JP2006268626A - System, method and program for data distribution and program recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data distribution system wherein an explainer is capable of starting explanation in a short time after starting sharing of materials and in turning pages even when holding a conference using the shared materials on a network with a number of clients. <P>SOLUTION: Before executing data sharing for sharing materials among a plurality of terminals, a slide data acquisition request for simultaneously acquiring slide data of materials designated by a data prefetch device 5 is transmitted through a data cache device 4 for caching the slide data to a data providing device 3 for accumulating the slide data and sequentially distributing them to user terminals 1, and the prefetched slide data are cached from the data providing device 3 by the data cache device 4. As the slide data acquisition instruction, prefetch of acquisition of slide data for one or more pages contained in the materials may also be instructed in place of all the slide data of the materials before executing data sharing, when starting display of shared materials or when executing page turning operation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a data distribution system, a data distribution method, a data distribution program, and a program recording medium, and in particular, in a network system configured by connecting a plurality of computers such as the Internet, a shared material is viewed or shared at a remote location. The present invention relates to a data distribution system, a data distribution method, a data distribution program, a program recording medium, and a program recording medium when a conference is performed using a shared material by writing to the file.

  There is a video conference system as a system for performing a conference between two points or between multiple points using a network such as the Internet or a telephone line. In this method, two-way communication is performed using a communication means such as a video phone or an IP voice phone.

  In a remote seminar service, a remote conference service, or the like provided by a video conference system, presentation or review may be performed by sharing one or more materials among the participants.

  As a method for sharing materials in a conventional video conference system, there are methods such as document sharing using a Web page on the Internet, document sharing using a shared folder arranged on a network, and application sharing.

  An example of a document sharing method in a conventional video conference system is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-47999 “Data sharing method and data processing apparatus applied to network system” disclosed in Patent Document 1.

  In the document sharing method of Patent Document 1, a client that holds document data, distributes the document data, and displays the document data to the presenter (hereinafter referred to as “document data distribution client”), and the document via the network There is a client (hereinafter referred to as “reception client”) that is connected to the data distribution client and presents the material to the user who receives the explanation after receiving the distribution of the material data distributed from the material data distribution client.

  The material data distribution client divides the material data to be distributed into pages and holds them as independent data, and distributes only the page data to be displayed on the receiving client sequentially as necessary. .

  An example of another material sharing method is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-101052 “Collaboration system, collaboration server, document file transfer method, storage medium” disclosed in Patent Document 2.

  In the document sharing method of Patent Document 2, a cache is set between the document data distribution client and the reception client, and when the document data is distributed from the document data distribution client to the reception client, the document data is stored in the cache. When the distribution request is generated again, the material data stored in the cache is redistributed. Also, material data to be shared at the start of material sharing is distributed to the receiving client in a batch, and when turning the page, only the page turning event is distributed to the receiving client and stored in the module on the receiving client. The display switching process is executed for another page.

  Here, in general, for example, there may be a large number of receiving clients in the sharing of materials in the remote seminar service or the remote conference service, and the shared material data itself has a large data size and has been used before. Rather than reusing things, there are many cases in which newly created things are distributed and used on the spot.

  In such a case, the material sharing method disclosed in Patent Document 1 causes a result of simultaneous data distribution to a large number of receiving clients. There is a possibility of applying a great load.

  However, since the document data is divided into pages and stored as independent document slide data and distributed to the receiving client only when necessary, the time required for one distribution of document slide data itself is shortened. Distribution can be completed in a shorter time than distributing data in a batch, and the presenter can immediately start explaining the distribution material data.

  However, since the distribution of the document data is executed every page turn, the load is generated on the document data distribution client and the network, and it takes a lot of time to distribute the document slide data. , It takes time for the explainer to proceed with the explanation.

  On the other hand, the method disclosed in Patent Document 2 aims to reduce the load on the document data distribution client and the network when executing the document data distribution by installing a cache. In the above-mentioned case of distributing the data on the spot, the cache does not work effectively, and there is a possibility that the load on the data distribution client and the network cannot be reduced.

  As for the distribution of document data, all pages are distributed at the same time when document sharing starts, so it takes longer to distribute the document data once, and it takes time for the presenter to start explaining. It takes.

  However, the load on the document data distribution client and the network is only once at the start of document sharing, and the load for each page turn and the time for distributing the document slide data are disclosed in Patent Document 1. Is shorter than the way it is.

  Further, even if the cache as described in Patent Document 2 is introduced as it is into the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, the cache is effective in order to simultaneously execute data distribution to a large number of receiving clients. There is a high possibility that the effect of reducing the load on the data distribution client and the network will not appear.

  In other words, as described above, any of the document sharing methods of Patent Documents 1 and 2 has a large number of receiving clients, and in the case where newly created document data is distributed on the spot, the document sharing is performed. There is a problem in satisfying the two points that the explanation about the material shared by the presenter can be started in a short time after the start, and the explanation can be advanced in a short time when turning the page.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-47999 (page 11, FIG. 1) JP 2001-101052 A (page 9, FIG. 1)

  As described above, the problem with the prior art is that there are a large number of receiving clients, and when the document data is distributed to each receiving client at the time of document sharing, the presenter distributes (shares) after starting the document sharing. The explanation about the prepared material can be started in a short time, and at the time of turning the page, the explanation that the explainer can advance the explanation about the material that turned the page in a short time is not compatible.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to allow an instructor to start explanation in a short time after starting material sharing before executing material sharing before distributing material data to one or more receiving clients. An object of the present invention is to provide a data distribution system, a data distribution method, a data distribution program, and a program recording medium, which are compatible with the two points that the explanation can be advanced in a short time when the page is turned.

  Furthermore, it is included in the document data at any time before the document sharing is started, when the shared document display requesting to start displaying the shared document is started, or when the page turning operation requesting the update to a new slide data page is performed. The cache capacity of the data cache device can be reduced by pre-reading the data cache device and pre-caching the same page or multiple pages so that there is no delay in the display on the client terminal side. At the same time, it is intended to allow the presenter to proceed with the explanation in a short time even at the start of the document sharing, after the document sharing is performed, or when the page is turned.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the data distribution method, data distribution system, data distribution program, and program recording medium according to the present invention employ the following characteristic configuration.

