Abstract: An article management system includes an acquirer and a management unit. The acquirer is configured to acquire identification information and management information. The identification information is information read from an electronic tag by the reading device in each of a plurality of bases in a distribution channel for an article, the electronic tag being attached to the article and storing the identification information. The management information is information collected in association with the identification information in a corresponding one of the plurality of bases, the management information relating to management of the article. The management unit is configured to manage the article with reference to the identification information and the management information which are acquired by the acquirer in each of the plurality of bases.

Abstract: A communication method includes: performing carrier sensing at a predetermined time interval; transmitting first data including ID information of a current radio tag to an access point when a signal transmitted by another radio tag to the access point is not detected during the performing of the carrier sensing and the current radio tag is not in a transmission stop state; interpreting a command included in a signal, when the signal is detected during the performing of the carrier sensing and is not a signal transmitted by another radio tag to the access point, the interpreting being performed under an assumption that the signal detected is a signal transmitted from the access point; and changing the radio frequency of a signal to be transmitted by the current radio tag, when the interpreting shows that the signal includes a command instructing changing of a frequency.

Abstract: An article management system includes an acquirer and a management unit. The acquirer is configured to acquire identification information and management information. The identification information is information read from an electronic tag by the reading device in each of a plurality of bases in a distribution channel for an article, the electronic tag being attached to the article and storing the identification information. The management information is information collected in association with the identification information in a corresponding one of the plurality of bases, the management information relating to management of the article. The management unit is configured to manage the article with reference to the identification information and the management information which are acquired by the acquirer in each of the plurality of bases.

Abstract: A communication system including a transmission device and a reception device which wirelessly communicate with each other. The transmission device includes a transmission circuit that performs: cyclical transmission of a wake-up signal including a specific pattern; and transmission of data. The reception device includes: a standby circuit that receives a signal, and outputs a detection signal indicating reception of the wake up signal when detecting that the specific pattern is cyclically included in the signal received; and a reception circuit that receives the data from the transmission device after the detection signal is output from the standby circuit.

Abstract: A communication system including a transmission device and a reception device which wirelessly communicate with each other. The transmission device includes a transmission circuit that performs: cyclical transmission of a wake-up signal including a specific pattern; and transmission of data. The reception device includes: a standby circuit that receives a signal, and outputs a detection signal indicating reception of the wake up signal when detecting that the specific pattern is cyclically included in the signal received; and a reception circuit that receives the data from the transmission device after the detection signal is output from the standby circuit.

Abstract: Systems and methods providing a wakeup receiver for latency-critical applications are described herein. An example system includes a wakeup receiver communicatively coupled to a communication channel. The wakeup receiver is configured to monitor an input signal of the communication channel and down-convert the input signal to a DC signal. The system also includes an analog to digital converter (ADC) configured to digitize the DC signal and provide an ADC output. The system further includes a digital baseband (DBB) module configured to determine a received signal strength indication (RSSI) from the signal. The DBB is also configured to, for each packet, determine a respective packet length and compare the RSSI and respective packet length with a two-dimensional template. The DBB is additionally configured to, based on the comparison, determine an interrupt condition and, based on determining the interrupt condition, generate a wakeup signal.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a radio device has: M intra-body communication circuits (M is an integer equal to or greater than 1) connected to N seats (N is an integer equal to or greater than 2 and greater than M) aligned mutually in contact, the M intra-body communication circuits performing intra-body communication with a radio device possessed by a user who is in contact with one of the N seats through the user; and a position estimating circuit that estimates the position of the radio device in the N seats in accordance with the reception level of a signal received from the radio device through the intra-body communication.

Abstract: Systems and methods providing a wakeup receiver for latency-critical applications are described herein. An example system includes a wakeup receiver communicatively coupled to a communication channel. The wakeup receiver is configured to monitor an input signal of the communication channel and down-convert the input signal to a DC signal. The system also includes an analog to digital converter (ADC) configured to digitize the DC signal and provide an ADC output. The system further includes a digital baseband (DBB) module configured to determine a received signal strength indication (RSSI) from the signal. The DBB is also configured to, for each packet, determine a respective packet length and compare the RSSI and respective packet length with a two-dimensional template. The DBB is additionally configured to, based on the comparison, determine an interrupt condition and, based on determining the interrupt condition, generate a wakeup signal.

