Communication method and apparatus

A communication method for communication through a plurality of communication channels, wherein plural independent communications can be performed concurrently over respective communication channels, each independent communication being performed in one of a plurality of different types of communication modes, and each communication channel being capable of performing communication in any of the types of communication modes, said method comprising the steps of:

• setting a special purpose mode to limit availability for using the plurality of communication channels for performing communication in a kind of the types of communication modes;
• inputting a communication request including the type of communication mode;
• discriminating whether the type of communication mode corresponding to the communication request is currently being performed through some of the plurality of communication channels, responsive to the communication request;
• discriminating whether an available communication channel exists;
• performing a communication corresponding to the communication request in accordance with the type of communication mode which is currently being performed and the available communication channel,
• wherein, in a case where the special purpose mode is set, performing the communication corresponding to the communication request in accordance with the discrimination of whether the type of the communication mode is currently being performed even if the available communication channel exists, and
• in a case where the special purpose mode is not set, performing the communication corresponding to the communication request by using the available communication channel.

A communication apparatus capable of performing transmission and reception concurrently and independently through a plurality of communication channels, each communication channel being capable of performing transmission and reception, said apparatus comprising:

• setting means for setting a special purpose mode to limit availability for using said plurality of communication channels for performing transmission or reception;
• input means for inputting a transmission request or a reception request;
• and
• communication control means, responsive to the transmission request or a reception request, for discriminating whether a current transmission other than transmission corresponding to the transmission request or a current reception other than reception corresponding to the reception request is being performed through some of the plurality of communication channels, for discriminating whether an available communication channel exists, and for performing the transmission corresponding to the transmission request or the reception corresponding to the reception request in accordance with the current transmission or the current reception and the available communication channel,
• wherein, in a case where the special purpose mode is set, said communication control means performs the transmission corresponding to the transmission request or the reception corresponding to the reception request in accordance with the current transmission or the current reception even if the available communication channel exists, and in a case where the special purpose mode is not set, said communication control means performs the transmission corresponding to the transmission request or the reception request by using the available communication channel.

A communication method capable of performing transmission and reception concurrently and independently through a plurality of communication channels, each communication channel being capable of transmission and reception, said method comprising the steps of:

• setting a special purpose mode to limit availability for use of the plurality of communication channels for performing transmission or reception;
• inputting a transmission request or a reception request;
• and
• discriminating whether a current transmission other than transmission corresponding to the transmission request or a current reception other than reception corresponding to the reception request is being performed through some of the plurality of communication channels;
• discriminating whether an available communication channel exists:
• and
• performing the transmission corresponding to the transmission request or the reception corresponding to the reception request in accordance with the current transmission or the current reception and the available communication channel,
• wherein, in a case where the special purpose mode is set, performing the transmission corresponding to the transmission request or the reception corresponding to the reception request in accordance with the current transmission or the current reception even if the available communication channel exists, and
• in a case where the special purpose mode is no set, performing the transmission corresponding to the transmission request or the reception request by using the available communication channel.