Contents on a server that need not be updated for a fixed period of time are recorded directly in a medium, and desired contents in a local device can be accessed by the same operation procedure as that for accessing the server storing the contents. When a request to acquire delivery information is made from information browsing unit with respect to a local proxy server, the local proxy server analyzes the request, and acquires a server-side control file managed by a server with respect to which the request has been made, and a local-side control file in duplicate information storing unit. If corresponding information exists in the duplicate information storing means and also if the information has the latest version number, the information is fetched from the duplicate information storing unit; otherwise the delivery information is fetched from a server computer.
This continuing application is filed under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.111(a), based upon International Application PCT/JP99/00763, filed Feb. 19, 1999, it being further noted that priority is based upon Japanese Patent Application HEI 10-053331, filed Mar. 5, 1998.
The present invention is a system and method for providing and displaying information collected from a variety of information providers such as an electronic mail server or an information content server. Each of the variety of information providers provides information updates which are captured and rendered in a variety of status images which are provided to a user via a Web page or similar facility. The display of information on the Web page is robust against displays from one or more of the information providers since each of the status images and the remainder of the Web page content are rendered independently.
Data is shared over a network, having a plurality of network-connected terminals, each including a visual display processor, storage and memory. The memory is configured to store program instructions for equipping objects stored therein with attributes and for managing the duplication of the objects. The processor is configurable by the program instructions to perform the steps of equipping an object with attributes at a first of the network terminals; at a second of the network terminals, matching the object attributes of the first terminal with the attributes of an object amongst all of the objects stored in the second terminal; duplicating the object from the second terminal to the first terminal; at the first terminal, accessing data in the duplicated object using locally executed object instructions; and maintaining data consistency between the duplicated objects.
As the protocol used to transmit the MIDI message, TCP and UDP used widely as the transmission protocol are employed. A player terminal on the transmitter side classifies the transmitted MIDI message into the system exclusive message that should never be lost absolutely and other MIDI message. The player terminal on the transmitter side transmits the system exclusive message by using TCP with high reliability and transmits other MIDI message by using UDP with low reliability.
A signal transmission method and apparatus provides a digital transmission path and an analog transmission path between a signal output apparatus and a signal input apparatus. An audio/video signal is transmitted from the signal output apparatus to the signal input apparatus over the digital transmission path. When a user requests an on screen display (OSD) from the signal output apparatus, a controlling unit of the signal output apparatus judges a volume of the data to be displayed via the OSD. If the volume exceeds a preset limit, the OSD is transmitted to the signal input apparatus over the analog transmission path. If the volume does not exceed the preset limit, the OSD is transmitted to the signal input apparatus over the digital transmission path. The controlling unit of the signal output apparatus informs a controlling unit of the signal input apparatus of the intended path of the OSD, so that the signal input apparatus can process the OSD in the appropriate manner.
Client is connected to a selected program serving site via a communication network. The program serving site includes a database storing plural types of contents having various different characters and can supply a program file defining a reproducing sequence of a plurality of contents including those of different characters. The client includes a plurality of types of reproduction engines which are capable of reproducing the contents of the respective characters. The client receives a program file from the program serving site and also receives, from the database of the site, contents specified by the received program file. For reproduction of a desired program file, the client reproduces the individual contents in a reproducing sequence defined by the program file, using any one of the reproduction engines which corresponds to the type of each content to be reproduced. The program progression can be fast-forwarded or fast-reversed by fast-forwarding or fast-rewinding a currently-reproduced content. Contents meeting a search condition specified by the client are searched for and retrieved from the program serving site, and a new program file including the retrieved contents is created. The client can edit the program file, display information pertaining to the currently-reproduced content and select and purchase any desired content.
