JP2003208376A - Computer program, recording medium, computer and data transmission method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a computer program, a recording medium, a computer and a data transmission method by which a load to be imposed on the computer can be relieved by preventing concentration of data transmission/reception. <P>SOLUTION: A program for making a user terminal 20 realize a function of promoting selection of a prescribed time range to a user, a function of determining download request timing to a contents server 10 by random numbers within the selected time range and a function of transmitting download request information to the contents server 10 according to the determined download request timing is installed in the user terminal 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer program, a recording medium, a computer and a data transmitting method capable of transmitting data at a predetermined timing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, devices capable of connecting to the Internet have rapidly spread, and such devices can access a desired server via the Internet as a client. In the past, a client's access to a server was often triggered by a user's action, but with the diversification of services, the client automatically triggers a timer-based action to connect to the Internet. , Access to the server has started to take place.

[0003]

However, when the access timings of a large number of clients overlap with one server (including a server group composed of a plurality of servers. The same applies to the following), the access to that server is concentrated at the same time. Then, the load becomes excessive and the server may go down in some cases. In particular, in a dedicated client application in which the server to be accessed is fixed, the access timing to the server is likely to be uniquely fixed, so that access to the server is concentrated.

Even when the user is required to specify the access timing to the server of the client application, the user tends to specify the hour on the hour or a good time such as 15 minutes or 30 minutes. It is easy to concentrate access to the server at various times.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a computer program, a recording medium, a computer and a data transmission method capable of preventing the concentration of data transmission and reception and reducing the load on the computer. The purpose is to provide.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, firstly, the present invention provides a function of determining a data transmission timing by a random number and a predetermined data to a predetermined computer according to the determined data transmission timing. A program capable of causing a computer to realize the function of transmitting data (claim 1), means for determining a data transmission timing by a random number, and means for transmitting predetermined data to a predetermined computer in accordance with the determined data transmission timing. A computer characterized by being provided (claim 6); and a step of determining a data transmission timing by a random number, and a step of transmitting predetermined data to a predetermined computer according to the determined data transmission timing. A characteristic data transmission method (claim 10) is provided.

The "data transmission timing" can be exemplified by the data transmission time, but is not limited to this. Examples of the “predetermined data” include information request data for the server, electronic mail, content data, and the like.

The "predetermined computer" and the "computer" may each be a client or a server. As a client, a device connectable to a network, for example, a personal computer connectable to a network such as the Internet, a mobile phone terminal, a mobile phone terminal such as a PHS (Personal Handy Phone System) terminal, or a PDA (Personal Digit) is used.
Examples of the type of server include a WWW (World Assistant).
Wide Web) server, mail server, application server and the like.

According to the above inventions (claims 1, 6 and 10), since the data transmission timing is determined by a random number,
The data transmission timing can be randomly distributed, and therefore, the load on the computer on the data receiving side or the data transmitting side can be reduced.

Secondly, the present invention provides a function of prompting the user to select a predetermined time range, and a function of determining a data transmission timing by a random number within the selected time range.
A program capable of causing a computer to realize a function of transmitting predetermined data to a predetermined computer in accordance with the determined data transmission timing (claim 2),
Means for urging the user to select a predetermined time range, means for determining a data transmission timing by a random number within the selected time range, and means for transmitting predetermined data to a predetermined computer in accordance with the determined data transmission timing. And a step of urging a user to select a predetermined time range, a step of deciding a data transmission timing by a random number within the selected time range, And a step of transmitting predetermined data to a predetermined computer according to the determined data transmission timing, the data transmission method (claim 11) is provided.

The "predetermined time range" is, for example, 1
Hourly hour, hourly hour, etc., every hour, or from 6 o'clock
It may be a time range over a plurality of hours such as 12:00, 12:00 to 15:00, or may be a day.

According to the above inventions (claims 2, 7, and 11), the data transmission timing is determined by a random number.
The data transmission timing can be randomly distributed, and therefore, the load on the computer on the data receiving side or the data transmitting side can be reduced. Also, for the user, regarding the data transmission timing,
There is an advantage that a desired time range can be selected.

Thirdly, the present invention provides a computer having a function of determining a data transmission timing according to a time when a predetermined event occurs, and a function of transmitting predetermined data to a predetermined computer according to the determined data transmission timing. And a means for determining a data transmission timing according to a time when a predetermined event occurs, and a means for transmitting predetermined data to a predetermined computer according to the determined data transmission timing. And a step of determining a data transmission timing according to a time when a predetermined event occurs, and a predetermined computer transmitting predetermined data according to the determined data transmission timing. And a step of sending the Provides a data transmission method (claim 12).

The "time when a predetermined event occurs" may be, for example, a time when a predetermined button is clicked on a predetermined screen, but is not limited to this.

According to the above inventions (claims 3, 8 and 12), the data transmission timing is determined according to the time when a predetermined event occurs, so that the data transmission timing can be randomly distributed. It is possible to reduce the load on the computer on the data receiving side or the data transmitting side.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is a function of prompting a user to select a predetermined time range, a function of determining a data transmission timing according to the time when the selection is performed, and a predetermined value according to the determined data transmission timing. A program capable of causing a computer to realize the function of transmitting the data of the above to a predetermined computer (claim 4), means for prompting the user to select a predetermined time range, and data depending on the time when the selection is made. A computer (claim 9) comprising means for determining a transmission timing and means for transmitting predetermined data to a predetermined computer in accordance with the determined data transmission timing, and a user within a predetermined time range. A step of prompting a selection, a step of determining a data transmission timing according to a time when the selection is made, Data transmission method characterized by comprising a step of transmitting a predetermined data to a predetermined computer following data transmission timing (claim 1
3).

According to the above inventions (claims 4, 9 and 13), the data transmission timing is determined according to the time when a predetermined event occurs, so that the data transmission timing can be randomly distributed. It is possible to reduce the load on the computer on the data receiving side or the data transmitting side. In addition, the user has the advantage of being able to select a desired time range for the data transmission timing.

Fifth, the present invention provides a computer-readable recording medium in which the program (claims 1 to 4) is recorded (claim 5). As the type of "recording medium",
For example, magnetic media (hard disk, magnetic disk, floppy (registered trademark) disk, magnetic tape, magnetic card, etc.), optical medium (compact disk, DVD (Digita)
l Versatile Disc), laser disc (registered trademark) and other optical discs), magneto-optical medium (MO (Magnet Optical))
There is a magneto-optical disk such as a disk), or various semiconductor memories, but it is not particularly limited.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In describing the embodiments of the present invention, the first to third embodiments will exemplify a content distribution system, and the fourth embodiment will exemplify an e-mail generation / distribution system. It is not limited to the system form.

[First Embodiment] A content distribution system according to a first embodiment of the present invention is a system for distributing a predetermined content from a server to a client at a predetermined timing. As shown in FIG. 1, the content distribution system according to the present embodiment is composed of a content server 10 and a plurality of user terminals 20 that are respectively connected via the Internet.

The content server 10 is an ordinary WWW server, stores predetermined content, and is provided with a program for transmitting the content to the client when the client requests the download of the content. .

The user terminal 20 is a device that can be connected to the Internet, and in the present embodiment, an ordinary personal computer that can be connected to the Internet will be taken as an example.

The main configuration of the user terminal 20 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the user terminal 20 includes a main control device 21, a storage device 22, a communication control device 23, an input device 24, and an output device 25.

The main controller 21 is composed of a CPU, a main storage device (memory), etc., and controls each device, transfers data, performs various calculations, temporarily stores data, and the like.
The storage device 22 is composed of a hard disk device or the like,
A program for acquiring / maintaining the current time, an application program 221 for requesting the download of contents at a predetermined timing, and the like are stored. The communication control device 23 is composed of a modem, a terminal adapter or the like, and controls connection to the Internet, data communication with a server, and the like. The input device 24 is composed of a keyboard and a mouse, and the output device 25 is composed of a display device.

The processing operation of the user terminal 20 regarding the application program 221 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when the software related to the application program 221 is started up in the user terminal 20, the main control unit 21 of the user terminal 20 is set in FIG.
The download time setting screen 30 as illustrated in FIG. 2 is displayed on the display device which is the output device 25 (SU10.
1).

On the download time setting screen 30 illustrated in FIG. 4, hour display 31 for each hour from 0 o'clock to 23:00, and a check box 32 provided on the left side of each time display 31, A click button (OK button) 33 displayed as OK is included.

In this state, the main control unit 21 of the user terminal 20 determines whether or not a predetermined time is selected, that is, the check box 32 is checked and the OK button 33 is selected.
It is determined whether or not is clicked (SU102).

The user selects the download time setting screen 30.
When a check box 32 of a desired time is checked with the mouse pointer using the mouse which is the input device 24 and the OK button 33 is clicked,
The main control device 21 of the user terminal 20 stores the checked time in the memory, generates a random number from an integer from 0 to 59, and sets the generated random number as a minute (S
U103). Then, the main controller 21 of the user terminal 20
Sets the time stored in the memory and the number determined by the random number as the time of the download timing and stores it in the storage device 22 (SU104).

Next, the main controller 21 of the user terminal 20.
Judges whether or not the current time is the set time of the download timing (SU105), and when it is judged that the set time has come, transmits the content download request information to the content server 10 (SU106). Note that the IP address of the content server 10 is described in the application program 221.

The content server 10 includes a user terminal 20.
When the download request information is received from, the data of the content to be transmitted is read and transmitted to the user terminal 20. When the main control device 21 of the user terminal 20 receives the data of the content and stores it in the storage device 22 (SU107), it displays new arrival information indicating that new content has been downloaded on the display device of the user terminal 20 (SU108). ).

According to the application program 221 that causes the user terminals 20 to perform the above processing operations, the timing at which each user terminal 20 accesses the content server 10 (transmits download request information) is randomly distributed by random numbers. It is possible to prevent the content server 10 from going down due to concentrated access.

Second Embodiment In the first embodiment, as the application program 221 installed in the user terminal 20, an application program 221 that allows the user to select an hourly time for content download timing is taken as an example. However, in the second embodiment,
As the application program 222 installed in the user terminal 20, an application program 222 that allows the user to select a time range over a plurality of hours for the content download timing will be described as an example. The configuration of the content distribution system according to the second embodiment is the same as the configuration of the content distribution system according to the first embodiment except that the application program installed in the user terminal 20 is different.

The processing operation of the user terminal 20 relating to the application program 222 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when the software related to the application program 222 is started up in the user terminal 20, the main control unit 21 of the user terminal 20 is set in FIG.
The download time setting screen 40 as illustrated in FIG. 2 is displayed on the display device which is the output device 25 (SU10
1).

On the download time setting screen 40 illustrated in FIG. 5, 0:00 to 6:00, 6:00 to 12:00, 12:00 to 15
Hours, 15:00 to 18:00 and 18:00 to 24:00, a time range 41 displayed, a check box 42 provided on the left side of each time range 41, and a click button (OK button) 43 displayed as OK. And are included.

In this state, the main control unit 21 of the user terminal 20 determines whether or not a predetermined time range is selected, that is, whether or not the check box 42 is checked and the OK button 43 is clicked. (SU10
2).

The user selects the download time setting screen 40.
When a check box 42 of a desired time is checked with a mouse pointer using the mouse which is the input device 24 and the OK button 43 is clicked,
The main control device 21 of the user terminal 20 stores the first time of the checked time range in the memory, and
A random number is generated from a number from 0 to 1.0, the generated random number is multiplied by the minutes in the selected time range, and the obtained number is set as the minutes from the first time (SU103). Then, the main control device 21 of the user terminal 20 sets the sum of the first time stored in the memory and the amount determined by the random number as the time of the download timing, and stores it in the storage device 22 (SU104).

For example, when the user selects the time range from 6:00 to 12:00 and the random number is 0.4, the selected time range has 360 minutes, which is multiplied by 0.4 to obtain 1
It becomes 44 (minutes). When 144 minutes is added at 6 o'clock which is the first time of the selected time range, it becomes 8:24, which is set as the time of the download timing.

User terminal 20 after step SU104
The processing operation of step S is the step S in the first embodiment.
It is similar to U105 to SU108.

