Communication apparatus, server apparatus, control method, and storage medium

Abstract

To provide a communication device, a program and a method, and a server device, a program and a method capable of appropriately receiving data according to a load state of the communication device.SOLUTION: In the information processing system 100, the communication apparatus 101 includes a transmission unit configured to transmit an image information request to a server apparatus (the image generation apparatus 103), a transmission method determination unit configured to determine a transmission method switching condition of the communication apparatus 101, a transmission method transmission unit configured to transmit a transmission method request according to the transmission method determination unit to the server apparatus, and a reception unit configured to receive image information obtained by rendering a web page from the server apparatus.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology that allows appropriate data reception according to the load status of a communication device. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Communication devices equipped with a web browser (hereinafter referred to as a browser) and capable of viewing web pages on the browser have become widespread.

[0003] This communication device can then link with external services by displaying the web pages of those services through a browser.

[0004] Incidentally, one type of browser is called a cloud browser, in which a browser engine that generates rendering results for web pages is placed on a cloud server.

[0005] A cloud browser is a method for viewing a web page by sending rendering results drawn by a browser engine on a cloud server to a communication device and displaying them on the communication device.

[0006] Because browser engines handle high-load processes such as web page analysis and execution, using a cloud browser can reduce the load on communication devices.

[0007] A push method is a method for transmitting rendering results rendered by a browser engine on a cloud server to a communication device (see Patent Document 1).

[0008] In the push method, data transmission is initiated by the server, and the communication device unilaterally receives data transmitted from the server regardless of its own state.

[0009] In the case of this push method, data can be sent directly to the communication device under the initiative of the server, and therefore data can be sent at a higher speed than in a method in which the communication device takes the initiative of going to the server to retrieve data. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-33790 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] However, depending on the load state of the communication device itself, there are times when the communication device is unable to receive data, or even if it is able to receive data, is unable to process the received data.

[0012] When data is transmitted using the push method, there is a risk that the timing of receiving the data will be such that the communication device is unable to receive the data.

[0013] Furthermore, when data is transmitted using the push method, there is a risk that the timing of receiving the data will be such that the communication device can receive the data but cannot process the received data.

[0014] Therefore, in a cloud browser, when the rendering results on the cloud server are transmitted by the push method as in Patent Document 1, the communication device may not be able to display the image depending on the load status of the communication device.

[0015] On the other hand, when the load on the communication device is low, there is also a demand for high-speed data reception using the push method. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a technique that allows appropriate reception of data in accordance with the load status of a communication device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0017] A communication device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: A communication device that receives image information obtained by rendering a web page from a server device, The communication device a transmitting means for transmitting an image information request to the server device; a transmission method determining means for determining a transmission method switching condition of the communication device; a transmission method sending means for sending a transmission method request corresponding to the transmission method determining means to the server device; and receiving means for receiving image information obtained by rendering a Web page from the server device.

[0018] According to one aspect of the present invention, a server device A server device having a browser engine that renders a web page based on a request from a communication device, The server device a receiving means for receiving a transmission method request and an image information request from the communication device; a transmission method determination means for determining the transmission method in response to the transmission method request received by the receiving means; an image transmitting means for transmitting image information obtained by the rendering to the communication device; a first image transmission determining means for determining that the image transmission by the image transmitting means has occurred when image information has been obtained by the rendering; and second image transmission determining means for determining transmission by the image transmitting means when an image information request is received from a communication device.

[0019] According to the present invention, a technique is provided that allows appropriate reception of data depending on the load status of a communication device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a communication device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration of the communication device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of an image generating device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the software configuration of an image generating device and a browser engine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow of the communication device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 4 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing by the image generating device and the browser engine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow of a communication device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing by an image generating device and a browser engine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as an "embodiment") will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] However, the following embodiments do not limit the present invention in terms of the scope of the claims, and although the embodiments describe multiple features, not all of these multiple features are necessarily essential to the invention, and multiple features may be combined in any manner.

[0023] It should be noted that the same elements are denoted by the same numbers or symbols throughout the description of the embodiments, and duplicate descriptions may be omitted.

[0024] <<First Embodiment>> FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an information processing system 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, an information processing system 100 includes a communication device 101 and an image generation device 103, and the communication device 101 is connected to the image generation device 103 via a network. The image generating device 103 is an example of a server device according to the present invention, and the information processing system 100 may include a plurality of communication devices 101.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 1, the image generation device 103 is connected to a communication device 101 and a Web server 102 via a network.

[0027] The Web server 102 stores Web content. Examples of web content include HTML, CSS, JavaScript (registered trademark), image files such as jpeg and png, and video files such as mp4 and webm.

