CN1408168A

CN1408168A - Transferring fitted content for user from server

Info

Publication number: CN1408168A
Application number: CN00815498A
Authority: CN
Inventors: G·帕勒; E·扎尔卡
Original assignee: Nokia Oyj
Current assignee: Nokia Oyj
Priority date: 1999-11-09
Filing date: 2000-11-01
Publication date: 2003-04-02
Also published as: WO2001035595A1; AU1151001A; EP1232625A1

Abstract

A technique for transferring content between a server and a client when the client has a limited CPU capability includes the client forwarding a request for content to the server with a header, the header including the characteristics of the client. The server then scales the requested content according to the client characteristics contained in the header so as to be suitable for use by the client prior to transmitting the content to the client. In addition, the technique for transferring content between a server and a client having a limited memory capacity via a gateway disposed between the server and client includes splitting a page to be sent to the client from the server into two or more sub-pages when the memory of the client is insufficient to store the entire page, the information as to the size of the memory of the client being forwarded to the gateway.

Description

Transmit suitable content from server to the user

Invention field

The present invention relates to client/server system, more specifically, the present invention relates between server and client computer, transmit content.

The description of association area

One of state-of-the-art technology is to have to make the realization of cell phone user by the bigger graphical visual display device cellular phone of access to the Internet several data storehouse and service in the cell phone technology that is advanced by main cellular telephone manufacturers.

In order to operate the setting of this cellular phone, the user opens phone, and signal is sent to antenna, and antenna transmits signal and receives the base station to nearest honeycomb fashion, and the base station receives the transmission of phone.

Then, the user can, for example, dial and to cry a request to the internet connection of base station, then, the base station transmit a request to mobile switching centre by base station controller.This switching centre sends this by suitable route and asks its desired purpose, for example, and by the Web server address of (URL) request definition.

After server obtains user's information requested, information is by the display screen of reformatting with suitable cellular phone, information is sent to mobile switching centre, base station controller and base station, information will be transferred back to the cellular phone of solicited message, be displayed on then on the display screen of cellular phone.

Unfortunate thing, the disposal ability of the microprocessor of cellular phone and the capacity of memory are relatively limited.

In addition, the size of display screen and resolution are also limited.

At last, data transmission rate between server and the client computer (cellular phone) is limited to about 9.6 kilobit per seconds at present, this speed is significantly less than the speed by the 56 common kilobit per seconds of client computer and internet communication by ordinary telephone line, much smaller than the speed (as DSL) by client computer and internet communication of utilizing the high speed data lines communication.

Therefore, exist to reduce treating capacity that the CPU of cellular phone carries out and the demand of more multiprocessing amount by the server execution.Particularly to note adjusting aspect ratio and be sent to client computer and be displayed on the scaling of the picture material on the cellular phone display screen by server.

In addition, because be sent to the common size of not considering client memory because the Internet client generally has enough memories of information on the internet Web server on the client computer, so exist when enough not storing whole page when the memory of client computer, cutting apart by server is two or more subpage technology requirement to one page of client transmission.

Brief summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a kind of new technology, between server and client computer, transmit content.

More specifically, one of purpose of the present invention provides a kind of technology, the CPU disposal ability that this technology makes in client computer has in limited time, by using server to realize that aspect ratio and the conversion of content scaling ratio make its suitable client computer display screen become possibility in the transmission content before client computer.

In addition, another object of the present invention provides a kind of new technology, this technology is to have only between the client-server of finite memory, when client memory is not enough stored whole page or leaf, be two or more subpage cause gateway transmission contents by utilizing gateway to cut apart this page or leaf that will send to client computer.

By first aspect of the present invention, a kind of method of transmitting content between server and client computer is provided, this method comprises:

Send feature by client computer to server to requests for content and client computer;

The feature of the client computer that transmits by client computer is moulded requested content on server; With

By the requested content of server after client and transmission are moulded.

