The information described herein is subject to change without prior notification. [Last Revised on January 28, 2019]

1. General Guidelines

1.1 Type of manuscript

IEICE Transactions on Fundamentals of Electronics, Communications and Computer Sciences (hereafter we abbreviate it to call IEICE Transactions on Fundamentals) consists of three types: paper, letter, and survey paper. Paper and letter types are based on submissions.
Note that survey paper type is only requested by the editorial committee.

PAPER: Includes reports on research, developments, and examinations performed by the Society's members for the specific fields shown in the category list such as detailed below, the contents of which may advance the development of science and industry:
(1) Reports on new theories, experiments with new contents, or extensions of and supplements to conventional theories and experiments.
(2) Reports on development of measurement technology and various applied technologies.
(3) Reports on the planning, design, manufacture, testing, or operation of facilities, machinery, parts, materials, etc.
(4) Presentation of new methods, suggestion of new angles, ideas, systematization, software, or any new facts regarding the above (1) to (3).

LETTER: Includes the following in terms of range and content and the same as those for PAPER.
(5) Reports on research for prompt announcement.
(6) Written discussions to submit opinions to articles published in the Transaction.
(7) Suggestion of critical opinions conceived in relation to research.
The Transactions is a medium where the members provide and exchange new topics easily and in a timely manner in either form shown above. It is the perfect way for members to acquire new knowledge and information on these topics, actively exchange questions, opinions, etc., and enlighten each other.

SURVEY PAPER: Includes the following, targeting the same range and content as the PAPER.
(8) Reports that reflect a set understanding of the field involved, and effectively respond to inquiries from researchers or other involved parties about the significance of the field. In short, reports that support entries by new researchers, development by on-site researchers and applications by involved parties in that field.
(9) Reports that differ from tutorials (explanatory articles appearing in journals) in that they demand a high caliber of technical knowledge. In short, reports that envision readers as specialists in the field, place their focus on classification of existing documents, provide overviews of the field, evaluate the latest trends and cover other areas in that field.
(10) Reports targeting major and large-scale fields (areas in which numerous readers have an interest) that effectively develop a basic framework or overall image of that field. In short, summary introductions that will hopefully encourage new research and otherwise supply members with high-level assessments of the field, while systematically presenting existing research from a set perspective.

1.2 Eligibility for submission

At least one of the authors must be an IEICE member when the manuscript is submitted for review. Invited papers are an exception. We recommend that authors unaffiliated with IEICE apply for membership. For detailed information on the IEICE Membership Application, refer to here.

1.3 Originality of manuscript

1.3.1 Copyright compliance

(1) Obey the IEICE Provisions on Copyright.
(2) Do not submit content identical or extremely similar to material that has already appeared under the name of another author(s), to the IEICE. Do not reproduce copyrighted material without the permission of the copyright holder.
(3) Even if you are the author(s) of a manuscript, do not submit it if copyright problems exist, for example, if the copyright is held by a body other than the IEICE and cannot be transferred to the IEICE.
(4) In cases deemed to comprise plagiarism, penalties identical to those assessed in the event of duplicate submission shall be applied.


1.3.2 No duplicate submissions

If you submit a material which is content identical or extremely similar to material that has already appeared or is in submission elsewhere, either by the same author(s) or by a team including any one of them, the IEICE will consider it as "DUPLICATE SUBMISSION" even if it does not violate "1.3.1 Copyright Compliance" and then apply the strict penalty to the author(s). The IEICE does not care about its written language, but care about semantic content similarity. Here, "in submission" means the period from its submission either to publication date or to rejected date or to withdrawn date. Notwithstanding the above, a paper will not be treated as a duplicate submission if and only if every such material appearing therein is one of the following (a) to (f).
a) a patent publication gazette or the like
b) a university undergraduate thesis, master's thesis, doctoral thesis, technical report, etc.
c) the abstracts, proceedings, etc. of a meeting, seminar, or international conference of the IEICE or other academic organization
d) a book, a corporate technical journal or bulletin etc.
e) a newspaper article or the like
f) a preprint server of a highly public nature, an author's own home page or the like

Note that refereed materials among the above (a) to (f) should be cited in submitted material as the footnotes or references.

When an author reuses text, figures, tables, photographs, or other graphics from his/her own previously published material, the author shall:
1. clearly indicate all reused material and provide a full reference to the original publication of the material and
2. if the previously published material is used as a basis for a new submission, clearly indicate how the new submission differs from the previously published work(s).

