Abstract: A user authentication processing is performed and an authentication session ID is returned to a terminal 500 (A14). An authentication server 600 issues and stores an authentication ticket (A17). The authentication ticket and authentication session are returned to the terminal 500 (A18). A user 100 transmits a request of service provision and the authentication ticket to a service provider's server 700, and the service provider's server 700 transmits the authentication ticket to the authentication server 600 (A20). The authentication server 600 performs an authentication processing of the authentication ticket (A21), and the authentication result is notified (A22). In the case of the authentication approval, a service session ID is issued together with the notification of authorization (A23). When receiving the notification of the authentication approval, the terminal 500 performs an establishment processing of the session using the received service session ID, and stores the service session ID (A27).

Abstract: This invention can handle a communicable state restored from disconnection of a communication line. According to the invention, if the communication line is disconnected while a client terminal 2 requests to acquire a contents attribute file 47 that corresponds to a set of contents data stored in a hard disk and receives the file 47 and subsequently the communication line restores a communicable state, the client terminal 2 requests accounting status notification information to a portal server 4 and receives accounting status notification images 15 and 16 transmitted to it in response so that it can be notified if the accounting process had been completed by the time when the communication was disconnected while receiving the contents attribute file 47 and subsequently the communication n line restored a communicable state by accounting status notification information so that it can reliably handle the situation that arises when the communication line restores a communicable state from disconnection.

Abstract: A first communication apparatus 1 stores a first customer information registered by a user in order to receive a first service. A second communication apparatus 2 stores a first customer information registered by the user in order to receive a second service. A transmission mean 3a of a third communication apparatus 3 transmits request information requesting to receive the first service to the first communication apparatus 1 together with identification information of the user. A reception mean 3b receives customer information necessary for user registration for the first service from the first communication apparatus 1 according to the transmission of the request information. When the customer information necessary for the user registration for the first service is already included in second customer information, a display mean 3c displays the customer information in the second customer information on an input screen for user registration.

Abstract: A data-processing apparatus 1 that can provide information related to broadcast contents, whether it is receiving broadcast signals or not. In the data-processing apparatus 1, the setting means 13 sets the frequencies of broadcast signals the apparatus 1 can receive in the area where it is used, and allocates the receiving channels to the frequencies set. The information representing the relation between the frequencies and the receiving channels is recorded, as preset information, in the preset-information storing device 14. On the basis of the preset information, the broadcast-signal receiving means 11 receives a broadcast signal of a specific frequency that the user has selected. The broadcast-signal reproducing means 12 reproduces the broadcast signal the means 11 has received. The control means 15 causes the display means 17 to display a list of the broadcast stations that corresponds to the frequencies set in the preset information.

Abstract: To further correctly obtain related information about contents being received from a server. A communication apparatus 1 successively transmits request information that requests related information about contents being received via a network 30, at specified intervals (S1), receives related information corresponding to that request information (S2), temporarily stores (S3), displays it (S4), and performs contents updating processing. Here, if a direction to store the related information about the contents is entered, the communication apparatus 1 requests again request information for related information about contents, separately from the contents updating processing (S10). Then, the communication apparatus 1 receives related information corresponding to that request information (S11), and stores it (S13). This enables the latest related information to be further correctly obtained out of related information concerning contents, and obtaining related information before updating is reduced.

Abstract: The broadcast signal receiving means 2 receives the broadcast signal of the broadcast station 32a. While the broadcast signal reproduction means 3 reproduces the broadcast signal, the request information transmission means 4 transmits the request information for requesting the associated information of the broadcast station 32b which is different from the broadcast station 32a. The associated information receiving means 5 receives the associated information corresponding to the request information. The associated information display means 6 displays the associated information. Therefore, it is possible to browse the associated information of the broadcast station 32b when listening to the broadcast of the broadcast station 32a. This also means it is possible to acquire the associated information of the broadcast station 32b at the same time as its broadcast.

