1. A communication device comprising:
a communication unit configured to be connected with a bandwidth-guaranteed network and transmit data using one of a plurality of bandwidths that provide respective different communication speeds and respective different communication fees per charging unit time; and
a controller configured to control the communication device and provide:
a first selecting unit configured to select a first bandwidth from the plurality of bandwidths;
a first calculating unit configured to calculate a first communication time required for completely transmitting the data using the first bandwidth;
a second calculating unit configured to:
sum one or more periods of a first charging unit time for the first bandwidth to calculate a second communication time of a length that is equal to or longer than the first communication time and closest to the first communication time; and
calculate a data amount of a terminal data section to be transmitted within a last period of the first charging unit time included in the second communication time; and
a second selecting unit configured to select, from the plurality of bandwidths, a second bandwidth that allows complete transmission of the terminal data section at a lowest communication fee within a second charging unit time for the second bandwidth, based on the calculated data amount of the terminal data section,
wherein the controller controls the communication unit to transmit a data section of the data other than the terminal data section using the first bandwidth and transmit the terminal data section using the second bandwidth.
2. The communication device according to claim 1,
wherein the controller is configured to further provide:
a time measuring unit configured to, while the communication unit is performing communication of the data using the first bandwidth, detect whether a measurement unit time based on the first charging unit time has elapsed, the time measuring unit being reset each time detecting that the measurement unit time has elapsed; and
a first acquiring unit configured to, each time the time measuring unit detects that the measurement unit time has elapsed, acquire a remaining data amount that is a data amount of an unsent part of the data, and
wherein the second calculating unit determines the acquired remaining data amount as the data amount of the terminal data section in response to detecting that the remaining data amount is smaller than an amount of data transmittable within a single period of the first charging unit time using the first bandwidth.
3. The communication device according to claim 1,
wherein the first selecting unit is configured to select, as the first bandwidth, one of the plurality of bandwidths that provides a highest communication speed.
4. The communication device according to claim 2,
wherein the time measuring unit is configured to utilize the measurement unit time determined by subtracting a predetermined time from the first charging unit time.
5. The communication device according to claim 2,
wherein the time measuring unit is configured to begin to detect whether the measurement unit time has elapsed, in response to receiving from a party device a status code that indicates successful establishment of a communication session between the communication device and the party device.
6. The communication device according to claim 1,
wherein the controller is configured to further provide a second acquiring unit configured to acquire an encoding method from a party device with which the communication device performs data communication, and
wherein the communication unit is configured to transmit the data compressed based on the encoding method acquired by the second acquiring unit.
7. A method adapted to be implemented on a processor coupled with a communication unit configured to be connected with a bandwidth-guaranteed network and transmit data using one of a plurality of bandwidths that provide respective different communication speeds and respective different communication fees per charging unit time, the method comprising:
a first selecting step of selecting a first bandwidth from the plurality of bandwidths;
a first calculating step of calculating a first communication time required for completely transmitting the data using the first bandwidth;
a second calculating step of:
summing one or more periods of a first charging unit time for the first bandwidth to calculate a second communication time of a length that is equal to or longer than the first communication time and closest to the first communication time; and
calculating a data amount of a terminal data section to be transmitted within a last period of the first charging unit time included in the second communication time;
a second selecting step of selecting, from the plurality of bandwidths, a second bandwidth that allows complete transmission of the terminal data section at a lowest communication fee within a second charging unit time for the second bandwidth, based on the calculated data amount of the terminal data section; and
a transmission control step of controlling the communication unit to transmit a data section of the data other than the terminal data section using the first bandwidth and transmit the terminal data section using the second bandwidth.
8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:
a time measuring step of, while the communication unit is performing communication of the data using the first bandwidth, measuring time to detect whether a measurement unit time based on the first charging unit time has elapsed, the measured time being reset each time detecting that the measurement unit time has elapsed; and
a first acquiring step of, each time it is detected that the measurement unit time has elapsed, acquiring a remaining data amount that is a data amount of an unsent part of the data, and
wherein the second calculating step includes determining the acquired remaining data amount as the data amount of the terminal data section in response to detecting that the remaining data amount is smaller than an amount of data transmittable within a single period of the first charging unit time using the first bandwidth.
9. The method according to claim 7,
wherein the first selecting step includes selecting, as the first bandwidth, one of the plurality of bandwidths that provides a highest communication speed.
10. The method according to claim 8,
wherein the time measuring step includes utilizing the measurement unit time determined by subtracting a predetermined time from the first charging unit time.
11. The method according to claim 8,
wherein the time measuring step includes beginning to detect whether the measurement unit time has elapsed, in response to receiving from a party device a status code that indicates successful establishment of a communication session between the communication unit and the party device.
