Communication method and system for transmission and reception of packets collecting sporadically input data

• US 20020078245A1
• Filed: 12/13/2001
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Norimatsu, Takashi, Ubayama, Takashi, Tamura, Akiho, Kaneko, Koichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,254,644 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/248
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A server/client system provides packet communications between a server and a client by way of a network such as the Internet. The server inputs data such as MIDI data in a sporadic manner while storing timing data representing their input timings. Then, the server performs packetizing of the sporadically input data, which accompany the timing data and are subjected to transmission to the client. The client receives the packetized input data and then outputs them at timings based on the timing data. Thus, it is possible to completely secure the same time relationship of data during transmission and reception of the sporadically input data even though the client differs from the server on a time-axis basis.

Claims

1. A communication method that is executed by a transmission unit and a reception unit, comprising the steps of:

packetizing sporadically input data to accompany time information representing their input timings;

transmitting packetized input data accompanying the time information from the transmission unit;

receiving the packetized input data accompanying the time information by the reception unit; and

outputting the input data at timings based on the time information from the reception unit.

2. A communication method according to claim 1, wherein the sporadically input data correspond to MIDI data that are produced and input to the transmission unit in a sporadic manner.

3. A communication method according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits the packetized input data accompanying the time information to the reception unit via a network.

4. A communication system comprising:

a transmission unit for packetizing sporadically input data to accompany time information representing their input timings and for transmitting packetized input data accompanying the time information; and

a reception unit for receiving the packetized input data accompanying the time information from the transmission unit, wherein said reception unit outputs the input data at timings based on the time information.

5. A communication system according to claim 4, wherein the sporadically input data correspond to MIDI data that are produced and input to the transmission unit in a sporadic manner.

6. A communication system according to claim 4, wherein the transmission unit transmits the packetized input data accompanying the time information to the reception unit via a network.

7. A transmission unit for use in a communication system performing packet communications, comprising:

an input device for inputting sporadically input data;

a buffer memory for accumulating the sporadically input data, wherein the buffer memory is periodically initialized every prescribed time;

a timing data register for storing timing data representing input timings of the sporadically input data; and

a controller for periodically checking stored content of the timing data register every prescribed time, so that the controller performs packetizing of the sporadically input data stored in the buffer memory, so that the packetized input data accompanying the timing data read from the timing data register are subjected to transmission.

8. The transmission unit according to claim 7, wherein the prescribed time corresponds to a packet timing that occurs by a prescribed number of shift timings corresponding to bits of the timing data respectively, so that the input timings are represented by the bits of the timing data.

9. The transmission unit according to claim 7, wherein the timing data register is a shift register for storing the timing data consisting of a prescribed number of bits every prescribed time corresponding to a packet timing.

10. The transmission unit according to claim 7, wherein the sporadically input data correspond to MIDI data that are produced and input in a sporadic manner.

11. The transmission unit according to claim 7, wherein the packetized input data accompanying the timing data are subjected to transmission via a network.

13. The reception unit according to claim 12, wherein the timing data register is a shift register for storing the timing data consisting of a prescribed number of bits every prescribed time corresponding to a packet timing.

14. The reception unit according to claim 12, wherein the sporadically input data correspond to MIDI data that are produced and input to the transmission unit in a sporadic manner.

15. The reception unit according to claim 12, wherein the receiver receives from the transmission unit the packetized input data accompanying the timing data via a network.

17. The communication program causing a computer to perform the transmission method according to claim 16, wherein the sporadically input data correspond to MIDI data that are produced and input in a sporadic manner.

18. The communication program causing a computer to perform the transmission method according to claim 16, wherein the packetized input data accompanying the timing data are subjected to transmission via a network.

20. The communication program causing a computer to perform the reception method according to claim 19, wherein the sporadically input data correspond to MIDI data that are produced and input in a sporadic manner.

21. The communication program causing a computer to perform the reception method according to claim 19, wherein the packetized input data accompanying the timing data are received via a network.

12. A reception unit for use in a communication system performing packet communications, comprising:

a receiver for receiving packetized input data corresponding to sporadically input data from a transmission unit together with timing data representing their input timings;

a buffer memory for accumulating the input data received by the receiver;

a timing data register for storing the timing data received by the receiver; and

a controller for outputting the input data read from the buffer memory at timings based on the time data.

16. A computer-readable recording medium storing a communication program that causes a computer to perform a transmission method for use in a communication system performing packet communications, comprising the steps of:

inputting sporadically input data;

accumulating the sporadically input data in a buffer memory that is periodically initialized every prescribed time;

storing timing data representing input timings of the sporadically input data by a timing data register;

periodically checking stored content of the timing data register every prescribed time;

packetizing of the sporadically input data stored in the buffer memory; and

transmitting the packetized input data accompanying the timing data read from the timing data register.

19. A computer-readable recording medium storing a communication program causing a computer to perform a reception method for use in a communication system performing packet communications, comprising the steps of:

receiving packetized input data corresponding to sporadically input data from a transmission unit together with timing data representing their input timings;

accumulating the received input data by a buffer memory;

storing the received timing data in a timing data register; and

outputting the input data read from the buffer memory at timings based on the time data.