Communication method, communication system, relaying device and communication device

• US 8,139,568 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2009
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Iwayama, Noboru, Yamazaki, Kinya, Matsuda, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Jung, Min
• Application Number:
  US12/585,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20100004013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 923 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 using a plurality of communication devices and a relaying device that relays data transferred among the communication devices, a communication device transmitting to the relaying device a transmission right request for requesting a transmission right, which is one of commands associated with the transmission right of the communication device and transmitting data to the relaying device when the communication device is granted a transmission right by the relaying device, and the relaying device broadcasting the data received from the communication device to other of the communication devices, the communication method comprising:

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

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

granting, at the relaying device, the transmission right to the transmitting device based on the command, if the relaying device determines that the command is associated with the transmitting device; and

broadcasting data transmitted from the transmitting device to the communication devices via the relaying device.

2. A communication method 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:

transmitting from the communication device 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;

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

granting, at the relaying device, the transmission right to the transmitting device based on the command, if relaying device determines that it is the command associated with the transmitting device;

broadcasting data transmitted from the transmitting device to the plurality of communication devices through the relaying device; and

transmitting from the relaying device to the communication device communication information necessary for communication with the transmitting device.

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

transmitting from the communication device 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;

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

transmitting, based on the received communication information, from the communication device 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;

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

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

broadcasting data transmitted from the transmitting device to the plurality of communication devices through the relaying device.

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,

one of the communication devices including

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 of the transmitting device, which is one of the commands associated with the transmitting device, and

the relaying device including

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 the transmission right grant request is a command associated with the transmitting device;

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

causing the communication unit to broadcast data transmitted from the transmitting device to the plurality of communication devices.

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

determining whether 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

discarding the command, 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.

6. The communication system according to claim 4,

wherein the transmitting device further comprises a shooting unit, and

wherein the data are images shot by the shooting unit.

7. 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 communicate with the relaying device and communication devices and transmits data to the relaying device,

one of the communication devices including

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, and

the relaying device including

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 the transmission right grant request is a command associated with the transmitting device;

granting the transmission right to the transmitting device based on the command, if the controller determines that it is the command associated with 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 data transmitted from the transmitting device to the plurality of communication devices.

8. The communication system according to claim 7, wherein the transmitting device includes a controller capable of performing operations of

determining whether 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

discarding the received operation command, 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.

9. The communication system according to claim 7,

wherein the transmitting device further comprises a shooting unit, and

wherein the data are images shot by 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,

one of the communication devices including

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 includes

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 being further capable of performing an operation of causing the communication unit to transmit, based on the received communication information, 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 including

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, and

the controller of the relaying device being 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 data transmitted from the transmitting device to the plurality of communication devices.

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

determining whether 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

discarding the operation command received, 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.

12. The communication system according to claim 10,

wherein the transmitting device further comprises a shooting unit, and

wherein the data are images shot by the shooting unit.

13. A relaying device comprising:

a communication unit that communicates with a plurality of communication devices and a transmitting device which 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 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 the transmission right grant request is a command associated with the transmitting device;

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

causing the communication unit to broadcast data transmitted from the transmitting device to the plurality of communication devices.

14. A relaying device comprising:

a communication unit that communicates with a plurality of communication device and a transmitting device which 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 the transmission right grant request is a command associated with the transmitting device;

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

causing the communication unit to broadcast data transmitted from the transmitting device to the plurality of communication devices; 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 that communicates with a plurality of communication devices and a transmitting device which transmits data; and

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.