Data transmission system, apparatus and method for processing information, apparatus and method for relaying data, storage medium, and program

An information processing apparatus connected to a network, for managing data transmission from a transmitter to a receiver, comprising:

• storage means for storing address information of the transmitter, a first relaying apparatus connected to the transmitter, the receiver, and a second relaying apparatus connected to the receiver;
• address information management means for managing the address information stored in the storage means;
• authentication means for authenticating a user of the transmitter;
• first supply means for supplying request information supplied from the first relaying apparatus to the second relaying apparatus, the request information requesting determining whether transmission of data can be accepted;
• and
• second supply means for supplying, to the first relaying apparatus, data supplied from the second relaying apparatus and indicating the result of the determination performed in response to the request information.

An information processing method for an information processing apparatus connected to a network to manage data transmission from a transmitter to a receiver, comprising:

• a storage step of storing of address information of the transmitter, a first relaying apparatus connected to the transmitter, the receiver, and a second relaying apparatus connected to the receiver;
• an address information management step of managing the address information stored in the storage step;
• an authentication step of authenticating a user of the transmitter;
• a first supply step of supplying request information supplied from the first relaying apparatus to the second relaying apparatus, the request information requesting determining whether transmission of data can be accepted;
• and
• a second supply step of supplying, to the first relaying apparatus, data supplied from the second relaying apparatus and indicating the result of the determination performed in response to the request information.

A storage medium including a computer-readable program stored therein for controlling an information processing apparatus connected to a network, said information processing apparatus serving to manage data transmission from a transmitter to a receiver, said program comprising:

• a storage step of storing of address information of the transmitter, a first relaying apparatus connected to the transmitter, the receiver, and a second relaying apparatus connected to the receiver;
• an address information management step of managing the address information stored in the storage step;
• an authentication step of authenticating a user of the transmitter;
• a first supply step of supplying request information supplied from the first relaying apparatus to the second relaying apparatus, the request information requesting determination of whether transmission of data can be accepted;
• and
• a second supply step of supplying, to the first relaying apparatus, data supplied from the second relaying apparatus and indicating the result of the determination performed in response to the request information.

A program executable by a computer to control an information processing apparatus connected to a network, said information processing apparatus serving to manage data transmission from a transmitter to a receiver, said program comprising:

• a storage step of storing of address information of the transmitter, a first relaying apparatus connected to the transmitter, the receiver, and a second relaying apparatus connected to the receiver;
• an address information management step of managing the address information stored in the storage step;
• an authentication step of authenticating a user of the transmitter;
• a first supply step of supplying request information supplied from the first relaying apparatus to the second relaying apparatus, the request information requesting determination of whether transmission of data can be accepted;
• and
• a second supply step of supplying, to the first relaying apparatus, data supplied from the second relaying apparatus and indicating the result of the determination performed in response to the request information.

A relaying apparatus connected to a transmitter and a network, for relaying data transmission from the transmitter, comprising:

• first acquisition means for acquiring data to be transmitted from the transmitter;
• retaining means for retaining the data acquired by the first acquisition means;
• first supply means for supplying request information to an information processing apparatus managing the transmission of data, to request the information processing apparatus to determine whether transmission of data can be accepted;
• second acquisition means for acquiring, from the information processing apparatus, the result of determination performed in response to the request information supplied from the first supply means;
• and
• second supply means for supplying the data retained by the retaining means to another relaying apparatus connected to a receiver specified as a destination, in accordance with the result of the determination acquired by the second acquisition means.

A relaying method for a relaying apparatus connected to a transmitter and a network to relay data transmission from the transmitter, comprising:

• a first acquisition step of acquiring data to be transmitted from the transmitter;
• a retaining step of retaining the data acquired in the first acquisition step;
• a first supply step of supplying request information to an information processing apparatus managing the transmission of data, to request the information processing apparatus to determine whether transmission of data can be accepted;
• a second acquisition step of acquiring, from the information processing apparatus, the result of determination performed in response to the request information supplied in the first supply step;
• and
• a second supply step of supplying the data retained in the retaining step to another relaying apparatus connected to a receiver specified as a destination, in accordance with the result of the determination acquired in the second acquisition step.

