JP3299358B2 - Information processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus,
In particular, the present invention relates to an improvement for reducing the size of an information processing apparatus to a level that can be easily carried at all times.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is an increasing demand for an information processing device having an information terminal function and being portable in daily life.
Existing information processing apparatuses having an information terminal function are too large in size and weight to carry at all times, and have not yet sufficiently penetrated into everyday life. Among the existing information processing apparatuses, business information terminal apparatuses, in particular, are designed to have higher functions, and therefore are particularly large in size and weight and expensive.

[0003] On the other hand, small information devices for specific uses such as electronic telephone directories and microminiature dictionaries cannot be used as information terminal devices because there is no means for transmitting information to the outside. A so-called electronic organizer is commercially available as an information terminal which is relatively small and has a means for transmitting information to the outside. However, it is inconvenient to always carry it in a pocket of clothes.

[0004] For this reason, it is desired to realize an information processing apparatus having a front face having a size substantially equivalent to that of a business card and having such a thickness that it can be carried in a pocket of clothes.

[0005]

However, there are various problems to be solved in realizing such a small-sized information processing apparatus which is easily portable at all times.

That is, in order to make the device portable at all times, it is desirable not only to reduce the size but also to make the device body a sealed structure in order to increase the durability of the device. On the other hand, the device must be capable of exchanging information signals with the outside. By configuring the device to transmit information to the outside via an optical signal, it is possible to meet both of these requirements. However, the power required for transmitting and receiving optical signals can be driven, and the power required for the device to be used for a long period of time is provided by a power supply inside the device that is small enough to be portable at all times. Is difficult to secure.

The present invention has a problem that the information processing apparatus which also functions as an information terminal apparatus is prevented from being downsized.
Provided is an information processing device which is designed to solve the difficulty of securing power required for operation of the device, functions as an information terminal device, and can be reduced in size to be easily portable at all times. The purpose is to. It is another object of the present invention to provide an information processing device having an additional function utilizing the function as an information terminal device.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

[0009]

[0010]

[0011]

[0012]

[0013]

[0014] Information processing apparatus that written in this invention is an information processing apparatus performing information transfer with an external information apparatus and having an information processing function, comprising, separated by time intervals of predetermined width In the time section, while performing the information processing and information transmission by appropriately allocating and executing the unit work, the time dependency is evaluated for each unit work,
The unit work having a low time dependency is allocated to the same time section as the other unit work requiring power supply to a common device.

In the present invention, the "specific information graphic"
Represents a figure that represents a specific type of information based on a predetermined rule such as a barcode.

[0016]

[Action]

[0017]

[0018]

[0019]

[0020]

[0021]

[0022] In the information processing apparatus of this invention, it evaluates the time-dependence for each unit operation, the time dependence of the lower unit operation, identical to the other unit operations requiring the supply of electric power to a common device portion , The power consumption can be kept low.

[0023]

【Example】

<1. First Embodiment><1-1. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. The information processing apparatus 100 includes a main unit 1 having a front dimension equivalent to that of a business card. A plurality of types of keys 2 and a liquid crystal display 3 are arranged on the front of the main unit 1.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the apparatus 100. The device 100 includes a microprocessor (C
The CPU 11 includes a semiconductor memory 12, a key 2, a liquid crystal display 3, and an optical element 1.
3 are connected. The battery 16 supplies power to these electronic components. The optical element 13 exchanges an optical signal with the outside via an input / output end 14 which opens on the surface of the main body 1 and functions as a light window. The input / output terminal 14 includes an output terminal 14a and an input terminal 14b.

The device 100 further includes a communication power supply unit 20. The communication power supply unit 20, as described later,
This is a device portion for supplying electric power necessary for operating the optical element 13.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the device 100 centering on the optical element 13. The optical element 13 includes a light emitting element 13a that converts an electric signal into light and outputs the light, and a light receiving element 13b that receives light and converts the light into an electric signal. The light emitting element 13a and the light receiving element 13b are arranged toward the output terminal 14a and the input terminal 14b, respectively. The light emitting element 13a is formed of, for example, a light emitting diode (LED), and the input terminal 14b is formed of, for example, a photodiode.

<1-2. Communication with external information device>
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an appearance when the device 100 is set on an external information device and communication is performed with the information device.
The external information device 200 includes a host computer 201 which forms a main part thereof. Host computer 20
By mounting the device 100 at a predetermined position of the base unit 202 functioning as an interface between the device 100 and the device 100, information signals can be exchanged between the device 100 and the host computer 201, that is, communication can be performed. Be done. The communication mainly includes transmitting an information signal stored in the semiconductor memory 12 of the device 100 to the host computer 201. Apparatus 100 and base unit 20
Between the two, the exchange of information signals is performed by transmitting and receiving optical signals via the input / output terminal 14. Therefore, the device 100 does not require any electrically connected parts for communication.

