Server device and client-server system

• US 7,650,391 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2006
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Hashimoto, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Pwu; Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Khajuria; Shripal K
• Application Number:
  US11/431,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20060259591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219, 709/218, 709/203
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements

Abstract

In a client-server system comprising a plurality of client terminal devices and a server device which transmits and receives information to and from the plurality of client terminal devices, the server device comprises an acquisition unit which obtains a priority of the client terminal device from a priority storage unit, based on a control request from the client terminal device, a determination unit which determines whether or not the control request is accepted, based on the obtained priority, and an execution unit which executes control in response to the control request when the determination unit determines that the control request is accepted.

Claims

1. A client-server system, comprising:

a plurality of client terminal devices; and

a server device which transmits and receives information to and from the plurality of client terminal devices, the plurality of client terminal devices and the server device being connected through a wireless network, wherein the server device comprising;

a priority storage unit which stores a priority determination data table in which a content identification number for identifying content information transmitted to each client terminal device, a priority of the client terminal device in a control for the content information and a client identification number for identifying the client terminal device are included so as to correspond to each other;

a control request reception unit which receives a control request for one content information transmitted to the one client terminal device, from one client terminal device;

an acquisition unit which obtains a priority of the one client terminal device in the control for the one content information, from the priority storage unit, based on the control request from the one client terminal device, which is received by the control request reception unit;

a determination unit which determines whether or not the control request received by the control request reception unit is accepted, based on the priority of the one client terminal device, which is obtained by the acquisition unit;

an execution unit which executes control in response to the control request when the determination unit determines that the control request is accepted; and

a notification unit which gives a notice that the determination unit determines that the control request is not accepted, to the one client terminal device which transmits the control request, when the determination unit determines that the control request is not accepted,

wherein when the priority of the one client terminal device is highest, the determination unit determines that the control request received by the control request reception unit is accepted, and wherein

the client terminal device comprising;

a content information reception unit which receives the content information transmitted from the server device;

a notification reception unit which receives the notice that the control request is not accepted, the notice being transmitted from the notification unit; and

a notification output unit which outputs the notice received by the notification reception unit.

2. A server device which transmits and receives information to and from a plurality of client terminal devices connected through a wireless network, comprising:

a priority storage unit which stores a priority determination data table in which a content identification number for identifying content information transmitted to each client terminal device, a priority of the client terminal device in a control for the content information and a client identification number for identifying the client terminal device are included so as to correspond to each other;

a control request reception unit which receives a control request for one content information transmitted to the one client terminal device, from one client terminal device;

an acquisition unit which obtains a priority of the one client terminal device in the control for the one content information, from the priority storage unit, based on the control request from the one client terminal device, which is received by the control request reception unit;

a determination unit which determines whether or not the control request received by the control request reception unit is accepted, based on whether or not the priority of the one client terminal device, which is obtained by the acquisition unit satisfies a predetermined condition; and

an execution unit which executes control in response to the control request when the determination unit determines that the control request is accepted.

3. The server device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the determination unit determines that the control request received by the control request reception unit is accepted when the priority of the one client terminal device is highest.

4. The server device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

a notification unit which gives a notice that the determination unit determines that the control request is not accepted, to the one client terminal device which transmits the control request, when the determination unit determines that the control request is not accepted.

5. The server device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

a priority information reception unit which receives priority information on the priority in the control for the one content information, from the one client terminal device; and

a priority setting unit which sets the priority of the one client terminal device in the control for the one content information, to the priority storage unit, based on the priority information received by the priority information reception unit.

6. The server device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the priority is set based on order of starting transmission of the content information,

the priority information reception unit receives a transmission stop request of the one content information or a transmission switching request to another content information, as the priority information, and

the priority setting unit invalidates the priority of the one client terminal device which is stored in the priority storage unit, in the control for the one content information, and advances a priority of the client terminal device which has the priority lower than that of the one client terminal device, in the control for the one content information, by one step, when the priority information reception unit receives the transmission stop request of the one content information or the transmission switching request to the another content information from the one client terminal device.