Abstract: An image forming apparatus for use in a network system including a network and a plurality of print-data-outputting apparatuses which sends via the network print-data including identification information identifying the print-data-outputting apparatus to the image forming apparatus for outputting a hardcopy of the print-data. The image forming apparatus receives print-data from each of a plurality of print-data-outputting apparatuses via the network, recognizes characteristics of the received print data, and judges whether reproduction of the received print-data is legally forbidden. If the received print data is forbidden, the image forming apparatus alters the received print-data so as to cause the fidelity of a reproduction of the received print-data to be lost or deteriorated and adds to the altered print-data identification information identifying the specific print-data-outputting apparatus sending the print-data.

Abstract: An electronic mail system including a communication line, and at least one transmitting terminal, at least one receiving terminal, and at least one communication terminal connected to each other through the communication line, the communication terminal receiving, through the communication line, an electronic mail sent by the transmitting terminal and transferring the received electronic mail to the receiving terminal corresponding to an address of the electronic mail.

Abstract: A fixed displacement compressor includes a cylinder block having a plurality of cylinder bores formed therethrough, a drive shaft rotatably supported by the cylinder block, and a plate rotatably mounted on the drive shaft. Moreover, an inclination angle of the plate varies relative to a radial line perpendicular to the drive shaft. The compressor also includes a spring positioned adjacent to the plate. The spring is adapted to urge the plate in a direction which reduces the inclination angle of the plate. In an embodiment, the plate is a swash plate. In another embodiment, the compressor further includes a cam rotor fixed to the drive shaft. In this latter embodiment, the spring is positioned between the cam rotor the plate.

Abstract: An electronic mail system including a communication line, and at least one transmitting terminal, at least one receiving terminal, and at least one communication terminal connected to each other through the communication line, the communication terminal receiving, through the communication line, an electronic mail sent by the transmitting terminal and transferring the received electronic mail to the receiving terminal corresponding to an address of the electronic mail.

Abstract: An advertisement appending apparatus comprises a storage device that stores image, music, and advertisement data for creating the music card, a receiver that receives a request from a card sender via a network, a card creating device that creates the music card by selecting data from the storage device, an advertisement appending device that appends advertisement data stored in said storage device to the music card, if either the selected image data or music data is fee-charged, and a transmitter that transmits the music card appended with the advertisement data to a card receiver via the network.

Abstract: In an arrangement wherein a first personal computer and a second personal computer perform peer-to-peer communication, and the first personal computer has an additional function module which the second personal computer does not have, the first personal computer and the second personal computer can perform peer-to-peer communication based on the additional function module. Accordingly, the functions of a function module can be used for communication even in the event that not all terminals communicating have the function module.

Abstract: Supplied text data set is classified into any one of a plurality of categories in accordance with the substance of the supplied text data set, and a musical composition data set is selected or generated which corresponds to the category of the text data. Content information contains first position information indicative of a stored position, such as an URL, of the supplied text data set, and second position information indicative of a stored position, such as an URL, of the selected or generated musical composition data set. One set of the content may include a plurality of text data sets and a plurality of musical composition data sets, and these text data sets and musical composition data sets may be reproduced in sequence.

Abstract: The fee for practicing to play a musical instrument is charged on a user so that the user may practice to play the musical instrument with eagerness when the user practices to play the musical instrument using a terminal device that can be connected to a server. A terminal device 10 can be connected to a server 30 via a network NW. A keyboard instrument 26 is connected to terminal device 10, and the user practices to play the musical instrument with the use of keyboard instrument 26. Practice information representing a state of the user's practicing to play the musical instrument is transmitted to server 30 to be stored within server 30. Server 30 determines the fee for the user's playing practice and the fee for materials used for practicing to play by discounting the fees in accordance with the practice information, and charges the determined fees on the user.

Abstract: A musical tone data communications system having a unit for generating MIDI data of a musical performance by a player, a unit for transmitting the generated MIDI data over a communications network and a unit for receiving the transmitted MIDI data and reproducing musical tones corresponding to the MIDI data in real time.

Abstract: A system is designed for managing an information service which handles distribution of digital contents and presentation of advertising messages to users over a computer network. In the system, a first database stores advertising messages provided from advertisers who subscribe the information service with payment of advertisement fees. A second database stores a plurality of digital contents, which are subject to legal protection on behalf of content proprietors. A server presents the advertising messages over the computer network to the users who use the information service. The server distributes the digital contents to the users upon request from the users over the computer network. The sever allocates at least a part of the advertisement fees collected from the subscribing advertisers to the content proprietors of the digital contents distributed to the users.

