JP2003264570A - Data acquisition device, data acquisition method, recording medium recording program for executing the data acquisition method, and communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow respective computers connected to a different LAN to acquire information for connecting to the respective computers so as to easily perform communication between the computers connected to the different LAN without depending upon a central processing unit such as a server. <P>SOLUTION: A computer (data acquiring device) 10 has a local group data acquiring means 11 for acquiring group data (information for specifying a computer) of computers connected to the LAN to which the computer itself 10 belongs, a remote computer connecting means 12 for connecting to a computer belonging to a different LAN, a local group data transmitting means 13 for transmitting the acquired group data to a connection computer, a remote group data acquiring means 14 for receiving group data in the different LAN from the connection computer, and a remote group data distributing means 15 for distributing the received group data to a computer connected to the LAN to which the computer 10 itself belongs. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data acquisition device for performing broadcast and multicast communication, a data acquisition method, a recording medium recording a program for executing the data acquisition method, and a communication device. Is suitable for fields such as education and meetings where multiple people need to exchange ideas and collaborate,
The present invention relates to a data acquisition device for performing broadcast and multicast communication, a data acquisition method, a recording medium recording a program for executing the data acquisition method, and a communication device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as network-related technologies have been developed, computers used by individuals are connected to a LAN (local area network) in an office.
It is becoming commonplace for communications to occur over networks. Several Ls for medium and large offices
The ANs are interconnected by a router or the like to form a WAN (Wide Area Network).

In the current network environment, basically, one-to-one communication between a client and a server or between clients, that is, unicast communication is the main, but on the other hand, broadcast or multicast. A technique for efficiently performing one-to-many communication such as the above has been established.

For example, when considering an application such as a conference system, a multimedia chat, and an education system, broadcast or multicast technology is indispensable. This is because these applications need to send the same data to multiple terminals at the same time. For example, if it is a conference system, it is a conference with a remote office, if it is an education system, it is a joint lesson with a remote classroom, or if it is a multimedia chat, it can be exchanged with terminals around the world. If it is possible to communicate with a terminal that is distant in the network path, the usefulness of the terminal becomes immeasurable.

However, LAs in the above-mentioned offices, etc.
Broadcast or multicast technology may not be applicable to the unit of N. For example, a LAN
In some cases, inconvenience may occur in the case of performing communication such as broadcast or multicast between a computer belonging to the computer and a computer belonging to a different LAN.

[0006] For example, taking multicast as an example,
According to the multicast specification, TT is used when transmitting packets.
By setting L (Time To Live: how many times it passes through the router), it is possible to multicast data to the world-wide network (TTL =
255). However, if a network device such as a router to which the LAN is connected does not support multicast, multicast cannot be used in a LAN connected to a network device that does not support multicast, and other LANs cannot be used. It is not possible to receive a multicast from a computer connected to. Therefore, it is not possible to perform multicast between computers connected to different LANs.

[0007] Taking broadcast as an example, for example, when data is transmitted to an IP address: 255.255.255.255, the data is transmitted to all computers in the LAN to which the computer that has broadcast is connected. . However, data is not transmitted to computers connected to different LANs. Therefore,
Broadcasting cannot be performed between computers connected to different LANs.

As described above, an application such as a conference system, an education system, and a multimedia chat is indispensable to perform broadcast or multicast. However, in communication between computers connected to different LANs, it is necessary to use the network system. Because it is not possible to broadcast or multicast due to the limitation of the above, it is hard to say that it has a really convenient function for the current user, and the limitation is that applications such as conference systems, educational systems, and multimedia chat are quite difficult. It is considered to be one of the reasons why it has not spread.

Therefore, the following techniques have been proposed as a method of transmitting and receiving data between different LANs.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-103050 (broadcasting apparatus and method) provides a broadcasting apparatus and method for performing broadcast communication in a client / server system in a WAN or the like. In the method of the present invention, different LA
In order to broadcast between the computers connected to N, a server for broadcasting is required. In other words, it cannot broadcast unless a dedicated server is provided.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-165831 (multipoint video conference system) discloses a multipoint video conference system that provides a natural image and a sound image with a high sense of presence to each participant. It is a multipoint video conference system provided with a central control device (server) for controlling the video and audio of. As in the present invention, a conference system basically requires a server for performing central control such as broadcasting, which is very large in terms of the system, and the system itself is very complicated and expensive. There are many. In addition, complicated settings are required to start up the system, and there is a large burden in terms of server management and maintenance after the start of operation.

Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-65722 (UDP (User Da of a star type network system
(multicast method) is a network in a star-type network in which a host (terminal having a terminal under its control) or a terminal is provided in a master station or a slave station connected to the master station, with the master station as the center. It is proposed that the host or terminal connected to the host multicasts the same UDP message to a plurality of hosts or terminals connected under the control of different slave stations. According to the present invention, a slave station is provided with a host or terminal under the slave station, and a U received by the host or terminal.
If a table that correlates with the port number of the DP message is provided, the slave station that receives the UDP message broadcast by the master station checks whether the port number of the UDP message is listed in the table, and if the same port number matches The multicast message can be received only by receiving the UDP message, but it is specialized for wireless communication using satellite communication.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and does not depend on a central processing unit such as a server, but a conference system between computers connected to different LANs. , Obtain information for each computer connected to different LAN so that communication such as broadcast and multicast, which are indispensable for applications such as educational system and multimedia chat, can be easily performed. The purpose is to do.

Further, the computers in the same LAN notify each other of information for identifying themselves, so that the same LAN
It is intended that each computer connected to the computer acquires information that identifies the computer of each computer.

Further, each computer connected to a different LAN is provided with information for identifying the computer, such as a computer name and a network address, so that the computers connected to the different LAN can communicate with each other. The purpose is to eliminate the need to specify the IP address.

Further, by adding the process ID to the information for identifying the computer so that each computer can perform the process according to the process ID, the process intended by the sender is performed at the destination of the computer information. The purpose is to let them.

[0016]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data acquisition device interconnected with a plurality of computers via a local area network, wherein the data acquisition device is connected to the local area network. Computer information acquisition means for acquiring information identifying a connected computer, means for connecting to a computer connected to a local area network different from the local area network, and identification of the computer acquired by the connected computer Means for transmitting information for identifying the data acquisition device and the information for identifying the data acquisition device, and a means for receiving from the connected computer the information for identifying the computer connected to the different local area network, which is acquired by the connected computer in advance. When is obtained by further comprising a means for delivering the information specifying the computer connected to the different local area network is received to other computers connected to the local area network.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the computer information acquisition means specifies the data acquisition device by means of broadcasting or multicasting information specifying the data acquisition device to other computers. Means for receiving information specifying the computer from the computer that has received the information.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the information for identifying the computer or the data acquisition device includes a user name, a computer name, a network address, a subnet mask and the like. It was done.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first to third aspects of the invention, a process ID is added to the information for specifying the computer or the data acquisition device, and the computer or the data acquisition device is It is characterized in that it has means for performing processing according to the processing ID when receiving information specifying a computer or the data acquisition device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, computer information for obtaining information specifying a computer connected to the local area network by a data acquisition device interconnected with a plurality of computers via the local area network. An acquisition step, a step of connecting to a computer connected to a local area network different from the local area network,
Transmitting the acquired information identifying the computer and the information identifying the data acquisition device to the connected computer, and identifying the computer connected to the different local area network acquired by the connected computer in advance. Comprising receiving information from the connected computer and distributing the received information identifying the computer connected to the different local area network to other computers connected to the local area network. It is characterized by.

The invention of claim 6 is a recording medium recording a program for executing the data acquisition method of claim 5.

The invention of claim 7 is a communication device characterized in that communication is performed using the data acquisition device of claims 1 to 4.

[0023]

1 is a block diagram showing the hardware of a general personal computer. The personal computer 10 includes a CPU 1 that performs information processing, a ROM 2 that stores programs used during information processing, a primary storage device such as a RAM 3 that stores data used during information processing, and a hard disk that stores processing results and the like. A secondary storage device such as a (HD) 4, a network interface 5 for exchanging information by communication with another external personal computer, and an output device 6 such as a display for displaying processing progress and results to a user.
And an input device 7 such as a keyboard and a mouse through which a user inputs commands and information to a personal computer, stores and distributes information outside the personal computer 10, and obtains information from outside the personal computer 10. A removable medium such as a CD-ROM 8 for connection is connected, and communication between them is controlled by the bus controller 9.

