KR102857641B1 - Apparatus for providing DaaS and operation method of the apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

According to one aspect, a server for providing DaaS (Device as a Service) for a plurality of client terminals includes: a unidirectional virtual terminal driven by a hypervisor of the server to generate unidirectional service data; a virtual terminal control agent installed on a host operating system of the server, the virtual terminal control agent creating a group for the plurality of client terminals and designating a leader client terminal within the group; a virtual terminal agent driven by the hypervisor and transmitting information on playback start and end points for the unidirectional service data to the virtual terminal control agent; and a streamer installed on the host operating system, receiving information on the playback start and end points from the virtual terminal control agent, and streaming the unidirectional service data including markers of the playback start and end points to the leader client terminal.

Description

Apparatus for providing DaaS and operation method of the apparatus

The present invention relates to DaaS (Device as a Service) technology, and more specifically, to a device for 1:N DaaS capable of switching between one-way services and two-way services, and an operating method thereof.

DaaS (Device as a Service) is a technology that implements virtual terminals in a cloud environment and allows users to access and use them remotely. Typically, in DaaS, a server runs a virtual terminal instance of a virtual M:\temporary\KTFP23-007\1.application\machine through a hypervisor, and users remotely access this virtual machine through a client, streaming the virtual machine's screen to perform tasks. VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) services, which provide desktop devices, and VMI (Virtual Mobile Infrastructure) services, which provide mobile devices, are types of DaaS.

Attempts are being made to apply DaaS to advertising and navigation using robots and kiosks, remote classes, and advertising and user services utilizing POS (Point of Sales) in unmanned stores. Examples include implementing virtual terminals on servers and streaming advertisements to multiple robots or kiosks installed in the same space, or streaming remote class data to multiple student terminals within a school. However, existing technologies have the following limitations when it comes to simultaneously providing the same data to multiple client terminals through DaaS.

It is possible to connect multiple clients to a single virtual terminal within a server, but there are security issues such as inter-client area invasion, control issues due to multiple clients being connected to a virtual terminal, and continuous server load occurring because the same screen must be streamed to multiple clients from a single virtual terminal. Therefore, it is common to connect one client terminal to a single virtual terminal within a server, but it is not economical due to server capacity limitations. A server costing around 10 million won can accommodate only about 50 virtual terminals (i.e. virtual machines), so implementing more virtual terminals requires a large number of servers, which incurs server maintenance costs, making it uneconomical.

Furthermore, multiple streamers (e.g., video/audio streamers) must be connected to a single virtual terminal to stream data. Similarly, server capacity is limited, and continuous streaming can consume hundreds of kilobits per second (Kbps) to several Mbps of traffic per client terminal, increasing network load. Furthermore, data must be streamed over the Internet, but UDP multicast and broadcast cannot be used.

In addition, when implementing a virtual terminal within the server to stream data with the same content to multiple client terminals in one direction, it is necessary to be able to provide two-way services to any client terminal when there is user intervention in that client terminal, but existing technology has limitations. In other words, it is difficult to simultaneously provide two-way services to client terminals that are playing one-way streaming data. In order to provide two-way services to each client terminal, a two-way virtual terminal within the server must be implemented for each client terminal and continuously connected, but this is not economical due to limitations in server capacity. In addition, there is a problem that data and service provision tools must be developed for each client terminal, and maintenance is required, which consumes time and money.

The present invention has been proposed to solve the above-described problem, and its purpose is to provide a device and an operating method for providing DaaS, which can unidirectionally provide data of the same content to multiple client terminals with a small server load and small network usage, and can immediately provide a two-way service when necessary.

According to one aspect, a server for providing DaaS (Device as a Service) for a plurality of client terminals includes: a unidirectional virtual terminal driven by a hypervisor of the server to generate unidirectional service data; a virtual terminal control agent installed on a host operating system of the server, the virtual terminal control agent creating a group for the plurality of client terminals and designating a leader client terminal within the group; a virtual terminal agent driven by the hypervisor and transmitting information on playback start and end points for the unidirectional service data to the virtual terminal control agent; and a streamer installed on the host operating system, receiving information on the playback start and end points from the virtual terminal control agent, and streaming the unidirectional service data including markers of the playback start and end points to the leader client terminal.

The above leader client terminal can transmit a recording file of the one-way service data recorded based on the markers of the playback start and end points and an information file about the playback start and end points to other member client terminals within the group.

The above virtual terminal control agent can designate a leader client terminal based on at least one of the processor performance, number of network hops, or delay time of each client terminal in the group.

The above virtual terminal control agent receives periodic connection status reports from each client terminal within the group, and when reports from the leader client terminal are disconnected, it can redesignate one of the remaining client terminals as the leader client.

The above virtual terminal control agent can restart a unidirectional service through the above reassigned leader client terminal.

The server may further include a bidirectional virtual terminal that is driven by the hypervisor and provides a bidirectional service to a client terminal from among the client terminals in the group where a user input has occurred.

According to another aspect, a client terminal for receiving DaaS (Device as a Service) from a server includes: a virtual area driven by a hypervisor of the client terminal and playing unidirectional service data including markers of playback start and end points received from a unidirectional virtual terminal of the server; a virtual area recording unit installed on the hypervisor and recording the virtual area; a virtual area control unit installed on the hypervisor and controlling the virtual area recording unit; a virtual area control agent installed on a host operating system of the client terminal and transmitting a recording start/end command to the virtual area control unit based on the markers of the playback start and end points; and a communication and relay agent installed on the host operating system and communicating with the server to perform a leader designation process and transmitting a recording file of the virtual area and an information file of the playback start and end points to other member client terminals belonging to the same group.

