Image data transfer method and system therefor

• US 6,725,221 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2002
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eiichi Hadano, Hiroshi Abei, Jun Nishiyama, Kazumasa Nagai, Kenichi Nishikawa, Tatsuya Murakami, Yasuo Kurosu
• Original Assignee: Eiichi Hadano, Hiroshi Abei, Jun Nishiyama, Kazumasa Nagai, Kenichi Nishikawa, Tatsuya Murakami, Yasuo Kurosu
• Inventors: Murakami, Tatsuya, Nishiyama, Jun, Nishikawa, Kenichi, Abei, Hiroshi, Kurosu, Yasuo, Hadano, Eiichi, Nagai, Kazumasa
• Primary Examiner(s): CORRIELUS, JEAN M
• Application Number:
  US10/178,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20020161746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/1, 707/100, 707/102, 707/3, 707/6, 707/203, 707/204, 707/104, 709/202, 709/224
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/915 Image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/959 Network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

An image data transfer method and system therefor transfer image data via network 10 connecting between a plurality of clients 100 and a server 400. A plurality of files are stored in image data base storage unit 430 and file search unit 420 searches the files to be processed by desired client from the image data base storage unit 430 in response to the search request of the client 100. The transfer protocol is sorted in transfer protocol storage unit 520 and transfer protocol management unit 150 transmits to a desired client via the network 10 the image data related to the file searched by the file search unit 420 specified the transfer protocol in the transfer protocol storage unit 520 based on the search request of the desired client.

Claims

1. A data transfer system comprising:

(a) a plurality of clients;

(b) a server; and

(c) a network coupling said plurality of clients and said server, said server transferring data over said network to said clients, said server comprising;

(i) a database storing data files;

(ii) a file search unit coupled to search said database and transfer search results to one of said clients;

(iii) a transfer rule database storing at least a transfer rule, the transfer rule relating to the transfer sequence between said plurality of the clients and specifying information to be transferred to each of the clients via the network at least for each file in said database; and

(iv) a transfer rule management unit coupled to said transfer rule database and transmitting to a selected client via the network the information specified by a corresponding transfer rule stored in said transfer rule database, said transfer rule management unit expecting information required by said client in succeeding processing steps of said client and transferring data related to the information and stored in said database to one of said client before said client sends a transfer request to said server on the basis of instruction of a user.

2. In a data transfer system comprising:

(a) a plurality of clients;

(b) a network coupling said plurality of clients and said server, said server comprising;

(i) a data base storing data files;

(ii) a file search unit coupled to search said database and transfer search results to one of said clients;

(iii) a transfer rule database storing at least a transfer rule, the transfer rule relating to the transfer sequence between said plurality of the clients and specifying transfer information to be transferred to each of the clients via the network at least for each file in said database; and

(iv) a transfer rule management unit coupled to said transfer rule database and transmitting to a selected client via the network the transfer information specified by a corresponding transfer rule stored in said transfer rule database, each of said clients comprising;

(v) a search/transfer controller programmed to;

(1) receive transfer information from said server via said network;

(2) transmit automatically a transfer request based on said transfer information without an instruction by a user to said server before said client sends a transfer request to said server on the basis of instruction of the user; and

(3) receive via the network the data related to the file searched by the file search means of said server, based on said transfer request of said client;

(vi) a data storage unit storing data received by said search/transfer controller; and

(vii) a display unit displaying data selected from data stored in said data storage unit.

3. A data transfer system according to claim 2, further including a processor in each of said clients coupled to carry out processing of data displayed in said display unit.

4. A data transfer system according to claim 2, further including and information.

5. A data transfer system according to claim 2, further including an information display unit in each of said clients displaying said transfer information.

6. A data transfer system according to claim 3, wherein said data comprise document data.

7. A data transfer system comprising:

(a) a plurality of clients;

(b) a server; and

(c) a network coupling said plurality of clients and said server, said server comprising;

(i) a database storing data files;

(ii) file search unit coupled to search said data and transfer search results to one of said clients;

(iii) a transfer rule database storing at least a transfer rule, the transfer rule relating to the transfer sequence between said plurality of the clients and specifying transfer information to be transferred to each of the clients via the network at least for each file in said database, and

(iv) a transfer rule management unit coupled to said transfer rule database and transmitting to a selected client via the network the transfer information specified by a corresponding transfer rule stored in said transfer rule stored in said transfer rule database, said transfer rule management unit expecting information required by said client in succeeding processing steps of said client and transferring data related to the information and stored in said databases to one of said client before said client sends a transfer request on the basis of instruction of a user to said server, each of said clients comprising;

(v) an information storage unit receiving and storing said transfer information;

(vi) a search/transfer controller;

(1) utilizing said transfer information stored in said information storage unit to generate a transfer request; and

(2) receiving via said network data of a file searched by the file search unit of said server, based on said transfer request;

(vii) a data storage unit storing said received image data; and

(viii) a display displaying data stored in said data storage unit.

8. A data transfer system according to claim 7, further including a processing in each of said clients coupled to carry out processing of data displayed in said display unit.

