Sony Corporation

Naoki Nagano

Toshio Koyama

Hisato Shima

Harumi Kawamura

Michinari Kohno

Atsushi Fuse

Katsushi Fujii

Jun Kaneko

Satoru Kamoto

Mayumi Shinoda

Sakae Okazaki

Kunihito Sawai

Mari Saito

Taiji Ito

Hiroshi Yamazaki

Hajime Watanabe

Yoshio Kondo

Yuji Ito

Ken Iizuka

Yoshinari Higuchi

Hideo Terasawa

Rio Yamasaki

Miki Furuya

Yoichi Tsusue

Hirotsugu Ohkubo

There is provided an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a program, and an information processing system that are capable of proactively supporting continuous communication, the information processing apparatus including: an acquiring unit that acquires a predetermined number of message content items, as candidates to be sent, from a plurality of message content items classified as a category corresponding to an image used for communication among a plurality of categories into which the message content items are classified; and an option creating unit that creates an option for prompting a selection of the message content item to be sent from the predetermined number of message content items acquired by the acquiring unit, and exhibits the option at a predetermined timing. The present technology can be applied to, for example, an information processing apparatus that constitutes a communication support system.

Information processing apparatus, information processing method, program, and information processing system for sending a message with an image attached thereto

The present invention is intended to provide a data providing system including a data providing apparatus having provision image data generating means for generating provision image data of a provision image which is reusable by inlaying a predetermined advertisement image into a predetermined template image into which a predetermined user image can be inlaid as superimposed upon the predetermined advertisement image and providing-side transmitting means for transmitting the provision image data via a network.

Data providing system, data providing apparatus and method, data acquisition system and method, and program storage medium

The present invention is intended to provide a data providing system including a data providing apparatus having provision image data generating means for generating provision image data of a provision image which is reusable by inlaying a predetermined advertisement image into a predetermined template image into which a predetermined user image can be inlaid as superimposed upon the predetermined advertisement image and providing-side transmitting means for transmitting the provision image data via a network. The data providing system also includes a data acquisition apparatus having acquiring-side receiving means for receiving the provision image data from the data providing apparatus via the network, transmission image data generating means for generating transmission image data of a transmission image for displaying the provision image based on the provision image data onto a predetermined display means, inlaying the predetermined user image as superimposed upon the predetermined advertisement image into the template image of the provision image, and displaying the predetermined user image together with the template image in preference to the predetermined advertisement image until the predetermined user image is detached from the template image, and acquiring-side transmitting means for transmitting the transmission image data to a predetermined destination via the network.

A data providing system including a data providing apparatus having a provision image data generating device for generating data of a provision image that is reusable by inlaying an advertisement image into a template image into which a user image is inlaid and a providing-side transmitting device for transmitting the provision image data via a network. A data acquisition apparatus has an acquiring-side receiving device for receiving the provision image data via the network, a transmission image data generating device for generating data of a transmission image for displaying the provision image onto a display device, inlaying the user image into the template image of the provision image, and displaying the user image with the template image in preference to the advertisement image until the user image is detached from the template image, and a acquiring-side transmitting device for transmitting the transmission image data to a destination.

A tape cassette includes a tape recording medium for recording audio and/or video signals, and a memory unit storing information related to the tape recording medium including positional information of audio and/or video signals stored thereon. The memory unit also stores reproduction control instructions which serve to control the operation of a tape reproduction device using the positional information stored in the memory unit.

Tape cassette including memory unit storing reproduction control instructions

An electronic equipment having the function of displaying the battery residual quantity for displaying the usable residual time of a battery pack used as a power source of the electronic equipment. The equipment is designed to cope with different types or future version of the battery cell. The residual usable time of the battery can be known with improved display accuracy. The video camera carries a battery pack 1 outputting at least the information on the residual battery capacity, charging/discharging current detection information and the battery cell voltage detection information. The video camera includes a micro-computer having a communication circuit for receiving the above information from the battery pack , a calculation circuit for calculating the current residual battery capacity based on the information from the battery pack received by the communication circuit , and a display control circuit , and a display device fed with a display signal corresponding to the results of calculations by the calculation circuit of the micro-computer for displaying the residual battery capacity based on the display signal.

