Communication method and communication apparatus

Abstract

To allow bi-directional communication by using a bridge type feed and to reduce a load on equipment such as a receiver connected to a UDL network, a communication apparatus for carrying out communication on the Internet using an uni-directional communication line comprises an interface ( 5 b ) for receiving IP datagram to be transmitted to the communication line at the side for transmitting data to the communication line, and an interface ( 12 ) for realizing a virtual communication route from the receiving side to the transmitting side on the communication line, for carrying out bi-directional communication as UDLR. Moreover, the apparatus determines a destination of a packet inputted to the feed through predetermined interface, then determines which network the packet should be transferred to in accordance with the determined destination of the packet, and then transfers the packet through a predetermined interface only when transfer is necessary.

1 - 12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . A communication method on the internet using an unidirectional communication line, comprising the steps of: 
 setting a route for receiving IP datagram to be transmitted to said communication line at a side for transmitting data to said communication line; and    setting another route for realizing a virtual communication route from a receiving side to said transmitting side on said communication line, for carrying out bi-directional communication.    
   
   
       14 . A communication method according to  claim 13 , wherein said communication line is the communication line via a satellite.  
   
   
       15 . A communication apparatus of a bridge type for carrying out communication using an IP protocol over an unidirectional communication line, comprising: 
 a first interface for receiving IP datagram to be transmitted to said uni-directional communication line; and    a second interface for realizing a virtual communication route from the receiving side to said communication apparatus on said uni-directional communication line for carrying out bidirectional communication.    
   
   
       16 . A communication apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said communication line is the communication line via a satellite.  
   
   
       17 . A communication method comprising the steps of: 
 connecting a second communication line capable of bi-directional communication to bridge type transmitting means for transmitting data to a first uni-directional communication line, thereby virtually carrying out the bi-directional communication over said first communication line; and    determining a destination of a packet inputted to said transmitting means through a predetermined interface, then determining which network the packet should be transferred to in accordance with the determined destination of the packet, and then transferring the packet through a predetermined interface only when transfer is necessary.    
   
   
       18 . A communication method according to  claim 17 , wherein said transmitting means automatically detects addresses of nodes connected to the network at the transmitting side.  
   
   
       19 . A communication apparatus comprising: 
 a bridge type transmitting means for transmitting data to a first uni-directional communication line;    an interface connected to a second communication line capable of bi-directional communication; and    control means for determining a destination of a packet inputted through a predetermined interface, then determining which network the packet is transferred to in accordance with the destination, and then executing transfer processing only when transfer is necessary.    
   
   
       20 . A communication apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said control means includes detecting means for automatically detecting addresses of nodes connected to the network connected to the interface.