In general, in the personal computer 10, when the user turns on the power, the CPU 1 activates a program called a loader in the ROM 2, and the hard disk 4 executes a program for managing computer hardware and software called an operating system in the RAM.
3 is loaded and the operating system is started.

This operating system starts a program, reads information, saves information, etc. according to a user's operation. Programs running on these operating systems are usually called applications. Typical operating systems include Windows (registered trademark), UNIX (registered trademark), and Mac OS.

Data transmission from the personal computer 10 to an external personal computer is performed by sending data to the network interface 5 and the network interface 5 outputting a signal to a local area network (LAN). In addition, from an external personal computer to the personal computer 1
The reception of data to 0 is performed by determining whether or not the signal received from the LAN is required by the network interface 5, fetching the required data, and discarding it if unnecessary. Personal computer 10
And any communication with an external personal computer,
All go through this network interface 5.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram for explaining the data acquisition device of the present invention. The personal computer (data acquisition device) 10 includes a local group data acquisition unit 11, a remote computer connection unit 12, a local group data transmission unit 13, a remote group data acquisition unit 14, and a remote group data distribution unit 1.
It consists of 5. Local group data acquisition means 11
Is the L connected to the personal computer 10 itself.
Information specifying a personal computer from a plurality of other personal computers (not shown) connected to an AN (not shown) (hereinafter, information specifying this computer is referred to as computer information. Group information is obtained by combining the computer information of a personal computer and its own computer information). The remote computer connection means 12 is a personal computer (not shown) connected to a LAN (not shown) different from the LAN to which the personal computer 10 itself is connected.
The personal computer 10 is connected to.

The local group data transmitting means 13 is
The group data acquired by the local group data acquisition means 11 is transmitted to a personal computer connected to a different LAN to which the personal computer 10 is connected by the remote computer connection means 12. Further, the remote group data acquisition means 14 receives from the personal computer connected by the remote computer connection means 12 the group data regarding the personal computers connected to different LANs, which the personal computer acquired in advance. The distribution means 15 distributes the group data in different LANs acquired by the remote group data acquisition means 14 to a computer connected to the same LAN as the personal computer 10. As a result, the personal computer 10 becomes
It is possible to acquire group data in the LAN to which the personal computer 10 is connected and group data in a different LAN to which the computer to which the personal computer 10 is connected are connected.

FIG. 3 shows that the data acquisition device of the present invention has the same L
It is a figure which shows the example of the data transmitted from a data acquisition device to the computer connected to the same LAN, when acquiring computer information from the computer connected to AN. When the data acquisition device acquires computer information from a computer connected to the same LAN,
First, the computer information of the data acquisition device itself is transmitted from the data acquisition device to a personal computer connected to the same LAN, and the computer information of the personal computer is acquired from the personal computer. Here, the computer information includes, for example, a network address, a computer name, a user name, etc.
When the data acquisition device transmits the computer information to the personal computer, the process ID may be added to the computer information and transmitted as shown in FIG.
The process ID indicates a process to be performed by the computer to which the computer information is transmitted, and is, for example, a computer information transmission request ID or a group data request ID.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of acquiring and registering mutual computer information between computers connected to the same LAN. FIG. 4 shows a case where the two computers 10a and 10b acquire mutual computer information by the local group data acquisition means 11 shown in FIG. 2 and register the acquired computer information. Computer 10
a and 10b are the data processing units 110a and 11a, respectively.
0b and network interfaces 120a, 12
With 0b. The data processing units 110a and 110b are
Data creation units 111a and 11 that create data to be transmitted
1b and a data registration unit 112 that registers the received data
a and 112b, and the network interfaces 120a and 120b are data transmission units 121a and 121 for transmitting data to other personal computers.
b, and data receiving units 122a and 122b for receiving data from other personal computers. The computers 10a and 10b are connected via the LAN 20.

The computer information transmitted and received between the computer 10a and the computer 10b consists of a network address, a computer name, a user name, etc. as shown in FIG. 3, and a processing ID is added to this computer information. And send it to the other computer.
Here, assuming that the process ID is a computer information transmission request ID, when the computer information and the process ID (computer information transmission request ID) are transmitted from the computer 10a to the computer 10b, the process ID received by the computer 10b is computer information. It is possible to notify each other of computer information by interpreting the transmission request ID and returning the computer information of itself as a reception response to the computer 10a.