The above virtual area control agent can transmit a recording start command to the virtual area control unit when the unidirectional virtual terminal is connected, and can transmit a recording end command to the virtual area control unit when the marker of the end point is confirmed during playback of the unidirectional service data.

The above communication and relay agent can retransmit the recording file and the information file to the client terminal of another member belonging to the same group at the request of the client terminal of the other member, or based on the status information of the client terminal of the other member.

According to another aspect, a client terminal for receiving DaaS (Device as a Service) from a server includes a communication and relay agent installed on a host operating system of the client terminal and receiving a recording file for unidirectional service data and an information file for playback start and end points from a client terminal designated as a leader by the server; a virtual area playback unit installed on a hypervisor of the client terminal and loading the received recording file into a virtual area driven by the hypervisor and playing it back; a virtual area control unit installed on the hypervisor and controlling the virtual area playback unit; and a virtual area control agent installed on the host operating system and transmitting a playback start/end command to the virtual area control unit according to the information for playback start and end points included in the information file so that playback is repeated between the playback start and end points within the virtual area.

The above virtual area control agent, if the client terminal designated as the leader is of a different type, can check the relative time with respect to the client terminal designated as the leader with respect to the playback start and end points, and set the playback start and end points based on the processor cycle count for the playback start and end points.

When a user input event for a two-way service occurs in the virtual area, the virtual area control agent connects to the two-way virtual terminal of the server to add two-way service data to a recording file loaded in the virtual area, and when the use of the two-way service is terminated, deletes the file for the added two-way service data, and then controls the playback of the one-way service data again.

According to another aspect, a method for providing DaaS (Device as a Service) for a plurality of client terminals from a server includes the steps of: creating a group for the plurality of client terminals and designating a leader client terminal within the group; generating unidirectional service data by driving a unidirectional virtual terminal by a hypervisor; and streaming the unidirectional service data including markers of playback start and end points to the leader client terminal through a streamer within a host operating system.

The method may further include a step of transmitting, by the leader client terminal, a recording file of the one-way service data recorded based on markers of the playback start and end points and an information file about the playback start and end points to another member client terminal within the group.

The above-mentioned designating step may designate a leader client terminal based on at least one of the processor performance, number of network hops, or delay time of each client terminal in the group.

The above method may further include a step of receiving periodic connection status reports from each client terminal within the group, and, if reports from the leader client terminal are disconnected, redesignating one of the remaining client terminals as the leader client.

The above method may further include a step of restarting a unidirectional service through the re-designated leader client terminal.

The above method may further include a step of providing a two-way service by driving a two-way virtual terminal by the hypervisor for a client terminal among the client terminals within the group where a user input has occurred.

According to the present invention, since one-way service data is not streamed from a server to all client terminals within a group, but only to a leader client terminal, server load and network usage can be reduced, and the battery of the client terminal can be used efficiently.

According to the present invention, when a user intervenes at a specific client terminal while playing one-way service data of the same content at all client terminals in a group, the specific client terminal can be immediately switched to a two-way service and provided, and when the two-way service ends, the terminal can be switched back to a one-way service, thereby providing one-way and two-way services flexibly.

According to the present invention, even if the client terminals within a group are of different models, each client terminal can repeatedly play the same section of one-way service data having the same content, so that one-way service having the same content can be provided to multiple client terminals without being limited to a specific device.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a DaaS (Device as a Service) system according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a drawing specifically showing the configuration of the server of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a drawing specifically showing the configuration of the client terminal of Figure 1.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of creating a group of client terminals and designating a leader in a server according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for streaming one-way service data to a leader client terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for reassigning a leader according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method for a leader client terminal to distribute unidirectional service data to group members according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method for a leader client terminal to check the status of members according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method for a member client terminal to provide a one-way service according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a specific method of playing a recording file on a member client terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method for converting a one-way service into a two-way service according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the embodiments disclosed in this specification will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Regardless of the drawing numbers, identical or similar components will be given the same reference numbers, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted. The suffix "part" used for components in the following description is given or used interchangeably only for the convenience of writing the specification, and does not in itself have a distinct meaning or role. In addition, when describing the embodiments disclosed in this specification, if it is determined that a specific description of a related known technology may obscure the gist of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the attached drawings are only intended to facilitate easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, and the technical ideas disclosed in this specification are not limited by the attached drawings, and should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.

Terms that include ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by these terms. These terms are used solely to distinguish one component from another.

Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this application, terms such as "comprises" or "have" are intended to indicate the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, but should be understood not to preclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

In implementing the present invention, components may be described in detail for convenience of explanation, but these components may be implemented in one device or module, or one component may be implemented by being divided into multiple devices or modules.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a DaaS (Device as a Service) system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the DaaS system according to the present embodiment includes a server (100) and a plurality of client terminals (200). In the DaaS system, a client terminal (200) connects to the server (100), and a virtual terminal is executed within the server (100), and streaming data such as the screen, video, and audio of the virtual terminal are transmitted to the client terminal (200). In the present embodiment, the plurality of client terminals (200) are a group of clients that receive the same service. For example, the client terminals may be kiosks, robots, educational terminals, POS, or signage terminals.

