apparatus ID information and a common mail page access signal to a server computer SC. The server computer SC receives the signal and apparatus ID information. On the basis of the apparatus ID information, the server computer SC searches a user database 206a to identify the mail box of the user of the electronic musical apparatus M1. The server computer SC also searches an e-mail database 206b to retrieve an e-mail message stored in the identified mail box. The retrieved e-mail message is adjusted in accordance with display capabilities of a display unit 13 of the electronic musical apparatus M1. The server computer SC then transmits the retrieved e-mail message to the electronic musical apparatus M1. The user of the electronic musical apparatus M1 is allowed to easily read e-mail messages on the display unit 13.

Abstract: An electronic musical apparatus for use in a music contents distribution processing system which makes it possible to selectively use usage modes such as downloading of music contents from a music contents distributing site to a user terminal (electronic musical apparatus) and streaming of such music contents in a simple manner. A distribution mode designating file indicative of whether music contents are to be distributed from the music contents distributing site in a download mode or a streaming mode is received and interpreted. The music contents received from the music contents distributing site are processed in the download mode or the streaming mode according to the result of the interpretation.

Abstract: An electronic musical apparatus is of a data processing type and is connectable to an external server via a communication network. The apparatus comprises a display screen, item selecting keys arranged around the display screen, and a communication device to connect with the server via the communication network. The apparatus transmits a connection request to a server, receives a list of available service items from the server, displays the list for selection on the display screen, permits the user to select from the list an intended service by operating the item selecting key, transmits a request of the selected service, and receives from the server the service corresponding to the transmitted request.

Abstract: A browser portion BR obtains a reproduction manner specifying file from a content distribution server 30, and delivers the same to a reproduction control portion CT. The reproduction control portion CT obtains from the content distribution server 30 a music content file designated by a reproduction content list in the reproduction manner specifying file. The reproduction control portion CT reproduces, in cooperation with a tone generating circuit 43, a music piece corresponding to the music content in a reproduction manner specified by the reproduction manner specifying file. The reproduction control portion CT displays the music content on a display device 42 in a display manner specified by a reproduction manner specifying file. When a user operates an input operation element group 41 for changing the display manner of the display device 42, the reproduction control portion CT changes the display manner of the display device 42.

Abstract: An electronic musical apparatus comprises an instructing device that instructs establishment of connection to a network via a communication interface, a first time information obtaining device that obtains time information from a first time information provider connected to the network, a second time information obtaining device that obtains time information from a second time information provider connected to the network when the first time information obtaining device cannot obtain the time information, and an executing device that executes a service via the network by using the time information obtained from either one of the first and the second time information providers.

Abstract: Electronic musical apparatus (EMA), e.g. an electronic musical instrument, has a storage area for storing a unique ID; however, unique ID is empty in the storage area in an initial condition, e.g. condition at the time of shipment from a factory. Unique ID is issued by a Web server to the EMA when a user having acquired the EMA accesses a predetermined Web site having an ID issuing function, and the EMA stores the supplied unique ID in the storage area. The Web server determines whether or not any unique ID has already been issued to a given EMA having accessed the Web site, and, if not yet issued, the Web server may automatically issue a unique ID. Alternatively, the Web server may issue a unique ID when an ID issuance request has been received from a user of the EMA. User registration operation and unique ID issuance and registration operations may be carried out together as a set of operations.

Abstract: An electronic musical apparatus M1 transmits apparatus ID information and a common page access signal to a server computer SC. The server computer SC receives the signal and apparatus ID information. On the basis of the apparatus ID information, the server computer SC searches a user database 106a to identify the model of the electronic musical apparatus M1. The server computer SC also retrieves content data of a dedicated page for the identified model from a content data storage section 106b. The retrieved content data is created in accordance with display capabilities of a display unit 13 of the electronic musical apparatus M1. The server computer SC then transmits the retrieved content data to the electronic musical apparatus M1. As a result, the user of the electronic musical apparatus M1 can view the information contained in the whole dedicated page in colors on the display unit 13 without the need for scrolling.

Abstract: Creation of a music selection list is performed by a client terminal such as a personal computer, and music data specified by the music selection list is utilized by an electronic music instrument. The user can receive music data providing service based on a user's own music selection list even with the electronic music instrument having a simple user interface. Processing of selecting a music selection list for a user from a large number of music selection lists is performed by the personal computer, and the music data specified by the selected music selection list is delivered to the electronic music instrument. A desired music selection list can be selected easily from a large number of music selection lists even with the electronic music instrument having a simple user interface.

Abstract: An electronic musical apparatus is of a data processing type which boots up when a power is supplied and shuts down when the power is removed. The apparatus comprises an internal clock which is not backed up by an uninterruptible power supply and stops counting time when the power supply to the apparatus is shut down. Upon boot of the apparatus or as preparation for execution of processing which needs a reference time-of-day clock counting, the apparatus acquires time-of-day clock counting information, and corrects the internal clock to run with the time-of-day counting based on the time-of-day information acquired externally, so that the apparatus can execute processing which needs a reference time-of-day clock counting, even though it is not equipped with a backup power supply for the internal clock.

Abstract: An electronic musical apparatus in which operators for changing pages on a musical instrument function-related screen and history pages on a Web screen are shared, so that those pages can be changed using similar operating systems to improve the userfriendliness. A display controller 38 is operable when the Web screen is displayed by the display 19, to change the history pages of the Web screen forward in terms of time in response to operation of a Next switch 47, and the display controller 38 is operable when the Web screen is displayed by the display 19, to change the history pages of the Web screen backward in terms of time in response to operation of a Back switch 48.

Abstract: An electronic music apparatus which can simplify the operating procedure for reproduction of sample contents. When a user designates a sample content as an object for download distribution using a setting operator, the sample content is distributed by download distribution and received by the electronic music apparatus. The received sample content is stored in a storage medium, and automatically read out from the storage medium and stored in a temporary memory. The sample content stored in the temporary memory is automatically reproduced.

Abstract: In a content data reproducing apparatus having a temporary memory for stream reproduction, a content data acquisition section acquires content data from an external content provision server. A storage control section temporarily stores the content data acquired by the content data acquisition section in the temporary memory such that the stored content data should be erased from the temporary memory when a power supply is turned off. A reproduction condition acquisition section acquires reproduction condition data which defines a reproduction condition for reproducing the content data. A reproduction section reproduces the content data read from the temporary memory.

Abstract: In an apparatus capable of mounting a recording medium for recording content data, an information acquisition section acquires protection information from a server, which indicates whether or not content data supplied from the server needs to be protected. A protection determination section determines whether or not the content data needs to be protected according to the protection information. When the content data needs to be protected, an ID determination section further determines whether or not a unique identification code is provided which uniquely identifies a recording medium mounted on the apparatus. When the recording medium has the unique identification, a recording destination settling section settles that recording medium to be a content recording destination. A data acquisition section acquires content data from the server. An encryption section encrypts the acquired content data using the unique identification code.