Abstract: A diversity receiving device includes a processing circuit in which receiving units, AFC and synchronizing units, and demodulating units for a plurality of systems are connected, received signal intensity detecting units 104 and 105 that detect the intensities of output signals of the respective receiving units so as to output reception intensity detection signals, a control unit that determines to select one system as a synthesis pattern of demodulation signals based on a predetermined judgment criterion according to the respective reception intensity detection signals or to select a plurality of systems so as to add demodulation signals and outputs a plurality of clock interruption control signals requesting the interruption of a clock supply to unselected systems and synthesis pattern selection signals designating a synthesis pattern of demodulation signals of the selected system, a plurality of clock supply units that interrupt the clock supply to the AFC and synchronizing units and the demodulating units

Abstract: When the communication channel is to be changed, a more optimal communication channel is determined by summing up the results of measuring communication states transmitted from individual wireless terminals A, B, and C and making a collective judgment. Weighting coefficients are set to the individual wireless terminals A, B, and C. Values indicating whether or not the respective communication states of the individual wireless terminals are optimal with channels ch1 to ch4 to be used for communication (which are, e.g., 1, 0, 1, 2 with the respective channels ch1, ch2, ch3, and ch4 for the wireless terminal A and larger as the communication states are less optimal) are multiplied by the weight coefficient (the value of 3). The resulting values are summed up on a per-channel basis and the most optimal communication channel (of which the summed value is lowest) is selected. As a result, wave interference with the other wireless terminal is reduced.

Abstract: A cylindrical battery, comprising: a cylindrical casing having a bottom, and has a short-diameter part near an opening thereof; an electrode assembly that is housed in the casing; and a sealing plate that seals the opening, wherein an insulating ring is inserted in a gap between the electrode assembly and the short-diameter part, the insulating ring including a main body, and at least three projections that are dispersively located and project outward from an outer edge of the main body in a diameter direction, and a distance between a design center point of the insulating ring and an outer edge of the main body is not longer than D/2 and a distance between the design center point and an outer edge of each of the projections is longer than D/2 and not longer than 102D/200, where D is an inside diameter of the casing measured within the space.

Abstract: A method for determining a measurement time period for measuring a propagation environment in a wireless station set having a plurality of wireless stations, between which wireless communication is made using a channel selected from a plurality of channels different in frequency. The method includes the steps of: obtaining a measurement time period in another wireless station set having a plurality of wireless stations; and determining the measurement time period in the own wireless station set so as to have a time period that does not overlap the obtained measurement time period.

Abstract: A wireless communications system includes: a first communications processing section for implementing a dedicated communications function that is only for the first wireless communications scheme; a second communications processing section for implementing a dedicated communications function that is only for the second wireless communications scheme; a shared transceiver section shared by the first communications processing section and the second communications processing section; a scheme selection section for selectively inputting a signal from the first communications processing section or a signal from the second communications processing section to the shared transceiver section; and a communications switching control section for indicating, to the scheme selection section, a scheme to be selected.

Abstract: A packet synthesizing unit packetizes transmit data and thereby creates a transmit packet data, and more specifically, synthesizes the number of the transmit data indicated by a packet-length information from a packet length controlling unit into a transmit packet data. A frame synthesizing unit appends the packet-length information for transmission to a header of the transmit packet data to thereby create a transmit frame. A wireless transmit unit converts the transmit frame into a wireless transmit signal and wirelessly transmits the wireless transmit signal. In the wireless transmission, the packet length controlling unit controls the packet length of the transmit data according to a transmit rate in the wireless transmit unit. The packet length controlling unit reduces the packet length when the transmit rate is relatively high and extends the packet length when the transmit rate is relatively low. This improves the transmission efficiency and communication quality.

