Abstract: An encoding method includes: encoding transform coefficients of a transform coefficient block according to a predetermined scan order, and encoding a set number of transform coefficients in each group until a last group of the transform coefficient block is encoded; storing an obtained map of non-zero transform coefficients, absolute values of transform coefficients, and positive and negative signs of non-zero transform coefficients; when the last group is being encoded, encoding the stored map of non-zero transform coefficients and the map of non-zero transform coefficients encoded in the last group into a bit stream; and encoding the stored absolute values of transform coefficients and positive and negative signs of non-zero transform coefficients and the absolute values of transform coefficients and positive and negative signs of non-zero transform coefficients encoded in the last group into the bit stream.

Abstract: A method and system for minimizing bus traffic in a video decoder is disclosed. A method and system for processing a portion of a reference picture includes designating the reference picture, selecting a display picture within the reference picture, transmitting a display picture size, and sending a display picture offset. A method and system for compressing IDCT coefficients corresponding to a macroblock, the macroblock having a plurality of blocks, includes locating each non-zero IDCT coefficient corresponding to one of the plurality of blocks, assigning an index to the non-zero IDCT coefficient, the index designating a location within the one of the plurality of blocks, packing the non-zero IDCT coefficient in little endian format, and specifying a terminator bit corresponding to the non-zero coefficient, the terminator bit indicating the end of all non-zero IDCT coefficients for the one of the plurality of blocks.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for compensating a block error in an image frame. This may include a video codec decoder for decoding an inputted image frame, and outputting a decoded image frame. An error concealment block may detect an error-generated block in the decoded image frame and compensate the detected error block through a median filter, and output the compensated image frame.

Abstract: A cable modem device may include a plurality of cable modem termination system demodulators, a switching element and a plurality of cable termination system modem ports. The cable modem may receive signals from one of a plurality of downstream cable modems at one of the plurality of cable modem termination system ports and dynamically assign one of the plurality of cable modem termination system demodulators to one of the plurality of cable modem termination system ports. The signals received from the one of the plurality of downstream cable modems may be demodulated by the assigned one of the plurality of cable modem termination system demodulators. The assigned one of the plurality of cable modem termination system demodulators may be communicatively coupled to one of the plurality of cable modem termination system ports by the switching element.

Abstract: In a method for asynchronously transmitting control signals from a transmitter end to at least one receiver via a plurality of control lines, control signals received via the individual control lines are logically combined with one another at the receiver end and the result of the logic combination is transmitted to the transmitter end.

Abstract: An electronic circuit includes: a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory, configured to sample a transmission signal at an edge timing of a pulse of a clock signal for synchronizing with a counterpart electronic circuit, transmit a sampled transmission signal to the counterpart electronic circuit, receive a response signal sent from the counterpart electronic circuit in response to the sampled transmission signal, and set any one of a rising edge and a falling edge of the clock signal as an edge trigger for a sampling timing of the sampling according to a reception result of the response signal.

Abstract: The present application discloses a method for reporting channel status information in a multi antenna wireless communication system. In more detail, the method includes: receiving a reference signal from a base station; calculating the optimum precoding matrix index (PMI), at which the intensity of a signal from the base station is maximized, on the basis of the reference signal: determining at least one interference PMI from the base station on the assumption that a plurality of interference PMIs corresponding to the optimum PIM are applied; and transmitting information on at least one determined interference PMI to the base station. Beams corresponding to the plurality of interference PMIs are orthogonal to the beams corresponding to the optimum PMI.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for simplified beamforming are provided. In one aspect, a plurality of signals from a signal transmitter are received over a wireless network on one or more receive antennas. One or more phase differences are then determined that maximize a signal to noise ratio of the plurality of received signals. Data representing the one or more phase differences is then transmitted to the signal transmitter.

Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a base transceiver station having a first set of antennas and a second set of antennas geographically separated from the first set of antennas transmits a reference signal to a first device, and receives feedback from the first device. The feedback represents information that can be used to construct a weight adjustment vector. The base transceiver station selects a precoding vector from a codebook based at least in part on the feedback received from the first device, calculates the weight adjustment vector based at least in part on the feedback, and applies the weight adjustment vector to the selected precoding vector to provide an adjusted precoding vector. The base transceiver station then may transmit data to the first device using the adjusted precoding vector.