9. A data transfer system according to claim 7, wherein said data comprise document image data.

10. A data transfer system according to claim 7, wherein each of said clients further includes a display displaying the transfer information stored in said information storage unit.

11. A data transfer system comprising:

(a) a plurality of clients;

(b) a server; and

(c) a network coupling said plurality of clients and said server, said server comprising;

(i) a database storing data files;

(ii) a data input device at one of said clients coupled to said network and providing data to said database;

(iii) a file search unit coupled to search said database and transfer search results to one of said clients;

(iv) a transfer rule database storing at least a transfer rule, the transfer rule relating to the transfer sequence between said plurality of the clients and specifying a transfer sequence to be transferred to each of the clients via the network at least for each file in said database, and

(v) a transfer sequence management unit coupled to said transfer rule database and transmitting to a selected client via the network the transfer sequence information specified by a corresponding transfer rule stored in said transfer rule database a transfer rule management unit expecting information required by said client in succeeding processing steps of said client and transferring data related to the information and stored in said database to one of said client before said client sends a transfer request on the basis of instruction of a user to said server, each of said clients comprising;

(vi) a search/transfer controller programmed to;

(1) receive transfer sequence information transferred from the transfer rule management unit via said network;

(2) transmit a transfer request based on said transfer sequence information; and

(3) receive via the network the data related to the file searched by the file search unit of said server, based on said transfer request;

(vii) an data storage unit storing data received by said search/transfer controller; and

(viii) a display unit displaying data stored in said storage unit.

12. An data transfer system comprising:

(a) a plurality of clients;

(b) a server; and

(c) a network coupling said plurality of clients and said server, said clients generating transfer requests over said network to said server and said server transferring data to said clients in response to said transfer requests over said network, said server comprising;

(i) an database storing data files;

(ii) a data input device at one of said clients coupled to said network and providing data to said database;

(iii) a file search unit coupled to search said database and transfer search results to one of said clients;

(iv) a transfer rule database storing at least a transfer rule, the transfer rule relating to the transfer sequence between said plurality of the clients and specifying transfer sequence information to be transferred to each of the clients via the network at least for each file in said database; and

(v) a transfer sequence management unit coupled to said transfer rule database and transmitting to a selected client via the network the transfer sequence information specified by a corresponding transfer rule stored in said transfer rule database, a transfer rule management unit expecting information required by said client in succeeding processing steps of said client and transferring data related to the information and stored in said database to one of said client before said clients sends a transfer request on the basis of instruction of a user to said server, each of said clients comprising;

(vi) a search/transfer controller programmed to;

(1) receive transfer sequence information transferred from the transfer rule management unit via said network;

(2) transmit a transfer request based on said transfer sequence information; and

(3) receive via the network the data related to the file searched by the file search means of said sever, based on said transfer request;

(vii) a data storage unit storing data received by said search/transfer controller;

(viii) a display unit displaying data selected from data stored in said data storage unit;

(ix) a processor coupled to carry out processing of data displayed in said display unit; and

(x) said search/transfer controller also programmed to transmit a processed back to said database via said network.

13. A data transfer system comprising:

(a) a plurality of clients;

(b) a server; and

(c) a network coupling said plurality of clients and said server, said clients generating transfer requests over said network to said server and said server transferring data to said clients in response to said transfer requests over said network, said server comprising;

(i) a database storing data files;

(ii) a data input device at one of said clients coupled to said network and providing data to said database;

(iii) a file search unit coupled to search said database and transfer search results to one of said clients;

(iv) a transfer condition database storing at least a transfer condition specifying transfer condition information to be transferred to each of the clients via the network at least for each file in said database; and

(v) a transfer condition management unit coupled to said transfer condition database and transmitting to a selected client via the network the transfer condition information specified by a corresponding transfer condition stored in said transfer condition database, a transfer rule management unit expecting information required by said clients in succeeding processing steps of said client and transferring data related to the information and stored in said database to one of said client before said client sends a transfer request on the basis of instruction of a user to said server, each of said clients comprising;

(vi) a search/transfer controller programmed to;

(1) receive transfer condition information transferred from the transfer condition management unit via said network;

(2) transmit a transfer request based on said transfer condition information; and

(3) receive via the network the data related to the file searched by the file search means of said server, based on said transfer request;

(vii) a data storage unit storing data received by said search/transfer controller;

(viii) a display unit displaying data selected from data stored in said data storage unit.

14. A data transfer system comprising:

(a) a plurality of clients;

(b) a server; and

(c) a network coupling said plurality of clients and said server, said server comprising;

(i) a database storing data files; and

(ii) a transfer management unit selecting data from said database and transferring said data to a selected client via said network, said transfer management unit expecting information required by said client in succeeding processing steps of said client and transferring data related to the information and stored in said database to one of said client before said client sends a transfer request on the basis of instruction of a user to said server.

15. A method for transferring data via a network connecting a plurality of clients and a server having a database containing two or more files, comprising the steps of:

(a) specifying, in advance, at least a transfer rule for each of two or more clients for at least each database file, the transfer rule relating to the transfer sequence between said plurality of the clients;

(b) storing said transfer rule in said server;

(c) expecting transfer information required by said client in succeeding processing steps of said client on the basis of the transfer rule;

(d) transferring data related to the information stored in said database to one of said client to one of said clients via said network before said client sends a transfer request on the basis of instruction of the user to said server, and transmitting a request for data based on the instruction of the user from said one client to said server via said network;

(e) searching said database for data requested by said one client;

(f) transferring data obtained in said search to said one client via said network.

16. The method according to claim 15, and further including storing said transfer data at said one client.

17. A method for transferring data via a network connecting a plurality of clients and a server having a database containing two or more files, comprising the steps of:

(a) specifying, in advance, at least a transfer rule for each of two or more clients via for at least each database file, the transfer rule relating to the transfer sequence between said plurality of the clients;

(b) storing said transfer rule in said server;

(c) expecting information required by said client in succeeding processing steps of said client;

(d) transferring data related to the expected information and stored in said database to one of said client before said clients sends a transfer request on the basis of instruction of the user to said server, the transfer information being transferred to one of said clients via said network and specified by said stored transfer rule;

(e) transmitting a request for data based on said transfer information from said one client to said server via said network;

(f) searching said database for data requested by said one client;

(g) transferring data obtained in said search to said one client via said network;

(h) storing said transferred data at said one client and

(i) display said data at said one client.

18. An image data transfer system comprising:

(a) an plurality of clients;

(b) a server; and

(c) a network coupling said plurality of clients and said server, said serve transferring image data over said network to said clients based on a file search, said server comprising;

(i) an image database storing image data files;

(ii) a file search unit coupled to search said image database and transfer search results to one of said clients;

(iii) a transfer rule database storing at least a transfer rule, the transfer rule relating to the transfer sequence between said plurality of the clients and specifying transfer information to be transferred to each of the clients via the network at least for each file in said image database; and

(iv) a transfer rule management unit coupled to said transfer rule database and transmitting to a selected client via the network the transfer information specified by a corresponding transfer rule stored in said transfer rule database, the image data transferred to a respective one of said clients being based on the transfer information transmitted to said respective client via said network, said transfer rule management unit expecting information required by said client in succeeding processing steps of said client and transferring data related to the information and stored in said image database to one of said client before said client sends a transfer request on the basis of instruction of a user to said server.

19. In am image data transfer system comprising:

(a) a plurality of clients;

(b) a server; and

(c) a network coupling said plurality of clients and said server, said server comprising;

(i) an image database storing image data files;

(ii) a file search unit coupled to search said image database and transfer search results to one of said clients;

(iii) a transfer rule database storing at least a transfer rule, the transfer rule relating to the transfer sequence between said plurality of the clients and specifying transfer information to be transferred to each of the clients via the network at least for each file in said image database, and

(iv) a transfer rule management unit coupled to said transfer rule database and transmitting to a selected client via the network the transfer information specified by a corresponding transfer rule stored in said transfer rule database, said transfer rule management unit expecting information required by said client in succeeding steps of said client and transferring data related to the information and stored in said image database to one of said client before said client sends a transfer request on the basis of instruction of a user to said server, each of said clients comprising;

(v) a search/transfer controller programmed to;

(1) receive transfer information transferred from said transfer rule management unit via said network;

(2) transmit a transfer request based on said transfer information; and

(3) receive via the network the image data related to the file searched by the file search means of said server, based on said transfer request;

(vi) an image data storage unit storing image data received by said search/transfer controller; and

(vii) a display unit displaying image data selected from image data stored in said image data storage unit.

20. An method for transferring image data via a network connecting a plurality of clients and a server having an image database containing two or more files, comprising the steps of:

(a) specifying, in advance at least a transfer rule for each of two or more clients for at least each database file, the transfer rule relating to the transfer sequence between said plurality of the clients;

(b) storing said transfer rule in said server;

(c) expecting information required by said client in succeeding processing steps of said client on the basis of the transfer rule;

(d) transferring data related to the information and stored in said image database to one of said client before said client sends a transfer request on the basis of instruction of a user to said server, and transmitting a request for the basis of instruction of a user to said server, and transmitting a request for image database on said transfer information from said one client to said server via said network in the succeeding step of said client;

(e) searching said image database for image data requested by said one client;

(f) transmitting image data obtained in said search to said client via said network.

21. An method for transferring data via a network connecting a plurality of clients and a server a database containing two or more files, comprising the steps of:

(a) specifying, in advance, at least a transfer rule for each of two or more clients via for at least each database file, the transfer rule relating to the transfer sequence between said plurality of the clients;

(b) storing said transfer rule in said server;

(c) expecting transfer information required by said client in succeeding processing steps of said client on the basis of the transfer rule;

(d) transferring data related to the information stored in said database to one of said client to one of said clients via said network before said client sends a transfer request on the basis of instruction of the user to said server, and transmitting a request for data based on the instruction of the user from said one client to said server via said network;

(e) searching said image database for image data requested by said one client;

(f) transferring image data obtained in said search to said one client via said network;

(g) storing said transferred image data at said one client; and

(h) displaying said image data at said one client.