Abstract: A design method is executed by a computer. The design method includes grouping logical modules in each of power domains arranged on a chip; provisionally arranging regular cells in each of logical module groups formed by the grouping; and arranging power switches around each of the logical module groups.

Abstract: A communication apparatus of the present invention used for communicating with an external communication device is provided with a memory section to store a correspondence table associating users of external communication devices with contact addresses for contacting the users via the communication apparatus; a communication section to transmit data destined for the contact addresses and/or receive data originated from the contact addresses; a retrieval section that retrieves, from the users in the correspondence table, users with an elapsed period longer than a threshold value, the elapsed period being a period elapsed after a final communication destined for or originated from contact addresses of the retrieved users; a display section to display a list of the retrieved users; and a communication control section that, upon selection of a user from the displayed list, causes the communication section to perform a communication destined for the contact address associated with the selected user.

Abstract: A remote-operation authenticating unit determines whether to permit a remote operation of the video-phone terminal apparatus by other video-phone terminal apparatus via a video phone communication. A remote operation unit receives, from the other video-phone terminal apparatus, a request for a control including at least a shutter control of the image capturing device to shoot an image, and executes the control in response to the request. An image converting unit converts the image into an image for the video phone communication. A communicating unit transmits the image for the video phone communication to the other video-phone terminal apparatus.

Abstract: A communication apparatus of the present invention used for communicating with an external communication device is provided with a memory section to store a correspondence table associating users of external communication devices with contact addresses for contacting the users via the communication apparatus; a communication section to transmit data destined for the contact addresses and/or receive data originated from the contact addresses; a retrieval section that retrieves, from the users in the correspondence table, users with an elapsed period longer than a threshold value, the elapsed period being a period elapsed after a final communication destined for or originated from contact addresses of the retrieved users; a display section to display a list of the retrieved users; and a communication control section that, upon selection of a user from the displayed list, causes the communication section to perform a communication destined for the contact address associated with the selected user.

Abstract: A remote-operation authenticating unit determines whether to permit a remote operation of the video-phone terminal apparatus by other video-phone terminal apparatus via a video phone communication. A remote operation unit receives, from the other video-phone terminal apparatus, a request for a control including at least a shutter control of the image capturing device to shoot an image, and executes the control in response to the request. An image converting unit converts the image into an image for the video phone communication. A communicating unit transmits the image for the video phone communication to the other video-phone terminal apparatus.

Abstract: A system realize power saving of a portable information processing unit including an external device, when the external unit receiving the power supplied from the portable information processing unit is connected to the portable information processing unit. An operation mode according to the power supply state of the external unit is set into the portable information processing unit, and the external device is informed of the set operation mode, according to the power supply state. When data processing is in execution also in the external device upon request from the portable information processing unit, even when the operation mode change information is received, the mode change is awaited until the completion of the processing of the external device. Thus, by changing the operation mode, low-power consumption operation including the external device can be realized without impeding the operation in the external device.