Communication method, apparatus, system and computer program

Abstract

A communication system for making communication devices on a network separately transmit annunciation signals, said system comprising a control unit for controlling proportion of transmission of the annunciation signals of each communication device based upon device information of at least two communication devices. This makes it possible to control transmission that the power consumption signal in such a manner that the power consumption of the overall system is optimized.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a network in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a digital still camera;

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a printer;

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram of a processing sequence in a first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating operation of a digital still camera according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating operation of a digital still camera and printer according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram of a processing sequence in a second embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating operation of a digital still camera according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating operation of a digital still camera and printer according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating operation of a terminal that starts processing for gathering device information in a third embodiment; and

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating operation of a terminal that receives a device-information inquiry in the third embodiment.

Claims

1. A communication method of a communication device which is connected with other communication devices through a network and separately transmits annunciation signals in conjunction with other communication devices, comprising a control step of controlling a proportion of the annunciation signals transmitted by the communication device and the other communication devices, based upon device information of the other communication devices.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an acquisition step of acquiring the device information of the other communication devices; wherein said control step controls the proportion of transmission of the annunciation signal based upon device information acquired at said acquisition step.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a parameter that decides the frequency of transmission of the annunciation signal of each communication device is set in each communication device; and the proportion of transmission of the annunciation signal is controlled in accordance with the value of the parameter.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising: a discrimination step of discriminating a communication device for which the parameter will be changed, based upon the device information of the other communication devices; anda decision step of deciding the value of the parameter that will be set in the communication device discriminated at said discrimination step.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising a step of querying the other communication devices in relation to a change to the value of the parameter decided at said decision step; wherein control of transmission of the annunciation signal is performed based upon a response to the inquiry.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the device information includes the value of a parameter that decides the frequency with which the annunciation signal is transmitted by another communication device, and/or information relating to ability to change the parameter.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the device information includes status of supply of power.

8. A communication device which is connected with other communication devices through a network and separately transmits annunciation signals in conjunction with the other communication devices, said apparatus comprising a discrimination unit for discriminating a communication device for which frequency of transmission of the annunciation signal be changed, based upon the device information of the other communication devices; wherein proportion of the annunciation signal transmitted by each communication device is controlled by changing the frequency of transmission of the annunciation signal transmitted by the communication device discriminated by said discrimination unit.

9. A communication system for making communication devices on a network separately transmit annunciation signals, said system comprising a control unit for controlling proportion of transmission of the annunciation signals of each communication device based upon device information of at least two communication devices.

10. A computer program for causing a computer to execute a communication method of a communication device which is connected with other communication devices through a network and separately transmits annunciation signals in conjunction with other communication devices, comprising a control step of controlling a proportion of the annunciation signal that the communication device and the other communication devices based upon device information of the other communication devices.