Communication device and method for controlling communication device

• US 7,286,553 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2002
• Issued: 10/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Murata Machinery Limited (Muratec)
• Original Assignee: Murata Machinery Limited (Muratec)
• Inventors: Tanimoto, Yoshifumi
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, BRENDA H
• Application Number:
  US10/298,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20030103492A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,800 Days
• Field of Search: 370/431, 370/455, 370/461, 370/462, 370/464, 370/465, 370/471, 370/487, 370493-495, 370/395.3, 370/395.5, 370/395.31, 370/401, 370/395.4, 370/437
• US Class Current: 370/431
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32416 Storage of instructions or retrieval of prestored instructions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32427 Optimising routing, e.g. for minimum cost
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32678 Performing substitution, e.g. substitute reception or substituting a corrupted line of data H04N1/32384 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33307 prior to start of transmission, input or output of the picture signal only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33346 adapting to a particular standardised protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33369 Storage of mode or retrieval of prestored mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33321 Image or page size, e.g. A3, A4
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33328 Resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33357 Compression mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33364 Type of modulation; Type of channel, e.g. digital or analog; Type of communication, e.g. half-duplex or full-duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33378 Type or format of data, e.g. colour or B/W, halftone or binary, computer image file or facsimile data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33392 Non-standard capability, e.g. relay, mail-box

Abstract

A communication device includes a communication unit that carries out communications via a plurality communication channels and a plurality of communication protocols and a storage unit storing ability management information that registers a plurality of groups of specifying information for specifying another communication device, a communication channel and a communication protocol used by the other communication device, and identification information used in the communication channel and the communication protocol. The communication device also includes a controller for selecting the communication channel, the communication protocol, and the identification information corresponding to the specifying information of a receiving communication device, from registered information within an ability management table, and for carrying out the communication by the communication unit.

Claims

1. A communication device comprising:

a communication unit that carries out communications via a plurality communication channels and a plurality of communication protocols;

a storage unit storing

ability management information that registers a plurality of groups of specifying information for specifying another communication device, a communication channel and a communication protocol used by the other communication device, and identification information used in the communication channel and the communication protocol, and

communication management information including communication result information that is independent of the communication channel and the communication protocol used during the communication; and

a controller for selecting the communication channel, the communication protocol, and the identification information corresponding to the specifying information of a receiving communication device, from registered information within an ability management table, and for carrying out the communication by the communication unit, and wherein the controller forms the communication management information for each communication and has the formed communication management information held by the storage unit.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the controller selects registered information from a plurality of registered information corresponding to the specifying information in accordance with a prescribed priority order.

3. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the prescribed priority order is an order of ascending communication costs.

4. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the prescribed priority order is an order of decreasing communication speed.

5. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the prescribed priority order can be registered in the ability management table.

6. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the controller selects registered information next in order based on the prescribed priority order and carries out a communication when an initial communication fails using the registered information selected based on the prescribed priority order.

7. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the ability management table further registers information relating to a receiving ability of each of the communication devices or for each communication channel and communication protocol of the communication device, and the controller selects the registered information registered with information relating to the receiving ability most suitable in the communication, when there is a plurality of registered information corresponding to the receiving communication device in the ability management table.

8. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the controller searches from the ability management table, a relay communication device that can carry out a communication by the communication channel and the communication protocol that can be communicated by the communication unit and the receiving communication device, indicates the searched relay communication device to relay the communication to the receiving communication device, and carries out the communication with the relay communication device.

9. The communication device according to claim 8, wherein the controller selects registered information from a plurality of registered information based on a prescribed priority order when there is a plurality of registered information corresponding to the relay communication device in the ability management table.

10. The communication device according to claim 9, wherein the prescribed priority order is an order of ascending communication costs.

11. The communication device according to claim 9, wherein the prescribed priority order is an order of decreasing communication speed.

12. The communication device according to claim 9, wherein the prescribed priority order can be registered in the ability management table.

13. The communication device according to claim 9, wherein the controller selects the registered information next in order based on the prescribed priority order, and carries out a communication when an internal communication fails using the registered information selected in the priority order.

14. The communication device according to claim 8, wherein the ability management table can further register information related to a receiving ability for each communication device or for each communication channel and communication protocol of the communication device , and the controller selects the registered information registered with information relating to the receiving ability most suitable in the communication, when there is a plurality of registered information corresponding to the relay communication device in the ability management table.

15. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the controller includes a function for carrying out re-communication by using an alternative communication channel or communication protocol in the case of a failure in the communication using certain communication channels and communication protocol, and forms one communication management information for a first communication and for one or a plurality of times of re-communications.

16. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the controller forms one communication management information when the communication is indicated for a plurality of destinations and the communication is carried out by using a plurality of communication channels or a plurality of communication protocols.

17. A communication device comprising:

a communication unit that carries out communications via a plurality communication channels and a plurality of communication protocols;

a storage unit storing ability management information that registers a plurality of groups of specifying information for specifying another communication device, a communication channel and a communication protocol used by the other communication device, and identification information used in the communication channel and the communication protocol; and

a controller for selecting the communication channel, the communication protocol, and the identification information corresponding to the suecifying information of a receiving communication device, from registered information within an ability management table, and for carrying out the communication by the communication unit, wherein;

the storage unit stores communication management information;

an outputting unit outputs information;

the controller forms the communication management information for each communication and has the formed communication management information held by the storage unit; and

when the communication management information is output by the outputting unit, the control unit converts the communication management information into output information including communication result information independent of the communication channel and the communication protocol used during the communication.