Communication device, communication method, and communication program

A communication method in a communication apparatus including a data storing section and being capable of serving at least one of a role as a device for allowing another communication apparatus at a position remote from the communication apparatus to access the data storing section and a role as a host for accessing a data storing section included in the other communication apparatus, the communication method comprising:

• issuing, to the other communication apparatus, a request that the communication apparatus serves one of the roles that the communication apparatus is capable of serving;
• acquiring a request issued by the other communication apparatus, and acquiring a response from the other communication apparatus to the request issued by the communication apparatus;
• determining whether or not the request issued by the communication apparatus and the request issued by the other communication apparatus conflict with each other;
• issuing, to the other communication apparatus, without exchanging capability information with the other communication apparatus in advance, a request that the communication apparatus serves the other role when the communication apparatus is capable of serving the other role, in at least one of a case where the request issued by the communication apparatus and the request issued by the other communication apparatus conflict with each other and a case where the request issued by the communication apparatus is rejected;
• and
• controlling the role to be served by the communication apparatus in accordance with the response from the other communication apparatus to the request issued by the communication apparatus.

A communication program stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium causing a computer of a communication apparatus to execute processes, the communication apparatus including a data storing section and being capable of serving at least one of a role as a device for allowing another communication apparatus located at a position remote from the communication apparatus to access the data storing section and a role as a host for accessing a data storing section included in the other communication apparatus, the communication program causing the computer of the communication apparatus to execute the processes comprising:

• issuing, to the other communication apparatus, a request that the communication apparatus serves one of the roles that the communication apparatus is capable of serving;
• acquiring a request issued by the other communication apparatus, and acquiring a response from the other communication apparatus to the request issued by the communication apparatus;
• determining whether or not the request issued by the communication apparatus and the request issued by the other communication apparatus conflict with each other;
• issuing, to the other communication apparatus, without exchanging capability information with the other communication apparatus in advance, a request that the communication apparatus serves the other role when the communication apparatus is capable of serving the other role, in at least one of a case where the request issued by the communication apparatus and the request issued by the other communication apparatus conflict with each other and a case where the request issued by the communication apparatus is rejected;
• and
• controlling the role to be served by the communication apparatus in accordance with the response from the other communication apparatus to the request issued by the communication apparatus.