1. A service providing system, comprising:
a client device comprising at least one of an image reading unit which reads an image and generates image data representing the image and an image printing unit which prints an image represented by the image data; and
a server configured to execute a service regarding at least one of functions of the image reading unit and the image printing unit,
wherein the client device comprises:
a function execution unit that controls one of the image reading unit and the image printing unit to execute one of the functions of the image reading unit and the image printing unit in accordance with an execution command requesting execution of a function received from the server;
an error notification unit that notifies the server of occurrence of an error and identification information for identifying a phase in which the error arises if an error interfering with execution of a function controlled by the function execution unit arises before the execution of the function is finished;
a manner designation unit that requests designation of a manner of restarting indicating how to restart execution of a function, which is interfered by the error and is to be controlled by the function execution unit, if a command requesting designation of the manner of restarting is received from the server which has notified of the occurrence of an error;
a manner notification unit that sends a notification containing the designated manner of restarting to the server; and
a restart request unit that transmits a request for a restart of the execution of the function interfered by the error to the server, after the occurrence of the error is notified to the server,
wherein the function execution unit restarts the execution of the function interfered by the error in accordance with a command requesting a restart of the function received from the server which has been notified of the designated manner of restarting, and
wherein the manner designation unit requests the designation of the manner of restarting, according to a command from the server which has received the request from the restart request unit,
wherein the server comprises:
a service providing unit that sends the execution command as one of operations for providing a service for the client device;
a phase identifying unit that identifies a phase in which the error interfering with the execution of the function arises, from among phases existing throughout the execution of the function, based on the identification information contained in a notification received from the error notification unit during the execution of the function;
a phase registration unit that registers the identified phase in association with the client device; and
a designation instruction unit that transmits, to the client device, the command requesting the designation of the manner of restarting so that the manner of restarting is designated from among more than one manner of restarting comprising a manner for restarting the execution of the function from the phase identified by the phase identifying unit,
wherein the service providing unit operates to send the command requesting restart to the client device to restart the execution of the service according to the designated manner of restarting notified by the client device when the server is notified of the designated manner of restarting from the client device that has received the command from the designation instruction unit, and
wherein, when the server receives the request for the restart of the execution of the function from the client device, the designation instruction unit of the server specifies the identified phase corresponding to the client device from among phases registered by the phase registration unit, and transmits the command requesting the designation of the manner of restarting so that the manner of restarting is designated from among the more than one manner of restarting comprising the manner for restarting the execution of the function from the identified phase corresponding to the client device.
2. The service providing system according to claim 1, wherein:
the function execution unit of the client device is configured to cause the image reading unit to generate image data to be obtained by reading images formed on a recording medium set at a predetermined reading position and to transmit the image data to the server, when the client device receives a request for the image data to be obtained by reading images formed on the recording medium as the execution command;
the error notification unit of the client device is configured to notify the server of the occurrence of an error if one of a reading error and a transmission error arises before transmission of the image data by the function execution unit is finished;
the service providing unit of the server executes a command process for sending the request for the image data to be obtained by reading images formed on the recording medium to the client device, and for receiving the image data from the client device which has received the request;
the phase identifying unit of the server identifies a phase following a phase in which images represented by the received image data have been successfully read, using the image data successfully received from the client device which has received the request of the command process, as the phase in which the error interfering with the execution of the function arises, if the command process is not finished at a time when the occurrence of the error is notified; and
if the designated manner of restarting notified from the client device which has received the command from the designation instruction unit indicates that the execution of the function is to be restarted from the identified phase and if the identified phase is preceding completion of reception of all of the image data requested from the client device in the command process, the service providing unit executes a restart command process for sending an instruction requesting the client device to restart the reading of images from the identified phase and for receiving image data from the client device which has received the instruction.
3. The service providing system according to claim 2, wherein the error notification unit of the client device sends reading status information enabling the server to identify image data for which the reading of images has been successfully finished before a time when the notification of the error is received, if one of the reading error and the transmission error arises before transmission of the image data by the function execution unit is finished.
