Communication system, method of processing message in communication system, and station-side unit and subscriber-side unit

A station-side unit accommodating a plurality of subscriber-side units manufactured by respective desired vendors, the station-side unit being capable of carrying out a broadcast communication with all of the subscriber-side units by sending a message in a manner of broadcast communication, the station-side unit comprising:

• a broadcast message generating unit generating a broadcast message in a manner of broadcast communication;
• and
• a group designating message generating unit generating a group designating message to be broadcast to all of the subscriber-side units and having designation information to designate some of the subscriber-side units as a component constituting a group of units which are to receive the broadcast communication message;
• whereby only subscriber-side units designated by the designation information of the group designating message as components of the group of units are allowed to receive and process the broadcast message generated by the station-side unit, and wherein the station-side unit designates some of the subscriber-side units manufactured by an identical vendor as a component constituting the group of units.

A subscriber-side unit accommodated together with other subscriber-side units in a broadcast communication network handled by a station-side unit which is manufactured by a desired vendor and capable of carrying out broadcast communication with all subscriber-side units, the subscriber-side unit comprising:

• a broadcast message processing unit receiving and processing the broadcast message from the station-side unit, and
• a state control unit controlling, in response to a reception of a group designating message having the designation information designating the subscriber-side unit broadcast from the station-side unit as a component of a group of units which is to receive the broadcast message, a status of the reception and the processing for the broadcast message in the broadcast message processing unit to a valid status;
• wherein the state control unit comprises a first vendor identification information comparing determining unit for comparing vendor identification information given to a vendor group designating message that is attached to the group designating message sent from the station-side unit with vendor identification information assigned to its own subscriber-side unit, thereby to determine whether or not the two pieces of vendor identification information are coincident with each other;
• wherein if the first vendor identification information comparing determining unit determines that the two pieces of vendor identification information are coincident with each other, then the reception and the processing for the broadcast message in the broadcast message processing unit are brought to a valid status;
• and
• whereby only subscriber-side units designated by the designation information of the group designating message as components of the group of units are allowed to receive and process the broadcast message generated by the station-side unit.

A communication system including a plurality of subscriber-side units and a station-side unit accommodating the subscriber-side units, the station-side unit being capable of carrying out a broadcast communication with all of the subscriber-side units by sending a broadcast message in a manner of broadcast communication,

• the station-side unit comprising:
• a broadcast message generating unit generating a broadcast message;
• and
• a group designating message generating unit generating a group designating message to be broadcast to all of the subscriber-side units and having designation information to designate some of the subscriber-side units as a component constituting a group of units which are to receive the broadcast message, and
• the subscriber-side unit comprising:
• a broadcast message processing unit receiving and processing the broadcast message from the station-side unit;
• and
• a state control unit controlling, in response to a reception of the group designating message having the designation information designating the subscriber-side unit broadcast from the station-side unit, a status of the reception and the processing for the broadcast message in the broadcast message processing unit to a valid status;
• wherein the station-side unit designates some of the subscriber-side units manufactured by an identical vendor as a component constituting the group of units.

A method of processing a message for use in a communication system including a plurality of subscriber-side units and a station-side unit accommodating the subscriber-side units, the station-side unit being capable of carrying out a broadcast communication with all of the subscriber side units by sending a broadcast message in a manner of broadcast communication, wherein:

• the station-side unit broadcasts to all of the subscriber-side units a group designating message with designation information to designate some of the subscriber-side units as a component constituting a group of units which are to receive a broadcast message;
• and
• the subscriber-side units designated by the designation information of the group designating message as the component constituting the group of units are allowed to receive and process the broadcast message sent from the station-side unit in the manner of broadcast communication;
• wherein the station-side unit designates some of the subscriber-side units manufactured by an identical vendor as a component constituting the group of units.

A station-side unit accommodating a plurality of subscriber-side units, the station-side unit being capable of carrying out a broadcast communication with all of the subscriber-side units by sending a message in a manner of broadcast communication, the station-side unit comprising:

• a broadcast message generating unit generating a broadcast message in a manner of broadcast communication;
• and
• a group designating message generating unit generating a group designating message to be broadcast to all of the subscriber-side units and having designation information to designate some of the subscriber-side units as a component constituting a group of units which are to receive and process the broadcast communication messages
• wherein the station-side unit designates some of the subscriber-side units manufactured by an identical vendor as a component constituting the group of units.

A subscriber-side unit accommodated together with other subscriber-side units in a broadcast communication network handled by a station side unit which is capable of carrying out broadcast communication with all subscriber-side units, the subscriber-side unit comprising:

• a broadcast message processing unit receiving and processing the broadcast message from the station-side unit;
• and
• a state control unit controlling, in response to a reception of a group designating message having the designation information designating the subscriber-side unit broadcast from the station-side unit as a component constituting a group of units which is to receive the broadcast message, a status of the reception and the processing for the broadcast message in the broadcast message processing unit to a valid status;
• wherein the state control unit further comprises a first vendor identification information comparing determining unit for comparing vendor identification information given to a vendor group designating message that is attached to the group designating message sent from the station-side unit with vendor identification information assigned to its own subscriber-side unit, thereby to determine whether or not the two nieces of vendor identification information are coincident with each other;
• and
• wherein if the first vendor identification information comparing determining unit determines that the two pieces of vendor identification information are coincident with each other, then the reception and the processing for the broadcast message in the broadcast message processing unit are brought to a valid status.