Communication system and communication control apparatus and method

• US 20030041195A1
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Isoda, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 7,073,000 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1625 in communications, e.g. transmission, interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2005 using redundant communication controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2007 using redundant communication media
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/385 using an alias or single-use codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/425 using two different networks, one for transaction and one for security confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0483 Transmitters with multiple parallel paths
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0604 with predefined switching scheme
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/084 Equal gain combining, only phase adjustments antenna beam scanning or forming by phase or amplitude control H01Q3/26, e.g. phased arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0894 : using different delays between antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15507 : Relay station based processing for cell extension or control of coverage area, network planning with network coordinated processing with regard to cell extension H04W16/26; network topologies using dedicated repeater stations H04W84/047; terminal devices adapted for relaying to or from an other terminal H04W88/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15535 : Control of relay amplifier gain amplifier gain control in general H03G3/00; gain control reducing self - or loop interference H04B7/15578
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 13/12 : Generation of orthogonal codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0041 : Arrangements at the transmitter end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0045 : Arrangements at the receiver end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0066 : Parallel concatenated codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0069 : Puncturing patterns
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0071 : Use of interleaving interleaving per se H03M13/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/06 : using space diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/08 : by repeating transmission, e.g. Verdan system H04L1/1858 and H04L1/189 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1819 : with retransmission of additional or different redundancy
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1841 : Resequencing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1845 : Combining techniques, e.g. code combining
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1848 : Time-out mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 : Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 : Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 : indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 : Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2874 : Processing of data for distribution to the subscribers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40078 : Bus configuration home automation networks H04L12/2803; arrangements for maintenance or administration H04L41/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40195 : by using a plurality of nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/44 : Star or tree networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/56 : Packet switching systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 : Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0096 : Channel splitting in point-to-point links
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40241 : Flexray
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40273 : the transportation system being a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6462 : Movable boundaries in packets or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/127 : Trusted platform modules [TPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 : Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 : Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/22 : Traffic shaping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2441 : relying on flow classification, e.g. using integrated services [IntServ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/28 : in relation to timing considerations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/34 : ensuring sequence integrity, e.g. using sequence numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/50 : Queue scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/621 : Individual queue per connection or flow, e.g. per VC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0023 : Time-frequency-space
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0042 : intra-user or intra-terminal allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0044 : allocation of payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0083 : symbol-by-symbol
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 : Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 : wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/065 : for group communications cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management involving conference or group key H04L9/0833
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0807 : using tickets, e.g. Kerberos cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using tickets or tokens H04L9/3213
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 : Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1441 : Countermeasures against malicious traffic countermeasures against attacks on cryptographic mechanisms H04L9/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 : in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 : in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 : Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 : Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 : Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 : Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/168 : specially adapted for link layer protocols, e.g. asynchronous transfer mode [ATM], synchronous optical network [SONET] or point-to-point protocol [PPP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/324 : in the data link layer [OSI layer 2], e.g. HDLC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/326 : in the transport layer [OSI layer 4] H04L69/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/32 : including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 : adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/22 : Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 : Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 : Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0057 : Services where the data services network provides a telephone service in addition or as an alternative, e.g. for backup purposes, to the telephone service provided by the telephone services network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0069 : comprising a residential gateway, e.g. those which provide an adapter for POTS or ISDN terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64738 : Monitoring network characteristics, e.g. bandwidth, congestion level data switched network analysis H04L41/14; monitoring functioning in data switched networks H04L43/0817; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64784 : Data processing by the network data processing in packet switching systems H04L12/56; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; intermediate storage or scheduling H04L49/90; provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/148 : Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 : Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 : using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 : Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/143 : Downlink power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/225 : Calculation of statistics, e.g. average, variance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/24 : using SIR [Signal to Interference Ratio] or other wireless path parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/241 : taking into account channel quality metrics, e.g. SIR, SNR, CIR, Eb/lo
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/242 : taking into account path loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/245 : taking into account received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/46 : in multi hop networks, e.g. wireless relay networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/48 : during retransmission after error or non-acknowledgment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/54 : based on quality criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/02 : Hybrid access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 : Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 : Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 : Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 : Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 : Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 : Privileged access

Abstract

An initiator has logical devices (A, B, C). A target to obtain services from the initiator designates the ID of provided services and the directory ID indicating a directory where the information concerning a logical device is stored, and further the target issues a connection control request to the initiator. The initiator provides the designated logical device and services to the target via the established connection.