(1) A data providing device that stores material data as a collection of independent slide data divided in units of pages, and sequentially distributes slide data of designated material data, the data providing device, and a client terminal And a data cache device that caches and stores slide data distributed from the data providing device, and a data prefetch device that causes the data cache device to cache the slide data of the specified material data in advance. The data pre-reading device sends a slide data acquisition request for collectively acquiring slide data of the material data before executing the material sharing to start sharing the material data between a plurality of terminals. Alternatively, the data is transmitted from the terminal to the data providing apparatus, and the data Data distribution system for caching slide data of the document data prefetching in Yasshu device.
(2) As the slide data acquisition request, instead of issuing an instruction to collectively acquire slide data of designated document data before executing document sharing, display of the slide data is started before document sharing is performed. When the requested shared document display starts or when the page turning operation for requesting the update of the slide data to a new page is executed, the slide data of a single page or multiple pages included in the document data (1) The data distribution system for instructing acquisition of minutes.
(3) When the data cache device receives the slide data acquisition request regarding the material data designated from the terminal, the date and time information of the slide data of the material data cached by prefetching to the data cache device is If the date and time information of the slide data of the material data stored in the data providing device is newer or the same date and time, the slide data cached in the data cache device is sequentially transmitted to the terminal, not the new date and time. Or when the slide data of the material data is not cached, the slide data of the material data stored in the data providing device is cached in the data cache device. , Send sequentially to the terminal Data distribution system (1) or (2).
(4) The data distribution system according to any one of the above (1) to (3), wherein the slide data of the material data is configured as slide data for one page by grouping a single page or a plurality of pages of the material data. .
(5) The data distribution system according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the data cache device is arranged for each of the one or more terminals belonging to the same base.
(6) A data providing step of storing the document data as a collection of independent slide data divided in units of pages, and sequentially distributing the slide data of the specified document data; and the data providing step is a client terminal A slide that acquires the slide data of the document data in a batch before executing the document sharing that starts sharing the document data among a plurality of terminals. A data distribution method in which a data acquisition request is issued, and all slide data of the material data is prefetched and cached in advance.
(7) As the slide data acquisition request, instead of instructing to acquire the slide data of the designated material data at once before executing the material sharing, the display of the slide data is started before the material sharing is executed. When the requested shared document display starts or when the page turning operation for requesting the update of the slide data to a new page is executed, the slide data of a single page or multiple pages included in the document data (6) The data distribution method of instructing acquisition of minutes.
(8) A data providing step of storing the document data as a collection of independent slide data divided in units of pages, and sequentially distributing the slide data of the specified document data, and the data providing step is a client terminal A slide that acquires the slide data of the document data in a batch before executing the document sharing that starts sharing the document data among a plurality of terminals. A data distribution program that issues a data acquisition request, prefetches all slide data of the material data, and caches the data in advance.
(9) As the slide data acquisition request, instead of issuing an instruction to collectively acquire slide data of designated material data before executing the material sharing, the display of the slide data is started before the material sharing is executed. When the requested shared document display starts or when the page turning operation for requesting the update of the slide data to a new page is executed, the slide data of a single page or multiple pages included in the document data (8) The data distribution program for instructing acquisition of minutes.
(10) A program recording medium in which the data distribution program of (8) or (9) is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium.

  According to the data distribution system, data distribution method, data distribution program, and program recording medium according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

  The first effect is that the document data is stored as a collection of independent document slide data divided in units of pages, and one or a plurality of clients from the data providing apparatus that sequentially distributes the document slide data is provided. Before executing the sharing of the specified material, that is, prior to the material sharing for distributing the material data, the material slide data arranged between the data providing device that provides the material data and the user terminal for the client is It is necessary to distribute the slide data without increasing the load on the data distribution device on the data distribution side and the network by adding a mechanism for prefetching the data before executing the data sharing to the data cache device to be cached. The time can be shortened, so that after the start of document sharing, the instructor can explain quickly. It can be, also, even when page turning is that it is possible to achieve both the 2-point that the presenter is advanced ahead of explanation in a short time.

  The second effect is that when the data cache device is prefetched and cached before the sharing of the specified material, that is, prior to the sharing of the material for distributing the material data, to one or a plurality of clients. It is possible to perform prefetching in units of the material slide data, and to specify the data cache device so that the prefetching processing can be executed at the start of shared material display processing or page turning processing that occurs during material sharing execution. The first effect (that is, the explainer can start explaining in a short time after starting the document sharing and the page is turned The effect of achieving both the two points of being able to proceed with the explanation in a short time) Data to be provided in the data cache device by causing the data cache device to pre-read only the document slide data for the page, and then pre-reading the material slide data that has not been pre-read as necessary to the data cache device sequentially. It is possible to save the capacity of the storage area.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a data distribution system, a data distribution method, a data distribution program, and a program recording medium according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the embodiments, the specific configuration and data distribution method of the data distribution system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. With this description, a specific embodiment for realizing the data distribution method as a data distribution program executable by a computer, and an embodiment of a program recording medium in which the data distribution program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium are also described. Since it can be easily conceived, the description of specific embodiments relating to these inventions is omitted.

(First embodiment)
First, a first embodiment of the configuration of the data distribution system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the system configuration of a data distribution system according to the present invention. As a first embodiment, the best mode for carrying out the present invention is shown.

  A data distribution system 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a user terminal 1, a data providing device 3, a data cache device 4, a data prefetching device 5, and a data distribution control device used by a material data distribution client and one or more receiving clients. 6 are connected to each other via the network 2.

  Here, the user terminal 1 includes a material sharing execution module 11 and displays the slide data of the material received via the network 2 and presents it to the user, a shared material display request instructed by the user, It has at least a function for issuing a page turning operation request and receiving a material slide data acquisition instruction from the data distribution control device 6 via the network 2 and issuing a material slide data acquisition request.

  The data providing device 3 includes a data file storage unit 31, a session information acquisition unit 32, and a request processing unit 33. The data providing device 3 receives a material slide data acquisition request transferred from the data cache device 4 via the network 2, and receives the material slide data. Confirmation of the presence / absence of update date / time information in the data acquisition request and comparison with the update date / time information of the requested material slide data stored in the data providing device 3, and the comparison result of the update date / time information or It has at least a function for returning the requested slide data.

  The data cache device 4 includes a request receiving unit 41, a relay data storage unit 42, a request transfer unit 43, and a data transfer unit 44, and a material slide transmitted from the user terminal 1 or the data prefetching device 5 via the network 2. After receiving the data acquisition request and confirming whether or not the corresponding material slide data is retained and accumulated in the data cache device 4, if it is retained and accumulated, the storage date and time information of the corresponding material slide data is If it is added to the document slide data acquisition request, but is not held and accumulated, it is transferred to the data providing apparatus 3 without adding the accumulation date information, and the update date and time comparison returned from the data providing apparatus 3 is compared. If the result or the data slide data is received and the update date / time comparison result is received, the data cache device 4 When the document slide data is stored and stored in the data cache device 4 and is returned to the issuer of the document slide data acquisition request via the network 2, and the document slide data is received, It has at least a function for simultaneously executing the accumulation and the return via the network 2 to the issuer of the material slide data acquisition request.

  The data prefetching device 5 includes data cache device management means 51 and prefetching execution means 52, receives a material slide data prefetching instruction from the data distribution control device 6, and issues a material slide data acquisition request to the data cache device 4. It has at least the function to do.

  The data distribution control device 6 includes a request receiving unit 61, a session information holding unit 62, a data acquisition instruction unit 63, a material information storage unit 64, a data prefetch control unit 65, and a session information sending unit 66, and is sharing the same material. Holding the terminal list of the user terminal 1 used by the user, holding the document information about the document being shared, and a document display request or page from one of the user terminals 1 included in the terminal list At least a function for receiving a turning operation request and issuing a material slide data acquisition instruction to all user terminals 1 and data prefetching devices 5 included in the terminal list is provided.

  Next, an example of the arrangement of various devices in the data distribution system 10 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is an arrangement diagram showing an example of arrangement of various devices constituting the data distribution system according to the present invention. In the state where a large number of users are distributed at a plurality of points, the same material can be shared. An example of the arrangement in the case of implementation is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 2, there are a plurality of bases 100a, 100b,... Indicating points where the user exists, and each of the bases 100a, 100b,. A cache device 4 exists. Note that the data cache device 4 caches the material slide data in common for one or more user terminals 1 belonging to the same base, for example, the base 100a, and the user terminal 1 and the data providing device 3 are cached. Are arranged via the network 2 so as to be interposed between them.

  Further, the user terminal 1 and the data cache device in each base 100a, 100b,... Are connected to the data providing device 3, the data prefetching device 5, and the data distribution control device 6 through the network 2. .

  The data providing device 3, the data prefetching device 5, and the data distribution control device 6 may exist independently of each other, but may be configured such that all or some of the devices exist on one computer. .

(Explanation of user terminal)
The user terminal 1 is a terminal such as a personal computer or a workstation that is used individually by users who share materials and perform remote communication. IP is used as unique identification information for identifying each terminal for each terminal. Terminal identifiers such as an address and a terminal ID are allocated.

  On the user terminal 1, the material sharing execution module 11 operates to display the slide data of the received material and present it to the user, or a shared material display request instructed by the user of the user terminal 1. A page turning operation request is transmitted to the data distribution control device 6 via the network 2, or a document slide data acquisition instruction is received from the data distribution control device 6 via the network 2, and the document slide data acquisition request is sent to the same location, for example, a location. Issued to the data cache device 4 existing in 100a.

(Description of data providing device)
In the data providing device 3, the data file storage means 31 operates to store the material data in the form of a collection of independent material slide data files divided into pages, and the session information acquisition means 32 operates. The session information held in the data distribution control device 6 is referred to. The data file storage means 31 may use a file system provided in a general computer or a database.

  Further, the data providing device 3 operates by the request processing means 33 to accept the material slide data acquisition request transmitted from the user terminal 1 or the data prefetching device 5 via the data cache device 4, and the transmission source of the request It is confirmed whether or not a session identifier serving as an identifier indicating that the user terminal 1 is participating in a group sharing the material is included in the material slide data acquisition request. When the session identifier is not included in the request, a confirmation result indicating that it is outside the shared group is returned. When the session identifier is included, the data distribution control device via the session information acquisition unit 32 is returned. The session information is acquired from 6 and compared.

  If the comparison results do not match, a confirmation result (hereinafter also referred to as “authentication result”) indicating that the sessions are different is returned, and if they match, the accumulated date / time information of the document slide data is further stored in the document slide. Check whether it is added in the data acquisition request. If the accumulated date and time information is not added, the material slide data stored in the data file storage means 31 is sequentially returned as requested, and if the accumulated date and time information is added, the data Referring to the update date / time information of the material slide data stored in the file storage means 31, if the same or the accumulated date / time information is newer, only the comparison result is returned, and the update date / time information is newer Returns the material slide data stored in the data file storage means 31.

(Description of data cache device)
In the data cache device 4, the request accepting unit 41 operates to accept the material slide data acquisition request transmitted from the user terminal 1 or the data prefetching device 5. In addition, when the relay data storage means 42 operates and the material slide data is returned from the data providing device 3, the data is stored in the form of a data file.

  In the data cache device 4, the request transfer unit 43 operates to hold and store the corresponding material slide data by the relay data storage unit 42 based on the requested material slide data identification information included in the material slide data acquisition request. If the document slide data acquisition request is transferred to the data providing device 3 as it is, and if it is stored and stored, the storage date and time of the document slide data is stored. The information is added to the document slide data acquisition request and transferred to the data providing device 3.

  Further, when the data transfer unit 44 operates, the data cache device 4 receives the authentication result or the update date / time comparison result returned from the data providing device 3 or the corresponding material slide data, and receives the authentication result. When the data slide data acquisition request is returned to the user terminal 1 or the data prefetching device 5 as it is and the update date / time comparison result is received, the corresponding data slide stored and stored in the data cache device 4 is returned. When the data is returned to the user terminal 1 or the data prefetching device 5 that issued the material slide data acquisition request and the material slide data is received, the relay data storage means 42 accumulates the material slide data and acquires the material slide data. Data slice to user terminal 1 or data prefetching device 5 that issued the request To perform data return and at the same time.

(Description of data prefetching device)
In the data prefetching device 5, the data cache device management means 51 operates to hold a list of all available data cache devices 4. Further, the prefetch execution means 52 operates to receive a material slide data acquisition instruction from the data distribution control device 6 and transmit a material slide data acquisition request to the data cache device 4. The data prefetching device 5 is assigned a unique device identifier as in the user terminal 1.

(Description of data distribution control device)
In the data distribution control device 6, the request accepting unit 61 operates to be included in the shared material display request from one user terminal 1 that is not included in the terminal list held by the session information holding unit 62 or in the terminal list. A page turning operation request from one user terminal 1 and a session information acquisition request from the data providing device 3 are accepted. In addition, when the session information holding unit 62 operates to start sharing the material, a session identifier generated as an identifier for identifying a group of users sharing the same material, and an identifier of the same material being shared are shared. Session information in which the terminal list of the identifier of the user terminal 1 used by the user is associated is generated and held.

  In the data distribution control device 6, the data acquisition instruction unit 63 operates to issue a material slide data acquisition instruction to all the user terminals 1 included in the terminal list. In addition, the material information storage unit 64 operates to store material information such as a material identifier and a material slide data storage directory path. Further, the data prefetch control means 65 operates to issue a material slide data acquisition instruction for all pages of the material to the data prefetch device 5. Further, when the session information sending unit 66 operates to accept the session information acquisition request, the session information is obtained from the session information holding unit 62 and returned to the data providing apparatus 3.

(Explanation of document slide data)
Next, an example of the material slide data used in the data distribution system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the material slide data applied to the data distribution system according to the present invention, and shows an example of the material slide data in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 3 shows a form in which the material slide data is stored on the file system, and a unique material slide data storage directory (for example, a directory path name “/ 01cghe85d4ng / user1 / 050127presentation /”, etc.) is provided for each material. Files created and cut out for each page from the material in the material slide data storage directory (for example, the file name is “Slide 1.png”, “Slide 2.png”, etc.) are the material slide data. Arranged as a file.

  The material slide data file has a file name including a page number indicating which page is cut out and is updated as an attribute of the material slide data storage directory as exemplified in the above-mentioned “slide 1” and “slide 2”. Have a date and time.

  In addition, although the example of FIG. 3 shows the example in which the material slide data is stored on the file system, it may be stored in the database. In the example of FIG. 3, an example is shown in which a file is created by cutting out each page from the material. However, it is not always necessary to cut out each page, and a plurality of pages are stored as one file. Also good.

  The path information of the material slide data storage directory (hereinafter referred to as “material slide data storage directory path”) is information for identifying the material slide data to be acquired in the material slide data acquisition request. Therefore, a directory that is difficult to predict from the user by using a random number or the like may be created and used as a device for suppressing illegal data acquisition.

(Explanation of document information)
Next, an example of material information used in the data distribution system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of material information applied to the data distribution system according to the present invention, and shows an example of the material information in the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a material identifier (for example, “user1_00000001”) uniquely assigned to each material data, and materials necessary for acquiring the material slide data from the data providing device 3 or the data cache device 4 A slide data storage directory path (for example, “/ 01cghe85d4ng / user1 / 050127presentation /”) is stored in association with each other.

  The example of FIG. 4 shows an example in which the material identifier is allocated separately from the material slide data storage directory path. However, as described above in the description of the material slide data, the material slide data storage directory path is set for each material data. Therefore, the material slide data storage directory path may also serve as a material identifier.

(Explanation of session information)
Next, an example of session information used in the data distribution system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of session information applied to the data distribution system according to the present invention, and shows an example of session information in the first embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, as session information, a session identifier (for example, “dyKad.MG4yJCP2VOyXxBB1”) uniquely assigned to each group of one or more user terminals 1 sharing the same material, A material identifier uniquely assigned to each material data to be shared (for example, “user1_00000001”) and a page number of the material slide data currently displayed on the user terminal 1 (for example, “3”) And a list of terminal identifiers (for example, “192.168.0.1, 192.168.7.2”) indicating the user terminals 1 belonging to the same group are held together.

  In the example of FIG. 5, the session identifier is held separately from the material identifier. However, when the corresponding material is shared only by a single group, the material identifier also serves as the session identifier. You may do it.

(Explanation of shared document display request)
Next, an example of a shared material display request used in the data distribution system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a shared material display request applied to the data distribution system according to the present invention, and shows an example of the shared material display request in the first embodiment.

  This shared material display request is transmitted from the user terminal 1 to the data distribution control device 6 when the user terminal 1 intends to newly join a group for sharing the same material. is there.

  As illustrated in FIG. 6, the shared document display request (“CMD: Start_Sharing_Document”) is a terminal identifier (for example, “RTC_Request_Addr: 192.168.” That can uniquely identify the user terminal 1 that has transmitted the shared document display request. 0.1 ”), a material identifier indicating the material to be shared (for example,“ Document: user1_00000001 ”), and a session identifier that is a group identifier (for example,“ Session: dyKad.MG4yJCP2VOyXxBB1 ”). Note that the session identifier is included when an existing group is joined later, and is not included when a group for newly sharing the same material is generated.

(Explanation of page turning operation request)
Next, an example of a page turning operation request used in the data distribution system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the page turning operation request applied to the data distribution system according to the present invention, and shows an example of the page turning operation request in the first embodiment.

  This page turning operation request is made when one user terminal 1 participating in a group sharing the same material wants to switch the material slide data of the currently displayed page to the display of the material slide data of another page. The data is transmitted from the user terminal 1 to the data distribution control device 6.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, the page turning operation request (“CMD: Turn_Page”) is a terminal identifier (for example, “RTC_Request_Addr: 192.168. 0.1 ”), a material identifier indicating the material to be shared (for example,“ Document: user1_00000001 ”), a session identifier that is a group identifier (for example,“ Session: dyKad.MG4yJCP2VOyXxBB1 ”), and And at least a page number (for example, “4”).

(Explanation of document slide data acquisition instruction)
Next, an example of a material slide data acquisition instruction used in the data distribution system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a material slide data acquisition instruction applied to the data distribution system according to the present invention, and shows an example of a material slide data acquisition instruction in the first embodiment.

  This material slide data acquisition instruction is sent to the data distribution control device 6 that has received the above-mentioned shared material display request or page turning operation request, and all users who are participating in the user terminal 1 that is the transmission source or a group that shares the same material. This is transmitted to the terminal 1 and the data prefetching device 5.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the material slide data acquisition instruction (“CMD: Dist_SlideData”) includes a session identifier that is a group identifier (for example, “Session: dyKad.MG4yJCP2VOyXxBB1”) and a page of the material slide data to be acquired. The number (for example, “4”) and the material slide data storage directory path (for example, material slide data to be acquired)
"/ 01cghe85d4ng / user1 / 050127presentation /").

(Explanation of document slide data acquisition request)
Next, an example of a material slide data acquisition request used in the data distribution system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the material slide data acquisition request applied to the data distribution system according to the present invention, and shows an example of the material slide data acquisition request in the first embodiment.

  This material slide data acquisition request is sent to the data cache device 4 in the same location (for example, location 100a) as the user terminal 1 or the data prefetching device 5 that has received the material slide data acquisition instruction. It is to transmit to.

  As illustrated in FIG. 9, the material slide data acquisition request (“CMD: Get_SlideData”) is a terminal identifier (for example, “RTC_Request_Addr: 192.168.0.1” that can uniquely identify the user terminal 1 that is the transmission source of the material acquisition request. ”), A session identifier that is a group identifier (for example,“ Session: dyKad.MG4yJCP2VOyXxBB1 ”), a page number of the material slide data to be acquired (for example,“ 4 ”), and material slide data storage of the material data to be acquired The directory path (for example, “/ 01cghe85d4ng / user1 / 050127presentation /”) and the data cache device 4 that may be added when the material slide data acquisition request is transferred from the data cache device 4 to the data providing device 3. Accumulation date information of the document slide data held in the relay data accumulation means 42 (for example, “If-Modified-Since: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 10:22:11 GMT”) And at least.

(Explanation of session information acquisition request)
Next, an example of a session information acquisition request used in the data distribution system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a session information acquisition request applied to the data distribution system according to the present invention, and shows an example of the session information acquisition request in the first embodiment.

  When the data providing device 3 receives the material slide data acquisition request from the user terminal 1 or the data prefetching device 5, the session information acquisition request is received by the user terminal 1 that has transmitted the slide data acquisition request. This is transmitted from the data providing apparatus 3 to the data distribution control apparatus 6 when it is desired to refer to session information for confirming whether or not it has already joined the group for sharing.

  As illustrated in FIG. 10, the session information acquisition request (“CMD: Get_Session_Info”) includes at least a session identifier (for example, “Session: dyKad.MG4yJCP2VOyXxBB1”) indicating session information to be referred to.

(Explanation of document slide data prefetch processing flowchart)
Next, with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 11 and 12, the operation at the time of executing the material slide data prefetch process in the present embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the first half of the operation when the data slide data prefetching process is executed in the data distribution system according to the present invention. FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the material slide in the data distribution system according to the present invention. FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the latter half of the operation at the time of executing the data prefetching process, and the flowcharts of FIGS. 11 and 12 are in the best mode for carrying out the present invention as the first embodiment. An example of the operation at the time of executing the document slide data prefetching process is shown.

  First, in the flow chart of FIG. 11, at the time of data slide data registration or data update, or just before the start of remote communication with data sharing with a fixed start time in a remote seminar service or the like, the data distribution control device 6 The data prefetch control means 65 sends a session creation instruction together with the material identifier corresponding to the material slide data to be prefetched to the session information holding means 62 (step S101).

  The session information holding means 62 generates a new session identifier, generates session information including a material identifier sent together with the session creation instruction, and further includes a terminal of the data prefetching device 5 in the session information. A list including only identifiers is held (step S102).

  Next, a data slide data storage directory path corresponding to material slide data to be subjected to prefetch processing, a page number of the material slide data, and a session identifier are included from the data prefetch control means 65 to the data prefetching device 5. The material slide data acquisition instruction is transmitted for all pages of the material (step S103).

  When the prefetch execution means 52 in the data prefetch device 5 receives the material slide data acquisition instruction (step S104), the prefetch execution means 52 obtains information on all the data cache devices 4 that can be used from the data cache device management means 51. (Step S105).

  Next, the prefetch execution means 52 transmits a material slide data acquisition request including the session identifier to all available data cache devices 4 (step S106).

  When the data cache device 4 receives the material slide data acquisition request in the request reception unit 41 (step S107), the request transfer unit 43 relays the relay data storage unit based on the requested material slide data identification information included in the material slide data acquisition request. In 42, it is confirmed whether or not the material slide data is held and accumulated (step S108).

  As a result, if the document slide data is not held (NO in step S108), the received document slide data acquisition request is transferred to the data providing device 3 as it is (step S109).

  On the other hand, if it is held (YES in step S108), the date and time information of the material slide data held in the relay data storage means 42 is added to the received material slide data acquisition request. Then, the data is transferred to the data providing device 3 (step S110).

  When the request processing means 33 in the data providing apparatus 3 accepts the transferred material slide data acquisition request (step S111), the request processing means 33 determines whether or not a session identifier is included in the material slide data acquisition request. If it is not included (NO in step S112), an authentication result indicating that the session identifier is not included is returned (step S113). In this case (YES in step S112), the session information acquisition unit 32 transmits a session information acquisition request including the session identifier included in the document slide data acquisition request to the data distribution control device 6 (step S114). .

