Sony Corporation

Toshikazu Minoshima

Junichi Nagahara

Tomohisa Shiga

Mayu Irimajiri

Hajime Ogura

Junichi Nakamura

Satoshi Araki

Makoto Imamura

Yasuhiro Murase

Naoki Yuasa

Jun Moriya

Izuru Tanaka

Shinsuke Yamashita

Yukiko Akiyama

A user sets an apparatus name easily identified by the user to a terminal, transmits the apparatus name together with user identification information to a terminal management server for managing a terminal, and the terminal management server registers the apparatus name as associated with the user identification information, thereby allowing the terminal management server to uniquely identify each terminal based on the apparatus name associated with the user identification information. Furthermore, a user can easily identify an apparatus name, thereby realizing a service utilizing system capable of reducing the laborious procedure of operating the terminal management server, and easily identifying each terminal.

Service use method and management method

An information processing apparatus, including a communication unit that communicates with an external apparatus. The apparatus also includes a reproduction unit that reproduces content data. Additionally, the apparatus includes a control unit that controls the communication unit to receive list information including identification information of the content data, controls a display unit to display the list information, designates the identification information of the displayed list information based on an input to an operation unit, controls the communication unit to automatically receive a part of the content data corresponding to the designated identification information when the designation of the identification information continues for a defined duration, and controls the reproduction unit to reproduce the received part of the content data.

Content distribution method, content obtaining device and method, and program

In an information processing apparatus and an information display method of this invention, user operates client computer to connect it to server computer by using communication line to carry out, when user accepts offer of service, e.g., offer of information, video viewing or order of goods, etc., an operation to display entrance hall within virtually actualized space on the display of the client computer, and to further display thereon plural shops by a specific pattern in relation to the entrance hall. As an example of the specific pattern, there is used a pattern such that entrance hall is disposed at one side of polygon, respective shops are disposed at other respective sides, and the entrance hall is caused to have a height capable of viewing other respective shops by bird's eye. Thus, in the three-dimensional GUI, the retrievability and the functional availability are increased. In addition, it becomes possible to also adopt, in a natural form, the concept with which many users who have used the two-dimensional GUI are familiar.

Information processing apparatus and information display method

An image controlling device and method thereof is provided with superior operability when making selections from a menu displayed on a display device such as a CRT display. In the preferred embodiments of the image controlling device and method of the present invention, a menu is constructed by arranging a plurality of menu items three-dimensionally along a cylinder. A portion of these menu items is then displayed in such a manner that viewing is performed from the center of this cylinder outwards. The shifting velocity of the menu items is changed while all of the menu items are shifted in response to input signals from a controller operated by the user and the menu item arranged at the center of the picture is determined to be the selected menu item. When a following level exists for the selected menu item, this level is proceeded to and menu items are displayed on the display device in the same way. When the selected menu item does not have a following level an image corresponding to this menu item is displayed.

Image controlling device and image controlling method for displaying a plurality of menu items

An image controlling device and method is provided with superior operability when making selections from a menu displayed on a display device such as a CRT display. A menu is constructed by arranging a plurality of menu items three-dimensionally along a cylinder. A portion of these menu items is then displayed in such a manner that viewing is performed from the center of this cylinder outwards. The shifting velocity of the menu items is changed while all of the menu items are shifted in response to input signals from a controller operated by the user and the menu item arranged at the center of the picture is determined to be the selected menu item. When a following level exists for the selected menu item, this level is proceeded to and menu items are displayed on the display device in the same way. When the selected menu item does not have a following level an image corresponding to this menu item is displayed.

Image controlling device and image controlling method

An information processing method and apparatus employing a pointing device, such as a mouse, as an input device. A cursor and one or more objects are displayed on a display device of an information processing apparatus, and the position of the cursor is moved in the picture based on coordinate data entered to the information processing apparatus for displaying the cursor thus moved on the display device. If, when the cursor is positioned on one of the objects, data instructing execution of processing is entered to the apparatus, a pre-set processing defined for each object is executed. If, as a result of cursor movement, the cursor enters a pre-set area defined for the object, the cursor is moved to near the center of the object and displayed on the display device. The cursor may be moved easily by the pointing device and the information processing apparatus is improved in operability.

Information processing method and apparatus

Sound producing method and sound producing apparatus

An on-line terminal device for displaying a virtual reality space based on the information purveyed by an on-line server. The on-line terminal device facilitates recognition of the position(s) in the virtual reality space and acquisition of the information in the virtual reality space. A guide picture representing the position information in the virtual reality space is pre-displayed in an iconized state on a display. On entry of data commanding the opening of the iconized guide picture, the guide picture is opened for representing the position information in the virtual reality space on the display.

Growing community of inventors

Kanagawa, Japan

Toshikazu Minoshima