Patent ID: 7356582
Filing Date: 2008-04-08
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An electronic apparatus comprising: a communication monitoring unit configured to monitor communication status of a communication device connected to the electronic apparatus; a storage unit configured to store a link table that includes a device list indicative of communication devices connected to the electronic apparatus, the link table further including link lists each indicative of a next candidate communication device to be used when a corresponding one of the communication devices listed in the device list is disabled from communication, each of the link lists further including items indicative of one or more candidate communication devices and their priorities; a user interface configured to allow a user to set contents of each of the link lists stored in the storage unit by providing a screen that allows the user to specify one or more candidate communication devices and their priorities in automatic switching and, for each of the communication devices listed in the device list, enabling one of the candidate communication devices in accordance with their priorities when a corresponding one of the communication devices listed in the device list is disabled from communication; and a switch control unit configured to switch to one of the plurality of communication devices, on the basis of the communication statuses of the communication devices obtained from the communication monitoring unit and the information stored in the storage unit.