Electronic apparatus having the function of displaying the battery residual quantity and method for displaying the battery residual quantity

There is disclosed a battery charging device for charging a battery pack having a battery cell, the battery pack being capable of storing an information for a maximum charging current and a maximum charging voltage of the battery cell and communicating the information with the battery charging device, which includes a communication means for receiving the information indicative of the maximum charging current and the information indicative of the maximum charging voltage of the battery cell which is transmitted from the battery pack, and a control means for controlling charging current and voltage upon charging so as not to exceed the maximum charging current and the maximum charging voltage of the battery cell. Further, in accordance with the present invention, there are disclosed a method for charging the battery pack, and the battery pack capable of being mounted to various electronic apparatuses.

Battery charge controlled as function of operating mode

In a motion picture reproducing apparatus, or a motion picture recording and reproducing apparatus, an index picture storage means stores a plurality of index pictures extracted from a series of motion pictures in time sequence at a assigned extraction timing in respective storage positions in a motion picture storage medium by associating each index picture with a different storage position. An index picture display means arranges and displays the index pictures read from the index picture storage means on the display screen in time sequence. Selective means select a desired target reproduction picture to be reproduced, and reproduction position control means allow movement to a recording position corresponding to the selected target reproduction position to initiate a reproducing operation, thus allowing search conditions to be visually and intuitively determined when searching stored data on the motion picture storage medium, and providing substantially improved user-friendliness.

Motion picture reproducing and recording/reproduction apparatus

Battery charging device, method for charging battery pack and battery

Battery charging device, method for charging battery pack by switching

There is disclosed a battery changing device for charging a battery pack having a battery cell, the battery pack being capable of storing an information for a maximum charging current and a maximum charging voltage of the battery cell and communicating the information with the battery charging device, which includes a communication means for receiving the information indicative of the maximum charging current and the information indicative of the maximum charging voltage of the battery cell which is transmitted from the battery pack, and a control means for controlling charging current and voltage upon charging so as not to exceed the maximum charging current and the maximum charging voltage of the battery cell. Further, in accordance with the present invention, there are disclosed a method for charging the battery pack, and the battery pack capable of being mounted to various electronic apparatuses.

Battery charging device method for charging battery pack and battery pack

The device provides a signal to an electronic appliance and is used in a system including a plurality of electronic appliances connected in series so that they can transmit and receive information and control signals amongst each other, with the transmission and reception of the information signals being controlled by a control apparatus. The system includes a preceding apparatus and a succeeding apparatus connected in series with the preceding apparatus. The device includes a first terminal that transmits and receives information and control signals to and from the preceding apparatus, and a second terminal that transmits and receives information and control signals to and from the succeeding apparatus. The second terminal also receives a predetermined control signal from the succeeding apparatus. The predetermined control signal indicates whether the succeeding apparatus is connected to a terminal of the preceding apparatus. The device also includes a switching unit and a processor.

Apparatus for connecting electric appliances

An apparatus for controlling a plurality of recording and reproducing apparatus in which a time elapse measuring means can be reset and read by a control means to measure the elapse time. The control means also receives position information of the recording or reproducing medium from an output means. The control means can execute operation commands at times in response to the measured time elapse.

Control apparatus for data reproduction and recording devices

A method for setting addresses in a system including a controller for controlling transmission and reception of information signals, and a connection apparatus for connection to a succeeding connection apparatus for transmission and reception of the information signals between the controller and the succeeding connection apparatus, including the steps of supplying a first address setting signal from the controller to the connection apparatus, processing the first address setting signal in a predetermined manner in the connection apparatus to generate a second address setting signal, and providing the second address setting signal selectively to one of the controller and the succeeding connection apparatus. In another class of embodiments, the invention is a method for setting addresses for controlled apparatuses connected in series with a controller, including the steps of supplying an address setting signal from the controller to a first controlled apparatus, processing the address setting signal in the first controlled apparatus to generate a second address setting signal, processing the second address setting signal in a second controlled apparatus to generate a third address setting signal, and feeding back the third address setting signal to the controller through a signal line.

Growing community of inventors

Tokyo, Japan

Naoki Nagano