Patent ID: 6888796

Claim:
A communication connecting device, which includes a function of a sending communication terminal directly connected to an IP (Internet Protocol) network, for controlling a communication rate of data to send to a receiving communication terminal via said IP network, said device comprising: a data storage for storing the data to be sent; a packetizer for dividing the data read out of said data storage into packets having a preselected size each; a size information storage storing information representative of the preselected size for providing said packetizer with said information; a rate control circuit for counting a preselected period of time after a start of transmission of the packets or a period of time up to a time when a preselected number of packets are fully sent, calculating a communication rate on the basis of said period of time, comparing said communication rate with a communication rate determined in accordance with a protocol assigned to the receiving communication terminal, and controlling said packetizer in accordance with a result of comparison; and an interface connected to the IP network for sending the packets while adjusting said packets.