Onkyo Corporation

Toshinobu Sano

Susumu Takemura

Youichi Kudoh

Yasushi Ikeda

Takahiro Chiba

Fumiaki Kawamura

Hiroko Yoshizaki

Hideyuki Sawada

A network audio system allows AV files existing in a PC to be readily registered and music to be reproduced using a client machine. The client machine is connected to the PC and a server application and a controller application are installed in the PC. Music is reproduced using the client machine based on an AV file existing in a user folder, when the user drags and drops an icon for the AV folder to an icon for the client machine. In response to the operation, the controller application produces music piece information including the artist name and the like based the tag information of the AV file. When the music piece information is not yet registered, the server application provides the music piece information with a music piece ID for registration in the content information database. The controller application transmits a command including the ID to the client machine.

Network AV system using personal computer

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.

A server comprises a content database for storing content files of a plurality of contents; a content information database for storing the content information of the content; a sharing section for sharing the content information with other server connected to a network; an access control section which permits or prohibits an access from other terminal connected to the network based on access permission information in which terminal specifying information for specifying a terminal to be permitted to access is registered; and a request response section which sends content information to the client in response to a request from the client for the content information. the sharing section shares the access permission information with other server connected to the network, the request response section, when the content information is requested from a client, determines a server which permits the client to access based on the shared access permission information and sends only the content information of the server which permits the client to access, of the shared content information to the client.

Server and server program

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.

Network type content reproduction system

An uploader transmits to a server a request start notification indicating the start of a registration request and then transmits to the server a plurality of registration requests for pieces of music piece data. Upon receiving the plurality of registration requests from the uploader, the server registers the pieces of music piece data in a database in an HDD. After transmitting all the registration requests, the uploader transmits to the server a request completion notification indicating the completion of the registration requests. The server transmits an updating notification to an audio client after receiving the request completion notification. Therefore, traffic between the server and the client can be reduced when the server updates the database.

Growing community of inventors

Neyagawa, Japan

Toshinobu Sano