Communication apparatus, communication interface selecting method and computer readable medium

• US 6,393,031 B1
• Filed: 08/27/1998
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Isomura, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Dang
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, BRIAN D
• Application Number:
  US09/141,319
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 370/431, 370/437, 370/438, 370/442, 370/443, 370/444, 370/455, 370/463, 370/352, 370/359, 370/360, 370/363, 370/395.42, 370/395.7, 370/401, 370/419, 370/420, 710/115, 710/116, 710/120, 710/123, 710/122, 710/40
• US Class Current: 370/444
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

The present invention introduces a communication apparatus capable of automatically selecting communication interface in accordance with the order of priority set by the selected order setting information. The priority referring process reads the selection criterion set in the selection criterion register, and then reads one order setting script related to a communication destination when the selection criterion is set to “destination” and reads one order setting script related to a time zone containing a time shown by current time information from the timer when the selection criterion is set to “time zone”. The selection process checks whether or not a communication is possible every communication interface in accordance the order of priority set by the read order setting script, and selects a communication interface first judged as communication possible. The communication program executes a communication with the destination by using the selected communication interface.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus for communication with a plurality of communication destinations comprising:

a plurality of communication interfaces communicating with each of said communication destinations;

a storage storing a plurality of order setting information, each of said plurality of order setting information for setting order of priority of said communication interfaces in relation to each of said communication destinations;

an order setting information reading unit reading said order setting information in relation to a specified communication destination from said storage, when communicating with said specified communication destination;

a communication propriety judging unit sequentially judging whether a communication can be executed with each of said communication interfaces in the order of priority set by said order setting information read by said order setting information reading unit until said communication propriety judging unit finds an available communication interface; and

a communication execution unit executing the communication with said specified communication destination by using the communication interface first judged by the communication propriety judging unit as communication possible.

2. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display displaying information of communication interfaces for which the order of priority is set by said order setting information read by said order setting information reading unit.

3. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display displaying information of said communication interface under judging by said communication propriety judging unit.

4. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display displaying information said communication interface judged by the communication propriety judging unit as communication impossible to said communication destination.

5. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display displaying information said communication interface judged by the communication propriety judging unit as communication possible to said communication destination.

6. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an input device for a reject request of judging by said communication propriety judging unit during said communication propriety judging;

wherein said communication property judging unit stops a judgment for the communication interface when the reject information is inputted through said input device.

7. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an input device for a reject request of a communication with said communication interface judged by said communication propriety judging unit as communication possible;

wherein said communication execution unit stops the communication with said communication interface judged as communication possible when the rejection information is inputted through said input device, and said communication propriety judging unit judges said communication interface of the next order of priority.

8. A communication apparatus for communication with communication destination comprising:

a plurality of communication interfaces for communicating with said communication destination;

a storage storing a plurality of order setting information, each of said plurality order setting information for setting order of priority of said communication interfaces in relation to each time zones in which a communication is executed;

a timer indicating a current time;

an order setting information reading unit reading said order setting information in relation to a time zone including the current time indicated by said timer from said storage;

a communication propriety judging unit judging whether a communication can be executed with each of said communication interfaces in the order of priority set by said order setting information read by the order setting information reading unit; and

a communication execution unit executing the communication with said communication destination by using the communication interface first judged by the communication propriety judging unit as communication possible.

9. A communication apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a display displaying information of communication interfaces for which the order of priority is set by said order setting information read by said order setting information reading unit.

10. A communication apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a display displaying information of said communication interface under judging by said communication propriety judging unit.

11. A communication apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a display displaying information said communication interface judged by the communication propriety judging unit as communication impossible to said communication destination.

12. A communication apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a display displaying information said communication interface judged by the communication propriety judging unit as communication possible to said communication destination.

13. A communication apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

an input device for a reject request of judging by said communication propriety judging unit during said communication propriety judging;

wherein said communication propriety judging unit stops a judgment for the communication interface when the reject information is inputted through said input device.

14. A communication apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising

a input device for a reject request of a communication with said communication interface judged by said communication propriety judging unit as communication possible;

wherein said communication execution unit stops the communication with said communication interface judged as communication possible when the rejection information is inputted through said input device, and said communication propriety judging unit judges said communication interface of the next order of priority.

15. A communication interface selecting method of selecting a communication interface among a plurality of communication interfaces for communicating with a plurality of communication destinations, said method comprising:

storing, in a storage, a plurality of order setting information, each of said plurality of order setting information for setting order of priority of said communication interfaces in relation to each communication destinations;

reading, when communicating with a specified communication destination, said order setting information related to the specified communication destination from the storage;

judging whether a communication is possible by sequentially using each of the communication interfaces in the order of priority set by the read order setting information until finding an available communication interface; and

selecting the communication interface first judged as communication possible to communicate with the specified communication destination.