First, the data creation unit 111a of the computer 10a uses its own computer information to obtain the computer information.
Data for notification to b is prepared and passed to the data transmission unit 121a of the network interface 120a (1). The process ID at this time is the computer information transmission request ID as described above. This data is transmitted to the computer 10b by the data transmission unit 121a, and L
The data is received by the data receiving unit 122b of the network interface 120b of the computer 10b via the AN 20 (2). At this time, the computer 10a transmits by multicast or broadcast.

Multicast and broadcast need only send data to a predetermined address (multicast address or broadcast address). Also, in order to receive the multicasted data, it must be registered in a predetermined multicast group. here,
Suppose you want to send by broadcast.

Next, the data (computer information of the computer 10a and computer information transmission request ID) is passed to the data processing unit 110b of the computer 10b (3), and the computer information of the computer 10a is registered in the data registration unit 112b of the computer 10b. It

By interpreting the process ID, it can be understood that it is the computer information transmission request ID. Therefore, the computer 10b prepares its own computer information in the data creating section 111b, and the network interface 1
The data is passed to the data transmission unit 121b of 20b (4).
The data transmitting unit 121b sends the data to the computer 10
When transmitted to a, the data receiving unit 122a of the network interface 120a of the computer 10a receives the data (5). The transmission at this time may be multicast, broadcast, or unicast.
Here, it is assumed that the data is transmitted by broadcasting. The data received by the computer 10a is the data processing unit 110a.
(6), the computer information of the computer 10b is transferred to the computer 10a in the data registration unit 112a.
Be registered with.

FIG. 5 shows the data acquisition device of the present invention.
FIG. 5A is a diagram for explaining an example of a case where a plurality of computers connected to the same LAN acquire mutual computer information, and FIG. 5A shows the computer A to the other computers B, C and D. Figure 5 (B) when the computer information of computer A is broadcast
FIG. 6 is a diagram when computer B, which has received computer information from computer A, broadcasts to other computers A, C, and D. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of group data held by each computer as a result of the computer transmitting and receiving computer information to and from each other.

In the above-mentioned FIG. 4, an example of acquisition and registration of computer information between two computers is shown. However, in reality, computer information of each computer among several computers connected to the same LAN. Is acquired and registered. As shown in FIG. 5A, the computer A broadcasts so that the computers B, C, and D acquire and register the computer information of the computer A. Next, as illustrated in FIG. 5B, the computer information of the computer B is broadcast from the computer B that receives the computer information of the computer A, so that the computers A, C, and D acquire the computer information of the computer B. And register. Similarly, the computer information of each of the computers C and D is broadcast.

In this way, by broadcasting the computer information of each computer, the computer information of each other is registered in the other computers, and a group of computers sharing the computer information of each other (hereinafter referred to as a community). Is formed). Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the group data held by each computer is the computer A, B,
It becomes the computer information of C and D.

The above is the operation of acquiring computer information by the local group data acquisition means within the same LAN. In the present invention, the group data held by each other is then connected to a computer connected to another LAN. We have to exchange each other and grow the community. That is, the problem is how to share the group data of computers connected to different LANs. The method will be described below.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 explain the operation of the data acquisition device of the present invention when two different LANs are connected and the group data is shared between the computers connected to the two LANs. Figure for (A)
Is a diagram showing an example of group data held in advance by each computer of LAN 1, and FIG. 7 (B) is
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of group data held in advance by each computer of LAN2. FIG.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of data transmitted from the LAN 1 to the LAN 2, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of group data shared between the LAN 1 and the LAN 2.

Hereinafter, the computers A, B, C, and D, each of which has the group data shown in FIG. 7A, belong to the LAN 1, and the computer A includes the computers E, F, and G. A case will be described in which each computer is connected to a computer G belonging to LAN2 having group data as shown in FIG. 7B to acquire and share group data with each other.

Prior to the connection between LAN1 and LAN2, the IP address of the computer G connected to LAN2 and the like are acquired in advance by some means. afterwards,
First, the computer A designates the IP address of the computer G by using the remote computer connection means 12 in FIG. 2, and adds the process ID to the group data held by itself as shown in FIG. 7A. The created data as shown in FIG. 8 is unicast-transmitted to the computer G using the local group data transmission means 13. The process ID at this time is a group data request ID. Note that the unicast transmission here is, for example, I
A computer G is designated by displaying a P address input box and inputting the IP address of the computer G therein.