Abstract: Provided is a signal transmitting method of a terminal in a multi-node system including and configured to control a plurality of nodes and a base station connected to each of the plurality of nodes. The method includes: estimating a channel of at least one node by receiving a reference signal from at least one node among the plurality of nodes; selecting a preferred rank and a precoding matrix index by applying at least one precoding matrix to the estimated channel; selecting one of a plurality of codeword-layer mappings (CLMs) by applying a precoding matrix indicated by the rank and the precoding matrix index; and transmitting the selected rank, the selected precoding matrix index, and a CLM indicator to the base station.

Abstract: Precoding parameters used for precoding of a source are selected to minimize distortion that would otherwise be induced in the source during encoding and transmission of the source over a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) channel.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method and apparatus for implementing space frequency block coding (SFBC) in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) wireless communication system. The present invention is applicable to both a closed loop mode and an open loop mode. In the closed loop mode, power loading and eigen-beamforming are performed based on channel state information (CSI). A channel coded data stream is multiplexed into two or more data streams. Power loading is performed based on the CSI on each of the multiplexed data streams. SFBC encoding is performed on the data streams for each of the paired subcarriers. Then, eigen-beamforming is performed based on the CSI to distribute eigenbeams to multiple transmit antennas. The power loading may be performed on two or more SFBC encoding blocks or on each eigenmodes. Additionally, the power loading may be performed across subcarriers or subcarrier groups for weak eigenmodes.

Abstract: Pilot logic may determine based upon channel and phase information how to process pilot tones that shift locations every N symbols in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) packet transmission. Pilot logic may determine a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for the channel to determine how to process the shifting pilot tones. Pilot logic may also determine channel and phase information updates such as channel state information and phase correction information from pilot tones. In situations of high SNR, logic may use channel estimates and phase rotations that are obtained from locations of the pilot tones for phase tracking and updating the equalizer. In situations of low SNR, logic may use the phase rotations for phase tracking and not update the equalizer during the OFDM transmission. Logic may also determine the presence or absence of a Doppler effect on the transmission and transmit a selection for N to an access point in response.

Abstract: Degree of hierarchical modulation can be varied as a function of satellite position, where such hierarchical modulation can be a combination of phase and amplitude shifts. As each satellite in a multiple satellite system moves towards a D-node or an A-node position, the offset angle of a phase-based hierarchical modulation scheme can be varied. Starting with the lowest satellite position in the sky an offset angle for overlay bits can progressively increase as the position of the satellite in the sky increases. At a satellite's highest point in the sky, the overlay offset angle can be at its maximum. The value of a varying overlay offset angle (for each satellite) can be embedded in an Overlay Identification Marker (OIM) in the broadcast. The receiver can then appropriately correct MRC weightings (weighting more heavily the (higher lying) satellite).

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and systems for mitigating carrier offset of a received signal are disclosed. One embodiment of a receiver includes a receiver chain operative to receive a communication signal from a desired transmitter, and a controller operative to determine a carrier offset correction based on prior reception of communication signals from the desired transmitter. The receiver chain is operative to generate a carrier offset corrected received signal by applying the carrier offset correction to the received communication signal, and a correlation processor operative to correlate the carrier offset corrected received communication signal with a known sequence.

Abstract: The present document provides a precoding method and system for open loop spatial multiplexing and a precoding indication method. The method includes: in transmission resources, a base station precodes N-layer data to be sent by using w a = [ u a ? · u a ] , wherein ?a is a vector or matrix related to a transmission resource location i; ? is a real number or a complex number related to the transmission resource location i; and N is an integer less than or equal to the number of base station transmission antennas. The present document can implement effective precoding in the case of open loop spatial multiplexing, and can also support the multiple antennas (such as 8 transmission antennas) application.

Abstract: A device and a method within a communications system where at least some part of the transmission is executed by means of radio waves, and where symbols are transmitted by means of Orthogonal Frequency Divisional Multiplexing, so called OFDM-technology, between a transmitting unit and a receiving unit, at which the symbol transmission is executed over a transmission channel in blocks of binary digits with a guard interval GI between said blocks, where transmitting unit is equipped with means to control the length of the guard interval (GI) with regard to the physical conditions for/of the transmission channel, so that the guard interval can be reduced without the disturbance susceptibility being increased, but instead increasing the capacity/throughput of the transmission channel by the time that is set free/made available being used to transmit information. One embodiment of the invention includes a guard interval adjustment unit connected to other OFDM-equipment in transmitting and/or receiving unit.

