Communication method, communication system, relaying device and communication device

• US 7,596,132 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Issued: 09/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Matsuda, Masahiro, Iwayama, Noboru, Yamazaki, Kinya
• Primary Examiner(s): Jung; Min
• Application Number:
  US11/394,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20070147365A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/356
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services

Abstract

A communication device transmits to a relaying device a transmission right grant request for requesting a grant of a transmission right to a transmitting device, and the relaying device determines whether the received transmission right grant request is a command associated with the transmission right of the communication device or a command associated with the transmitting device, and if it determines that it is the command associated with the transmitting device, it grants the transmission right to the transmitting device, and starts broadcasting of data being transmitted from the transmitting device. In addition, when receiving from the communication device an operation command for operating the transmitting device, the relaying device determines a type of the command and transmits it to the transmitting device.

Claims

1. A communication method, wherein using a plurality of communication devices and a relaying device that relays data transfer among the communication devices, one communication device transmits to the relaying device a transmission right request for requesting a transmission right, which is one of commands associated with its own transmission right and transmits data to the relaying device when the communication device is granted a transmission right by the relaying device, and the relaying device broadcasts the received data to other communication device, the communication method comprising the steps of:

the communication device transmitting to the relaying device a transmission right grant request for requesting a grant of a transmission right to a transmitting device, which is one of commands associated with the transmitting device that communicates with the relaying device and transmits data to the relaying device;

the relaying device determining whether the received transmission right grant request is a command associated with a transmission right of the communication device of a transmission source or a command associated with the transmitting device;

if relaying device determines that it is the command associated with the transmitting device, the relaying device following the command and granting the transmission right to the transmitting device;

the relaying device broadcasting to the plurality of communication devices data being transmitted from the transmitting device to which the transmission right was granted;

the communication device further transmitting to the relaying device an operation command for operating the transmitting device that is one of the commands associated with the transmitting device;

the relaying device further determining whether the received operation command is the command associated with the transmission right of the communication device of the transmission source or the command associated with the transmitting device;

if the relaying device determines that it is the command associated with the transmitting device, the relaying device transmitting the operation command to the transmitting device; and

the transmitting device operating based on the received operation command.

2. A communication method, wherein using a plurality of communication devices and a relaying device that relays data transfer among the communication devices, one communication device transmits to the relaying device a transmission right request for requesting a transmission right, which is one of commands associated with its own transmission right and transmits data to the relaying device when the communication device is granted a transmission right by the relaying device, and the relaying device broadcasts the received data to other communication device, the communication method comprising the steps of:

the communication device transmitting to the relaying device a transmission right grant request that is one of commands associated with a transmitting device that communicates with the relaying device and the communication devices, and transmits data to the relaying device;

the relaying device determining whether the received transmission right grant request is a command associated with a transmission right of the communication device of a transmission source or a command associated with the transmitting device;

if relaying device determines that it is the command associated with the transmitting device, the relaying device following the command and granting the transmission right to the transmitting device;

the relaying device broadcasting to the plurality of communication devices data being transmitted from the transmitting device to which the transmission right was granted;

the relaying device transmitting to the communication device communication information necessary for communication with the transmitting device;

based on the received communication information, the communication device further transmitting an operation command for operating the transmitting device to the transmitting device; and

the transmitting device operating based on the received operation command.

3. A communication method, wherein using a plurality of communication devices and a relaying device that relays data transfer among the communication devices, one communication device transmits to the relaying device a transmission right request for requesting a transmission right and transmits data to the relaying device when the communication device is granted a transmission right by the relaying device, and the relaying device broadcasts the received data to other communication device, the communication method comprising the steps of:

the communications device transmitting to the relaying device a communication information transmission request for requesting transmission of communication information necessary for communication with a transmitting device that communicates with the relaying device and the communication devices, and transmits data to the relaying device;

the relaying device transmitting the communication information to the communication device in response to the received communication information transmission request;

based on the received communication information, the communication device further transmitting to the transmitting device an instruction to transmit a transmission right request that causes causing the transmitting device to transmit a transmission right request for requesting a transmission right to the transmitting device;

based on the received instruction to transmit the transmission right request, the transmitting device transmitting to the relaying device a transmission right request for requesting the transmission right to itself;

based on the received transmission right request, the relaying device further granting the transmission right to the transmitting device;

the relaying device broadcasting to the plurality of communication devices data being transmitted from the transmitting device to which the transmission right was granted;

based on the communication information, the communication device further transmitting to the transmitting device an operation command for operating the transmitting device, and

the transmitting device further operating based on the received operation command.

