DISTRIBUTED COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem in a conventional multi-user audio communication system or IM system that it requires a server for managing a conference or a terminal having functions of the server, and cannot be realized in a server-less environment. SOLUTION: A specific terminal broadcasts an online or offline command to all other terminals when it is on-line or off-line to an ad hoc network. In an online state, resources (buffer, etc.) used by a plurality of channels consenting in advance are ensured, a participation-expressing command including a number of a channel, which the terminal itself desires to participate in, is multicasted to a pre-assigned address, and audio as well as IM data are transmitted to the address at the same time. If other terminals are participating in the channel, a plurality of pieces of audio and IM data are received from the other terminals. In the case of audio data, mixed data of a plurality of audio data are generated. When a terminal leaves the channel, a departure command is transmitted to the address. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO