Abstract: A state updating unit updates first information stored in a storage unit whenever the state of a control unit transitions from an idle state to an active state or from the active state to the idle state. A second power supply unit induces electric power from radio waves received by the antenna unit. An information acquiring unit operates after receiving the supply of electric power from the second power supply unit, acquires second information indicating whether electric power is supplied from the first power supply unit, acquires the first information from the storage unit, and transmits the acquired first and second information to the control device. A diagnosing unit diagnoses faults in the terminal device based on the first and second information transmitted from the information acquiring unit of the terminal device.

Abstract: A system for detecting a target object includes a first detector that detects an object by emitting radio waves and receiving reflected waves that are the emitted radio waves reflected by a target object, a second detector that detects heat generated by the target object, and an information collection apparatus that determines the presence or absence of the target object on the basis of the detected reflected waves and the detected heat, and the information collection apparatus determines the presence of the target object in a case where the first detector has detected a movement of the target object and the second detector has detected the heat.

Abstract: A remote care system for an apartment building includes: a home electric appliance installed in a housing unit structuring an apartment building; a sensor that is provided in the home electric appliance and senses the behavior of a resident in the housing unit; and a remote monitoring apparatus that remotely controls the home electric appliance installed in each of a plurality of housing units based on sensing information transmitted from the sensor. This realizes implementation and operation of a remote care system for an apartment building using a major appliance used in ordinary households.

Abstract: An image display method including: obtaining (S2301) combined data including (i) image data of an image having an item as a subject and (ii) first setting information indicating processing which a first electric appliance performs on the item; determining whether or not the first setting information is convertible into second setting information, the first setting information being included in the obtained combined data, and the second setting information being information in a format previously designated by a user and executable by a second electric appliance; determining (S2305) a first mark to be added to the image of the image data, if it is determined that the first setting information is convertible into the second setting information; and displaying (S2307) the image of the image data to which the determined first mark is added, the image data being included in the combined data.

Abstract: A proximity wireless power supply unit (123) is activated by radio waves of proximity wireless communication transmitted from a portable terminal (200). A proximity wireless memory (121) is driven by power supplied from the proximity wireless power supply unit (123), and stores an operation command of a communication apparatus (100). A control unit (111) is driven by power supplied from a main power supply unit (112), and reads out the operation command from the proximity wireless memory (121) to execute the operation command. The main power supply unit (112) is activated on the basis of a signal received by a proximity wireless communication unit (122), and supplies power to the control unit (111). The proximity wireless communication unit (122) receives the operation command transmitted from the portable terminal (200), and writes the operation command in the proximity wireless memory (121).

Abstract: A control method of a washing machine including a wireless communicator communicating with an electronic device, includes: causing the washing machine to operate a washing tub of the washing machine as a preliminary operation, including a rotational operation of the washing tub; acquiring motion information regarding a motion of the electronic device during the preliminary operation; determining whether or not the electronic device is inside the washing tub based on the acquired motion information and information indicating the preliminary operation; and giving the washing machine a notification indicating that the electronic device is inside the washing tub if the determining determines that the electronic device is inside the washing tub. It is determined whether or not the electronic device is inside the washing tub, based on a comparison between characteristic operation information determined in advance with regard to the preliminary operation and the motion information acquired by a sensor.

Abstract: A communication device including an image capturing device having a RF-ID unit for performing proximity wireless communication with a RF-ID reader/writer connected via an infrared communication path to a TV. The image capturing device includes: an antenna for the proximity wireless communication; a data receiving unit receiving an input signal from the RF-ID reader/writer; a nonvolatile second memory storing at least UID and an execution program; and a data transmission unit transmitting the UID and the execution program to the RF-ID reader/writer via the antenna according to the input signal. The UID is used to identify the communication device, and the execution program is executed by the TV with reference to the UID. The transmitted UID and execution program are transferred to the TV via the RF-ID reader/writer.

Abstract: A control method for a washing machine including a wireless communication unit for communicating with an electronic device includes: causing the washing machine to operate a washing tub of the washing machine as a preliminary operation; acquiring motion information regarding a motion of the electronic device during the preliminary operation; determining whether or not the electronic device is inside the washing tub based on the acquired motion information and information indicating the preliminary operation; and giving the washing machine a notification indicating that the electronic device is inside the washing tub if the determining step determines that the electronic device is inside the washing tub.

Abstract: A communication method including: generating image data of an item on which an electric appliance performed processing; obtaining setting information of the electric appliance which indicates the processing performed on the item; converting the obtained setting information into reference setting information that is setting information in a general format; generating combined data by adding the converted reference setting information to the generated image data; and transmitting the generated combined data to a storage server. For instance, in the communication method, setting information of the electric appliance when the processing was performed on the item is obtained by performing proximity wireless communication with the electric appliance.

Abstract: A generation unit generates a command based on operation history information read from a storage unit and operation status information obtained by an obtainment unit when power is supplied from a first power source unit to a communication apparatus, and generates the command based on the operation history information read from the storage unit when the power is not supplied from the first power source unit to the communication apparatus, when power is supplied from a second power source unit to each of the storage unit, the generation unit, and a proximity wireless communication unit.

