Communication system and communication method

• US 7,028,077 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2003
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Takagi, Masahiro, Toshimitsu, Kiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Elmore, Reba I.
• Application Number:
  US10/359,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20030154188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 709/214, 709/216, 709/242, 709/319
• US Class Current: 709/214
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0263 Rule management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/145 the attack involving the propagation of malware through the network, e.g. viruses, trojans or worms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/10 between terminal device and access point, i.e. wireless air interface

Abstract

A communication system includes a first network on which a file server and an access point are connected via a first communication link and a second network on which the access point and a terminal are connected via a second communication link. The terminal establishes a connection with the access point to access the file server. The file server stores a file to be downloaded. The terminal accesses the file server through the access point to request the file. The terminal then selects a download process from one of a foreground process, background process and postponement process, and executes the download process to download the file from the file server.

Claims

1. In a communication system including a first network on which a file server and an access point are connected via a first communication link and a second network on which the access point and a terminal are connected via a second communication link, wherein the terminal establishes a connection with the access point to access a file on the file server, a download control method comprising:

accessing from the terminal to the file server through the access point to request the file;

selecting a download process from one of a foreground process, background process and postponement process;

executing the download process to download the file from the file server to the terminal;

detecting a communication speed over the second communication link; and

selecting the download process according to the communication speed, wherein if the communication speed is faster than a predetermined threshold value, the foreground process is selected and if the communication speed is slower than the predetermined threshold value, the background process is selected.

2. In a communication system including a first network on which a file server and an access point are connected via a first communication link and a second network on which the access point and a terminal are connected via a second communication link, wherein the terminal establishes a connection with the access point to access a file on the file server, a download control method comprising:

accessing from the terminal to the file server through the access point to request the file;

selecting a download process from one of a foreground process, background process and postponement process;

executing the download process to download the file from the file server to the terminal;

monitoring during the background process, a use ratio of a bandwidth assured for communications by other programs in the terminal; and

controlling a bandwidth assured for the background process depending on the use ratio.

3. In a communication system including a first network on which a file server and an access point are connected via a first communication link and a second network on which the access point and a terminal are connected via a second communication link, wherein the terminal establishes a connection with the access point to access a file on the file server, a download control method comprising:

accessing from the terminal to the file server through the access point to request the file;

selecting a download process from one of a foreground process, background process and postponement process;

executing the download process to download the file from the file server to the terminal;

determining a download process from one of a foreground process, background process and postponement process by the file server;

instructing the terminal to execute the download process for a file to be downloaded to the terminal; and

detecting a communication speed between the file server and the terminal over the first communication link and the second communication link by the file server.

4. In a communication system including a first network on which a file server and an access point are connected via a first communication link and a second network on which the access point and a terminal are connected via a second communication link, wherein the terminal establishes a connection with the access point to access a file on the file server, a download control method comprising:

accessing from the terminal to the file server through the access point to request the file;

selecting a download process from one of a foreground process, background process and postponement process;

executing the download process to download the file from the file server to the terminal;

determining a download process from one of a foreground process, background process and postponement process by the access point;

instructing the terminal to execute the download process for a file to be downloaded to the terminal which is stored in the file server; and

detecting a communication speed between the access point and the terminal over the second communication link by the access point.

5. A communication system comprising:

a first network on which a file server and an access point are connected via a first communication link, the file server storing a file; and

a second network on which the access point and a terminal are connected via a second communication link, wherein the terminal establishes a connection with the access point to access the file server,

wherein the terminal accesses the file server through the access point to request the file, selects a download process from one of a foreground process, background process and postponement process, and executes the download process to download the file from the file server;

the terminal detects a communication speed over the second communication link, and

the terminal selects the download process according to the communication speed so that if the communication speed is faster than a predetermined threshold value, the foreground process is selected and if the communication speed is slower than the predetermined threshold value, the background process is selected.

6. A communication system comprising:

a first network on which a file server and an access point are connected via a first communication link, the file server storing a file;

a second network on which the access point and a terminal are connected via a second communication link, wherein the terminal establishes a connection with the access point to access the file server,

wherein the terminal accesses the file server through the access point to request the file, selects a download process from one of a foreground process, background process and postponement process, and executes the download process to download the file from the file server,

the terminal monitors, during the background process, a use ratio of a bandwidth assured for communications by other programs, and

the terminal controls a bandwidth assured for the background process depending on the use ratio.

7. A communication system comprising:

a first network on which a file server and an access point are connected via a first communication link, the file server storing a file; and

a second network on which the access point and a terminal are connected via a second communication link, wherein the terminal establishes a connection with the access point to access the file server,

wherein the terminal accesses the file server through the access point to request the file, selects a download process from one of a foreground process, background process and postponement process, and executes the download process to download the file from the file server,

the file server determines a download process from one of a foreground process, background process and postponement process,

the file server instructs the terminal to execute the download process for a file to be downloaded to the terminal, and

the file server detects a communication speed between the file server and the terminal over the first communication link and the second communication link.

8. A communication system comprising:

a first network on which a file server and an access point are connected via a first communication link, the file server storing a file; and

a second network on which the access point and a terminal are connected via a second communication link, wherein the terminal establishes a connection with the access point to access the file server,

wherein the terminal accesses the file server through the access point to request the file, selects a download process from one of a foreground process, background process and postponement process, and executes the download process to download the file from the file server,

the access point determines a download process from one of a foreground process, background process and postponement process,

the access point instructs the terminal to execute the download process for a file to be downloaded to the terminal, which is stored in the file server, and

the access point detects a communication speed between the access point and the terminal over the second communication link.