When the optical element 13 is operated, communication using an optical signal as a medium is performed. Therefore, power for driving the optical element 13 is required for communication. The power required for this communication depends on the optical elements 1 such as the CPU 11
This is a large value that is several tens to one hundred times the power required for the operation of the device parts other than the three. For this reason, if the power required for communication is also borne only by the battery 16, the power supply capability of the battery 16 is quickly lost, and the useful life of the device 100 cannot be secured. The above-mentioned communication power supply unit 20 secures the life of the device 100 by supplying a large amount of power consumption required for communication from the outside.

As shown in FIG. 4, the communication power supply section 20 has an induction coil 21. When the device 100 is mounted on the base unit 202, the induction coil 21
Similar induction coil 20 provided in base unit 202
By being close to and facing 3, they are installed at predetermined positions in the main body 1 so that magnetic coupling is effectively performed with each other. An alternating current is supplied to the induction coil 203, and the induction coil 203 generates an alternating magnetic flux accordingly. When the device 100 is placed at a predetermined position on the base unit 202, the induction coil 21
, An alternating voltage is induced. That is, electric power is supplied from the induction coil 203 to the induction coil 21 via magnetic coupling.

<1-3. Three Aspects of Communication Power Supply Unit> FIGS.
FIG. 7 shows that the power transferred to the induction coil 21 is applied to the optical element 13.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing three types of paths for supplying to the apparatus. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the alternating voltage generated in the induction coil 21 is rectified by the rectifier 22 and further stabilized by the ballast 23 to a constant voltage. The stabilized voltage is input to both the battery 16 and the optical device 13. When the apparatus 100 is mounted on the base unit 202, the power of the induction coil 21 is mainly supplied to the optical element 13 during the period when the optical element 13 is operating and performing communication, and the communication is performed after the communication is completed. Is stopped and supplied to the battery 16 to charge the battery 16. In this embodiment, a battery that can be repeatedly charged is used as the battery 16. Since the battery 16 is also charged, in this embodiment, the device 100 can be used indefinitely.
Further, since the battery 16 does not need to bear the driving power of the optical element 13, a battery having a small accumulated power is sufficient.
That is, a small battery can be used as the battery 16. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the size of the device 100 so that the device 100 can be easily carried at all times by being inserted into a pocket of clothes.

In the second embodiment shown in FIG.
1 is supplied exclusively to the optical element 13 and there is no power coupling with the battery 16. In this aspect, battery 16 need not be a rechargeable battery.
Further, since the voltage generated in the induction coil 21 is supplied only to the optical element 13 that does not require a high accuracy in the drive voltage, the ballast 23 is not required between the rectifier 22 and the optical element 13. That is, the communication power supply unit 20a can be configured more simply than the communication power supply unit 20 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the internal circuit of the rectifier 22 may be the simplest circuit composed of only one of each of a resistor, a diode, and a capacitor. Also in this embodiment, since a small battery can be used as the battery 16, the device 100 can be reduced in size to be easily portable at all times.

In the third embodiment shown in FIG.
All the power generated in 1 is temporarily stored in the battery 16. For this reason, the communication power supply unit 20b includes a ballast 23 as in the communication power supply unit 20. The driving power of the optical element 13 is directly supplied from the battery 16 similarly to other device parts such as the CPU 11. Therefore, the battery 1
For 6, a rechargeable battery is used.
Further, since the battery 16 needs to drive the optical element 13 as well, the battery 16 needs to have a large stored power. That is, the configuration is somewhat disadvantageous in reducing the size of the device 100.

<1-4. Other Advantages of Apparatus 100> In the apparatus 100, communication with the external information device 200 and power supply for communication are both performed via a medium other than electricity, such as light or magnetism. That is, there is no electrical contact between the device 100 and the external information device 200. Therefore, there is an advantage that the occurrence of communication errors due to poor contact is small. In addition, the main body 1 may have a sealed structure. For this reason, the highly durable device 100
It is suitable for always carrying.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, only by placing the device 100 at a predetermined position of the base unit 202 for communication, power is supplied simultaneously with communication. That is, the device 100 has an advantage that the power supply required for communication is automatically realized only by performing an operation required for communication.

<Second Embodiment><2-1. External Appearance and Overall Configuration of Apparatus> FIG. 8 is an external front view of an information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment. This device 101
Also functions as a barcode reader. That is,
The output light from the light emitting element 13a is irradiated onto the paper surface 302 on which the barcode is drawn, and the reflected light is simultaneously emitted from the light receiving element 13b.
The bar code figure is read by receiving light. The CPU 11 incorporated in the device 101 further decodes the read barcode.

The apparatus 101 further includes a power generation mechanism 30 for supplying driving power for the optical element 13 when reading a bar code. The power generating mechanism 30 has a rotating disk 31 rotatably attached to the main body 1, and a part of an edge surface of the rotating disk 31 is exposed to the outside of the main body 1. Input / output terminal 1
4 is brought into contact with or close to the paper surface 302 on which the barcode is drawn, the exposed edge surface of the rotating disc 31
Contact 2 Further, when the main body 1 is scanned along the paper surface 302 to read the barcode, the rotating disk 31 is rotated by the action of the frictional force. This rotating disk 3
One rotational force is converted to electric power.

<2-2. Three Modes of Power Generation Mechanism> FIGS. 9 to 11
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing three types of a power generation mechanism. In any case, the rotation of the rotating disk 31 is transmitted to the rotating magnet 32 after the rotation speed is amplified by the gear. The rotating magnet 32 includes permanent magnets arranged such that different magnetic poles of the magnet alternately appear along the circumferential surface. The induction coil 33 faces the circumferential surface of the rotating magnet 32.
Is installed. As the rotating magnet 32 rotates, an alternating voltage is generated in the induction coil 33.

There are three types of routes for supplying power from the induction coil 33 to the optical element 13 and the like, as shown in FIGS. Each one of these aspects corresponds to each one of the three aspects shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the first embodiment shown in FIG.
Is also charged, so that the device 101 can be used indefinitely. Also, the battery 16 is
Since it is not necessary to bear the driving power of the battery, a battery with small stored power is sufficient. That is, a small battery can be used as the battery 16. For this reason,
It is possible to reduce the size of the device 101 so that it is easily portable at all times.

In the second embodiment shown in FIG.
Since the ballast 23 is not required at 0a, the configuration is simpler than the power generation mechanism 30. Further, since a small battery can be used as the battery 16, the size of the device 101 can be reduced.

In the third embodiment shown in FIG.
The ballast 0b is provided with a ballast 23 similarly to the power generation mechanism 30. Since the battery 16 needs to drive the optical element 13 as well, the battery 16 needs to have a large stored power. That is, the configuration is slightly disadvantageous in reducing the size of the device 101.

<2-3. Advantages of the device 101> This device 10
1 only adds a function of decoding a bar code without newly adding a device portion for reading a bar code,
Also functions as a barcode reader. Further, when reading the barcode, the power consumed by the optical element 13 is supplied by rotating the rotating disk 31 as the main body 1 is scanned to read the barcode.
For this reason, it is possible to reduce the size of the main body 1 so that the device 101 can be always carried, while enabling the device 101 to be used for a long time. In addition, since no electrical contact is required for communication with the external information device 200, communication can be performed without a communication error.

<Third Embodiment><3-1. Configuration of Apparatus> FIGS. 12 and 13 are schematic views showing characteristic portions of an information processing apparatus according to the third embodiment. That is, these devices 102 and 103 are both optical transmission fibers 4 between the input / output end 14 and the optical element 13.
1 intervenes. The optical transmission fiber 41 is a medium for transmitting an optical signal. The optical transmission fiber 41 includes the light emitting element 13a.
An output light transmission fiber 41a for transmitting the output light of the light to the output end 14a, and an input light incident on the input end 14b of the light receiving element 1
And an input optical transmission fiber 41b for transmitting to the optical fiber 3b.
The optical transmission fiber 41 can be smaller in diameter than the optical element 13. For this reason, these devices 10
In 2 and 103, the distance between the output terminal 14a and the input terminal 14b can be set narrow. This means that when the devices 102 and 103 function as a bar code reader, as shown in the second embodiment, for example, the light emitting element 13a
Can be effectively received by the light receiving element 13b.

In the device 102 shown in FIG.
4 are located on the four edge surfaces of the main body 1. On the other hand, in the device 103 shown in FIG. 13, there is a cutout formed by diagonally cutting one of the four corners 1 of the main body 1, and the input / output end 14 is located on the edge surface of the cutout. The device 103 is suitable for scanning the main body 1 while making the input / output end 14 contact or approach the paper surface 302.

