Multi-user extension mechanisms for client-server system
AssigneesSony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
InventorSadik Bayrakeri
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Multi-user communication of multimedia content in a client-server system is provided by dividing a client's scene into non-shared and shared parts. In one embodiment, the non-shared parts of the scene are organized into one or more MPEG-4 Group nodes. The shared parts of the scene are organized into one or more multi-user group nodes, each of which is an extension of an MPEG-4 Group node. In addition to the functionality provided by an MPEG-4 Group node, a multi-user group node provides boolean exposed fields that act as switches to control initiation of interaction, update control, privacy, and object accessibility.
Claims12
A method for providing multi-user communication in a client-server system having multiple clients, comprising:
- dividing a scene description displayed at a first client into shared parts and non-shared parts;
- organizing the shared parts of the scene description into at least one multi-user group node;
- wherein the operation of organizing the shared parts of the scene description into at least one multi-user group node includes:
- creating a multi-user group node at the first client by adding control mechanisms to a group node, and
- adding the shared parts of the scene description to the multi-user group node;
- and
- wherein the creating operation comprises adding to the single-user group node a field to control whether changes to the state of the node at the first client should be communicated to a second client.
A method for providing multi-user communication in a client-server system having multiple clients, comprising:
- dividing a scene description displayed at a first client into shared parts and non-shared parts;
- organizing the shared parts of the scene description into shared parts and non-shared parts;
- and
- permitting a second client to interact with the shared parts of the scene description;
- wherein the operation for organizing the shared parts of the scene description into a multi-user group node includes:
- creating a multi-user group node at the first client by adding control mechanisms to a group node, and
- adding the shared parts of the scene description to the multi-user group node;
- and
- wherein the creating operation comprises adding to the group node a field to control whether changes to the state of the group node should be implemented in a second client.
A method for providing multi-user communication in a client-server system having multiple clients, comprising:
- providing a MultiUser Group node comprising:
- a boolean expression field to control whether changes to the state of the group node at the first client should be communicated to a second client;
- a boolean expression field to control whether changes to the state of the group node should be implemented in a second client;
- a boolean expression field to control authorization to modify the group node by a second client;
- and
- a boolean expression field to control access to the group node by a second client.
An apparatus for providing multi-user communication in a client-server system, comprising:
- at least one memory having program instructions, and
- at least one processor configured to execute the program instructions to perform the operations of:
- providing a MultiUser Group node comprising:
- a boolean expression field to control whether changes to the state of the group node at the first client should be communicated to a second client;
- a boolean expression field to control whether changes to the state of the group node should be implemented in a second client;
- a boolean expression field to control authorization to modify the group node by a second client;
- and
- a boolean expression field to control access to the group node by a second client.
A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method for providing multi-user communication in a client-server system, the method comprising:
- providing a MultiUser Group node comprising:
- a boolean expression field to control whether changes to the state of the group node at the first client should be communicated to a second client.
- a boolean expression field to control whether changes to the state of the group node should be implemented in a second client;
- a boolean expression field to control authorization to modify the group node by a second client;
- and
- a boolean expression field to control access to the group node by a second client.
A computer-readable medium containing a data structure for providing multi-user communication in a client-server system, the data structure comprising:
- a MultiUser Group node comprising:
- a boolean expression field to control whether changes to the state of the group node at the first client should-be communicated to a second client.
- a boolean expression field to control whether changes to the state of the group node should be implemented in a second client;
- a boolean expression field to control authorization to modify the group node by a second client;
- and
- a boolean expression field to control access to the group node by a second client.
An apparatus for providing multi-user communication in a client-server system, comprising:
- means for providing a MultiUser Group node comprising:
- a boolean expression field to control whether changes to the state of the group node at the first client should be communicated to a second client.
- a boolean expression field to control whether changes to the state of the group node should be implemented in a second client;
- a boolean expression field to control authorization to modify the group node by a second client;
- and
- a boolean expression field to control access to the group node by a second client.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.