Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Distributed data processing – Client/server
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-10
2004-08-03
Lin, Wen-Tai (Department: 2154)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Distributed data processing
Client/server
C709S204000, C709S217000, C705S032000, C705S040000, C348S014160
Reexamination Certificate
active
06772191
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to techniques for supplying, for example, images from a camera server at a remote place to a viewer via a network, and more particularly to techniques for providing “trial” services of video services and camera control services which are provided from the camera server to general users on a pay-per-view basis.
2. Related Background Art
With recent developments on computers, the following techniques and systems are provided.
[Video Transmission System with Camera Control Function]
For example, a video transmission system with a camera control function is known which can transmit live moving images taken with a camera having a tripod head capable of panning, titling, zooming and the like to a client machine (terminal equipment such as a personal computer of a user) via a network. With this system, moving images can be supplied to a client machine (this service is hereinafter called “video services”) and the quality, size and the like of each image can be dynamically changed (this service is hereinafter called “camera control services”), on a pay-per-view) basis, and trial services thereof are also possible.
[Charging techniques]
In a system for providing services to general users, such as the video transmission system with the camera control function, a charging system (also called “charging infrastructure” where appropriate) for charging the services provided to general users via a network is prevailing.
For example, as such a charging system, “BitCash” of BitCash Corp, “WebMoney” of ASG (ASCII Something Good) Corp, “millicent” of DEC Corp and the like are known.
[Trial Use of Software]
There is software (trial software such as product software and shareware) which is distributed to general users via various media such as a CD-ROM as a supplement to a magazine and the Internet and allows the users to try it with no charge. Some of such trial software limits the trial period, for example, allows to try it for one week. For example, the compression/expansion software “WinZip” limits the trial period. The monitor image capturing software “HyperSnap-DX” allows to try it with a limited function.
There is chargeable trial software which allows to be installed and tried with a partially limited function thereof. If a user wishes to install and try in a perfect state or wishes to receive perfect services, the user purchases key information (ticket information) via a charging infrastructure to install the software without the function limitation.
[Packet Filtering]
A router interconnecting networks and firewall software for preventing external invasion are provided with a function of filtering each packet on the network in accordance with its attribute such as a header of IP (Internet Protocol) and a header of TCP (Transmission Control Protocol).
For example, “RT801” of YAMAHA Co. is provided with such a function as a router, and “Firewall-1” of CheckPoint Corp is provided with such a function as firewall software.
However, for example, in a video transmission system with a camera control function, if trials of the camera control services and video services are permitted to general users and such services are provided in a perfect state to general users by issuing tickets by using complicated ciphering means and apparatus, then the system configuration becomes complicated because of ticket issuance and management, and a large amount of developments and running cost are required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention has been made in order to solve the above problems and aims to provide an apparatus controlling system, a terminal equipment, a network system, a network control method, and a computer readable storage medium storing program steps for realizing the method, capable of realizing services such as video services and camera control services by using a network, with a simple structure and high efficiency.
In order to achieve the above object of the invention, an embodiment provides an apparatus controlling system for providing a service requested client with services via a network, the services including at least for data acquired by the apparatus having a predetermined function of controlling an operation of the apparatus via the network or for an operation of the apparatus, the apparatus control system comprising: connection identifier issuing means for issuing a connection identifier for identifying the client, to the client; service limiting means for limiting the services to be provided to the client, in accordance with the connection identifier issued by the connection identifier issuing means; and service quality changing means for changing a limitation of the services limited by the service limiting means, in accordance with the connection identifier, if the connection identifier issued to the client by the connection identifier issuing means is transmitted via a predetermined transmission side.
Another embodiment provides a terminal equipment at a client connected to a same network as a server for providing services to the terminal equipment via the network when the terminal equipment issues a service request to the server, the services including at least for data acquired by an apparatus having a predetermined function of controlling an operation of the apparatus via the network or for an operation of the apparatus, the terminal equipment comprising: connection identifier receiving means for receiving a connection identifier for identifying the terminal equipment from the server; service receiving means for receiving services limited in accordance with the connection identifier received by the connection identifier receiving means; and connection identifier transmitting means for transmitting the connection identifier received by the connection identifier receiving means to the server via a predetermined transmission side on the same network, wherein the service receiving means receives the services limited in accordance with the connection identifier transmitted by the connection identifier transmitting means via the predetermined transmission side, by changing the limitation of the services.
Another embodiment provides a network system including at least a terminal equipment at a server having a predetermined function capable of controlling an operation thereof via a network and a terminal equipment at a client connected to the same network as the server, the server responsive to a request from the client providing the client with services including at least for data or for the operation acquired by the predetermined function, wherein:
the terminal equipment at the server has functions of the apparatus controlling system recited in the first embodiment; and the terminal equipment at the client has functions of the terminal equipment recited in the second embodiment.
Another embodiment provides a control method for a network system including at least a terminal equipment at a server having a predetermined function capable of controlling an operation thereof via a network and a terminal equipment at a client connected to the same network as the server, the server responsive to a request from the client providing the client with services including at least for data or for the operation acquired by the predetermined function, the control method comprising: a connection identifier issuing step in which the server issues a connection identifier for identifying the client, to the client; a service limiting step in which the server limits the services to be provided to the client, in accordance with the connection identifier issued by the connection identifier issuing step; a connection identifier transmitting step in which the client transmits the connection identifier issued by the connection identifier issuing step, to the server via a predetermined transmission side on the same network; and a service quality changing step in which the server changes a limitation of the services limited by the service limiting step, in accordance with the connection
Fukasawa Toshihiko
Kurosawa Takahiro
Morita Kenji
Okazaki Hiroshi
Tanaka Ken'ichiro
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Lin Wen-Tai
Morgan & Finnegan , LLP
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