Network system, directory server and terminal device

• US 20060117092A1
• Filed: 11/04/2005
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Miyazawa, Masafumi, Yanagi, Satoru, Kokubo, Masatoshi, Matsuda, Makoto, Ohara, Kiyotaka, Aoki, Kazuma
• Granted Patent: US 8,046,427 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0035 User-machine interface; Control console input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32561 using a programmed control device, e.g. a microprocessor

Abstract

A network system includes a directory server configured to provide service definition information through a network, and a terminal device configured to receive the service definition information. The directory server may include a server communication unit, a service definition information storing unit configured to store main information and auxiliary information as part of service definition information, and a service definition information transmission control unit that retrieves the service definition information from the service definition information storing unit and transmit the same to the terminal device. The terminal device may include a terminal communication unit, an outputting unit, an input receiving unit and an output control unit. When received the service definition information from the directory server, the output control unit controls the outputting unit to output the main information, and when the input receiving unit receives a predetermined input instruction, the auxiliary information is output.

Claims

1. A network system, comprising:

a directory server configured to provide service definition information regarding services through a network; and

a terminal device configured to receive, for use, the service definition information provided by the directory server,

the directory server including;

a server communication unit configured to communicate with the terminal device;

a service definition information storing unit configured to relate main information that is output when a service is used to auxiliary information and store the main information and the auxiliary information as part of service definition information; and

a service definition information transmission control unit that retrieves the service definition information from the service definition information storing unit and transmits the retrieved information to the terminal device through the server communication unit, and

the terminal device including;

a terminal communication unit configured to communicate with the directory server;

an outputting unit configured to perform an output operation in accordance with information;

an input receiving unit configured to receive input instruction by a user; and

an output control unit configured such that,

when the output control unit receives the service definition information from the directory server through the terminal communication unit, the output control unit controls the outputting unit to output the main information contained in the service definition information, and

when the input receiving unit receives a predetermined input instruction by the user, the output control unit controls the outputting unit to output the auxiliary information contained in the service definition information.

2. The network system according to claim 1,

wherein the auxiliary information is explanation information corresponding to the main information.

3. The network system according to claim 1,

wherein the terminal device is provided with a plurality of the outputting units,

wherein the auxiliary information stored in the service definition storing unit of the directory server includes a plurality of pieces of auxiliary information respectively corresponding to the plurality of the outputting units, and

wherein the output control unit included in the terminal device controls a predetermined one, corresponding to the instruction received by the input receiving unit, of the outputting units to output the corresponding one of the plurality of pieces of the auxiliary information.

4. The network system according to claim 3,

wherein the output control unit of the terminal device controls the plurality of outputting units respectively corresponding to the plurality of pieces of the auxiliary information to output the respective auxiliary information parallelly at predetermined timings, respectively.

5. The network system according to claim 4,

wherein the output control unit of the terminal device controls the plurality of outputting units to output the plurality of pieces of the auxiliary information one after another at predetermined timings.

6. The network system according to claim 3,

wherein the service definition information stored in the service information storing unit of the directory server includes an outputting unit designating information designating the outputting unit appropriate for outputting the auxiliary information, and

wherein the output control unit controls the designated outputting unit, in accordance with the outputting unit designating information, to output the auxiliary information if the input instruction receiving unit receives a predetermined input instruction.

7. The network system according to claim 1,

wherein the outputting unit includes at least one of a displaying unit configured to display an image, a sound output unit configured to output sound, and a printing unit configured to print an image on a recording medium.

8. The network system according to claim 1,

wherein the directory server includes an inquiry unit configured to inquire a type from the terminal device via the server communication unit,

wherein the service definition information stored in the service definition information storing unit includes the main information and the auxiliary information which correspond to the type of the terminal device and can be output by the outputting unit of the terminal device,

wherein the service definition information transmission control unit retrieves the service definition information corresponding to the type of the terminal device obtained by the inquiry unit from the service definition information storing unit, and

wherein the terminal device further includes a type replaying unit that transmits the type of the terminal device inquired by the directory server via the terminal communication unit to the directory server via the terminal communicating unit.

9. A directory server configured to provide service definition information regarding a service to be used by a terminal device to the terminal device through a network, the directory server comprising:

a server communication unit configured to perform a communication with the terminal device;

a service definition information storing unit configured to relate main information that is output when a service is used to auxiliary information and store the main information and the auxiliary information as part of service definition information; and

a service definition information transmission control unit that retrieves the service definition information from the service definition information storing unit and transmit the retrieved information to the terminal device through the server communication unit.

10. A terminal device configured to receive service definition information regarding a service to be used from a directory server through a network, the terminal device comprising:

a terminal communication unit configured to communicate with the directory server;

an outputting unit configured to perform an output operation in accordance with information;

an input receiving unit configured to receive input instruction by a user; and

an output control unit configured such that,

when the output control unit receives the service definition information from the directory server through the terminal communication unit, the output control unit controls the outputting unit to output the main information contained in the service definition information, and

when the input receiving unit receives a predetermined input instruction by the user, the output control unit controls the outputting unit to output the auxiliary information contained in the service definition information.

11. A computer-readable medium having a program stored thereon, said program comprising computer readable instructions that cause a computer to function as a directory server that provides service definition information regarding a service to be used by a terminal device to the terminal device through a network,

wherein the computer, when functioning as the directory server, comprises:

a server communication unit configured to perform a communication with the terminal device;

a service definition information storing unit configured to relate main information that is output when a service is used to auxiliary information and store the main information and the auxiliary information as part of service definition information; and

a service definition information transmission control unit that retrieves the service definition information from the service definition information storing unit and transmit the retrieved information to the terminal device through the server communication unit.

12. A computer readable medium having a program stored thereon, said program comprising computer readable instructions that cause a computer to function as a terminal device configured to receive service definition information regarding a service to be used from a directory server through a network,

wherein the computer, when functioning as the terminal device, comprises:

a terminal communication unit configured to communicate with the directory server;

an outputting unit configured to perform an output operation in accordance with information;

an input receiving unit configured to receive input instruction by a user; and

an output control unit configured such that,

when the output control unit receives the service definition information from the directory server through the terminal communication unit, the output control unit controls the outputting unit to output the main information contained in the service definition information, and

when the input receiving unit receives a predetermined input instruction by the user, the output control unit controls the outputting unit to output the auxiliary information contained in the service definition information.

13. A terminal device configured to receive service definition information regarding a service to be used from a directory server through a network, the terminal device comprising:

terminal communicating means for communicating with said directory server;

output means for performing an output operation in accordance with information;

input means for receiving instructions input by a user; and

an output control unit configured such that,

when the output control unit receives the service definition information from the directory server through the terminal communication unit, the output control unit controls the outputting unit to output the main information contained in the service definition information, and

when the input receiving unit receives a predetermined input instruction by the user, the output control unit controls the outputting unit to output the auxiliary information contained in the service definition information.