Onkyo Corporation

Takahiro Chiba

Toshinobu Sano

Susumu Takemura

Yasushi Ikeda

Youichi Kudoh

Fumiaki Kawamura

Hiroko Yoshizaki

Hideyuki Sawada

A client repeatedly transmits a firmware request including an obtaining start address and an obtaining data length. The obtaining start address indicates the first address of firmware data to be obtained from the server by the client. The obtaining data length indicates the length of the firmware data to be obtained from the server by the client with respect to each firmware request. The server receives the firmware request from the client repeatedly and returns the firmware data for the obtaining data length from the obtaining start address with respect to each firmware request. The client further obtains the firmware data returned from the server repeatedly and updates the firmware by using the firmware data obtained from the server.

Network type content reproducing system

Each of servers in a global list server system includes a local list of music piece data stored by the each server and a global list of the music piece data stored by the servers. A client requests an arbitrary server to provide the global list and the server transmits the global list to the client upon receiving the request. The client refers to the global list and requests a server storing desired music piece data to transfer the music piece data. The server transmits music piece data to the client upon receiving the transfer request for the music piece data.

Network AV system

A network AV system comprises a controller, a client connectable to the controller via a network, and an AV equipment connectable to the client. The controller includes a first transmitting unit transmitting a command for controlling a controlled element of the AV equipment to the client. The client includes a first receiving unit receiving the command from the controller, and a second transmitting unit transmitting the command to the AV equipment. The AV equipment includes the controlled element, a second receiving unit receiving the command from the client, and a controlling unit controlling the controlled element according to the received command.

The network type audio system includes a content server storing a large number of music data pieces, an audio client reproducing music, and a controller monitoring and controlling the audio client through the content server. The audio client requests the server to provide the music data of a music piece selected in response to the user's operation. The content server returns the music data of the selected music piece in response to the request from the audio client. The music data is distributed from the content server to the audio client on the basis of a specified amount. The audio client notifies the content server of its status. The content server notifies the controller of the status of the audio client. The controller displays the status. The controller also instructs the audio client to reproduce the music piece selected in response to the user's operation through the content server.

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Neyagawa, Japan

Takahiro Chiba