Patent ID: 7206088
Filing Date: 2007-04-17
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A relay server comprising: communicating means for communicating with a plurality of network devices using TCP/IP connections that are established and held in response to authenticated login demands from the plurality of network devices, and for communicating with a different relay server; and connection information holding means for holding connection information of the plurality of network devices capable of communicating by the communicating means; wherein TCP/IP connections are authenticated by comparing the login demand with the connection information stored in the connection information holding means, and wherein the communicating means refers to the connection information based on a connection demand from one of the plurality of network devices having a held TCP/IP connection with the relay server, and relays communication via the different relay server to another one of the plurality of network devices having a held TCP/IP connection with the different relay server.