[0028] The network may be, for example, the Internet, a Wide Area Network (WAN), a Local Area Network (LAN), or a combination thereof.

[0029] <Communication device 101> The communication device 101 is a device used by a user. The communication device 101 is used, for example, to operate a web page on the image generation device 103, and transmits web page operation information to the image generation device 103 in accordance with a user's operation.

[0030] Furthermore, the communication device 101 displays image data received from the image generating device 103 on a screen, for example, to enable the user to view the image. The image data is an example of image information according to the present invention.

[0031] [Hardware configuration of communication device 101] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the communication device 101 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the communication device 101 has a hardware configuration including a CPU 201, a ROM 202, a RAM 203, a graphical interface 204, and a network interface 205.

[0032] (CPU201) The CPU 201 is a central processing unit that controls the communication device 101 .

[0033] (ROM202) The ROM 202 is a read-only memory that stores programs and parameters that do not require modification.

[0034] (RAM203) The RAM 203 is a random access memory that temporarily stores programs and data supplied from an external device or the like.

[0035] (Graphical Interface 204) The graphical interface 204 is a display operation means including a screen for displaying stored data and supplied data, a mouse for inputting data in response to user operations, a pointing device such as a touch panel, and an input device such as a keyboard.

[0036] (Network Interface 205) The network interface 205 is for connecting to a network.

[0037] The communication device 101 may also include a fixedly installed hard disk, memory card, or the like.

[0038] The communication device 101 may also include an external storage device including an optical disk such as a detachable flexible disk (FD) or compact disk (CD), a magnetic or optical card, an IC card, a memory card, or the like.

[0039] [Software configuration of communication device 101] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the software configuration of the communication device 101 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 3, the communication device 101 has a software configuration including a communication unit 301, a memory unit 302, an operation detection unit 303, a screen generation unit 304, a response analysis unit 305, an application unit 306, and a status determination unit 307.

[0041] (Communication Unit 301) The communication unit 301 controls the communication performed by the communication device 101 via the network interface 205 . The communication unit 301 is an example of a communication means according to the present invention.

[0042] (Storage unit 302) The storage unit 302 stores information, and examples of the information to be stored include image data, transmission switching conditions, switching conditions to the polling method, transmission methods, and rendering flags. The storage unit 302 is an example of the storage means according to the present invention. As described above, image data is an example of image information according to the present invention.

[0043] (Operation detection unit 303) The operation detection unit 303 detects the content of the operation when the graphical interface 204 is operated. The operation detection unit 303 is an example of an operation detection means according to the present invention.

[0044] (Screen generation unit 304) The screen generation unit 304 generates and displays the screen to be displayed on the graphical interface 204 .

[0045] (Response analysis unit 305) The response analysis unit 305 analyzes the contents of the operation information result received by the communication unit 301 from the image generation device 103 . The response analysis unit 305 is an example of the response analysis means according to the present invention.

[0046] (Application section 306) The application unit 306 starts and ends applications for performing processing with the cloud browser.

[0047] (Status determination unit 307) The state determination unit 307 determines the trigger for transmitting operation information, the transmission switching conditions, the switching conditions to the polling method, the transmission method, and the image displayable state. The state determination unit 307 is an example of the state determination means according to the present invention.

[0048] <Image Generation Device 103> The image generation device 103 receives Web operation information from the communication device 101 and performs operations such as obtaining Web content from the Web server 102 .

[0049] The image generation device 103 also includes a browser engine 104, which runs on the image generation device 103 and analyzes and renders the Web content.

[0050] The browser engine 104 renders a web page based on a request from the communication device 101, as will be described later.

[0051] Therefore, the image generating device 103 (server device) is an example of a server device having a browser engine 104 that renders a web page based on a request from the communication device 101 according to the present invention.

[0052] [Hardware configuration of image generation device 103] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the image generating device 103 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 4, the image generating device 103 has a hardware configuration including a CPU 401, a ROM 402, a RAM 403, and a network interface 404.

[0054] (CPU401) The CPU 401 is a central processing unit that controls the image generation device 103 (including the browser engine 104).

[0055] (ROM402) The ROM 402 is a read-only memory that stores programs and parameters that do not require modification.

[0056] (RAM403) The RAM 403 is a random access memory that temporarily stores programs and data supplied from an external device or the like.

[0057] (Network Interface 404) The network interface 404 is for connecting to a network.

[0058] [Software configuration of the image generation device 103 (including the browser engine 104)] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the software configuration of the image generating device 103 and the browser engine 104 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0059] (Communication unit 501) The communication unit 501 controls communication performed via the network interface 404 of the image generation device 103 . The communication unit 501 also communicates with the image generation device 103 and the browser engine 104 . The communication unit 501 is an example of a communication means according to the present invention.

