Abstract: A client transmits to a server a communication path assignment request packet for requesting a communication path to be assigned. When the server receives the communication path assignment request packet, it selects the communication path as to assign communication loads evenly in the server, and sends a communication path assignment response packet to the client. The communication path switch unit switches the communication path in accordance with the received response packet for providing an assigned communication path in response to the request packet. The client transmits a service starting request packet for requesting a service to be stared. If the server receives the service starting request packet therefrom, it controls a processor, and starts to an information providing service. The client controls a processor, and utilizes the information providing service.

Abstract: A client transmits to a server a communication path assignment request packet for requesting a communication path to be assigned. When the server receives the communication path assignment request packet, it selects the communication path as to assign communication loads evenly in the server, and sends a communication path assignment response packet to the client. The communication path switch unit switches the communication path in accordance with the received response packet for providing an assigned communication path in response to the request packet. The client transmits a service starting request packet for requesting a service to be stared. If the server receives the service starting request packet therefrom, it controls a processor, and starts to an information providing service. The client controls a processor, and utilizes the information providing service.

Abstract: The object is to provide an application sharing system enabled to use communication paths efficiency by selectively using multicast communication and unicast communication and to be configured of user terminals alone by providing each terminal with a function to manage a conferencing group. Group information managing sections manage conferencing group information in a distributed manner, and the information is exchanged between terminals. Intra-group control sections manage conferencing groups, only one such section operating for one conferencing group. An application program communicates with application programs of other terminals through an API processing section, via a point-to-point communicating section in unicast communication, or via a multicast communicating section in multicast communication. A program start-up section controls the starting and ending of required processings.