Referring to FIG. 1, the server (100) includes a host operating system (OS) (110), a hypervisor (120), and a virtual terminal (130). Although not illustrated, the server (100) also includes physical hardware such as a CPU, a GPU, memory (MEMORY), a disk, and a network interface card (NIC, e.g., an ethernet card), as well as device drivers. The CPU executes a set of instructions stored in the memory to perform various functions of DaaS and process data. The memory may include a high-speed random access memory, a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory device, or another non-volatile semiconductor memory device. The disk includes one or more magnetic disk storage devices, such as a local storage device or a remote storage device such as a network-attached storage device.

The host operating system (110) is installed on the physical disk of the server (100) and is executed by the CPU. The hypervisor (120) is a software layer that creates a virtual machine corresponding to a virtual terminal (130) on the host operating system (110), virtualizes physical hardware within the virtual machine to create a logical physical device, and installs and operates the operating system. For example, KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine)/QEMU technology can be used, but is not limited thereto.

The virtual terminal (130) is a virtual machine that includes logical virtual hardware virtualized by the host operating system (110), and also has a guest operating system (Guest OS) installed on it, and various user applications (User Applications) can be installed and executed on the guest operating system (Guest OS). The user applications include various services, such as advertising services and education services. The guest operating system can be an operating system including Linux, NetBSD, FreeBSD, Solaris, Windows, Darwin, RTXC, UNIX, OS X, VxWorks, Android, etc. The virtual terminal (130) can include a unidirectional terminal and a bidirectional terminal. This will be described in more detail below.

A client terminal (200) is a computing device owned by a user, such as a personal computer, laptop, tablet PC, or smartphone. The client terminal (200) can connect to a server (100) and receive streaming data, such as screens, voices, and images, of a virtual terminal (130) running within the server (100). The client terminal (200) includes a host operating system (OS) (210), a hypervisor (220), and a virtual area (230). The virtual area (230) is the interior of a virtual machine driven by the hypervisor (220), and data streaming from the virtual terminal (130) of the server (100) is played. The virtual area (230) includes logical virtual hardware virtualized by a host operating system (OS) (210) on which a virtual machine can operate, and also a guest operating system (Guest OS) is installed, and various user applications can be installed and executed in the guest operating system (Guest OS).

A plurality of client terminals (200) are managed as a group by the server (100), and one of the plurality of client terminals (200) can be designated as a leader by the server (100). One-way service data played on the virtual terminal (130) of the server (100) is streamed once to the client terminal (200) designated as the leader (hereinafter, referred to as the leader client terminal). At this time, the one-way service data streamed from the server (100) includes playback start and end point markers. The leader client terminal (200) starts recording from the time of connection to the virtual terminal (130) of the server (100), checks the playback start and end point markers, and ends recording when the end point marker is reached, and transmits the recording file and the playback start and end point information file to other client terminals (200) in the group. Here, the recording file is a disk image file, for example, a snapshot.

Each of the other client terminals (200) within the group boots and runs the recording file transmitted from the leader client terminal (200) in a virtual area (230) within each client terminal (200). At this time, each client terminal (200) repeatedly plays the content between the playback start point and the playback end point in the driven recording file based on the playback start and end point information included in the information file. As a result, all client terminals (200) within the group play and display the same content of one-way service data.

All client terminals (200) within the group periodically transmit connection status reports to the server (100) while providing one-way service. When all client terminals (200) within the group are playing and displaying one-way service data having the same content, if a user input such as a screen touch occurs on a client terminal (200), the client terminal (200) requests a two-way connection to the server (100) and communicates with the server (100) to provide a two-way service. That is, the client terminal (200) provides a two-way service by transmitting a user input to the server (100) and receiving and displaying streaming data in response to the user input from the server (100). Thereafter, when a user terminates the service, the client terminal (200) disconnects the two-way connection with the server (100) and replays and displays the recording file of the one-way service that was previously playing.

As described above, since not all client terminals (200) within the group receive one-way service data streaming from the server (100), but only the leader client terminal (200) receives one-way service data streaming, the network load due to network traffic can be reduced, there is no need to increase server capacity, and also, other than the leader client terminal (200), other member client terminals (200) within the group do not need to continuously communicate with the server (100) through the network, thereby reducing power consumption. Hereinafter, a more specific description will be given with reference to an embodiment with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a drawing specifically showing the configuration of the server of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2, a virtual terminal control agent (111) and a streamer (112) are installed on a host operating system (110), and a unidirectional virtual terminal (131) and a bidirectional virtual terminal (132) as virtual terminals (130) are driven by a hypervisor (120), and a virtual terminal agent (133) is also driven by the hypervisor (120). Each of the unidirectional virtual terminal (131), the bidirectional virtual terminal (132), and the virtual terminal agent (133) may be a virtual machine.

The virtual terminal control agent (111) manages the connection between the virtual terminal (130: 131, 132) and the client terminal (200) in conjunction with the virtual terminal agent (133), and also manages a group of client terminals (200) and controls the connection. The virtual terminal control agent (111) creates a group of client terminals (200) according to an input of an administrator, and designates a leader client terminal (200) within each group. Preferably, the virtual terminal control agent (111), after creating a group according to an input of an administrator, can receive a request to join the group from the client terminals (200), and includes a specified number of client terminals (200) in the group. If more client terminals (200) than the specified number apply to join the group, the virtual terminal control agent (111) can divide the group into multiple groups according to the specified number.

