Abstract: According to one embodiment, an illumination device comprises a light guide, a light source, a reflective layer, a first prism and a second prism, wherein the light guide has a thickness in a second direction increasing toward a second side surface, the first prism and the second prism have cross-sectional shapes being formed in a triangle shape, a first height of the first prism in the second direction is smaller than a second height of the second prism in the second direction.

Abstract: Method for making delivery of products more efficient, and having deliveries made that are convenient for delivery recipients. When a user (delivery recipient 3) purchases a product from a vendor and applies for delivery, a management server 4 accepts a delivery application from a vendor client 1. The management server 4 notifies the delivery recipient client 3 of the application for delivery, and prompts the user to designate delivery terms. For example, a delivery terms designation form is provided on a web page, and the URL for that web page is provided in the application for delivery notification. The delivery recipient client 3 accesses the web page and refers to a list of products to be delivered to him or herself. Moreover, the delivery recipient designates delivery terms when he or she is certain of his or her schedule. A delivery business is notified of these delivery terms.

Abstract: Using a mobile terminal while moving, a user has a voice conversation with a security terminal provided by a security service provider. This conversation creates a situation in which it is possible to immediately send an alarm if an emergency occurs, thus repelling assaulters or abductors lurking near the user. The mobile terminal is provided with GPS or the like, and position information of the mobile terminal is sent to the security terminal. The security service provider takes advertisements from advertisers selling goods or services, and prepares conversation scenarios that are the content of the conversations for automatic response based on those advertisements. The security terminal firstly provides the user with a voice conversation partner proxy service based on the conversation scenarios and secondly detects emergencies by detecting emergency messages from the mobile terminal or detecting the interruption of the conversation.

Abstract: There is provided a voice Interactive system for inputting user's voice information, conducting voice recognition with respect to the voice information, analyzing the contents of the voice information, controlling a transmission path of the voice information in accordance with the contents of the voice information, outputting a synthesized voice, extracting the contents of a response corresponding to the voice information by referring to a knowledge database, and creating the synthesized voice in accordance with the contents of a response, wherein in the case where it is monitored at all times whether or not use's interaction is being smoothly conducted, and when it is determined that the user's interaction is not being smoothly conducted, a third-party user is allowed to participate,as a helper, in the users interaction.

Abstract: Using a mobile terminal while moving, a user has a voice conversation with a security terminal provided by a security service provider. This conversation creates a situation in which it is possible to immediately send an alarm if an emergency occurs, thus repelling assaulters or abductors lurking near the user. The mobile terminal is provided with GPS or the like, and position information of the mobile terminal is sent to the security terminal. The security service provider takes advertisements from advertisers selling goods or services, and prepares conversation scenarios that are the content of the conversations for automatic response based on those advertisements. The security terminal firstly provides the user with a voice conversation partner proxy service based on the conversation scenarios and secondly detects emergencies by detecting emergency messages from the mobile terminal or detecting the interruption of the conversation.

Abstract: When a user works data required for allowance for the use thereof, the work processing is carried out by utilizing an exclusive work processing device. Thereafter, only the data of work information indicating what kind of working has been made to the original data (for example, differential static image data indicating a difference between the original static image required for allowance for the use and the static image after having been worked) is stored, whereby the use without permission of the data is prevented.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a speech dialogue system having a speech recognition unit, a synthetic utterance generating unit, and a sub-sound generating unit. A speech uttered by a user is input into the speech recognition unit and analyzed, and resultant information is obtained. The synthetic utterance generating unit generates a system utterance based on the resultant information. The sub-sound generating unit generates a sub-sound which notifies the user whether the speech dialogue is in the state being able to accept the speech uttered by the user or not. As the user can know the state of the system by the sub-sound continuously radiated from a loudspeaker, the user can easily catch the timing to speak. By the sub-sound, a dialogue between the user and the speech dialogue system is smoothly promoted.

Abstract: There is provided a voice interactive system for inputting user's voice information, conducting voice recognition with respect to the voice information, analyzing the contents of the voice information, controlling a transmission path of the voice information in accordance with the contents of the voice information, outputting a synthesized voice, extracting the contents of a response corresponding to the voice information by referring to a knowledge database, and creating the synthesized voice in accordance with the contents of a response, wherein in the case where it is monitored at all times whether or not user's interaction is being smoothly conducted, and it is determined that user's interaction is not being smoothly conducted, a third-party user is allowed to participate in user's interaction as a helper.

Abstract: Method for making delivery of products more efficient, and having deliveries made that are convenient for delivery recipients. When a user (delivery recipient 3) purchases a product from a vendor and applies for delivery, a management server 4 accepts a delivery application from a vendor client 1. The management server 4 notifies the delivery recipient client 3 of the application for delivery, and prompts the user to designate delivery terms. For example, a delivery terms designation form is provided on a web page, and the URL for that web page is provided in the application for delivery notification. The delivery recipient client 3 accesses the web page and refers to a list of products to be delivered to him or herself. Moreover, the delivery recipient designates delivery terms when he or she is certain of his or her schedule. A delivery business is notified of these delivery terms.

Abstract: A prospective customer searching part searches a customer database on the Internet based on information regarding a target article, a shop searching part searches a shop database, and a prospective customer list generating part generates a prospective customer list for each shop. A prospective customer list presenting part presents the list, and a shop determines whether or not advertisement is to be distributed to each prospective customer by using an advertisement distribution selecting part. An advertisement distribution preliminary list generating part excludes customers selected not to receive advertisement to generate an advertisement distribution preliminary list. A name-embedded advertisement generating part generates advertisement using advertisement data in accordance with the advertisement distribution preliminary list, and a name-embedded advertisement distributing part distributes the name-embedded advertisement to customers.

Abstract: A rhythm pattern generating apparatus is provided having a layered neural network to perform learning with feedback to generate an output pattern signal indicative of a musical sound pattern. The output pattern signal is generated by the layered neural network with feedback in response to a performance operation of a player. The layered neural network generates the output pattern signal indicative of the musical sound pattern based on both an input pattern signal and a weight signal. The output pattern signal is fed back by the feedback circuit to the layered neural network to perform the learning process. A drum pad can be used to provide an input to the rhythm pattern generating apparatus or, specifically, to gate an input pattern selector for selecting input pattern signals. The layered neural network with the feedback can perform the learning process using a back propagation method.