JP2002314599A - Multicast information distribution control method and system, server and client - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] An object of the present invention is to provide a multicast information distribution control method and system capable of giving a trigger of a Join process or a Leave process in a client from a communication device other than the client. . A communication device other than the client transmits request information to the client according to a communication procedure other than a communication procedure related to multicast distribution of the information and is possible in the predetermined communication network. A multicast information distribution control method that performs the predetermined processing based on the request information received by the client, and enables the client to receive or end the reception of the information distributed by multicast from the server; and Achieved in the system.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multicast information distribution control method and system, and more particularly to a method for enabling a client to receive information to be multicast-distributed or for receiving the information at a client. The present invention relates to a multicast information distribution control method and system for ending.

[0002] The present invention also relates to a server serving as a source of information to be processed according to such a multicast information delivery control method and a client serving as a destination of the information.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a multicast-type information distribution system, a process for enabling a client to receive information to be multicast-distributed and a process for ending the reception of the information are performed as follows. You.

[0004] A client desiring to receive information distribution enters a state where it can receive information (packets) addressed to a multicast IP address corresponding to a multicast group (starts operation of receiving data addressed to a multicast IP address, and starts multicast IP addressing). Open the port with the port number corresponding to the address). Then, the client sends an IGMP (Internet Group Management) message to a router in the IP network to which the client is connected.
Protocol), and declares that the information (packet) addressed to the multicast IP address is received (Join). By the declaration (Join) of receiving the information addressed to the multicast IP address, the information addressed to the multicast IP address transferred to each router in the IP network can reach the client.

On the other hand, when terminating the reception of the information addressed to the multicast IP address at the client, the client cancels the state in which the information addressed to the multicast IP address can be received (multicast IP address).
The receiving operation of the data addressed to the address is terminated, and the port with the port number corresponding to the multicast IP address is closed. Then, the client declares to the router in the IP network to which it is connected that the reception of the information addressed to the multicast IP address according to IGMP is finished (Leave). Due to the declaration (Leave) of terminating the reception of the information addressed to the multicast IP address, the information addressed to the multicast IP address transferred to each router in the IP network does not reach the client.

[0006]

In the above-mentioned multicast type information distribution system, processing for enabling reception of information to be distributed by multicast at a client or termination of reception of the information at the client is completed. Of the process for this is always given in the client that receives the multicast distribution of the information. However, depending on the type of information to be multicast-distributed (urgent information, advertising information, information useful in a certain group, etc.), the client may receive the information or receive a trigger to terminate the reception. Giving in the client may not be appropriate.

For example, disaster information is information to be urgently distributed to a client regardless of whether the client is in a state where information can be received. In this case, it is preferable that the trigger of the process for enabling the client to receive the disaster information is given from the distribution source of the information.

[0008] Advertising information and the like relating to a service (a so-called time service) having a limited period (time) can be received by a client during the period, and
It is also useful for the advertiser and the client user to end the reception of the information at the client when the period ends. In this case, it is preferable that the trigger of the process for enabling the client to receive the information and the process for terminating the reception be given by the distribution source of the information.

Further, when one user notices useful information in a group to which a plurality of users belong, the communication terminal (client) of another user can receive the information. It is convenient for each user. In this case, it is preferable that a trigger for processing for enabling reception of the information at a communication terminal (client) of a certain user be given from a communication terminal of another user.

Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide a process for enabling a client to receive multicast-distributed information or a process for terminating the reception from a communication device other than the client. An object of the present invention is to provide a multicast information distribution control method and system that can be provided.

[0011] A second object of the present invention is to provide a server which is a distribution source of information for performing processing according to such a multicast information distribution control method.

Further, a third object of the present invention is to provide a client which is a distribution destination of information for performing processing in accordance with such a multicast information distribution control method.

[0013]

In order to solve the above-mentioned first problem, according to the present invention, according to the present invention, a predetermined process is performed, and a server performs multicast processing via a predetermined communication network. In an information distribution control method for a client that performs reception of information to be distributed or termination of the reception, a communication device other than the client transmits to the predetermined communication network except for a communication procedure related to multicast distribution of the information. Transmitting request information to the client according to a possible communication procedure, performing the predetermined process based on the request information received by the client, and receiving or multicasting the information distributed by the client from the server. It is configured to end reception.

