Relay server, relay communication system, and communication device

A relay communication system, comprising:

• a plurality of LANs;
• and
• a relay server and client terminals connected to each of the plurality of LANs,
• wherein the relay server includes:
• an account information registering unit that stores account information including information on the client terminals connected to one LAN;
• a relay group information registering unit that stores relay group information including information on a group of relay servers permitting access to each other;
• and
• a shared resource information registering unit that stores shared resource information including information on resources and information on the client terminals sharing the resources,
• wherein when receiving an operation command for a resource, which can be operated by a client terminal connected to the different terminal, from the client terminal stored in the account information registering unit on the basis of the shared resource information, the relay server relays the operation of the resource on the basis of the relay group information, and
• wherein the client terminal connected to one LAN is allowed to indirectly operate the resource held by the client terminal connected to a different LAN.

A communication device that can communicate with a communication device in a different LAN through an extra-LAN relay server in the different LAN from an intra-LAN relay server in a LAN, the communication device comprising:

• a shared resource information receiving unit that receives shared resource information, which includes information on resources which can be operated by the communication device in the different LAN and information on the communication devices sharing the resources, from the intra-LAN relay server;
• a shared resource information display unit that displays details of the shared resource information;
• and
• an operation determining unit that determines whether a resource can be directly operated in response to an operation command for the resource,
• wherein when the resource having been instructed to be operated cannot be directly operated, the communication device transmits the operation command to the intra-LAN relay server and indirectly operates the resource through the extra-LAN relay server.

A relay communication system, comprising:

• a plurality of LANs connected to a WAN;
• and
• a relay server and communication devices connected to each of the plurality of LANs,
• wherein each communication device is a communication device that can communicate with a communication device in a different LAN through an extra-LAN relay server in the different LAN from an intra-LAN relay server in the same LAN and that includes:
• a shared resource information receiving unit that receives shared resource information, which includes information on resources which can be operated by the communication device in the different LAN and information on the communication devices sharing the resources, from the intra-LAN relay server;
• a shared resource information display unit that displays details of the shared resource information;
• and
• an operation determining unit that determines whether a resource can be directly operated in response to an operation command for the resource,
• wherein when the resource having been instructed to be operated cannot be directly operated, the communication device transmits the operation command to the intra-LAN relay server and indirectly operates the resource through the extra-LAN relay server.

A relay server that is connected to a LAN and that can communicate with a relay server connected to a different LAN, the relay server comprising:

• an account information registering unit that stores account information including information on client terminals connected to the LAN;
• a relay group information registering unit that stores relay group information including information on a group of relay servers permitting communications with each other;
• and
• a shared resource information registering unit that stores shared resource information including information on resources and information on the client terminals sharing the resources,
• wherein when an operation command for a resource, which can be operated by a client terminal connected to the different terminal, is received from the client terminal stored in the account information registering unit on the basis of the shared resource information, the operation of the resource is relayed on the basis of the relay group information, and
• wherein the relay server further comprises:
• a log information storing unit that stores log information including information on the operation command;
• and
• a log information exchanging unit that exchanges the log information between the group of relay servers on the basis of the relay group information.

A management method using a relay server that is connected to a LAN and that can communicate with a relay server of a different LAN, the management method comprising:

• storing account information including information on client terminals connected to the LAN;
• storing relay group information including information on a group of relay servers permitting access to each other;
• and
• storing shared resource information including information on resources and information on the client terminals sharing the resources,
• wherein when an operation command for a resource, which can be operated by a client terminal connected to the different terminal, is received from the client terminal stored in the registering of the account information on the basis of the shared resource information, the operation of the resource is relayed on the basis of the relay group information.

A management method of a relay communication system having a plurality of LANs and a relay server and client terminals connected to each of the plurality of LANs, the management method comprising:

• storing account information including information on the client terminals connected to one LAN;
• storing relay group information including information on a group of relay servers permitting access to each other;
• and
• storing shared resource information including information on resources and information on the client terminals sharing the resources,
• wherein when receiving an operation command for a resource, which can be operated by a client terminal connected to the different terminal, from the client terminal stored in the registering of the account information on the basis of the shared resource information, the relay server relays the operation of the resource on the basis of the relay group information, and
• wherein the client terminal connected to one LAN is allowed to indirectly operate the resource held by the client terminal connected to a different LAN.

A management method using a communication device that can communicate with a communication device in a different LAN through an extra-LAN relay server in the different LAN from an intra-LAN relay server in a LAN, the management method comprising:

• receiving shared resource information, which includes information on resources which can be operated by the communication device in the different LAN and information on the communication devices sharing the resources, from the intra-LAN relay server;
• displaying details of the shared resource information;
• and
• determining whether a resource can be directly operated in response to an operation command for the resource,
• wherein when the resource having been instructed to be operated cannot be directly operated, the communication device transmits the operation command to the intra-LAN relay server and indirectly operates the resource through the extra-LAN relay server.

A management method of a relay communication system having a plurality of LANs connected to a WAN;

• a relay server connected to each of the plurality of LANs;
• and a communication device that can communicate with a communication device in a different LAN through an extra-LAN relay server in the different LAN from an intra-LAN relay server in a LAN, the management method comprising:
• receiving shared resource information, which includes information on resources which can be operated by the communication device in the different LAN and information on the communication devices sharing the resources, from the intra-LAN relay server;
• displaying details of the shared resource information;
• and
• determining whether a resource can be directly operated in response to an operation command for the resource,
• wherein when the resource having been instructed to be operated cannot be directly operated, the communication device transmits the operation command to the intra-LAN relay server and indirectly operates the resource through the extra-LAN relay server.

A management method using a relay server that is connected to a LAN and that can communicate with a relay server connected to a different LAN, the management method comprising:

• storing account information including information on client terminals connected to the LAN;
• storing relay group information including information on a group of relay servers permitting communications with each other;
• and
• storing shared resource information including information on resources and information on the client terminals sharing the resources,
• wherein when an operation command for a resource, which can be operated by a client terminal connected to the different terminal, is received from the client terminal stored in the registering of the account information on the basis of the shared resource information, the operation of the resource is relayed on the basis of the relay group information, and
• wherein the management method further comprises:
• storing log information including information on the operation command;
• and
• exchanging the log information between the group of relay servers on the basis of the relay group information.