12. The method according to claim 7, further comprising a second acquiring step of acquiring an encoding method from a party device with which the communication unit performs data communication, and
wherein the communication unit is configured to transmit the data compressed based on the encoding method acquired in the second acquiring step.
13. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor coupled with a communication unit configured to be connected with a bandwidth-guaranteed network and transmit data using one of a plurality of bandwidths that provide respective different communication speeds and respective different communication fees per charging unit time, cause the processor to perform:
a first selecting step of selecting a first bandwidth from the plurality of bandwidths;
a first calculating step of calculating a first communication time required for completely transmitting the data using the first bandwidth;
a second calculating step of:
summing one or more periods of a first charging unit time for the first bandwidth to calculate a second communication time of a length that is equal to or longer than the first communication time and closest to the first communication time; and
calculating a data amount of a terminal data section to be transmitted within a last period of the first charging unit time included in the second communication time;
a second selecting step of selecting, from the plurality of bandwidths, a second bandwidth that allows complete transmission of the terminal data section at a lowest communication fee within a second charging unit time for the second bandwidth, based on the calculated data amount of the terminal data section; and
a transmission control step of controlling the communication unit to transmit a data section of the data other than the terminal data section using the first bandwidth and transmit the terminal data section using the second bandwidth.
14. The computer readable medium according to claim 13,
wherein, when executed by the processor, the instructions further cause the processor to perform:
a time measuring step of, while the communication unit is performing communication of the data using the first bandwidth, measuring time to detect whether a measurement unit time based on the first charging unit time has elapsed, the measured time being reset each time detecting that the measurement unit time has elapsed; and
a first acquiring step of, each time it is detected that the measurement unit time has elapsed, acquiring a remaining data amount that is a data amount of an unsent part of the data, and
wherein the second calculating step includes determining the acquired remaining data amount as the data amount of the terminal data section in response to detecting that the remaining data amount is smaller than an amount of data transmittable within a single period of the first charging unit time using the first bandwidth.
15. The computer readable medium according to claim 13,
wherein the first selecting step includes selecting, as the first bandwidth, one of the plurality of bandwidths that provides a highest communication speed.
16. The computer readable medium according to claim 14,
wherein the time measuring step includes utilizing the measurement unit time determined by subtracting a predetermined time from the first charging unit time.
17. The computer readable medium according to claim 14,
wherein the time measuring step includes beginning to detect whether the measurement unit time has elapsed, in response to receiving from a party device a status code that indicates successful establishment of a communication session between the communication unit and the party device.
18. The computer readable medium according to claim 13,
wherein, when executed by the processor, the instructions further cause the processor to perform a second acquiring step of acquiring an encoding method from a party device with which the communication unit performs data communication, and
wherein the communication unit is configured to transmit the data compressed based on the encoding method acquired in the second acquiring step.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A fastening system comprising:
a threaded fastener, threads on the fastener being accessible even after fastener setting; and
a machine automatically operable to drive the fastener, the machine comprising:
(a) a C-frame;
(b) at least one transmission housing coupled to the C-frame;
(c) an electric motor;
(d) a transmission coupled to the motor, at least a portion of the transmission being located in the transmission housing; and
(e) a punch coupled to the transmission;
wherein the transmission operably transmits rotary motion of the motor to linear motion of the punch to operably push the fastener.
2. The fastening system of claim 1 wherein the fastener is a self-piercing nut including a bore internally located in the body, and a thread is located in the bore.
3. The fastening system of claim 2 further comprising a bolt enmeshed with the bore of the fastener.
4. The fastening system of claim 1 further comprising an automotive body panel, an unthreaded portion of the fastener engaging with the automotive body panel after the fastener setting.
5. The fastening system of claim 1 further comprising a computer panel, an unthreaded portion of the fastener engaging with the computer panel after fastener setting.
6. The fastening system of claim 1 further comprising at least one sensor coupled to the machine and a controller connected to the machine, the sensor operably sensing a fastener characteristic and the controller automatically varying a fastener insertion feature of the machine in response to the fastener characteristic sensed.
7. The fastening system of claim 6 wherein the fastener characteristic is fastener size.
8. The fastening system of claim 6 wherein the fastener characteristic is fastener insertion force.
9. The fastening system of claim 6 wherein the fastener characteristic is fastener presence in the machine.
10. The fastening system of claim 6 wherein the fastener insertion feature is insertion speed, greater than zero.
11. The fastening system of claim 1 wherein the fastener is a self-piercing stud including a substantially cylindrical internal surface between a piercing end and a threaded segment prior to insertion in a workpiece.