The virtual terminal control agent (111) can designate as a leader the client terminal with the best processor performance (e.g., highest throughput), the client terminal with the smallest number of network hops by checking the number of network hops of the client terminals (200), or the client terminal with the smallest RTT (Round Trip Time) by checking the RTT of the client terminals (200). The virtual terminal control agent (111) transmits group member information (e.g., IP address, ID, etc.) to the client terminal (200) designated as the leader and also transmits leader information (e.g., IP address, ID, etc.) to members within the group.

The virtual terminal control agent (111) can periodically receive connection status reports from each client terminal (200) within the group. If the virtual terminal control agent (111) does not receive periodic connection status reports from the leader client terminal (200), it restarts the leader designation process, and if the unidirectional service is interrupted, it restarts the unidirectional service through the re-designated leader client terminal (200) according to the procedure described above.

When a unidirectional virtual terminal (131) is driven by a connection of a leader client terminal (200), the virtual terminal control agent (111) receives information on the start and end points of playback for repeated playback of unidirectional service data from the virtual terminal agent (133) and transmits the information to the streamer (112). Preferably, the virtual terminal agent (133) can receive information on the start and end points of playback from an administrator.

The streamer (112) encodes data such as the screen and voice of the virtual terminal (130: 131, 132) and streams them to the client terminal (200). For example, the screen or desktop of an application running on the virtual terminal (130: 131, 132) is streamed to the client terminal (200). Preferably, the streamer (112) can perform encoding and transcoding using the CPU, GPU, etc. of the server (100). When streaming one-way service data to the leader client terminal (200), the streamer (112) includes playback start and end point markers received from the virtual terminal control agent (111) in the one-way service data and transmits them.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the streamer (112) is preferably installed on the host operating system (110) to improve user UX. When the streamer (112) is installed in a virtual terminal (130: 131, 132), video/network/user input/output (I/O) data passes through the guest operating system (Guest OS) in the virtual terminal (130: 131, 132), causing a delay, and the GPU of the server (100) cannot be used. When the streamer (112) is installed in the host operating system (110), such delay can be reduced, the response speed when providing a service can be improved, and the graphic acceleration function using the GPU of the server (110) can be provided to multiple clients, enabling various functions and fast computing.

The unidirectional virtual terminal (131) provides unidirectional service data to the leader client terminal (200). Preferably, the unidirectional virtual terminal (131) operates on the hypervisor (120) and can be driven according to an administrator's input or can be driven according to a request from the leader client terminal (200). The unidirectional virtual terminal (131) transmits unidirectional service data to the leader client terminal (200) through the streamer (112) and can be terminated after the transmission of the unidirectional service data is completed.

The bidirectional virtual terminal (132) is driven when a bidirectional service request is made from a client terminal (200) with user input among the client terminals (200) within the group that are playing unidirectional service data, transmits the bidirectional service data to the client terminal (200) via the streamer (112), and transmits response data according to the user's input. When a user's termination input is received from the client terminal (200), the bidirectional virtual terminal (132) disconnects from the client terminal (200) and ends the operation.

The virtual terminal agent (133) manages the connection between the virtual terminal (130: 131, 132) and the client terminal (200) in conjunction with the virtual terminal control agent (111), and also transmits events of the virtual terminal (130: 131, 132) to the virtual terminal control agent (111). In this embodiment, the virtual terminal agent (133) transmits information on the start and end points of playback to the virtual terminal control agent (111) according to an input of an administrator regarding the start and end points of playback for unidirectional service data played in the unidirectional virtual terminal (131).

FIG. 3 is a drawing specifically showing the configuration of the client terminal of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 3, a virtual area control agent (211) and a communication and relay agent (212) are installed on a host operating system (210), a virtual area recording unit (221), a virtual area playback unit (222), and a virtual area control unit (223) are installed on a hypervisor (220), and a virtual area agent (231) is installed in a virtual area (230).

The virtual area control agent (211) receives events within the virtual area (230) from the virtual area agent (231) by interacting with the virtual area agent (231) within the virtual area (230). In addition, the virtual area control agent (211) communicates with the virtual area control unit (223) above the hypervisor (220) and transmits commands for starting/ending recording and starting/ending playback of the virtual area (230) to the virtual area control unit (223).

Preferably, when the connection to the unidirectional virtual terminal (130) in the server (100) is completed, the virtual area control agent (211) of the leader client terminal (200) transmits a recording start command of the virtual area (230) to the virtual area control unit (233) of the hypervisor (220), and when a playback end point marker is confirmed in the unidirectional service data streamed from the unidirectional virtual terminal (130), it transmits a recording end command of the virtual area (230) to the virtual area control unit (233) of the hypervisor (220).

Meanwhile, the virtual area control agent (211) of the non-leader client terminal (200) transmits a playback start command or a playback end command to the virtual area control unit (233) of the hypervisor (200) based on the recording file received from the leader client terminal (200) and the information file including information on the playback start and end points. Preferably, the virtual area control agent (211) transmits a playback start command or a playback end command to the virtual area control unit (233) based on the information on the playback start and end points included in the information file, thereby allowing the unidirectional service data to be repeatedly played from the playback start point to the end point within the virtual area (230).

The virtual area control agent (211), if the client terminal (200) is of a different type from the leader client terminal (200), can check the relative time with respect to the leader client terminal (200) with respect to the start and end points of playback, record the processor cycle count for the start and end points of playback, and then set the start and end points of playback.

