Network system, directory server and terminal device

• US 8,046,427 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2005
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Hwang; Joon H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE IV, THOMAS E
• Application Number:
  US11/266,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20060117092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,181 Days
• Field of Search: 709201-203, 709217-219, 340 11- 161
• 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 explaining a function of a service provided through a network, the service definition information including in a single file both main information, output when a service is used, and a plurality of pieces of auxiliary information, each piece of auxiliary information includes outputting unit designation information designating an outputting unit suitable for outputting the piece of auxiliary information;

and a multi-function terminal device configured to receive, for use, the service definition information provided by the directory server, the multi-function terminal device being provided with a plurality of outputting units of different types corresponding respectively to the plurality of pieces of auxiliary information,

the directory server including;

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

a service definition information storing unit configured to relate the main information to the plurality of pieces of the auxiliary information and store the main information and the plurality of pieces of the auxiliary information as the service definition information; and

a service definition information transmission control unit retrieving the service definition information from the service definition information storing unit and transmitting the retrieved service definition information to the multi-function terminal device through the server communication unit, and

the multi-function terminal device including;

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

the plurality of outputting units configured to perform an output operation in accordance with information;

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

an output control unit configured such that,

(a) when the output control unit receives the service definition information from the directory server through the terminal communication unit, the output control unit controls a predetermined outputting unit of the plurality of outputting units of different types to output the main information contained in the received service definition information, and

(b) when the instruction receiving unit receives a specific instruction by the user after the output control unit has received the service definition information, the output control unit selects a specific outputting unit from among the plurality of outputting units of different types on the basis of the specific instruction, and further selects a specific piece of auxiliary information from among the plurality of pieces of auxiliary information with reference to the plurality of pieces of outputting unit designating information included in the plurality of pieces of auxiliary information, the selected specific piece of auxiliary information including the outputting unit designating information designating the selected specific outputting unit, in order to cause the selected specific outputting unit to output the selected specific piece of auxiliary information contained in the received service definition information.

2. The network system according to claim 1,

wherein the plurality of pieces of auxiliary information include explanation information corresponding to the main information.

3. The network system according to claim 1,

wherein the output control unit of the multi-function 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 in parallel at predetermined timings, respectively.

4. The network system according to claim 1,

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

5. The network system according to claim 1,

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 instruction receiving unit receives a predetermined input instruction.

6. The network system according to claim 1,

wherein the plurality of outputting units 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.

7. The network system according to claim 1,

wherein the directory server includes an inquiry unit configured to inquire a type from the multi-function 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, wherein the main information and the auxiliary information correspond to the type of the multi-function terminal device and can be output by the outputting units of the multi-function terminal device,

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

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

8. A multi-function terminal device configured to receive service definition information explaining a function of a service to be used from a directory server through a network, the service definition information including in a single file both main information, output when a service is used, and a plurality of pieces of auxiliary information, each piece of auxiliary information includes outputting unit designation information designating an outputting unit suitable for outputting the piece of auxiliary information;

and the multi-function terminal device configured to receive, for use, the service definition information provided by the directory server,

the multi-function terminal device comprising;

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

a plurality of outputting units of different types corresponding respectively to the plurality of pieces of auxiliary information, each outputting unit configured to output information;

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

an output control unit configured such that,

(a) when the output control unit receives the service definition information from the directory server through the terminal communication unit, the output control unit controls a predetermined outputting unit of the plurality of outputting units of different types to output the main information contained in the received service definition information, and

(b) when the instruction receiving unit receives a specific instruction by the user after the output control unit has received the service definition information, the output control unit selects a specific outputting unit from among the plurality of outputting units of different types on the basis of the specific instruction, and further selects a specific piece of auxiliary information from among the plurality of pieces of auxiliary information with reference to the plurality of pieces of outputting unit designating information included in the plurality of pieces of auxiliary information, the selected specific piece of auxiliary information including the outputting unit designating information designating the selected specific outputting unit, in order to cause the selected specific outputting unit to output the selected specific piece of auxiliary information contained in the received service definition information.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium having a program stored thereon, said program comprising computer readable instructions causing a computer to function as a multi-function terminal device configured to receive service definition information explaining a function of a service to be used from a directory server through a network, the service definition information including in a single file both main information, output when a service is used, and a plurality of pieces of auxiliary information, each piece of auxiliary information includes outputting unit designation information designating an outputting unit suitable for outputting the piece of auxiliary information,

wherein the computer, when functioning as the multi-function terminal device, comprises:

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

a plurality of outputting units of different types corresponding respectively to the plurality of pieces of auxiliary information, each outputting unit configured to output information;

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

an output control unit configured such that,

(a) when the output control unit receives the service definition information from the directory server through the terminal communication unit, the output control unit controls a predetermined outputting unit of the plurality of outputting units of different types to output the main information contained in the received service definition information, and

(b) when the instruction receiving unit receives a specific instruction by the user after the output control unit has received the service definition information, the output control unit selects a specific outputting unit from among the plurality of outputting units of different types on the basis of the specific instruction, and further selects a specific piece of auxiliary information from among the plurality of pieces of auxiliary information with reference to the plurality of pieces of outputting unit designating information included in the plurality of pieces of auxiliary information, the selected specific piece of auxiliary information including the outputting unit designating information designating the selected specific outputting unit, in order to cause the selected specific outputting unit to output the selected specific piece of auxiliary information contained in the received service definition information.

10. A multi-function terminal device configured to receive service definition information explaining a function of a service to be used from a directory server through a network, the service definition information including in a single file both main information, output when a service is used, and a plurality of pieces of auxiliary information, each piece of auxiliary information includes output means designation information designating an output means suitable for outputting the piece of auxiliary information, the multi-function 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 a predetermined instruction input by a user; and

an output control unit configured such that,

(a) when the output control unit receives the service definition information from the directory server through the terminal communication unit, the output control unit controls a predetermined output means of a plurality of output means of different types to output the main information contained in the received service definition information, and

(b) when the input means receives a specific instruction by the user after the output control unit has received the service definition information, the output control unit selects a specific output means from among the plurality of output means of different types on the basis of the specific instruction, and further selects a specific piece of auxiliary information from among the plurality of pieces of auxiliary information with reference to the plurality of pieces of output means designating information included in the plurality of pieces of auxiliary information, the selected specific piece of auxiliary information including the output means designating information designating the selected specific output means, in order to cause the selected specific output means to output the selected specific piece of auxiliary information contained in the received service definition information.