Network type content reproduction system

US 20050203991A1
Filed: 05/26/2003
Published: 09/15/2005
Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

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1-143. -143. (canceled)

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Abstract

The network type audio system includes a content server storing a large number of music data pieces, an audio client reproducing music, and a controller monitoring and controlling the audio client through the content server. The audio client requests the server to provide the music data of a music piece selected in response to the user'"'"'s operation. The content server returns the music data of the selected music piece in response to the request from the audio client. The music data is distributed from the content server to the audio client on the basis of a specified amount. The audio client notifies the content server of its status. The content server notifies the controller of the status of the audio client. The controller displays the status. The controller also instructs the audio client to reproduce the music piece selected in response to the user'"'"'s operation through the content server.

211 Citations

385 Claims

1-143. -143. (canceled)

144. A network type content reproducing system comprising a server and at least one client connected to said server, said server comprising a storage device for storing a plurality of contents, said client comprising a content list requester requesting said server to provide a content list of a plurality of contents, said server further comprising a content list returner responsive to the request from said first client and returning said content list, and said client further comprising a content list receiver receiving the content list returned from said server.
- View Dependent Claims (145, 146, 147, 148, 149)
- - 145. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 144, wherein said content list requester requests said server to provide a specified amount of a content list, and said content list returner returns said specified amount of the content list in response to the request from said client.
  - 146. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 145, wherein said content list requester transmits a list request command including an obtaining start index indicating the first content to be obtained from said server by said client and an obtaining number indicating the number of contents to be obtained from said server by said client, and said content list returner returns the content list of contents as many as said obtaining number starting from the first content indicated by said obtaining start index in response to said list request command.
  - 147. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 146, wherein said content list returner further returns the number of contents included in said content list to be returned and the number of the remaining contents left out of said content list to be returned.
  - 148. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 144, wherein said client further comprises a category list requester requesting said server to provide a category list of a plurality of categories, said server further comprises a category list returner responsive to the request from said client and returning said category list, said client further comprises a category list receiver receiving the category list returned from said server, and said content list requester selects a category of the contents in the content list to be requested in said received category list.
  - 149. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 144, wherein said content list requester transmits a list construction key necessary for producing said content list to said server, and said content list returner produces said content list based on the list construction key transmitted from said client.

150. The network type content reproducing system comprising a server and at least one client connected to said server, said server comprising a storage device for storing a plurality of contents, said client comprising content requester for requesting said server to provide a predetermined amount of a content selected among said plurality of contents, said server further comprising a content returner responsive to the request from said client and returning the predetermined amount of said selected content to said client, said client further comprising a reproducer reproducing the content returned from said server, and said content requester repeats the request for said content until said content is obtained in its entirety.
- View Dependent Claims (151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158)
- - 151. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 150, wherein said client further comprises a buffer memory for storing the content returned from said server, and said content requester requests said server to provide said predetermined amount of the content when a prescribed empty space is generated in said buffer memory.
  - 152. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 150, wherein said content requester calculates an obtaining start address indicating the first address of said predetermined amount of the content and transmits a content transfer request command including the obtaining start address and an obtaining data length indicating the length of the content to be obtained from said server by said client, and said content returner returns the content for said obtaining data length from said obtaining start address, in response to said content transfer request command.
  - 153. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 152, wherein said content requester adds said obtaining data length to the previous obtaining start address to calculate the next obtaining start address.
  - 154. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 153, wherein said client further comprises:
    - a first setter setting first and second addresses; and
      
      a second setter setting said obtaining start address to said first address when said calculated obtaining start address exceeds said second address.
  - 155. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 152, wherein said client further comprises;
    - a first setter setting a desired address; and
      
      a second setter setting said obtaining start address to said desired address.
  - 156. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 152, wherein said client further comprises:
    - a setter setting a prescribed skip amount; and
      
      a shifter shifting said obtaining start address by said set skip amount.
  - 157. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 150, wherein said client further comprises a transmitter transmitting the identification information of said selected content to said server, said server comprises a returner responsive to the identification information transmitted from said client and returning the offset of said selected content to said client, and said client further comprises a detector detecting the start of said selected content based on the offset returned from said server.
  - 158. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 150, wherein said client further comprises a transmitter transmitting the identification information of said selected content to said server, said server further comprises a returner responsive to the identification information transmitted from said client and returning the size of said selected content to said client, and said client further comprises a detector detecting the end of said selected content based on the size returned from said server.

159. A network type content reproducing system comprising a server and at least one client connected to said server, said server comprising a storage device for storing a plurality of contents, said client comprising content requester for calculating an obtaining start address indicating the first address of a content selected among said plurality of contents and transmitting the obtaining start address to said server, said server further comprising a content returner returning the content from the obtaining start address transmitted from said client, said client further comprising a reproducer reproducing the content returned from said server.

160. A network type content reproducing system comprising a server and at least one client connected to said server, said server comprising a storage device for storing a plurality of contents, said client comprising content requester for requesting said server to provide a specified amount of a content selected among said plurality of contents, said server further comprising a content returner responsive to the request from said client and returning the specified amount of said selected content to said client, said client further comprising a reproducer reproducing the content returned from said server, and said content requester changes the specified amount of the content to be requested to said server.
- View Dependent Claims (161, 162)
- - 161. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 160, wherein said content requester changes the specified amount of the content to be requested to said server in response to the time between the request to said server for the content and the receipt of said requested content.
  - 162. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 160, wherein said content requester changes the specified amount of the content to be requested to said server in response to the data format of the content to be requested to said server.

163. A network type content reproducing system comprising a server and at least one client connected to said server, said server comprising, a storage device for storing a plurality of contents, and a content transmitter transmitting a content selected among said plurality of contents to said client, and said client further comprising, a reproducer reproducing the content transmitted from said server, and a client information transmitter transmitting client information related to said client to said server every time the client information changes.

164. A network type content reproducing system comprising a server and at least one first client connected to said server, said server comprising, a storage device for storing a plurality of contents, and a content transmitter transmitting a content selected among said plurality of contents to said first client, said first client comprising a reproducer reproducing the content transmitted from said server, and said network type content reproducing system further comprising a second client connected to said server for monitoring said first client.
- View Dependent Claims (165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 302)
- - 165. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 164, wherein said server comprises a client information transmitter transmitting client information related to said first client, to said second client, and said second client comprises a receiver receiving the client information transmitted from said server.
  - 166. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 165, wherein said server transmits said client information to said second client through a push port for forcing a request to be transmitted to said second client.
  - 167. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 165, wherein said second client further comprises:
    - a display displaying said received client information; and
      
      a changer changing the display of said received client information when said client information is changed.
  - 168. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 165, wherein said second client further comprises a content list requester requesting said server to provide a content list of a plurality of contents, said server further comprises a content list returner responsive to the request from said second client and returning said content list, and said second client further comprises a content list receiver receiving the content list returned from said server.
  - 169. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 168, wherein said client information includes a list construction key necessary for producing said content list, said content list requester transmits the list construction key included in said received client information to said server when the list construction key is changed, and said content list returner produces said content list based on the list construction key transmitted from said second client.
  - 170. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 165, wherein said second client receives the client information transmitted from said server when said second client is connected to said server.
  - 171. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 170, wherein said client information includes a list construction key necessary for producing said content list, said second client further comprises a content list requester requesting said server to provide a content list of a plurality of contents to transmit the list construction key included in said received client information to said server, and said server further comprises a content list returner responsive to the request from said second client and producing said content list based on the list construction key transmitted from said second client to return said content list to said second client.
  - 172. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 165, wherein said client information includes the name of a data format of a content reproducible by said first client, and said second client comprises a display displaying the name of said data format based on said received client information.
  - 173. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 172, wherein said second client further comprises:
    - an obtainer obtaining a content list of a plurality of contents from said server; and
      