Abstract: A first communication unit transmits, to an electrical home appliance, request information that requests electrical home appliance specifying information for specifying the electrical home appliance after an approach instructing screen is displayed on a display unit, and receives response information including at least the electrical home appliance specifying information from the electrical home appliance after the first communication unit and the electrical home appliance have approached each other within a communicable range, and a display control unit switches a display screen to a menu screen that is unique to the electrical home appliance on the basis of the response information received by the first communication unit.

Abstract: A terminal device includes: a terminal controller which interprets only one of command schemes of a wireless communication unit and a near-field communication unit, and controls a function of the terminal device; and a control unit which controls communications between the wireless communication unit and the terminal controller and between the near-field communication unit and the terminal controller. The control unit includes: an identification number addition unit which adds an identification number to a command from the near-field communication unit or the wireless communication unit; and a command converting unit which converts a command of the other command scheme into a command of one command scheme, using a command conversion table.

Abstract: The present invention provides a communication apparatus and a communication method that can easily indicate the position of the antenna incorporated in the communication apparatus to a user and can align the antenna of the communication apparatus with the antenna of an external device. A portable device (1) includes a loop antenna (11) for performing near-field communication, a display unit (12) provided on a side of the portable device (1) opposite the orientation of the loop antenna (11), and an antenna position information storing unit (142) that stores antenna position information representing the position of the loop antenna (11) in the portable device (1). The display device (12) displays the position of the loop antenna (11) on the basis of the antenna position information stored in the antenna position information storing unit (142).

Abstract: A mobile device includes a position sensing unit, a remote control information obtainment unit, and a storage unit. Position information obtained by the position sensing unit is stored in the storage unit in association with remote control information. The mobile device further includes a directional space obtainment unit and an apparatus specification unit. The mobile device recognizes a direction pointed by a user using the mobile device, and enables operation of a terminal apparatus existing in the pointing direction.

Abstract: An information notification apparatus includes a first reception unit that receives a first state change notification indicating that the operating state of an electrical appliance has changed to a first state, a transmission unit that transmits a state notification indicating that the operating state of the electrical appliance is the first state to an information terminal, and a second reception unit that receives an acknowledgement notification. The first reception unit further receives a second state change notification indicating that the electrical appliance has been changed to a second state from the electrical apparatus.

Abstract: A reference image acquisition unit (171) obtains a reference image for guiding a portable device (1) to a position in which near field wireless communication with a terminal device (2) is possible on the basis of portable device identification information for identifying a type of the portable device (1). A reference image display control unit (172) displays the reference image obtained by the reference image acquisition unit (171) on a display unit (12) provided on an opposite surface of the portable device (1) to a surface that opposes the terminal device (2) when the portable device (1) is brought close to the terminal device (2). A reference image correction unit (173) corrects a position of the reference image in response to an image moving operation for aligning the reference image displayed on the display unit (12) with a target mark formed on a front surface of the terminal device (2).

Abstract: A mobile device includes a position sensing unit, a remote control information obtainment unit, and a storage unit. Position information obtained by the position sensing unit is stored in the storage unit in association with remote control information. The mobile device further includes a directional space obtainment unit and an apparatus specification unit. The mobile device recognizes a direction pointed by a user using the mobile device, and enables operation of a terminal apparatus existing in the pointing direction.

Abstract: A control method for a washing machine including a wireless communication unit for communicating with an electronic device includes: causing the washing machine to operate a washing tub of the washing machine as a preliminary operation; acquiring motion information regarding a motion of the electronic device during the preliminary operation; determining whether or not the electronic device is inside the washing tub based on the acquired motion information and information indicating the preliminary operation; and giving the washing machine a notification indicating that the electronic device is inside the washing tub if the determining step determines that the electronic device is inside the washing tub.

Abstract: The communication device can easily serve as an extended user interface such as a remote controller of a target apparatus without causing any complicated operations to a user. The communication device includes the following units. An apparatus information obtainment unit (203) obtains apparatus information from an apparatus. A position information obtainment unit (206) obtains position information of the communication device (102). An operation information obtainment unit (212) obtains operation information based on the apparatus information. A storage unit (213) stores the position information as apparatus position information indicating as a position of the apparatus, in association with the operation information. A direction sensor unit (207) detects direction of the communication device (102). A directional space calculation unit (208) calculates a directional space of the communication device (102).

Abstract: The communication device can easily serve as an extended user interface such as a remote controller of a target apparatus without causing any complicated operations to a user. The communication device includes the following units. An apparatus information obtainment unit (203) obtains apparatus information from an apparatus. A position information obtainment unit (206) obtains position information of the communication device (102). An operation information obtainment unit (212) obtains operation information based on the apparatus information. A storage unit (213) stores the position information as apparatus position information indicating as a position of the apparatus, in association with the operation information. A direction sensor unit (207) detects direction of the communication device (102). A directional space calculation unit (208) calculates a directional space of the communication device (102).