Claims

1. A communication system having a plurality of electronic devices connected by a line and communication control method defined by IEEE 1394, characterized in that an initiator device functioning as an initiator defined by IEEE 1394.3 comprises at least one of

(1) an initiator unit directory defined by IEEE 1394.3, and

(2) an initiator unit directory having a version entry value of the unit directory different from a value defined by IEEE 1394.3 and remaining values defined by IEEE 1394.3, and

a target device which is connected to the initiator device via an IEEE 1394 line and functions as a target defined by IEEE 1394.3 comprises means capable of reading the unit directory of the initiator device via the IEEE 1394 line in order to recognize a service provided by the initiator device, and when a read content contains a unit directory and the unit directory is an initiator unit directory having a version entry of 0 or 1 and remaining entry values defined by IEEE 1394.3, analyzing the entries except the version entry in accordance with an IEEE 1394.3 definition.

2. The communication system according to claim 1, characterized in that the target device further comprises means for, when an application of the target device requests a service provided by a given initiator device, determining whether a version entry value of a unit directory in a memory of the initiator device which may provide the service is 0 or 1.

3. The communication system according to claim 2, characterized in that when the version entry value of the unit directory is 1, the target device determines whether the unit directory contains an entry of a directory ID, and when the unit directory contains the directory ID, extracts and stores a value of the directory ID.

4. The communication system according to claim 3, characterized in that when the version entry value of the unit directory is 1 and the unit directory contains the entry of the directory ID in generating a connection parameter defined by IEEE 1394.3, the target device adds a value of the directory ID as a connection parameter.

5. The communication system according to claim 3, characterized in that when the version entry value of the unit directory is 1 and the unit directory does not contain the entry of the directory ID in generating a connection parameter defined by IEEE 1394.3, the target device adds an address of the stored unit directory as a connection parameter.

6. The communication system according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the initiator device has a function of determining presence/absence of an added parameter upon reception of the connection parameter defined by IEEE 1394.3 from the target device.

7. The communication system according to claim 6, characterized in that the initiator device further comprises means for, when the added parameter exists, confirming whether a unit directory designated by the parameter exists, and means for, when the unit directory exists, confirming whether a content of the unit directory is an initiator unit directory defined by IEEE 1394.3 except the version entry.

8. The communication system according to claim 7, characterized in that the initiator device sends back connection rejection to the target device when the added parameter exists and a unit directory designated by the parameter does not exist or a content of the unit directory does not comply with an initiator unit directory defined by IEEE 1394.3 except the version entry.

9. The communication system according to claim 7, characterized in that the initiator device further comprises a function of, when the added parameter exists, a unit directory designated by the parameter exists, and a content of the unit directory complies with an initiator unit directory defined by IEEE 1394.3 except the version entry, determining whether a service ID designated by the parameter is supported by the unit directory designated by the parameter.

10. The communication system according to claim 9, characterized in that the initiator sends back connection rejection to the target device when the added parameter exists, a unit directory designated by the parameter exists, a content of the unit directory complies with an initiator unit directory defined by IEEE 1394.3 except the version entry, and a service ID designated by the parameter is not supported by the unit directory designated by the parameter.

11. The communication system according to claim 9, characterized in that the initiator sends back connection OK to the target device when the added parameter exists, a unit directory designated by the parameter exists, a content of the unit directory complies with an initiator unit directory defined by IEEE 1394.3 except the version entry, and a service ID designated by the parameter is supported by the unit directory designated by the parameter.

12. A computer-readable storage medium characterized by storing a computer program for implementing by a computer the initiator device defined in any one of claims 1 and 6 to 11.

13. A computer-readable storage medium characterized by storing a computer program for implementing by a computer the target device defined in any one of claims 1 to 5.

14. A communication control apparatus which has at least one logical device and is connected to a network together with an initiator device which manages a providable service for each logical device, characterized by comprising:

acquisition means for acquiring information representing a logical device and a connection procedure of the logical device from an initiator device designated by a connection request;

first determination means for determining based on the information acquired by said acquisition means whether a logical device of the initiator device can be connected by a first connection procedure;

connection means for designating an identifier which specifies the logical device and an identifier of a service designated by the connection request with respect to the logical device determined by said first determination means to be connectable by the first connection procedure, and establishing connection between the communication control apparatus and the initiator device by the first connection procedure; and

request means for requesting the designated service by the designated logical device via the connection established by said connection means.

