Distributed communication system with adaptive data sending control in a computer network
First Claim
1. A communication system for a computer network having different networks, comprising:
- agent means for communicating with one another, thereby to perform communication controls of communication data which are exchanged through the computer network;
gateway means for connecting the different networks, each of said gateway means including agent platform means for accepting and running at least one of said agent means;
terminal means, each including at least one of said agent means, for performing data communication through said computer network; and
agent manager means for managing said agent means operating to sense situations of said terminal means and said computer network, as well as changes of said situations and for transmitting said agent means to an appropriate gateway means in accordance with the change of the situation of said computer network;
whereinthe gateway agents run in the gateway means, and the terminal agents run in the terminal means acquire information on said terminal means and information on a situation of the network, as well as a change of situation, respectively, and the gateway agents and the terminal agents communicate with each other, thereby to cooperate while exchanging the information items respectively acquired.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Agents for performing data communication controls are installed in the respective terminals of a server which offers information such as image data, and of a client who wishes to acquire the information. Agents for controlling data communications are also installed in gateways inserted in networks to which the server and the client are connected. The agents acquire information items on the transmission bands of the networks, the structures of the other networks, etc. and information items on the processing capability of the terminal of the client, etc. by such a method of exchanging dummy packets with one another. The data to be transmitted from the terminal of the server to the terminal of the client are converted on the basis of the acquired information items by the agents.
106 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A communication system for a computer network having different networks, comprising:
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agent means for communicating with one another, thereby to perform communication controls of communication data which are exchanged through the computer network; gateway means for connecting the different networks, each of said gateway means including agent platform means for accepting and running at least one of said agent means; terminal means, each including at least one of said agent means, for performing data communication through said computer network; and agent manager means for managing said agent means operating to sense situations of said terminal means and said computer network, as well as changes of said situations and for transmitting said agent means to an appropriate gateway means in accordance with the change of the situation of said computer network;
whereinthe gateway agents run in the gateway means, and the terminal agents run in the terminal means acquire information on said terminal means and information on a situation of the network, as well as a change of situation, respectively, and the gateway agents and the terminal agents communicate with each other, thereby to cooperate while exchanging the information items respectively acquired. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A communication system for a computer network having different networks, comprising:
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gateway means for connecting the different networks; terminal means for performing data communication via the computer network; and agent manager means for managing said agent means operating to sense situations of said terminal means and said computer network, as well as changes of said situations, and for transmitting said agent means to the appropriate gateway means in accordance with a change of the situations of said computer network; wherein said gateway means notifies said terminal means of a situation and a change of the situation of the computer network, and said terminal means notifies said gateway means of information on said terminal means so that communication of the terminal means via the computer network is adapted to the situation and the change of the situation of the computer network. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A terminal for performing communication via a computer network comprising different networks connected by gateways, comprising:
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interface means for performing communication via the computer network; agent means for acquiring information on the computer network supplied from the gateways, sending information on the terminal to the gateways, and performing communication adaptively to a situation and a change of the situation of the computer network, and processing a capability of the terminal ;
andvirtual proxy agent means having a same function as the gateways for determining one of the gateways which is nearest to a place of the terminal and establishing a communication connection between the terminal and the one of the gateways. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A gateway for forming a computer network by connecting different networks and enabling communication between terminals connected to the computer network, comprising:
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interface means for enabling communication between the terminals via the computer network; and means for acquiring information on the terminals supplied from the terminals, sending to the terminals a situation and a change of the situation of the computer network, and processing and converting data to be sent to the terminals on a basis of the situation and a change of the situation of the computer network, and a processing capability of the terminals. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. An agent installed in gateways and terminals composing a computer network, for controlling communication between the terminals, comprising:
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acquiring means for acquiring a situation and a change of a situation of the computer network if the agent is installed in the gateways, and acquiring information on a terminal if the agent is installed in the terminals; sending means for sending information acquired by said acquiring means to another agent; and receiving means for receiving information sent from another agent, wherein the agent adaptively controls communication between the terminals via the computer network according to a situation and a change of the situation of the computer network on the basis of information received by said receiving means and information acquired by said acquiring means; and wherein said agent connects a terminal to the computer network via a gateway which has become nearest to the terminal when a gateway nearest to the terminal has changed according to a movement of the terminal.
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Specification