Abstract: Information about a user is completely deleted when the user cancels the service. The receiving means 2 of an information-processing apparatus 1 receives, from an external apparatus 7, service ID data requesting for a specific service, together with user ID data identifying the user and apparatus ID data identifying the external apparatus 7. The storage means 3 stores the user ID data, apparatus ID data and service ID data, in association with one another, in a recording medium 4. The deleting means 5 deletes the apparatus ID data after deleting the service ID data, when the receiving means 2 receives data requesting for deletion of the apparatus ID data, together with the user ID data and apparatus ID data. The transmitting means 6 transmits, to the external apparatus 7, deletion-complete information indicating that the deleting means 5 has completely deleted the apparatus ID data.

Abstract: A setting information transmission means 1c transmits setting information (area information) concerning broadcast reception of a reproducing apparatus 1 itself and set by a user, to an external device. List information corresponding to the setting information and including broadcast station names, broadcast station identification information, and frequencies of broadcast stations which can be received by the reproducing apparatus 1 is returned to and received by a list information reception means 1d from the external device. The broadcast station names included in the received list information are displayed on the display means 1e. The user checks the displayed broadcast station names and makes an input operation. In response to this input operation, a recording means 1f records parts of the received list information (e.g., frequencies, broadcast station names, and broadcast station identification information) onto a recording medium, with the parts linked to each other.

Abstract: According to the present invention, the step of requesting of an associated information provision server KS for associated information about contents broadcast in a broadcast program being received is provided. The step of acquiring the associated information corresponding to the request from the associated information provision server KS and storing this is provided. And the retrieval step of transmitting a part of the associated information as a retrieval key to retrieve contents to a CD seller server 31, and obtaining retrieval results from the CD seller server 31 is provided. Thereby, the associated information about the contents broadcast in the broadcast program being received is obtained. The retrieval results are obtained from a contents retrieval server by using the part of the associated information as retrieval keys. Therefore, retrieval results having variety that are not limited to results conceived by the user in a certain degree can be obtained.

Abstract: Even in the case where a first request signal for requesting the source of the top page and a second request signal for requesting the source of A Corporation CD sales page were transmitted from a client terminal 2, if the source of an information page has been stored in a portal server 4, the above source of the information page is transmitted from the portal server 4 to the client terminal 2 before the source of the top page or the source of the A Corporation CD sales page is transmitted from the portal server 4 or the contents sales server 5.

Abstract: A server receives a call sign from a client terminal CT to identify a currently received radio station RS. There is provided state information which indicates states of an information provision service associated with the radio station RS corresponding to the call sign. At least when the information provision service is available, the server sends the state information as well as a URL corresponding to the information provision service to the client terminal CT. In this manner, the client terminal CT can be provided with not only the state information indicative of states of the information provision service associated with the radio station RS, but also the URL corresponding to the information provision service. A user can be clearly notified of service states of an information provision service prior to access to the information provision service.

Abstract: Request information 3 is transmitted from a transmission means la of a communication device 1 to a server 2. Then, related information 4a corresponding to the request information 3 and an identification code 4b are obtained and transmitted to the communication device 1 by a transmission means 2c. The related information 4a and identification code 4b are stored in a storage means 1c of the communication device 1. Thereafter, purchase request information 5a is transmitted to the server 2 by the transmission means 1a. This purchase request information 5a is added with an identification code 5b and user identification information 5c. Then, content data 6a corresponding to the purchase request information 5a and additional data 6b corresponding to the identification code 5b are transmitted to the communication device 1 by the transmission means 2c of the server 2.

Abstract: When in receiving a call sign to identify the radio station RS being received now from a client terminal CT and transmitting state information that shows the state of an information provision service about the radio station RS corresponding to the call sign to the above client terminal CT, if at least the information provision service is available, a URL corresponding to the above information provision service is transmitted to the client terminal CT together with the state information. Thereby, the URL corresponding to the above information provision service can be provided to the client terminal CT together with the state information showing the state of the information provision service about the radio station RS. It enables the user to clearly recognize the service state of the above information provision service in a step before accessing the information provision service.

