Server apparatus, terminal apparatus, and communication control method

• US 8,732,257 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2008
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Nishibayashi, Yasuyuki, Goto, Masataka, Murai, Shinya
• Primary Examiner(s): Kyle, Tamara T
• Assistant Examiner(s): DESAI, MARGISHI V
• Application Number:
  US12/201,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20090077192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,090 Days
• Field of Search: 713/171, 713/201, 709/204, 709/203, 709/207
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/12 Overlay of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of switching between the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams

Abstract

A server apparatus for establishing communication with a plurality of input/output devices via a network. The apparatus includes: a management unit configured to manage a communication session with the input/output devices; a storage unit configured to store information of the input/output devices in association with group information thereof; an execution unit configured to execute an application program; a communication unit configured to receive an operation instruction for the application program and to transmit to the input/output devices a processing result of the application program; a determination unit configured to determine whether the processing result requires connection of the input/output devices to an external server; and a message transmission unit configured to generate a message including an instruction to connect to the external server, when the determination unit determines that the processing results requires such a connection. The message includes the group information.

Claims

1. A server apparatus for establishing communication with a plurality of input/output devices via a network, the apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store information of the input/output devices in association with information of at least one group to which the respective input/output devices belong; and

circuitry configured to

establish and manage a communication session with each of the input/output devices based on the information of the at least one group via the network;

execute an application program;

receive from the input/output devices an operation instruction for the application program and to transmit to the input/output devices a processing result of the application program responsive to the operation instruction while referring to the information of the at least one group;

determine whether achievement of the processing result requires connection of the input/output devices to an external server; and

generate, in response to determining that the processing result cannot be achieved by the server apparatus and requires connection of the input/output devices with the external server, a message for instructing the input/output devices to connect to the external server,

wherein the message includes information of the at least one group.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the circuitry receives information of the group from the input/output devices at the time of establishment of the communication session with the input/output devices, the circuitry stores the information of the input/output devices in the memory in association with the group.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the input/output devices include a display device, and

the memory stores information of an available display area from the apparatus in association with the display device.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

the input/output devices include an input device,

the display device includes an image display area that includes the available display area and an outside area other than the available display area, the outside area being available from the external server,

the circuitry determines whether an inputted instruction transmitted from the input device instructs a data input to the outside area, and

the circuitry generates and transmits the message when the circuitry determines that the inputted instruction instructs the data input to the outside area.

2. A terminal apparatus for establishing communication with servers via a network, the apparatus comprising:

circuitry configured to

manage a communication session with a first server via the network;

transmit an operation instruction to the application program that runs on the first server;

receive, in response to a determination by the first server that the processing result cannot be achieved by the first server, a message requiring the connection of the terminal device with a second server and including group information about a group to which the terminal belongs; and

establish a communication session with the second server via the network by providing the group information included in the message to the second server.

6. A communication control method of a server apparatus for establishing communication with a plurality of input/output devices via a network and for running an application program, the method comprising:

establishing and managing a communication session with each of the input/output devices;

storing information of the input/output devices in association with information of at least one group to which the respective input/output devices belong;

establishing and managing a communication session with each of the input/output devices based on the information of the at least one group via the network;

receiving from the input/output devices an operation instruction for the application program;

transmitting to the input/output devices a processing result of the application program responsive to the operation instruction;

determining whether achievement of the processing result requires connection of the input/output devices to an external server; and

generating, in response to determining that the processing result cannot be achieved by the server apparatus and requires connection of the input/output devices with the external server, a message for instructing the input/output devices to connect to the external server,

wherein the message includes information of the group.