Scheme for managing nodes connected to a home network according to their physical locations
First Claim
1. A communication device, comprising:
- at least one communication unit configured to carry out communications through a connected network, having communication ports configured to connect nodes through which data are to be exchanged by the nodes; and
a configuration information memory unit configured to store a configuration information regarding a configuration of the communication device, having a region configured to dynamically describe a location information regarding a physical location of either the communication device or said at least one communication unit.
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Abstract
A scheme for managing nodes connected to a home network according to their physical location is disclosed. A communication device constituting each node is formed by at least one communication unit for carrying out communications through a connected network, having communication ports for connecting nodes through which data are to be exchanged by the nodes, and a configuration information memory unit for storing a configuration information regarding a configuration of the communication device, having a region for dynamically describing a location information regarding a physical location of the communication device. At a managing node, a configuration information of a connected network and a location information regarding a physical location of a prescribed node connected to the network are collected, and physical locations of other nodes/services that are connected to the prescribed node are managed by regarding the other nodes/services as existing at an identical physical location as the physical location of the prescribed node as specified by the location information.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A communication device, comprising:
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at least one communication unit configured to carry out communications through a connected network, having communication ports configured to connect nodes through which data are to be exchanged by the nodes; and
a configuration information memory unit configured to store a configuration information regarding a configuration of the communication device, having a region configured to dynamically describe a location information regarding a physical location of either the communication device or said at least one communication unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A communication device, comprising:
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a configuration information collection unit configured to collect a configuration information of a connected network;
a location information collection unit configured to collect at least a location information regarding a physical location of a prescribed node connected to the network; and
a management unit configured to manage physical locations of other nodes/services that are connected to the prescribed node, by regarding the other nodes/services as existing at an identical physical location as the physical location of the prescribed node as specified by the location information. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
a display unit configured to display to a user the physical locations of the other nodes/services as identical to the physical location of the prescribed node as specified by the location information.
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7. The device of claim 5, wherein the location information collection unit also collects an information regarding a region corresponding to a leaf of the prescribed node, and
the management unit manages physical location of selected other nodes/services that are connected to the region corresponding to the leaf of the prescribed node alone, by regarding the selected other nodes/services as existing at the identical physical location as the physical location of the prescribed node as specified by the location information.
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8. A communication device, comprising:
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at least one communication unit configured to carry out communications through a connected network, having communication ports configured to connect nodes through which data are exchanged by the nodes;
a memory configured to store a location information regarding a physical location of the communication devices; and
a reply unit configured to return a reply packet containing the location information as stored in the memory, to a node that is a source of a query packet through the communication unit, upon receiving the query packet for inquiring a physical location of the communication device through the communication unit.
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9. A communication device, comprising:
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at least one communication unit to which a single link layer ID is given, configured to carry out communications through a connected network, having a plurality of communication ports configured to connect nodes through which data are to be exchanged by the nodes; and
a network layer processing unit configured to carry out a network layer processing related to the communications, by assigning different network layer addresses to the communication ports. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A network information management method in a communication device having at least one communication unit for carrying out communications through a connected network, the method comprising the steps of:
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collecting a configuration information of the connected network;
collecting at least a location information regarding a physical location of a prescribed node connected to the network; and
managing physical locations of other nodes/services that are connected to the prescribed node, by regarding the other nodes/services as existing at an identical physical location as the physical location of the prescribed node as specified by the location information.
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12. A location information notification method in a communication device having at least one communication unit for carrying out communications through a connected network and a memory for storing a location information regarding a physical location of the communication device, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a query packet for inquiring a physical location of the communication device through the communication unit; and
returning a reply packet containing the location information as stored in the memory, to a node that is a source of the query packet through the communication unit.
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Specification