Information processing apparatus, information processing method, information exchanging method, recording medium, and program

• US 7,392,288 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2002
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tsuchiya, Akitsugu, Hasegawa, Yutaka, Ooi, Junji
• Primary Examiner(s): Cardone; Jason
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duong; Thomas
• Application Number:
  US10/093,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20020133552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,297 Days
• Field of Search: 709220-222, 709/201, 709/203, 709/205, 719/318, 717/125, 361/308.1, 711101-115
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

In an arrangement wherein a first personal computer and a second personal computer perform peer-to-peer communication, and the first personal computer has an additional function module which the second personal computer does not have, the first personal computer and the second personal computer can perform peer-to-peer communication based on the additional function module. Accordingly, the functions of a function module can be used for communication even in the event that not all terminals communicating have the function module.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

a storage unit configured to store at least one function module, said function module configured to enable execution of a function, said function module including a function code segment configured to produce output based on input;

a transmitter configured to transmit an existing function module to an other information processing apparatus not including said existing function module, said existing function module including a function code segment configured to produce output based on input;

a communication unit configured to receive information obtained by executing on said other information processing apparatus the processing of said function according to said transmitted function module, said information transmitted from said other information processing apparatus, said communication unit configured to transmit information to said other information processing apparatus, said information obtained by executing the processing of said function according to said existing function module; and

an execution unit configured to execute processing of said function according to said existing function module and the information received by the communication unit from said other information processing apparatus.

2. An information processing method, comprising:

storing at least one function module, said function module configured to enable execution of a function, said function module including a function code segment configured to produce output based on input;

transmitting an existing function module to an other information processing apparatus not including said existing function module, said existing function module including a function code segment configured to produce output based on input;

receiving information obtained by executing on said other information processing apparatus the processing of said function according to said transmitted function module, said information transmitted from said other information processing apparatus; and

transmitting information to said other information processing apparatus, obtained by executing the processing of said function according to said existing function module; and

executing processing of said function according to said existing function module and the information received by the receiving.

3. A computer readable storage medium including encoded computer readable code which causes a computer to execute a method, comprising:

storing at least one function module, said function module configured to enable execution of a function, said function module including a function code segment configured to produce output based on input;

transmitting an existing function module to an other information processing apparatus not including said existing function module, said existing function module including a function code segment configured to produce output based on input;

receiving information obtained by executing on said other information processing apparatus the processing of said function according to said transmitted function module, said information transmitted from said other information processing apparatus; and

transmitting information to said other information processing apparatus, obtained by executing the processing of said function according to said existing function module; and

executing processing of said function according to said existing function module and the information received by the receiving.

4. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a function module transmitted from an other information processing apparatus, said function module configured to enable execution of a function, said function module including a function code segment configured to produce output based on input;

a communication unit configured to receive information obtained by executing, on said other information processing apparatus, the processing of said function according to said function module, said information transmitted from said other information processing apparatus, said communication unit configured to transmit information to said other information processing apparatus, said information obtained by executing the processing of said function according to said received function module; and

an execution unit configured to execute processing of said function according to said received function module and the information received by the communication unit from said other information processing apparatus.

5. An information processing method, comprising:

receiving a function module transmitted from an other information processing apparatus, said function module configured to enable execution of a function, said function module including a function code segment configured to produce output based on input;

receiving information obtained by executing on said other information processing apparatus the processing of said function according to said function module and transmitted from said other information processing apparatus; and

transmitting information to said other information processing apparatus, obtained by executing the processing of said function according to said received function module; and

executing processing of said function according to said received function module and the information received by the receiving.

6. A computer readable storage medium including encoded computer readable code which cause a computer to execute a method, said method comprising:

receiving a function module transmitted from an other information processing apparatus, said function module configured to enable execution of a function, said function module including a function code segment configured to produce output based on input;

receiving information obtained by executing on said other information processing apparatus the processing of said function according to said function module and transmitted from said other information processing apparatus; and

transmitting information to said other information processing apparatus, obtained by executing the processing of said function according to said received function module; and

executing processing of said function according to said received function module and the information received by the receiving.

7. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

means for storing at least one function module, said function module configured to enable execution of a function, said function module including a function code segment configured to produce output based on input;

means for transmitting said existing function module to an other information processing apparatus determined to not include said existing function module by said means for determining, said existing function module including a function code segment configured to produce output based on input;

means for communicating configured to receive information obtained by executing on said other information processing apparatus the processing of said function according to said transmitted function module, said information transmitted from said other information processing apparatus, said means for communicating configured to transmit information to said other information processing apparatus, said information obtained by executing the processing of said function according to said existing function module; and

means for executing processing of said function according to said existing function module and the information received by said means for communication from said other information processing apparatus.

8. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a function module transmitted from an other information processing apparatus, said function module configured to enable execution of a function, said function module including a function code segment configured to produce output based on input;

means for communicating configured to receive information obtained by executing, on said other information processing apparatus, the processing of said function according to said function module, said information transmitted from said other information processing apparatus, said means for communicating configured to transmit information to said other information processing apparatus, said information obtained by executing the processing of said function according to said received function module; and

means for executing processing of said function according to said received function module and the information received by said means for communicating from said other information processing apparatus.