Information exchange method, information processor, information gathering system, communication method, communication system, intermediary device, and communication device

Abstract

The present invention relates to, for transmitting information by a server from an information gathering device to a terminal device, an information exchange method, an information processor, a communication method, a communication system, an intermediary device, and a communication device. It is directed to provide an information exchange method, an information processor, a communication method, a communication system, an intermediary device, and a communication device with which pieces of streaming video information gathered by a number of information gathering devices can be exchanged efficiently. A feature thereof lies in linking each of the terminal devices to the information gathering device that gathers a given number of pieces of streaming video information that are asked for from its linked terminal device, out of the plurality information gathering devices, directing the information gathering devices to deliver the given number of pieces of streaming video information directly to their linked terminal device, and producing and displaying, by the terminal devices, a predetermined certain screen including a given number of streaming video images that has been delivered.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A content presentation program that directs a computer to execute:
 a content acquisition step to acquire a content on each of predetermined channels; and   a display control step to cause the content that is acquired in the first step to be displayed in a window that is determined previously for said channels, out of a plurality of display sections that are defined within a predetermined window.   
     
     
         21 . An information processor that causes a content to be displayed on a display unit, comprising:
 content acquisition means for acquiring a content on each of predetermined channels; and   display control means that causes the content that is acquired in the first step to be displayed in a window that is determined previously for said channels, out of a plurality of display sections that are defined within a predetermined window.   
     
     
         22 . An information processing method comprising:
 a content acquisition step to acquire a content on each of predetermined channels; and   a display control step to cause the content that is acquired in the first step to be displayed in a window that is determined previously for said channels, out of a plurality of display sections that are defined within a predetermined window.   
     
     
         23 . A communication method for transmitting packets between a client and a server through a plurality of intermediary devices, comprising:
 performing communications more than once by using a certain command between said client and said server;   measuring a communication performance during said communications; detecting a communication route of said certain command by adding the addresses of the intermediary devices to said certain command on an add-per-passage basis; and   performing communications between said client and said server through the communication route which yields the maximum communication performance with respect to said communication route.   
     
     
         24 . An intermediary device which intermediates a client and a server, comprising:
 command detection means for detecting a certain command that is transmitted between said client and said server;   route information detection means for detecting route information contained in communication data that are transmitted between said client and said server; and   intermediacy control means which is adapted to send said certain command to a network after adding its local address to it when said certain command is detected, said intermediacy control means relaying the communication data when its local address is contained in the route information detected by said route information detection means.   
     
     
         25 . A communication system for performing communications between a client and a server through a network, comprising:
 bypassing means which allows communication between said client and said server while bypassing said network.   
     
     
         26 . The communication system as claimed in  claim 25 , comprising:
 measuring means for measuring a communication performance between said client and said server; and   communication control means that causes said bypassing means to bypass said network when the communication performance measured by said measuring means is lowered under a certain level.   
     
     
         27 . A communication system for performing communications between a client and a server through a network, wherein
 said server comprises a node server adapted to accept a request from said client; and   a content server adapted to send, to said client, a content that is asked for by said client in answer to a request from said node server.   
     
     
         28 . A communication system for performing communications between a client and a server through a network, wherein
 said server comprises a content server which provides a content to said client; and   a node server adapted to accept a request from said client and to provide said client with link destination information of said content server that stores a content that is asked for by said client;   said client being adapted to ask for a content to said content server according to the link destination information from said node server.   
     
     
         29 . The communication system as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein said node server has a hierarchical structure based on said content or its link destination;
 said node server having a function to backup information about contents managed by node servers at upper and lower levels.   
     
     
         30 . A communication device for performing communications with a client through a network, said communication device being adapted to provide a content to said client by means of accessing a content server that provides content in answer to a request from said client, comprising:
 caching means for caching contents in said content server according to the frequency of accesses from said client;   said communication device being adapted to send, to said client, a cashed content in answer to a request from said client.