INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD AND PROGRAM

Abstract

An information processing apparatus which functions, in a network environment wherein data is communicated between a server and a client, as an end point on the server side or the client side, includes a setter and a controller. The setter is configured to set at least a permissible maximum latency as a parameter representative of a nature of the network which is to be used on the client side. The controller is configured to perform real time control of data of an object of transmission or reception based on the parameter set by the setter to control a transmission or reception process of the data.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of an information processing system to which the present invention is applied;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a communication apparatus shown in FIG. 1 which is an information processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a communication section of the communication apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the communication apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a client side RTP setting process from within processing executed by the communication apparatus of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an example of an RTP-client side port number conversion table;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a real time control process for client side data transmission from within the processing executed by the communication apparatus of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a real time control process for client side data reception from within the processing executed by the communication apparatus of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a real time control process for RTP setting and data reception by the server side based on data from the client side from within the processing executed by the communication apparatus of FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a real time control process for server side data transmission from within the processing executed by the communication apparatus of FIG. 4;

FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the communication apparatus of FIG. 2 different from that shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an example of a structure of an RTP notification packet;

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a different example of a structure of an RTP notification packet from that shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating an example of an RTP setting process by the client side from within processing executed by the communication apparatus of FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a server side reception process from within the processing executed by the communication apparatus of FIG. 11;

FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating an example of details of an RTP setting process by the server side from within the server side reception process of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a flow chart illustrating an example of details of a real time control process for server side data reception by the server side from within the server side detection process of FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the communication apparatus of FIG. 2 different from those of FIGS. 4 and 11;

FIGS. 19 and 20 are flow charts illustrating an example of a data transmission process by transmission timing control on the client side from within processing executed by the communication apparatus of FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a data transmission process by transmission timing control on the server side from within the processing executed by the communication apparatus of FIG. 18;

FIG. 22 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the communication apparatus of FIG. 2 different from those shown in FIGS. 4, 11 and 18; and

FIGS. 23 and 24 are flow charts illustrating an example of a data transmission process by transmission timing control by the client side from within the processing executed by the communication apparatus of FIG. 22.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus which functions, in a network environment wherein data is communicated between a server and a client, as an end point on the server side or the client side, comprising: a setter configured to set at least a permissible maximum latency as a parameter representative of a nature of the network which is to be used on the client side; anda controller configured to perform real time control of data of an object of transmission or reception based on the parameter set by said setter to control a transmission or reception process of the data.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said setter further sets a priority degree as another parameter.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said setter further sets a used band as a further parameter.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said information processing apparatus functions as an end point on the client side and further comprises a generator configured to generate notification data for notifying the server side of the parameter set by said setter as one of data of the transmission object.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said generator performs a packetization process according to the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol or the User Datagram Protocol/Internet Protocol to generate the notification data as a packet.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a predetermined one port number is allocated in advance to each of values which can be taken by the parameter; said setter converting each of the set values of the parameter into a port number coordinated with the value;said generator generating the packet of the notification data using a socket which includes the port number converted from the value of the parameter by said setter.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said generator generates a packet wherein the value of the parameter set by said setter is described in a data region as the notification data.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said information processing apparatus functions as an end point on the server side, and when said information processing apparatus receives, from the client side, data obtained by converting the parameter set by the client side into data of a form in which the data is transmitted and received in the network environment, said setter sets the parameter based on the received data.

9. An information processing method for an information processing apparatus which functions, in a network environment wherein data is communicated between a server and a client, as an end point on the server side or the client side, comprising the steps of: setting at least a permissible maximum latency as a parameter representative of a nature of the network which is to be used on the client side; andperforming real time control of data of an object of transmission or reception based on the set parameter to control a transmission or reception process of the data.

10. A program for being executed by a computer which controls, in a network environment wherein data is communicated between a server and a client, an end point on the server side or the client side, comprising the steps of: setting at least a permissible maximum latency as a parameter representative of a nature of the network which is to be used on the client side; andperforming real time control of data of an object of transmission or reception based on the set parameter to control a transmission or reception process of the data.