[0060] (Storage unit 502) The storage unit 502 stores the image resulting from rendering by the image generating device 103 and stores the transmission method. The storage unit 502 is an example of the storage means according to the present invention.

[0061] (Request determination unit 503) The request determination unit 503 determines the content that the communication unit 501 has received from the communication device 101, and determines whether the communication unit 501 has received operation information from the communication device 101, and so on. The request determination unit 503 is an example of a request determination unit according to the present invention.

[0062] (Browser application unit 504) The browser application unit 504 starts and ends the browser application for performing processing as a cloud browser. The browser application unit 504 is an example of the browser application means according to the present invention.

[0063] (Status determination unit 505) The state determination unit 505 determines whether a transmission method request has been received, whether rendering has been performed, and the transmission method. The state determination unit 505 is an example of the state determination means according to the present invention.

[0064] (Image generation unit 506) The image generation unit 506 converts the rendering result of the Web content drawing unit 508 into an image. The image generating unit 506 is an example of the image generating means according to the present invention.

[0065] (Web Content Analysis Unit 507) The Web content analysis unit 507 is a part that analyzes the Web content of the browser engine 104 . The Web content analysis unit 507 is an example of the Web content analysis means according to the present invention.

[0066] Furthermore, the Web content analysis unit 507 determines whether operation information has been received from the image generation device 103, and performs operation information reflection processing based on the operation information. For example, the operation information reflection process is to read web page information according to the operation information.

[0067] Furthermore, when the Web content drawing unit 508 finishes drawing the Web content, the Web content analysis unit 507 causes the communication unit 501 to transmit a drawing completion notification (rendering notification) to the communication device 101 .

[0068] Note that, after a certain time has elapsed, Web content analysis unit 507 may again make a determination to have Web content drawing unit 508 draw the Web content (determine the timing for the Web content drawing reflection process over time). Furthermore, the Web content analysis unit 507 may perform Web operations on the analyzed Web content.

[0069] (Web content rendering unit 508) Web content drawing unit 508 draws the analyzed Web content, and is an example of a Web content drawing means according to the present invention. As described above, the Web content drawing unit 508 may perform the drawing reflection process over time again in accordance with the determination by the Web content analysis unit 507 of the timing for the drawing reflection process over time.

[0070] <Processing flow> Next, with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the processing of the communication device 101 and the processing of the image generation device 103 (including the browser engine 104) according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in order.

[0071] [Processing of communication device 101] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing in the communication device 101 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart starts when the communication device 101 starts an application in the application unit 306 and connects to the image generation device 103 via a network.

[0072] (S601) In S601, the state determination unit 307 determines whether it is time to transmit operation information. If the determination result is that it is an opportunity to transmit operation information (Yes in S601), the process proceeds to S602, and if it is not an opportunity to transmit operation information (No in S601), the process proceeds to S604.

[0073] In the first embodiment, the trigger for transmitting operation information is when the operation detection unit 303 detects an operation corresponding to a Web operation by the user.

[0074] Specifically, it is assumed that the user operates the graphical interface 204 of the communication device 101 (for example, by clicking, touching, dragging, etc.) to perform an operation corresponding to a Web operation, and the operation detection unit 303 detects this.

[0075] (S602) In S602, the communication unit 301 transmits to the image generation device 103 the operation information detected by the operation detection unit 303 in S601.

[0076] (S603) In S603, the communication unit 301 receives the operation information result from the image generation device 103, and the response analysis unit 305 analyzes the contents of the operation information result.

[0077] The operation information result is, for example, information returned from the image generation device 103 indicating whether or not the loading of the Web page information according to the operation information sent in S602 was successful.

[0078] This allows the communication device 101 to analyze whether the transmitted operation information has been correctly processed by the image generation device 103.

[0079] (S604) In S604, the state determination unit 307 determines whether a transmission switching condition exists. The transmission switching conditions are stored in the storage unit 302.

[0080] If the determination result is that the transmission switching condition is met (Yes in S604), the process proceeds to S605, and if the determination result is that the transmission switching condition is not met (No in S604), the process proceeds to S610.

[0081] In the first embodiment, the transmission switching condition is when the state of a specific process of the communication device 101 changes.

[0082] The specific process is, for example, a process that places a load on the operation of the communication apparatus 101, such as a print process or a scan process. These processes are stored in advance in the storage unit 302 as transmission switching conditions.

[0083] (S605) In S605, the state determination unit 307 determines whether the conditions for switching to the polling method are met. The conditions for switching to the polling method are stored in the storage unit 302.

[0084] For example, the condition for switching to the polling method is when it is determined that the load on the communication device 101 is high while a specific process is running.

[0085] In other words, in S605, it is determined whether the conditions for switching to the polling method are met based on whether the transmission switching condition of S604 is met because the state of a specific process has changed to an operating state, or conversely, because the state has changed to an inoperating state.

[0086] Specifically, if the transmission switching condition of S604 is met by changing to a state in which a specific process is running (Yes in S604), the state determination unit 307 determines that the condition for switching to the polling method is met (Yes in S605).

[0087] Conversely, if the transmission switching condition of S604 is met because a specific process has changed to a non-operating state (No in S604), the state determination unit 307 determines that the condition for switching to the polling method is not met (No in S605).

[0088] The push method is an example of a first transmission method according to the present invention, and the polling method is an example of a second transmission method according to the present invention.

[0089] If the conditions for switching to the polling method are met (Yes in S605), the process proceeds to S606. On the other hand, if the conditions for switching to the polling method are not met (No in S605), that is, if the method is to be switched to the push method, the process proceeds to S608.

[0090] The state determination unit 307 is an example of a transmission method determination means for determining the transmission method switching conditions of the communication device 101 according to the present invention.

[0091] As described above, an example of a transmission method switching condition is a condition that indicates the load state of the communication device 101, and specifically, as previously mentioned, a state in which a specific process is running.

[0092] Therefore, when a specific process is running, the state determination unit 307 (transmission method determination means) determines that the load on the communication device 101 is high, that is, the conditions for switching to the polling method are met (Yes in S605), and proceeds to S606.

[0093] In the first embodiment, as described above, S605 becomes Yes when the state of a process (specific process) stored as a transmission switching condition to the polling method changes from stopped to started (i.e., changes to an operating state).

[0094] It should be noted that the condition representing the load state of the communication device 101 does not need to be limited to the state in which a specific process is running.

[0095] For example, the condition representing the load state of the communication device 101 may be the CPU usage rate, memory usage rate, or the like.

[0096] In this case, when the CPU usage rate or memory usage rate is above a threshold, the status determination unit 307 (transmission method determination means) may determine that the load on the communication device 101 is high (if the conditions for switching to the polling method are met (Yes in S605)), and proceed to S606.

[0097] (S606) In S606, the communication unit 301 transmits a polling request to the image generation device 103. Such a request to switch the transmission method is an example of a transmission method request according to the present invention.

[0098] The communication unit 301 is an example of a transmission method sending unit that sends a transmission method request according to the determination of the status determination unit 307 (transmission method determination unit) according to the present invention to the image generation device 103 (server device).

[0099] (S607) In S607, the communication device 101 switches the transmission method stored in its own storage unit 302 to the polling method.

[0100] (S608) In S608, the communication unit 301 transmits a push request to the image generation device 103. This request to switch the transmission method is also an example of a transmission method request according to the present invention.

[0101] This communication unit 301 is also an example of a transmission method sending unit that sends a transmission method request according to the determination of the status determination unit 307 (transmission method determination unit) according to the present invention to the image generation device 103 (server device).

[0102] (S609) In S609, the communication device 101 switches the transmission method stored in its own storage unit 302 to the push method.

[0103] (S610) The state determination unit 307 determines whether the transmission method stored in the storage unit 302 is the polling method. If the result of the determination is that the polling method is used (Yes in S610), the process proceeds to S611, and if the result is that the polling method is not used (No in S610), the process proceeds to S614.

[0104] (S611) In S611, the state determination unit 307 determines whether an image can be displayed.

[0105] If the result of the determination is that the image can be displayed (Yes in S611), the process proceeds to S612, and if the image cannot be displayed (No in S611), the process proceeds to S616.

[0106] That is, if S611 is not Yes, the process of requesting image data (image information) in S612, which will be described later, is not performed, and the processes of S613 and S615, which will be described later, do not occur, so the process proceeds to S616.

[0107] In the first embodiment, the image displayable state is determined to be when the CPU usage rate and memory usage rate are equal to or lower than a threshold value.

[0108] (S612) In S612, the communication unit 301 transmits an image data request to the image generation device 103. The image data request is an example of an image information request according to the present invention. The communication unit 301 that transmits the image information request to the image generation device 103 (server device) is an example of a transmitting means that transmits the image information request to the image generation device 103 (server device) according to the present invention.

[0109] (S613) In S613 , the communication unit 301 receives the image data from the image generation device 103 and stores it in the storage unit 302 .

[0110] (S614) In S614, it is determined whether the communication unit 301 has received image data from the image generation device 103.