By second aspect of the present invention, a kind of equipment that transmits content between server and client computer is provided, this equipment is placed on the server, comprises:

A reception is from the request of client computer and the receiver of client computer feature;

Storage is by the memory of the content of client requests;

Mould according to the feature of the client computer that transmits by client computer storage content mould device; With

Requested content after a transmission is moulded is to the output unit of client computer.

The further embodiment of this method and apparatus is by the related right requirements definition.

The accompanying drawing summary

Fig. 1 illustrates the telecommunication system that the present invention can be employed.

Fig. 2 is the flow chart of the present invention's part operation.

Fig. 3 illustrates page or leaf according to the present invention and cuts apart.

Fig. 4 is the flow chart that convergent-divergent of the present invention is shown.

Most preferred embodiment is described

Shuo Ming the following description of the present invention utilization is connected to the operation of the cellular phone of internet Web server by way of example.Yet, know that the present invention is not limited only to this mode, and can be used to the client/server type that arbitrary client computer has limited CPU disposal ability and/or finite memory.

Fig. 1 with reference to cellular telephone system configuration is shown begins most, the user transmit by the internet Web server come to requests for content.

This request sends to the base station by radio wave, and the base station sends a request to the base station controller that connects other base stations successively.

Base station controller forwards the request to mobile switching centre, under the situation of using common telephone call, this center send information to the phone of central office with connection request, under the situation of the Internet request, the Internet request is transmitted to the internet Web server in this center, for example, by WAP (unlimited application protocol) gateway.

The internet Web server is handled this request back and is transmitted content by getting back to the cellular phone of client computer to the path of cellular phone equally.

In general, from the client computer use of internet Web server request content or by the relative big display that has for storage and display image content, the desktop computer of the CPU that appropriateness is powerful and enough memories, perhaps by having weak slightly CPU, lack memory slightly, but still enough show the notebook computer of the picture material of coming by the internet Web server.

On the other hand, the cellular phone with Internet function newly developed has been equipped with the CPU of limited capability and has been the very little memory of memory image content.

Fig. 2 illustrates an embodiment who moulds function of the present invention of the form that is divided into page or leaf for explanation.When the beginning of page or leaf dividing function, client computer uses suitable client/server Handshake Protocol initialization to connect Web server, sends content requests to Web server again in step 10.

In Handshake Protocol, also comprise the information that is transferred to server about the memory span of the client computer of memory image content pages.

Please note request, Handshake Protocol, and content is not directly transmission between mobile switching centre and internet Web server, but, by as at mobile switching centre or cellular network with really carried out WAP (unlimited application protocol) gateway passes of the interface between the internet Web server of multiple the present invention and other functions.

In step 20, WML (WAP Markup Language) page or leaf is received from Web server by the request of gateway customer in response machine.

In step 30, this element that WML page or leaf is formatted and all are unnecessary all deleted (as note, unnecessary disconnected in the ranks etc.)." cleaning " step of this WML page or leaf has reduced the memory footprint of this page and has allowed more accurate estimation whether page or leaf need be cut apart.

In step 35, the size (memory footprint of memory page) of page or leaf is determined.

In step 40, the size of this WML page or leaf is compared with the client memory restriction that has been transferred to gateway in above-mentioned handshake procedure.

Because in fact, the WML page or leaf must be compiled before being forwarded to client computer, the size whether can not determine more certainly between the size of Bian Yi WML page or leaf and client memory limit is compiled back WML page or leaf is greater than the restriction of client memory, but it can determine that greater than client memory the WML page or leaf size after the compiling necessarily limits greater than client memory by the size that does not compile the WML page or leaf certainly.

Therefore, if compiling page or leaf size is not greater than client memory, treatment step forwards step 50 to, and this WML page or leaf is divided into two or more WML subpages there.

These details of cutting apart the WML page or leaf will go through below.