In such a multicast information distribution control method, the client performs the above-described predetermined processing based on request information transmitted from a communication device other than the client, and receives the information distributed by multicast from the server or terminates the reception. Becomes possible.

The predetermined communication network is not particularly limited as long as it is capable of multicast distribution of information and information transfer according to a communication procedure other than the communication procedure related to the multicast distribution.

The predetermined process is a process for enabling reception of information to be multicast-distributed or termination of the reception. For example, in the case of multicast distribution of information according to an IP communication procedure, a multicast IP address To the IP router to distribute information addressed to the multicast IP address (Join), and a declaration to end reception of information addressed to the multicast IP address (Leave).

According to the present invention, in view of the fact that a server serving as a distribution source of information to be multicast-distributed can give an opportunity for the predetermined processing in a client,
As described in the above, in the information distribution control method,
The request signal may be transmitted to the client from a server that distributes information.

In addition, from the viewpoint of applying the present invention to a case where information is multicast-distributed to a mobile device serving as a client, the present invention provides the above-mentioned multicast distribution control method, wherein the predetermined communication network is a network related to a mobile communication system. The request information may be transmitted from the communication device to the mobile device serving as the client according to a communication procedure of a Short Message Service (SMS) provided by the mobile communication system.

From the viewpoint that the reception of the information to be distributed by multicast or the termination of the reception can be determined by the client user's intention, the present invention provides the above-mentioned multicast distribution control according to claim 4. The method may be configured such that, when a predetermined operation is performed on a client that has received the request information, the predetermined processing based on the request information is started.

In such a multicast distribution control method, when the client user performs the predetermined operation,
The predetermined processing based on the request information is started.
That is, by the predetermined operation, it is possible to determine whether the client receives information to be multicast-distributed or ends the reception.

[0021] In order to solve the first problem, the present invention performs a predetermined process to receive information distributed by multicast from a server via a predetermined communication network. Alternatively, in a multicast information distribution control system for a client that terminates the reception, transmitting request information to the client according to a communication procedure other than the communication procedure relating to the multicast distribution of the information and possible in the predetermined communication network. And the client has a processing control means for performing the predetermined processing based on the request information received by the client,
The predetermined processing is configured so that the client can receive or end the reception of the information distributed by multicast from the server.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus which performs a predetermined process and performs multicast distribution from a server via a predetermined communication network. Request information generating means for generating request information including information necessary for enabling the above-described predetermined processing in the client in the server in the multicast information distribution control system for the client that receives or terminates the reception And a request for transmitting the request information to the client according to a communication procedure other than the communication procedure related to the multicast distribution of the information and generated by the request information generation means, which is possible in the predetermined communication network. Information transmission control means, the client receiving the request information, Performing a constant process, configured to allow the reception or completion of reception of the information to be multicast distribution.

Further, in order to solve the third problem, the present invention provides an information processing apparatus which performs a predetermined process and performs multicast distribution from a server via a predetermined communication network. Is transmitted from a communication device other than the client according to a communication procedure other than the communication procedure related to the multicast distribution of the information and possible in the predetermined communication network. Request information obtaining means for obtaining request information; and processing control means for performing the predetermined processing based on the request information obtained by the request information obtaining means. It is configured to be able to receive or end the reception of information distributed by multicast.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

A system to which a multicast information distribution control method and system according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied is configured, for example, as shown in FIG. In this example, in a mobile communication system, multicasting of information from a server serving as an information distribution source to a mobile device serving as a client (a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a PC terminal connected to a mobile phone, or the like). Delivery is made.

In FIG. 1, mobile communication system 100
Is a transmission network 50 and a plurality of radio base stations 2
, 20 _n , 0 ₁ , 20 ₂ , 20 ₃ ,. Then, the server 10 as a source of information is connected to the transmission network 50. The transmission network 50 has a plurality of IP routers connected to each other via a communication path. Its multiple IP routers, which includes the IP router having a communication control function, the IP router to the wireless base station 20 ₁ to 20 _n having the communication control function
Is connected. The information (packet) addressed to the mobile device 30 transmitted from the server 10 is sequentially transferred to each IP router in the transmission network 50 according to a predetermined routing procedure (multicast routing procedure, unicast routing procedure, etc.). And
Information arriving at an IP router having a wireless communication control function is stored in a wireless base station 20 _i (i
Is transmitted from any of 1,..., N) to the mobile device 30.

The server 10 has a multicast application 11, a multicast management unit 12, a communication control device 12, and a storage device 14. The multicast application 11 performs a process for performing multicast distribution of information stored in the storage device 14 to the mobile device 30 as a client. In response to a request from the multicast application 11, the multicast management unit 12 performs control (Join) for enabling the mobile device 30 to receive information to be multicast-distributed, or control for terminating the reception (Join). It creates a Join / Leave request message for giving an opportunity of “Leave”, and controls transmission of the message to the mobile device 30. This transmission control is performed in accordance with a communication procedure that can be provided by the mobile communication system 100 other than the IP communication procedure used when performing multicast distribution of information (packets).
For example, the mobile communication system 100 is provided with the SMS (Short Message Service) or the mobile communication system 100 which can be provided in the control information required when the mobile device 30 establishes a bearer (communication path) in the mobile communication system 100. The transmission control can be performed according to the control communication protocol. When a bearer (communication path) is already established, transmission of the Join / Leave request message to the mobile device 30 can be controlled according to a unicast routing procedure.

The communication control device 13 controls communication of the server 10 in the mobile communication system 100. In particular,
Based on an instruction from the multicast application 11, control is performed to send information (packets) addressed to the multicast IP address to the transmission network 50. Further, the communication control device 13 transmits a Join / Leave request message to the mobile device 30 according to the above-described transmission control by the multicast management unit 12. Further, the communication control device 13 communicates with a content server and an advertisement information server on the Internet via the gateway 150 to acquire information to be distributed. Then, the information to be distributed is stored in the storage device 14 by the multicast application 11.

The mobile communication system 10 having the above configuration
0, the mobile device 30 serving as a client receives information multicast-distributed from the server 10 and performs processing for enabling reception of the information multicast-distributed (hereinafter, referred to as a conventional system). Join
Processing). In addition, the mobile device 30
It is necessary to perform a process for terminating the reception of the information (hereinafter referred to as a leave process), similarly to the conventional system, in order to terminate the reception of the information thus received.

Server 1 for multicast distribution of information
0 indicates that the information is to be delivered to the mobile device 30 serving as a client to give an opportunity for the Join processing in the mobile device 30 or that the information needs to be delivered to the mobile device 30. When it is gone, the mobile device 3
In order to give an opportunity for the Leave processing at 0, a Join / Leave request message as described later is transmitted to the mobile station 30 as the client. The processing for transmitting the Join / Leave request message to the client is performed as follows.

First, the multicast application 1
1 is a mobile device 30 serving as a client having a distribution contract with distribution information (for example, disaster information, advertisement information, etc.).
When receiving or stopping the reception, Jo for the mobile device 30 including the following information is performed.
An in / Leave request is transmitted to the multicast management unit 12.

1) Client address This is an address for specifying a client required in a communication procedure (out-of-band communication procedure) adopted in the transmission control of the Join / Leave request message performed by the multicast management unit 12. MSISDN (telephone number), SMS address, etc.).

2) Multicast IP address This is a multicast IP address to which the mobile station 30 as a client should newly declare the reception of information (Join) or the end of reception (Leave).

3) Port number This is a port number at which the mobile station 30 serving as a client should start a new reception standby or a port number at which the reception standby should end.

4) Join / Leave identifier This is because the Join / Leave request message is a Join request and a Join request.
This is an identifier for identifying any of the Leave requests.

5) Server Address This is the IP address of the server 10 from which the information to be multicast-distributed is distributed.

