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  Communication system using communication network and communication methodUSPTO Application #: 20080109534Title: Communication system using communication network and communication method Abstract: A communication system for guaranteeing only one each of two processing operations, correlated with each other and executed on different devices. A server has a unit which, on receipt of a first processing request, with identification information, executes this processing only once for one item of the identification, and a unit for transmitting a first processing completion notice to the transmission source of the processing request on completion of the first processing or on re-receipt of the processing request for the first processing with the same identification of the completed first processing. The client has a server, a unit for transmitting the processing request for first processing with identification information, a unit for executing a second processing, previously correlated with the first processing, on receipt of the completion notice, and a unit for re-transmitting a processing request on detection of an error before receipt of a transmitted completion notice. (end of abstract) Agent: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik - Westfield, NJ, US Inventor: Shinobu Kuriya USPTO Applicaton #: 20080109534 - Class: 709219000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Electrical Computers And Digital Processing Systems: Multicomputer Data Transferring, Remote Data Accessing, Accessing A Remote Server The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080109534. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/363,379, filed on Feb. 27, 2003, which is a U.S. national stage application of International Application No. PCT/JP02/06700, filed on Jul. 2, 2002, which has designated the U.S. and claims priority to Japan Patent Application No. 2001-204575 filed on Jul. 5, 2001, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to a communication system for information communication between computers, a server device, a client device, a portable telephone set, a communication method, a concerted processing providing method, a concerted processing method, a billing surrogating method, a content validating method, a program and a recording medium. More particularly, it relates to a communication system for performing concerted processing among plural devices, interconnected over a network, a server device, a client device, a portable telephone set, a communication method, a concerted processing providing method, a concerted processing method, a billing surrogating method, a content validating method, a program and a recording medium. [0003] In keeping pace with the development of information processing apparatus, including computers, first of all, it has become possible to handle digital content, such as music or pictures, referred to below as content, by information processing apparatus, including computers. Moreover, in keeping pace with the development of information communication technology, services which permit variable content to be purchased over a communication network, using information processing apparatus, such as computers, are being offered in increasing numbers. [0004] For example, if a user finds content he/she desires at a shop on the network (server device), he/she is able to download the encrypted content to a client device. At this time point, the content is still in an encrypted state, such that the content is not adequately reproducible, that is, the content is not validated. [0005] The user transmits information necessary for payment of the cost to purchase the content to the server device. The server device then returns information for validating the content, for example, decoding key data, to the client device. Using the information thus sent from the server device, the client device is able to validate the content. [0006] When validated, the content becomes usable in the client device. For example, if the content is music data, the music can be reproduced. [0007] Meanwhile, in a system providing these services, content validation and payment of the cost to purchase must necessarily occur in synchronization with each other. That is, if the process of validating the content is performed, the process of payment of the cost to purchase must necessarily be performed. In a similar manner, when the process of payment of the cost to purchase is performed, the process of validating the content must necessarily be performed. [0008] In data communication over a wide network, such as the Internet, there are occasions where transactions cannot be terminated due to, e.g., network malfunctions. For example, if malfunctions occur on the network as the ID (identification) and the password are being transmitted from the server device to the client device, there arises a situation in which, even though the user has made payment, the user cannot validate the content. If the user information necessary for payment is re-transmitted from the client to the server, the cost is collected in duplicate. [0009] Thus, there is a need for a system which guarantees that, if a network malfunction has occurred, but one of the process of validating the content and the process of payment of the cost to purchase is completed, the other processing can necessarily be completed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] In view of the above-described status of the art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a communication system, a server device, a client device, a portable telephone set, a communication method, a concerted processing providing method, a concerted processing method, a billing surrogating method, a content validating method, a program and a recording medium, in which one each of two processing operations, which are correlated with each other and which are executed on different devices, is guaranteed. [0011] For accomplishing the above object, the present invention provides a communication system for performing concerted processing among a plurality of devices interconnected over a network. The communication system includes a server device including first processing executing means which, on receipt of a processing request for a first processing, afforded with the identification information, executes the first processing once for one item of the identification information, and completion notice transmitting means which, on completion of the first processing by the first processing executing means, or on re-receipt of the processing request for the first processing, afforded with the same identification information as that of the completed first processing, transmits a completion notice of the first processing to the source of transmission of the processing request, and a client device including processing request transmission means for transmitting the processing request for the first processing, afforded with the identification information, to the server device, second processing executing means which, on receipt of the completion notice from the server device, executes second processing correlated in advance with the first processing, and re-transmitting means which, on detection of a communication error before receipt of the completion notice responsive to the processing request transmitted by the processing