<3-2. Operation of Apparatus> FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing how a bar code is read using this apparatus 103. Paper 302 attached to the surface of the product 301
Displays a bar code 303. Device 103
When holding the main body portion 1 between fingers, a specific key 2a
Is pressed with, for example, a thumb, the device 103 starts an operation of reading a barcode. By holding the main body 1 obliquely with respect to the paper surface 302, it is possible to easily contact or approach the four corners 1 of the main body 1 where the input / output end 14 opens to the paper surface 302. While maintaining this posture,
The bar code 303 is read by scanning the main body 1 along the paper surface 302. The CPU 11 incorporated in the device 103 recognizes the shape of the read barcode 303 and decodes the information represented by the barcode 303. The decoded information is stored in the semiconductor memory 12 and displayed on the liquid crystal display 3. Accordingly, the operator can read the barcode 303 and at the same time grasp the meaning of the information. In addition, the semiconductor memory 1
The bar code information stored in the external information device 200
By transmitting the information to the server, it is possible to provide more advanced information processing such as a database.

<Fourth Embodiment><4-1. Operation of Apparatus> FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a characteristic operation of the information processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment.
The device of this embodiment has a bar code
Has a function as a reader. The flowchart shown in FIG. 15 shows a processing procedure when operating as a barcode reader. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating how the device operates according to the flowchart of FIG.
The operation of the apparatus of this embodiment as a barcode reader will be described below with reference to these two drawings.

When the specific key 2a is pressed with a finger when holding the main body 1 of the device 104 with a finger, power is supplied to the optical element 13. That is, the light emitting element 13a is turned on (step S1). While the light emitting element 13a is turned on, the CPU 11 samples a signal from the light receiving element 13b (step S2). When the sampling is completed, the supply of power to the optical element 13 is stopped, and the light emitting element 13
a turns off (step S3).

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the paper surface 302 is close to the input / output end 14 based on the data obtained by sampling (step S4). Light receiving element 13b
If the amount of received light exceeds a certain reference value, it is determined that the paper surface 302 is close, and if not, it is determined that it is not close. If the sheet 302 is not detected, the process returns to step S1. The period from the execution of step S1 to the execution of step S1 again after step S4 is set to, for example, 300 msec. That is, while the paper surface 302 is not detected, power is intermittently supplied to the optical element 13 at a cycle of 300 msec.

When the input / output end 14 contacts or approaches the paper surface 302, the paper surface 302 is detected in step S4. At this time, the process proceeds to step S5. In step S5, power is supplied to the optical element 13 to turn on the light emitting element 13a. Next, while the light emitting element 13a is turned on, the CPU 11 samples a signal from the light receiving element 13b (step S6). The CPU 11 further advances the recognition of the barcode shape based on the information obtained by sampling. When the sampling is completed, the supply of power to the optical element 13 is stopped, and the light emitting element 13a is turned off (step S7).

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the reading of the barcode is completed based on the recognized shape of the barcode (step S8). If the reading has not been completed, the process returns to step S5 to continue reading. Step S5 is executed, and a period from step S8 until step S5 is executed again is set to, for example, 50 μsec.
In other words, after the paper surface 302 is detected, 50 μsec
The power is intermittently supplied to the optical element 13 with the cycle of.

By scanning the main body 1 along the paper surface 302 while keeping the input / output end 14 in contact with or close to the paper surface 302, the shape of the barcode 303 is sequentially read into the device 104. If it is determined in step S8 that the reading has been completed, the process proceeds to step S9. In step S9, the information represented by the barcode is decoded from the read barcode shape, stored in the semiconductor memory 12, and displayed on the liquid crystal display 3.

<4-2. Advantages of device> Device 1 of this embodiment
In 04, power supply to the optical element 13 is performed only for the time required for sampling, and power supply is stopped while sampling is not performed. That is, power supply to the optical element 13 is performed intermittently. Moreover, the barcode 303
When the input / output end 14 approaches the paper surface 302 on which the bar code 303 is drawn, and when the input / output end 14 does not approach, the power has a different period according to the difference in frequency required to sample the shape of the barcode 303. Is supplied. For this reason,
There is an advantage that the power consumption of the optical element 13 can be reduced while enabling accurate barcode reading. This makes it possible to reduce the load on the battery 16 and to use a small battery as the battery 16 in a device for supplying power from the battery 16 to the optical element 13. For this reason, it is possible to make the shape of the main body 1 small enough to be easily portable at all times.

<Fifth Embodiment><5-1. Operation of Apparatus> FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information processing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment. The characteristic feature of the configuration of the device 105 of this embodiment is that the CPU 11
Scheduler 51 that manages the time sequence of processing in
And a table memory 52 associated therewith. The scheduler 51 also performs high-level logical judgments and the like, and is constituted by a kind of microprocessor. The table memory 52 is composed of a semiconductor memory.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the characteristic operation of the device 105. In the device 105, the CPU 1
The processing executed by 1 is divided into unit works (tasks) that form a group of processing. Then, into a time section called a time slot formed by dividing a time flow by a unit time,
The processing proceeds by allocating each task.