Abstract: A cylindrical battery, comprising: a casing that is in a shape of a cylinder having a bottom, and has a short-diameter part near an opening thereof; an electrode assembly that is housed in the casing; and a sealing plate that seals the opening, wherein an insulating ring is inserted in a gap between the electrode assembly and the short-diameter part, the insulating ring including a main body, and at least three projections that are dispersively located and project outward from an outer edge of the main body in a diameter direction, and a distance between a design center point of the insulating ring and an outer edge of the main body is not longer than D/2 and a distance between the design center point and an outer edge of each of the projections is longer than D/2 and not longer than 102D/200, where D is an inside diameter of the casing measured within the space.

Abstract: Provided is a network chip that controls issuance of interrupts based on the contents of the received packets. The network chip receives a data packet containing a type that indicates a realtime packet or a not-realtime packet, where the realtime packet needs consideration of delay time, and the not-realtime packet does not need consideration of delay time. The network chip obtains a type by analyzing the received packet. When the obtained type indicates a realtime packet, the network chip stores the received packet into a realtime reception packet buffer, and issues an interrupt to the CPU immediately; and when the obtained type indicates a not-realtime packet, it stores the received packet into a not-realtime reception packet buffer, and issues an interrupt to the CPU after a predetermined time period passes, or after the number of packets stored in the not-realtime reception packet buffer reaches a predetermined number.

Abstract: A diversity receiving device includes a processing circuit in which receiving units, AFC and synchronizing units, and demodulating units for a plurality of systems are connected, received signal intensity detecting units 104 and 105 that detect the intensities of output signals of the respective receiving units so as to output reception intensity detection signals, a control unit that determines to select one system as a synthesis pattern of demodulation signals based on a predetermined judgment criterion according to the respective reception intensity detection signals or to select a plurality of systems so as to add demodulation signals and outputs a plurality of clock interruption control signals requesting the interruption of a clock supply to unselected systems and synthesis pattern selection signals designating a synthesis pattern of demodulation signals of the selected system, a plurality of clock supply units that interrupt the clock supply to the AFC and synchronizing units and the demodulating units

Abstract: In a case where it is determined that communication data indicates a first data attribute in a transmitter, that communication data is transmitted and an acknowledgement signal is requested to be sent back from a receiver. If the acknowledgement signal is not sent back, that communication data is retransmitted. In a case where it is determined that the communication data indicates a second data attribute in the transmitter, that communication data is transmitted and an acknowledgement signal is requested to be sent back according to an allowable number of retransmissions corresponding to the second data attribute. And that communication data is retransmitted in accordance with the allowable number of retransmissions and presence or absence of the acknowledgement signal sent back. The allowable number of retransmissions corresponding to the second data attribute is smaller than that corresponding to the first data attribute.

Abstract: A method for determining a measurement time period for measuring a propagation environment in a wireless station set having a plurality of wireless stations, between which wireless communication is made using a channel selected from a plurality of channels different in frequency. The method includes the steps of: obtaining a measurement time period in another wireless station set having a plurality of wireless stations; and determining the measurement time period in the own wireless station set so as to have a time period that does not overlap the obtained measurement time period.

Abstract: When the communication channel is to be changed, a more optimal communication channel is determined by summing up the results of measuring communication states transmitted from individual wireless terminals A, B, and C and making a collective judgment. Weighting coefficients are set to the individual wireless terminals A, B, and C. Values indicating whether or not the respective communication states of the individual wireless terminals are optimal with channels ch1 to ch4 to be used for communication (which are, e.g., 1, 0, 1, 2 with the respective channels ch1, ch2, ch3, and ch4 for the wireless terminal A and larger as the communication states are less optimal) are multiplied by the weight coefficient (the value of 3). The resulting values are summed up on a per-channel basis and the most optimal communication channel (of which the summed value is lowest) is selected. As a result, wave interference with the other wireless terminal is reduced.