Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Network-to-computer interfacing
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-11
2001-04-10
Maung, Zarni (Department: 2758)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Network-to-computer interfacing
C370S463000, C375S222000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216171
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to information-supply control apparatuses and methods, and in particular, to an information-supply control apparatus and method which enables efficient information supply by providing information with priority.
2. Description of the Related Art
A cable television (CATV) system distributes video signals from one head end (broadcasting station) to subscribers' television receivers via optical fiber cables and so forth. Since the CATV system has a relatively large cable transmission capacity, it is proposed that the CATV system should provide service for connecting to the Internet. In this case, a cable modem as a cable-line end is connected to the CATV system, and a plurality of personal computers and the like are connected to this cable modem via a local area network (LAN) using an Ethernet etc. In addition, each personal computer is connected to the head end via the LAN, and the head end establishes connection to the Internet.
In this manner, when information is received from or transmitted to the Internet with the CATV system, the information is entangled, and in the worst case, there is a possibility in which each subscriber cannot receive video signals, distributed in real time on the Internet, in the form of a moving picture. In addition, when such a situation arises, there is a problem in which restoring to the normal condition takes time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing circumstances there has been made the present invention, and an object thereof is to provide an information-supply control apparatus and method capable of efficiently supplying information.
To this end, according to an aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object has been achieved through provision of an information-supply control apparatus for controlling the supply of information supplied from a first apparatus and a plurality of second apparatuses, the information-supply control apparatus connected to the first apparatus via a cable and to the plurality of second apparatuses via a network, in which the information-supply control apparatus includes: determination means for determining whether received information is either first information to be supplied from the first apparatus to the plurality of second apparatuses or another second information; priority providing means for providing the first information with priority over the second information; and processing means for processing the information in accordance with the priority provided.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object has been achieved through provision of an information-supply control apparatus for controlling the supply of information output from a first apparatus and a plurality of second apparatuses, the information-supply control apparatus connected to the first apparatus via a cable and to the plurality of second apparatuses via a network, in which the information-supply control apparatus includes: determination means for determining whether received information is either first information supplied from the first apparatus or second information supplied from the plurality of second apparatuses; priority providing means for providing the first information with priority over the second information; and processing means for processing the information in accordance with the priority provided.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object has been achieved through provision of a control method for an information-supply control apparatus which controls the supply of information supplied from a first apparatus and a plurality of second apparatuses, the information-supply control apparatus connected to the first apparatus via a cable and to the plurality of second information-supply control apparatuses via a network, in which the control method includes: a determination step for determining whether received information is either first information to be supplied from the first apparatus to the plurality of second apparatuses or another second information; a priority providing step for providing the first information with priority over the second information; and a processing step for processing the information in accordance with the priority provided.
According to a still further aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object has been achieved through provision of a control method for an information-supply control apparatus which controls the supply of information supplied from a first apparatus and a plurality of second apparatuses, the information-supply control apparatus connected to the first apparatus via a cable and to the plurality of second information-supply control apparatuses via a network, in which the control method includes: a determination step for determining whether received information is either first information supplied from the first apparatus or second information supplied from the plurality of second apparatuses; a priority providing step for providing the first information with priority over the second information; and a processing step for processing the information in accordance with the priority provided.
As described above, according to an information-supply control apparatus and method of the present invention, first information supplied from a first apparatus to a plurality of second apparatuses is provided with priority over another second information when it is processed, which thus realizes efficient information supply.
In addition, according to an information-supply control apparatus and method of the present invention, first information supplied from a first apparatus is provided with priority over second information supplied from a plurality of second apparatuses when it is processed, which thus realizes efficient information supply.
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Isono Hiroaki
Nishimura Toshimichi
Caldwell Andrew
Maioli Jay H.
Maung Zarni
Sony Corporation
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