15. The communication control apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that

the communication control apparatus further comprises second determination means for determining based on the information acquired by said acquisition means whether the logical device of the initiator device can be connected by a second connection procedure,

said connection means designates the identifier of the service designated by the connection request with respect to the logical device determined by said second determination means to be connectable by the second connection procedure, and establishes connection between the communication control apparatus and the initiator device by the second connection procedure, and

said request means requests the designated service via the connection established by said connection means.

18. A communication system characterized in that the communication system is constituted by connecting the communication control apparatus defined in claim 14 or 15 as a target device and the communication control apparatus defined in claim 16 or 17 as an initiator device.

23. A computer-readable storage medium characterized by storing a computer program for implementing by a computer the communication control apparatus defined in any one of claims 14 to 17.

16. A communication control apparatus which is connected to a network together with a target device which requests connection by designating a logical device identifier and a service identifier or designating a service identifier in accordance with a connection request, characterized by comprising:

first determination means for, when a connection request is received from the target device, determining whether the request contains an identifier which specifies a logical device;

second determination means for, when said first determination means determines that the request contains the identifier, determining whether a logical device specified by the identifier provides a service specified by a service identifier contained in the connection request;

connection means for, when said second determination means determines that the logical device provides the service, establishing connection in response to the connection request; and

providing means for providing the designated service from the designated logical device via the connection established by said connection means.

17. The communication control apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that

the communication control apparatus further comprises third determination means for, when said first determination means determines that the connection request does not contain an identifier which specifies a logical device, determining whether the communication control apparatus provides a service specified by a service identifier contained in the connection request, and

said connection means establishes connection in response to the connection request when said third determination means determines that the communication control apparatus provides the service, and said providing means provides the designated service via the connection established by said connection means.

19. A method of controlling a communication control apparatus which has at least one logical device and is connected to a network together with an initiator device which manages a providable service for each logical device, characterized by comprising:

the acquisition step of acquiring information representing a logical device and a connection procedure of the logical device from an initiator device designated by a connection request;

the first determination step of determining based on the information acquired in the acquisition step whether a logical device of the initiator device can be connected by a first connection procedure;

the connection step of designating an identifier which specifies the logical device and an identifier of a service designated by the connection request with respect to the logical device determined in the first determination step to be connectable by the first connection procedure, and establishing connection between the communication control apparatus and the initiator device by the first connection procedure; and

the request step of requesting the designated service by the designated logical device via the connection established in the connection step.

20. The method of controlling the communication control apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that

the method further comprises the second determination step of determining based on the information acquired in the acquisition step whether the logical device of the initiator device can be connected by a second connection procedure,

in the connection step, the identifier of the service designated by the connection request is designated with respect to the logical device determined in the second determination step to be connectable by the second connection procedure, and connection is established between the communication control apparatus and the initiator device by the second connection procedure, and

in the request step, the designated service is requested via the connection established in the connection step.

21. A method of controlling a communication control apparatus which is connected to a network together with a target device which requests connection by designating a logical device identifier and a service identifier or designating a service identifier in accordance with a connection request, characterized by comprising:

the first determination step of, when a connection request is received from the target device, determining whether the request contains an identifier which specifies a logical device;

the second determination step of, when the request is determined in the first determination step to contain the identifier, determining whether a logical device specified by the identifier provides a service specified by a service identifier contained in the connection request;

the connection step of, when the logical device is determined in the second determination step to provide the service, establishing connection in response to the connection request; and

the providing step of providing the designated service from the designated logical device via the connection established in the connection step.

22. The method of controlling the communication control apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that

the method further comprises the third determination step of, when the connection request is determined in the first determination step not to contain an identifier which specifies a logical device, determining whether the communication control apparatus provides a service specified by a service identifier contained in the connection request, and

in the connection step, connection is established in response to the connection request when the communication control apparatus is determined in the third determination step to provide the service, and in the providing step, the designated service is provided via the connection established in the connection step.