In step 60, the WML subpage after cutting apart compiles with common agreement and step 70, and the WML subpage after the compiling is sent to client computer and is presented on the display screen of client computer.

Perhaps, if in step 40, the size of WML page or leaf is not more than the client memory restriction, and processing procedure proceeds to step 80, and WML also is used the agreement compiling that utilizes step 60 equally in this step again.

In step 90, the size of the WML page or leaf after the compiling and client memory restriction ratio are.

If compiling back WML page or leaf size limits greater than client memory, must cut apart the WML page or leaf certainly is two or more WML subpages, and therefore, processing procedure proceeds to the above-mentioned step 50 that the WML page or leaf is two or more subpages of cutting apart.Perhaps, if the WML page or leaf size after the compiling is not more than the client memory restriction, so, compiling back WML page or leaf is sent to client computer, as step 70.

Fig. 3 illustrates an example of cutting apart by WML page or leaf of the present invention.

Original page itself is very unfortunate can not to be stored and to be presented on the display of client computer too greatly.

Therefore, by the present invention, this page or leaf is split into subpage 1/2 and subpage 2/2.

Please note head, option part and to return two subpages are the parts that all have, the connection that note that down one page and page up again makes between the subpage and interconnects.

About the details that page or leaf is cut apart, following general element must all show on every page:

(template, time are gone to type=" connect to some common tasks of A-

Be subjected to " etc.);

The B-head;

The C-option;

D-returns.

Following element is inseparable element, must be together on same page:

The A-link, task (Go, Do etc.);

Some input types of B-(option group, territory collection etc.);

The C-speech.

If it is necessary cutting apart the option group, can be linked on the real page or leaf by placing one, the independently subpage that the option group is arranged is pointed in this link.

When the format element is cut apart in the centre, after must being closed, this element reopens at following one page again.For example:

＜B〉＜I〉Mary, be my wife, I leave you never!＜/I〉＜/B 〉

Must be divided into following two sections:

＜B〉＜I〉Mary, be my wife,＜/I〉＜/B 〉

＜B〉＜I〉I leave you never!＜/I〉＜/B 〉

A Deck (in the WAP term explication being arranged) is a downloaded contents unit.A WAP connects Deck/ card of sensing forever.Deck comprises one or more card.For example, display unit is that card and download unit are Deck.If another card among the same Deck of link sensing is arranged in the card, this link can not cause network communication so.

Cut-point possible among the Deck is (by preferably to the most bad order):

Between the A-card (the best);

Between the B-paragraph;

Between C-connects;

The D-formatter;

The E-between-line spacing;

Between the F-sentence (in the text);

G-speech (in the text).

Conversion can be realized by following each point between subpage:

The A-option;

The link at B-subpage top;

The link of C-subpage bottom;

Please note that the WAP standard is at least client computer and has defined two buttons.The name of button is " option " and " returning ".The user can forward the function of web browser definition to by " option " button, and as " withdraw from and browse ", " bookmark is set " etc. also has WAP to use the function that is provided with.

The Back button often is used to former road and returns, and as the situation of HTML (hypertext markup language) browser, but the WAP application program can distribute different task (and title) to give it, also can make its invalid (hiding).

One " grappling (Anchor) " is the synonym of link.The link of WAP and HTML link that look the same, and all being has underscore and point to a URL.

If the memory of client is very limited, suggestion reduces the size of page or leaf as much as possible.Therefore, following element indicates the sign that should be become a character (or very short).

A-URL；

B-card name;

The C-variable name.

For example, ID quotes (most important, URL quotes) do not have compression in WMLC preservation.The process that shortens can be:

1. client requests page or leaf

http：//wap.server.com/menu/main.wml

2. this page or leaf comprises connection

http：//wap.server.com/apps/banking/welcome.wml

3.WAP gateway obtains page or leaf and is converted to:

Http:// x166346Sign 166346 equals

http：//wap.s?erver.com/apps/banking/welcome.wml

4. client computer obtains the page or leaf of URL:

http：//x166346

5. the user clicks " banking " connection.