Abstract: A concatenated transmission system according to the embodiment generates OFDM signals, from unit transmission waves of broadcast transport streams for a plurality of systems, concatenates the OFDM signals for the respective systems. To generate OFDM signals, the system arranges pilot signals, each having a specific phase, at prescribed positions in the frames, respectively. The system displaces the OFDM signals so that the pilot signal for any unit transmission wave may be identical in position and phase to the pilot signals for the two adjacent unit transmission waves having lower and higher frequencies, respectively.

Abstract: A transmission device includes a first amplifier, a second amplifier, and a digital signal processor configured to calculate first distortion compensation coefficients based on a first amplified signal obtained by amplifying an input signal by the first amplifier, set a first distortion compensation coefficient reference range used to perform distortion compensation on the input signal based on power of the input signal and the first distortion compensation coefficients, calculate second distortion compensation coefficients based on a second amplified signal obtained by amplifying the input signal by the second amplifier, set a second distortion compensation coefficient reference range used to perform distortion compensation on the input signal based on the power of the input signal and the second distortion compensation coefficients, and calculate a correction coefficient for correcting the second compensation coefficients based on the first distortion compensation coefficient reference range and the second

Abstract: A method of generating modulation signals is disclosed including generally three steps. A plurality of modulation signals are generated, each of which is to be transmitted from a different one of a plurality of antennas in an identical frequency band, wherein each modulation signal includes a pilot symbol sequence including a plurality of pilot symbols used for demodulation. Each of the pilot symbol sequences is inserted at the same temporal point in each modulation signal, wherein the pilot symbol sequences are orthogonal to each other with zero mutual correlation among the plurality of modulation signals, each pilot symbol having a non-zero amplitude, the quantity of the plurality of pilot symbols in each sequence being greater than the quantity of the plurality of modulation signals to be transmitted. The plurality of modulation signals each including different transmission data and one of the pilot symbol sequences are output to the antennas.

Abstract: The present technology relates to a receiving device, a receiving method, a program, and a receiving system which may improve reception performance in the case of receiving a signal with a variable frequency band. A receiving device according to an embodiment of the present technology includes a demodulation unit configured to convert a received signal to a baseband signal in the case where a first frequency differs from a second frequency, wherein the first frequency is a center frequency in a band of the received signal, the second frequency is a center frequency in a band of a desired signal included in a part of the band of the received signal, and a DC component of the baseband signal is to be a frequency in the vicinity of the second frequency. The present technology may be applied to a receiver which receives an OFDM signal of DVB-C2.

Abstract: A method is provided for process, voltage, temperature (PVT) stable transfer function calibration in a differential amplifier. The gain resistors of a differential amplifier are initially selected to achieve a flat amplitude transfer function in the first frequency band. After calibration, the degeneration capacitor is connected and tuned until a peaked amplitude transfer function is measured, which is resistant to variations in PVT. As an alternative, the degeneration capacitor is not disconnected during initial calibration. Then, the gain resistors and the degeneration capacitor values are selectively adjusted until the first peaked amplitude transfer function is obtained. The peaked amplitude transfer function remains even more stable to variations in PVT than the flat amplitude calibration method.

Abstract: A coordinated multipoint OFDM system comprising a plurality of receiving base stations, each comprising a plurality of antennas, is described. Each base station determines and forwards interferences for each received symbol and passes the information to a central processing entity for jointly processing the signals.

Abstract: Provided are a method of receiving downlink data and a machine type communication (MTC) device using the same. The MTC device according to the present invention which has a plurality of antennas includes a reception signal processing module that receives a downlink reference signal for each antenna from a base station, estimates reception signal quality with respect to the downlink reference signal for each antenna, and selects the antenna to receive a downlink signal in accordance with the reception signal quality with respect to each antenna.