Abstract: A music work filed for application through on-line transmission or the like is subjected to viewing/listening by audiences through plural kinds of media. The audiences make access to an internet homepage on an internet server 4 of the holder of the audition through a PC (personal computer) 1 or 2, and performs trial-listening of the music work. The audiences also view and/or listen to a live performance in a performance hall. Alternatively, the audiences may view and/or listen to a video performance of television broadcast. Evaluation data based on the results of viewing/listening is input on the internet homepage by the audiences through a PC 6 or a portable communication terminal device 7 on evaluation items conforming to the characteristics of the media. A music work is selected based on the above evaluation.

Abstract: A program creation/supply apparatus connects with a client apparatus via a communication network, and prompts the client apparatus to select one or items of content and enter desired additional information in correspondence with the selected items of content. Program file is created on the basis of content selection information and the additional information transmitted from the client apparatus. The thus-created program file is added to a database. When a user selects a desired program, the program file of the selected program and one or more items of content defining the program are read out from the database and supplied to the user via the communication network. Also, content created by the user can be received via the network and added to the database. The content added to the database can be selected for use in program file creation.

Abstract: A wireless telephone unit of the present invention has an improved shuttle for more ergonomically and efficiently entering input to the telephone unit. The shuttle, acting as a rotary encoder, controls the scrolling of material across a display of the wireless telephone unit. The shuttle is located on the face of the wireless telephone unit so as to be operated by the thumb of a user without regard to whether the telephone unit is held in the right or left hand of the user. The shuttle further comprises a detent mechanism such that increments of rotation of the shuttle passed the detent mechanism are perceptible to the user and are correlated to an amount of material scrolled across the display. The shuttle is also displacable along its access of rotation to input parameter information to the wireless telephone unit. The telephone unit's keypad may be hidden in the unit when not in use.

Abstract: A music data distribution system for distributing music data to an external device connected to a network, comprises: a storage device that stores first music data; a receiver that receives a music data distribution request from the external device connected to the network, the music data distribution request comprising at least music data identification information and music data quality information; a reading device that reads the first music data from said storage device in accordance with the music data identification information; a quality converter that converts the first music data into second music data having a quality different from the first music data in accordance with the music data quality information; and a transmitter that transmits the first or the second music data to the external device in accordance with contents of the music data distribution request.

Abstract: A method is designed for validating an entrance to an event site. The method is carried out by the steps of accessing to a ticket issue server through a network by a portable terminal device to request an issue of ticket data, accepting a request of the ticket data at the ticket issue server and transmitting the ticket data in place of a physical ticket to the portable terminal device in response to the request, and receiving the ticket data by the portable terminal device to reproduce the ticket data in a visible or audible form at the event site for validating of the entrance to the event site.

Abstract: A method is designed for evaluating contents provided in the form of a plurality of works from a server apparatus having a storage unit that stores a frequency of evaluation counted for each work, and a communication unit that communicates with a terminal apparatus where the evaluation of works is conducted. The method is carried out by the steps of receiving a request for a list of works to be evaluated from the terminal apparatus, determining an order of the works in the list according to the frequency of evaluation for each work, transmitting the list of the works arranged in the determined order to the terminal apparatus, thereby prompting the evaluation of the works in the list, and receiving a result of the evaluation from the terminal apparatus and updating the frequency of the evaluation for each work according to the result of the evaluation.

Abstract: A server apparatus is provided for conducting an evaluation of a music piece with an external terminal apparatus. In the apparatus, a communication unit is used to exchange information with the external terminal apparatus. A first transmitting section transmits first prompt information to the external terminal apparatus through the communication unit, the first prompt information being effective to prompt a first evaluation of a music piece. A second transmitting section transmits inquiry information to the external terminal apparatus through the communication unit, the inquiry information inquiring whether or not to proceed with a second evaluation of the music piece. A receiving section receives request information from the external terminal apparatus in response to the inquiry information through the communication unit, the request information requesting the second evaluation.

Abstract: A musical tone data communications system having a unit for generating MIDI data of a musical performance by a player, a unit for transmitting the generated MIDI data over a communications network and a unit for receiving the transmitted MIDI data and reproducing musical tones corresponding to the MIDI data in real time.

Abstract: Server and user are connected with each other via a communication network for bidirectional communication therebetween. The server supplies non-sample regular contents including at least performance information, such as MIDI data, of a music piece and sound information, such as PCM data, pertaining to the music piece, and also sample contents including a sample of part of the non-sample regular contents. The user receives the sample contents via the communication network and test-listens to the received sample contents. When the user has decided on acquiring the non-sample regular contents and performed a predetermined operation to acquire the contents, the non-sample regular contents are distributed from the server to the user via the communication network, at which time unique additional information, such as client information and serial number, is attached to the individual distributed contents.

Abstract: A musical tone data communications system having a unit for generating MIDI data of a musical performance by a player, a unit for transmitting the generated MIDI data over a communications network and a unit for receiving the transmitted MIDI data and reproducing musical tones corresponding to the MIDI data in real time.