The communication and relay agent (231) performs the registration of the client terminal (200) in the server (100), the group joining of the client terminal (200), and the leader designation process, and transmits the recording file and the information file for the unidirectional service data of the unidirectional virtual terminal (131) played in the virtual area (230) to other client terminals (200) within the group and receives them from other client terminals (220).

In addition, the communication and relay agent (231), in the leader state, collects service status information of group members from the server (100) or each member client terminal (200), and, if there is a member for which one-way service is not continuously provided, can retransmit a recording file of one-way service data and the information file to the client terminal (200) of the member. Alternatively, the communication and relay agent (231) in the member state other than the leader can request one-way service data to be retransmitted to the leader client terminal (200) if one-way service cannot be continuously provided.

The virtual area recording unit (221) on the hypervisor (220) records unidirectional service data within the virtual area (230) under the control of the virtual area control unit (223) to generate a recording file. Here, the recording file is a disk image, for example, a disk snapshot. The virtual area recording unit (221) operates on the leader client terminal (200).

The virtual area playback unit (222) above the hypervisor (220) loads and plays a recording file received from the leader client terminal (200) into the virtual area (230) under the control of the virtual area control unit (223). At this time, the virtual area playback unit (222) repeatedly plays between the playback start point and the playback end point under the control of the virtual area control unit (223) based on an information file including information on the playback start and end points.

The virtual area control unit (223) on the hypervisor (220), as described above, communicates with the virtual area control agent (211) installed on the host operating system (210), receives recording start/end and playback start/end commands from the virtual area control agent (211), and controls the virtual area recording unit (221) and the virtual area playback unit (222) based on the received commands.

The virtual area agent (231) operates in the virtual area (230) and transmits events within the virtual area (230) to the virtual area control agent (211) of the host operating system (210). For example, when a user input for one-way service data is received, the virtual area agent (231) transmits a user input event to the virtual area control agent (211) of the host operating system (210), thereby converting the one-way service into a two-way service. The virtual area agent (231) of the leader client terminal (200) can connect to the virtual terminal (130) of the server (100) and stream video/audio of the virtual terminal (130: 131, 132). In addition, the virtual area agent (231) can periodically transmit a connection status report to the server (100).

The virtual area control agent (211) can record the bidirectional service data by connecting to the bidirectional virtual terminal (132) in the server (100) to convert the one-way service into a two-way service, adding the bidirectional service data to a recording file loaded from the virtual area (230), i.e., a disk snapshot, and when the use of the two-way service is terminated, deleting the disk snapshot file for the added two-way service data.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of creating a group of client terminals and designating a leader in a server according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, in step S401, the server (100) creates a client group based on an administrator's input. For example, it creates a name for the client group. In step S402, the server (100) checks whether a new client terminal has joined the created client group. Preferably, a user of the client terminal (200) can select a group to which he or she wishes to join from the client groups provided by the server (100) and apply for membership.

In step S403, the server (100) verifies whether the number of clients registered within the group is greater than N (where N is a natural number greater than 1). Preferably, the server (100) receives registration applications only for a predetermined period of time after creating the group, and verifies whether the number of clients registered within the group is greater than N after the predetermined period of time has elapsed. If the number of clients registered within the group is greater than N, the server (100) divides the group into multiple groups in step S404.

Once group creation is completed in this manner, in step S405, the server (100) checks the processor performance, network hop count, and RTT of the client terminals (200) within the group. The server (100) can confirm this by sending a related message to the client terminals (200).

In step S406, the server (100) determines whether leader designation is possible based on processor performance. For example, if all client terminals (200) are of the same model, and the processor performance is the same, it is determined that leader designation based on processor performance is not possible. If leader designation based on processor performance is possible, in step S407, the server (100) designates the client terminal (200) with the highest processing capacity as the leader.

Meanwhile, if leader designation is not possible due to processor performance, in step S408, the server (100) determines whether leader designation is possible based on the number of network hops. For example, if the number of network hops of all client terminals (200) is the same, it can be determined that leader designation based on the number of hops is not possible. If leader designation based on the number of hops is possible, in step S409, the server (100) designates the client terminal (200) with the smallest number of hops as the leader.

If leader designation is not possible by hop count, in step S410, the server (100) checks whether leader designation is possible by RTT. For example, if the RTTs of all client terminals (200) are the same, it can be determined that leader designation by RTT is not possible. If leader designation is possible by RTT, in step S411, the server (100) designates the client terminal (200) with the smallest RTT as the leader. Here, RTT refers to the round-trip time of the signal, which means delay time.

In addition to the examples described above, a leader can be designated by combining processor performance, hop count, and RTT. For example, if two client terminals (200) have the best processor performance within a group, the hop counts of the two client terminals (200) can be compared, and the client terminal (200) with the smaller hop count can be designated as the leader. If the hop counts are also the same, the client terminal (200) with the smaller RTT can be designated as the leader.

If a leader cannot be designated under the above conditions, in step S412, the server (100) designates any one of the client terminals (200) within the group as a leader.

When leader designation is completed, in step S413, the server (100) transmits information (e.g., IP address, ID, etc.) of member client terminals (200) within the group to the leader client terminal (200). Thereafter, the leader client terminal (200) transmits leader information (e.g., IP address, ID, etc.) to the member client terminals (200) based on the received information of the member client terminals (200). Accordingly, the client terminals (200) within the group can know who is the leader and who is a member.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for streaming one-way service data to a leader client terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, in step S501, the server (100) may receive a request for unidirectional service data from a leader client terminal (200), or may receive input for streaming unidirectional service data from an administrator. Input from the administrator may be received after group creation is completed or when changes to existing unidirectional service data are required.

In step S502, the server (100) executes a unidirectional virtual terminal (131). And in step S503, the server (100) plays unidirectional service data on the unidirectional virtual terminal (131) according to an administrator's input.

In step S504, the server (100) receives from the administrator the start and end points of playback to be played on the client terminals (200) for the one-way service data being played.

In step S505, the server (100) streams one-way service data including markers of the playback start and end points to the leader client terminal (200) via the streamer (112). Then, in step S506, the server (100) terminates the one-way virtual terminal (131).

According to the embodiment with reference to the above FIG. 5, the server (100) does not need to repeatedly stream the unidirectional service data to each client terminal (200) in order to allow the unidirectional service data to be played on the client terminals (200), but only transmits the unidirectional service data to the leader client terminal (200) and then terminates the unidirectional virtual terminal (131), so there is no need to increase the server capacity and network traffic can be reduced.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for reassigning a leader according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, in step S601, the server (100) receives periodic connection status reports from each client terminal (200). In step S602, the server (100) checks, based on the periodic connection status reports, whether there is a client terminal (200) whose reports have been disconnected.

If there is a client terminal (200) whose report is disconnected, in step S603, the server (100) checks whether the client terminal (200) is a leader client terminal (200). If it is not a leader client terminal (200), in step S604, the server (100) sends a notification to the administrator. The notification may include various methods, such as displaying a pop-up message on the administrator terminal or sending an email to the administrator's email address.

If the client terminal (200) whose report is disconnected is a leader client terminal (200), in step SS605, the server (100) starts a procedure for re-designating the leader client terminal (200) according to the method described with reference to FIG. 4, thereby designating the leader client terminal (200).

After completing the reassignment of the leader client terminal (200), in step S606, the server (100) checks whether the unidirectional service is interrupted. For example, if the connection of the previous leader client terminal (200) is disconnected while the streaming transmission of unidirectional service data to the previous leader client terminal (200) is not completed, the unidirectional service can be determined to be interrupted.

If the one-way service is interrupted, in step S607, the server (100) re-streams the one-way service data including markers of the playback start and end points to the re-designated leader client terminal (200) according to the method referring to FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method for a leader client terminal to distribute unidirectional service data to group members according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, in step S701, the leader client terminal (200) connects to the unidirectional virtual terminal (131) of the server (100). Then, in step S702, the leader client terminal (100) receives unidirectional service data including markers of playback start and end points from the unidirectional virtual terminal (131) and starts playback. The leader client terminal (100) plays the unidirectional service data in the virtual area (230).

In step S703, the leader client terminal (200) starts recording. Preferably, the leader client terminal (200) can start recording the unidirectional service data within the virtual area (200) from the time the unidirectional service data is received.

In step S704, the leader client terminal (200) checks whether the playback end point has been reached while playing the unidirectional service data. Preferably, the leader client terminal (200) checks whether the playback end point marker has been reached in the unidirectional service data.

When the playback end point is reached, in step S705, the leader client terminal (200) ends recording and creates a recording file. Here, the recording file is a disk image, for example, a disk snapshot.

In step S706, the leader client terminal (200) transmits the recording file and the playback start and end point information file to the group members. At this time, the leader client terminal (200) may transmit the file to the group members using P2P communication, etc., but is not necessarily limited thereto, and may also transmit it via the server (100). Since the file is transmitted only once rather than repeatedly, even if it is transmitted via the server (100), the load problem of the server (100) does not significantly occur. Meanwhile, each client terminal (200) periodically transmits a connection status report to the server (100).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method for a leader client terminal to check the status of members according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, in step S801, the leader client terminal (200) collects service status information of group members. Preferably, the leader client terminal (200) can collect service status information of group members through the server (100). As described with reference to FIG. 6, each client terminal (200) transmits periodic connection status reports to the server (100), so the leader client terminal (200) can collect service status information of group members from the server (100). Here, the service status information includes information on whether a one-way service is continuously provided, a retransmission request, etc.

In step S802, the leader client terminal (200) determines whether the one-way service is continuously provided on each member's client terminal (200). If the one-way service is not provided on some client terminals (200), in step S803, the leader client terminal (200) retransmits to the corresponding client terminal (200) an information file including the recording file and information on the start and end points of playback.

According to the embodiment referring to the above figure 8, one-way service can be continuously provided without interruption to members within a group.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method for a member client terminal to provide a one-way service according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, in step S901, one member client terminal (200) receives a recording file for a one-way service and an information file including information on the start and end points of playback from a leader client terminal (200).

In step S902, the member client terminal (200) loads the received recording file into the virtual area (230) and plays it. At this time, the member client terminal (200) repeatedly plays between the playback start point and the playback end point based on an information file including information on the playback start and end points.

In step S903, the member client terminal (200) determines whether the one-way service can continue to be provided. For example, if a previously received recording file or information file has been deleted or damaged, the member client terminal (200) may determine that the one-way service cannot continue to be provided.

If the one-way service can be continuously provided, in step S904, the member client terminal (200) transmits a sustainability notification to the leader client terminal (200). Preferably, the member client terminal (200) can transmit the sustainability notification through the server (100), or can transmit the sustainability notification through direct communication such as P2P communication.

If the one-way service cannot be continuously provided, in step S905, the member client terminal (200) requests the leader client terminal (200) to retransmit the recording file and information file. The member client terminal (200) may request the retransmission through a server or through P2P communication, etc.