6) User Confirmation Identifier This is to identify whether the Join / Leave request message is forcibly accepted by the mobile station 30 as a client, or whether the request message is accepted by a user's selection operation. An identifier. If this identifier is ON, the mobile device 30 serving as a client
When this Join / Leave request message is received, the request message is automatically accepted, and processing according to the message is performed. Also, if this identifier is OFF,
Upon receiving the Join / Leave request message, the mobile device 30 serving as a client reports (displays, etc.) that fact to the user, and leaves the selection of whether to accept the request message to the user operation. Then, when the user performs a selection operation to accept the request message,
The mobile device 30 performs a process according to the request message.

7) User Inquiry Message This is a message for notifying the user of information to distribute information (disaster information, advertisement information, etc.). Also,
An arbitrary character string (message) can be included in this message by an input operation on the server 10.

Next, the multicast management unit 12 performs processing according to the procedure shown in FIG. 2, for example.

In FIG. 2, the multicast management unit 12
Receives a Join / Leave request including the above information 1) to 7) from the multicast application 11 (S1), and creates a Join / Leave request message based on the information 1) to 7) (S2). . This Join / Leave request message is a communication procedure adopted by the multicast management unit 12 that is different from the multicast distribution communication procedure (IP communication procedure), for example, an SMS (Short Message Service).
The format of the message to be transmitted according to the communication procedure of e).

The format of the message transmitted according to the SMS communication procedure is, for example, as shown in FIG.
It consists of a control information part for Join / Leave request message and a message part. The control information section includes the above-mentioned 1) client address (for example, telephone number: 090-12
34-5678) 2) Multicast IP address (for example, 226.0.0.
1) 3) Port number (for example, 40124) 4) Join / Leave identifier (for example, Join) 5) Server address (for example, 192.0.0.1) 6) User confirmation identifier (for example, OFF) is included. The message part includes the above 7) user confirmation inquiry message (for example, "Emergency earthquake information").

Join / Leave having such a format
When the request message is created, the multicast management unit 12 transmits the Join / Leave request message to the mobile device 30 specified by the client address (for example, telephone number: 090-1234-5678) according to the SMS communication procedure. Control is performed (S3). Then, the Join / Leave request message is transmitted to the mobile device 30 by the communication control device 13 according to the transmission control. This communication control device 1
Join / Leave request message transmitted from the 3 is transmitted to the mobile communication system 100 according to the SMS communication procedure, the radio base station the mobile station 30 performs wireless communication, for example, the mobile station from the radio base station 20 ₁ 30.

On the other hand, the mobile device 30 serving as a client
The processing is performed according to the procedure shown in FIG.

In FIG. 4, the mobile station 30 operates as described above according to the SMS communication procedure.
When a message transmitted within 0 is received (S11),
Referring to the control header used in the SMS, it is determined whether the received message is a normal mail addressed to the user or a Join / Leave request message as described above (S12). If it is determined that the received message is a message addressed to the user, the mobile station 3
0 performs normal SMS reception processing (mail reception processing) (S13).

On the other hand, when it is determined that the received message is a Join / Leave request message as described above, the mobile station 30 determines based on the user confirmation identifier in the control information section of the Join / Leave request message. , That Join / Lea
ve request message is determined (S1).
4). When the identifier is in the ON state, the mobile device 30
It is determined that the Join / Leave request message is accepted. On the other hand, if the identifier is in the OFF state, the mobile device 30 displays an indication that the Join / Leave request message has been received and a user confirmation inquiry message (for example, “Earthquake information”) included in the message portion. Display. Then, the mobile device 30 determines which of the operations for accepting or not accepting the Join / Leave request message is performed by the user. When the user performs an operation for accepting the message, the mobile device 30 sets the Join / Lea
It is determined that the ve request message is accepted.

Note that the mobile device 30 can also set in advance a mode for forcibly accepting the Join / Leave request message. In this case, if the identifier is in the OFF state, the Jo is determined based on whether the mode is set.
It is determined whether to accept the in / Leave request message.

When it is determined that the Join / Leave request message is accepted as described above, the mobile station 30
Determines whether a bearer (communication path) for the mobile device 30 is already established in the transmission network 50 (S15). If the bearer for the mobile device 30 has not been established, the mobile device 30 performs a process for establishing the bearer (S16), and if the bearer has already been established. In step S17, a join process or a leave process is directly performed according to the received join / leave request message.

