Information providing system, server, client, information providing method and recording medium

• US 6,694,350 B2
• Filed: 06/18/1999
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Tagashira, Shigeru, Kurashima, Akihisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Hosain
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THU HA T
• Application Number:
  US09/335,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20030105802A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,705 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/200, 709/238, 709/239, 709/245, 709/201, 709/205, 709/226, 370/218, 370/238, 370/252, 370/254, 370/410, 370/396, 370/227, 395/200.49, 707/10
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers

Abstract

A client transmits to a server a communication path assignment request packet for requesting a communication path to be assigned. When the server receives the communication path assignment request packet, it selects the communication path as to assign communication loads evenly in the server, and sends a communication path assignment response packet to the client. The communication path switch unit switches the communication path in accordance with the received response packet for providing an assigned communication path in response to the request packet. The client transmits a service starting request packet for requesting a service to be stared. If the server receives the service starting request packet therefrom, it controls a processor, and starts to an information providing service. The client controls a processor, and utilizes the information providing service.

Claims

1. An information providing system including a server and at least one client which is connected to said server via a plurality of communication paths, wherein:

said server;

stores a service identifier and records whether a serviced identified by said service identifier is provided through broadcast or not,

receives a request message from at least one client over a first communication path, said request message containing a service identifier associated with a service which said at least one client requests said server to provide,

assigns a second communication path to be used for bi-directional communication with said at least one client, said second communication path to be assigned being the same as a second communication path which is assigned in response to another request received earlier and containing the same service identifier as that contained in said received request message in a case where it is recorded that the service identified by said service identifier contained in said received request message is provided through broadcast, and

transmits communication path information for specifying the second communication path to said at least one client over the first communication path, and transmits information which is associated with said service identifier to said at least one client over the second communication path, and

said at least one client;

transmits said request message over the first communication path to said server,

receives the communication path information transmitted from said server over the first communication path,

switches a communication path to be used for bi-directional communication with said server from the first communication path to the second communication path, and

receives said information which is transmitted from said server via the second communication path.

2. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein said server controls communication conditions for said information to be transmitted to said at least one client, and assigns said second communication path to be used for bi-directional communication with said at least one client so as to spread communication loads in said server.

3. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein said server further comprises service management means for controlling communication conditions for the information to be provided to said at least one client, and

said communication path assigning means assigns the second communication path to be used for bi-directional communication with said at least one client so as to spread communication loads in said server, in accordance with said service management means.

4. An information providing system including a server and at least one client which are connected with each other via a plurality of communication paths, wherein said server comprises:

storing means for storing a service identifier and recording whether a serviced identified by said service identifier is provided through broadcast or not,

receiving means for receiving a request message from said at least one client over a first communication path, said request message containing a service identifier associated with a service which said at least one client requests said server to provide,

communication path assigning means for assigning a second communication path used for bi-directional communication with said at least one client, said second communication path being the same as a second communication path which is assigned in response to another request received earlier and containing the same service identifier as that contained in said received request message in a case where it is recorded that the service identified by said service identifier contained in said received request message is provided through broadcast, and

transmitting means for transmitting, to said at least one client over the first communication path, a communication path messages which is associated with said service identifier, for specifying the second communication path identified by said communication path identifying means, and

information providing means for transmitting information to said at least one client over the second communication path, and

wherein said at least one client comprises;

transmitting means for transmitting said request message to said server over the first communication path,

receiving means for receiving the communication path message which is transmitted by said server over the first communication path,

communication path switching means for switching a communication path, which is used for communicating with said server, from the first communication path to the second communication path in accordance with the communication path message, and

information utilizing means for receiving said information which is transmitted from said server via the second communication path which was switched by said communication path switching means.

5. The information providing system according to claim 4, wherein:

said server further comprises identifier storage means for storing identifier information identifying the second communication path;

said transmitting means in said server transmits, to said at least one client, a communication path message including the identifier information stored in said identifier storage means for specifying the second communication path;

said receiving means in said at least one client receives the communication path message which is transmitted over the first communication path by said transmitting means in said server; and

said communication path switching means in said at least one client switches a communication path from the first communication path to the second communication path in accordance with the identifier information which is contained in the communication path message.