In step S906, the member client terminal (200) re-receives the recording file and the information file from the leader client terminal (200). Then, in step S907, the member client terminal (200) plays the recording file, and at this time, based on the information file including information on the playback start and end points, plays the file repeatedly between the playback start point and the playback end point.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a specific method of playing a recording file on a member client terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10, in step S1001, the member client terminal (200) receives a recording file and an information file including information on the start and end points of playback from the leader client terminal (200). Then, in step S1002, the member client terminal (200) verifies whether the leader client terminal (200) is of the same model.

If the devices are of the same type, in step S1003, the member client terminal (200) sets the playback start and end points based on the playback start and end point information included in the information file. Then, in step S1004, the member client terminal (200) starts playback of the recording file. Here, the recording file is a disk snapshot file, loaded into the virtual area (230) of the member client terminal (200), and the area between the playback start and end points is repeatedly played.

Meanwhile, if they are not of the same type, in step S1005, the member client terminal (200) checks the relative time with respect to the leader client terminal (200) with respect to the start and end points of playback. Then, in step S1006, the member client terminal (200) starts playback of the recording file.

In step S1007, the member client terminal (200) records the processor cycle count for the playback start and end points. And in step S1008, the member client terminal (200) sets the playback start and end points.

Meanwhile, in step S1009, the member client terminal (200) checks whether the recording file being played has reached the playback end point, and if it has reached the playback end point, in step S1010, it returns to the playback start point and then starts playback again in step S1011. Accordingly, the member client terminal (200) repeatedly plays from the playback start point to the playback end point.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method for converting a one-way service into a two-way service according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 11, a client terminal (200) providing a one-way service checks whether a user input has occurred in step S1101. If a user input has occurred, the client terminal (200) terminates playback of the recording file in step S1102. Then, in step S1103, the client terminal (200) connects to the two-way virtual terminal (132) of the server (100).

In step S1004, the client terminal (200) provides a two-way service to the user. For example, the client terminal (200) may transmit the user's input to the two-way virtual terminal (132) and receive and display response data to the user's input from the two-way virtual terminal (132). At this time, the client terminal (200) records the two-way service data by adding the two-way service data to a disk snapshot of a recording file for an existing one-way service.

In step S1005, the client terminal (200) determines whether the use of the two-way service has ended. Termination of the use of the two-way service may include termination by a user's termination input or termination according to a procedure within the two-way service.

When the use of the two-way service is terminated, in step S1006, the client terminal (200) disconnects the two-way virtual terminal (132). Then, in step S1007, the client terminal (200) deletes the disk snapshot file for the two-way service data added in step S1004.

In step S1108, the client terminal (200) resets the playback start and end points to provide the unidirectional service again, and in step S1109, repeats the playback start and end points. Since the bidirectional service is provided based on the recording file of the unidirectional service, i.e., the disk snapshot, and only the relevant snapshot file needs to be deleted after termination, there is no need to receive the recording file again after termination of the bidirectional service; resetting the playback start and end points is sufficient.

The DaaS (Device as a Service) system according to the above embodiments can be used for advertising and space (or route) guidance using robots and kiosks. For example, advertisements can be transmitted as a one-way service to multiple robots or kiosks within the same space, and when a user touches the robot or kiosk, the robot or kiosk can switch to an interactive service, such as route guidance. Another example is the use of teaching assistant intervention during remote classes or exam-taking in remote classes. Within the same learning environment, class data can be transmitted as a one-way service to multiple student terminals, and when a student calls a teaching assistant or a teacher creates a quiz, the service can switch to an interactive service, such as problem solving. Another example is the use of POS in unmanned stores for advertising and user services. Advertisements can be transmitted as a one-way service to multiple unmanned store POS terminals within the same area, and when a customer touches the POS terminal, the service can switch to an interactive service, such as payment processing.

While this specification includes many features, such features should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention or the claims. Furthermore, features described in individual embodiments herein may be combined and implemented in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features described in a single embodiment herein may be implemented individually or in appropriate combinations across multiple embodiments.

Although operations are illustrated in the drawings in a specific order, this should not be construed as meaning that such operations are performed in the specific order depicted, or in a series of sequential orders, or that all illustrated operations must be performed to achieve a desired result. Multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous in certain environments. Furthermore, it should be understood that the distinction between the various system components in the embodiments described above does not require such distinction in all embodiments. The program components and systems described above may generally be implemented as a package in a single software product or multiple software products.

The method of the present invention, as described above, can be implemented as a program and stored in a computer-readable form on a recording medium (e.g., CD-ROM, RAM, ROM, floppy disk, hard disk, magneto-optical disk, etc.). Since this process can be easily performed by a person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, it will not be described in further detail.

The present invention described above is not limited to the above-described embodiments and the attached drawings, as various substitutions, modifications, and changes can be made within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains.

