Service providing system, and client, server, and computer program used for such system

• US 8,996,605 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2006
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Matsuda, Makoto, Ohara, Kiyotaka, Aoki, Kazuma
• Primary Examiner(s): Eskandarnia, Arvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): DESAI, MARGISHI V
• Application Number:
  US11/473,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20060294111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,203 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 709/203
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]

Abstract

In a service providing system, a client includes a transmitting unit configured to transmit specification information associated with specifications of the client to the management server, a receiving unit configured to receive registration completion information from a management server, a transmitting unit configured to transmit a request for service information to a service providing server, and a service prohibition unit configured to prevent receipt of the service information from the service providing server until the registration completion information is received after transmission of the specification information. The management server includes a receiving unit configured to receive the specification information, an information registration unit configured to register the received specification information while associating the specification information with the client, and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the registration completion information indicating completion of registration of the specification information to the client. The service providing server includes a receiving unit configured to receive the request for service information from the client, and an information generation unit configured to generate the service information based on the specification information, in response to receipt of the request for service information.

Claims

1. A service providing system having a multi-function client device, a management server and a service providing server,

wherein the multi-function client device comprises:

a sensor configured to detect whether a detachable extended function unit is attached to the client device;

a communication unit comprising;

a first client side transmitting unit configured to transmit specification information associated with a specification of the client device to the management server based on the result of detection by the sensor, the specification information comprises information indicating whether the detachable extended function unit is attached to the client device and parameters for performing functions;

a first client side receiving unit configured to receive registration completion information from the management server; and

a second client side transmitting unit configured to transmit a request for service information to the service providing server; and

a service prohibition unit configured to prevent the second client side transmitting unit from transmitting the request for service information to the service providing server until the registration completion information is received by the first client side receiving unit after transmission of the specification information by the first client side transmitting unit,

wherein the management server comprises;

a first management side receiving unit configured to receive the specification information from the client device;

an information registration unit configured to register the specification information received by the first management side receiving unit while associating the specification information with the client device; and

a first management side transmitting unit configured to transmit the registration completion information indicating completion of registration of the specification information by the information registration unit to the client device, and

wherein the service providing server comprises;

a first service side receiving unit configured to receive the request for service information from the client device; and

an information generation unit configured to generate the service information based on the specification information registered in the management sever while being associated with the client device, wherein the information generation unit generates the service information in response to receipt of the request for service information from the client device by the first service side receiving unit.

2. The service providing system according to claim 1, wherein the client device further comprises:

a second client side receiving unit configured to receive the service information transmitted from the service providing server; and

a function execution unit configured to execute a function based on the service information received by the second client side receiving unit, wherein the service proving server comprises a first service side transmitting unit configured to transmit the service information generated by the information generation unit to the client device.

3. The service providing system according to claim 1, wherein the service prohibition unit of the client device controls the second client side transmitting unit to stop to transmit the request for service information, such that receipt of the service information from the service providing server is prevented.

4. The service providing system according to claim 1,

wherein the client device further comprises:

a third client side transmitting unit configured to transmit to the management server an inquiry associated with whether service information to be provided for the client device exists; and

a third client side receiving unit configured to receive a response associated with the inquiry from the management server,

wherein the second client side transmitting unit transmits the request for service information to the information providing server in response to receipt of the response indicating the presence of service information to be provided for the client device,

wherein the service prohibition unit prevents at least one of transmission of the request for service information by the second client side transmitting unit and transmission of the inquiry by the third client side transmitting unit, such that receipt of the service information from the service providing server is prevented,

wherein the management server further comprises;

a second management side receiving unit configured to receive provision information associated with service information to be provided for a particular client device from the service providing server;

an information management unit configured to register information associated with service information to be provided for the particular client device based on the provision information received by the second management side receiving unit;

a third management side receiving unit configured to receive the inquiry from the client device;

a service extraction unit configured to extract information representing service information to be provided for the client device from information registered by the information management unit in response to the inquiry from the client device; and

a second management side transmitting unit configured to transmit the information extracted by the service extraction unit to the client device as the response to the inquiry,

wherein the service providing server further comprises a second service side transmitting unit configured to transmit the provision information associated with service information to be provided for the particular client device to the management server.