A storage medium including a computer-readable program stored therein for controlling a relaying apparatus connected to a transmitter and a network to relay data transmission from the transmitter, said program comprising:

• a first acquisition step of acquiring data to be transmitted from the transmitter;
• a retaining step of retaining the data acquired in the first acquisition step;
• a first supply step of supplying request information to an information processing apparatus managing the transmission of data, to request the information processing apparatus to determine whether transmission of data can be accepted;
• a second acquisition step of acquiring, from the information processing apparatus, the result of determination performed in response to the request information supplied in the first supply step;
• and
• a second supply step of supplying the data retained in the retaining step to another relaying apparatus connected to a receiver specified as a destination, in accordance with the result of the determination acquired in the second acquisition step.

A program executable by a computer to control a relaying apparatus connected to a transmitter and a network to relay data transmission from the transmitter, comprising:

• a first acquisition step of acquiring data to be transmitted from the transmitter;
• a retaining step of retaining the data acquired in the first acquisition step;
• a first supply step of supplying request information to an information processing apparatus managing the transmission of data, to request the information processing apparatus to determine whether transmission of data can be accepted;
• a second acquisition step of acquiring, from the information processing apparatus, the result of determination performed in response to the request information supplied in the first supply step;
• and
• a second supply step of supplying the data retained in the retaining step to another relaying apparatus connected to a receiver specified as a destination, in accordance with the result of the determination acquired in the second acquisition step.

A relaying apparatus connected to a receiver and a network, for relaying data transmission to the receiver, comprising:

• first acquisition means for acquiring request information from an information processing apparatus managing the transmission of data, said request information requesting determination of whether the receiver can receive data;
• determination means for determining whether the receiver can receive data, in accordance with the request information acquired by the first acquisition means;
• first supply means for supplying data indicating the result of the determination performed by the determination means to the information processing apparatus;
• second acquisition means for acquiring the data from another relaying apparatus connected to the transmitter;
• retaining means for retaining the data acquired by the second acquisition means;
• and
• second supply means for supplying the data retained by the retaining means to the receiver.

A relaying method for a relaying apparatus connected to a receiver and a network to relay data transmission to the receiver, comprising:

• a first acquisition step of acquiring request information from an information processing apparatus managing the transmission of data, said request information requesting determination of whether the receiver can receive data;
• a determination step of determining whether the receiver can receive data, in accordance with the request information acquired in the first acquisition step;
• a first supply step of supplying data indicating the result the determination performed in the determination step to the information processing apparatus;
• a second acquisition step of acquiring the data from another relaying apparatus connected to the transmitter;
• a retaining step of retaining the data acquired in the second acquisition step;
• and
• a second supply step of supplying the data retained in the retaining step to the receiver.

A storage medium including a computer-readable program stored therein for controlling a relaying apparatus connected to a receiver and a network to relay data transmission to the receiver, said program comprising:

• a first acquisition step of acquiring request information from an information processing apparatus managing the transmission of data, said request information requesting determining whether the receiver can receive data;
• a determination step of determining whether the receiver can receive data, in accordance with the request information acquired in the first acquisition step;
• a first supply step of supplying data indicating the result of the determination performed in the determination step to the information processing apparatus;
• a second acquisition step of acquiring the data from another relaying apparatus connected to the transmitter;
• a retaining step of retaining the data acquired in the second acquisition step;
• and
• a second supply step of supplying the data retained in the retaining step to the receiver.

A program executable by a computer to control a relaying apparatus connected to a receiver and a network to relay data transmission to the receiver, said program comprising:

• a first acquisition step of acquiring request information from an information processing apparatus managing the transmission of data, said request information requesting determining whether the receiver can receive data;
• a determination step of determining whether the receiver can receive data, in accordance with the request information acquired in the first acquisition step;
• a first supply step of supplying data indicating the result of the determination performed in the determination step to the information processing apparatus;
• a second acquisition step of acquiring the data from another relaying apparatus connected to the transmitter;
• a retaining step of retaining the data acquired in the second acquisition step;
• and
• a second supply step of supplying the data retained in the retaining step to the receiver.