Abstract: At a time of a movement made by a user viewing a television broadcast program, which is recorded on a hard disk device and read from the hard disk device to enable time shift viewing, and is reproduced at a TV set, the movement of the user is detected via a transmitting and receiving unit to which an electronic key card is held, and a reproduction position on a hard disk is recorded in a memory of a controlling apparatus main unit. A destination of the user is detected via a transmitting and receiving unit to which the electronic key card is held, and the broadcast signal is read from the stored reproduction position on the hard disk and then transferred to an electronic device at the destination, thereby enabling a continuation of the broadcast program that was viewed to be viewed in a room at the destination.

Abstract: At a time of a movement made by a user viewing a television broadcast program, which is recorded on a hard disk device and read from the hard disk device to enable time shift viewing, and is reproduced at a TV set, the movement of the user is detected via a transmitting and receiving unit to which an electronic key card is held, and a reproduction position on a hard disk is recorded in a memory of a controlling apparatus main unit. A destination of the user is detected via a transmitting and receiving unit to which the electronic key card is held, and the broadcast signal is read from the stored reproduction position on the hard disk and then transferred to an electronic device at the destination, thereby enabling a continuation of the broadcast program that was viewed to be viewed in a room at the destination.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a shared entrance apparatus for a multiple dwelling house, a dwelling unit door phone apparatus for the multiple dwelling house, a dwelling unit storage box management apparatus, and a communication system, whereby a visit and/or calling by a door-to-door sales agent is controlled, and whereby delivery of goods addressed to any one of the dwelling units constituting the multiple dwelling house is automatically received by the dwelling unit in question regardless of its resident being at home or absent. Residents and agents granted access to the dwelling units (called registered agents) are each issued an IC card carrying identification information. The residents or registered agents each use the IC card to send resident identification information or agent identification information to a shared entrance apparatus 2. The apparatus 2 lets the card user in if the transmitted information proves the user to be a legitimate resident or a registered agent.

Abstract: An electronic device controlling apparatus is disclosed which includes: a communication unit for communicating with electronic devices; a storing element for storing personal identification information and personal information in correspondence with each other; a detecting element for detecting personal identification information and a location where a person identified by the detected personal identification information is present; a searching element for searching the storing element for the personal information corresponding to the personal identification information detected by the detecting element; and a controlling element which, based on the personal information searched for by the searching element, causes the communication unit to transmit a control signal to the electronic device installed in the detected location.

Abstract: At a time of a movement made by a user viewing a television broadcast program, which is recorded on a hard disk device and read from the hard disk device to enable time shift viewing, and is reproduced at a TV set, the movement of the user is detected via a transmitting and receiving unit to which an electronic key card is held, and a reproduction position on a hard disk is recorded in a memory of a controlling apparatus main unit. A destination of the user is detected via a transmitting and receiving unit to which the electronic key card is held, and the broadcast signal is read from the stored reproduction position on the hard disk and then transferred to an electronic device at the destination, thereby enabling a continuation of the broadcast program that was viewed to be viewed in a room at the destination.

Abstract: The invention provides an electronic apparatus, a time period charging system, a time period charging method, and a charging management system for an electronic apparatus which eliminate various problems arising from a conventional charging method wherein an equivalent is paid to the proprietary right of contents. It is first discriminated whether or not contents data are of the type wherein use thereof should be charged based on information representative of a time period within which the contents data are used. Then, at least one of a time period within which the contents data are used and a time period within which the electronic apparatus is used is measured based on a result of the discrimination. When the contents data are of the type described, information to be used for the charging process is produced based on at least one of the information of the time period of use of the contents data and the information of the time period of use of the electronic apparatus.

Abstract: A management apparatus, a charging object apparatus and a management system and method by which a product of an object of use can be used in an efficiency as high as possible when it is used commonly by a plurality of people.

Abstract: The present invention is a movable body management system which can appropriately calculate a movable body fee according to availability etc. and flexibly and effectively allow movable bodies to be used. Each of vehicles such as cars and bicycles has a GPS capability to detect a current position of its own at a specified time interval. The system transmits information indicating the detected current position to an operating company for managing current positions of respective vehicles. When each of vehicles such as bicycles is rented out to a member and is used, the system stars measuring a traveling distance and a traveling time. When the use of the vehicle ends, the system transmits the measured traveling distance and traveling time to a server apparatus in the operating company. The operating company's server apparatus calculates the fee for settlement according to the transmitted traveling distance and traveling time.

Abstract: This invention is intended to enable a learner to efficiently learn a language or the like while using an information terminal such as a personal computer apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus of the invention comprises an operation inputting element for designating one of a plurality of functions; a function executing element for executing the function designated by the operating inputting element; a measuring element for measuring the time during which each of the functions has been executed by the function executing element; and a chargeable amount computing element for computing a chargeable amount based on the execution time measured by the measuring element regarding each of the functions.

Abstract: A printer head cleaning device for ink jet printers, having a case body with a receiving portion for receiving a printer head, and a sucking portion for carrying out suction of ink from the printer head. The receiving portion comprises a contact portion in contact with the injection or jet nozzle of the printer head. The sucking portion comprises a supply portion for applying negative pressure to the contact portion. When negative pressure is applied to the receiving portion, suction of ink existing within the injection or jet nozzle is carried out. Because a water-holding member is provided, drying of the injection or jet nozzle is prevented. The cleaning device also can select suction operation and can control the continuous suction operation and strength of the suction force, thereby making it possible to carry out cleaning of the printer head.