      a display displaying a content reproducible by said first client among the contents included in said obtained content list and displaying a content that cannot be reproduced by said first client in a different manner from the reproducible content or not displaying the irreproducible content.
  - 174. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 164, wherein said second client comprises a determiner determining whether a client to be monitored is said first client.
  - 175. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 164, wherein said second client comprises:
    - an obtainer obtaining a monitoring handle necessary for monitoring said first client; and
      
      a monitor monitoring said first client using said obtained monitoring handle.
  - 176. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 175, wherein said first client further comprises a transmitter transmitting client information related to said first client to said server, said server comprises:
    - a receiver receiving the client information transmitted from said first client;
      
      a determiner determining whether said second client has said monitoring handle; and
      
      a transmitter transmitting said received client information to said second client when said second client has said monitoring handle based on the result of said determination, and said second client comprises a receiver receiving the client information transmitted from said server.
  - 177. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 164, wherein said second client controls said first client.
  - 302. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 165, wherein said first client further comprises a transmitter transmitting client information related to said first client to said server, said server further comprises a receiver receiving the client information transmitted from said first client, and said client information transmitter transmits said received client information to said second client.

178. A network type content reproducing system comprising a server and at least one first client connected to said server, said server comprising, a storage device for storing a plurality of contents, and a content transmitter transmitting a content selected among said plurality of contents to said first client, said first client comprising a reproducer reproducing the content transmitted from said server, and said network type content reproducing system further comprising a second client connected to said server for controlling said first client.
- View Dependent Claims (179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187)
- - 179. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 178, wherein said second client comprises a server requester requesting said server to control said first client, and said server further comprises a controller responsive to the request from said second client and controlling said first client.
  - 180. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 178, wherein said server controls said first client through a push port for forcing a request to be transmitted to said first client.
  - 181. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 179, wherein said server requester transmits information for specifying said first client and information for specifying said selected content to said server.
  - 182. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 178, wherein said second client comprises a determiner determining whether a client to be controlled is said first client.
  - 183. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 178, wherein said second client comprises:
    - a determiner determining whether the data format of said selected content matches the data format of the content that can be reproduced by said first client; and
      
      an instructor instructing said first client to reproduce said selected content when said data formats match.
  - 184. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 178, wherein said second client comprises:
    - an obtainer obtaining a control handle necessary for controlling said first client; and
      
      a controller controlling said first client using said obtained control handle.
  - 185. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 184, wherein said second client further comprises a requester requesting said server to issue a server request to said first client, and said server comprises a determiner determining whether or not said second client has said control handle when said second client requests said server to issue the server request;
    - and a transmitter transmitting said server request to said first client when said second client has said control handle based on the result of said determination.
  - 186. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 178, wherein said first client further comprises a transmitter transmitting a completion status to said server when said first client finishes reproducing a content as instructed by said second client and transmitting a stop status different from said completion status to said server when said first client finishes reproducing a content selected by said first client or stops reproducing the content midway in response to the operation of the user.
  - 187. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 178, wherein said server comprises a receiver receiving the completion status transmitted from said first client and transmitting the completion status to said second client, and said second client comprises an instructor responsive to the completion status transmitted from said server and instructing said first client to reproduce the content next to the content that has been reproduced to the end.

188. A network type content reproducing system comprising a server and at least one client connected to said server, said client further comprising a broadcaster broadcasting prescribed information, said server comprising a returner responsive to the prescribed information broadcasted from said client and returning server specifying information to specify said server to said client, and said client comprising a receiver receiving the server specifying information returned from said server and registering the information in a server list.
- View Dependent Claims (189, 190)
- - 189. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 188, wherein said client further comprises a determiner determining whether said server specifying information is registered in said server list, and when said server specifying information is not registered in said server list based on the result of said determination, said broadcaster broadcasts said prescribed information again.
  - 190. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 189, wherein said client further comprises an accessor accessing a server on the Internet when the number of broadcasting operation by said broadcaster reaches a prescribed number of times or time for broadcasting by said broadcaster reaches a prescribed time period.

191. The network type content reproducing system comprising a server and at least one client connected to said server, said client comprising, a first establisher establishing connection at a command port for transmitting/receiving a command between said server and said client;
- and a second establisher establishing connection at a push port for forcing a request to be transmitted to said client from said server.
- View Dependent Claims (192, 193, 194)
- - 192. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 191, wherein said client further comprises a transmitter transmitting a client index request command to said server through said command port, said client index request command being necessary for identifying said client, said server further comprises a returner responsive to the client index request command transmitted from said client and returning said client index to said client, and said client further comprises a transmitter transmitting the client index returned from said server to said server through said push port.
  - 193. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 191, wherein there are a plurality of said clients, and said server comprises a connection limiter limiting the number of connectable clients.
  - 194. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 193, wherein said connection limiter disconnects from said client that has been already connected based on a prescribed priority order when another said client that has not yet been connected tries to be connected.

195. A network type content reproducing system, comprising:
- a server;
  
  a first client connected to said server;
  
  AV equipment connected to said first client; and
  
  a second client connected to said server to control said AV equipment, said second client comprising a transmitter transmitting a control command for controlling said AV equipment to said server, said server comprising a transmitter transmitting the control command transmitted from said second client to said first client, said first client comprising a transmitter transmitting the control command transmitted from said server to said AV equipment, said AV equipment being controlled in response to the control command transmitted from said first client.
- View Dependent Claims (196)
- - 196. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 195, wherein said AV equipment comprises:
    - a controllable element; and
      
      a controller responsive to the control command transmitted from said first client and controlling said element.

197. A network type content reproducing system comprising a server and at least one client connected to said server, said server comprising, a storage device for storing a plurality of contents, and a content transmitter transmitting a content selected among said plurality of contents to said client, said network type content reproducing system further comprising AV equipment connected to said client, said client comprising a transmitter transmits content transmitted from said server to said AV equipment, and said AV equipment comprising a reproducer reproducing a content transmitted from said client.

198. A network type content reproducing system, comprising:
- a server;
  
  a first client connected to said server;
  
  AV equipment connected to said first client; and
  
  a second client connected to said server to monitor said AV equipment, said AV equipment comprising a transmitter transmitting information related to said AV equipment to said first client, said first client comprising an AV equipment information transmitter transmitting the information transmitted from said AV equipment to said server, said server comprising a transmitter transmitting the information transmitted from said first client to said second client.
- View Dependent Claims (199)
- - 199. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 198, wherein said information frequently changes, and the AV equipment information transmitter of said first client transmits said information at prescribed intervals.

