Patent ID: 7809845
Filing Date: 2010-10-05
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for transmitting a command in a network to which a plurality of types of communication protocols may be applied, including at least a first type of communication protocol and a second type of communication protocol, the apparatus comprising: an inputting unit configured to input a command of a third type of communication protocol; a central processor coupled to a memory, the central processor including: a determining unit configured to determine whether the command input by the inputting unit is a search command to search for a device in the network or a control command to control the device, and a conversion unit configured to convert the command input by the inputting unit into a plurality of search commands corresponding to the plurality of types of communication protocols, if the determining unit determines that the command input by the inputting unit is the search command; a transmission unit configured to transmit the plurality of search commands across the network to the device in the network; and a receiving unit configured to receive a response transmitted across the network, in response to at least one of the plurality of search commands, by the device in the network, wherein the central processor further includes an associating unit configured to associate identification information corresponding to the device and identification information corresponding to the first type of communication protocol, if the response received by the receiving unit is transmitted by the device in response to the command of the first type of communication protocol, and to associate the identification information corresponding to the device and identification information corresponding to the second type of communication protocol, if the response received by the receiving unit is transmitted by the device in response to the command of the second type of communication protocol, wherein the conversion unit converts the command input by the inputting unit into a control command used in the first type of communication protocol and the transmission unit transmits the control command used in the first type of communication protocol to the device, if the determining unit determines that the command input by the inputting unit is the control command to control the device and determines that the identification information corresponding to the device and the identification information corresponding to the first type of communication protocol have been associated by the associating unit, wherein the conversion unit converts the command input by the inputting unit into a control command used in the second type of communication protocol and the transmission unit transmits the control command used in the second type of communication protocol to the device, if the determining unit determines that the command input by the inputting unit is the control command to control the device and determines that the identification information corresponding to the device and the identification information corresponding to the second type of communication protocol have been associated by the associating unit, wherein the conversion unit converts the command input by the inputting unit into a device search command used in the first type of communication protocol, and converts the command input by the inputting unit into a device search command used in the second type of communication protocol, if the determining unit determines that the command is a device search command to search for a device that satisfies a condition, wherein the transmission unit transmits the device search command used in the first type of communication protocol via the network, and the transmission unit transmits the device search command used in the second type of communication protocol via the network, if a response to the search command used in the first type of communication protocol is not received by the receiving unit from the device that satisfies the condition, and wherein the transmission unit transmits the device search command used in the first type of communication protocol via the network, and does not transmit the search command used in the second type of communication protocol via the network, if a response to the device search command used in the first type of communication protocol is received by the receiving unit from the device that satisfies the condition.