Abstract: According to one embodiment, a charging device includes: a battery controller, an executor, a voltage measurer, a voltage corrector and a diagnoser. The battery controller controls charging of a storage battery. The executor charges the storage battery using the battery controller and changes a charge rate of the storage battery in a case that a predetermined condition is established during a time period when the storage battery is charged. The voltage measurer measures a voltage of the storage battery during a time period when the storage battery is charged by the battery controller. The voltage corrector corrects the voltage measured by the voltage measurer on a basis of a value of a current rate at which the voltage is measured. The diagnoser diagnoses the storage battery on a basis of the voltage corrected by the voltage corrector.

Abstract: An information processing system in which the necessary information can be transferred via a network by the time this information becomes actually necessary, without damaging the utility and convenience from the user's point of view. An information transfer to a first information processing apparatus from a second information processing apparatus via a network is realized by predicting a necessary information which will be required by a user using the first information processing apparatus in future and a necessary time by which the necessary information will be actually required by the user, according to a knowledge concerning an activity schedule of the user; and controlling the transfer of the necessary information from the second information processing apparatus to the first information processing apparatus via the network such that the necessary information will be transferred by the necessary time.

Abstract: An information processing system in which the necessary information can be transferred via a network by the time this information becomes actually necessary, without damaging the utility and convenience from the user's point of view. An information transfer to a first information processing apparatus from a second information processing apparatus via a network is realized by predicting a necessary information which will be required by a user using the first information processing apparatus in future and a necessary time by which the necessary information will be actually required by the user, according to a knowledge concerning an activity schedule of the user; and controlling the transfer of the necessary information from the second information processing apparatus to the first information processing apparatus via the network such that the necessary information will be transferred by the necessary time.

Abstract: A ATM communication system can satisfy various requests from a node system, a link system, and the like, by performing a self-format transform between a format to be transmitted and a format receiving an ATM switch, and using a cell processing function for performing polishing/shaping, counting of passed cells, counting of discarded cells, drop/insertion of OAM cell, and the like.

Abstract: A traffic control method for controlling the traffic characteristics of fixed-length information units and transmitting the information units through a number of divided systems in a ATM communication network comprises a step for monitoring the information units to determine whether or not the information units are transmitted according to prescribed traffic characteristics at the inlets of a plurality of divided systems, a step for regulating the information unit which violates the prescribed traffic characteristics at the inlets of the divided systems, a step for monitoring the information units to determine whether or not the information units are transmitted according to prescribed traffic characteristics at the outlets of a plurality of divided systems, and a step for shaping the information unit which violates the prescribed traffic characteristics at the outlets of the divided systems.

Abstract: In a call set-up control operation used for a data packet communication network, a call set-up controlling method comprises the steps of: preparing a plurality of call set-up algorithms different from each other; and, selecting one of the call set-up algorithms suitable for a call set-up demand, depending upon at least a load condition of the packet data communication network, whereby the call set-up operation is carried out in accordance with the selected call set-up algorithm.

Abstract: An apparatus for adding a first input value and a second input value smaller than the first input value comprises a memory device for memorizing an under flow component; a first adder for adding an output value from the memory device and the first input value; a second adder for adding an output value of the first adder and the second input value; a first subtracter for subtracting the second input value from an output value of the second adder; and a comparator for comparing the output value of the first adder and an output value of the first subtracter. It is judged by an output value of the comparator whether or not the output value of the first adder is memorized in the memory device.

Abstract: A communications network has a plurality of customer terminals and a single center terminal which are coupled through communication lines. A large scale integrated circuit is operatively coupled to each terminal. The integrated circuit device has enciphering and deciphering functions and has a recording device. When a transaction request message is sent from one customer terminal to the center, the transaction request message is enciphered by the integrated circuit device, and the enciphered message is sent to the center. In order to increase the transaction verification capability, the transmission message is recorded, in association with encryption of the transmission message, in an area of the recording device which can be accessed from outside only for readout. In order to further improve the transaction verification capability, the response message is enciphered by the integrated circuit device in the center.

Abstract: A communications network system is constructed by connecting a plurality of customer terminals to one central terminal via communication lines. Enciphering devices and a deciphering device, such as IC (integrated circuit) cards, are provided for the terminals. In order to achieve a digital signature for a transaction message sent from a customer to the center, the message is enciphered according to a prescribed enciphering algorithm using a key word that can specify the sender and the transaction. At the central terminal the enciphered message is deciphered according to a prescribed deciphering algorithm that is different from the enciphering algorithm using a key word which can specify the sender and the transaction. The key data and encipering and deciphering algorithms are sealed in the enciphering and deciphering devices such that they cannot be accessed from the outside.

Abstract: Broadcasting stations send programs to subscribers via satellite scrambled signals. A subscriber inserts an IC card into a meter rate charging decoder to view/listen chargeable programs. Program codes are written in the IC card to determine fees to be paid to each station.