For example, if the Join / Leave identifier of the control information section in the Join / Leave request message is “Join”,
The mobile device 30 performs a Join process. That is, the Join / Leave
In order to be able to receive the information addressed to the multicast IP address (for example, 226.0.0.1) included in the request message, the multicast IP address is set and the port of the port number included in the Join / Leave request message is opened. To And the mobile device 30
The radio base station 20 ₁ for the mobile unit 30 and wireless communication
To the IP router in the transmission network 50 connected to the IP address according to the IGMP, and declares that the information addressed to the multicast IP address is received (Join).

On the other hand, if the Join / Leave identifier of the control information part in the Join / Leave request message is “Leave”,
The mobile device 30 performs a Leave process. That is, the Join / Leav
In order to cancel the state in which information addressed to the multicast IP address included in the e-request message can be received, the multicast I
The setting of the P address is canceled, and the port of the port number included in the Join / Leave request message is closed. Then, the mobile station 30, to IP routers in transmission network 50 connected to the radio base station 20 ₁ for the mobile unit 30 and wireless communications, it ends the reception of the information of the multicast IP address destined according IGMP (Leave).

In the above-described processing, the mobile station 30
Receives a Join / Leave request message and if the user takes action to reject the request message (if the user does not want to receive the information distribution or end the reception), the request message is accepted It is determined that there is no data (see S14), and the above process ends.

According to the multicast information distribution control method in the mobile communication system 100 as described above, the trigger of the Join processing or the Leave processing to be performed in the mobile station 30 is transmitted from the server 10 which is the multicast distribution source of the information to the SMS. It is given in a Join / Leave request message transmitted according to the communication procedure. Therefore, it becomes possible for the server 10 that is the distribution source to take initiative to receive the disaster information, the advertisement information, and the like, which are distributed by multicast, to be received by the mobile device 30 that is the client, or to terminate the reception.

In the above example, the Join processing or the Leave processing performed by the mobile device 30 serving as the client is started based on the Join / Leave request message from the server 10 serving as the information distribution source. But that Jo
The source of the in / Leave request message is not limited to the server 10 serving as the information distribution source. For example, other communication terminals (mobile device, PC
Terminal, etc.) to the mobile device 30 by, for example, SMS
It is also possible to transmit the Join / Leave request message in accordance with the communication procedure described above. In this case, a trigger of the Join processing or the Leave processing in the mobile device 30 serving as a client can be given from another communication terminal.

In the above example, the mobile station 3 serving as a client from the server 10 in the mobile communication system is used.
Although the multicast distribution of information to 0 has been described, the process described above (application of the multicast information distribution control method according to the present invention) is possible even when the client is a fixed device (such as a PC terminal).

In each of the above examples, S12 and S12 shown in FIG.
The processes in S14, S15, S16, and S17 correspond to start control means (operation response start control means). The processing in S1 and S2 shown in FIG.
The processing in 3 corresponds to the request information transmission control means. Furthermore,
The process in S11 shown in FIG. 4 corresponds to a request information acquisition unit.

[0055]

As described above, claims 1 to 8 have been described.
According to the present invention described above, the client performs the predetermined processing based on the request information transmitted from the communication device other than the client, and can receive the information distributed by multicast from the server or end the reception. . Therefore, there is provided a multicast information distribution control method and system capable of giving a trigger of a process for enabling a client to receive information to be multicast-distributed or a process for terminating the reception from a communication device other than the client. Can be realized.

According to the ninth or tenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to realize a server that is a source of information that performs processing according to the above-described multicast information distribution control method.