As shown in FIG. 18A, a plurality of tasks (task 1, task 2, task 3,...) To be processed are registered in the table memory 52. For each task, the identification code of the time slot to be executed (0, 0, 3,...), The ranking of the time dependency, that is, the code representing the order of necessity to execute in the specified time slot. (A, A, C,...) Are registered. It is assumed that code C has lower time dependency than code A.

The scheduler 51 has a table memory 5
Based on the task information registered in 2, the time management of the processing executed by the CPU 11 is performed in the following manner. That is, when the current time is in one time slot, the scheduler 51 determines a task to be performed in the next time slot, that is, performs scheduling.

For example, when determining the task to be executed in the time slot “0”, the scheduler 51 refers to the order code together with the time slot code registered in the table memory 52. Since the time slot code is “0” and the rank code is “A” indicating the highest rank, the tasks 1 and 2 are determined to be executed in the time slot “0”. On the other hand, it is assumed that the task 3 is determined to be executed in the time slot “3” because the time slot code is “3” (corresponding to the case of FIG. 18B). Since it is necessary to supply power to the circuit elements that operate to execute the task, in the case of FIG. 18B, power must be supplied in both time slots “0” and “3”. .

However, the device 105 of this embodiment
When determining when to execute task 3, task 3
It also refers to the rank code “C” that is registered with “.” Since the rank code of task 3 is “C” indicating the lower rank, the higher rank that is executed closest on the time axis It is determined that the task is to be executed in the same time slot “0” as the tasks 1 and 2 (see FIG. 18).
(Equivalent to (c)). This shortens the period for supplying power.

In a time slot in which a task is not executed, for example, in time slots "1" and "2", power supply is stopped. In such a blank time slot, power is supplied to only some circuit elements such as the scheduler 51 related to scheduling, and power is supplied to other circuit elements such as the CPU 11 as well as the optical element 13. Stops. That is, only the circuit elements related to the scheduling such as the scheduler 51 continue to operate, and the other circuit elements are stopped.

As described above, the scheduling is performed by the scheduler 51 prior to the execution of the task, so that the device 105 can minimize waste in power consumption. This reduces the burden on the battery 16 and makes it possible to use a small battery for the battery 16. For this reason, it becomes possible to make the shape of the main body 1 small enough to be easily portable at all times.

<Modifications> (1) The input / output terminal 14 without the relay of the optical transmission fiber 41
May be arranged in the cutout. Also at this time, the device 10
As in the case of the third embodiment, there is an effect that the scanning of the main body 1 is easy. However, since it is necessary to secure a certain distance between the output terminal 14a and the input terminal 14b, the light receiving efficiency is inferior to that of the device 103. (2) The apparatus of each embodiment described above can achieve higher effects by implementing the features of each apparatus as much as possible.

[0062]

【The invention's effect】

[0063]

[0064]

[0065]

[0066]

[0067]

[0068]

[0069] In the information processing apparatus of this invention, it evaluates the time-dependence for each unit operation, the time dependence of the lower unit operation, identical to the other unit operations requiring the supply of electric power to a common device portion , The power consumption can be kept low.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged front view of the device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement at the time of communication between the device of the first embodiment and an external information device.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a communication power supply unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating another example of the configuration of the communication power supply unit according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating still another example of the configuration of the communication power supply unit according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an external front view of the device of the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a power generation mechanism according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of the power generation mechanism of the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing still another example of the configuration of the power generation mechanism of the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a characteristic portion of the device of the third embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing another example of the characteristic portion of the device of the third embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the device of the third embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a process in the device of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the device of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the device of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the device of the fifth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body part 2 Key 3 Liquid crystal display 11 CPU 13a Light emitting element 13b Light receiving element 14a Output end 14b Input end 20 Communication power supply part 21 Induction coil 30 Power generation mechanism 31 Rotating disk 41 Optical transmission fiber 51 Scheduler 52 Table memory 100-105 Apparatus 200 External information device 203 Induction coil 302 Paper surface (object surface) 303 Barcode (specific information graphic)

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-62-150416 (JP, A) JP-A-58-3009 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 1 / 32 G06F 9/46 340

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus having an information processing function and transmitting information to and from an external information device, wherein the time is divided into time sections each having a predetermined width.
The information processing can be performed by appropriately allocating and executing the work.
And information transmission, and evaluate the time dependency of each unit work, and
It is necessary to supply power to common equipment
An information processing apparatus, wherein the information is allocated to the same time section as another unit work to be performed.