  The request accepting means 61 in the data distribution control device 6 accepts the transmitted session information acquisition request (step S115), and the session information sending means 66 based on the session identifier included in the session information acquisition request. Session information having the session identifier is acquired from the session information holding unit 62 (step S116), and returned to the session information acquisition unit 32 in the data providing device 3 (step S117).

  When the session information acquisition means 32 receives the session information (step S118), it is determined whether or not the terminal identifier included in the document slide data acquisition request is included in the list of terminal identifiers included in the received session information. Confirmation is made (step S119).

  If not included (NO in step S119), an authentication result indicating that the terminal identifier is not included is returned to the data cache device 4 that is the acquisition request source (step S120). (YES in step S119), it is further checked whether or not the storage date / time information is added to the document slide data acquisition request (step S121).

  If the accumulated date and time information has not been added (NO in step S121), the corresponding material slide data stored in the data file storage means 31 is returned to the data cache device 4 (step S122).

  On the other hand, if the accumulated date / time information is added (YES in step S121), the update date / time information of the corresponding material slide data stored in the data file storage means 31 is further referred to (step S123). If the accumulated date and time information is newer (NO in step S123), only the comparison result is returned to the data cache device 4 (step S124). If the updated date and time information is newer (YES in step S123), The material slide data stored in the data file storage means 31 is returned to the data cache device 4 (step S125).

  When the data transfer means 44 in the data cache device 4 receives the authentication result or the update date / time comparison result or the material slide data returned from the data providing device 3 (step S126), if the authentication result is received, The data slide data acquisition request is issued directly to the data prefetching device 5 (step S127). On the other hand, when the update date / time comparison result is received, the data slide data stored and stored in the data cache device 4 is returned. Is returned to the data prefetching device 5 that issued the material slide data acquisition request (step S128). When material slide data is received, it is stored in the relay data storage means 42 in the form of a data file and simultaneously To the data prefetching device 5 that issued the slide data acquisition request To perform the return of the material slide data (step S129).

  When the data prefetching device 5 receives the authentication result, the update date / time comparison result or the material slide data (step S130), if the data prefetching device 5 receives the authentication result, the data prefetching device 5 notifies the data prefetch control means 65 of an abnormality (step S131). On the other hand, when the update date / time comparison result or the material slide data is received, a normal end notification is sent to the data prefetch control means 65 (step S132).

(Explanation of material sharing start processing flowchart when starting new material sharing)
Next, with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 13 and 14, the operation at the time of executing the material sharing start process when starting the sharing of a new material in the present embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 13 is a flow chart for explaining an example of the first half of the operation at the time of starting the material sharing start process when starting the sharing of a new material in the data distribution system according to the present invention. 14 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the latter half part following FIG. 13 of the operation at the time of starting the sharing of a new material in the data distribution system according to the present invention. In the best mode for carrying out the present invention, the first embodiment shows an example of an operation at the time of starting a material sharing start process when starting a new material sharing.

  First, in the flowchart of FIG. 13, when the request receiving means 61 of the data distribution control device 6 receives a shared material display request that does not include a session identifier from the user terminal 1 (step S201), the request receiving means 61 Since the session identifier is not included in the document display request, a new session identifier is generated in the session information holding means 62. Further, the document identifier and the first page of the document slide data included in the shared document display request are displayed. Session information including a page number “1 page” indicating that it is displayed is generated, and further, a list including only the terminal identifier of the user terminal 1 of the request transmission source is held in the session information (step) S202).

  Next, the data acquisition instruction unit 63 acquires material information including the same material identifier as the material identifier included in the shared material display request from the material information storage unit 64 (step S203).

  Further, the data acquisition instruction means 63 uses the various information obtained in steps S202 and S203 to determine various information to be included in the material slide data acquisition instruction, and sends the material slide data to the user terminal 1 that is the request transmission source. An acquisition instruction is transmitted (step S204).

  When the user terminal 1 receives the material slide data acquisition instruction from the data distribution control device 6, the user terminal 1 uses the various information included in the material slide data acquisition instruction to obtain various information to be included in the material slide data acquisition request. The material slide data acquisition request is transmitted to the data cache device 4 existing in the same base, for example, the base 100a (step S205).

  When the request accepting means 41 in the data cache device 4 accepts the material slide data acquisition request transmitted from the user terminal 1 (step S206), the request transfer means 43 includes the material slide data acquisition request. Based on the material slide data storage directory path and the page number of the material slide data to be acquired, it is checked whether or not the material slide data is stored in the relay data storage means 42 (step S207).

  At this time, if the material slide data is not stored in the relay data storage means 42 (NO in step S207), the authentication result is returned to the user terminal 1 (step S208). Since the data prefetch process flow described above in FIGS. 11 and 12 is executed in advance, the material slide data is held in the relay data storage means 42 (YES in step S207). Is acquired (step S209). Then, the acquired storage date / time information is added to the document slide data acquisition request and transferred to the data providing apparatus 3 (step S210).

  Next, when the request processing means 33 in the data providing device 3 accepts the material slide data acquisition request (step S211), the request processing means 33 determines whether or not a session identifier is included in the material slide data acquisition request. If it is not included (NO in step S212), the authentication result is returned (step S213). On the other hand, if it is included (YES in step S212), The session information acquisition means 32 transmits a session information acquisition request including the session identifier included in the material slide data acquisition request to the data distribution control device 6 (step S214).

  When the request accepting unit 61 in the data distribution control device 6 accepts the session information acquisition request (step S215), the session information sending unit 66 uses the session identifier included in the session information acquisition request to obtain session information. The session information holding the session identifier is obtained from the holding means 62 (step S216), and returned to the session information obtaining means 32 of the data providing device 3 (step S217).

  Upon receiving the session information (step S218), the session information acquisition unit 32 determines whether the terminal identifier included in the document slide data acquisition request is included in the list of terminal identifiers included in the session information. (Step S219).

  If not included (NO in step S219), the authentication result is returned to the data cache device 4 (step S220). On the other hand, if included (YES in step S219), the document slide It is confirmed whether or not accumulation date / time information is added during the data acquisition request (step S221).

  At this time, if the accumulated date / time information is not added in the document slide data acquisition request (NO in step S221), the authentication result is returned (step S222). Usually, the data described above with reference to FIGS. Since the pre-read processing flow is executed in advance, the accumulated date / time information is added (YES in step S221), so the update date / time information of the material slide data stored in the data file storage means 31 is referred to, The storage date and time information acquired in step S221 is compared (step S223).

  At this time, since the data prefetch processing flow of FIGS. 11 and 12 is executed in advance, the date and time of both the update date and time information and the storage date and time information usually match, so only the date and time comparison result is used as the data cache device. 4 is returned (step S224).

  When the data transfer means 44 in the data cache device 4 receives the authentication result or the date / time comparison result returned from the data providing device 3 (step S225), if the authentication result is received, the material slide data acquisition is performed. The authentication result is returned as it is to the user terminal 1 that issued the request (step S226). On the other hand, when the date / time comparison result is received, the relay data storage means 42 in the data cache device 4 stores and stores the authentication result. The material slide data is returned to the user terminal 1 that issued the material slide data acquisition request (step S227).