Abstract: A variable delay circuit outputs a first delay signal obtained by variably adding a delay value to a first signal having a predetermined phase. A mixer receives the first delay signal and a second signal having a phase different from the predetermined phase, and outputs a synthesized signal of the first delay signal and the second signal. A peak voltage detection unit detects the maximum value of an amplitude voltage of the synthesized signal output from the mixer. A comparator controls the delay value added by the variable delay circuit to match the maximum value detected by the peak voltage detection unit and a predetermined voltage.

Abstract: A phase locked loop circuit (30, 100, 110) includes a controllable oscillator (42) for generating an output signal of desired frequency responsive to a control signal, a first phase detection circuit (32, 102, 112) for generating an output indicative of phase differential responsive to the output signal and a first edge of a reference signal and a second phase detection circuit (34, 104, 114) for generating an output indicative of phase differential responsive to the output signal and a second edge of a reference signal. The control signal to the controllable oscillator (42) is driven by the outputs of the first and second phase detections circuits.

Abstract: A target assembly for irradiating Zn68 with high energy gamma rays to form Cu67 is described. The assembly comprises a Zn68 target mass, optionally housed within in a water-tight chamber, the assembly including a plurality of parallel external cooling fins in contact with the Zn68 target mass or the chamber, the Zn68 target mass being removable from the assembly, or separable from the plurality of cooling fins when no chamber is present, so that Cu67 can be isolated from the Zn68 after irradiation.

Abstract: A method to assess and predict pressurized water stress corrosion cracking in operational nuclear power plants and the effect of adding zinc compounds into a reactor coolant system of the nuclear power plant.

Abstract: A wet filter for a nuclear reactor primary containment vent that employs an inclined manifold having a plurality of outlets that communicate through a first set of metal fiber filters submerged in a pool of water enclosed within a pressure vessel. A demister suspended above the pool of water to remove any entrained moisture in the filtered effluent before being passed through a second stage of higher density, dry, metal fiber filters connected to a second manifold that communicates with an outlet on the pressure vessel that is connected to an exhaust passage to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A shift register for providing a plurality of gate signals includes an Nth stage shift register unit and an (N+1)th stage shift register unit. The Nth stage shift register unit includes a first pull up unit, a first driving unit, a first control unit and a first auxiliary pull down unit. The (N+1)th stage shift register unit includes a second pull up unit, a second driving unit, a first pull down unit and a second auxiliary pull down unit. The first and second pull up units are both coupled to the first and second driving units for controlling the first and second driving units to generate gate signals. The first and second auxiliary pull down units are both coupled to the first control unit for pulling down the gate signals.

Abstract: A method for imaging an object is provided. The method includes acquiring image data of the object, wherein the image data includes a plurality of original voxels, and identifying, using a processing device, a first subset of voxels from the acquired image data. The method also includes performing a principal component analysis (PCA) on the first subset of voxels and determining whether sheet-like material is present in the object based on the results of the performed PCA on the first subset of voxels.

Abstract: An imaging system is provided. The imaging system includes a rotating gantry. An x-ray source is mounted to the gantry. The system also includes a plurality of interchangeable x-ray detector modules is mounted to the gantry, opposite the x-ray source. The plurality of interchangeable detector modules includes a first detector module mounted at a first distance from the x-ray source and a second detector module mounted at a second distance from the x-ray source. The first distance is different from the second distance.

Abstract: A medical image display system is shown. The medical image display system includes, a fringe scanning type capturing apparatus or a Fourier transformation type capturing apparatus; an image processing section; a display section; and a control section. The capturing apparatus includes, an X-ray source; a first grating and a second grating; a subject table; and an X-ray detector. The image processing section generates a plurality of reconstructed images for diagnosis based on an image signal of a subject captured with the capturing apparatus. The display section displays at least two of the plurality of reconstructed images. The control section detects an abnormal candidate on each of the plurality of reconstructed images and controls display order of the plurality of reconstructed images displayed on the display section based on a result of detecting.