The computer G uses the remote group data acquisition means 14 to receive the group data of LAN1. The computer G registers the received group data in itself and uses the local group data transmission means 13 to carry out the LAN 2 owned by the computer G.
Group data of the above is transmitted to the computer A.
Further, the group data of LAN1 received from the computer A is broadcast by the remote group data distribution means 15 to notify each computer connected to LAN2. Each computer connected to LAN2 acquires and registers the group data of LAN1.

On the other hand, the computer A also receives the group data of LAN2 from the computer G by the remote group data acquisition means 14, registers the group data of LAN2 in itself, and broadcasts the group data of LAN2 by the remote group data distribution means 15. By doing so, each computer connected to the LAN 1 is notified. Each computer connected to LAN1 acquires and registers the group data of LAN2.

With the above processing, LAN1 and LAN
Group data of each computer connected to 2 becomes computer information of all computers connected to LAN1 and LAN2 as shown in FIG.
Communication between computers connected to different LANs, for example, computer B and computer F, can also be realized by using this computer information without specifying the IP address of each other.

A description will be given below of a communication device using the data acquisition device according to the present invention, in which computers in different LANs share respective computer information and computers connected to different LANs communicate with each other.

For example, when it is desired to broadcast from computer A to all computers, the broadcast address in LAN1 is designated and transmitted to the computers connected to LAN1. LAN
To the computer connected to 2, you can specify each computer and send it, but specify one of them and send the broadcast transmission request and the data to be sent as a set and send it to the specified computer You may broadcast it.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing computer information indicating a flag for identifying a LAN. A flag is added to the computer information shown in FIG. 9 to determine whether the computer is connected to a different LAN or a computer to which the LAN belongs. Figure 1
As an example, 0 indicates the computer information possessed by the computer E. As described above, when any one of the computers connected to different LANs is designated and broadcasted, in order to make it easy to determine whether or not the computers are connected to the same LAN, FIG.
It is good to prepare a flag as to whether it is local or not, as shown in.

It is also possible to use a subnet mask set in each LAN when broadcasting to a computer connected to a different LAN. If the subnet mask set in LAN2 is known, the network part and host part can be calculated together with the information of the IP address or network address of any computer connected to LAN2. Then, by setting all the bits of the host part to 1, the broadcast address in LAN 2 can be calculated. Therefore, by designating this broadcast address from the computer connected to LAN 1, the broadcast to the computer connected to LAN 2 is performed. It is possible.

For example, I of a computer with LAN2
Assuming that the P address is 133.139.205.45 and the subnet mask is 255.255.255.0, the network part of the IP address is the part where the bit of the subnet mask is 1, so 133.139. 20
5. The address 133.139.205.255 with all the bits of the host part set to 1 is the broadcast address. In order to perform the above processing, it is necessary to add the subnet mask information to the computer information and specify it together with the IP address or the network address.

Further, as already described, it is easy to specify a computer connected to another LAN and transmit the data by unicast. Normally, a single connection can only communicate with the connected computer, but in the present invention, the L to which the once connected computer belongs.
Information on all computers connected to the AN can be obtained. In other words, once connected, two LANs
Each computer of L is a LAN other than the LAN to which it belongs.
It can also have information on all computers connected to the AN. Therefore, even if the user does not know the IP address of the computer other than the connected computer, the information for the connection can be automatically obtained and the communication can be performed.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a selection panel displayed on the output device of the computer so that the user can select the other computer when unicasting to a computer connected to a different LAN. When performing unicast, a panel on which user names, computer names, IP addresses, etc. of computers connected to different LANs as shown in FIG. 11 are clearly displayed based on the computer information as shown in FIG. It may be displayed and the user may select it. Here, by including information other than the IP address such as the user name in the computer information,
Even if the user does not know the IP address of the other party who wants to unicast, the user can specify the computer by making a judgment based on the user name of the other party's computer.

As described above, according to the present invention, a computer group (community) in which each computer shares computer information by each computer connected to different LANs acquiring the information of each computer. ) Can be formed, so that communication such as unicast, multicast, broadcast, etc.
It can be easily realized without requiring a special server and without being tied to a unit of LAN.

