Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A multimedia communications apparatus allows a multimedia personal computer to freely select a unit with which to communicate, so that the circuit usage efficiency of a network connected to the multimedia communications apparatus will be increased. The multimedia communications apparatus has a packet generator/separator, a packet type detector, a controller, and a table. The table stores data representing the correspondence between addresses of interfaces of the multimedia personal computer and AV devices and addresses thereof on the network. For communications, the controller refers to the table to establish logic paths from a unit with which to communicate and a transmission range depending on multimedia such as moving-image data, sound data, or the like to be transmitted, and rewrites the headers of packets based on the established logic paths. The packet type detector captures empty packets required for each session of communications, and the packet generator/separator updates a destination unit address, inserts multimedia information, and transmits the packets to the destination unit address. Upon completion of the transmission, the packet generator/separator releases the packets from the dedicated state.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim