Abstract: A communication device, which can simplify various setting processes, transmits, to a server via a network, external device information received from an external device by using proximity wireless communication.

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 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 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 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: 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 communication device, which can simplify various setting processes, transmits, to a server via a network, external device information received from an external device by using proximity wireless communication.

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: 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 warranty expiration date determining device includes: a receiving unit which receives owner information, appliance information, and operating information of a device; an obtaining unit which obtains, from an information database in which at least owner information, appliance information, and operating information of appliances are registered in association with respective owners of the appliances, operating information associated with a specific owner inferred among the owners of the appliances, based on the owner information and the appliance information of the device received, a usage period estimating unit which estimates a usage period of the appliance based on the obtained operating information and the received operating information; and a warranty expiration date determining unit which determines a first day of use of the appliance by extending back the estimated usage period from current time and date, and determines the warranty expiration date of the appliance.

Abstract: A communication device that can simplify various settings of a display device, such as a TV, that provides information regarding an object (communication device) is provided. An image capturing device (1) has a RF-ID unit (47) for performing proximity wireless communication with a RF-ID reader/writer (46) connected via an infrared communication path to a TV (45). The image capturing device (1) includes: an antenna (21) for the proximity wireless communication; a data receiving unit (105) receiving an input signal from the RF-ID reader/writer (46); a nonvolatile second memory (52) storing at least UID (75) and an execution program (116); and a data transmission unit (108) transmitting the UID (75) and the execution program (116) to the RF-ID reader/writer (46) via the antenna (21) according to the input signal. The UID (75) is used to identify the communication device, and the execution program (116) is executed by the TV (45) with reference to the UID (75).

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) device includes: a contact interface for wired communication with a host; a contactless interface for contactless communication with a reader/writer; a command processing unit that obtains a command from the reader/writer in the contactless communication and process the command, the command instructing a data access; and a memory that holds data. The command processing unit determines a communication mode, and (i) executes the data access instructed in the command between the reader/writer and the memory, when the communication mode is determined as a first communication mode, and (ii) executes the data access instructed in the command between the reader/writer and the host, when the communication mode is determined as a second communication mode.

Abstract: An optical disc recording apparatus (10) is provided with a tracking servo (13) for tracking a spiral track of concave and convex marks, an analog signal processor (14) for extracting a reproduction signal corresponding to the concave and convex marks, a digital signal processor (15) for extracting a channel clock synchronized with a channel bit length of the concave and convex marks, and a sub-information recording section (30) for recording sub-information by irradiating laser light based on the tracking to the spiral track. The sub-information recording section (30) records all the sub-information by repeating a process of recording a part of the sub-information by discretely irradiating laser light at a specified interval and with a specified frequency in synchronism with a channel clock by one tracking to form recordable marks on a reflective film a plurality of times.

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 repeater apparatus includes a network communication unit that acquires, from a server through a network, first terminal identification information for identifying a terminal to be controlled and control information for controlling the terminal to be controlled, a near-field communication unit that acquires, by near-field communication from the terminal, second terminal identification information for identifying the terminal and stored in the terminal, and a comparison unit that decides whether the first terminal identification information agrees with the second terminal identification information. The near-field communication unit transmits the control information to the terminal by near-field communication, in the case where the comparison unit decides that the first terminal identification information agrees with the second terminal identification information.

Abstract: A terminal apparatus that communicates with a mobile apparatus includes a near-field communication unit that receives time-of-day information from the mobile apparatus through near-field communication, a use history information generation unit that extracts operation information of the terminal apparatus, and generates use history information on the basis of the time-of-day information received by the near-field communication unit, the use history information including time-of-day information associated with the detected operation information and indicating the time of day at which the corresponding operation was performed, and a main memory that stores the generated use history information.

Abstract: An optical disc includes a reflective film formed on concave and convex marks after the concave and convex marks are synchronized with the integral multiple of a channel bit length and formed in accordance with modulated main information. Thereafter, continuous or intermittent laser light synchronized with the integral multiple of the channel bit length is irradiated at intervals longer than the longest one of the concave and convex marks in accordance with a spiral track formed in a circumferential direction of the concave and convex marks, whereby an optical characteristic of the reflective film is changed to form a recordable mark and sub-information necessary to reproduce the main information is recorded in a superimposition manner.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to eliminate a program having a high general preference, and recommend a program customized to a preference of a specific user. A reserved information receiver (230) in a program recommendation server (3) receives reserved information transmitted by a program viewing terminal. A reserved information DB (235) stores the reserved information with respect to each of the users. A community reserved information statistics section (236) defines the users as a first group, based on the received reserved information, and the reserved information stored with respect to each of the users. A total user reserved information statistics section (237) defines the users as a second group including the first group.

Abstract: An optical disc includes a reflective film formed on concave and convex marks after the concave and convex marks are synchronized with the integral multiple of a channel bit length and formed in accordance with modulated main information. Thereafter, continuous or intermittent laser light synchronized with the integral multiple of the channel bit length is irradiated at intervals longer than the longest one of the concave and convex marks in accordance with a spiral track formed in a circumferential direction of the concave and convex marks, whereby an optical characteristic of the reflective film is changed to form a recordable mark and sub-information necessary to reproduce the main information is recorded in a superimposition manner.