[0111] The process proceeds to S614 if S610 is No, that is, if the current transmission method is the push method, and image data is transmitted under the initiative of the image generating device 103. Therefore, in S614, it is determined whether image data has been received from the image generating device 103.

[0112] If the result of the determination is that image data has been received (Yes in S614), the process proceeds to S613, and the image data received by the communication unit 301 from the image generating device 103 is stored in the memory unit 302, as described above. On the other hand, if image data has not been received (No in S614), the process proceeds to S616.

[0113] (S615) In S615, the screen generation unit 304 generates a screen from the image data stored in the storage unit 302 and displays it on the graphical interface 204.

[0114] (S616) In S616, the application unit 306 determines whether the application has been terminated. If the determination result shows that the application has been terminated (Yes in S616), this processing is terminated, and if the operation information has not been received (No in S616), the processing returns to S601.

[0115] In the process of FIG. 6, the above-described flow of processing is repeated until S616 becomes Yes.

[0116] [Processing of the image generating device 103 and the browser engine 104] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing by the image generating device 103 and the browser engine 104 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart starts when the image generation device 103 starts a browser application.

[0117] (S701) In S701, the request determination unit 503 determines whether the communication unit 501 has received operation information from the communication apparatus 101. If the result of the determination is that operation information has been received (Yes in S701), the process proceeds to S702, and if operation information has not been received (No in S701), the process proceeds to S704.

[0118] In the first embodiment, for example, it is assumed that the operation information is a URL of a web page, and when the URL of the web page is received, the result of S701 becomes Yes. Note that the reception of the URL of this web page is the reception of a request to read the web page for the URL.

[0119] (S702) In S702, the Web content analysis unit 507 performs a process (operation information reflection process) of reflecting the operation information based on the operation information (Web page URL) received in S701.

[0120] Specifically, upon receiving a request to read a web page corresponding to a URL, web content analysis unit 507 reads the web page corresponding to the URL from web server 102 via communication unit 501 .

[0121] This triggers the Web content rendering unit 508 to start rendering.

[0122] (S703) In S703, the communication unit 501 transmits the operation information result to the communication apparatus 101. In the first embodiment, as described above, the operation information result is information indicating whether or not the loading of the web page information has been successful.

[0123] (S704) In S704, the state determination unit 505 determines whether the communication unit 501 has received a transmission method request from the communication device 101. The communication unit 501 that receives the transmission method request from the communication device 101 is an example of a receiving means that receives a transmission method request from the communication device 101 according to the present invention.

[0124] If the determination result shows that a transmission method request has been received (Yes in S704), the process proceeds to S705, and if the determination result shows that a transmission method request has not been received (No in S704), the process proceeds to S708.

[0125] (S705) In S705, the state determination unit 505 determines whether the transmission method request received in S704 is a polling request (that is, the polling method).

[0126] If the result of the determination is that the transmission method request is the polling method (Yes in S705), the process proceeds to S706, and if the transmission method request is not the polling method (No in S705), the process proceeds to S707.

[0127] As explained above, the transmission method request is either a polling request (ie, polling method) or a push request (ie, push method).

[0128] Therefore, if the transmission method request is for the polling method (Yes in S705), the process proceeds to S706, and if it is not for the polling method (No in S705), the process proceeds to S707, where the corresponding process is performed.

[0129] The status determination unit 505 is an example of a transmission method determination means that determines the transmission method (determines whether to proceed to S706 or S707) in accordance with the transmission method request received by the communication unit 501 (receiving means) according to the present invention.

[0130] (S706) In S706, the image generation device 103 switches the transmission method stored in its own storage unit 502 to the polling method.

[0131] (S707) In S707, the image generation device 103 switches the transmission method stored in its own storage unit 502 to the push method.

[0132] (S708) In S708, the state determination unit 505 determines whether the Web content drawing unit 508 has performed rendering.

[0133] If the result of the determination is that rendering has been performed (Yes in S708), the process proceeds to S709, and if the result is that rendering has not been performed (No in S708), the process proceeds to S713.

[0134] That is, if rendering has not been performed (No in S708), image generation (S709) described below and image data transmission (S711) described below cannot yet be performed, so the process proceeds to S713.

[0135] (S709) In S709, the image generation unit 506 creates an image based on the rendering result of the Web content drawing unit 508.

[0136] (S710) In S710, the state determination unit 505 determines whether the transmission method of the storage unit 502 is the push method. That is, the state determination unit 505 determines whether the current transmission method is the push method.

[0137] If the result of the determination is that the current transmission method is the push method (Yes in S710), the process proceeds to S711.

[0138] On the other hand, if the current transmission method is not the push method (No in S710), that is, if the current transmission method is the polling method, the process proceeds to S712.

