Patent ID: 7764613

Claim:
A communication method comprising: dividing data into a plurality of data blocks with a transmitter device; selecting a first portion of said data blocks to transfer from the transmitter device to a receiver device via a relay device; computing, with said transmitter device, a data amount of a second portion of said data blocks that remain to be transferred from said transmitter device to said receiver device via said relay device; transmitting from said transmitter device to said receiver device via said relay device said first portion of said data blocks together with inquiry data that includes at least said computed data amount; extracting from said first portion of said data blocks said inquiry data with said relay device; relaying said first portion of said data blocks to said receiver device with said relay device; and notifying said transmitter device by said relay device, in response to said inquiry data extracted at said relay device, of permission to transmit said second portion of said data blocks of said computed data amount in a case that said relay device is capable of relaying said second portion of said data blocks of said computed data amount.