Distributed communication system
First Claim
1. A distributed communication system comprising a plurality of terminals connected to a communication network capable of carrying out multicast communications for allowing said terminals to communicate with each other, wherein any specific one of said terminals comprises:
- means for broadcasting a connection command, which is used for connecting said specific terminal to said communication network and is destined for a broadcast address, in order to set a connection of said specific terminal to said communication network;
means for broadcasting a presence-information-requesting command, which is used for making a request for presence information indicating a communication status of any other one of said terminals connected to said communication network and is destined for the broadcast address, after the connection to said communication network;
means for receiving a response to said presence-information-requesting command from said other terminal connected to said communication network and acquiring the presence information of said other terminal included in said response; and
means for selecting by a user of the terminal one of a plurality of communication methods, which have been determined in advance, on the basis of said acquired presence information of said other terminal; and
means for transmitting a disconnection command destined for said broadcast address in order to cut said connection to said communication network.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The conventional multi-user audio communication system and an IM system each require a server for managing a conference or a terminal having functions of the server. Thus, an environment without a server cannot be implemented. A specific terminal broadcasts an online or offline command for indicating an online or offline state with respect to an ad hoc network to all other terminals. In an online state, resources such as buffers used by a plurality of channels consenting in advance are allocated, a participation-expressing command including a number of a channel, which the terminal itself desires to participate in, is multicasted to a pre-assigned address, and audio as well as IM data is transmitted to the address at the same time. If other terminals are participating in the channel, a plurality of pieces of audio and IM data is received from the other terminals. In the case of audio data, a plurality of pieces of audio data are mixed and the mixed data is reproduced. When a terminal leaves the channel, a departure command is transmitted to the address.
35 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A distributed communication system comprising a plurality of terminals connected to a communication network capable of carrying out multicast communications for allowing said terminals to communicate with each other, wherein any specific one of said terminals comprises:
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means for broadcasting a connection command, which is used for connecting said specific terminal to said communication network and is destined for a broadcast address, in order to set a connection of said specific terminal to said communication network;
means for broadcasting a presence-information-requesting command, which is used for making a request for presence information indicating a communication status of any other one of said terminals connected to said communication network and is destined for the broadcast address, after the connection to said communication network;
means for receiving a response to said presence-information-requesting command from said other terminal connected to said communication network and acquiring the presence information of said other terminal included in said response; and
means for selecting by a user of the terminal one of a plurality of communication methods, which have been determined in advance, on the basis of said acquired presence information of said other terminal; and
means for transmitting a disconnection command destined for said broadcast address in order to cut said connection to said communication network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification