Communication system provided with control apparatus between local network and external network

• US 6,975,635 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2001
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Asahi Matsushita Electric Works Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Sakamoto, Hideo, Yanagi, Yasuhiro, Senoo, Junji, Kawahara, Yuzo, Takeyama, Hiroaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Phunkulh, Bob A.
• Application Number:
  US09/878,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20020018478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,645 Days
• Field of Search: 370/242, 370/243, 370/244, 370/245, 370/248, 370/249, 370/250, 370/338, 370/400, 370/401, 340/540, 702/108, 702/117
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4604 LAN interconnection over a backbone network, e.g. Internet, Frame Relay
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

A communication system includes a local terminal apparatus connected with a local network, a remote terminal apparatus connected with an external network, and a control apparatus interposed between the local network and the external network. The local terminal apparatus includes a reply section for returning an answer signal including a status information of a processing executing section via the local network in response to a request signal received via the local network. The control apparatus includes a gateway section for receiving the request signal transmitted from the remote terminal apparatus via the external network, and thereafter, transmitting the received request signal to the local terminal apparatus via the local network, and for receiving an answer signal corresponding to the request signal from the local terminal apparatus via the local network, and thereafter, transmitting the received answer signal to the remote terminal apparatus via the external network.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a local terminal apparatus connected with a local network provided in a predetermined facility;

a remote terminal apparatus connected with an external network; and

a control apparatus interposed between the local network and the external network,

wherein the local terminal apparatus comprises;

processing executing means for executing a predetermined processing; and

reply means for returning an answer signal including a status information of said processing executing means via the local network in response to a request signal received via the local network;

wherein said remote terminal apparatus comprises;

input means for inputting a predetermined operation;

transceiver means for transmitting the request signal including control information corresponding to an operation inputted by said input means via the external network, and receiving an answer signal corresponding to the request signal via the local network; and

information output means for outputting the status information included in the answer signal received by said transceiver means, and

wherein said control apparatus comprises;

gateway means for receiving the request signal transmitted from said remote terminal apparatus via the external network, and thereafter, transmitting the received request signal to the local terminal apparatus via the local network, and for receiving an answer signal corresponding to the request signal from the local terminal apparatus via the local network, and thereafter, transmitting the received answer signal to the remote terminal apparatus via the external network, wherein

said communication system further comprises;

a plurality of said local terminal apparatuses and a plurality of said remote terminal apparatuses,

wherein said control apparatus comprises storage means for storing a transmission destination table including a transmission destination indicative of which one of said plurality of remote terminal apparatuses the answer signal should be transmitted to, for each of said local terminal apparatus, and

wherein said gateway means transmits the received answer signal to the remote terminal apparatus determined by referring to the transmission destination table stored in said storage means, via the external network.

2. A communication system comprising:

a local terminal apparatus connected with a local network provided in a predetermined facility;

a remote terminal apparatus connected with an external network; and

a control apparatus interposed between the local network and the external network,

wherein the local terminal apparatus comprises;

processing executing means for executing a predetermined processing; and

reply means for returning an answer signal including a status information of said processing executing means via the local network in response to a request signal received via the local network;

wherein said remote terminal apparatus comprises;

input means for inputting a predetermined operation;

transceiver means for transmitting the request signal including control information corresponding to an operation inputted by said input means via the external network, and receiving an answer signal corresponding to the request signal via the local network; and

information output means for outputting the status information included in the answer signal received by said transceiver means, and

wherein said control apparatus comprises;

gateway means for receiving the request signal transmitted from said remote terminal apparatus via the external network, and thereafter, transmitting the received request signal to the local terminal apparatus via the local network, and for receiving an answer signal corresponding to the request signal from the local terminal apparatus via the local network, and thereafter, transmitting the received answer signal to the remote terminal apparatus via the external network, wherein

said communication system further comprises;

a plurality of said local terminal apparatuses and a plurality of said remote terminal apparatuses,

wherein said control apparatus comprises storage means for storing a transmission destination table including a transmission destination indicative of which one of said plurality of remote terminal apparatuses the answer signal should be transmitted to, for each of said local terminal apparatus and for each status information of the received answer signal, and

wherein said gateway means transmits the received answer signal to the remote terminal apparatus determined by referring to the transmission destination table stored in said storage means, via the external network.

3. A communication system comprising:

a local terminal apparatus connected with a local network provided in a predetermined facility;

a remote terminal apparatus connected with an external network; and

a control apparatus interposed between the local network and the external network,

wherein the local terminal apparatus comprises;

processing executing means for executing a predetermined processing; and

reply means for returning an answer signal including a status information of said processing executing means via the local network in response to a request signal received via the local network;

wherein said remote terminal apparatus comprises;

input means for inputting a predetermined operation;

transceiver means for transmitting the request signal including control information corresponding to an operation inputted by said input means via the external network, and receiving an answer signal corresponding to the request signal via the local network; and

information output means for outputting the status information included in the answer signal received by said transceiver means, and

wherein said control apparatus comprises;

gateway means for receiving the request signal transmitted from said remote terminal apparatus via the external network, and thereafter, transmitting the received request signal to the local terminal apparatus via the local network, and for receiving an answer signal corresponding to the request signal from the local terminal apparatus via the local network, and thereafter, transmitting the received answer signal to the remote terminal apparatus via the external network, wherein

said communication system further comprises;

a plurality of said local terminal apparatuses and a plurality of said remote terminal apparatuses,

wherein each of said local terminal apparatuses comprises storage means for storing a transmission destination table including a transmission destination indicative of which one of said plurality of remote terminal apparatuses the answer signal should be transmitted to, and

wherein said reply means transmits the answer signal to be transmitted to the remote terminal apparatus determined by referring to the transmission destination table stored in said storage means, via the local network, said control apparatus and the external network.

4. A communication system comprising:

a local terminal apparatus connected with a local network provided in a predetermined facility;

a remote terminal apparatus connected with an external network; and

a control apparatus interposed between the local network and the external network.

wherein the local terminal apparatus comprises;

processing executing means for executing a predetermined processing; and

reply means for returning an answer signal including a status information of said processing executing means via the local network in response to a request signal received via the local network;

wherein said remote terminal apparatus comprises;

input means for inputting a predetermined operation;

transceiver means for transmitting the request signal including control information corresponding to an operation inputted by said input means via the external network, and receiving an answer signal corresponding to the request signal via the local network; and

information output means for outputting the status information included in the answer signal received by said transceiver means, and

wherein said control apparatus comprises;

gateway means for receiving the request signal transmitted from said remote terminal apparatus via the external network, and thereafter, transmitting the received request signal to the local terminal apparatus via the local network, and for receiving an answer signal corresponding to the request signal from the local terminal apparatus via the local network, and thereafter, transmitting the received answer signal to the remote terminal apparatus via the external network, wherein

said communication system further comprises;

a plurality of said local terminal apparatuses and a plurality of said remote terminal apparatuses,

wherein each of said local terminal apparatuses comprises storage means for storing a transmission destination table including a transmission destination indicative of which one of said plurality of remote terminal apparatuses the answer signal should be transmitted to, in accordance to the status information of the answer signal, and

wherein said reply means transmits the answer signal to be transmitted to the remote terminal apparatus determined by referring to the transmission destination table stored in said storage means, via the local network, said control apparatus and the external network.

5. A communication system comprising:

a local terminal apparatus connected with a local network provided in a predetermined facility;

a remote terminal apparatus connected with an external network; and

a control apparatus interposed between the local network and the external network,

wherein the local terminal apparatus comprises;

processing executing means for executing a predetermined processing; and

reply means for returning an answer signal including a status information of said processing executing means via the local network in response to a request signal received via the local network;

wherein said remote terminal apparatus comprises;

input means for inputting a predetermined operation;

transceiver means for transmitting the request signal including control information corresponding to an operation inputted by said input means via the external network, and receiving an answer signal corresponding to the request signal via the local network; and

information output means for outputting the status information included in the answer signal received by said transceiver means, and

wherein said control apparatus comprises;

gateway means for receiving the request signal transmitted from said remote terminal apparatus via the external network, and thereafter, transmitting the received request signal to the local terminal apparatus via the local network, and for receiving an answer signal corresponding to the request signal from the local terminal apparatus via the local network, and thereafter, transmitting the received answer signal to the remote terminal apparatus via the external network, wherein

said communication system further comprises;

a plurality of said local terminal apparatuses and a plurality of said remote terminal apparatuses,

wherein each of said remote terminal apparatuses comprises storage means for storing a transmission destination table including a transmission destination indicative of which one of said plurality of remote terminal apparatuses the answer signal corresponding to the request signal should be transmitted to,

wherein said transceiver means transmits via the external network the request signal further including a transmission destination information of the answer signal corresponding to the request signal, the transmission destination information being indicated by the transmission destination table stored in said storage means, and

wherein said reply means transmits the answer signal to be transmitted to the remote terminal apparatus indicated by the transmission destination information included in the request signal, via the local network, said control apparatus and the external network.

6. A communication system comprising:

a local terminal apparatus connected with a local network provided in a predetermined facility;

a remote terminal apparatus connected with an external network; and

a control apparatus interposed between the local network and the external network,

wherein the local terminal apparatus comprises;

processing executing means for executing a predetermined processing; and

reply means for returning an answer signal including a status information of said processing executing means via the local network in response to a request signal received via the local network;

wherein said remote terminal apparatus comprises;

input means for inputting a predetermined operation;

transceiver means for transmitting the request signal including control information corresponding to an operation inputted by said input means via the external network, and receiving an answer signal corresponding to the request signal via the local network; and

information output means for outputting the status information included in the answer signal received by said transceiver means, and

wherein said control apparatus comprises;

gateway means for receiving the request signal transmitted from said remote terminal apparatus via the external network, and thereafter, transmitting the received request signal to the local terminal apparatus via the local network, and for receiving an answer signal corresponding to the request signal from the local terminal apparatus via the local network, and thereafter, transmitting the received answer signal to the remote terminal apparatus via the external network, wherein

said communication system further comprises;

a plurality of said local terminal apparatuses and a plurality of said remote terminal apparatuses,

wherein each of said remote terminal apparatuses comprises storage means for storing a transmission destination table including a transmission destination indicative of which one of said plurality of remote terminal apparatuses the answer signal corresponding to the request signal should be transmitted to, in accordance to the status information of the answer signal,

wherein the transceiver means transmits via the external network the request signal further including a transmission destination information of the answer signal corresponding to the request signal, the transmission destination information being indicated by the transmission destination table stored in said storage means, and

wherein said reply means transmits the answer signal to be transmitted to the remote terminal apparatus, which is indicated by the transmission destination information included in the request signal and which corresponds to status information of the answer signal, via the local network, said control apparatus and the external network.