4. A communication system, comprising:

a plurality of communication devices;

a relaying device for relaying data transfer among the communication devices; and

a transmitting device for communicating with the relaying device and transmitting data to the relaying device, wherein

one communication device comprises;

a communication unit, and

a controller coupled with the communication unit, and capable of performing an operation of;

causing the communication unit to transmit to the relaying device a transmission right grant request for requesting a grant of a transmission right to the transmitting device, which is one of the commands associated with the transmitting device,

the relaying device comprises

a communications unit; and

a controller coupled with the communication unit, and capable of performing operations of;

determining whether the received transmission right grant request is a command associated with a transmission right of the communication device of a transmission source or a command associated with the transmitting device;

if the controller determines that it is the command associated with the transmitting device, following the command and granting a transmission right to the transmitting device; and

causing the communication unit to broadcast to the plurality of communication devices data being transmitted from the transmitting device to which the transmission right is granted,

the controller of the communication device is further capable of performing an operation of

causing the communication unit to transmit to the relaying device an operation command for operating the transmitting device, which is one of the commands associated with the transmitting device,

the controller of the relaying device is further capable of performing an operation of;

determining whether the received operation command is the command associated with a transmission right of the communication device of the transmission source or the command associated with the transmitting device; and

if the controller determines that it is the command associated with the transmitting device, causing the communication unit to transfer the operation command to the transmitting device,

the transmitting device operating based on the received operation command.

5. The communication system according to claim 4, wherein the controller of the relaying device is further capable of performing operations of:

determining whether or not the communication device of the transmission source of a command associated with the transmitting device is the communication device of the transmission source of a transmission right grant request; and

if the controller determines that the communication device of the transmission source of the command associated with the transmitting device is not the communication device of the transmission source of the transmission right grant request, discarding the received command.

6. The communication system according to claim 4, wherein the transmitting device comprises:

a shooting unit, and

is configured to transmit, as data, images based on shooting by the shooting unit.

7. The communication system comprising:

a plurality of communication devices;

a relaying device for relaying data transfer among the communication devices; and

a transmitting device that communicate with the relaying device and communication devices and transmits data to the relaying device, wherein

one communication device comprises

a communication unit; and

a controller coupled with the communication unit, and capable of performing an operation of;

causing the communication unit to transfer to the relaying device a transmission right grant request for requesting a grant of a transmission right to the transmitting device, which is one of the commands associated with the transmitting device,

the relaying device comprises;

a communication unit; and

a controller coupled with the communication unit, and capable of performing operations of;

determining whether the received transmission right grant request is a command associated with a transmission right of the communication device of a transmission source or a command associated with the transmitting device;

if the controller determines that it is the command associated with the transmitting device, following the command and granting the transmission right to the transmitting device;

causing the communication unit to transmit to the communication device communication information necessary for communication with the transmitting device; and

causing the communication unit to broadcast to the plurality of communication devices data to being transmitted from the transmitting device to which the transmission right was granted,

the controller of the communication device is further capable of performing an operation of;

causing the communication unit to transmit to the transmitting device an operation command for operating the transmitting device based on the received communication information, and

the transmitting device operating based on the received operation command.

8. The communication system, according to claim 7, wherein the transmitting device comprises:

a controller capable of performing operations of;

determining whether or not the communication device of the transmission source of the operation command is the communication device of the transmission source of an instruction to transmit a transmission right request; and

if the controller determines that the communication device of the transmission source of the operation command is not the communication device of the transmission source of the instruction to transmit a transmission right request, discarding the received operation command.

9. The communication system according to claim 7, wherein the transmitting device further comprises:

a shooting unit, and

is configured to transmit, as data, images based on shooting of the shooting unit.

