Method of setting up ad hoc local network, method of communicating using said network, and terminal for use with said network

摘要

An ad hoc LAN is set up in an environment in which there simultaneously exist a backbone-connected LAN connected by a high-speed backbone network and an ad hoc LAN not connected to the backbone network, wherein the ad hoc LAN is capable of communicating simultaneously with both LANs. An ad hoc LAN is defined as one multicast group used within the backbone network and backbone-connected LAN. This makes it possible for a terminal, which is connected to the ad hoc LAN and backbone-connected LAN simultaneously so that it may communicate with both LANs, to participate in the ad hoc LAN in the same manner as it would participate in a multicast group of a conventional backbone-connected LAN. As a result, the terminal construction is simplified and the terminal can be connected to an ad hoc LAN and backbone-connected LAN simultaneously.