(Explanation of material sharing start processing flowchart when starting material sharing by joining a group for sharing the same material)

  Next, with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 15 and 16, the operation at the time of executing the material sharing start process for starting the material sharing by joining the group for sharing the same existing material in the present embodiment will be described in detail. . FIG. 15 illustrates an example of the first half of the operation at the time of executing the material sharing start process for starting the material sharing by joining the group for sharing the same existing material in the data distribution system according to the present invention. FIG. 16 is a second half of the operation subsequent to FIG. 15 of the operation at the time of executing the material sharing start process for starting the material sharing by participating in the group for sharing the same existing material in the data distribution system according to the present invention. FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 are flow charts for explaining an example of the present invention, and in the best mode for carrying out the present invention as a first embodiment, a group for sharing existing same material is joined. An example of an operation at the time of executing a document sharing start process for starting document sharing is shown.

  First, in the flowchart of FIG. 15, the request receiving means 61 of the data distribution control device 6 receives an authentication request from the user terminal 1 or a shared material display request including a session identifier that is a group identifier for sharing the same existing material. Is received (step S301), session information including the same session identifier is acquired from the session information holding means 62 based on the session identifier included in the shared material display request (step S302). The terminal identifier of the user terminal 1 that is the transmission source of the shared material display request is added to the list of terminal identifiers of the user terminals 1 belonging to the group included in the information (step S303).

  For subsequent steps S304 to S328, the same processing as that of steps S203 to S227 described above with reference to FIGS.

  However, unlike the case of step S204 in FIG. 13, the information on the number of pages included in the session information acquired in step S302 is used as the information on the number of pages to be included in the material slide data acquisition instruction in step S305 in FIG. However, the other points are exactly the same.

(Description of page turning operation processing flowchart)
Next, with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 17 and 18, the operation at the time of executing the page turning operation of the material in the present embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 17 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the first half of the operation at the time of executing the page turning operation of the material in the data distribution system according to the present invention. FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the material in the data distribution system according to the present invention. FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the latter half part following FIG. 17 of the operation at the time of executing the page turning operation, and the flowcharts of FIGS. 17 and 18 are in the best mode for carrying out the present invention as the first embodiment. An example of an operation when performing a page turning operation of a document is shown.

  First, in the flowchart of FIG. 17, when one user terminal 1 participating in a group sharing the same material wants to switch the material slide data currently displayed to the display of material slide data on another page, the use The page turning operation request including the material identifier, the terminal identifier of the user terminal 1, the session identifier, and the changed page number information is transmitted from the user terminal 1 to the data distribution control device 6 (step S401).

  When receiving the page turning operation request (step S402), the request receiving means 61 in the data distribution control device 6 includes the session identifier in the page turning operation request. Session information including a session identifier is acquired (step S403), and the page number information included in the acquired session information is set to be the same as the page number information included in the received page turning operation request. Update (step S404), and obtain a list of terminal identifiers of the user terminals 1 belonging to the group included in the session information (step S405).

  Material information including the same material identifier as the material identifier included in the page turning operation request is acquired from the material information storage unit 64 (step S406), and the data acquisition instructing unit 63 obtains various information obtained in steps S403 to S406. Using the information and information on the number of pages included in the page turning operation request, various types of information to be included in the material slide data acquisition instruction are determined, and all users listed in the list obtained in step S405 A material slide data acquisition instruction is transmitted to the terminal 1 (step S407).

  Thereafter, on each of the user terminals 1, as steps S408 to S430, exactly the same processing as steps S205 to S227 described above with reference to FIGS.

(Effect of the present invention in the first embodiment)
Next, the effect of the present invention in this embodiment will be described.
In the first embodiment showing the best mode for carrying out the present invention, the data file storage means 31 stores the material data as a collection of independent material slide data divided into pages and sequentially stores the material slide data. A large number of receiving clients exist as user terminals 1 that share the document data, and it is necessary in a short time after starting the document sharing to execute the document sharing that distributes the document data when the document is shared. Distributing material slide data is completed, and the presenter can start explaining in a short time.

  Further, a data cache device 4 that caches the material slide data is arranged between the data providing device 3 that provides the material data and the user terminal 1 of the receiving client, and before the data sharing is executed in the data cache device 4. Data pre-reading device 5 that pre-reads the document data is arranged, and remote communication with document sharing is started when the document slide data is registered or the document slide data is updated before starting the document sharing, or when the start time of the remote seminar service is fixed The data distribution control device 6 is provided with data prefetch control means 65 that issues a data slide data acquisition instruction to the data prefetch device 5 at some point in time.

  Accordingly, when data slide data is registered before data sharing starts or data slide data is updated, or at a time just before the start of remote communication with data sharing with a fixed start time in a remote seminar service or the like, the data data is stored in the data cache device 4. Since the load on the data providing device 3 for distributing the document data and the network 2 can be reduced by pre-caching the document data, the time required for distributing the document slide data can be shortened. The explainer can advance the explanation in a short time when turning the page, and the explainer can start explaining in a short time even after starting the document sharing, and the explainer can explain in a short time after turning the page Can provide a data distribution method that balances the two points That.

  Further, the effects of the present invention exemplified in the first embodiment from a different point of view will be described in detail as follows.

  The user terminal 1, the network 2, and the material data are stored as a collection of independent material slide data divided in units of pages, and from the user terminal 1 and the data prefetching device 5 via the data cache device 4. A user who is sharing the same material with the data providing apparatus 3 for accepting the received material slide data acquisition request and returning the authentication result or the update date / time comparison result or the corresponding material slide data Holding the terminal list of the terminal 1, holding the document information related to the same material, receiving a document display request or page turning operation request from one user terminal 1 included in the terminal list, Data distribution control for issuing material slide data acquisition instructions to all user terminals 1 and data prefetching devices 5 included The device 6 has a large number of receiving clients as the user terminal 1, and even when executing document sharing for distributing document data when executing document sharing, the necessary amount of documents can be obtained in a short time after starting document sharing. It can be configured to complete the distribution of slide data.

  Further, since the data cache device 4 and the data prefetching device 5 are provided, the data cache device 4 accepts the material slide data acquisition request transmitted from the user terminal 1 or the data prefetching device 5 and corresponds. If it is confirmed whether or not the document slide data is stored and stored in the data cache device 4, the storage date and time information of the document slide data is added to the document slide data acquisition request and is not stored. In this case, the material slide data acquisition request is transferred to the data providing device 3 without adding information, and the update date / time comparison result returned from the data providing device 3 or the requested material slide data is received. When the update date / time comparison result is received, the data stored and accumulated in the data cache device 4 The ride data is returned to the issuer of the material slide data acquisition request, and when the material slide data is received, the data is stored in the data cache device 4 and the data is returned to the issuer of the material slide data acquisition request. Are executed at the same time.

  In addition, the data prefetching device 5 receives a material slide data acquisition instruction from the data distribution control device 6, that is, a prefetching instruction, and issues a material slide data acquisition request to the data providing device 3 via the data cache device 4. Accordingly, when used together with the data cache device 4, the material data can be stored in the data cache device 4 in advance at the time of registration of the material slide data before the material sharing start or at the time of updating the material slide data. Thus, it is possible to reduce the load on the data providing device 3 for distributing the material data and the network 2, and to shorten the time required for distributing the material slide data.

(Second embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the data distribution system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The configuration of the data distribution system applied to the second embodiment is the same as the block configuration diagram of FIG. 1 illustrated as the first embodiment, but the material information storage means 64 and the data prefetch control of the data distribution control device 6. The operation of the two means, ie, means 65, is different from the operation in the first embodiment. The operation of the second embodiment may be performed simultaneously with the operation of the first embodiment described above.

  Here, the material information storage means 64 in the present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the data held as the material information, and in addition to the retained data in the first embodiment, the material slide data acquisition is performed. It also holds page number information for which the request has not been issued.