Abstract: A color video printer can identify the length of a print sheet inserted therein for ejecting any print sheets other than a standard print sheet. The printer has a sheet feed sensor and another sensor disposed downstream of the sheet feed sensor with respect to the direction in which a print sheet is fed in the printer. After the leading end of an inserted print sheet is detected by the sheet feed sensor, the print sheet is fed until the leading end thereof is detected by the other downstream sensor. At this time, the length of the print sheet which is fed is equal to the distance, typically of 128 mm, between the sensors. The true length of the print sheet is calculated by adding, to 128 mm, the length of the print sheet which is further fed until the trailing end of the print sheet is detected by the sheet feed sensor.

Abstract: A video printing apparatus and method in which, without interlocking the movement of the printing head with the capstan for carrying the printing paper and the paper feeding mechanism by a cam and linkage mechanism, they are respectively operated by three independent motors. The printer includes a first normally and reversely rotatable DC motor for searching the head of the ink ribbon of the ribbon cassette housed in the printer and for taking up the ink ribbon by the take-up reel base during the printing operation. A second normally and reversely rotatable stepping motor is provided for carrying the printing paper housed in the tray by the capstan and the pinch roller to the printing position and the paper delivering position. A third normally and reversely rotatable DC motor is provided for moving the printing head which subjects the printing paper to the printing processing by pressing the ink ribbon of the ribbon cassette thereon in cooperation with the platen.

Abstract: A printer in which an ink ribbon is not wound when a ribbon code ring is read, a dedicated motor for rotating the ribbon code ring is not required, and it is possible to rotate the ribbon code ring with the same motor used for moving a printing head. When an information code of an ink ribbon is to be read, a print head is held in an initial position HO, and a pendulum gear, which can be rotated only when a cam is reversed, is brought into mesh with a ink ribbon code ring which rotates irrespective of a supply spool of a ribbon cassette. The information code on the ribbon code ring is detected by a sensor as the code ring is rotated. A locking system is provided for preventing accidental opening of a ribbon door of the printer during printing operations.

Abstract: A device for identifying an ink ribbon cartridge used in a printing apparatus includes a spool rotatably disposed in the ink ribbon cartridge and having an ink ribbon wound thereabout. A ring is mounted on the spool so as to be rotatable relative to the spool and has information marks recorded thereon. A photo-sensor is disposed in the printing apparatus in opposite relation to the ring and detects the information marks recorded on the ring.

Abstract: An ink ribbon unit and an ink ribbon cassette for use in printers of thermally sublimate ink transferal type are described. The cassette comprises a casing and the ink ribbon unit installed in the casing. The ink ribbon unit comprises an ink film, a spool around which the ink film is wound, a coaxial shaft portion possessed by the spool, a ring rotatably disposed about the coaxial shaft portion of the spool, and a mark representing information on the ink film. The mark is applied to the ring to rotate therewith. Another mark similar to the above-mentioned mark is attached to the casing.

Abstract: An imaging sheet roll has a spool on which is wound a film coated with photosensitive microcapsules to form a roll of film between flanges extending radially at the opposite ends of the spool and provide with annular step portions, and a leader tape of a material that is impermeable to light is bonded to the end portion of the film at which the latter unwinds from the spool and has a transverse width greater than that of the film. The leader tape is wound around the annular step portions of the flanges to seat thereagainst and prevent irradiation by light of the photosensitive microcapsules coating the film wound on the spool.

Abstract: In a printing apparatus, a relatively long film having a photosensitive surface composed of photosensitive microcapsules is withdrawn from a supply spool and selectively exposed to light to form a photographed film frame prior to being passed through a nip between urged-together press rollers and then wound onto a take-up spool, sheets of developing paper are delivered one at a time by a paper supply roller from a stack of the sheets for passage between the press rollers with each delivered sheet facing a respective exposed area of the film so as to be pressed together therewith, and a roller drive assembly including a first reversible motor operative in first and second directions in printing and rewinding modes, respectively, a first transmission including a first one-way clutch through which the first motor drives the paper supply roller means only when the first motor operates in the first direction in the printing mode, a second transmission including a second one-way clutch through which the supply spoo

Abstract: In an apparatus for developing a picture on a sheet of developing paper from an exposed sheet of photo-sensitive material by pressing together the sheets of developing paper and photo-sensitive material, and in which such sheets in contact with each other are intermittently transported in a predetermined direction of sheet travel across a back-up surface, and a rotatable roller having its axis of rotation extending substantially at right angles to a longitudinal median of the back-up surface is transported relative to the back-up surface in directions parallel to the longitudinal median thereof while the roller is urged toward the back-up surface with the sheets of developing paper and photo-sensitive material therebetween so as to be pressed together at a relatively narrow stripe-like area defined by the rolling path of the peripheral surface of the roller; standby surfaces extend from the opposite ends of the back-up surface and are raised relative to the latter for defining shoulders therebetween by which

Abstract: In an apparatus that employs a photo-sensitive sheet with a surface comprised of photo-sensitive microcapsules containing pigments or precursors thereof and which are selectively hardened when irradiated with a light image of a picture to be developed on a sheet of developing paper by the pressing together of the developing paper and the photo-sensitive sheets; the developing paper and photo-sensitive sheets in contact with each other are transported in a predetermined direction of sheet travel across a back-up surface, and a rotatable roller disposed in opposing relation to the back-up surface and having its axis of rotation extending parallel to the direction of sheet travel is transported relative to the back-up surface in a direction parallel to the latter which is perpendicular to the direction of sheet travel while the roller is urged toward the back-up surface with the contacting developing paper and photo-sensitive sheets therebetween so as to be pressed together at a relatively narrow striped-like ar