16. A communication interface selecting method of selecting a communication interface among a plurality of communication interfaces for communicating with communication destination, said method comprising:

storing, in a storage, a plurality of order setting information, each of said plurality of order setting information for setting order of priority of said communication interfaces in relation to each time zones in which a communication is performed;

reading said order setting information related to a time zone including a current time from the storage;

judging whether a communication is possible by using each of the communication interfaces in the order of priority set by the read order setting information; and

;

selecting the communication interface first judged as communication possible to communicate with said communication destination.

17. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program controlling a computer to perform communicating with a plurality of communication destinations by a plurality of communication interfaces, and comprising a process of:

storing, in a storage, a plurality of order setting information, each of said plurality of order setting information for setting order of priority of said communication interfaces in relation to each communication destinations;

reading, when communicating with a specified communication destination, said order setting information related to the specified communication destination from the storage;

judging whether a communication is possible by sequentially using each of the communication interfaces in the order of priority set by the read order setting information until finding an available communication interface; and

selecting the communication interface first judged as communication possible to communicate with the specified communication destination.

18. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program controlling a computer to perform communication with communication destination by a plurality of communication interfaces, and comprising a process of:

storing, in a storage, a plurality of order setting information, each of said plurality of order setting information for setting order of priority of said communication interfaces in relation to each time zones in which a communication is performed;

reading said order setting information related to a time zone including a current time from the storage;

judging whether a communication is possible by using each of the communication interfaces in the order of priority set by the read order setting information; and

selecting the communication interface first judged as communication possible to communicate with said communication destination.

19. A communication controller for communicating with a plurality of communication destinations by controlling a plurality of communication interfaces comprising:

an order setting information reading unit reading order setting information for setting order of priority of said communication interfaces in relation to said a destination, when communicating with said specified communication destination;

a communication propriety judging unit sequentially judging whether a communication can be executed with each of said communication interfaces in the order of priority set by said order setting information read by said order setting information reading unit until said communication propriety judging unit finds an available communication interface; and

a communication control unit controlling the communication with said specified communication destination by using the communication interface first judged by the communication propriety judging unit as communication possible.

20. A communication controller for communicating with communication destination by controlling a plurality of communication interfaces comprising:

an order setting information reading unit reading order setting information for setting order of priority of said communication interfaces in relation to a time zone including a current time;

a communication propriety judging unit sequentially judging whether a communication can be executed with each of said communication interfaces in the order of priority set by said order setting information read by the order setting information reading unit until said communication propriety judging unit finds an available communication interface; and

a communication control unit controlling the communication with communication destination by using the communication interface first judged by the communication propriety judging unit as communication possible.

21. A communication interface selecting method of selecting a communication interface among a plurality of communication interfaces for communicating with a plurality of communication destinations, said method comprising:

reading, when communicating with a specified communication destination, order setting information for setting order of priority of said communication interfaces in relation to the specified communication destination;

judging whether a communication is possible by sequentially using each of the communication interfaces in the order of priority set by the read order setting information until finding an available communication interface; and

selecting the communication interface first judged as communication possible to communicate with the specified communication destination.

22. A communication interface selecting method of selecting a communication interface among a plurality of communication interfaces for communicating with communication destination, said method comprising:

reading order setting information for setting order of priority of said communication interfaces in relation to a time zone including a current time;

judging whether a communication is possible by sequentially using each of the communication interfaces in the order of priority set by the read order setting information until finding an available communication interface; and

selecting the communication interface first judged as communication possible to communicate with said communication destination.

23. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program controlling a computer to perform communicating with a plurality of communication destinations by a plurality of communication interfaces, and comprising a process of:

reading, when communicating with a specified communication destination, order setting information for setting order of priority of said communication interfaces in relation to the specified communication destination;

judging whether a communication is possible by sequentially using each of the communication interfaces in the order of priority set by the read order setting information until finding an available communication interface; and

selecting the communication interface first judged as communication possible to communicate with the specified communication destination.

24. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program controlling a computer to perform communicating with communication destination by a plurality of communication interfaces, and comprising a process of:

reading said order setting information for setting order of priority of said communication interfaces in relation to a time zone including a current time;

judging whether a communication is possible by sequentially using each of the communication interfaces in the order of priority set by the read order setting information until finding an available communication interface; and

selecting the communication interface first judged as communication possible to communicate with said communication destination.