200. A network type content reproducing system comprising a server and at least one first client connected to said server, said server comprising, a storage device for storing a plurality of contents, and a content transmitter transmitting a content selected among said plurality of contents to said first client, said first client comprising a reproducer reproducing the content transmitted from said server, and said server further comprising a firmware updater updating firmware in said first client.
- View Dependent Claims (201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208)
- - 201. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 200, wherein said server further comprises:
    - a register registering information related to a plurality of firmware pieces suitable for said first client; and
      
      a firmware list transmitter transmitting a firmware list of said registered information related to the plurality of firmware pieces to said first client, said first client further comprises;
      
      a receiver receiving the firmware list transmitted from said server; and
      
      a firmware requester for requesting said server to transmit firmware selected in said received firmware list, and said firmware updater returns said selected firmware to said first client in response to the request from said first client.
  - 202. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 201, wherein said first client further comprises a transmitter transmitting client information related to said first client to said server, and said server further comprises a producer producing said firmware list based on the client information transmitted from said first client.
  - 203. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 200, wherein said first client requests said server to provide a specified amount of firmware;
    - and said firmware updater returns said specified amount of the firmware in response to the request from said first client.
  - 204. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 203, wherein said first client transmits an obtaining start address indicating the first address where firmware to be obtained from said server by said first client is stored and an obtaining data length indicating the length of firmware to be obtained from said server by said first client, and said firmware updater responds to the request from said first client to return the firmware for said obtaining data length from said obtaining start address.
  - 205. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 200, wherein said server further comprises a requester requesting said first client to update firmware and transmitting information related to the firmware to said first client.
  - 206. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 201, wherein said first client further comprises a firmware list requester requesting said server to provide a specified amount of a firmware list, and said firmware list transmitter transmits said specified amount of the firmware list to said first client in response to the request from said first client.
  - 207. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 206, wherein said firmware list requester transmits a firmware list request command including an obtaining start index indicating the first firmware information to be obtained from said server by said first client and an obtaining number indicating the number of pieces of the firmware information to be obtained from said server by said first client, and said firmware list transmitter transmits a firmware list including pieces of the firmware information as many as said obtaining number from the first firmware information indicated by said obtaining start index in response to said firmware list request command.
  - 208. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 200, further comprising a second client connected to said server to control said first client, wherein said second client comprises a requester requesting said server to update firmware in said first client.

209. A network type content reproducing system, comprising a server, a first client connected to said server, and a plurality of second clients connected to said server, said server comprising a content storage device for storing a plurality of contents, said second clients each comprising a specifier specifying a content among said plurality of contents and instructing said first client to reproduce the specified content, said first client comprising:
- a reproducer responsive to the instruction from said second client and reproducing said specified content; and
  
  a transmitter transmitting a completion status to said server when said content has been reproduced to its end, said server further comprising a status transmitter selecting one of said plurality of second clients and transmitting the completion status to said selected second client in response to the completion status received from said first client, said second clients each comprising a specifier specifying a content next to the content that has been reproduced to its end by said first client and instructing said first client to reproduce the specified content in response to the completion status received from said server.
- View Dependent Claims (210, 211, 212, 213)
- - 210. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 209, wherein said server further comprises a manager managing the priorities of the second clients that can control said first client, and said status transmitter selects a second client with the highest priority as the second client to receive said transmitted completion status.
  - 211. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 210, wherein said status transmitter transmits a stop status to the second client other than the second client with the highest priority.
  - 212. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 209, wherein said server further comprises a memory for storing the identification information of said second client that has instructed reproduction, and said status transmitter selects said second client that has instructed reproduction as the second client to receive said completion status based on said stored identification information of the second client.
  - 213. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 212, wherein said status transmitter transmits a stop status to the second client other than said selected second client.

214. A network type content reproducing system comprising a server, a first client connected to said server, and a plurality of second clients connected to said server, said server comprising a content storage device for storing a plurality of contents, said second clients each comprising:
- a control handle obtainer obtaining a control handle necessary for controlling said first client; and
  
  a specifier specifying a content among said plurality of contents after obtaining said control handle and instructing said first client to reproduce the specified content, said first client comprising a reproducer responsive to the instruction from said second client and reproducing said specified content; and
  
  a transmitter transmitting a completion status to said server when said content has been reproduced to its end, said server further comprising a transfer transferring the completion status transmitted from said first client to each of said second clients, and said second clients each further comprising a specifier specifying a content next to the content that has been reproduced to its end by said first client in response to the completion status received from said first client whose control handle is obtained by the second client and instructing said first client to reproduce the specified content.
- View Dependent Claims (215, 216)
- - 215. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 214, wherein said control handle obtainer, upon obtaining said control handle, prohibits the other second client from obtaining said control handle.
  - 216. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 215, wherein said first client further comprises a transmitter transmitting a stop status to said server when said first client stops reproducing said content midway, said server further comprises a transfer transferring the stop status transmitted from said first client to each of said second clients, and said second clients each further comprise a canceller canceling the prohibition of obtaining said control handle in response to the stop status received from the first client whose control handle is obtained by said second client.

217. A network type content reproducing system comprising a server, a first client connected to said server, and a second client connected to said server, said server comprising a content storage device for storing a plurality of contents, said second client comprising a specifier specifying a content among said plurality of contents and instructing said first client to reproduce the specified content, said first client comprising:
- a reproducer responsive to the instruction from said second client and reproducing said specified content; and
  
  a transmitter transmitting a completion status to said server when said content has been reproduced to its end, said server further comprising a continuous reproducing instructor responsive to the completion status received from said first client and specifying a content next to the content that has been reproduced to its end by said first client and instructing said first client to reproduce the specified content.
- View Dependent Claims (218)
- - 218. The network type content reproducing system according to claim 217, wherein said server further comprises:
    - a memory for storing a list construction key necessary for producing a content list of contents to be reproduced by said first client; and
      
      a producer producing said content list based on said list construction key, and said continuous reproducing instructor instructs said first client to reproduce said content according to said content list.

219. A network type content reproducing system comprising a server, a first client connected to said server, and a second client connected to said server, said server comprising a content storage device for storing a plurality of contents, said second client comprising:
- a specifier specifying a content among said plurality of contents and instructing said first client to reproduce the specified content; and
  
  a transmitter transmitting a list construction key necessary for producing a content list of contents to be reproduced by said first client to said first client, said first client comprising;
  
  a reproducer responsive to the instruction from said second client and reproducing said specified content; and
  
  a transmitter transmitting the list construction key transmitted from said second client to said server, said server further comprising a producer producing said content list based on the list construction key transmitted from said second client and transmitting the produced content list to said first client, said first client further comprising a reproducer reproducing a content next to the content that has been reproduced to its end by said first client according to the content list transmitted from said server.

220. A server connectable to client comprising:
- a storage device for storing a plurality of contents; and
  
  a content list returner responsive to a request from said client and returning a content list of a plurality of contents.
- View Dependent Claims (221, 222, 223, 224, 225)
- - 221. The server according to claim 220, wherein said content list returner returns a specified amount of a content list in response to the request from said client.
  - 222. The server according to claim 221, wherein said content list returner responds to a list request command from said client, said command including an obtaining start index indicating the first content to be obtained from said server by said client and an obtaining number indicating the number of contents to be obtained from said server by said client and returns a content list of contents as many as said obtaining number from the first content indicated by said obtaining start index.
  - 223. The server according to claim 222, wherein said content list returner further returns the number of contents included in said content list to be returned and the number of the remaining contents left out of said content list to be returned.
  - 224. The server according to claim 220, further comprising a returner responsive to a request from said client and returning a category list of a plurality of categories.
  - 225. The server according to claim 220, wherein said content list returner produces said content list based on the list construction key transmitted from said client.