Further, according to the present invention as set forth in claims 11 to 13, it becomes possible to realize a client to which information to be processed according to the above-described multicast information distribution control method is to be distributed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a mobile communication system to which a multicast information distribution control method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for transmitting a Join / Leave request message.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a format of a Join / Leave request message.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing in a client that has received a Join / Leave request message.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 server 20 ₁ , 20 ₂ ,..., 20 _n radio base station 30 mobile station (client) 50 transmission network 100 mobile communication system 150 gateway

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Norihiro Ishikawa 2-1-1-1, Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo F-term in NTT DoCoMo, Inc. (reference) 5B089 GA04 GA25 GB01 HB10 JA33 JB10 KE02 KE03 KE07 KG10 5K030 HA08 JL01 LD06 5K033 BA13 CC01 DA17 5K034 BB07 DD02 FF01 FF13 HH01 HH02

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A multicast information distribution control method for a client which performs predetermined processing and receives or terminates information distributed by multicast from a server via a predetermined communication network. From the communication device, transmitting request information to the client according to a communication procedure other than the communication procedure related to the multicast distribution of the information and possible in the predetermined communication network, and in the client, based on the request information received A multicast information distribution control method, wherein the client performs the predetermined processing, and the client can receive or end the reception of the information distributed by multicast from the server. 2. The multicast information distribution control method according to claim 1, wherein said request information is transmitted to said client from a server as an information distribution source. 3. The multicast distribution control method according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined communication network is a network relating to a mobile communication system, and said communication device provides a short message service (SMS) provided by said mobile communication system. : Short Message Serv
a multicast information distribution control method for transmitting the request information to the mobile station serving as the client in accordance with the communication procedure of (Ic). 4. The multicast distribution control method according to claim 1, wherein when a predetermined operation is performed on a client receiving the request information, the predetermined processing is started based on the request information. Multicast information distribution control method. 5. A multicast information distribution control system for a client that performs predetermined processing and receives or terminates information distributed from a server via a predetermined communication network, comprising: A communication device that transmits request information to the client in accordance with a communication procedure that is possible in the predetermined communication network other than the communication procedure related to the distribution, and the client transmits the request information to the request information received by the client. A multicast information distribution control system having processing control means for performing the predetermined processing based on the predetermined processing, whereby the client can receive or end the reception of the information distributed by multicast from the server by the predetermined processing. . 6. The multicast information distribution control system according to claim 5, wherein the communication device transmitting the request information to the client is a server serving as an information distribution source. 7. The multicast distribution control system according to claim 5, wherein said predetermined communication network is a network related to a mobile communication system, and said communication device is a short message service provided by said mobile communication system. SMS: Short Message Serv
a multicast distribution control system for transmitting the request information to the mobile station serving as the client in accordance with the communication procedure of (i). 8. The multicast distribution control system according to claim 5, wherein said processing control means, when a predetermined operation is performed on a client receiving said request information, based on said request information. A multicast distribution control system configured to start the predetermined processing. 9. A server in a multicast information distribution control system for a client which performs predetermined processing and receives or terminates information distributed by multicast from a server via a predetermined communication network. Request information generating means for generating request information including information necessary to enable the predetermined processing in the communication, and transmitting the request information generated by the request information generating means to a multicast distribution of the information. Request information transmission control means for transmitting request information to the client in accordance with a communication procedure other than the procedure and possible in the predetermined communication network, wherein the client receiving the request information performs Performs a predetermined process to receive the information to be multicast-distributed or to terminate the reception. Server that was to allow the. 10. The server according to claim 9, wherein said predetermined communication network is a network relating to a mobile communication system, and said request information transmission control means includes a short message service (SMS) provided by said mobile communication system. Mess
age Service) A server that sends the request information to the client mobile station according to the communication procedure. 11. A client capable of performing predetermined processing and receiving or ending reception of information multicast-distributed from a server via a predetermined communication network. Request information acquiring means for acquiring request information transmitted according to a communication procedure possible in the predetermined communication network other than the communication procedure related to the multicast distribution of the above, and the request information acquired by the request information acquiring means A client which has processing control means for performing the above-mentioned predetermined processing based on the predetermined processing, and which can receive the information distributed by multicast from the above-mentioned server or terminate the reception by the predetermined processing. 12. The client according to claim 11, wherein said predetermined communication network is a network relating to a mobile communication system, and said request information obtaining means is a short message service provided by said mobile communication system from said communication device. (S
MS: a client that acquires the request information transmitted according to the communication procedure of Short Message Service. 13. The client according to claim 11, wherein the processing control means is configured to perform a predetermined operation on the client after the request information is obtained by the request information obtaining means. A client for starting the predetermined process based on the request information.