Network system and communication device
First Claim
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1. A network system comprising:
- at least first and second communication devices connected in a network,wherein the first communication device includes;
inquiry means for inquiring the attributes of the second communication device to the second communication device via the network,the second communication device includes;
attribute holding means for holding the attributes; and
search means for searching for the attributes held in the attribute holding means in response to the inquiry and responds back with the search result to the inquiry means, andthe attribute holding means and the search means operate in a data link layer, the data link layer being one of a plurality of layers of an Open System Interconnection reference model for layered network communications.
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Abstract
A network system includes at least first and second communication devices connected in a network. The first communication device includes an inquiry device for inquiring the attributes of the second communication device to the second communication device via the network. The second communication device includes an attribute holding device for holding the attributes and a search device for searching for the attributes held in the attribute holding device in response to the inquiry and responds back with the search result to the inquiry device. The attribute holding device and the search device operate in a data link layer.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A network system comprising:
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at least first and second communication devices connected in a network, wherein the first communication device includes; inquiry means for inquiring the attributes of the second communication device to the second communication device via the network, the second communication device includes; attribute holding means for holding the attributes; and search means for searching for the attributes held in the attribute holding means in response to the inquiry and responds back with the search result to the inquiry means, and the attribute holding means and the search means operate in a data link layer, the data link layer being one of a plurality of layers of an Open System Interconnection reference model for layered network communications. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A communication device, which is one of a plurality of communication devices connected in a network, the communication device comprising:
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attribute holding means for holding the attributes of the target communication device; and search means for searching for the attributes held in the attribute holding means in response to an inquiry from another communication device via the network and responding back the search result to the other communication device via the network, wherein the attribute holding means and the search means operate in a data link layer, the data link layer being one of a plurality of layers of an Open System Interconnection reference model for layered network communications. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A processing method through a data link layer for use with a communication device, which is one of a plurality of communication devices connected in a network, the communication device comprising attribute holding means for holding the attributes of the target communication device, the processing method comprising the steps of:
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receiving an inquiry from another communication device via the network; searching for the attributes held in the attribute holding means in response to the inquiry, the attribute holding means operating in the data link layer being one of a plurality of layers of an Open System Interconnection reference model for layered network communications; and responding back the search result to the other communication device via the network.
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18. A processing method through a data link layer for use with a communication device, which is one of a plurality of communication devices connected in a network, the communication device comprising attribute holding means for holding the attributes of the target communication device, and the attributes of the communication device containing information indicating whether or not the services provided by the target communication device are permitted, the processing method comprising the steps of:
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receiving an inquiry that targets the permitted services from another communication device via the network; searching for the attributes held in the attribute holding means by targeting the permitted services in response to the inquiry, the attribute holding means operating in the data link layer being one of a plurality of layers of an Open System Interconnection reference model for layered network communications; and responding back the search result to the other communication device via the network.
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19. A processing method through a data link layer for use with a communication device, which is one of a plurality of communication devices connected in a network, the communication device comprising attribute holding means for holding the attributes of the target communication device and higher-order layer processing means for processing layers at an order higher than a data link layer in the target communication device, the processing method comprising the steps of:
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allowing the higher-order layer processing means to be placed in a standby status; receiving an inquiry from another communication device via the network; searching for the attributes held in the attribute holding means in response to the inquiry; responding back the search result to the other communication device via the network; receiving a return request from the other communication device via the network; and returning the higher-order layer processing means from the standby status in response to the inquiry.
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20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a program that when executed by a computer based communication device, which is one of a plurality of communication devices connected in a network, the communication device comprising attribute holding means for holding the attributes of the target communication device, causes the communication device to perform processing for a data link layer comprising the steps of:
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receiving an inquiry from another communication device via the network; searching for the attributes held in the attribute holding means in response to the inquiry, the attribute holding means operating in the data link layer being one of a plurality of layers of an Open System Interconnection reference model for layered network communications; and responding back the search result to the other communication device via the network.
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21. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a program that when executed by a computer based communication device, which is one of a plurality of communication devices connected in a network, the communication device comprising attribute holding means for holding the attributes of the target communication device, the attributes of the communication device containing information indicating whether or not the services provided by the target communication device are permitted, causes the communication device to perform processing for a data link layer comprising the steps of:
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receiving an inquiry that targets the permitted services from another communication device via the network; searching for the attributes held in the attribute holding means by targeting the permitted services in response to the inquiry, the attribute holding means operating in the data link layer being one of a plurality of layers of an Open System Interconnection reference model for layered network communications; and responding back the search result to the other communication device via the network.
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22. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a program that when executed by a computer based communication device, which is one of a plurality of communication devices connected in a network, the communication device comprising attribute holding means for holding the attributes of the target communication device and higher-order layer processing means for processing layers at an order higher than a data link layer in the target communication device, causes the communication device to perform processing for a data link layer comprising the steps of:
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allowing the higher-order layer processing means to be placed in a standby status; receiving an inquiry from another communication device via the network; searching for the attributes held in the attribute holding means in response to the inquiry; responding back the search result to the other communication device via the network; receiving a return request from the other communication device via the network; and returning the higher-order layer processing means from the standby status in response to the request.
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23. A communication device, which is one of a plurality of communication devices connected in a network, the communication device comprising:
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an attribute holding section holding the attributes of the target communication device; and a search section searching for the attributes held in the attribute holding section in response to an inquiry from another communication device via the network and responding back the search result to the other communication device via the network, wherein the attribute holding section and the search section operate in a data link layer, the data link layer being one of a plurality of layers of an Open System Interconnection reference model for layered network communications.
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Specification