Information processing system, apparatus, method and computer program product having network-specific address features and global address features

An information processing method for an information processing system including a first information processing apparatus connected with a first network and also connected with a second network via an address translator for addresses translation, a second information processing apparatus that performs communication with the first information processing apparatus, and, a third information processing apparatus connected with the second network, for managing communication between the first information processing apparatus and the second information processing apparatus, wherein

• the first information processing apparatus requests the third information processing apparatus to provide information associated with connection of the second information processing apparatus;
• the third information processing apparatus provides an information associated with the connection of the second information processing apparatus to the first information processing apparatus;
• the first information processing apparatus determines, on the basis of the information provided by the third information processing apparatus, whether the second information processing apparatus is connected with a same network as that with which the first information processing apparatus is connected;
• and
• the first information processing apparatus performs communication with the second information processing apparatus such that if the second information processing apparatus is determined to be connected with the same network as that with which the first information processing apparatus is connected, communication with the second information processing apparatus is performed on the basis of a network-specific address defined on the first network, while if the second information processing apparatus is determined not to be connected with the same network as that with which the first information processing apparatus is connected, communication with the second information processing apparatus is performed on the basis of a different address than the network-specific address, said different address being a global address that is recognized on the second network.

An information processing apparatus that performs communication with another information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus being connected with a first network and also connected, via an address translator for addresses translation, with a second network with which a server is connected, the information processing apparatus comprising

• request means for requesting the server to provide information associated with connection of said another information processing apparatus;
• reception means for receiving information associated with the connection of said another information processing apparatus from the server;
• and
• communication means for performing communication with said another information processing apparatus such that the communication means determines, on the basis of the information received from the server, whether said another information processing apparatus is connected with a same network as that with which the information processing apparatus is connected, and if it is determined that said another information processing apparatus is connected with the same network as that with which the information processing apparatus is connected, the communication means performs communication with said another information processing apparatus on the basis of a network-specific address defined on the first network, while if it is determined that said another information processing apparatus is not connected with the same network as that with which the information processing apparatus is connected, the communication means performs communication with said another information processing apparatus on the basis of a different address than the network-specific address, said different address being a global address that is recognized on the second network.

An information processing method for an information processing apparatus that performs communication with another information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus being connected with a first network and also connected, via an address translator for addresses translation, with a second network with which a server is connected, the information processing method comprising the steps of:

• requesting the server to provide information associated with connection of said another information processing apparatus;
• receiving information associated with the connection of said another information processing apparatus from the server;
• and
• performing communication with said another information processing apparatus in such a manner that determination as to whether said another information processing apparatus is connected with the same network as that with which the information processing apparatus is connected is made on the basis of the information received from the server, and if it is determined that said another information processing apparatus is connected with the same network as that with which the information processing apparatus is connected, communication with said another information processing apparatus is performed on the basis of a network-specific address defined on the first network, while if it is determined that said another information processing apparatus is not connected with the same network as that with which the information processing apparatus is connected, communication with said another information processing apparatus is performed on the basis of a different address than the network-specific address, said different address being a global address that is recognized on the second network.

A computer program product having computer readable instructions for causing a computer to perform processing associated with an information processing apparatus that performs communication with another information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus being connected with a first network and also connected, via an address translator for addresses translation, with a second network with which a server is connected, the processing comprising the steps of:

• requesting the server to provide information associated with connection of said another information processing apparatus;
• receiving information associated with the connection of said another information processing apparatus from the server;
• and
• performing communication with said another information processing apparatus in such a manner that determination as to whether said another information processing apparatus is connected with the same network as that with which the information processing apparatus is connected is made on the basis of the information received from the server, and if it is determined that said another information processing apparatus is connected with the same network as that with which the information processing apparatus is connected, communication with said another information processing apparatus is performed on the basis of a network-specific address defined on the first network, while if it is determined that said another information processing apparatus is not connected with the same network as that with which the information processing apparatus is connected, communication with said another information processing apparatus is performed on the basis of a different address than the network-specific address, said different address being a global address that is recognized on the second network.

An information processing apparatus connected with a first network and a second network, for managing communication between a first apparatus and a second apparatus, the first apparatus being connected with the second network via an address translator for address translation, the information processing apparatus comprising:

• reception means for receiving, from the first apparatus, a request for determination as to whether the second apparatus is connected with the same network as that with which the first apparatus is connected;
• examination means for examining whether the second apparatus is connected with the same network as that with which the first apparatus is connected;
• and
• informing means for informing the first apparatus of the result of the examination performed by the examination means.

An information processing method, in an information processing apparatus connected with a first network and a second network, for managing communication between a first apparatus and a second apparatus, the first apparatus being connected with the second network via an address translator for address transformation, the information processing method comprising the steps of:

• receiving, from the first apparatus, a request for determination as to whether the second apparatus is connected with the same network as that with which the first apparatus is connected;
• examining whether the second apparatus is connected with the same network as that with which the first apparatus is connected;
• and,
• informing the first apparatus of the result of the examination performed in the examination step.

A computer program product having computer readable instructions for causing a computer to perform processing associated with an information processing apparatus connected with a first network and a second network, for managing communication between a first apparatus and a second apparatus, the first apparatus being connected with the second network via an address translator for address transformation, the processing comprising the steps of:

• receiving, from the first apparatus, a request for determination as to whether the second apparatus is connected with the same network as that with which the first apparatus is connected;
• examining whether the second apparatus is connected with the same network as that with which the first apparatus is connected;
• and,
• informing the first apparatus of the result of the examination performed in the examination step.