226. A server connectable to client comprising:
- a storage device for storing a plurality of contents; and
  
  a content returner repeating returning a predetermined amount of a content selected among said plurality of contents in response to a request from said client, so that said content is returned in its entirety.
- View Dependent Claims (227, 228, 229)
- - 227. The server according to claim 226, wherein said content returner responds to a content transfer request command transmitted from said client, said command including an obtaining start address indicating the first address where a content to be obtained from said server by said client is stored and an obtaining data length indicating the length of the content to be obtained from said server by said first client and returns a content for said obtaining data length from said obtaining start address.
  - 228. The server according to claim 226, further comprising a returner responsive to the identification information of said selected content transmitted from said client and returning the offset of said selected content to said client.
  - 229. The server according to claim 226, further comprising a returner responsive to the identification information of said selected content transmitted from said client and returning the size of said selected content to said client.

230. A server connectable to a first client and a second client controlling said first client, comprising:
- a controller responsive to a request from said second client and controlling said first client.
- View Dependent Claims (281)
- - 281. The server according to claim 230, wherein said controller controls said first client through a push port for forcing a request to be transmitted to said first client.

231. A server connectable to a client comprising:
- a storage device for storing a plurality of contents, a content transmitter transmitting a content selected among said plurality of contents to said client, and firmware updater for updating firmware in said client.
- View Dependent Claims (232, 233, 234, 235, 236)
- - 232. The server according to claim 231 further comprising:
    - a register registering the information related to a plurality of firmware pieces suitable for said client; and
      
      a firmware list transmitter for transmitting a firmware list of said registered information of the plurality of firmware pieces to said client, said firmware updater returning firmware selected in said firmware list to said client in response to a request from said client.
  - 233. The server according to claim 231, wherein said firmware updater transmits a specified amount of firmware requested by said client to said client.
  - 234. The server according to claim 233, wherein said firmware updater returns firmware for an obtaining data length indicating the length of firmware to be obtained by said client from an obtaining start address indicating the first address where the firmware to be obtained by said client is stored.
  - 235. The server according to claim 232, wherein said firmware list transmitter transmits a specified amount of a firmware list requested by said client to said client.
  - 236. The server according to claim 235, wherein said firmware list transmitter responds to a firmware list request command from said client, said command including an obtaining start index indicating the first firmware information to be obtained from said server by said client and an obtaining number indicating the number of pieces of firmware information to be obtained from said server by said client and transmits a firmware list including pieces of the firmware information as many as said obtaining number from said first firmware information indicated by said obtaining start index to said client.

237. A client connectable to a server and buried in an outlet box provided in a wall.

238. A client connectable to a server comprising:
- a content list requester requesting said server to provide a content list of a plurality of contents stored in said server; and
  
  a content list receiver receiving the content list returned from said server in response to said request.
- View Dependent Claims (239, 240, 241, 242)
- - 239. The client according to claim 238, wherein said content list requester requests said server to provide a specified amount of a content list.
  - 240. The client according to claim 239, wherein said content list requester transmits a list request command including an obtaining start index indicating the first content to be obtained from said server by said client and an obtaining number indicating the number of contents to be obtained from said server by said client, and said content list receiver receives a content list returned from said server in response to said list request command, said content list of contents as many as said obtaining number from the first content indicated by said obtaining start index.
  - 241. The client according to claim 238, further comprising:
    - a category list requester requesting said server to provide a category list of a plurality of categories; and
      
      a receiver receiving the category list returned from said server in response to said request, said content list requester selecting a category of the contents in the content list to be requested in said received category list.
  - 242. The client according to claim 238, wherein said content list requester transmits a list construction key necessary for producing said content list to said server.

243. A client connectable to a server comprising:
- a content requester for requesting said server to provide a predetermined amount of a content selected among a plurality of contents stored in said server;
  
  a reproducer reproducing the content transmitted from said server in response to said request, and said content requester repeating the request for said content until said content is obtained in its entirety.
- View Dependent Claims (244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251)
- - 244. The client according to claim 243, further comprising a buffer memory storing the content returned from said server, wherein said content requester requests said server to provide said predetermined amount of the content when a prescribed empty space is generated in said buffer memory.
  - 245. The client according to claim 243, wherein said content requester calculates an obtaining start address indicating the first address of said predetermined amount of the content and transmits a content transfer request command including the calculated obtaining start address and an obtaining data length indicating the length of the content to be obtained from said server by said client.
  - 246. The client according to claim 245, wherein said content requester adds said obtaining data length to the previous obtaining start address to calculate the next obtaining start address.
  - 247. The client according to claim 246, further comprising:
    - a first setter setting first and second addresses; and
      
      a second setter setting said obtaining start address to said first address when said calculated obtaining start address exceeds said second address.
  - 248. The client according to claim 245, further comprising:
    - a first setter setting a desired address; and
      
      a second setter setting said obtaining start address to said desired address.
  - 249. The client according to claim 245 further comprising:
    - a setter setting a prescribed skip amount; and
      
      a shifter shifting said obtaining start address by said set skip amount.
  - 250. The client according to claim 243, further comprising:
    - a transmitter transmitting the identification information of said selected content to said server; and
      
      a detector detecting the start of said selected content based on the offset of said selected content returned from said server in response to said identification information.
  - 251. The client according to claim 243, further comprising:
    - a transmitter transmitting the identification information of said selected content to said server; and
      
      a detector detecting the end of said selected content based on the size of said selected content returned from said server in response to said identification information.

252. A client connectable to a server comprising:
- a content requester for calculating an obtaining start address indicating the first address of a content selected among a plurality of contents stored in said server and transmitting the obtaining start address to said server, and a reproducer reproducing the content returned from said server in response to said transmitted obtaining start address.

253. A client connectable to a server comprising:
- a content requester for requesting said server to provide a specified amount of a content selected among a plurality of contents stored in said server; and
  
  a reproducer reproducing the content returned from said server in response to said request; and
  
  said content requester changing the specified amount of the content to be requested to said server.

254. A client connectable to a server comprising:
- a reproducer reproducing a content transmitted from said server; and
  
  a transmitter transmitting client information related to said client to said server every time the client information changes.

255. A client connectable to a server comprising:
- a firmware requester for requesting said server to transmit firmware.
- View Dependent Claims (256, 257, 258, 259, 260)
- - 256. The client according to claim 255, further comprising a receiver receiving a firmware list transmitted from said server, wherein said firmware requester selects firmware to be transmitted in said received firmware list.
  - 257. The client according to claim 255, wherein said firmware requester requests said server to provide a specified amount of firmware.
  - 258. The client according to claim 257, wherein said firmware requester transmits an obtaining start address indicating the first address where firmware to be obtained from said server is stored and an obtaining data length indicating the length of the firmware to be obtained from said server.
  - 259. The client according to claim 255 further comprising a firmware list requester for requesting said server to provide a specified amount of a firmware list.
  - 260. The client according to claim 259, wherein said firmware list requester transmits a firmware list request command including an obtaining start index indicating the first firmware information to be obtained from said server and an obtaining number indicating the number of pieces of firmware information to be obtained from said server.