10. A communication system comprising:

a plurality of communication devices;

a relaying device for relaying data transfer among the communication devices; and

a transmitting device that communicates with the relaying device and communication devices, and transmits data to the relaying device, wherein

one communication device comprise

a communication unit; and

a controller coupled with the communication unit, and capable of performing an operation of

causing the communication unit to transmit to the relaying device a communication information transmission request for requesting transmission of the communication information necessary for communication with the transmitting device,

the relaying device comprises

a communication unit; and

a controller coupled with the communication unit and capable of performing an operation of

causing the communication unit to transmit to the transmitting device the communication information, in response to the received communication information transmission request,

the controller of the communication device is further capable of performing an operation of

based on the received communication information, causing the communication unit to transmit to the transmitting device an instruction to transmit a transmission right request that causes the transmitting device to transmit a transmission right request for requesting a transmission right to the transmitting device,

the transmitting device comprises

a communication unit; and

a controller coupled with the communication unit, and capable of performing an operation of

causing the communication unit to transmit to the relaying device the transmission right request for requesting a transmission right to itself, based on the received instruction to transmit the transmission right request,

the controller of the relaying device is further capable of performing operations of;

granting the transmission right to the transmitting device, based on the received transmission right request; and

causing the communication unit to broadcast to the plurality of communication devices data being transmitted from the transmitting device to which the transmission right was granted,

the controller of the communication device is further capable of performing an operation of

based on the communication information, causing the communication unit to transmit to the transmitting device an operation command for operating the transmitting device, and

the transmitting device operating based on the received operation command.

11. The communication system according to claim 10, wherein the controller of the transmitting device is further capable of performing operations of:

determining whether or not the communication device of a transmission source of the operation command is the communication device of the transmission source of an instruction to transmit transmission right request, and

if the controller determines that the communication device of the transmission source of the operation command is not the communication device of the transmission source of an instruction to transmit a transmission right request, discarding the received operation command.

12. The communication system according to claim 10, wherein the transmitting device further comprises:

a shooting unit, and

is configured to transmit, as data, images based on shooting of the shooting unit.

13. A relaying device comprising:

a communication unit communicating with a plurality of communication devices and a transmitting device that transmits data;

a controller coupled with the communication unit, and capable of performing operations of;

causing the communication unit to receive from one communication device a transmission right grant request for requesting a grant of a transmission right to the transmitting device, which is one of commands associated with the transmitting device;

determining whether the received command is a command associated with a transmission right of the communication device of a transmission source or a command associated with the transmitting device;

if the controller determines that it is the command associated with the transmitting device, following the command and granting the transmission right to the transmitting device;

causing the communication unit to broadcast to the plurality of communication devices data being transmitted from the transmitting device to which the transmission right is granted;

causing the communication unit to receive from the communication device an operation command for operating the transmitting devices, which is one of commands associated with the transmitting device;

determining whether the received command is the command associated with the transmission right of the communication device of the transmission source or the command associated with the transmitting device; and

if the controller determines that it is the command associated with the transmitting device, causing the communication unit to transmit the operation command to the transmitting device.

14. A relaying device comprising:

a communication unit communicating with a plurality of communication device and a transmitting device that transmits data; and

a controller coupled with the communication unit, and capable of performing operations of;

causing the communication unit to receive from one communication device a transmission right grant request for requesting a grant of a transmission right to the transmitting device, which is one of the commands associated with the transmitting device;

determining whether the received command is a command associated with a transmission right of a communication device of a transmission source, or a command associated with the transmitting device;

if the controller determines that it is the command associated with the transmitting device, following the command and granting the transmission right to the transmitting device;

causing the communication unit to broadcast to the plurality of communication devices data being transmitted from the transmitting device to which the transmission right is granted; and

causing the communication unit to transmit to the communication device communication information necessary for communicating with the transmitting device.

15. A communication device communicating with a relaying device which communicates with a plurality of devices, grants a transmission right to one device of a transmission source of a transmission right request when the relaying device receives the transmission right request for requesting the transmission right from the one device, and broadcasts data received from the one device to which the transmission right is granted, the communication device comprising:

a communication unit for communicating with a plurality of communication devices and a transmitting device that transmits data;

a controller coupled with the communication unit, and capable of performing operations of;

causing the communication unit to transmit to the relaying device a transmission right grant request for requesting the grant of the transmission right to the transmitting device that communicates with the relaying device and transmits data to the relaying device; and

causing the communication unit to transmit to the relaying device an operation command for operating the transmitting device.