100: Server
110, 210: Host operating system (OS)
111: Virtual Terminal Control Agent
112: Streamer
120, 220: Hypervisor
130: Virtual terminal
131: One-way virtual terminal
132: Bidirectional virtual terminal
133: Virtual Terminal Agent
200: Client terminal
211: Virtual Reality Control Agent
212: Communication and Relay Agent
221: Virtual Area Recording Unit
222: Virtual Reality Playback Unit
223: Virtual Area Control Unit

Claims (18)

In a server for providing DaaS (Device as a Service) to multiple client terminals,
A unidirectional virtual terminal driven by the hypervisor of the above server to generate unidirectional service data;
A virtual terminal control agent installed on the host operating system of the above server, which creates a group for the plurality of client terminals and designates a leader client terminal within the group;
A virtual terminal agent driven by the hypervisor and transmitting information on the start and end points of playback for the unidirectional service data to the virtual terminal control agent;
A streamer installed on the host operating system, receiving information on the start and end points of the playback from the virtual terminal control agent, and streaming the unidirectional service data including markers of the start and end points of the playback to the leader client terminal; and
A server including a bidirectional virtual terminal that is driven by the hypervisor and provides a bidirectional service to a client terminal in the group that has received a user input based on markers of the playback start and end points included in the unidirectional service data received from the leader client terminal, and that disconnects the client terminal when the bidirectional service is terminated so that the unidirectional service of the client terminal is provided again. In the first paragraph,
The above leader client terminal is,
A server characterized in that it transmits a recording file of the one-way service data recorded based on the markers of the playback start and end points and an information file about the playback start and end points to other member client terminals within the group. In the first paragraph,
The above virtual terminal control agent,
A server characterized in that it designates a leader client terminal based on at least one of processor performance, number of network hops, or delay time of each client terminal in the group. In the first paragraph,
The above virtual terminal control agent,
A server characterized in that it receives periodic connection status reports from each client terminal within a group, and, when reports from a leader client terminal are disconnected, redesignates one of the remaining client terminals as a leader client. In paragraph 4,
The above virtual terminal control agent,
A server characterized in that it restarts a one-way service through the above-mentioned re-designated leader client terminal. delete For a client terminal to receive DaaS (Device as a Service) from a server,
A virtual area driven by the hypervisor of the client terminal and playing unidirectional service data including markers of playback start and end points received from the unidirectional virtual terminal of the server;
A virtual area recording unit installed on the hypervisor and recording the virtual area;
A virtual area control unit installed on the hypervisor and controlling the virtual area recording unit;
A virtual area control agent installed on the host operating system of the client terminal and transmitting a recording start/end command to the virtual area control unit based on markers of the playback start and end points; and
A client terminal including a communication and relay agent installed on the host operating system, communicating with the server to perform a leader designation process, and transmitting a recording file of the virtual area and an information file about the start and end points of the playback to other member client terminals belonging to the same group. In paragraph 7,
The above virtual area control agent,
A client terminal characterized in that, when the unidirectional virtual terminal is connected, a recording start command is transmitted to the virtual area control unit, and when the marker of the end point is confirmed during playback of the unidirectional service data, a recording end command is transmitted to the virtual area control unit. In paragraph 7,
The above communication and relay agent,
A client terminal characterized in that, upon request from another member client terminal belonging to the same group, or based on status information of another member client terminal, the recording file and the information file are retransmitted to the client terminal of the corresponding member. For client terminals for DaaS (Device as a Service) from the server,
A communication and relay agent installed on the host operating system of the client terminal and receiving a recording file for one-way service data and an information file for the start and end points of playback from the client terminal designated as a leader by the server;
A virtual area playback unit installed on the hypervisor of the client terminal and loading the received recording file into a virtual area driven by the hypervisor and playing it back;
A virtual area control unit installed on the hypervisor and controlling the virtual area playback unit; and
A client terminal including a virtual area control agent installed on the host operating system and transmitting a playback start/end command to the virtual area control unit according to information on the playback start and end points included in the information file, thereby causing repeated playback between the playback start and end points within the virtual area. In Article 10,
The above virtual area control agent,
A client terminal characterized in that, when the client terminal is of a different type from the client terminal designated as the leader, the client terminal checks the relative time with respect to the client terminal designated as the leader with respect to the start and end points of playback, and sets the start and end points of playback based on the processor cycle count for the start and end points of playback. In Article 10,
When a user input event for a two-way service occurs in the above virtual area,
The above virtual area control agent,
A client terminal characterized in that it connects to a two-way virtual terminal of the server, adds two-way service data to a recording file loaded in the virtual area, deletes the file for the added two-way service data when the use of the two-way service is terminated, and then controls the playback of the one-way service data again. In a method for providing DaaS (Device as a Service) to multiple client terminals from a server,
A step of creating a group for the above multiple client terminals and designating a leader client terminal within the group;
A step of generating unidirectional service data by driving a unidirectional virtual terminal by a hypervisor;
A step of streaming the unidirectional service data including markers of playback start and end points to the leader client terminal through a streamer on the host operating system; and
A method comprising: providing a two-way service by driving a two-way virtual terminal by the hypervisor for a client terminal in the group providing a one-way service based on markers of the start and end points of the playback included in the one-way service data received from the leader client terminal; and, when the two-way service is terminated, disconnecting the client terminal from the two-way virtual terminal so that the one-way service of the client terminal is provided again. In Article 13,
A method further comprising a step of transmitting, by the leader client terminal, a recording file of the one-way service data recorded based on markers of the playback start and end points and an information file about the playback start and end points to other member client terminals within the group. In Article 13,
The steps specified above are:
A method characterized in that a leader client terminal is designated based on at least one of processor performance, number of network hops, or delay time of each client terminal in the group. In Article 13,
A method characterized by further comprising the step of receiving periodic connection status reports from each client terminal within the group and, when reports from the leader client terminal are disconnected, redesignating one of the remaining client terminals as the leader client. In Article 16,
A method characterized in that it further comprises a step of restarting a unidirectional service through the above-mentioned re-designated leader client terminal. delete