  Further, the data prefetch control means 65 is different from the case of issuing an instruction to acquire all the pages of the corresponding material data in the first embodiment regarding the issue of the material slide data acquisition instruction to the data prefetching device 5, Issuing an acquisition instruction for the document slide data for a single page or a plurality of pages included in the corresponding document data, and in addition to the timing in the first embodiment, the issue timing of the document slide data acquisition instruction is issued Then, the request accepting means 61 makes a shared material display request from the user terminal 1 that requests the display start of the shared material, or a page turning operation from the user terminal 1 that requests an update to a new material slide data page. It is also done when a request is accepted.

(Explanation of document slide data prefetch processing flowchart)
Next, with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 19 and 20, the operation at the time of executing the slide data prefetch processing of the material in the second embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 19 is a flowchart for explaining a different example of the first half of the operation at the time of execution of the slide data prefetching process in the data distribution system according to the present invention. FIG. 20 is a flowchart in the data distribution system according to the present invention. FIG. 20 is a flowchart for explaining a different example of the latter half of the operation at the time of execution of the slide data prefetching process following FIG. 19, and the flowcharts of FIGS. 19 and 20 are the best for carrying out the present invention as the second embodiment. 6 shows an example of an operation when executing a material slide data prefetching process in the embodiment.

  First, in the flowchart of FIG. 19, for steps S501 to S502 executed on the data distribution control device 6, the same processing as that of steps S101 to S102 described above with reference to FIG. 11 is executed. However, the timing at which step S501 is executed is the time when the request receiving means 61 receives the shared material display request or the page turning operation request in addition to the timing shown in FIG. 11 as the first embodiment as described above. included.

  Next, remote communication with data sharing from the data prefetch control means 65 to the data prefetching device 5 at the time of registration of the data slide data before the execution of the shared data, update of the data slide data, or the start time of the remote seminar service, etc. At some point just before the start of the document, the document slide data acquisition instruction including the slide data storage directory path of the document, the page number of the document slide data, and the session identifier is the first page or a part of the page of the document. Minutes are transmitted (step S503).

  Next, the data prefetch control means 65 retrieves the material information corresponding to the material slide data from the material information storage means 64, and from the page number information for which no material slide data acquisition request has been issued, in step S503, the data slide data acquisition instruction Is excluded from the page number of the page that has transmitted and stored again in the material information storage means 64 (step S504).

  In subsequent steps S505 to S533, the same processes as those in steps S104 to 132 described above with reference to FIGS.

(Explanation of material sharing start processing flowchart when starting new material sharing)
Next, with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 21 and 22, the operation at the time of starting the material sharing start process when starting the sharing of a new material in the present embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 21 is a flowchart for explaining a different example of the first half of the operation at the time of starting the material sharing start process when starting the sharing of a new material in the data distribution system according to the present invention. FIG. 22 is a flowchart for explaining a different example of the latter half of FIG. 21 of the operation at the time of starting material sharing start processing when starting new material sharing in the data distribution system according to the present invention; The flowchart shows an example of an operation at the time of starting a material sharing start process when starting a new material sharing in the best mode for carrying out the present invention as the second embodiment.

  First, in the flowchart of FIG. 21, for steps S601 to S604, the same processing as that of steps S201 to S204 described above in FIG. 13 is executed.

  Next, the data acquisition instructing unit 63 refers to the page number information for which the material slide data acquisition request in the material information acquired in step S603 has not been issued, and among the material slide data of the page for which data prefetching processing has not been performed, Presence / absence of a page to be prefetched and a page number are determined based on the page number included in the material slide data acquisition instruction transmitted in step S604 and the page number information not issued by the material slide data acquisition request (step S605). .

  If there is a page to be prefetched, the data prefetch control means 65 includes the material slide data storage directory path in the material information, the page number determined in step S605, and the session identifier for the data prefetch device 5. The material slide data acquisition instruction is transmitted (step S606).

  Next, the data prefetch control means 65 excludes the page number of the page for which the material slide data acquisition instruction was transmitted in step S606 from the material slide data acquisition request non-issued page number information in the material information, and stores the material information storage. The data is stored again in the means 64 (step S607).

  For subsequent steps S608 to S628, the same processes as those in steps S205 to S225 described above with reference to FIGS.

(Explanation of material sharing start processing flowchart when starting material sharing by joining a group for sharing the same material)

  The operation at the time of executing the material sharing start process when the material sharing is started by joining the group for sharing the same material in the present embodiment is shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 as the first embodiment. This is exactly the same operation as when the material sharing start process is executed when the material sharing is started by joining a group for sharing the same material.

(Description of page turning operation processing flowchart)
Next, with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 23 and 24, the operation when performing the page turning operation of the material in the present embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 23 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the first half of the operation at the time of executing the page turning operation of the material in the data distribution system according to the present invention. FIG. 24 is a flowchart of the material in the data distribution system according to the present invention. FIG. 24 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the latter half part following FIG. 23 of the operation at the time of executing the page turning operation, and the flowcharts of FIGS. 23 and 24 are in the best mode for carrying out the present invention as the second embodiment. An example of an operation when performing a page turning operation of a document is shown.

  First, in the flowchart of FIG. 23, for steps S701 to S707, the same processes as steps S401 to S407 described above with reference to FIG.

  Next, the data acquisition instructing unit 63 refers to the page number information for which the document slide data acquisition request in the material information acquired in step S706 has not been issued, and among the material slide data of the pages for which data prefetching processing has not been performed, Presence / absence of a page to be prefetched and a page number are determined based on the page number included in the material slide data acquisition instruction transmitted in step S707 and the page number information not issued by the material slide data acquisition request (step S708). .

  If there is a page to be prefetched, the data prefetch control means 65 includes the material slide data storage directory path in the material information, the page number determined in step S708, and the session identifier for the data prefetch device 5. The material slide data acquisition instruction is transmitted (step S709).

  Next, the data prefetch control means 65 excludes the page number of the page to which the material slide data acquisition instruction is transmitted in step S709 from the material slide data acquisition request unissued page number information in the material information, and stores the material information storage Store again in the means 64 (step S710).

  Thereafter, on each of the user terminals 1, as steps S711 to S733, exactly the same processing as steps S408 to S430 described above with reference to FIGS.

(Effect of the present invention in the second embodiment)
Next, the effect of the present invention in this embodiment will be described.
As described above, according to the data distribution system in the second embodiment, in the configuration of FIG. 1 described above, the data distribution control device 6 has a single page included in the material with respect to the data prefetching device 5. Alternatively, a material slide data acquisition instruction corresponding to a plurality of pages of material slide data is issued, and the data distribution control device 6 shares the issuance of the material slide data acquisition instruction in addition to the timing in the first embodiment. It is also performed when a document display request or page turning operation request is accepted.

  Furthermore, the material information held by the data distribution control device 6 is always stored in the data cache device 4 by holding the information on the number of pages to which the material slide data acquisition request has not been issued in addition to the data held in the first embodiment. Rather than pre-reading all the material slide data of the material, the data cache device 4 is pre-read only for the material slide data that does not cause a problem in maintaining the above-described effect as the first embodiment, and is necessary. Accordingly, the material slide data that has not been pre-read can be sequentially pre-read and cached in the data cache device 4. Therefore, the capacity of the data storage area that the data cache device 4 should have can be saved.

  Further, the effects of the present invention exemplified in the second embodiment from a different point of view will be described as follows.