[Third Embodiment] In the first and second embodiments, random numbers are used as the application programs 221 and 222 installed in the user terminal 20 to determine the download timing of contents. The explanation was given by taking the thing to be done as an example.
In the embodiment, the application program 223 installed in the user terminal 20 will be described as an example in which the time when a predetermined event occurs is used to determine the download timing of the content. The configuration of the content delivery system according to the third embodiment is the same as the configuration of the content delivery system according to the first embodiment except that the application program installed in the user terminal 20 is different.

The processing operation of the user terminal 20 regarding the application program 223 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when the software related to the application program 223 is started up in the user terminal 20, the main control unit 21 of the user terminal 20 is set in FIG.
The download time setting screen 30 as illustrated in FIG. 2 is displayed on the display device which is the output device 25 (SU20.
1).

In this state, the main control unit 21 of the user terminal 20 determines whether or not a predetermined time is selected, that is, the check box 32 is checked and the OK button 33 is selected.
It is determined whether or not is clicked (SU202).

The user selects the download time setting screen 30.
When a check box 32 of a desired time is checked with the mouse pointer using the mouse which is the input device 24 and the OK button 33 is clicked,
The main control device 21 of the user terminal 20 stores the checked time in the memory and acquires the minute of the time when the OK button 33 is clicked (SU.
203). Then, the main controller 21 of the user terminal 20
Sets the minutes acquired from the time stored in the memory and the time when the click is made, as the time of the download timing, and stores it in the storage device 22 (SU204).

User terminal 20 after step SU204
The processing operation (steps SU205 to SU208) is performed in steps SU105 to SU1 in the first embodiment.
The same as 08.

According to the application program 223 that causes the user terminals 20 to perform the above processing operations, the timing at which each user terminal 20 accesses the content server 10 (transmits download request information) is randomly distributed according to the action of each user. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the content server 10 from going down due to concentrated access.

[Fourth Embodiment] An electronic mail generation / transmission system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention generates an electronic mail having different contents for each user in a server at a predetermined timing, and mail addresses of the respective users. It is a system to send to. As such an electronic mail, for example, when a product including a predetermined keyword is put up for sale in an auction on the Internet, an electronic mail as an alert notifying that the product is put up can be exemplified.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic mail generating / transmitting system according to the present embodiment is composed of a content server 10 and a plurality of user terminals 20 each connected via the Internet. There is a mail server for 20 user mail addresses.

The content server 10 includes a main controller and
The storage device includes a storage device and a communication control device. The storage device is a program for acquiring / maintaining the current time, a program for transmitting a predetermined screen in response to a request from the client, and an electronic device based on information received from the client. A program for setting the time of mail generation / transmission, a program for generating and transmitting an electronic mail based on a request from a client at a set time, and the like are stored. In the present embodiment, the content server 10 is composed of one server machine, but of course, it may be composed of a plurality of server machines (for example, WWW server, mail server, database server, application server, etc.).

The user terminal 20 is a device that can be connected to the Internet, and in the present embodiment, an ordinary personal computer that can be connected to the Internet will be taken as an example. The configuration of the user terminal 20 is the same as the configuration of the user terminal 20 in the first embodiment.

The processing operation of the content server 10 and the user terminal 20 in the electronic mail generating / transmitting system will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the user requests a mail transmission setting screen from the user terminal 20 to the content server 10 via the Internet, the main control unit 2 of the user terminal 20.
1 transmits the setting screen request information to the content server 10 (SU301).

The main control unit of the content server 10 receives the setting screen request information (SC101) and sends the data of the mail transmission setting screen to the user terminal 20 (SC102). The mail transmission setting screen 50 as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the display device of the user terminal 20 which has received the screen data (SU302).

As shown in FIG. 8, the mail transmission setting screen 5
0 includes a pull-down menu 51 for selecting a mail transmission time, a text box 52 for inputting a mail address, and a click button (OK button) 53 displayed as OK. In the pull-down menu 51, it is possible to select from 0 o'clock to 23 o'clock with a mouse pointer.

On the mail transmission setting screen 50, the user selects a desired time from the pull-down menu 51 with the mouse pointer of the user terminal 20 and inputs the mail address in the text box 52 with the keyboard,
When the OK button 33 is clicked with the mouse pointer, the main controller 21 of the user terminal 20 sends the data including the selected time and the mail address to the content server 1.
It is transmitted to 0 (SU303).