request transmission means, re-transmits the processing request to the server device. [0012] In the communication system according to the present invention, the processing request transmitting means of the client device transmits a processing request for the first processing, afforded with the identification information, to the server device. If the processing request is a first one, the first processing is executed by the first processing executing means of the server device. On completion of the first processing, a completion notice is transmitted to the client device by the completion notice transmitting means. When the completion notice reaches the client device, the second processing is executed by the second processing executing means. If a communication error is detected before the completion notice reaches the client device, the processing request is re-transmitted by the re-transmitting means. Since the first processing has already been finished, the server device does not execute the first processing, but a completion notice is transmitted to the client device by the completion notice transmitting means. [0013] The present invention also provides an alternative communication system for executing a sequence of processing operations for validating invalidated contents by a plurality of devices interconnected over a network. The communication system includes a server device, in turn including billing processing executing means which, on receipt of a processing request for billing processing for the cost of the contents, afforded with the identification information, executes the billing processing only once for one item of the identification information, and completion notice transmitting means which, on completion of the billing processing by the billing processing executing means, or on re-receipt of the processing request for the billing processing, afforded with the same identification information as that of the completed billing processing, transmits a completion notice of the billing processing to the source of transmission of the processing request, and a client device including processing request transmission means for transmitting the processing request for the billing processing for the contents, afforded with the identification information, to the server device, validation processing executing means which, on receipt of the completion notice from the server device, executes the processing of validating the invalidated contents, and re-transmitting means which, on detection of a communication error before receipt of the completion notice for the processing request transmitted by the processing request transmission means, re-transmits the processing request to the server device. [0014] In this communication system, the processing request transmitting means of the client device transmits the processing request for the first processing, afforded with the identification information, to the server device. If the processing request is a first one, the processing of billing the cost of the contents is executed by the first processing executing means. When the billing processing is completed, a completion notice is transmitted to the client device by the completion notice transmitting means. When the completion notice reaches the client device, the processing of validating the contents is executed by the second processing executing means. If a communication error is detected before the completion notice reaches the client device, the processing request is re-transmitted by the re-transmitting means. Since the billing processing has already been completed in the server device, the billing processing is not executed, but the completion notice is transmitted to the client device by the completion notice transmitting means. [0015] The present invention also provides a server device for performing concerted processing with another device interconnected over a network. The server device includes first processing executing means which, on receipt of a processing request for first processing, afforded with the identification information, executes the first processing only once for one item of the identification information, and completion notice transmitting means which, on completion of the first processing by the first processing executing means, or on re-receipt of the processing request for the first processing, afforded with the same identification information as that of the completed first processing, transmits a completion notice of the first processing to the source of transmission of the processing request. [0016] This server device is used as a server device for the communication system according to the present invention. [0017] The present invention also provides a server device for surrogating billing of the cost for payable contents. The server device includes billing processing executing means which, on receipt of a processing request for billing processing for the cost of the contents, afforded with the identification information, executes the billing processing only once for one item of the identification information, and completion notice transmitting means which, on completion of the billing processing by the billing processing executing means, or on re-receipt of the processing request for the billing processing, afforded with the same identification information as that of the completed billing processing, transmits a completion notice of the billing processing to the source of transmission of the processing request. [0018] This server device is used as a server device for the alternative communication system according to the present invention described above. [0019] The present invention also provides a client device for performing concerted processing with a server device connected thereto over a network. The client device includes processing request transmitting means for transmitting a processing request for first processing, afforded with the identification information, to the server device, second processing executing means which, on receipt of a completion notice of the first processing from the server device, executes second processing, correlated in advance with the first processing, and re-transmitting means which, if a communication error has been detected before receipt of a completion notice for the processing request transmitted by the processing request transmitting means, re-transmits the processing request to the server device. [0020] This client device is used as a client device for the communication system according to the present invention. [0021] The present invention provides a client device for validating invalidated contents by concerted processing with the processing by a server device. The client device includes processing request transmitting means for transmitting a processing request for billing processing, afforded with the identification information, to the server device, validation processing executing means which, on receipt of a completion notice of the billing processing from the server device, validates the invalidated contents, and re-transmitting means which, if a communication error has been detected before receipt of a completion notice for the processing request transmitted by the processing request transmitting means, re-transmits the processing request to the server device. Continue reading... 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