Abstract: A storage component interconnected via a network includes a recording unit for recording various contents, a first management table, a second management table and a control unit. The first management table manages for each user storage capacity in use by users in each recording unit of the storage components on the network. The second management table manages for each user total storage capacity that each user is allowed to use in all the recording units of the storage components on the network. The control unit restricts the storage capacity in use by the users so that the storage capacity used by the user does not exceed the total storage capacity that the user is allowed to use, on the basis of the first management table and the second management table.

Abstract: In a communication network where multiple bus systems are interconnected by a bus bridge, a first node attached to a first bus system acquires a first channel for transmission of packets to a first multicast address and broadcasts a first message pertaining to the first channel and the first multicast address. A second node attached to a second bus system acquires a second channel for transmission of packets to a second multicast address and broadcasts a second message pertaining to the second channel and the second multicast address. In response to receipt of the first and second messages, the bus bridge establishes a connection between two channels respectively identified by the received messages if the multicast addresses contained in the received messages are equal to each other.

Abstract: A gateway device connecting an internal network to an external network includes a command analysis and translation section and a message processing section. The command analysis and translation section translates an internal address included in a command used on its corresponding internal network into an external address represented according to an address system used on the external network. The message processing section encapsulates the address-translated command in a message and transfers the message to the other gateway device on the other internal network through the external network and a message exchange server.

Abstract: A storage component interconnected via a network includes a recording unit for recording various contents, a first management table, a second management table and a control unit. The first management table manages for each user storage capacity in use by users in each recording unit of the storage components on the network. The second management table manages for each user total storage capacity that each user is allowed to use in all the recording units of the storage components on the network. The control unit restricts the storage capacity in use by the users so that the storage capacity used by the user does not exceed the total storage capacity that the user is allowed to use, on the basis of the first management table and the second management table.

Abstract: In the communication system, when viewing and listening of distribution contents of a distribution server connected to a network is conducted by a viewing and listening terminal connected to a network with an AV gateway device provided therebetween, the AV gateway device notifies the viewing and listening terminal of the distribution contents in the distribution server as contents held by the AV gateway device itself, and when the viewing and listening terminal requests acquisition of distribution contents from the AV gateway device, the AV gateway device obtains distribution contents corresponding to the request made by the viewing and listening terminal and converts the viewing and listening contents to have a data format receivable by the viewing and listening terminal to transmit the converted contents to the viewing and listening terminal.

Abstract: In a communication network where multiple bus systems are interconnected by a bus bridge, a first node attached to a first bus system acquires a first channel for transmission of packets to a first multicast address and broadcasts a first message pertaining to the first channel and the first multicast address. A second node attached to a second bus system acquires a second channel for transmission of packets to a second multicast address and broadcasts a second message pertaining to the second channel and the second multicast address. In response to receipt of the first and second messages, the bus bridge establishes a connection between two channels respectively identified by the received messages if the multicast addresses contained in the received messages are equal to each other.