Systems and apparatus for the determination of trigger events using radio-frequency identification devices. In one embodiment, the system includes radio-frequency devices, one or more wireless access points, and monitoring software. The system operates by detecting a trigger event by a radio-frequency identification device; switching from a default identifier to an alert identifier for the radio-frequency identification device; determining whether to transmit the alert identifier for the radio-frequency identification device; and transmitting the alert identifier for the radio-frequency identification device to a wireless access point. Methods for determination of trigger events using radio-frequency identification devices are also disclosed.

A rental management system that includes a mobile terminal device and a server wirelessly connected with the mobile terminal device, includes: a rental item code input means disposed at the mobile terminal device for entering an inherent rental item identification code assigned to each rental item; a database disposed at the server, in which rental information to be used when renting out the rental item is stored; a control means disposed at the server for reading out the rental information to be used when renting out the rental item from the database based upon a command wirelessly received from the mobile terminal device; a decision-making means disposed either at the mobile terminal device or at the server for making a decision as to whether or not the rental item is available for rent based upon the rental item identification code assigned to the rental item having been entered by the rental item code input means, and the rental information having been read out by the control means; and a notifying means disposed at the mobile terminal device for notifying results of the decision made by the decision-making means.

Input/output (I/O) configurations of a computing environment are managed. This management includes dynamically adjusting an I/O configuration, when it is determined that such an adjustment is needed or desired. In order to make the adjustment, a channel path is selected from a plurality of channel paths. The selection of the channel path to be used in the adjustment is based on one or more characteristics associated with the channel path.

Input/output (I/O) configurations of a computing environment are managed. This management includes dynamically adjusting an I/O configuration, when it is determined that such an adjustment is needed or desired. In order to make the adjustment, a channel path is selected from a plurality of channel paths. The selection of the channel path to be used in the adjustment is based on one or more characteristics associated with the channel path.

An input means 4 is connected by way of a security check means 5 to a program data readout means 6. The program data readout means 6 is coupled to a game implementation means 11. To the security check means 5 are coupled a flag storage means 7 and an ID detection means 8. In the flag storage means 7 are stored a security flag 7a and a readout enabling flag 7b. To the ID detection means 8 are coupled an ID storage means 9 and an ID collation means 10. The ID collation means 10 is coupled to the program data readout means 6. A KEY-CD 2 stores an identifier KEY-ID 2b. A trial CD 1 stores an identifier DISC-ID 1 b. In response to the KEY-ID 2b detected from the KEY-CD 2, the security flag 7a becomes on, and after the collation of the DISC-ID 1 detected from the trial CD 1 with the KEY-ID 2b, the readout flag 7b becomes on. Then, the program data within the trial CD 1 are read out by the program data readout means 6, allowing the game implementation means 11 to execute a game. It is thus possible both to securely prevent the data stored in the storage medium from being illegally executed, analyzed. or copied by a person not having a legitimate title and to facilitate the execution of the data by a person having the legitimate title.

A printing apparatus includes N heating elements (33-1 to 33-N) arranged in a line, and prints data on a label (1) by each line by selectively supplying a current to these heating elements (33-1 to 33-N) in accordance with printing data. The printing apparatus has a first memory (25) for storing a plurality of line printing data constituting printing information including special information, a second memory (26) for storing a plurality of line printing data constituting ordinary printing information, and a control unit (18, 27, 29) which generates drive data corresponding to a logical sum of the one line printing data from the first memory (MA1) and that from the second memory (MA2) so as to cause the heating elements (33-1 to 33-N) to be selectively energized during the first printing period of each printing cycle, and generates the drive data corresponding to the one line printing data from the first memory (MA1) so as to cause the heating (33-1 to 33-N) to be selectively energized during the second printing period of each printing cycle.