Communications apparatus and network system

A network system having a global address network having nodes with respective unique addresses, a private address network having nonunique addresses, and an address converter for converting addresses for transmitting data between the global address network and the private address network, said address converter comprising means for assigning unique names to respective nodes of said private address network and managing the unique names, and means responsive to an inquiry about a name from a node belonging to said global address network or another private address network, for acquiring and indicating a corresponding private address.

The network system having a global address network having nodes with respective unique addresses, a private address network having nonunique addresses, a first address converter for converting addresses in said global address network, and a second address converter for converting addresses between said private address network and said global address network, said first address converter and said second address converter comprising means for establishing connections independently of each other and exchanging information about the connections with each other to send and receive data between said global address network and said private address network.

An address converter for converting addresses for transmitting data between a global address network having nodes with respective unique addresses and a private address network having nonunique addresses, said address converter comprising means for assigning unique names to respective nodes of said private address network and managing the unique names, and means responsive to an inquiry about a name from a node belonging to said global address network or another private address network, for acquiring and indicating a corresponding private address.

An address converter for converting addresses in a global address network, said address converter being connected to a network system having the global address network having nodes with respective unique addresses, a private address network having nonunique addresses, and another address converter for converting addresses between said global address network and said private address network, said address converter comprising means for establishing connections independently of said other address converter and exchanging information about the connections with said other address converter to send and receive data between said global address network and said private address network.