12. The fastening system of claim 1 further comprising:
a die attached to the C-frame, the die always being substantially aligned with the punch, the fastener being prevented from directly contacting the die, all of the die being stationary during joint creation; and
a robotic arm coupled to at least one of the housing and the C-frame.
13. The fastening system of claim 1 wherein the fastener further comprises:
an elongated shaft including the threads which have an external thread pattern with an outside diameter; and
a workpiece-engaging section attached to the shaft at a proximal end and having a self-piercing distal end;
the workpiece-engaging section having a pre-installed outside diameter substantially the same as that of the shaft and without an undercut prior to installation.
14. The fastening system of claim 13 wherein the distal end outwardly diverges when installed.
15. The fastening system of claim 13 wherein the workpiece-engaging section directly extends from the shaft free of a transversely enlarged flange.
16. The fastening system of claim 13 wherein the workpiece-engaging section is substantially hollow within a pre-installed substantially cylindrical wall, a roof of the workpiece-engaging section adjacent the shaft is substantially flat and parallel to an exposed end of the shaft.
17. A fastening system comprising:
a threaded fastener;
a machine automatically operable to drive the fastener, the machine comprising:
(a) a C-frame;
(b) at least one transmission housing coupled to the C-frame;
(c) an electric motor;
(d) a transmission coupled to the motor, at least a portion of the transmission being located in the transmission housing; and
(e) a punch coupled to the transmission;
wherein the transmission operably transmits rotary motion of the motor to linear motion of the punch to operably push the fastener; and
a threaded member removably enmeshed with the fastener and a component secured to the fastener by the member.
18. The fastening system of claim 17 wherein a body of the fastener is a substantially cylindrical and elongated stud.
19. The fastening system of claim 17 wherein the component is an electrical connector.
20. The fastening system of claim 17 wherein the component is a circuit board.
21. A fastening system comprising:
a threaded fastener; and
a machine automatically operable to drive the fastener, the machine comprising:
(a) a C-frame;
(b) at least one transmission housing coupled to the C-frame;
(c) an electric motor;
(d) a transmission coupled to the motor, at least a portion of the transmission being located in the transmission housing; and
(e) a punch coupled to the transmission;
wherein the transmission operably transmits rotary motion of the motor to linear motion of the punch to operably push the fastener; and
wherein the fastener is a self-piercing nut including a substantially cylindrical internal surface between a piercing end and a threaded segment prior to insertion in a workpiece.
22. The fastening system of claim 21 further comprising a stationary die always aligned with a punch of the machine, the die not having movable components.
23. The fastening system of claim 21 further comprising a sensor operably sensing a fastener characteristic and a controller automatically varying a fastener insertion feature of the machine in response to the fastener characteristic sensed.
24. The fastening system of claim 23 wherein the fastener characteristic is fastener size.
25. The fastening system of claim 23 wherein the fastener characteristic is fastener insertion force.
26. The fastening system of claim 23 wherein the fastener characteristic is fastener presence in the machine.
27. The fastening system of claim 23 wherein the fastener characteristic is fastener location relative to the workpiece.
28. The fastening system of claim 23 wherein the fastener characteristic is thickness of the workpiece.
29. The fastening system of claim 23 wherein the fastener insertion feature is insertion speed, greater than zero.
30. The fastening system of claim 23 wherein the fastener insertion feature is de-energization of the actuator.
31. A fastening system comprising:
at least a pair of automotive vehicle panels;
a clinch nut comprising a cylindrically tapered end which self-pierces into the panels and diverges during installation, the nut further comprising an internally threaded body;
a non-fluid powered actuator;
a driver operably inserting the nut into the panels;
a transmission coupling the actuator to the driver;
a sensor operably sensing a fastening characteristic; and
a controller automatically controlling installation of the fastener into the panels in response to the sensed fastening characteristic.
32. The fastening system of claim 31 wherein the fastener characteristic is fastener size.
33. The fastening system of claim 31 wherein the fastener characteristic is fastener insertion force.
34. The fastening system of claim 31 wherein the fastener characteristic is fastener location relative to the workpiece.
35. The fastening system of claim 31 further comprising:
a housing containing at least portions of the transmission and driver;
a C-frame attached to the housing;
a die attached to the C-frame, the die always being substantially aligned with the driver, all of the die being stationary during joint creation; and
a robotic arm coupled to at least one of the housing and the C-frame.
36. The fastening system of claim 31 wherein the actuator is an electric motor.
37. The fastening system of claim 31 wherein the transmission operably converts rotary motion of the actuator into linear motion of the driver.