Abstract: To provide an X-ray diagnostic apparatus capable of providing a stereoscopic perspective image in the form of a video image while reducing exposure dose. An X-ray diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a main row X-ray source group including a plurality of X-ray sources; an X-ray detection section disposed opposite to the X-ray sources; a timing controller that controls a switching timing of the X-ray sources and an X-ray generation position; an image acquisition section that acquires output image data from the X-ray detection section in synchronization with the switching timing; and a stereoscopic image display section that displays the output image data as a plurality of images having different disparities.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and a device for security-inspection of liquid articles with dual-energy CT imaging. The method comprises the steps of obtaining one or more CT images including physical attributes of liquid article to be inspected by CT scanning and a dual-energy reconstruction method; acquiring the physical attributes of each liquid article from the CT image; and determining whether there are drugs concealed in the inspected liquid article based on the difference between the acquired physical attributes and reference physical attributes of the inspected liquid article. The CT scanning can be implemented by a normal CT scanning technique, or a spiral CT scanning technique. In the normal CT scanning technique, the scan position can be preset, or set by the operator with a DR image, or set by automatic analysis of the DR image.

Abstract: A mesh electrode adhesion structure includes: a substrate, and an opening defined in the substrate; a mesh electrode on the substrate, and a first combination groove defined in the mesh electrode; and an adhesion layer between the substrate and the mesh electrode. The mesh electrode includes: a mesh region corresponding to the opening defined in the substrate, and an adhesion region in which the first combination groove exposes the adhesion layer.

Abstract: Provided is a radiation generating apparatus, including a radiation generating unit for emitting radiation through a transmission window, and a light projecting/sighting device including a light source for emitting visible light and a reflection mirror. At least one of the transmission window and the reflection mirror has variations in thickness for reducing shading of radiation which irradiates a radiation irradiation field.

Abstract: The invention relates to an intra-oral x-ray imaging arrangement which includes an imaging sensor (30) arranged positionable within a patient's mouth and a control system of the imaging arrangement. The control system is arranged in functional connection with a means that has been arranged to send measurement signals to the control system informing on position of at least one component included in the arrangement. In connection with the imaging sensor (30), and a radiation source (4) included in the arrangement, means (A, M, G) have been arranged to measure their spatial position and to send measurement signals based on these measurements to the control system arranged with a means to determine, based on said measurement signals, information on mutual spatial position of the imaging sensor (30) and the radiation source (4), or of a component (40, 50) arranged to the radiation source (4).

Abstract: The invention relates to an intra-oral x-ray imaging arrangement which includes as separate structures, first, a radiation source (4) having a collimator structure (4?, 40) limiting an x-ray beam for producing the beam used in imaging and for aiming it to the object to be imaged, secondly, an imaging sensor (30) arranged positionable within a patient's mouth (30), and a control system of the imaging arrangement. The collimator structure (4?, 40) is implemented as a structure (40) which enables adjusting a collimator opening limited by the collimator for at least one of the following: its size, its shape, its location, its position.

Abstract: A system for producing a controllable beam of radiation is controllable electronically, and includes no parts that must move relative to one another while in operation to form the beam. The direction and cross-section of the beam may be controlled electronically by controlling an electron beam. Various embodiments provide an X-ray collimator that allows forming a scanning X-ray beam of desired size and flux independently of the aperture material thickness without requiring movement of the aperture or physical components that create the aperture. Some embodiments provide an X-ray collimator that allows forming a scanning X-ray beam of desired size and flux independently of the beam angle.

Abstract: A radiation beam, for example a therapeutic radiation beam such as an IMRT or VMAT X-ray beam is monitored using a Monolithic Active Pixel Sensor (MAPS) detector. Photons of the radiation beam can interact with the MAPS detector, and the radiation beam configuration can be estimated from the determined positions of the interactions. The detector is made sufficiently thin that it interacts only very weakly with the X-ray photons. For example, less than 1 in 103 of the X-ray photons might interact with the detector. Hence, the disturbance to the X-ray beam is negligible.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and/or apparatus for a radiographic imaging system can include a radiographic detector including an image receptor to receive incident radiation and generate uncorrected electronic image data; a storage device to store calibration data at the detector, and a processor to generate calibration-corrected image data from the uncorrected electronic image data and the calibration data. The calibration-corrected image data can be further processed by the processor to perform image processing before transmitting a corrected image (e.g., DICOM image) to the radiographic imaging system. The detector can further include a display to display imaging system controls or the corrected image.

Abstract: An x-ray imaging system includes a detector positioned to receive x-rays, an x-ray tube configured to generate x-rays toward the detector from a focal spot surface, the x-ray tube includes a target having the focal spot surface, a cathode support arm, and a cathode attached to the cathode support arm. The cathode includes a split cathode cup having a first portion and a second portion that is separate from the first portion, the first and second portions having respective first and second emitter attachment surfaces, and a flat emitter that is attached to the first and second emitter attachment surfaces such that, when an electrical current is provided to the first portion of the cathode cup, the current passes through the flat emitter and returns through the second portion of the cathode cup such that electrons emit from the flat emitter and toward the focal spot surface.

Abstract: A multi-leaf collimator for radiation therapy in which the position of the leaves are determined by measuring a magnetic field allows to determine the leaf position with enhanced precision, and is at the same time robust to perturbations or disturbances. The magnetic sensor may comprise a magnetic encoder that varies in a predefined pattern along a lengthwise direction of the magnetic element, in particular according to a step function.

Abstract: An integrated hybrid circuit includes a transmission unit, a transceiver coil, a transceiver circuit, a hybrid matching circuit, and a receiving circuit. The transmission unit generates a pair of upstream signals according to a user transmission signal. The transceiver coil transmits the pair of upstream signals to a central office through a pair of twisted pair, and receiving a pair of downstream signals from the central office through the pair of twisted pair. The hybrid matching circuit receives an adjustment signal to adjust selective impedances. The receiving circuit receives the pair of downstream signals from the central office, and generates the adjustment signal according to downstream and upstream rates and signals from the hybrid matching circuit. The transmission unit adjusts transmission power and bandwidth of the transmission unit and the receiving unit adjusts filter bandwidth of the receiving unit according to the adjustment signal for optimizing upstream and downstream rates.

Abstract: Authentication of a user initiating a communication may be achieved using a visual indicator of the user. Initiation of a communication may result in the initiator of the communication collecting image data associated with the initiator's identity. Additionally, the initiator may be required to perform a task, wherein a response to the task may be transmitted with the image data to the receiver of the communication. The receipt of the image data may allow a receiver of the communication to reduce spam and verify that the initiator is who it purports to be.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for managing contact information in a universal plug and play (UPnP) home network environment. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of a telephony server (TS) for providing contact information to a telephony control point (TelCP) in a universal plug and play home network environment. The method includes receiving a request for providing contact information updates associated with at least one contact entry from the TelCP connected to the TS in an UPnP home network environment. The method further includes obtaining the requested contact information updates from an address book associated with the at least one contact entry. The method also includes providing the obtained contact information updates associated with the at least one contact entry to the TelCP.

Abstract: A line connection apparatus is disclosed. To hold a line, on-hook is set to a first terminal of a first person who holds the line to output voice of a second person for whom the line is held from the first terminal. First identification of the first person is recorded by corresponding to second identification of the second person. To set a lock, when the disconnection of the line being held is recognized, a connection condition to lock the line is acquired from the first person, for the first terminal to receive a re-connection request from a same second person who disconnects the line in a hold state. To control a connection in response to the re-connection request by the same second person, the first terminal is controlled to receive the re-connection request based on the first identification corresponding to the second identification indicated by the re-connection request.

Abstract: A call management apparatus includes a storage storing a questioner identifier in association with a reference data identifier for a call performed between a questioner and an operator who responds to the questioner, the questioner identifier identifying the questioner and the reference data identifier identifying reference data that are displayed on an operator terminal used by the operator during the call and that are used when the operator responds to the questioner; an identification unit referring to the storage, identifying the questioner identifier and the reference data identifier that are associated with a first call, and identifying a second call that is different from the first call and associated with the same questioner identifier and the same reference data identifier associated with the first call; and an output unit outputting first data related to the first call and second data related to the second call.

Abstract: An operator management apparatus, includes a browsing times history storage unit configured to record a number of transmission times browsing information relating to a customer service is transmitted to an operator terminal used by an operator in association with an identifier of the operator that serves customers, for each of a plurality of operators, a load degrees storage unit configured to store load degrees of an operator in association with a number of transmission times of browsing information, a determining unit configured to specify a number of transmission times corresponding to a specific one of the identifies of the operators by referring to the browsing times history storage unit, and specify load degrees corresponding to the specified number of transmission times by referring to the load degrees storage unit, and an output unit configured to output the specified load degrees.