5. The service providing system according to claim 1,

wherein the client device further comprises:

a fourth client side transmitting unit configured to transmit an advance notice indicating that the client device is ready for transmission of the specification information; and

a fourth client side receiving unit configured to receive an acknowledgment of transmission transmitted from the management server which received the advance notice;

wherein the first client side transmitting unit transmits the specification information to the management server in response to receipt of the acknowledgment of transmission from the management sever,

wherein the management server further comprises;

a fourth management side receiving unit configured to receive the advance notice from the client device; and

a third management side transmitting unit configured to transmit the acknowledgment of transmission to the client device after the advance notice is received by the fourth management side receiving unit, wherein the acknowledgement of transmission indicates that the management server accepts the specification information.

6. A multi-function client device configured to communicate with a management server and a service providing server, comprising:

a sensor configured to detect whether a detachable extended function unit is attached to the client device;

a communication unit comprising;

a first client side transmitting unit configured to transmit specification information associated with a specification of the client device to the management server based on the result of detection by the sensor, the specification information comprises information indicating whether a detachable extended function unit is attached to the client device and parameters for performing functions;

a first client side receiving unit configured to receive registration completion information from the management server; and

a second client side transmitting unit configured to transmit a request for service information to the service providing server; and

a service prohibition unit configured to prevent the second client side transmitting unit from transmitting the request for service information to the service providing server until the registration completion information is received by the first client side receiving unit after transmission of the specification information by the first client side transmitting unit.

12. The client device according to claim 6, further comprising:

a second client side receiving unit configured to receive the service information transmitted from the service providing server; and

a function execution unit configured to execute a function based on the service information received by the second client side receiving unit.

13. The client device according to claim 12, wherein the service prohibition unit of the client device controls the second client side transmitting unit to stop to transmit the request for service information, such that receipt of the service information from the service providing server is prevented.

14. The client device according to claim 13, further comprising:

a third client side transmitting unit configured to transmit to the management server an inquiry associated with whether service information to be provided for the client device exists; and

a third client side receiving unit configured to receive a response associated with the inquiry from the management server, wherein the second client side transmitting unit transmits the request for service information to the information providing server in response to receipt of the response indicating the presence of service information to be provided for the client device, and wherein the service prohibition unit prevents at least one of transmission of the request for service information by the second client side transmitting unit and transmission of the inquiry by the third client side transmitting unit, such that receipt of the service information from the service providing server is prevented.

15. The client device according to claim 14, further comprising:

a fourth client side transmitting unit configured to transmit an advance notice indicating that the client device is ready for transmission of the specification information; and

a fourth client side receiving unit configured to receive an acknowledgment of transmission transmitted from the management server which received the advance notice;

wherein the first client side transmitting unit transmits the specification information to the management server in response to receipt of the acknowledgment of transmission from the management sever.

7. A server configured to communicate with a multi-function client device and a service providing server, comprising:

a first management side receiving unit configured to receive specification information associated with a specification of the client from the client, the specification information comprises information indicating whether a detachable extended function unit detected by a sensor of the client device is attached to the client device and parameters for performing functions at the client device;

an information registration unit configured to register the specification information received by the first management side receiving unit while associating the specification information with the client device; and

a first management side transmitting unit configured to transmit registration completion information to the client device, wherein the registration completion information indicates completion of registration of the specification information by the information registration unit and the receipt of the registration completion information permits the transmission of a request for service information from the client device to the service providing server.

