1. A system comprising a plurality of apparatuses connected to a network, wherein each apparatus in said plurality of apparatuses comprises:
a management information storing portion in which a monitoring object identifier and a monitor identifier are registered;
a monitoring unit that monitors said monitoring object apparatus indicated by said monitoring object identifier; and
a responding unit that responds to the monitor apparatus indicated by said monitor identifier.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein each apparatus in said plurality of apparatuses further comprises a separation processing unit comprising:
a searching unit that searches for a search target apparatus in said plurality of apparatuses in said system; and
a management information changing unit that changes said monitoring object identifier registered in said apparatus to an identifier of said search target apparatus, and changes said monitor identifier registered in said search target apparatus to an identifier of said apparatus.
3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said searching unit
searches for said search target apparatus by requesting other apparatuses in said plurality of apparatuses in said system to send back a monitor identifier registered in each apparatus; and
determines said search target apparatus to be a responding apparatus which sends back a monitor identifier which indicates said monitoring object apparatus of said apparatus.
4. The system according to claim 3, wherein
requesting is performed sequentially and begins with said monitor apparatus of said apparatus and then is sequentially made to said monitor apparatus of succeeding apparatuses in said plurality of apparatuses until an apparatus sends back said monitor identifier which indicates said monitoring object apparatus of said apparatus in response to a request.
5. The system according to claim 3, wherein said searching unit
searches for said search target apparatus by requesting by broadcast other apparatuses of said plurality of apparatuses in said system to send back a monitor identifier registered in each apparatus of said plurality of apparatuses.
6. The system according to claim 2, wherein
1) each apparatus in said plurality of apparatuses further comprises
a log information storing portion in which log information of said monitoring object apparatus is registered, and
a log collecting unit that collects log information of said apparatus, and
2) said responding unit sends back said log information of said apparatus collected by said log collecting unit to said monitor apparatus in response to a log acquirement request from said monitor apparatus, and
3) said monitoring unit sends said log acquirement requests to said monitoring object apparatus and registers said log information sent back in said log information storing portion, and if said log information is not sent back, determines that trouble has occurred in said monitoring object apparatus, and
4) said separation processing unit of said apparatus further comprises
a log information updating unit that updates said log information registered in said log information storing portion with said log information received from said monitoring object apparatus.
7. The system according to claim 1, wherein each apparatus of said plurality of apparatuses further comprises:
a selection unit that selects a first apparatus and a second apparatus from said plurality of apparatuses in said system; and
a management information managing unit that registers an identifier of said apparatus of said plurality of apparatuses as a monitor identifier of said first apparatus and as a monitoring object identifier of said second apparatus, and that registers an identifier of said first apparatus as said monitoring object identifier of said apparatus of said plurality of apparatuses, and registers an identifier of said second apparatus as said monitor identifier of said apparatus of said plurality of apparatuses.
8. An apparatus for use in a system comprising a plurality of said apparatuses connected to a network comprising:
a management information storing portion in which a monitoring object identifier and a monitor identifier are registered;
a monitoring unit that monitors said monitoring object apparatus indicated by said monitoring object identifier; and
a responding unit that responds to said monitor apparatus indicated by said monitor identifier.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:
a separation processing unit comprising:
a searching unit that searches for a search target apparatus in said plurality of apparatuses in said system; and
a management information changing unit that changes said monitoring object identifier registered in said apparatus to an identifier of said search target apparatus, and changes said monitor identifier registered in said search target apparatus to an identifier of said apparatus.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said searching unit
searches for said search target apparatus by requesting other apparatuses in said plurality of apparatuses in said system to send back a monitor identifier registered in each apparatus in said plurality of apparatuses; and
determines said search target apparatus to be a responding apparatus which sends back a monitor identifier which indicates said monitoring object apparatus of said apparatus.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein
requesting is performed sequentially and begins with said monitor apparatus of said apparatus and then is sequentially made to said monitor apparatus of succeeding apparatuses in said plurality of apparatuses until an apparatus sends back said monitor identifier which indicates said monitoring object apparatus of said apparatus in response to a request.
12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said searching unit
searches for said search target apparatus by requesting by broadcast other apparatuses of said plurality of apparatuses in said system to send back a monitor identifier registered in each apparatus of said plurality of apparatuses.
13. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:
1) a log information storing portion in which log information of said monitoring object apparatus is registered; and
a log collecting unit that collects log information of said apparatus, and wherein
2) said responding unit sends back said log information of said apparatus collected by said log collecting unit to said monitor apparatus in response to a log acquirement request from said monitor apparatus, and
3) said monitoring unit sends said log acquirement requests to said monitoring object apparatus and registers said log information sent back in said log information storing portion, and if said log information is not sent back, determines that trouble has occurred in said monitoring object apparatus; and
4) said separation processing unit of said apparatus further comprises
a log information updating unit which updates said log information registered in said log information storing portion with said log information received from said monitoring object apparatus.
14. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:
a selection unit that selects a first apparatus and a second apparatus from said plurality of apparatuses in said system; and
a management information managing unit that registers an identifier of said apparatus of said plurality of apparatuses as a monitor identifier of said first apparatus and as a monitoring object identifier of said second apparatus, and that registers an identifier of said first apparatus as said monitoring object identifier, and registers an identifier of said second apparatus as said monitor identifier.
15. A method performed by an apparatus
in a system comprising a plurality of apparatuses connected to a network, and
with a management information storing portion in which a monitoring object identifier and a monitor identifier are registered; comprising
monitoring a monitoring object apparatus indicated by said monitoring object identifier; and
responding to monitoring by a monitor apparatus indicated by said monitor identifier.
16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising: a separation processing step which performs the steps of:
searching for a search target apparatus in said plurality of apparatuses in said system; and
a management information changing step for changing said monitoring object identifier registered in said apparatus to an identifier of said search target apparatus, and changing said monitor identifier registered in said search target apparatus to an identifier of said apparatus.
17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said searching step
searches for said search target apparatus by requesting other apparatuses in said plurality of apparatuses in said system to send back a monitor identifier registered in each apparatus of said plurality of apparatuses; and
includes the step of determining said search target apparatus to be an apparatus which sends back a monitor identifier which indicates said monitoring object apparatus of said apparatus.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein
requesting is performed sequentially and begins with said monitor apparatus of said apparatus and then is sequentially made to said monitor apparatus of succeeding apparatuses in said plurality of apparatuses until an apparatus sends back said monitor identifier which indicates said monitoring object apparatus of said apparatus in response to a request.
19. The method according to claim 17, wherein said searching step searches for said search target apparatus by requesting by broadcast other apparatuses of said plurality of apparatuses in said system to send back a monitor identifier registered in each apparatus of said plurality of apparatuses.
20. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:
selecting a first apparatus and a second apparatus from said plurality of apparatuses in said system; and
a management information managing step for registering an identifier of said apparatus of said plurality of apparatuses as a monitor identifier of said first apparatus and as a monitoring object identifier of said second apparatus, and for registering an identifier of said first apparatus as said monitoring object identifier of said apparatus of said plurality of apparatuses, and registering an identifier of said second apparatus as said monitor identifier of said apparatus of said plurality of apparatuses.
21. A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital programming apparatus,
in a system comprising a plurality of said apparatuses connected to a network, and
with a management information storing portion in which a monitoring object identifier and a monitor identifier are registered
to perform
a monitoring step for monitoring a monitoring object apparatus indicated by said monitoring object identifier; and
a responding step for responding to a monitor apparatus indicated by said monitor identifier.
22. The signal-bearing medium according to claim 21 wherein said program further performing:
a separation processing step comprising:
a searching step for searching for a search target apparatus in said plurality of apparatuses in said system; and
a management information changing step for changing said monitoring object identifier registered in said apparatus to an identifier of said search target apparatus, and changing said monitor identifier registered in said search target apparatus to an identifier of said apparatus.
23. The signal-bearing medium according to claim 22 wherein said searching step
searches for said search target apparatus by requesting other apparatuses in said plurality of apparatuses in said system to send back a monitor identifier registered in each of said plurality of apparatuses; and
includes the step of determining said search target apparatus to be an apparatus which sends back a monitor identifier which indicates said monitoring object apparatus of said apparatus.
24. A signal-bearing medium according to claim 23 wherein
requesting is performed sequentially and begins with said monitor apparatus of said apparatus and then is sequentially made to said monitor apparatus of succeeding apparatuses in said plurality of apparatuses until an apparatus sends back said monitor identifier in which indicates said monitoring object apparatus of said apparatus response to a request.
25. A signal-bearing medium according to claim 23 wherein said searching step
searches for said search target apparatus by requesting by broadcast other apparatuses of said plurality of apparatuses in said system to send back a monitor identifier registered in the requested apparatus of said plurality of apparatuses.
