SYSTEM FOR COMMUNICATING BETWEEN A GROUP OF APPARATUSES

摘要

The system allows a group of end apparatuses (101, 102, 103, ...), such as a game computer or a PDA, to communicate wirelessly, for instance via infrared. In order to increase the reliability of the communication, the end apparatuses communicate via a central apparatus (100). This makes it easier to maintain contact. Furthermore, conventional acknowledgement schemes can be used to increase the reliability of the communication between an end apparatus and the central apparatus (100). Each end apparatus comprises execution means (240) for executing a group application. During the execution, the group application communicates to a corresponding group application in at least one end apparatus. The communication takes place by exchanging application messages. To this end, an end apparatus uses message sending means (200) to send the application message to the central apparatus (100). Message receiving means (210) of the central apparatus (100) receive the message. Group resolution means (250) of the central apparatus determine for which group of end apparatuses the received application message is destined. The group resolution means (250) use message sending means (200) to transmit the received application message to end apparatuses of the group. Message receiving means (210) in the end apparatuses receive the message.