Abstract: A scheduling apparatus to arrange a schedule for a new event in accordance with an input includes an input accepting device, a personal schedule information acquisition device, a schedule determination device, and a schedule registration device. The input accepting device accepts new event information. The personal schedule information acquisition device acquires personal schedule information from a personal schedule storage device. The schedule determination device determines a new schedule including a holding date and time and a holding location based on the new event information, the personal schedule information, and at least one of a weather forecast or a travel distance of at least one of the participants to attend the new event. The schedule registration device registers the determined new schedule into the personal schedule storage device.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved communication terminal system which basically works only in an on-line state, that is, when it is connected with a host computer; but, which is also workable for a pre-determined time period even in an off-line state. The communication terminal system includes a terminal unit, measuring means for counting working frequency or time of the terminal unit, and control means for detecting disconnection from the host computer and controlling the terminal unit. The control means activates the counting means when it detects disconnection of the communication lines. The control means then disables the terminal unit when it detects that working frequency or time of the terminal unit amounts to a value previously set on the measuring means.

Abstract: A vending system for automatic sale of articles selected by a customer, comprising a display for displaying groups of vending information in respective steps of a vending procedure that are executed to select one of the articles. The vending system comprises an advancing key and a returning key which enable the vending procedure to be advanced from the currently established step to the next, or to be reversed to revert to the preceding step. The vending system further comprises a payment-control device for commanding the display to display a price of the selected article, and for detecting an amount of a payment medium deposited for the selected article. The selected article is delivered when the detected amount of the payment medium is equal to or larger than the displayed price.

Abstract: A software vending system comprising a host system including a first memory for storing a plurality of first software programs and a plurality of peripheral vending instruments operatively connected to the host system for interactive data communication, each peripheral vending instrument including a secondary memory for storing the first software programs transferred from the first memory of the host system, and a recording device for duplicating in a recordinng medium a selected one of the first software programs stored in the secondary memory. The peripheral vending instrument further includes an input device for entering a second software program into the vending instrument, and a data transmitting device for transferring to the host system the second software program entered through the input device.