Upon receiving the above data, the main control unit of the contents server 10 stores the selected time and mail address in the memory (SC103). Then, the main control device of the content server 10 generates a random number from an integer from 0 to 59, and uses the generated random number as a minute (SC
104), then, the time stored in the memory and the minutes determined by the random number are set as the time of mail transmission, and stored in the storage device in association with the mail address (SC1).
05).

Next, the main control unit of the contents server 10 judges whether or not the current time is the set time for mail transmission (SC106), and when it is judged that the set time has come, an electronic mail having a predetermined content is sent. Is generated (SC107),
For the email address associated with the set time,
The generated e-mail is transmitted (SC108). The user terminal 20 receives the e-mail via the mail server (SU304).

According to the above-described e-mail generation / transmission system, the timing at which the content server 10 generates / sends e-mails having different contents for each user is randomly distributed by random numbers, so that the load on the content server 10 is reduced. To be done.

The embodiments described above are described for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, but not for limiting the present invention. Therefore, each element disclosed in the above embodiments is intended to include all design changes and equivalents within the technical scope of the present invention.

For example, in the fourth embodiment, the mail generation / transmission timing may be dispersed in a time range over a plurality of hours as in the second embodiment, or as in the third embodiment, random numbers are generated. Instead, the time when a predetermined event occurs may be used to determine the mail generation / transmission timing.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention, the concentration of data transmission / reception can be prevented and the load on the computer can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a content distribution system (or an email generation / transmission system) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a user terminal according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing operation of a user terminal in the first embodiment and the second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a download time setting screen in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a download time setting screen in the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing operation of a user terminal according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing operation of a content server and a user terminal according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a mail transmission setting screen in the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Content server 20 ... User terminal 21 ... Main controller 22 ... Storage device 23 ... Communication control device 24 ... Input device 25 ... Output device

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A program capable of causing a computer to realize a function of determining a data transmission timing by a random number and a function of transmitting predetermined data to a predetermined computer in accordance with the determined data transmission timing. 2. A function of prompting a user to select a predetermined time range, a function of determining a data transmission timing by a random number within the selected time range, and a predetermined data being determined according to the determined data transmission timing. A program that allows a computer to realize the function of transmitting to the computer. 3. A computer having a function of determining a data transmission timing according to a time when a predetermined event occurs and a function of transmitting predetermined data to a predetermined computer according to the determined data transmission timing. Program that can. 4. A function of prompting a user to select a predetermined time range, a function of determining a data transmission timing according to the time when the selection is performed, and a predetermined data being determined according to the determined data transmission timing. A program that allows a computer to realize the function of transmitting to the computer. 5. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 1 is recorded. 6. A computer comprising: means for determining a data transmission timing by a random number; and means for transmitting predetermined data to a predetermined computer in accordance with the determined data transmission timing. 7. A means for urging a user to select a predetermined time range, a means for determining a data transmission timing by a random number within the selected time range, and a predetermined data according to the determined data transmission timing. A computer comprising means for transmitting to a computer. 8. A means for determining data transmission timing according to a time when a predetermined event occurs, and means for transmitting predetermined data to a predetermined computer in accordance with the determined data transmission timing. Computer to do. 9. A means for urging a user to select a predetermined time range, a means for determining a data transmission timing according to the time when the selection is made, and a predetermined data for predetermined data according to the determined data transmission timing. A computer comprising means for transmitting to a computer. 10. A data transmission method comprising: a step of determining a data transmission timing by a random number; and a step of transmitting predetermined data to a predetermined computer in accordance with the determined data transmission timing. 11. A step of urging a user to select a predetermined time range, a step of deciding a data transmission timing by a random number within the selected time range, and a step of deciding predetermined data according to the decided data transmission timing. And a step of transmitting the data to a computer. 12. A method comprising: determining a data transmission timing according to a time when a predetermined event occurs; and transmitting predetermined data to a predetermined computer according to the determined data transmission timing. How to send data. 13. A step of urging a user to select a predetermined time range, a step of deciding a data transmission timing according to the time when the selection is made, and a step of deciding predetermined data according to the decided data transmission timing. And a step of transmitting the data to a computer.