  The data prefetch control means 65 issues a material slide data acquisition instruction for a single page or a plurality of pages of material slide data included in the material data to the data prefetching device 5, and further, the material slide data In addition to the timing before the execution of the shared material in the first embodiment, the acquisition of the acquisition instruction is performed after the shared material is executed. The material information included in the material information storage means 64 is obtained in addition to the retained data in the first embodiment, and is obtained when a page turning operation request for updating to a correct page is received. Holds page number information for which the request has not been issued.

  Therefore, the relay data storage means 42 in the data cache device 4 does not always pre-read all the material slide data of all the materials, and the material slides are sufficient for maintaining the effect in the first embodiment. Since only the data is prefetched by the relay data storage means 42 in the data cache device 4 and the material slide data that has not been prefetched can be sequentially prefetched and cached as necessary. It is possible to save the capacity of the data storage area that the relay data storage means 42 in the cache device 4 should have.

  As described above, according to the data distribution system, the data distribution method, the data distribution program, and the program recording medium according to the present invention, for example, using the shared material on the Internet, the shared material can be viewed at a remote place, Even when a large number of users participate, the present invention can be suitably applied to a purpose of performing a remote conference such as writing to the shared material. Further, the present invention can be applied to applications such as providing a data distribution function for sharing materials among various programs operating on a computer.

  The configuration of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, it should be noted that such examples are merely illustrative of the invention and do not limit the invention in any way. Those skilled in the art will readily understand that various modifications and changes can be made according to a specific application without departing from the gist of the present invention.

It is a block block diagram which shows an example of the system configuration | structure of the data distribution system by this invention. It is an arrangement | positioning figure which shows an example of arrangement | positioning of the various apparatuses which comprise the data distribution system by this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the material slide data applied to the data distribution system by this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the material information applied to the data distribution system by this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the session information applied to the data distribution system by this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the shared material display request applied to the data distribution system by this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the page turning operation request applied to the data distribution system by this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the data slide data acquisition instruction applied to the data distribution system by this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the data slide data acquisition request applied to the data distribution system by this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the session information acquisition request applied to the data distribution system by this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the first half of the operation | movement at the time of the data slide data prefetch process execution in the data distribution system by this invention. 12 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the latter half of the operation following execution of the slide data prefetching process in the data distribution system according to the present invention, following FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the first half of the operation | movement at the time of the start of a material sharing start process at the time of starting the sharing of a new material in the data distribution system by this invention. FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the latter half of the operation following execution of the material sharing start process when starting the sharing of a new material in the data distribution system according to the present invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the first half part of the operation | movement at the time of the material sharing start process execution which joins the group for sharing the same existing material and starts material sharing in the data distribution system by this invention. FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the latter half part following FIG. 15 of the operation at the time of executing the material sharing start processing for starting the material sharing by participating in the group for sharing the same material existing in the data distribution system according to the present invention. is there. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the first half of the operation | movement at the time of the page turning operation of the material in the data distribution system by this invention. FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the second half of the operation following the execution of the page turning operation of the material in the data distribution system according to the present invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating a different example of the first half of the operation | movement at the time of the data slide data prefetch process execution in the data distribution system by this invention. FIG. 20 is a flowchart for explaining a different example of the latter half part following FIG. 19 of the operation at the time of executing the material slide data prefetching process in the data distribution system according to the present invention. FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating a different example of the first half of the operation | movement at the time of the execution of a material sharing start process at the time of starting sharing of a new material in the data distribution system by this invention. FIG. 22 is a flowchart for explaining a different example of the second half part following FIG. 21 of the operation at the time of executing the material sharing start process when starting the sharing of a new material in the data distribution system according to the present invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the first half of the operation | movement at the time of the page turning operation of the material in the data distribution system by this invention. FIG. 24 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the latter half part of FIG. 23 of the operation at the time of executing the page turning operation of the material in the data distribution system according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 User terminal 10 Data distribution system 100a, 100b Base 11 Material sharing execution module 2 Network 3 Data provision apparatus 31 Data file storage means 32 Session information acquisition means 33 Request processing means 4 Data cache apparatus 41 Request reception means 42 Relay data storage means 43 request transfer means 44 data transfer means 5 data prefetch device 51 data cache device management means 52 prefetch execution means 6 data distribution control device 61 request acceptance means 62 session information holding means 63 data acquisition instruction means 64 data information storage means 65 data prefetch control Means 66 Session information sending means

Claims (10)

  A data providing device for storing document data as a collection of independent slide data divided in units of pages, and sequentially distributing slide data of designated document data, between the data providing device and a client terminal And a data cache device that caches and stores slide data distributed from the data providing device, and a data prefetch device that causes the data cache device to cache the slide data of the specified document data and cache the data. The data pre-reading device or the terminal is a data distribution system, and performs a slide data acquisition request for collectively acquiring slide data of the material data before executing the material sharing to start sharing the material data between a plurality of terminals. To the data providing device to transmit the data cache. Data distribution system, characterized in that to cache the slide data of the document data prefetching in Interview device.   As the slide data acquisition request, instead of giving an instruction to collectively acquire slide data of designated material data before executing the material sharing, the sharing requesting the start of display of the slide data or before the data sharing is performed. Acquisition of slide data for a single page or multiple pages contained in the document data at the start of document display or when a page turning operation is requested to update the slide data to a new page The data distribution system according to claim 1, wherein:   When the data cache device receives the slide data acquisition request regarding the material data designated from the terminal, the date providing information of the slide data of the material data pre-cached in the data cache device is the data providing device. If the date and time information of the slide data of the material data stored in is newer or the same date and time, the slide data cached in the data cache device is sequentially transmitted to the terminal, and the new date or time is not the same or the same If it is not the date and time or the slide data of the material data is not cached, the slide data of the material data stored in the data providing device is cached in the data cache device and the terminal To send sequentially Data distribution system according to claim 1 or 2,.   The data distribution according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the slide data of the material data is configured as a single page of slide data by collecting a single page or a plurality of pages of the material data. system.   The data distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the data cache device is arranged for each of one or more of the terminals belonging to the same base.   The material data is stored as a collection of independent slide data divided in units of pages, and a data providing step for sequentially distributing the slide data of the designated material data, and the data providing step distributes the data to the client terminal. A slide data acquisition request that collects slide data of the material data in a batch before executing material sharing, which includes a data cache step for caching and storing slide data and starting sharing of the material data among a plurality of terminals Is issued, and all the slide data of the material data is pre-read and cached in advance.   As the slide data acquisition request, instead of giving an instruction to collectively acquire slide data of designated material data before executing the material sharing, the sharing requesting the start of display of the slide data or before the data sharing is performed. Acquisition of slide data for a single page or multiple pages contained in the document data at the start of document display or when a page turning operation is requested to update the slide data to a new page The data distribution method according to claim 6, further comprising:   The material data is stored as a collection of independent slide data divided in units of pages, the data providing step of sequentially distributing the slide data of the designated material data, and the data providing step distributes to the client terminal A slide data acquisition request that collects slide data of the relevant document data in a batch before executing the sharing of the material. Is issued, and all the slide data of the material data is prefetched and cached in advance.   As the slide data acquisition request, instead of giving an instruction to collectively acquire slide data of designated material data before executing the material sharing, the sharing requesting the start of display of the slide data or before the data sharing is performed. Acquisition of slide data for a single page or multiple pages contained in the document data at the start of document display or when a page turning operation is requested to update the slide data to a new page The data distribution program according to claim 8, wherein:   10. A program recording medium, wherein the data distribution program according to claim 8 or 9 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium.

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