Communication apparatus with means for allocating alternate designation information to each function unit, and communication system with said two communication apparatuses

Abstract

A communication apparatus is provided for communicating with further communication apparatuses which are connected with the communication apparatus, and for allowing one of a plurality of function units to execute a predetermined process in accordance with a request signal from a further apparatus. In the case where one of the further communication apparatuses is permitted to communicate with the communication apparatus, when a request signal of start of communication is sent from another one of the further communication apparatuses different from the one of the further communication apparatuses which has been already permitted to communicate with the communication apparatus, a manager unit returns response information including the designation information stored in the memory to another one of the further communication apparatuses so as to permit another one of the further communication apparatuses to communicate with. the communication apparatus, and then, allocates to another one of the further communication apparatuses virtual alternate designation information, which is different from the virtual alternate designation information allocated to the one of the further communication apparatuses which has been already permitted to communicate with the communication apparatus.