Client/server system and button updating method for client application
First Claim
1. A client/server system comprising a plurality of computers connected to a network, wherein:
- a server on the network stores button information which is data on menu buttons operating in connection with a client application introduced into a client computer, the client application being an image viewer, wherein the server generates customized updated button information based on a user'"'"'s pre-stored personal information, and wherein the server has a function of transmitting the customized updated button information to the client computer; and
the client application comprises a program for viewing a plurality of images, the image viewer including a window including a file list display section that displays a folder structure of the client computer, an image list display section that lists a reduced image of the images stored in a folder designated by a user, and a menu display section that displays a list of a plurality of menu buttons, each of the plurality of menu buttons corresponding to a service, the program causing the client computer to provide a function of communicating with the server to obtain the customized updated button information from the server, a function of displaying menu buttons on a display in combination with a GUI screen of the client application according to the customized updated button information obtained, and a function of performing operations defined for the displayed menu buttons, wherein a selected at least one image from the plurality of images in the image list display section is uploaded to a server associated with a selected menu button for performing the service associated with the selected menu button.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The client/server system enables functions of GUI buttons provided on a client application to be easily changed. The client application connects to a menu server residing on a network to download information on menu buttons. Button information includes button IDs unique to the menu buttons, parameter values specifying functions of the menu buttons, and information on images of the menu buttons. The menu server uses user personal information to distribute menu button information suitable to each user. The client application reads button IDs from menu information obtained from the menu server and compares them with button information saved in a storage area of a client computer to avoid duplicate downloading of the same button information.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A client/server system comprising a plurality of computers connected to a network, wherein:
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a server on the network stores button information which is data on menu buttons operating in connection with a client application introduced into a client computer, the client application being an image viewer, wherein the server generates customized updated button information based on a user'"'"'s pre-stored personal information, and wherein the server has a function of transmitting the customized updated button information to the client computer; and the client application comprises a program for viewing a plurality of images, the image viewer including a window including a file list display section that displays a folder structure of the client computer, an image list display section that lists a reduced image of the images stored in a folder designated by a user, and a menu display section that displays a list of a plurality of menu buttons, each of the plurality of menu buttons corresponding to a service, the program causing the client computer to provide a function of communicating with the server to obtain the customized updated button information from the server, a function of displaying menu buttons on a display in combination with a GUI screen of the client application according to the customized updated button information obtained, and a function of performing operations defined for the displayed menu buttons, wherein a selected at least one image from the plurality of images in the image list display section is uploaded to a server associated with a selected menu button for performing the service associated with the selected menu button. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 26, 30, 31)
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22. A button updating method of an image viewer client application, comprising the steps of:
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constructing a client/server system by connecting client computers and a server together via a network; storing, in a menu button information database of the server, button information which is data on menu buttons operating in connection with a client application introduced into each of the client computers, wherein the server generates customized updated button information based on a user'"'"'s pre-stored personal information; activating the client application, the client application comprising a program for viewing a plurality of images, the image viewer including a window including a file list display section that displays a folder structure of the client computer, an image list display section that lists a reduced image of the images stored in a folder designated by a user, and a menu display section that displays a list of a plurality of menu buttons, each of the plurality of menu buttons corresponding to a service, wherein the client application communicates with the server to obtain the customized updated button information therefrom; displaying the menu buttons on a display in combination with a GUI screen of the client application according to the customized updated button information obtained; and enabling operations defined for the displayed menu buttons, wherein a selected at least one image from the plurality of images in the image list display section is uploaded to a server associated with a selected menu button for performing the service associated with the selected menu button. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 27, 32)
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28. An apparatus connected to a network, comprising:
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a memory storing a set of instructions; and a processor to execute the stored set of instructions to perform a method comprising; executing a client application, the client application providing an image viewer for viewing a plurality of images, the image viewer including a window including a file list display section that displays a folder structure of the client computer, an image list display section that lists a reduced image of the images stored in a folder designated by a user, and a menu display section that displays a list of a plurality of menu buttons, each of the plurality of menu buttons corresponding to a service, accessing a server on the network; obtaining customized updated button information from the server, wherein the server generates the customized updated button information based on a user'"'"'s pre-stored personal information; displaying menu buttons on a display based on the obtained customized updated button information, wherein the menu buttons are associated with pre-defined operations to be performed at the apparatus, wherein a selected at least one image from the plurality of images in the image list display section is uploaded to a server associated with a selected menu button for performing the service associated with the selected menu button. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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29. An apparatus connected to a network, comprising;
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a memory for storing button information representing data on menu buttons for operation with an application executed on a client computer and a set of instructions; a processor to execute the stored set of instructions to perform a method comprising; receiving a request for updated button information from a client computer executing an image viewer client application for viewing a plurality of images, the image viewer including a window including a file list display section that displays a folder structure of the client computer, an image list display section that lists a reduced image of the images stored in a folder designated by a user, and a menu display section that displays a list of a plurality of menu buttons, each of the plurality of menu buttons having associated therewith a server for providing a corresponding service; generating customized updated button information based on a user'"'"'s pre-stored personal information; and transmitting the button information to the client computer in response to the request. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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Specification