261. The client connectable to a plurality of servers, comprising:
- a connecter connecting with any one of said plurality of servers; and
  
  a determiner for determining whether connection with the server by said connecter is maintained at prescribed intervals, said connecter reestablishing connection with said server when said determiner determines that the connection is closed.
- View Dependent Claims (262, 263)
- - 262. The client according to claim 261, wherein said connecter establishes connection with another server when the connection with said server cannot be reestablished.
  - 263. The client according to claim 261, wherein said connecter transmits a client status before the connection is closed to the connected server.

264. A monitoring client monitoring a reproducing client reproducing a content transmitted from a server, and said monitoring client connectable to said server comprising:
- a receiver receiving the client information related to said reproducing client transmitted from said server; and
  
  a display displaying said received client information.
- View Dependent Claims (265, 266, 267, 268, 269)
- - 265. The monitoring client according to claim 264, further comprising a changer changing the display of said received client information when said client information is changed.
  - 266. The monitoring client according to claim 264, wherein said client information includes the name of a data format of a content reproducible by said reproducing client, said monitoring client further comprising a display displaying the name of said data format based on said received client information.
  - 267. The monitoring client according to claim 266, further comprising:
    - an obtainer obtaining a content list of a plurality of contents from said server; and
      
      a display displaying a content reproducible by said reproducing client among the contents included in said obtained content list and displaying a content that cannot be reproduced by said reproducing client in a different manner from the reproducible content or not displaying the irreproducible content.
  - 268. The monitoring client according to claim 264, further comprising a determiner determining whether a client to be monitored is said reproducing client.
  - 269. The monitoring client according to claim 264, further comprising:
    - an obtainer obtaining a monitoring handle necessary for monitoring said reproducing client; and
      
      a moitor monitoring said reproducing client using said obtained monitoring handle.

270. A server connectable to a first client reproducing a content and a second client monitoring said first client, comprising:
- a storage device for storing a plurality of contents;
  
  a content transmitter transmitting a content selected among said plurality of contents to said first client; and
  
  a client information transmitter transmitting client information related to said first client, to said second client.
- View Dependent Claims (271, 272, 273, 303)
- - 271. The server according to claim 270, wherein said client information transmitter transmits said client information to said second client through a push port for forcing a request to be transmitted to said second client.
  - 272. The server according to claim 270, further comprising:
    - a content list returner responsive to the request from said second client and returning a content list of said plurality of contents.
  - 273. The server according to claim 272, wherein said client information includes a list construction key necessary for producing said content list, and said content list returner produces said content list based on the list construction key transmitted from said second client.
  - 303. The server according to claim 270, further comprising:
    - a receiver receiving client information related to said first client from said first client, and said client information transmitter transmitting said received client information to said second client.

274. A monitoring client monitoring a reproducing client reproducing a content transmitted from a server and connectable to said server, comprising:
- a client information receiver for receiving client information related to said reproducing client from said server;
  
  a content list requester requesting said server to provide a content list of a plurality of contents, and a content list receiver receiving the content list returned from said server.
- View Dependent Claims (275, 276, 277)
- - 275. The monitoring client according to claim 274, wherein said client information includes a list construction key necessary for producing said content list, and said content list requester transmits the list construction key included in said received client information to said server when the list construction key is changed.
  - 276. The monitoring client according to claim 274, wherein said client information receiver receives said client information when said monitoring client is connected to said server.
  - 277. The monitoring client according to claim 276, wherein said client information includes a list construction key necessary for producing said content list, said content list requester transmits the list construction key included in said received client information to said server.

278. A server connectable to a first client reproducing a content and a second client monitoring said first client using an obtained monitoring handle necessary for monitoring said first client, comprising:
- a storage device for storing a plurality of contents;
  
  a content transmitter transmitting a content selected among said plurality of contents to said first client;
  
  a determiner determining whether said second client has said monitoring handle; and
  
  a transmitter transmitting client information related to said first client, to said second client when said second client has said monitoring handle based on the result of said determination.

279. A control client controlling a reproducing client reproducing a content transmitted from a server and connectable to said server, comprising:
- a server requester for requesting said server to control said reproducing client.
- View Dependent Claims (280, 282, 283, 284, 286)
- - 280. The control client according to claim 279, wherein said server requester transmits information for specifying said reproducing client and information for specifying said content to said server.
  - 282. The control client according to claim 279, further comprising:
    - a determiner determining whether a client to be controlled is said reproducing client, and a controller controlling said reproducing client when said reproducing client is to be controlled based on the result of said determination
  - 283. The control client according to claim 279, further comprising:
    - a determiner determining whether the data format of said content matches the data format of the content that can be reproduced by said reproducing client; and
      
      an instructor instructing said reproducing client to reproduce said content when said data formats match.
  - 284. The control client according to claim 279, further comprising:
    - an obtainer obtaining a control handle necessary for controlling said reproducing client; and
      
      a controller controlling said reproducing client using said obtained control handle.
  - 286. The control client according to claim 279, further comprising:
    - a receiver receiving a completion status transmitted from said reproducing client through said server; and
      
      an instructor responsive to said received completion status and instructing said reproducing client to reproduce the content next to the content that has been reproduced to the end.

285. A server connectable to a first client reproducing a content and a second client controlling said first client, comprising:
- a storage device for storing a plurality of contents;
  
  a content transmitter transmitting a content selected among said plurality of contents to said first client;
  
  a determiner determining whether or not said second client has a control handle necessary for controlling said first client when said second client requests said server to issue a server request; and
  
  a transmitter transmitting said server request to said first client when said second client has said control handle based on the result of said determination.

287. An AV equipment being controlled by a first client connected to a server and connectable to a second client connected to said server, comprising:
- a controllable element;
  
  a receiver receiving a control command transmitted from said first client through said server and said second client; and
  
  a controller responsive to said received control command and controlling said element.

288. An AV equipment connectable to a relay client connected to a server, comprising:
- a receiver receiving a content selected among a plurality of contents stored in said server from said server through said relay client; and
  
  a reproducer reproducing said received content.
- View Dependent Claims (289)
- - 289. The AV equipment according to claim 288, further comprising:
    - a transmitter transmitting information related to said AV equipment to a monitoring client monitoring said AV equipment through said relay client and said server.

290. A server connectable to a first client reproducing a content and a plurality of second clients instructing said first client to reproduce the content, comprising:
- a content storage device for storing a plurality of contents, a content transmitter transmitting a content selected among said plurality of contents to said first client;
  
  a status transmitter selecting one of said plurality of second clients and transmitting a completion status indicating completion of reproducing the content to the selected second client when receiving the completion status from said first client.
- View Dependent Claims (291, 292, 293, 294)
- - 291. The server according to claim 290, further comprising:
    - a manager managing the priorities of the second clients that can control said first client, and said status transmitter selects a second client with the highest priority as the second client to receive said transmitted completion status.
  - 292. The server according to claim 291, wherein said status transmitter transmits a stop status to the second client other than the second client with the highest priority.
  - 293. The server according to claim 290, further comprising:
    - a memory for storing the identification information of said second client that has instructed reproduction, and said status transmitter selects said second client that has instructed reproduction as the second client to receive said completion status based on said stored identification information of the second client.
  - 294. The server according to claim 293, wherein said status transmitter transmits a stop status to the second client other than said selected second client.