[0139] (S711) In S711, the communication unit 501 transmits to the communication apparatus 101 the image data (image information) that has been imaged in S709. The communication unit 501 is an example of an image transmission means that transmits image data (image information) obtained by rendering according to the present invention to the communication device 101.

[0140] Then, in S711 proceeding from S710, since the current transmission method is the push method (Yes in S710), the image data (image information) obtained by rendering is transmitted when it is obtained.

[0141] Therefore, the state determination unit 505 in S710 that made the decision to proceed to S711 is an example of a first image transmission determination means that determines that transmission by the communication unit 501 (image transmission means) of the present invention is when image information obtained by rendering is obtained.

[0142] (S712) On the other hand, the process proceeds to S712 when the current transmission method is not the push method (No in S710), that is, when the current transmission method is the polling method.

[0143] Therefore, in S712, the state determination unit 505 determines whether the communication unit 501 has received an image data request (image information request) from the communication apparatus 101. The communication unit 501 that receives the image information request from the communication device 101 is an example of a receiving means that receives an image information request from the communication device 101 according to the present invention.

[0144] If the result of the determination is that an image data request has been received (Yes in S712), the process proceeds to S711, where the communication unit 501 transmits the image generated in S709 to the communication device 101, as described above.

[0145] In this case, image data (image information) obtained by rendering using the communication unit 501 (image transmission means) is transmitted when an image data request (image information request) is received from the communication device 101.

[0146] Therefore, the status determination unit 505 that makes a Yes determination in S712 is an example of a second image transmission determination means that determines that transmission by the communication unit 501 (image transmission means) of the present invention is occurring when an image information request is received from the communication device 101.

[0147] On the other hand, if an image data request (image information request) has not been received (No in S712), the process proceeds to S713.

[0148] (S713) In S713, the browser application unit 504 determines whether the browser application has been terminated.

[0149] If the result of the determination is that the browser application has been terminated (Yes in S713), this processing is terminated, and if the browser application has not been terminated (No in S713), the processing proceeds to S701.

[0150] In the process of FIG. 7, the above-described flow of processing is repeated until S713 becomes Yes.

[0151] As described above, according to the first embodiment, the communication device 101 can switch the transmission method according to the transmission method switching condition.

[0152] Therefore, when a process that places a load on the operation of the communication device 101 is running and image data received from the image generation device 103 cannot be displayed, the method can be switched from the push method to the polling method.

[0153] This allows the communication device 101 to determine whether it is in a state where it can display an image, even when a process that places a load on the operation of the communication device 101 is running, and to acquire and display image data only if it is possible to display the image.

[0154] Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, when a process that places a load on the operation of the communication device 101 is not running, image data can be communicated at high speed between the communication device 101 and the image generation device 103 using the push method.

[0155] In the first embodiment, the transmission switching condition is when the state of a specific process changes, but this is not limited to this. For example, the CPU or memory usage rate may be monitored and the changes in this may be used as the transmission switching condition.

[0156] <<Second embodiment>> Next, an information processing system 100 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The information processing system 100 of the second embodiment also has the same system configuration, the same hardware configuration of the communication device 101, and the same software configuration as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, respectively.

[0157] The image generating device 103 of the second embodiment also has the same hardware and software configurations as those shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively.

[0158] The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the communication device 101 receives a rendering notification from the image generation device 103.

[0159] Therefore, the following mainly describes the differences from the first embodiment, and descriptions of the same points as the first embodiment may be omitted.

[0160] [Processing of communication device 101] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing by the communication device 101 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0161] FIG. 8 corresponds to FIG. 6 of the first embodiment, and the same steps as those shown in FIG. 6 are given the same step numbers.

[0162] That is, steps S601 to S616 in FIG. 8 are the same processes as steps S601 to S616 in FIG. 6, respectively.

[0163] Therefore, explanations of steps that have the same step numbers as those in FIG. 6 may be omitted.

[0164] As in the first embodiment, this flowchart starts when the communication device 101 starts an application in the application unit 306 and connects to the image generation device 103 via a network.

[0165] (S801) In S801, the communication unit 301 determines whether a rendering notification has been received from the image generation device 103. The rendering notification is a notification that rendering has been performed by the image generating device 103, and is an example of rendering information according to the present invention.

[0166] The communication unit 301 is also an example of a rendering information receiving means for receiving rendering information from the image generating device 103 (server device) according to the present invention.

[0167] If the result of the determination is that a rendering notification has been received (Yes in S801), the process proceeds to S802, and if the result of the determination is that a rendering notification has not been received (No in S801), the process proceeds to S611.