26. A signal-bearing medium according to claim 21 wherein said program further performing:
a selection step for selecting a first apparatus and a second apparatus from said plurality of apparatuses in said system; and
a management information managing step for registering an identifier of said apparatus of said plurality of apparatuses as a monitor identifier of said first apparatus and as a monitoring object identifier of said second apparatus, and for registering an identifier of said first apparatus as said monitoring object identifier of said apparatus of said plurality of apparatuses, and registering an identifier of said second apparatus as said monitor identifier of said apparatus of said plurality of apparatuses.
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 selectively displaying a watermark existing in a digital media file, the method comprising:
in response to uploading a digital media file to a media player searching each pixel of image data of the digital media file for a transparency level coordinate value, wherein the transparency level coordinate value is selected to cause a pixel red color level, green color level and blue color level data of a pixel to be displayed within image data of the digital media file by the media player;
if the searching of the image pixels finds the transparency level coordinate value in any of the pixels, determining if a group of the digital media file image data pixels each comprise the transparency level coordinate value and together define a known watermark pattern of individual image pixels represented by red color level coordinates, green color level coordinates, and blue color level coordinates of the group of pixels;
if the group of pixels comprises the transparency level coordinate value and defines the known pattern of individual image pixels, determining whether the media player is a designated media player;
if determined that the media player is a designated media player, modifying the value of the transparency level coordinate of each of the group of pixels so that the known watermark pattern defined by the group of pixels is not visible when the image pixel data of the digital media file is displayed by the media player; and
if determined that the media player is not a designated media player, not modifying the value of the transparency level coordinate of each of the group of pixels so that the known watermark pattern as defined by the red color level coordinates, the green color level coordinates and the blue color level coordinates of the group of pixels is visible when the image pixel data of the digital media file is displayed in an image by the media player.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the known watermark pattern group of pixels are identified in meta-data stored in association with the digital media file, and wherein the meta-data comprises code representing a set pattern of pixels.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the meta-data is accessed from within an application displaying the digital media and the meta-data is further represented as a series of (X, Y) coordinates further describing a location of the known watermark pattern group of pixels.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the transparency level coordinate value is selected to cause the known watermark pattern as defined by the red color level coordinates, the green color level coordinates, and the blue color level coordinates of the group of pixels to be opaque and thereby visible when the image pixel data of the digital media file is displayed by the media player.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transparency level coordinate value is selected to cause the known watermark pattern as defined by the red color level coordinates, the green color level coordinates, and the blue color level coordinates of the group of pixels to be transparent and thereby visible against a solid background of display of the digital media file image data by the media player.
6. A method for providing a service for selectively displaying a watermark existing in a digital media file, the method comprising:
providing a media player computer infrastructure that:
in response to uploading a digital media file to the media player, searches each pixel of image data of the digital media file for a transparency level coordinate value, wherein the transparency level coordinate value is selected to cause a red color level, a green color level and a blue color level of a pixel to be displayed within image data of the digital media file by the media player;
if the searching of the image pixels finds the transparency level coordinate value in any of the pixels, determines if a group of the digital media file image data pixels each comprise the transparency level coordinate value and together define a known watermark pattern of individual image pixels represented by red color level coordinates, green color level coordinates, and blue color level coordinates of the group of pixels;
if the group of pixels comprises the transparency level coordinate value and defines the known pattern of individual image pixels, determines whether the media player is a designated media player;
if determined that the media player is a designated media player, modifies the value of the transparency level coordinate of each of the group of pixels so that the known watermark pattern defined by the group of pixels is not visible when the image pixel data of the digital media file is displayed by the media player; and
if determined that the media player is not a designated media player, does not modify the value of the transparency level coordinate of each of the group of pixels, so that the known watermark pattern as defined by the red color level coordinates, the green color level coordinates, and the blue color level coordinates of the group of pixels is visible when the image pixel data of the digital media file is displayed in an image by the media player.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the transparency level coordinate value is selected to cause the known watermark pattern as defined by the red color level coordinates, the green color level coordinates, and the blue color level coordinates of the group of pixels to be opaque and thereby visible when the image pixel data of the digital media file is displayed by the media player.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the transparency level coordinate value is selected to cause the known watermark pattern as defined by the red color level coordinates, the green color level coordinates, and the blue color level coordinates of the group of pixels to be transparent and thereby visible against a solid background of a display of the digital media file image data by the media player.
9. The method of claim 6, wherein the known watermark pattern group of pixels are identified in meta-data stored in association with the digital media file, and wherein the meta-data comprises code representing a set pattern of pixels.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the media player computer infrastructure accesses the meta-data from within an application displaying the digital media, and wherein the meta-data is further represented as a series of (X, Y) coordinates describing a location of the known watermark pattern group of pixels.