[0054]

Advantageous Effects of the Invention According to Claims 1 and 5, each computer connected to a different LAN can acquire information specifying the computer of each computer, and the computer connected to another LAN. Direct communication is possible between them.

Effect on the Invention According to Claim 2 Computers in the same LAN notify each other of information specifying themselves by using broadcast or multicast, whereby each computer connected to the same LAN becomes a computer of each computer. It is possible to obtain the information that specifies.

Effect on Invention of Claim 3 Since each computer connected to a different LAN has information for identifying a computer, such as a computer name and a network address, the IP address does not have to be designated every time communication is performed. Also, it is possible to communicate between computers connected to different LANs.

Effect on Invention of Claim 4 Since the processing ID is added to the information for specifying the computer and each computer connected to a different LAN is caused to perform a predetermined processing according to the processing ID, the transmission of the computer information is performed. The processing intended by the sender can be performed first.

Effect on the Invention of Claim 6 By recording the method of acquiring the information specifying each computer among the computers connected to different LANs on the recording medium, each of the computers connected to different LANs. A method of acquiring information specifying a computer can be easily spread.

Effect on the Invention of Claim 7 By using a computer which has acquired information for identifying each computer among computers connected to different LANs, communication such as broadcasting and multicasting between computers connected to different LANs. It can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing hardware of a general personal computer.

FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram for explaining a data acquisition device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of data transmitted from a data acquisition device to a computer connected to the same LAN when the data acquisition device of the present invention acquires computer information from a computer connected to the same LAN. .

[Fig. 4] Between computers connected to the same LAN,
It is a figure for explaining operation at the time of mutually acquiring computer information and registering it.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an operation when a computer broadcasts computer information to other computers.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of group data included in each computer.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of group data held in advance by each computer connected to LAN1 and LAN2.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of data transmitted from LAN1 to LAN2.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of group data shared between LAN1 and LAN2.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing computer information to which a flag for identifying a LAN is added.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a selection panel displayed on an output device of a computer when unicasting to a computer connected to a different LAN.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... CPU, 2 ... ROM, 3 ... RAM, 4 ... Hard disk (HD), 5 ... Network interface, 6
... output device, 7 ... input device, 8 ... CD-ROM, 9 ... bus controller, 10, 10a, 10b ... personal computer (data acquisition device), 11 ... local group data acquisition means, 12 ... remote computer connection means, 13 ... local group data transmission means, 14 ... remote group data acquisition means, 15 ... remote group data distribution means, 20 ... local area networks (LAN), 110a, 110b ... data processing section, 11
1a, 111b ... Data creation unit, 112a, 112b ...
Data registration unit, 120a, 120b ... Network interface, 121a, 121b ... Data transmission unit, 1
22a, 122b ... Data receiving unit.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A data acquisition device interconnected with a plurality of computers via a local area network, the data acquisition device acquiring information specifying a computer connected to the local area network. Computer information acquisition means, means for connecting to a computer connected to a local area network different from the local area network, information specifying the computer acquired by the connected computer and information specifying the data acquisition device And a means for receiving from the connected computer information identifying the computer connected to the different local area network acquired by the connected computer in advance, and the received different local network Means for delivering information identifying a computer connected to a rear network to another computer connected to the local area network. 2. The computer information acquisition means specifies the computer from the means for broadcasting or multicasting the information specifying the data acquisition device to other computers, and the computer receiving the information specifying the data acquisition device. The data acquisition device according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit that receives information. 3. The data acquisition device according to claim 1, wherein the information for specifying the computer or the data acquisition device includes a computer name, a network address, and the like. 4. A process ID is added to the information for identifying the computer or the data acquisition device,
4. The computer or the data acquisition device has means for performing a process according to the process ID when receiving information specifying the computer or the data acquisition device. 1. The data acquisition device according to 1. 5. A computer information acquisition step, in which a data acquisition device interconnected with a plurality of computers via a local area network acquires information identifying a computer connected to the local area network, Connecting to a computer connected to a local area network different from the local area network; transmitting to the connected computer the information specifying the computer and the information specifying the data acquisition device; The computer that has acquired the information for identifying the computer connected to the different local area network in advance, and the received different local area network. And a step of delivering information specifying a computer connected to the work to another computer connected to the local area network. 6. A recording medium in which a program for executing the data acquisition method according to claim 5 is recorded. 7. A communication device, wherein communication is performed using the data acquisition device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.