Patent ID: 8462700
Filing Date: 2013-06-11
Classification: A63F,H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A terminal device that communicates with a server device or a second terminal device, the terminal device comprising: a communication unit that attempts a connection in an ad-hoc mode or in an infrastructure mode with the second terminal device, and (a) identifies a communication counterparty between the terminal device and the second terminal device through unique identification information of the communication counterparty in the ad-hoc mode when the connection is established in the ad-hoc mode, and (b) identifies a communication counterparty between the terminal device and second terminal device through unique identification information of the communication counterparty and an address assigned to the communication counterparty in a computer communication network in the infrastructure mode when the connection is established in the infrastructure mode; an activity unit that exchanges activity information to and from the second terminal device that becomes available to advance a cooperative activity based on an instruction from a user when a connection is established in the ad-hoc mode or the infrastructure mode; a memory unit that stores the unique identification information of the second terminal device that advances the cooperative activity together with the terminal device when a connection in the ad-hoc mode with the second terminal device is established; a request transmitting unit that transmits an introduction request to the server device when a connection in the infrastructure mode is established with the second terminal device; a response receiving unit that receives an introduction response which is transmitted from the server device and specifies a pair of unique identification information of the second terminal device having transmitted an introduction request to the server device and an address of the second terminal device in the computer communication network; and an address acquiring unit that acquires an address included in a pair, having unique identification information of the second terminal device that matches unique identification information stored in the memory unit, among pairs specified in the introduction responses, and wherein the communication unit (c) enables a communication with the second terminal device based on the unique identification information of the second terminal device acquired at connection establishment, when a connection is established in the ad-hoc mode, and (d) enables a communication with the second terminal device based on the acquired address when a connection is established in the infrastructure mode, wherein the activity unit prevents communication in the infrastructure mode unless communication had previously been enabled in the ad-hoc mode.