Method and apparatus for supplying multi-media data to a client by using threads

A method of supplying multi-media data to a client through a network, comprising the steps of:

• (a) supplying HTTP server with URL and a parameter as an access request from a client;
• (b) determining whether said access request is in the process of a session;
• (c) acquiring or making a thread;
• (d) carrying out an access method stored in a database access module indicated by said URL, on said thread;
• (e) making access to a multi-media database to acquire data;
• (f) generating, on acquiring all data, an entry point required for making an output document, and registering the thus generated entry point in an entry table;
• (g) generating HTML document in accordance with an associated template stored in a template database;
• and
• (h) returning the thus generated HTML document to said client through said HTTP server.

A multi-media data server supplying multi-media data to a client through a network, comprising:

• (a) a HTTP server interface section making communication with a server to which a client requests to supply data thereto;
• (b) a thread for processing an access request transmitted through said HTTP server interface section from said client;
• (c) a multi-media database storing multi-media data and correlating said multi-media data with one another;
• (d) a template database storing template data representing an arrangement of said multi-media data when displayed on a screen;
• and
• (e) a database server receiving said multi-media data and said template data from said multi-media database and said template database, and generating data requested by a client, based on the thus received multi-media data and template data.

A recording medium readable by a computer and storing therein a multi-media data server program to be executed by a server computer for supplying multi-media data to a client computer through a network, said multi-media data server program causing said server computer to execute the following processing:

• (a) multi-media database (MMDB) processing for employing a multi-media database storing said multi-media data therein and correlating said multi-media data with one another;
• (b) a template database (DB) processing for employing a template database storing therein template data representing an arrangement of said multi-media data when displayed on a screen;
• and
• (c) a database server processing including a thread execution processing and a thread control processing,
• said thread execution processing including:
• receiving said multi-media data and said template data from said multi-media database and said template database, and generating data requested by said client computer, based on the thus received multi-media data and template data,
• said thread control processing including:
• managing and controlling at least one thread.

A system for supplying multi-media data to a client through a network, comprising:

• (a) means for storing multi-media data and template data in the form of a complex object;
• (b) means for converting said complex object to such data that said object can be displayed to a client through a viewer of said client;
• and
• (c) multi-threads for executing an access request transmitted from a client.