295. A control client controlling a reproducing client reproducing a content transmitted from a server and connectable to said server, comprising:
- a control handle obtainer obtaining a control handle necessary for controlling said reproducing client;
  
  a specifier specifying a content among a plurality of contents stored in said server after obtaining said control handle and instructing said reproducing client to reproduce the specified content, and a specifier specifying a content next to the content that has been reproduced to its end by said reproducing client in response to a completion status indicating completion of reproducing the content received from said reproducing client whose control handle is obtained by said control client and instructing said reproducing client to reproduce the specified content.
- View Dependent Claims (296, 297, 380)
- - 296. The control client according to claim 295, wherein said control handle obtainer, upon obtaining said control handle, prohibits the other control client from obtaining said control handle.
  - 297. The control client according to claim 296, further comprising:
    - a canceller canceling the prohibition of obtaining said control handle in response to a stop status indicating stop of reproducing the content midway, said stop status received from the reproducing client whose control handle is obtained by said control client.
  - 380. The computer program product according to claim 296, further causing said control client to perform the step of:
    - canceling the prohibition of obtaining said control handle in response to a stop status indicating stop of reproducing the content midway, said stop status received from the reproducing client whose control handle is obtained by said control client.

298. A server connectable to a first client reproducing a content and a second client instructing said first client to reproduce the content, comprising:
- a content storage device for storing a plurality of contents;
  
  a content transmitter transmitting a content selected among said plurality of contents to said first client; and
  
  a continuous reproducing instructor responsive to a completion status indicating completion of reproducing the content, said completion status received from said first client, specifying a content next to the content that has been reproduced to its end by said first client and instructing said first client to reproduce the specified content.
- View Dependent Claims (299)
- - 299. The server according to claim 298, further comprising:
    - a memory for storing a list construction key necessary for producing a content list of contents to be reproduced by said first client; and
      
      a producer producing said content list based on said list construction key, and said continuous reproducing instructor instructing said first client to reproduce said content according to said content list.

300. A reproducing client being controlled by a control client connected to a server and connectable to said server, comprising:
- a reproducer responsive to an instruction from said control client and reproducing a content specified among a plurality of contents stored in said server;
  
  a first receiver receiving a -list construction key necessary for producing a content list from said control client and transmitting the list construction key to said server;
  
  a second receiver receiving the content list produced based on said transmitted list construction key from said server; and
  
  a reproducer reproducing a content next to the content that has been reproduced to its end according to said received content list.

301. A reproducing client being controlled by a control client connected to a server and connectable to said server, comprising:
- a reproducer reproducing a content transmitted from said server; and
  
  a transmitter transmitting a completion status to said server when finished reproducing a content as instructed by said control client and transmitting a stop status different from said completion status to said server when finished reproducing a content selected by said reproducing client or stopped reproducing the content midway in response to the operation of the user.

304. A computer program product causing a server connectable to a client to perform the steps of storing a plurality of contents in a storage device;
- and returning a content list of a plurality of contents in response to a request from said client.
- View Dependent Claims (305, 306, 307, 308, 309)
- - 305. The computer program product according to claim 304, wherein said step of returning returns a specified amount of a content list in response to the request from said client.
  - 306. The computer program product according to claim 305, wherein said step of returning responds to a list request command from said client, said command including an obtaining start index indicating the first content to be obtained from said server by said client and an obtaining number indicating the number of contents to be obtained from said server by said client and returns a content list of contents as many as said obtaining number from the first content indicated by said obtaining start index.
  - 307. The computer program product according to claim 306, wherein said step of returning further returns the number of contents included in said content list to be returned and the number of the remaining contents left out of said content list to be returned.
  - 308. The computer program product according to claim 304, further causing said server to perform the step of returning a category list of a plurality of categories in response to a request from said client.
  - 309. The computer program product according to claim 304, wherein said step of returning produces said content list based on the list construction key transmitted from said client.

310. A computer program product caused a server connectable to client to perform the steps of:
- storing a plurality of contents in a storage device; and
  
  repeating returning a predetermined amount of a content selected among said plurality of contents in response to a request from said client, so that said content is returned in its entirety.
- View Dependent Claims (311, 312, 313)
- - 311. The computer program product according to claim 310, wherein said step of repeating responds to a content transfer request command transmitted from said client, said command including an obtaining start address indicating the first address where a content to be obtained from said server by said client is stored and an obtaining data length indicating the length of the content to be obtained from said server by said first client and returns a content for said obtaining data length from said obtaining start address.
  - 312. The computer program product according to claim 310, further causing said server to perform the step of returning the offset of said selected content to said client in response to the identification information of said selected content transmitted from said client.
  - 313. The computer program product according to claim 310, further causing said server to perform the step of returning the size of said selected content to said client in response to the identification information of said selected content transmitted from said client.

314. A computer program product causing a server connectable to a first client and a second client controlling said first client, to perform the step of:
- controlling said first client in response to a request from said second client.
- View Dependent Claims (364)
- - 364. The computer program product according to claim 314, wherein said step of controlling controls said first client through a push port for forcing a request to be transmitted to said first client.

315. A computer program product causing a server connectable to a client to perform the steps of:
- storing a plurality of contents in a storage device;
  
  transmitting a content selected among said plurality of contents to said client, and updating firmware in said client.
- View Dependent Claims (316, 317, 318, 319, 320)
- - 316. The computer program product according to claim 315, further causing said server to perform the steps of registering the information related to a plurality of firmware pieces suitable for said client;
    - and transmitting a firmware list of said registered information of the plurality of firmware pieces to said client, said step of updating returning firmware selected in said firmware list to said client in response to a request from said client.
  - 317. The computer program product according to claim 315, wherein said step of updating transmits a specified amount of firmware requested by said client to said client.
  - 318. The computer program product according to claim 317, wherein said step of updating returns firmware for an obtaining data length indicating the length of firmware to be obtained by said client from an obtaining start address indicating the first address where the firmware to be obtained by said client is stored.
  - 319. The computer program product according to claim 316, wherein said step of transmitting transmits a specified amount of a firmware list requested by said client to said client.
  - 320. The computer program product according to claim 319, wherein said step of transmitting responds to a firmware list request command from said client, said command including an obtaining start index indicating the first firmware information to be obtained from said server by said client and an obtaining number indicating the number of pieces of firmware information to be obtained from said server by said client and transmits a firmware list including pieces of the firmware information as many as said obtaining number from said first firmware information indicated by said obtaining start index to said client.

321. A computer program product causing a client connectable to a server to perform the steps of requesting said server to provide a content list of a plurality of contents stored in said server;
- and receiving the content list returned from said server in response to said request.
- View Dependent Claims (322, 323, 324, 325)
- - 322. The computer program product according to claim 321, wherein said step of requesting requests said server to provide a specified amount of a content list.
  - 323. The computer program product according to claim 322, wherein said step of requesting transmits a list request command including an obtaining start index indicating the first content to be obtained from said server by said client and an obtaining number indicating the number of contents to be obtained from said server by said client, and said step of receiving receives a content list returned from said server in response to said list request command, said content list of contents as many as said obtaining number from the first content indicated by said obtaining start index.
  - 324. The computer program product according to claim 321, further causing said client to perform the step of:
    - requesting said server to provide a category list of a plurality of categories; and
      
      receiving the category list returned from said server in response to said request, said step of requesting selecting a category of the contents in the content list to be requested in said received category list.
  - 325. The computer program product according to claim 321, wherein said step of requesting transmits a list construction key necessary for producing said content list to said server.

