Communication device

• US 5,949,772 A
• Filed: 11/12/1997
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Sugikawa, Akihiko, Morioka, Yasuhiro, Ukita, Teruhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Myers, Paul R.
• Application Number:
  US08/967,904
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.34-200.37, 395/280, 395/200.58, 370/266-269, 370/331, 370/345
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

The data processing device 400 of this invention comprises a controller unit 402, a data recorder unit 404, a display unit 406, a data input unit 408 and a communication control unit 410. By transmitting a request for service in a multiple-address way to a plurality of devices on a network and selecting a service providing device, communicability with the service-providing group can be automatically obtained without prior registration of device information in the respective devices or in any specified device. If the service providing device withdraws from the network or a trouble develops in the communication link, a new service providing device is selected from among other communicable devices.

Claims

1. A communication device comprising:

group setting means for connecting the communication device to at least one other communication device with which communications are desired and setting the communication device and the at least one other communication device into a group;

main logical communication link setting means for setting a main logical communication link by which all the communication devices belonging to the group set by said group setting means are brought into a mutually communicable state;

communication device selecting means for selecting from among the communication devices constituting said group a communication device for communicating with a new communication device not connected by said main logical communication link by exchanging information using the main logical communication link on reception of a request for participation in collaborative work or sharing in shared data from said new communication device;

sub-logical communication link establishing means for establishing a sub-logical communication link between the communication device selected by said communication device selecting means and said new communication device; and

data distributing means for distributing shared data as shared by said group to said new communication device through said sub-logical communication link established by said sub-logical communication link establishing means from the device selected by said communication device selecting means.

2. The communication device according to claim 1 further comprising

second communication device selecting means for selecting from among the communication devices within the group, excepting the communication device which is currently engaged in distribution of shared data from said communication device through said sub-logical communication link to said new communication device, a second communication device from which said sub-logical communication link establishing means establishes a second sub-logical communication link with a second new communication device not connected by said main logical communication link when a request for participation in collaborative work or sharing in shared data is received from said second new communication device.

3. The communication device according to claim 1 wherein

said data distributing means transmits the interim status of distribution of the shared data or end of processing to all communication devices within the group connected to said main logical communication link.

4. The communication device according to claim 1 wherein

said sub-logical communication link establishing means searches for a second request for participation in collaborative work or sharing in shared data from a second new communication device not connected by said main logical communication link for a predetermined period and, when the request exists, connecting the second new communication device to said sub-logical communication link.

5. A communication device comprising:

group setting means for connecting the communication device to at least one other communication device with which communications are desired and setting the communication device and the at least one other communication device into a group;

main logical communication link setting means for setting a main logical communication link by which all the communication devices belonging to the group set by said group setting means are brought into a mutually communicable state;

communication device selecting means for selecting from among the communication devices constituting said group a communication device for communicating with a new communication device not connected by said main logical communication link by exchanging information using the main logical communication link on reception of a request for participation in collaborative work or sharing in shared data from said new communication device;

sub-logical communication link establishing means for establishing a sub-logical. communication link between the communication device selected by said communication device selecting means and said new communication device;

data distributing means for distributing shared data as shared by said group to said new communication device through said sub-logical communication link established by said sub-logical communication link establishing means from the device selected by said communication device selecting means;

second communication device selecting means for selecting from among the communication devices within the group, excepting the communication device which is currently engaged in distribution of shared data from said communication device through said sub-logical communication link to said new communication device, a second communication device from which said sub-logical communication link establishing means establishes a second sub-logical communication with a second new communication device not connected by said main logical communication link when a request for participation in collaborative work or sharing in shared data is received from said second new communication device;

said data distributing means transmitting the interim status of distribution of shared data or end of processing to all communication devices within the group connected to said main logical communication link; and

said sub-logical communication link establishing means searching for a second request for participation in collaborative work or sharing in shared data from a second new communication device not connected by said main logical communication link for a predetermined period and, when the request exists, connecting the second new communication device to said sub-logical communication link.