*Regarding Submission to "Information Technology Letters": The manuscript that had appeared in "Information Technology Letters" in or before 2007 is not accepted as it is. "Information Technology Letters" is published by the IEICE Information and Systems Society, IEICE Human Communication Group and Information Processing Society of Japan.

1.4 Countermeasures against duplicate submission

If a manuscript is suspected of duplicate submission to any journal, the IEICE Editorial Committee has the right to investigate the situation by exchanging information with the Editorial board of the concerned journal. When the duplicate submission is confirmed by discreet inquiries, the IEICE Editorial Committee will apply the following sanctions against all the authors of the manuscript.
(1) Immediate rejection of the manuscript in question, and also immediate rejection of all other manuscripts under review that include at least one of the authors of the manuscript in question.
(2) Prohibition of any new submissions to all the IEICE transactions and journal for a term of one year or less.
(3) Notification to the Editorial board of the concerned journal about the duplicate submission.
(4) Publication of a notice that announces the cancelation of the paper (or letter), as well as the indication of the cancelation on the web site of Transactions Online, in the case that the manuscript has already been published in our transactions.

1.5 Protection of Personal Information

Sufficient care should be exercised when submitting a manuscript bearing personal data such as photographs or names to the transactions. If necessary, written permission should be obtained from the individual concerned.

2. Process for Initial Submission of a Manuscript

STEP 3:Submit Manuscript

Upload a PDF file (limit: 4 MB) for review and editable electronic files (limit: 10 MB per file) for publishing in accordance with the instructions.

The page charges will be calculated depending on the format (LaTeX or Word) of the electronic source files. Electronic source files using the IEICE LaTeX style file will result in the lower page charges for the author(s) than will using the Word format. Since the author(s) cannot alter the files once a "Receipt of Manuscript" e-mail is sent, using the IEICE LaTeX style file at the time of submission is recommended to those author(s) who would prefer lower page charges.

STEP 4:Copyright Transfer and Page Charge Agreement

The author(s) must agree to the "Copyright Transfer and Page Charge Agreement" by clicking the checkbox on the "Manuscript Registration Form."

After we receive your manuscript, a "Receipt of Manuscript" will be sent to you by e-mail in a week. Please use your Reference Number specified in the "Receipt of Manuscript" if you want to know the review status of your manuscript or when asking questions. IN CASE you have difficulty submitting your manuscript via our web site or you do not receive the "Receipt of Manuscript," please contact the IEICE Publishing Office.

3. Manuscript Style Specifications

A PDF file of the manuscript should be submitted, created by converting the manuscript as prepared using the IEICE LaTeX style file (ver. 1.5 for PLaTeX2E recommended) to PDF format. This PDF file will be referred to in preparation of the final published version. In case of a manuscript submitted after a conditional acceptance, the revisions should not be highlighted in the PDF file of the manuscript to be included in the editable electronic files. Diagrams created in the LaTeX environment, as well as figures produced electronically and then imported into the text in EPS or other format, should be output as they are. In case of diagrams that cannot be thus imported into the text, enter the number of the diagram at the appropriate point in the text, along with the caption, and leave enough space for the diagram; then, in the margin of the PDF file of the manuscript, enter the number of the diagram to be inserted. When submitting the electronic data of the manuscript and accompanying diagrams, please keep the following in mind:
(a) Attach a LaTeX source file that is basically the same as that used to produce the PDF file of the manuscript in (1). There is no need for figures and such imported in EPS format to be deleted from the source. Nonetheless, be sure to attach the EPS file of the relevant figures in order to prevent errors during compilation.
(b) Save figures and photographs in EPS format. No EPS file is required for figures created using LaTeX functions such as the Picture environment, Pictex, and Epic.
(c) Insert tables directly in the source file of the text using the LaTeX table environment. Tables created using other software can be imported into the text in EPS or other format, in which case an EPS file of the relevant tables should be attached.
(d) The minimum width of line for figures and photographs in the final published version is 0.1 mm; please keep the scale ratio in mind when preparing your manuscript. If preparing figures or photographs in an application that does not allow you to adjust line width numerically, do not use the narrowest line width.



3.5 When using an MS-Word Template file

A PDF file of the manuscript should be submitted, created by converting the manuscript as prepared using the MS-Word template file to PDF format. This PDF file will be referred to in preparation of the final published version. In case of a manuscript submitted after a conditional acceptance, the revisions should not be highlighted in the PDF file of the manuscript to be included in the editable electronic files. In case of diagrams that cannot be imported into the text, enter the number of the diagram at the appropriate point in the text and leave enough space for the diagram; then, in the margin of the PDF file of the manuscript, enter the number of the diagram to be inserted. Manuscripts prepared using the MS-Word template file are converted to LaTeX format at the editing company. When preparing the data, therefore, please keep the following in mind:
(a) Save the data with a filename and extension.
(b) Save figures in EPS format, except those created in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, which should be saved in their respective special formats.
(c) Save photographs in EPS format. In case of photographs saved in PICT format, a resolution of around 300 dpi is recommended.
(d) For tables, save just the contents of each table in text file format, deleting information on layout such as lines and borders. Lay out the contents as in the original table.
(e) Save all data for figures, photographs, and tables together in a single folder separate from the file containing the main text. Also, in an appropriately named text file, save the name (version) of the software used to create the figures and photographs, along with the names of the fonts used.
(f) During preparation of your manuscript, remember that the minimum width of line that can be used for figures and photographs in the final published version is 0.1 mm. If using an application that does not allow you to adjust line width numerically, do not use the narrowest line width.



3.6 Style for figures, photographs and tables

1. All figures, photographs, and tables must be original works of the author(s).
2. All figures, photographs and tables must have captions.
3. Figures, photographs and tables must be neat.
4. Color figures, color photographs, and color tables can be included in the manuscript.
5. Electronically produced figures and photos should be saved on appropriate media for the relevant computer environment. Please note that extremely thin lines and half-tone dot meshing will not appear in the final publication.
6. Figures, photographs, and tables should have a width of 8cm if they are to occupy one column and a width of 16cm if they are to occupy 2 columns. In the case of submission of these items in hard copy, they must be the same scale as of the publication.
7. Printed characters in figures and tables must appear in the final publication at 7-point size(minimum).


3.7 References


3.7.1 Style for references

References should appear in the format given below. In the case that cited references are written by coauthors, family names and given name initials for each must be given. Titles of journal papers must be all lowercase except for the first letters of the first word. Exceptions are also made for abbreviations and proprietary name. The journal names should be abbreviated as shown in Appendix C: Abbreviated Journal Names. Items referenced should be limited to material that is easily accessible by the public at the date of publication.
Since web pages are subject to revision and deletion, citations of URLs should be avoided in so far as possible, except in the case of standard-setting organizations and other bodies that publish documentation on their web page.

Journal papers
[1] W. Rice, A. C. Wine, and B. D. Grain, "Diffusion of impurities during epitaxy," Proc. IEEE, vol.52, no.3, pp.284-290, March 1964.

Books or edited collections
[2] M. G. F. Fuortes, ed., Handbook of Sensory Physiology, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1972.

One section of a book
[3] H. K. Hartline, A. B. Smith, and F. Ratlliff, "Inhibitory interaction in the retina," in Handbook of Sensory Physiology, ed. M. G. F. Fuortes, pp.381-390, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1972.

Conferences
[4] Y. Yamamoto, S. Machida, and K. Igeta, "Micro-cavity semiconductors with enhanced spontaneous emission," Proc. 16th European Conf. on Opt. Commun., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, no.MoF4.6, pp.3-13, Sept. 1990.

Web pages
[5] Copyright Management Committee, "Standards for requesting the use of copyrighted articles etc. published in the Japanese and English IEICE publications (Except the IEICE Technical Report)," Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, http://www.ieice.org/eng/about/explanation_table3.html, accessed Aug. 3. 2009.

3.7.2 Articles with DOI

If an article has a digital object identifier (DOI), it is recommended to include the DOI in its citation.

Example
[6] I. Yamagami and J. Yamashita, "Pattern Recognition with Gaussian Mixture Models," IEICE Trans. Inf. & Syst., vol. E62-D, no. 1, pp. 20-27, Jan. 2014. DOI:10.1587/transinf.2014EDP0001

3.7.3 Citation of references

References should be cited by number in brackets, e.g. [12]. Superscript format should not be used.

4. Galley Proofs

5. Page Charges

5.1 Page charges (papers published by June 2019)

5.1 Page charges (papers published from July 2019)

5.2 Penalties for failure to pay for page charges (papers published by June 2019)

5.3 Overseas Membership Development Program (OMDP)

NOTE: Because of the recent rapid economic development of China and Singapore, applications from members of these countries for the IEICE Overseas Membership Development Program(OMDP) are no longer accepted from April 2011. (The discount on page charges by OMDP is not provided to author(s) whose manuscript is submitted after April 1, 2011 (JST).)