326. A computer program product causing a client connectable to a server to perform the steps of:
- requesting said server to provide a predetermined amount of a content selected among a plurality of contents stored in said server;
  
  reproducing the content transmitted from said server in response to said request, and said step of requesting repeating the request for said content until said content is obtained in its entirety.
- View Dependent Claims (327, 328, 329, 330, 331, 332, 333, 334)
- - 327. The computer program product according to claim 326, further caused said client to perform the step of storing the content returned from said server in a buffer memory, wherein said step of requesting requests said server to provide said predetermined amount of the content when a prescribed empty space is generated in said buffer memory.
  - 328. The computer program product according to claim 326, wherein said step of requesting calculates an obtaining start address indicating the first address of said predetermined amount of the content and transmits a content transfer request command including the calculated obtaining start address and an obtaining data length indicating the length of the content to be obtained from said server by said client.
  - 329. The computer program product according to claim 328, wherein said step of requesting adds said obtaining data length to the previous obtaining start address to calculate the next obtaining start address.
  - 330. The computer program product according to claim 329, further causing said client to perform the steps of:
    - setting first and second addresses; and
      
      setting said obtaining start address to said first address when said calculated obtaining start address exceeds said second address.
  - 331. The computer program product according to claim 328, further causing said client to perform the steps of:
    - setting a desired address; and
      
      setting said obtaining start address to said desired address.
  - 332. The computer program product according to claim 328 further causing said client to perform the steps of:
    - setting a prescribed skip amount; and
      
      shifting said obtaining start address by said set skip amount.
  - 333. The computer program product according to claim 326, further causing said client to perform the steps of transmitting the identification information of said selected content to said server;
    - and detecting the start of said selected content based on the offset of said selected content returned from said server in response to said identification information.
  - 334. The computer program product according to claim 326, further causing said client to perform the steps of:
    - transmitting the identification information of said selected content to said server; and
      
      detecting the end of said selected content based on the size of said selected content returned from said server in response to said identification information.

335. A computer program product causing a client connectable to a server to perform the steps of:
- calculating an obtaining start address indicating the first address of a content selected among a plurality of contents stored in said server and transmitting the obtaining start address to said server, and reproducing the content returned from said server in response to said transmitted obtaining start address.

336. A computer program product causing a client connectable to a server to perform the steps of:
- requesting said server to provide a specified amount of a content selected among a plurality of contents stored in said server; and
  
  reproducing the content returned from said server in response to said request; and
  
  said step of requesting changing the specified amount of the content to be requested to said server.

337. A computer program product causing a client connectable to a server to perform the steps of reproducing a content transmitted from said server;
- and transmitting client information related to said client to said server every time the client information changes.

338. A computer program product causing a client connectable to a server to perform the steps of requesting said server to transmit firmware.
- View Dependent Claims (339, 340, 341, 342, 343)
- - 339. The computer program product according to claim 338, further causing said client to perform the step of receiving a firmware list transmitted from said server, wherein said step of requesting selects firmware to be transmitted in said received firmware list.
  - 340. The computer program product according to claim 338, wherein said step of requesting requests said server to provide a specified amount of firmware.
  - 341. The computer program product according to claim 340, wherein said step of requesting transmits an obtaining start address indicating the first address where firmware to be obtained from said server is stored and an obtaining data length indicating the length of the firmware to be obtained from said server.
  - 342. The computer program product according to claim 338, further causing said client to perform the step of requesting said server to provide a specified amount of a firmware list.
  - 343. The computer program product according to claim 342, wherein said step of requesting transmits a firmware list request command including an obtaining start index indicating the first firmware information to be obtained from said server and an obtaining number indicating the number of pieces of firmware information to be obtained from said server.

344. A computer program product causing a client connectable to a plurality of servers to perform the steps of:
- connecting with any one of said plurality of servers; and
  
  determining whether connection with the server by said step of connecting is maintained at prescribed intervals, said step of connecting reestablishing connection with said server when said step of determining determines that the connection is closed.
- View Dependent Claims (345, 346)
- - 345. The computer program product according to claim 344, wherein said step of connecting establishes connection with another server when the connection with said server cannot be reestablished.
  - 346. The computer program product according to claim 344, wherein said step of connecting transmits a client status before the connection is closed to the connected server.

347. A computer program product causing a monitoring client monitoring a reproducing client reproducing a content transmitted from a server, and said monitoring client connectable to said server, to perform the steps of:
- receiving the client information related to said reproducing client transmitted from said server; and
  
  displaying said received client information.
- View Dependent Claims (348, 349, 350, 351, 352)
- - 348. The computer program product according to claim 347, further causing said monitoring client to perform the step of changing the display of said received client information when said client information is changed.
  - 349. The computer program product according to claim 347, wherein said client information includes the name of a data format of a content reproducible by said reproducing client, said computer program product further causes said monitoring client to perform the step of displaying the name of said data format based on said received client information.
  - 350. The computer program product according to claim 349, further causing said monitoring client to perform the step of:
    - obtaining a content list of a plurality of contents from said server; and
      
      displaying a content reproducible by said reproducing client among the contents included in said obtained content list and displaying a content that cannot be reproduced by said reproducing client in a different manner from the reproducible content or not displaying the irreproducible content.
  - 351. The computer program product according to claim 347, further causing said monitoring client to perform the step of determining whether a client to be monitored is said reproducing client.
  - 352. The computer program product according to claim 347, further causing said monitoring client to perform the step of:
    - obtaining a monitoring handle necessary for monitoring said reproducing client; and
      
      monitoring said reproducing client using said obtained monitoring handle.

353. A computer program product causing a server connectable to a first client reproducing a content and a second client monitoring said first client, to perform the steps of:
- storing a plurality of contents in a storage device;
  
  transmitting a content selected among said plurality of contents to said first client; and
  
  transmitting client information related to said first client, to said second client.
- View Dependent Claims (354, 355, 356, 385)
- - 354. The computer program product according to claim 353, wherein said step of transmitting client information transmits said client information to said second client through a push port for forcing a request to be transmitted to said second client.
  - 355. The computer program product according to claim 353, further causing said server to perform the step of returning a content list of said plurality of contents in response to the request from said second client.
  - 356. The computer program product according to claim 355, wherein said client information includes a list construction key necessary for producing said content list, and said step of returning produces said content list based on the list construction key transmitted from said second client.
  - 385. The computer program product according to claim 353, further causing said server to perform the steps of receiving client information related to said first client from said first client;
    - and said step of transmitting client information transmitting said received client information to said second client.

357. A computer program product causing a monitoring client monitoring a reproducing client reproducing a content transmitted from a server and connectable to said server, to perform the steps of receiving client information related to said reproducing client from said server;
- requesting said server to provide a content list of a plurality of contents, and receiving the content list returned from said server.
- View Dependent Claims (358, 359, 360)
- - 358. The computer program product according to claim 357, wherein said client information includes a list construction key necessary for producing said content list, and said step of requesting transmits the list construction key included in said received client information to said server when the list construction key is changed.
  - 359. The computer program product according to claim 357, wherein said client information receiver receives said client information when said monitoring client is connected to said server.
  - 360. The computer program product according to claim 359, wherein said client information includes a list construction key necessary for producing said content list, said step of requesting transmits the list construction key included in said received client information to said server.