6. An information providing system including a server and at least one client which are connected with each other via a plurality of communication paths, said system comprising:

client-side transmitting means for transmitting a request message to said server over a first communication path, wherein said request message requests a second communication path to be assigned and information to be provided;

server-side receiving means for receiving said request message;

from said at least one client over said first communication path, said request message containing a service identifier associated with a service which said at least one client requests said server to provide;

communication path assigning means for assigning the second communication path to be used for bi-directional communication with said at least one client, said second communication path being the same as a second communication path which is assigned in response to another request received earlier and containing the same service identifier as that contained in said received request message in a case where it is recorded that the service identified by said service identifier contained in said received request message is provided through broadcast;

server-side transmitting means for transmitting over the first communication path to said at least one client a communication path message associated with said service identifier for specifying the second communication path;

client-side receiving means for receiving the communication path message;

communication path switching means for switching a communication path to be used for communicating with said server from the first communication path to the second communication path, in accordance with the communication path message;

client-side service utilizing means for receiving said information which is transmitted from said server via the second communication path; and

server-side service providing means for transmitting said information to said at least one client via the second communication path.

7. A server which is connected to at least one client via a plurality of communication paths, said server comprising:

receiving means for receiving a request message from said at least one client over a first communication path, said request message containing a service identifier associated with a service which said at least one client requests said server to provide;

communication path assigning means for assigning the second communication path to be assigned and to be used for bi-directional communication with said at least one client;

said second communication path being the same as a second communication path which is assigned in response to another request received earlier and containing the same service identifier as that contained in said received request message in a case where it is recorded that the service identified by said service identifier contained in said received request message is provided through broadcast;

transmitting means for transmitting over the first communication path, to said at least one client, a communication path message;

associated with said service identifier, for specifying the second communication path; and

service providing means for transmitting information to said at least one client over the second communication path.

8. A client which is connected to a server via a plurality of communication paths, said client comprising:

transmitting means for transmitting a request message to said server over a first communication path, said request message containing a service identifier associated with a service requested of said server;

receiving means for receiving a communication path message which is transmitted from said server over the first communication path;

said communication path message containing a second communication path, said second communication path being the same as a second communication path which is assigned in response to another request received earlier and containing the same service identifier as that contained in said received request message in a case where it is recorded that the service identified by said service identifier contained in said received request message is provided through broadcast;

communication path switching means for switching a communication path to be used for bi-directional communication with said server from the first communication path to the second communication path, in accordance with the communication path message; and

service utilizing means for receiving information which is transmitted from said server via the second communication path.

9. An information providing method in which a server provides information to at least one client via at least one of a plurality of communication paths, said method comprising:

transmitting from said at least one client to said server over the first communication path a request message for requesting a second communication path to be assigned and for requesting information;

receiving, by said server, the request message;

said request message containing a service identifier associated with a service requested of said server;

assigning, by said server, the second communication path to be used for bi-directional communication with said at least one client, said second communication path being the same as a second communication path which is assigned in response to another request received earlier and containing the same service identifier as that contained in said received request message in a case where it is recorded that the service identified by said service identifier contained in said received request message is provided through broadcast;

transmitting from said server to said at least one client over the first communication path a communication path message associated with said service identifier for specifying the second communication path;

receiving, by said at least one client, the communication path message;

switching a communication path to be used for communicating with said server from the first communication path to the second communication path, in accordance with the communication path message;

transmitting said information to said at least one client via the second communication path from said server; and

receiving said information from said server via the second communication path.