11. An article of manufacture, comprising:
a computer-readable tangible storage device having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer system processing unit of a media player, cause the media player processing unit to:
in response to an upload of a digital media file to the media player, search each pixel of image data of the digital media file for a transparency level coordinate value, wherein the transparency level coordinate value is selected to cause a red color level, a green color level and a blue color level of a pixel to be displayed within image data of the digital media file by the media player;
if the search of the image pixels finds the transparency level coordinate value in any of the pixels, determine if a group of the digital media file image data pixels each comprise the transparency level coordinate value and together define a known watermark pattern of individual image pixels represented by red color level coordinates, green color level coordinates, and blue color level coordinates of the group of pixels;
if the group of pixels comprises the transparency level coordinate value and defines the known pattern of individual image pixels, determine whether the media player is a designated media player;
if determined that the media player is a designated media player, modify the value of the transparency level coordinate of each of the group of pixels so that the known watermark pattern defined by the group of pixels is not visible when the image pixel data of the digital media file is displayed by the media player; and
if determined that the media player is not a designated media player, not modify the value of the transparency level coordinate of each of the group of pixels, so that the known watermark pattern as defined by the red color level coordinates, the green color level coordinates, and the blue color level coordinates of the group of pixels is visible when the image pixel data of the digital media file is displayed in an image by the media player.
12. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein the transparency level coordinate value is selected to cause the known watermark pattern as defined by the red color level coordinates, the green color level coordinates, and the blue color level coordinates of the group of pixels to be opaque and thereby visible when the image pixel data of the digital media file is displayed by the media player.
13. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein the transparency level coordinate value is selected to cause the known watermark pattern as defined by the red color level coordinates, the green color level coordinates, and the blue color level coordinates of the group of pixels to be transparent and thereby visible against a solid background of a display of the digital media file image data by the media player.
14. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein the known watermark pattern group of pixels are identified in meta-data stored in association with the digital media file, and wherein the meta-data comprises code representing a set pattern of pixels.
15. The article of manufacture of claim 14, wherein the computer readable program code instructions, when executed by the processing unit, further cause the processing unit to access the meta-data from within an application displaying the digital media, and wherein the meta-data is further represented as a series of (X, Y) coordinates describing a location of the known watermark pattern group of pixels.
16. A media player system, comprising:
a processing unit, a computer readable memory and a computer-readable storage medium;
wherein the processing unit, when executing program instructions stored on the computer-readable storage medium via the computer readable memory:
in response to an upload of a digital media file to the media player, searches each pixel of image data of the digital media file for a transparency level coordinate value, wherein the transparency level coordinate value is selected to cause a red color level, a green color level and a blue color level of a pixel to be displayed within image data of the digital media file by the media player;
if the search of the image pixels finds the transparency level coordinate value in any of the pixels, determines if a group of the digital media file image data pixels each comprise the transparency level coordinate value and together define a known watermark pattern of individual image pixels represented by red color level coordinates, green color level coordinates, and blue color level coordinates of the group of pixels;
if the group of pixels comprises the transparency level coordinate value and defines the known pattern of individual image pixels, determines whether the media player is a designated media player;
if determined that the media player is a designated media player, modifies the value of the transparency level coordinate of each of the group of pixels so that the known watermark pattern defined by the group of pixels is not visible when the image pixel data of the digital media file is displayed by the media player; and
if determined that the media player is not a designated media player, does not modify the value of the transparency level coordinate of each of the group of pixels, so that the known watermark pattern as defined by the red color level coordinates, the green color level coordinates, and the blue color level coordinates of the group of pixels is visible when the image pixel data of the digital media file is displayed in an image by the media player.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the transparency level coordinate value is selected to cause the known watermark pattern as defined by the red color level coordinates, the green color level coordinates, and the blue color level coordinates of the group of pixels to be opaque and thereby visible when the image pixel data of the digital media file is displayed by the media player.
18. The system of claim 16, wherein the transparency level coordinate value is selected to cause the known watermark pattern as defined by the red color level coordinates, the green color level coordinates, and the blue color level coordinates of the group of pixels to be transparent and thereby visible against a solid background of a display of the digital media file image data by the media player.
19. The system of claim 16, wherein the known watermark pattern group of pixels are identified in meta-data stored in association with the digital media file, and wherein the meta-data comprises code representing a set pattern of pixels.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein the processing unit accesses the meta-data from within an application displaying the digital media, and wherein the meta-data is further represented as a series of (X, Y) coordinates describing a location of the known watermark pattern group of pixels.