Abstract: It is one objective of the present invention to limit the frequency whereat a user can display or reproduce digital content data, such as photograph data or music data, and instead, to reduce the price of such digital content data and accelerate its sale via the Internet. According to the present invention, an information processing apparatus comprises: a reception unit, for externally receiving, via a network, a content data file to which an encrypted life counter has been added; a processor, for processing the content data file; a subtraction unit, for subtracting a specific value from the encrypted life counter; and a controller, for inhibiting the processing means from processing the content data file when the value held by the encrypted life counter has been reduced to a value smaller than the specific value.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a reading unit, a recognizing unit, a registering unit, a searching unit, and a control unit. The reading unit reads image information including character data such as a phone number recorded in a recording medium. The recognizing unit recognizes the character data in the image information read by the reading unit. The registering unit registers the character data recognized by the recognizing unit. The searching unit searches a desired phone number from the character data registered in the registering unit. The control unit performs communication processing on the basis of the phone number searched by the searching unit.

Abstract: It is one objective of the present invention to limit the frequency whereat a user can display or reproduce digital content data, such as photograph data or music data, and instead, to reduce the price of such digital content data and accelerate its sale via the Internet.

Abstract: Data selected by a user side is directly sent to a type of an output device having a predetermined function from a supplier side. Thereby, since the data does not pass through an information processing device on the user side, it can be prevented that the data are varied or obtained dishonestly.

Abstract: A printing system includes a host computer and a printer. The host computer includes a memory which store process steps that are executable by a processor, and a processor. The processor executes the process steps stored in the memory (1) to divide encoded image data in a page of encoded image data into blocks, each block having a size which is less than a storage capacity of a buffer on a printer, and (2) to transmit the blocks of encoded image data to the printer. The printer includes a memory which stores process steps that are executable by a processor, and a processor. The processor executes the process steps stored in the memory (1) to store a predetermined amount of encoded image data in a buffer, (2) to control a printer engine to print images based on the encoded image data stored in the buffer, and (3) to store additional encoded image data, including blocks of the encoded image data, in the buffer in place of the encoded image data for which images have been printed.

Abstract: When a host transfers only an image to a printing apparatus to make it print out the image, a heavy load is imposed on the host, and the data size to be transferred is large, resulting in a long processing time. To prevent this, when a document is to be printed, the driver on a host sends character codes of characters that occur for the first time in that document and corresponding character images to the printer in advance, and registers them. After this process, the driver transmits, to the printer, characters as character codes, ruled lines as coordinate data representing their corner points, and data other than characters and ruled lines as mapped images. The printer maps an image on a page memory, maps characters as images with reference to the registered character codes and images, and superposes the mapped character images on the image mapped on the page memory. Also, the printer maps ruled lines based on their vertex positions, and synthesizes them on the already mapped image.

Abstract: When a host computer makes a printer print a document, the driver on the host computer sends character codes of characters that appear for the first time in that document and corresponding character images to the printer in advance, and registers them. After this process, the driver transmits, to the printer, characters in the document to be printed as character codes, and data other than characters as mapped image. The printer maps an image on a page memory, maps characters as images with reference to the registered character codes and character image, and superposes the mapped character images on the image mapped on the page buffer. The printer prints the image on paper. The printer can divide an image into bands, and can map the image in units of bands, in place of pages. With this arrangement, the memory capacity can be reduced, and bands having identical contents or blank bands can be processed as codes.

Abstract: In an information processing apparatus for causing a printer to execute a printing operation by registering a font therein, there is disclosed a configuration allowing the information processing apparatus to manage the font to be registered in the printer thereby preventing the failure in the printing operation. The information processing apparatus issues a command for reserving a memory for font registration in the printer, then calculates the available capacity based on the reserved memory capacity at the transfer of the font to the printer, and executes transfer or deletion of the font based on thus calculated available capacity.

Abstract: A multifunctional information processing apparatus includes a selection unit consisting of a CRT display and a touch panel, for selecting a desired function of a plurality of executable functions, a plurality of function programs for executing different functions, respectively, a memory for storing data formed upon execution of the function program selected by the selecting unit so as to allow subsequent use of the data by other function programs, and a CPU for controlling to cause another function program selected by the selecting unit to utilize the data stored in the memory.

Abstract: A multifunctional information processing apparatus includes a selection unit consisting of a CRT display and a touch panel, for selecting a desired function of a plurality of executable functions, a plurality of function programs for executing different functions, respectively, a memory for storing data formed upon execution of the function program selected by the selecting unit so as to allow subsequent use of the data by other function programs, and a CPU for causing another function program selected by the selecting unit to utilize the data stored in the memory.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus for performing a plurality of functions includes an auxiliary memory for receiving document data, a main memory for storing the document data received by the auxiliary memory, and a display for displaying the document data stored in the main memory. Icons for designating various edit operations for the document data displayed on the display. A CPU performs edit processing of the document data stored in the main memory in accordance with designation made by the icons.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: a unit for displaying on a screen a musical score, keyboard and tone time information to be inputted; a unit for designating the position of the keyboard, and tone time information, respectively displayed on the display unit; a unit for storing musical information produced through designation by the designating unit of the position of the keyboard and tone time information displayed on the display unit; a unit for controlling the display of the musical score, keyboard and tone time information on the screen of the display unit, and for controlling the display of a pattern of musical tone or rest on the musical score on the display unit in accordance with the position of the keyboard and tone time information respectively designated by the designating unit; and a unit for generating a musical tone by reading the musical information stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: In an information input device for inputting information in an information processing apparatus by means of contact on an input surface provided on a display picture, an input-prohibiting area is provided on the input surface in response to setting a cleaning mode of the input surface, and the input-prohibiting area and an input-enabling area are discriminately displayed. At the same time, the brightness of the input surface is made high during the cleaning mode.

Abstract: An information processing system inputs information by touching the surface of a touch panel provided on the screen of a CRT display. This apparatus includes a mode setting device to set the cleaning mode of the touch panel on the screen of the CRT display, and an input controller to set an input inhibition area of information on the touch panel when the cleaning mode is set. An inhibition area display device displays on the screen of the CRT display that the information input inhibition area is set on the touch panel by the input controller, and an inhibition area changing device changes the input inhibition area set by the input controller on the touch panel. With this apparatus, the cleaning mode can be set or cancelled on the screen of the CRT display even in the cleaning mode. The touch panel can be cleaned without causing an erroneous input due to touching the touch panel during the cleaning.

Abstract: A personal computer system with communication function, in which the operating mode is automatically controlled by a tone signal transmitted through a communication channel.