Abstract: An information provision apparatus previously stores associated information concerning an on-air program. The apparatus accepts a request for associated information from a client terminal CT which receives a program's broadcast signal. In synchronization with timing of accepting the request, the apparatus reads the associated information and transmits it to the client terminal CT. When the on-air program changes to a next program in such situation, the apparatus updates the associated information which should be read and transmitted. The apparatus can update the associated information to be transmitted in synchronization with program changeover. It is possible to provide the program in synchronization with the associated information without a time difference between both.

Abstract: The present invention is to provides a content data supply system, a content data supply apparatus and method, a content data reproduction apparatus and method, and a program. The content supply system supplies content data from a content data supply apparatus to a content reproduction apparatus via a network. The content reproduction apparatus includes notification means, content list acquisition means, activation file acquisition means, content data acquisition means, and license data acquisition means. The content data supply apparatus includes customer information management means, content list generation means, activation file generation means, storage means, content data supply means, and license data supply means.

Abstract: In a content supply system, content data is supplied from a content supply apparatus to a content playback apparatus via a network. The content playback apparatus includes a request device for requesting a recovery process; an obtaining device for obtaining a start-up file; and a download device for downloading the content data. The content supply apparatus includes a customer information management device for managing customer information; a notification device for notifying the recovery information to the content playback apparatus; a start-up file generation device for generating a start-up file; a storage device for storing the start-up file; a content data supply device for allowing the content data to be downloaded; and a license data supply device for allowing the license data to be downloaded.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to lighten the user load for the distribution of content in an album form. In order to look at/listen to album content, a user executes album content purchase operation. In response to a request for the distribution of a first item of content, a content server sends the requested content to a terminal. After the distribution, the terminal acquires the license of the first item of content. The content and its license are bound each other in the terminal. The license server executes, on a charging and settlement server, the processing necessary for the charging and settlement of the fee of the purchased album content. In response, the charging and settlement server executes the charging and settlement processing. The subject of charging is not only the first item of content, but also all items of content packaged as album content. Subsequently, all items of content in the album are downloaded.

Abstract: Provided is an aluminum nitride sintered body excellent in thermal shock resistance and strength and applicable to a radiating substrate for a power module or a jig for semiconductor equipment employed under a strict heat cycle. An aluminum nitride sintered body obtained with a sintering aid of a rare earth element and an alkaline earth metal element contains 0.01 to 5 percent by weight of an alkaline earth metal element compound in terms of an oxide and 0.01 to 10 percent by weight of a rare earth element compound in terms of an oxide, and the amount of carbon remaining in the sintered body is controlled to 0.005 to 0.1 percent by weight, thereby suppressing grain growth and improving thermal shock resistance and strength of the sintered body.

Abstract: Provided is an aluminum nitride sintered body excellent in thermal shock resistance and strength and applicable to a radiating substrate for a power module or a jig for semiconductor equipment employed under a strict heat cycle. An aluminum nitride sintered body obtained with a sintering aid of a rare earth element and an alkaline earth metal element contains 0.01 to 5 percent by weight of an alkaline earth metal element compound in terms of an oxide and 0.01 to 10 percent by weight of a rare earth element compound in terms of an oxide, and the amount of carbon remaining in the sintered body is controlled to 0.005 to 0.1 percent by weight, thereby suppressing grain growth and improving thermal shock resistance and strength of the sintered body.

Abstract: An aluminum nitride sintered body has excellent thermal shock resistance and strength, and is applicable to a radiating substrate for a power module or a jig for semiconductor equipment employed under a strict heat cycle. The aluminum nitride sintered body contains 0.01 to 5 percent by weight of an alkaline earth metal element compound in terms of an oxide and 0.01 to 10 percent by weight of a rare earth element compound in terms of an oxide, respectively as sintering aids, and a residual amount of carbon in a range from 0.005 to 0.1 percent by weight, thereby suppressing grain growth and improving thermal shock resistance and strength of the sintered body.