5.4 Open Access Option

Example:
When making an 8-page paper of MS word template file open access:
Usual page charge (JPY 136,944) { additional charge (JPY 5,000) ~ 8 pages Total JPY 176,944
When making an 8-page paper of LaTeX style file open access:
Usual page charge (JPY 90,936) { additional charge (JPY 5,000) ~ 8 pages Total JPY 130,936

*The above page charges will be changed to 180,224 yen (139,480 + 40,744) and 133,364 yen (92,620 + 40,744) respectively after the October 2019 issue.

Please note that, since this service is provided on a trial basis, the open access period will be limited to 3 years from the date that the paper (not the early published edition but the final edition) is published and the service may be reviewed for the following period.

6. Copyright

(1) When transfer of the copyright of the manuscript to the IEICE is difficult for any of the following exceptional reasons, a report should be submitted at the time of initial submission to the IEICE Publishing Office for further discussion.

7. Review Process

7.1 Review criteria

1. Originality: Has/Have the author(s) contributed original work that has added new information or knowledge to previous work?
2. Practicality: Are the results useful from an academic or industrial viewpoint?
3. Reliability: Are the results reliable from the readers' point of view?

7.2 Decision to accept for publication

1. Acceptance:
The decision is made if the manuscript meets the overall criteria described in Section 7.1,and is judged to be of interest to the readers of the IEICE Transactions.

2. Conditional acceptance:
The decision is made if the manuscript in its present form does not meet the overall criteria described in Section 7.1, but is judged to be capable of meeting them with revision. The conditional acceptance is made only once, and a revised manuscript (described in below) that fails to satisfy the conditions will be rejected.

* Revised manuscript submission
A revised manuscript should be resubmitted within 60 days of the date of acknowledgement of Conditional Acceptance. If the 60 days limit is exceeded, and there are no extenuating circumstances, then the manuscript will be considered as a new submission. The time limit may be shortened for Special Sections (Special Issues). The author(s) must attach an accompanying letter to the Associate Editor indicating how they have revised the manuscript in accordance with the Reviewer's and Associate Editor's comments.

NOTE : In revising the manuscript, be aware of the following.
* When the Authors make any additions or corrections, the section(s) should be marked so that the Reviewer can clearly identify the changes made.
* No change in the list of authors is as a rule permitted. Nonetheless, if in the process of revising a manuscript the need arises to expand or reduce the list of authors or modify the order of their names, a request can be submitted by attaching a written explanation at the time of the revision. When requesting to modify the list of authors, be sure to state that fact in the "Reply Letter" Also, prepare a new Copyright Transfer and Page Charge Agreement and submit it to the IEICE Publishing Office by a scanned PDF file, fax or post. Your request will be accepted if the Editorial Committee deems the reasons cited in the written explanation valid. No change in authorship is permitted once a manuscript has been finally accepted.

3. Rejection:
The decision is made if the manuscript does not meet the overall criteria described in Section 7.1 and requires major revisions with excessive editing, or if the subject matter is not suitable for the scope of the IEICE Transactions.

7.3 Resubmission

7.4 Request for Reconsideration

(a) Written request shall be accepted for reconsideration. The deadline for submission is within 60 days of the date of the rejection notice. When requesting reconsideration, no amendments or additions to that manuscript shall be accepted.
(b) The Editorial Committee shall carefully study the claims and if they should be recognized as being appropriate, the rejected manuscript shall be reconsidered.
(c) The procedures for the reconsideration of the manuscript shall be in accordance with the normal review procedures.
(d) Requests for reconsideration shall be limited to one request per manuscript.

7.5 Withdraw Submission

1. Authors must send a withdraw request letter by e-mail with its scanned PDF file or by FAX to the IEICE Publishing Office before the notification of acceptance for publication. The withdraw request letter must include the following information.

(a) Paper number
(b) Paper title
(c) Authors names
(d) Reason why the paper must be withdrawn
(e) Date and signatures of all the authors (or signature of the contact author)

If only the contact author signs the letter, he/she must obtain the agreement of the withdrawal from all the other authors and the letter must include the description that all the other authors agreed the withdrawal.

2. After the paper is accepted for publication, the withdrawal is not permitted in principle. The authors must always pay the page charge even if the withdrawal is permitted.

3. The Editor-in-Chief of the Transactions decides whether the withdrawal is allowable or not. The IEICE Publishing Office will send the authors the decision of the Editor-in-Chief. If the authors don't receive any reply from the IEICE Publishing Office, they must send an inquiry about the withdrawal to the office.

4. The date of the withdrawal is given in the permission.

5. Any request of withdrawal that does not follow the above procedure is treated as invalid.
If illegal submission, e.g., plagiarized or duplicate submission, is found for a paper, the withdrawal of the paper will never be permitted and the authors will be punished based on the rule.