[0168] (S802) In S802, the communication apparatus 101 turns on the rendering flag stored in the storage unit 502.

[0169] (S803) In S803, the state determination unit 307 determines whether the rendering flag stored in the storage unit 302 is ON. If the result of the determination is that the rendering flag is ON (Yes in S803), the process proceeds to S612, and if the rendering flag is OFF (No in S803), the process proceeds to S613.

[0170] In S612, as described above, the communication unit 301 transmits an image data request (image information request) to the image generating device 103 (server device).

[0171] However, the transmission process in S612 in the second embodiment is performed in accordance with the rendering information (rendering flag ON) as described above.

[0172] Therefore, in the second embodiment, the communication unit 301 (transmission means) transmits an image data request (image information request) to the image generation device 103 (server device) in accordance with the rendering information.

[0173] (S804) In S804, the communication apparatus 101 turns off the rendering flag stored in the storage unit 502.

[0174] [Processing of the image generating device 103 and the browser engine 104] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing by the image generating device 103 and the browser engine 104 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0175] FIG. 9 corresponds to FIG. 7 of the first embodiment, and the same steps as those shown in FIG. 7 are given the same step numbers.

[0176] That is, steps S701 to S713 in FIG. 9 are the same processes as steps S701 to S713 in FIG.

[0177] Therefore, explanations of steps that have the same step numbers as those in FIG. 7 may be omitted.

[0178] As in the first embodiment, this flowchart starts when the image generation device 103 starts a browser application.

[0179] (S901) In step S901, the communication unit 501 transmits a rendering notification (rendering information) to the communication apparatus 101. Here, the notification to be sent may be any notification that indicates that rendering has been performed by the Web content rendering unit 508.

[0180] The communication unit 501 is an example of a rendering information transmitting means according to the present invention that transmits rendering information (information that a Web page has been rendered) to the communication device 101.

[0181] S901 is performed only when the state determination unit 505 (transmission method determination means) determines the polling method (second transmission method) in S705.

[0182] In other words, the rendering information transmission means (communication unit 501) transmits rendering information to the communication device 101 only when the transmission method determination means (state determination unit 505) determines that the transmission method is the second transmission method (polling method).

[0183] As described above, according to the second embodiment, even if the transmission method of the communication device 101 is the polling method, the communication device 101 can determine whether rendering has been performed by the image generating device 103 by receiving a rendering notification from the image generating device 103.

[0184] That is, the communication device 101 is able to transmit an image data request (image information request) to the image generation device 103 only when it is determined that rendering has been performed by the image generation device 103.

[0185] This allows the communication device 101 to avoid sending an image data request to the image generation device 103 when rendering is not being performed in the image generation device 103, thereby reducing the number of times image data requests (image information requests) are sent.

[0186] Although the present invention has been described above based on specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

[0187] For example, the image generation device 103 (server device) may be a computer that realizes the same functions as a physical computer using software, or conversely, the image generation device 103 (server device) may be a general physical computer.

[0188] In other words, the image generating device 103 (server device) may be in any form as long as it can perform the functions described above.

[0189] As such, modifications and improvements to the above-described embodiments are also included within the technical scope of the invention, and this will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the description of the claims.