4. The service providing system according to claim 1, wherein:
the function execution unit of the client device is configured to cause the image printing unit to print one or more images represented by image data from the server on recording medium, if the client device receives the image data and a request for printing images represented by the image data on recording medium from the server as the execution command;
the error notification unit of the client device is configured to notify the server of the occurrence of an error, together with print status information enabling the server to identify a image for which the printing of images has been successfully finished before a time when the error arises, if one of a reception error of the image data and a print error of the images arises before printing for all of the image data by the function execution unit is finished;
the service providing unit of the server executes a command process for sending the image data to the client device, and for sending the request for printing one or more images represented by the image data on recording medium to the client device;
the phase identifying unit of the server identifies a phase following a phase in which the printing of the image identified from the print status information is finished, as the phase to be identified, if the occurrence of the error is notified from the client device together with the print status information; and
if the designated manner of restarting notified from the client device which has received the command from the designation instruction unit indicates that the execution of the function is to be restarted from the identified phase and if the identified phase is preceding completion of the printing of all of the images represented by the image data requested from the client device in the command process, the service providing unit requests transmission of at least a part of image data blocks required for restarting the printing of the images from the identified phase and the printing of one or more images represented by the part of the image data blocks, from the client device.
5. A client device comprising at least one of an image reading unit which reads an image and generates image data representing the image and an image printing unit which prints an image represented by image data, the client device being connected to a server for receiving services concerning at least one of functions of the image reading unit and the image printing unit from the server, comprising:
a function execution unit that controls one of the image reading unit and the image printing unit to execute one of the functions of the image reading unit and the image printing unit in accordance with an execution command requesting execution of a function received from the server;
an error notification unit that notifies the server of occurrence of an error and identification information for identifying a phase in which the error arises if an error interfering with execution of a function controlled by the function execution unit arises before the execution of the function is finished, such that the identified phase is registered in the server in association with the client device;
a manner designation unit that requests designation of a manner of restarting indicating how to restart execution of a function, which is interfered by the error and is to be controlled by the function execution unit, if a command requesting designation of the manner of restarting is received from the server which has notified of the occurrence of an error;
a manner notification unit that sends a notification containing the designated manner of restarting to the server; and
a restart request unit that transmits a request for a restart of the execution of the function interfered by the error to the server after the occurrence of the error is notified to the server, such that, when the request to restart the execution of the function is received by the server, the server specifies the identified phase corresponding to the client device from among phases registered therein and transmits a command requesting the designation of the manner of restarting,
wherein the function execution unit restarts the execution of the function interfered by the error in accordance with a command requesting a restart of the function received from the server which has been notified of the designated manner of restarting,
wherein the manner designation unit requests the designation of the manner of restarting, according to a command from the server which has received the request from the restart request unit, and
wherein the manner of restarting is designated from among more than one manner of restarting comprising a manner of restarting the execution of the function from the identified phase corresponding to the client device after receiving the command requesting the designation of the manner of restarting from the server.
6. A server for providing a service for a client device comprising at least one of an image reading unit which reads an image and generates image data representing the image and an image printing unit which prints an image represented by the image data, the service concerning one of functions of the image reading unit and the image printing unit, comprising:
a service providing unit that sends an execution command as one of operations for providing a service for the client device;
a phase identifying unit that identifies a phase in which an error interfering with the execution of a function arises, from among phases existing throughout the execution of the function, based on identification information contained in a notification received in the server from an error notification unit that notifies the server of occurrence of the error and the identification information for identifying the phase in which the error arises if the error arises before the execution of the function is finished;
a phase registration unit that registers the identified phase in association with the client device; and
a designation instruction unit that transmits, to the client device, the command requesting the designation of a manner of restarting so that the manner of restarting is designated from among more than one manner of restarting comprising a manner for restarting the execution of the function from the phase identified by the phase identifying unit,
wherein the service providing unit operates to send the command requesting restart to the client device to restart the execution of the service according to the manner of restarting notified by the client device when the server is notified of the manner of restarting from the client device that has received the command from the designation instruction unit, and
wherein, when the server receives a request for a restart of the execution of the function from the client device, the designation instruction unit of the server specifies the identified phase corresponding to the client device from among phases registered by the phase registration unit, and transmits the command requesting the designation of the manner of restarting so that the manner of restarting is designated from among the more than one manner of restarting comprising the manner for restarting the execution of the function from the identified phase corresponding to the client device.