361. A computer program product causing a server connectable to a first client reproducing a content and a second client monitoring said first client using an obtained monitoring handle necessary for monitoring said first client, to perform the steps of:
- storing a plurality of contents in a storage device;
  
  transmitting a content selected among said plurality of contents to said first client;
  
  determining whether said second client has said monitoring handle; and
  
  transmitting client information related to said first client, to said second client when said second client has said monitoring handle based on the result of said determination.

362. A computer program product causing a control client controlling a reproducing client reproducing a content transmitted from a server and connectable to said server, to perform the step of requesting said server to control said reproducing client.
- View Dependent Claims (363, 365, 366, 367, 369)
- - 363. The computer program product according to claim 362, wherein said step of requesting transmits information for specifying said reproducing client and information for specifying said content to said server.
  - 365. The computer program product according to claim 362, further causing said control client to perform the steps of:
    - determining whether a client to be controlled is said reproducing client, and controlling said reproducing client when said reproducing client is to be controlled based on the result of said determination
  - 366. The computer program product according to claim 362, further causing said control client to perform the steps of:
    - determining whether the data format of said content matches the data format of the content that can be reproduced by said reproducing client; and
      
      instructing said reproducing client to reproduce said content when said data formats match.
  - 367. The computer program product according to claim 362, further causing said control client to perform the steps of:
    - obtaining a control handle necessary for controlling said reproducing client; and
      
      controlling said reproducing client using said obtained control handle.
  - 369. The computer program product according to claim 362, further causing said control client to perform the steps of:
    - receiving a completion status transmitted from said reproducing client through said server; and
      
      instructing said reproducing client to reproduce the content next to the content that has been reproduced to the end in response to said received completion status.

368. A computer program product causing a server connectable to a first client reproducing a content and a second client controlling said first client, to perform the steps of storing a plurality of contents in a storage device;
- transmitting a content selected among said plurality of contents to said first client;
  
  determining whether or not said second client has a control handle necessary for controlling said first client when said second client requests said server to issue a server request; and
  
  transmitting said server request to said first client when said second client has said control handle based on the result of said determination.

370. A computer program product causing an AV equipment being controlled by a first client connected to a server and connectable to a second client connected to said server, to perform the steps of:
- receiving a control command transmitted from said first client through said server and said second client; and
  
  controlling a controllable element in said AV equipment in response to said received control command.

371. A computer program product causing an AV equipment connectable to a relay client connected to a server, to perform the steps of receiving a content selected among a plurality of contents stored in said server from said server through said relay client;
- and reproducing said received content.
- View Dependent Claims (372)
- - 372. The computer program product according to claim 371, further causing said AV equipment to perform the steps of:
    - transmitting information related to said AV equipment to a monitoring client monitoring said AV equipment through said relay client and said server.

373. A computer program product causing a server connectable to a first client reproducing a content and a plurality of second clients instructing said first client to reproduce the content, to perform the steps of:
- storing a plurality of contents in a content storage device;
  
  transmitting a content selected among said plurality of contents to said first client;
  
  selecting one of said plurality of second clients and transmitting a completion status indicating completion of reproducing the content to the selected second client when receiving the completion status from said first client.
- View Dependent Claims (374, 375, 376, 377)
- - 374. The computer program product according to claim 373, further causing said server to perform the step of managing the priorities of the second clients that can control said first client;
    - and said step of selecting selects a second client with the highest priority as the second client to receive said transmitted completion status.
  - 375. The computer program product according to claim 374, wherein said step of selecting transmits a stop status to the second client other than the second client with the highest priority.
  - 376. The computer program product according to claim 373, further causing said server to perform the steps of:
    - storing the identification information of said second client that has instructed reproduction in a memory, and said step of selecting transmitter selects said second client that has instructed reproduction as the second client to receive said completion status based on said stored identification information of the second client.
  - 377. The computer program product according to claim 376, wherein said step of selecting transmits a stop status to the second client other than said selected second client.

378. A computer program product causing a control client controlling a reproducing client reproducing a content transmitted from a server and connectable to said server, to perform the steps of:
- obtaining a control handle necessary for controlling said reproducing client;
  
  specifying a content among a plurality of contents stored in said server after obtaining said control handle and instructing said reproducing client to reproduce the specified content; and
  
  specifying a content next to the content that has been reproduced to its end by said reproducing client in response to a completion status indicating completion of reproducing the content received from said reproducing client whose control handle is obtained by said control client and instructing said reproducing client to reproduce the specified content.
- View Dependent Claims (379)
- - 379. The computer program product according to claim 378, wherein said step of obtaining, upon obtaining said control handle, prohibits the other control client from obtaining said control handle.

381. A computer program product causing a server connectable to a first client reproducing a content and a second client instructing said first client to reproduce the content, to perform the steps of. storing a plurality of contents in a content storage device;
- transmitting a content selected among said plurality of contents to said first client; and
  
  specifying a content next to the content that has been reproduced to its end by said first client and instructing said first client to reproduce the specified content in response to a completion status indicating completion of reproducing the content, said completion status received from said first client,.
- View Dependent Claims (382)
- - 382. The computer program product according to claim 381, further causing said server to perform the steps of:
    - storing a list construction key necessary for producing a content list of contents to be reproduced by said first client in a memory; and
      
      producing said content list based on said list construction key; and
      
      said step of specifying instructing said first client to reproduce said content according to said content list.

383. A computer program product causing a reproducing client being controlled by a control client connected to a server and connectable to said server, to perform the steps of reproducing a content specified among a plurality of contents stored in said server in response to an instruction from said control client;
- receiving a list construction key necessary for producing a content list from said control client and transmitting the list construction key to said server;
  
  receiving the content list produced based on said transmitted list construction key from said server; and
  
  reproducing a content next to the content that has been reproduced to its end according to said received content list.

384. A computer program product causing a reproducing client being controlled by a control client connected to a server and connectable to said server, to perform the steps of:
- reproducing a content transmitted from said server; and
  
  transmitting a completion status to said server when finished reproducing a content as instructed by said control client and transmitting a stop status different from said completion status to said server when finished reproducing a content selected by said reproducing client or stopped reproducing the content midway in response to the operation of the user.

Specification

Resources

Litigation Campaign Assessment

Current Assignee
ONKYO Corporation (Onkyo Home Entertainment Corp.)
Original Assignee
ONKYO Corporation (Onkyo Home Entertainment Corp.)
Inventors
Kudoh, Youichi, Kawamura, Fumiaki, Yoshizaki, Hiroko, Takemura, Susumu, Chiba, Takahiro, Ikeda, Yasushi, Sano, Toshinobu

Granted Patent

US 7,634,532 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

709/203
CPC Class Codes

G06F 16/686 using information manually ...

G10H 1/0058 Transmission between separa...

Network type content reproduction system

First Claim

2 Assignments

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

211 Citations

385 Claims

Specification

Use Cases

Quick Links

Others

Network type content reproduction system

First Claim

2 Assignments

Subscription Required

Subscription Required

0 Petitions

Subscription Required

Accused Products

Subscription Required

Abstract

211 Citations

385 Claims

Specification

Subscription Required

Use Cases

Quick Links

Others