[0190] In addition, the following supplementary notes are disclosed regarding the above-described embodiment. [Appendix 1] A communication device that receives image information obtained by rendering a web page from a server device, The communication device a transmitting means for transmitting an image information request to the server device; a transmission method determining means for determining a transmission method switching condition of the communication device; a transmission method sending means for sending a transmission method request corresponding to the transmission method determining means to the server device; a receiving unit for receiving image information obtained by rendering a web page from the server device. [Appendix 2] the transmission method switching condition is a condition representing a load state of the communication device, The communication device described in Appendix 1, characterized in that the transmission method sending means sends a transmission method request to the server device when the transmission method determination means determines that the load of the communication device is high based on conditions representing the load state of the communication device. [Appendix 3] The communication device described in Appendix 2, characterized in that the transmission method determination means determines that the load on the communication device is high when a specific process is running or when the CPU usage rate or memory usage rate is above a threshold. [Appendix 4] the communication device includes a rendering information receiving means for receiving rendering information from the server device; 4. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting means transmits the image information request to the server device in accordance with the rendering information. [Appendix 5] A program for causing a computer to function as a communication device according to any one of appendices 1 to 4. [Appendix 6] A control method for a communication device that receives image information obtained by rendering a web page from a server device, comprising: The control method includes: a transmitting step of transmitting an image information request to the server device; a transmission method determination step of determining a transmission method switching condition of the communication device; a transmission method sending step of sending a transmission method request to the server device in response to the transmission method determining step; a receiving step of receiving image information obtained by rendering a web page from the server device. [Appendix 7] A server device having a browser engine that renders a web page based on a request from a communication device, The server device a receiving means for receiving a transmission method request and an image information request from the communication device; a transmission method determination means for determining the transmission method in response to the transmission method request received by the receiving means; an image transmitting means for transmitting image information obtained by the rendering to the communication device; a first image transmission determining means for determining that the image transmission by the image transmitting means has occurred when image information has been obtained by the rendering; a second image transmission determining means for determining that the image transmission means has transmitted an image when an image information request is received from a communication device; [Appendix 8] the server device has a rendering information transmitting means for transmitting rendering information to the communication device; The server device described in Appendix 7, characterized in that the rendering information transmission means transmits the rendering information to the communication device only when the transmission method determination means determines the transmission method to be the second transmission method. [Appendix 9] A program for causing a computer to function as the server device described in Supplementary Note 7 or Supplementary Note 8. [Appendix 10] A method for controlling a server device having a browser engine that renders a web page based on a request from a communication device, comprising: The control method includes: a receiving step of receiving a transmission method request and an image information request from the communication device; a transmission method determination step of determining the transmission method in response to the transmission method request received in the receiving step; an image transmission step of transmitting image information obtained by the rendering to the communication device; a first image transmission determination step of determining that the image transmission step is to be performed when image information is obtained by the rendering; a second image transmission determination step of determining that the image transmission step is to be performed when an image information request is received from a communication device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0191] 100...information processing system, 101...communication device, 102...web server, 103...image generation device (server device), 104...browser engine, 201, 401...CPU, 202, 402...ROM, 203, 403...RAM, 204...graphical interface, 205, 404...network interface, 301, 501...communication unit, 302, 502...storage unit, 303...operation detection unit, 304...screen generation unit, 305...response analysis unit, 306...application unit, 307, 505...status determination unit, 503...request determination unit, 504...browser application unit, 506...image generation unit, 507...web content analysis unit, 508...web content drawing unit

Claims

1. A communication device that receives image information obtained by rendering a web page from a server device, The communication device a transmitting means for transmitting an image information request to the server device; a transmission method determining means for determining a transmission method switching condition of the communication device; a transmission method sending means for sending a transmission method request corresponding to the transmission method determining means to the server device; a receiving unit for receiving image information obtained by rendering a web page from the server device.

2. the transmission method switching condition is a condition representing a load state of the communication device, The communication device according to claim 1, characterized in that the transmission method sending means sends a transmission method request to the server device when the transmission method determination means determines that the load of the communication device is high based on conditions representing the load state of the communication device.

3. The communication device according to claim 2, characterized in that the transmission method determination means determines that the load on the communication device is high when a specific process is running or when the CPU usage rate or memory usage rate is above a threshold value.

4. the communication device includes a rendering information receiving means for receiving rendering information from the server device; 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting means transmits said image information request to said server device in accordance with said rendering information.

5. A program for causing a computer to function as the communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. A control method for a communication device that receives image information obtained by rendering a web page from a server device, comprising: The control method includes: a transmitting step of transmitting an image information request to the server device; a transmission method determination step of determining a transmission method switching condition of the communication device; a transmission method sending step of sending a transmission method request to the server device in response to the transmission method determining step; a receiving step of receiving image information obtained by rendering a web page from the server device.

7. A server device having a browser engine that renders a web page based on a request from a communication device, The server device a receiving means for receiving a transmission method request and an image information request from the communication device; a transmission method determination means for determining the transmission method in response to the transmission method request received by the receiving means; an image transmitting means for transmitting image information obtained by the rendering to the communication device; a first image transmission determining means for determining that the image transmission by the image transmitting means has occurred when image information has been obtained by the rendering; a second image transmission determining means for determining that the image transmission means has transmitted an image when an image information request is received from a communication device;

8. the server device has a rendering information transmitting means for transmitting rendering information to the communication device; The server device according to claim 7, characterized in that the rendering information transmitting means transmits the rendering information to the communication device only when the transmission method determining means determines the transmission method to be the second transmission method.

9. A program for causing a computer to function as the server device according to claim 7 or 8.

10. A method for controlling a server device having a browser engine that renders a web page based on a request from a communication device, comprising: The control method includes: a receiving step of receiving a transmission method request and an image information request from the communication device; a transmission method determination step of determining the transmission method in response to the transmission method request received in the receiving step; an image transmission step of transmitting image information obtained by the rendering to the communication device; a first image transmission determination step of determining that the image transmission step is to be performed when image information is obtained by the rendering; a second image transmission determination step of determining that the image transmission step is to be performed when an image information request is received from a communication device.

Images