7. A method for receiving services from a server, the method being implemented on a client device having an image reading unit which reads an image and generates image data representing the image and an image printing unit which prints an image represented by image data, the method comprising the steps of:
executing one of functions of the image reading unit and the image printing unit in accordance with an execution command requesting execution of a function received from the server;
notifying the server of occurrence of an error and identification information for identifying a phase in which the error arises if an error interfering with execution of a function executed by the executing step arises before execution of the function is finished, such that the identified phase is registered in the server in association with the client device;
requesting designation of a manner of restarting indicating how to restart execution of the function, which is interfered by the error, if a command requesting designation of a manner of restarting is received from the server which has notified of the occurrence of the error; and
sending a notification containing the designated manner of restarting to the server; and
transmitting a request for a restart of the execution of the function interfered by the error to the server after the occurrence of the error is notified to the server, such that, when the server receives the request to restart the execution of the function, the server specifies the identified phase corresponding to the client device from among phases registered therein and transmits a command requesting the designation of the manner of restarting,
wherein in the executing step, the execution of the function interfered by the error is restarted in accordance with a command requesting a restart of the function received from the server which has been notified of the designated manner of restarting,
wherein requesting the designation of the manner of restarting comprises requesting the designation of the manner of restarting according to a command from the server which has received the request to restart the execution of the function, and
wherein the manner of restarting is designated from among a plurality of manners of restarting comprising a manner of restarting the execution of the function from the identified phase corresponding to the client device after receiving the command requesting the designation of the manner of restarting from the server.
8. A method for providing services, the method being implemented on a server to provide services for a client device having an image reading unit which reads an image and generates image data representing the image and an image printing unit which prints an image represented by image data, the method comprising the steps of:
sending an execution command as one of operations for providing a service for the client device;
identifying a phase in which an error interfering with execution of a function executed by the client device arises, from among phases existing throughout the execution of the function, based on identification information contained in a notification received in the server from an error notification unit in the client device that notifies the server of occurrence of the error and the identification information for identifying the phase in which the error arises if the error arises before the execution of the function is finished;
registering the identified phase in association with the client device; and
when a request for a restart of the execution of the function is received from the client device:
specifying the identified phase corresponding to the client device from among registered phases, and
transmitting a command, to the client device, requesting a designation of a manner of restarting so that the manner of restarting is designated from among more than one manners of restarting comprising a manner for restarting the execution of the function from the phase identified by the identifying step,
wherein in the sending step, a command requesting restart is sent to the client device to restart the execution of the service according to the manner of restarting notified by the client device when the server is notified of the manner of restarting from the client device that has received the command requesting the designation of a manner restarting, and
wherein the step of transmitting the command requesting the designation of the manner of restarting comprises designating the manner of restarting from among the more than one manner of restarting comprising the manner for restarting the execution of the function from the identified phase corresponding to the client device.
9. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium having a program stored thereon for use on a client device having an image reading unit which reads an image and generates image data representing the image and an image printing unit which prints an image represented by image data, the computer program comprising computer readable instructions that cause the client device to carry out a method for receiving services from a server, the method comprising the steps of:
executing one of functions of the image reading unit and the image printing unit in accordance with an execution command requesting execution of a function received from the server;
notifying the server of occurrence of an error and identification information for identifying a phase in which the error arises if an error interfering with execution of a function executed by the executing step arises before execution of the function is finished, such that the identified phase is registered in the server in association with the client device;
requesting designation of a manner of restarting indicating how to restart execution of the function, which is interfered by the error, if a command requesting designation of a manner of restarting is received from the server which has notified of the occurrence of the error;
sending a notification containing the designated manner of restarting to the server; and
transmitting a request for a restart of the execution of the function interfered by the error from the server after the occurrence of the error is notified to the server, such that, when the server receives the request to restart the execution of the function, the server specifies the identified phase corresponding to the client device from among phases registered therein and transmits a command requesting the designation of the manner of restarting,
wherein in the executing step, the execution of the function interfered by the error is restarted in accordance with a command requesting a restart of the function received from the server which has been notified of the designated manner of restarting,
wherein requesting the designation of the manner of restarting comprises requesting the designation of the manner of restarting according to a command from the server which has received the request to restart the execution of the function, and
wherein the manner of restarting is designated from among a plurality of manners of restarting comprising a manner of restarting the execution of the function from the identified phase corresponding to the client device after receiving the command requesting the designation of the manner of restarting from the server.
10. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium having a program stored thereon for use on a server, the computer program comprising computer readable instructions that cause the server to carry out a method for providing services for a client device having an image reading unit which reads an image and generates image data representing the image and an image printing unit which prints an image represented by image data, the method comprising the steps of:
sending an execution command as one of operations for providing a service for the client device;
identifying a phase in which an error interfering with execution of a function executed by the client device arises, from among phases existing throughout the execution of the function, based on identification information contained in a notification received in the server from an error notification unit in the client device that notifies the server of occurrence of the error and the identification information for identifying the phase in which the error arises if the error arises before the execution of the function is finished;
registering the identified phase in association with the client device; and
when a request for a restart of the execution of the function is received from the client device:
specifying the identified phase corresponding to the client device from among registered phases, and
transmitting a command, to the client device, requesting a designation of a manner of restarting so that the manner of restarting is designated from among more than one manner of restarting comprising a manner for restarting the execution of the function from the phase identified by the identifying step,
wherein in the sending step, a command requesting restart is sent to the client device to restart the execution of the service according to the manner of restarting notified by the client device when the server is notified of the manner of restarting from the client device that has received the command requesting the designation of a manner restarting, and
wherein the step of transmitting the command requesting the designation of the manner of restarting comprises designating the manner of restarting from among the more than one manner of restarting comprising the manner for restarting the execution of the function from the identified phase corresponding to the client device.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for operating a server comprises:
receiving a request from a client computer to initiate a telephone call via the Internet in response to a single click on an advertisement;
wherein the client computer has an installed e-commerce voice solution (ECVS) program, wherein opening the ECVS program displaces a graphical user interface (GUI) on a computer display device of the client computer, and wherein the GUI contains the advertisement, the advertisement stored on the client computer;
initiating a real-time communications channel between the client computer and the server via the Internet in response to the request;
determining a telephone number in response to the request;
using a voice modem, coupled to the server and to a telephone line, to dial the telephone number;
receiving packets of voice data from the client computer from the Internet;
reassembling the packets of voice data into a stream of digital voice data;
converting the stream of digital voice data to a stream of analog voice data;
outputting the stream of analog voice data to the voice modem, and
outputting the stream of the analog voice data from the voice modem to the telephone line.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the telephone number in response to the request comprises retrieving the telephone number from a memory in the server in response to the request.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the request comprises the telephone number.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a request from the client computer to initiate the telephone call comprises
receiving the request from the client computer to initiate the telephone call via another voice modem.
5. A method for operating a server comprises:
receiving a request at a server from a client computer to initiate a telephone call via a computer network, the request from the client computer in response to a single click on an advertisement, wherein the client computer has an installed e-commerce voice solution (ECVS) program, wherein opening the ECVS program displaces a graphical user interface (GUI) on a computer display device of the client computer, and wherein the GUI contains the advertisement, the advertisement stored on the client computer;
initiating a real-time communications channel at the server to the client computer via the computer network in response to the request from the client computer;
determining a telephone number to dial in response to the request;
dialing the telephone number on a telephone with a voice modem, the server comprising the voice modem and the voice modem coupled to the telephone line;
receiving packets of voice data at the server from the client computer;
reassembling at the server the packets of voice data into a stream of digital audio data;
converting the stream of digital audio data to a stream of analog audio data with a sound board within the server;
outputting the stream of analog audio data to the voice modem, and
outputting the stream of the analog audio data from the voice modem to the telephone line.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein determining the telephone number comprises retrieving the telephone number from a memory in the server in response to the request.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the request comprises a first telephone number and the telephone number comprises a second telephone number.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the telephone number is contained in the web page.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the telephone number is a telephone number is reserved for calls responsive to the web page.
10. The method of claim 5 wherein the telephone number is contained in the web page.
11. The method of claim 5 wherein the telephone number is a telephone number is reserved for calls responsive to the web page.
12. A method for operating a server comprises:
receiving a request from a client computer to initiate a telephone call via the Internet a single click on an advertisement, wherein the client computer has an installed e-commerce voice solution (ECVS) program, wherein opening the ECVS program displaces a graphical user interface (GUI) on a computer display device of the client computer, and wherein the GUI contains the advertisement, the advertisement stored on the client computer;
initiating a real-time communications channel between the client computer and the server via the Internet in response to the request;
determining a telephone number in response to the request;
using a voice modem, coupled to the server and to a telephone line, wherein the telephone line is connected to a POTS and PSTN service, to dial the telephone number, wherein a voice connection through both the PSTN and Internet networks is established.
13. The method of claim 5 wherein the telephone number is a telephone number is reserved for calls responsive to the web page.
14. The method of claim 5 wherein the telephone number is contained in the web page.