10. A computer readable storage medium which stores programs for transmitting and receiving information between a server and at least one client which are connected with each other via a plurality of communication paths, said medium storing the programs for executing:

a client-side transmitting step of transmitting over a first communication path, to said server, a request message for requesting a communication path to be assigned and for requesting information from said server;

a server-side receiving step of receiving the request message, said request message containing a service identifier associated with a service which said at least one client requests said server to provide;

a communication path assigning step of assigning the second communication path to be assigned and to be used for bi-directional communication with said at least one client, said second communication path being the same as a second communication path which is assigned in response to another request received earlier and containing the same service identifier as that contained in said received request message in a case where it is recorded that the service identified by said service identifier contained in said received request message is provided through broadcast;

a server-side transmitting step of transmitting over the first communication path, to said at least one client, a communication path message, associated with said service identifier, for specifying the second communication path;

a client-side receiving step of receiving the communication path message;

a communication path switching step of switching a communication path to be used for bi-directional communication with said server from the first communication path to the second communication path, in accordance with the communication path message;

a service utilizing step of receiving information which is transmitted from said server via the second communication path; and

a service providing step of transmitting information to said at least one client via the second communication path.

11. A computer readable storage medium which stores programs, executed by a server, for transmitting information to at least one client which is connected via a plurality of communication paths to said server, said medium storing the programs for executing:

a receiving step of receiving a request message from said at least one client over a first communication path, said request message containing a service identifier associated with a service which said at least one client requests said server to provide;

a communication path assigning step of assigning the second communication path to be assigned and to be used for bi-directional communication with said at least one client, said second communication path being the same as a second communication path which is assigned in response to another request received earlier and containing the same service identifier as that contained in said received request message in a case where it is recorded that the service identified by said service identifier contained in said received request message is provided through broadcast;

a transmitting step of transmitting over the first communication path, to said at least one client, a communication path message, associated with said service identifier, for specifying the second communication path; and

a service providing step of transmitting information to said at least one client via said second communication path.

12. A computer readable storage medium which stores programs, executed by at least one client, for requesting information from a server which is connected via a plurality of communication paths to said at least one client, said medium storing the programs for executing:

a transmitting step of transmitting over a first communication path, to said server, a request message, said request message containing a service identifier associated with a service requested of said server;

a receiving step of receiving a communication path message which is transmitted from said server over the first communication path;

said communication path message containing a second communication path, said second communication path being the same as a second communication path which is assigned in response to another request received earlier and containing the same service identifier as that contained in said received request message in a case where it is recorded that the service identified by said service identifier contained in said received request message is provided through broadcast;

a communication path switching step of switching a communication path to be used for bi-directional communication with said server from the first communication path to the second communication path, in accordance with the communication path message; and

a service utilizing step of receiving said information which is transmitted from said server via the second communication path.

13. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave, the data signal being processed in a server which is connected to at least one client via a plurality of communication paths, the computer data signal causing the server to perform the functions of:

receiving a request message from said at least one client transmitted over a first communication path, said request message containing a service identifier associated with a service which said at least one client requests said server to provide;

assigning the second communication path to be used for bi-directional communication with said at least one client, said assigned second communication path being the same as a second communication path which is assigned in response to another request received earlier and containing the same service identifier as that contained in said received request message in a case where it is recorded that the service identified by said service identifier contained in said received request message is provided through broadcast;

transmitting over the first communication path, to said at least one client, a communication path message, associated with said service identifier, for specifying the second communication path; and

transmitting information to said at least one client via the second communication path.

14. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave, the data signal being processed in at least one client which is connected to a server via a plurality of communication paths, the computer data signal causing the at least one client to perform the functions of:

transmitting over a first communication path, to said server, a request message, said request message containing a service identifier associated with a service requested of said server;

receiving a communication path message which is transmitted from said server over the first communication path, said communication path message containing a second communication path, said second communication path being the same as a second communication path which is assigned in response to another request received earlier and containing the same service identifier as that contained in said received request message in a case where it is recorded that the service identified by said service identifier contained in said received request message is provided through broadcast;

switching a communication path to be used for bi-directional communication with said server from the first communication path to the second communication path, in accordance with the communication path message; and

receiving service information which is transmitted from said server via the second communication path.