16. The server of claim 7, further comprising:

a second management side receiving unit configured to receive provision information associated with service information to be provided for a particular client device;

an information management unit configured to register information associated with service information to be provided for the particular client device based on the provision information received by the second management side receiving unit;

a third management side receiving unit configured to receive the inquiry from the client device;

a service extraction unit configured to extract information representing service information to be provided for the client device from information registered by the information management unit in response to the inquiry from the client device; and

a second management side transmitting unit configured to transmit the information extracted by the service extraction unit to the client device as the response to the inquiry.

17. The server of claim 16, further comprising:

a fourth management side receiving unit configured to receive the advance notice from the client device; and

a third management side transmitting unit configured to transmit the acknowledgment of transmission to the client device after the advance notice is received by the fourth management side receiving unit, wherein the acknowledgement of transmission indicates that the management server accepts the specification information.

8. A server configured to communicate with a multi-function client device and a management server, comprising:

a first service side receiving unit configured to receive a request for service information from the client, wherein the request is transmitted from the client only after the client receives registration completion information from the management server indicating the completion of registration of specification information;

an information generation unit configured to generate service information based on specification information registered in the management sever while being associated with the client, wherein the information generation unit generates the service information in response to receipt of the request for service information from the client by the first service side receiving unit, the specification information comprises information indicating whether a detachable extended function unit detected by a sensor of the client device is attached to the client device and parameters for performing functions a the client device; and

a first service side transmitting unit configured to transmit the service information generated by the information generation unit to the client device.

18. The server of claim 8, further comprising:

a second service side transmitting unit configured to transmit provision information associated with service information to be provided for a particular client device to the management server.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a computer, are configured to:

detecting whether a detachable extended function unit is attached to a multi-function client device;

transmit specification information associated with a specification of the client device to the management server based on the result of detecting, the specification information comprises information indicating whether the detachable extended function unit is attached to the client device and parameters for performing functions at the client device;

receive registration completion information from the management server;

transmit a request for service information to the service providing server;

receive service information transmitted from the service providing server;

execute a function based on the received service information received; and

prevent the second client side transmitting unit from transmitting the request for service information to the service providing server until the registration completion information is received after transmission of the specification information to the management server.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a computer, are configured to:

receive specification information associated with a specification of a multi-function client device from the client device, the specification information comprises information indicating whether a detachable extended function unit detected by a sensor of the client device is attached to the client device and parameters for performing functions at the client device;

register the specification information while associating the specification information with the client device; and

transmit registration completion information to the client device, wherein the registration completion information indicates completion of registration of the specification information and the receipt of the registration completion information permits the transmission of the request for service information from the client device to a service providing server.

19. The computer usable medium of claim 10, wherein when the computer readable instructions are executed by the computer, the computer readable instructions are further configured to:

receive provision information associated with service information to be provided for a particular client device;

register information associated with service information to be provided for the particular client device based on the provision information received by the second management side receiving unit;

receive an inquiry from the client device;

extract information representing service information to be provided for the client device from information registered by the information management unit in response to the inquiry from the client device; and

transmit the information extracted by the service extraction unit to the client device as the response to the inquiry.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein when the computer readable instructions are executed by the computer, the computer readable instructions are further configured to:

receive the advance notice from the client device; and

transmit the acknowledgement of transmission to the client device after the advance notice is received by the fourth management side receiving unit, wherein the acknowledgement of the transmission indicates that the management server accepts the specification information.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a computer, are configured to:

receive a request for service information from a multi-function client device, wherein the client device transmits the request only after the client device receives registration completion information from a management server indicating the completion of registration of specification information;

generate service information based on specification information registered in the management sever while being associated with the client device, wherein the service information is generated in response to receipt of the request for service information from the client device, the specification information comprises information indicating whether a detachable extended function unit detected by a sensor of the client device is attached to the client device and parameters for performing functions at the client device; and

transmit the service information to the client device.

21. The computer usable medium of claim 11, wherein when the computer readable instructions are executed by the computer, the computer readable instructions are further configured to:

transmit provision information associated with service information to be provided for a particular client device to the management server.