Abstract: A self-illuminating control element in a form of a pad includes: a light-transmissive control element body in a form of a pad body including an operation surface having an illuminating portion of a predetermined shape as a section, a light receiving surface having a light receiving portion as a section and provided opposite the operation surface, and side surfaces connecting the operation surface and the light receiving surface; a light shielding layer covering the operation surface except for the illuminating portion, the light receiving surface except for the light receiving portion, and the side surfaces; a reflection layer formed between the light shielding layer and the pad body; and a light source for feeding an illumination light toward the light receiving portion.

Abstract: In an agent function, when a character image in motion is displayed, a number of the character images to be displayed is changed, depending on whether or not a speech utterance of a user is being received. In other words, during receipt the speech utterance of the user, the communication apparatus sends the character images to the vehicle-mounted apparatus at a first reduced frequency. Thus, even when a process of receiving the speech utterance and a process of displaying the character images are concurrently performed, the vehicle-mounted apparatus is not overloaded with the processes. Therefore, a stopping state of a process caused by overload of the vehicle-mounted apparatus with processes can be prevented and stoppage of the motion of the character image can also be prevented even during the receipt of the speech utterance.

Abstract: An in-vehicle system according to an embodiment includes a detection unit, a reception unit, and a recovery unit. The detection unit detects a freeze state of a navigation apparatus. The reception unit receives a recovery operation from a user demanding recovery of the navigation apparatus. The recovery unit performs a recovery process for the navigation apparatus upon detection of the freeze state of the navigation apparatus by the detection unit and upon reception of the recovery operation by the reception unit.

Abstract: In an agent function, when a character image in motion is displayed, a number of the character images to be displayed is changed, depending on whether or not a speech utterance of a user is being received. In other words, during receipt the speech utterance of the user, the communication apparatus sends the character images to the vehicle-mounted apparatus at a first reduced frequency. Thus, even when a process of receiving the speech utterance and a process of displaying the character images are concurrently performed, the vehicle-mounted apparatus is not overloaded with the processes. Therefore, a stopping state of a process caused by overload of the vehicle-mounted apparatus with processes can be prevented and stoppage of the motion of the character image can also be prevented even during the receipt of the speech utterance.

Abstract: An in-vehicle system according to an embodiment includes a detection unit, a reception unit, and a recovery unit. The detection unit detects a freeze state of a navigation apparatus. The reception unit receives a recovery operation from a user demanding recovery of the navigation apparatus. The recovery unit performs a recovery process for the navigation apparatus upon detection of the freeze state of the navigation apparatus by the detection unit and upon reception of the recovery operation by the reception unit.

Abstract: A multimedia system includes a master unit terminal and slave unit terminals. The master unit terminal functions as an interface for communications with an external server, in which status a program updating process is executed between the server and the slave unit terminal. In the multimedia system, property information on the slave unit terminal is acquired when the master unit terminal is connected to the slave unit terminal on a communication-enabled basis, an update program for the slave unit terminal is acquired from the server via the master unit terminal on the basis of the property information, and thereafter the updating process is executed. This scheme in the multimedia system enables troublesomeness felt by a user to be reduced to the greatest possible degree and security for updating the program of the unit terminal to be guaranteed.

Abstract: A multimedia system includes a master unit terminal and slave unit terminals. The master unit terminal functions as an interface for communications with an external server, in which status a program updating process is executed between the server and the slave unit terminal. In the multimedia system, property information on the slave unit terminal is acquired when the master unit terminal is connected to the slave unit terminal on a communication-enabled basis, an update program for the slave unit terminal is acquired from the server via the master unit terminal on the basis of the property information, and thereafter the updating process is executed. This scheme in the multimedia system enables troublesomeness felt by a user to be reduced to the greatest possible degree and security for updating the program of the unit terminal to be guaranteed.