Connection control apparatus

A connection control apparatus connected to an IEEE 1394 bus for controlling a connection between apparatuses each having a plug control register, said connection control apparatus comprising:

• a plug control register controlling section for transmitting/receiving packets through said 1394 bus to control the plug control registers of controllable apparatuses connected to said 1394 bus and to generate connection information regarding connections of said controllable apparatuses to said 1394 bus;
• a control information register for storing said connection information generated by said plug control register controlling section;
• a control flag register for indicating a presence of an update of said control information register and an amount of information in said control information register;
• an apparatus control section for transmitting/receiving packets through said 1394 bus to control operations of said controllable apparatuses connected to said 1394 bus;
• and
• an apparatus control right judging section for collecting values in said control information register and said control flag register with respect to all of said controllable apparatuses connected to said 1394 bus to determine selected apparatuses of said controllable apparatuses are allowed to be controlled by said apparatus control section and to inform said apparatus control section of said selected apparatuses.

A system comprising:

• a first connection control apparatus coupled to a bus through which packet-based bidirectional serial communication can be performed, wherein said first connection control apparatus comprises:
• a first memory that stores at least a first connection status of a first logical connection of a first controllable apparatus to said bus, and
• a first control section that determines whether or not said first connection control apparatus is authorized to control said first controllable apparatus based on at least said first connection status,
• wherein said first connection control device is capable of establishing said first logical connection;
• and
• a second connection control apparatus coupled to said bus, wherein said second connection control apparatus is capable of establishing said first logical connection.

A first connection control apparatus, comprising:

• a first memory that stores at least a first connection status of a first logical connection of a first controllable apparatus to a bus, wherein packet-based bi-directional serial communication can be performed via said bus;
• and
• a first control section that determines whether or not said first connection control apparatus is authorized to control said first controllable apparatus,
• wherein said first control section that determines whether or not said first connection control apparatus is authorized to control said first controllable apparatus based on whether said first connection control apparatus or a second connection control apparatus established said first logical connection.