6. client computer sends request, requires user-selected connection

http：//x166346。

7.WAP gateway by conversion request in the conversion table is

http：//wap.server.com/apps/banking/welcome.wml

And request delivered to apps server.

Therefore, client browser will be handled short URL rather than length.A Deck comprises every at least one URL of card, is generally and is opened 5 to 10 on card.Therefore, the conversion of sign has the size that has reduced greatly after changing in limited time very much at client memory.

Explanation the present invention flow chart on the other hand during Fig. 4, just, the picture material that provides when the client requests server and when showing the picture material that receives is moulded content by the convergent-divergent of content, as picture material.

In client/server system, discussed a lot for using the coordinate system pattern of " thin " client computer, as cellular phone.

Two kinds of possible modes are with physical equipment coordinate system and logical coordinates system.Use the physical equipment coordinate system to show that the programmer of application program uses the real equipment coordinate system of client screen.For example, if the programmer wishes to have an end setting-out of screen to arrive the other end, the real width of client computer is 100 screen pixels or point, and so real setting-out instruction is the spitting image of line (1,100).

The shortcoming of physical equipment coordinate system scheme is that application program must be noted that the ratio of width to height and convergent-divergent problem.The programmer must consider all different client computer show it also is shortcoming.

The second way is to use logical coordinate system, wherein the image submodule processes and displays convergent-divergent of client computer.The advantage of this mode is that the programmer of application program need not consider size, the ratio of width to height, or other characteristics of client computer display.

Yet, logical coordinates be the shortcoming of mode be on client cpu the heavy workload of convergent-divergent that the situation with the CPU of limited capability as cellular phone is become is impossible.

In the present invention, the workload of convergent-divergent is on the server rather than on client computer.When client computer sends as the content requests of images category during to server, client computer also provides the feature of client computer demonstration physical equipment, as X-axis resolution, and Y-axis resolution and the ratio of width to height.Then, the picture material of the apparatus characteristic zoom request that server provides according to client computer, the request content after transmitting convergent-divergent is to client computer.

As shown in Figure 4, in the step 100, client computer sends the image request that has client computer demonstration physical features head and arrives server.

Head, as accept the head (Accept-viewport header) of observation panel, provide real X, Y size or the resolution of reality and the ratio of width to height of demonstration.

In the step 110, server is the picture material of form storage request with logical coordinates.

After the beginning of processing from client requests, server is requested the pictorial element of picture material by the characteristic convergent-divergent in the head of being transmitted by client computer.

In step 130, the picture material that is requested behind the convergent-divergent sends to client computer by server and is shown on the display screen of client computer.

An example of the above-mentioned convergent-divergent that conforms to the present invention is as described below.

Device characteristics are by optional communication.An example can be a HTTP (hypertext transmission mode) head, and is as follows.The example of HTTP request package as:

GET/svg/drawing.svg?HTTP/1.0

Can be following after this request is expanded by the device characteristics head:

GET/svg/drawing.svg?HTTP/1.0

Accept-viewport：70?45?1.1

At this, numeral is a screen width, height and the ratio of width to height.

Server is with the common form memory contents.For example, overall width is by 1.0 expressions, and total height is by 1.0.The line that has angle left to bottom right to stride across screen is:

line(0.0，0.0，1.0，1.0)

When server had been received the apparatus characteristic request header, it can the convergent-divergent content.It is wide and high that server multiply by physics with the wide and height of the screen of content.Behind the convergent-divergent content may for:

line(0，0，70，45)

Then, content is sent on the client computer that shows it behind this convergent-divergent.

The HTTP example

GET/svg/drawing.svg?HTTP/1.0

Accept-viewport：70?45?1.1

Or

GET/servlet/drawswrvlet?HTTP/1.0

Accept-viewport：70?45?1.1

posx＝10&posy＝30

Though HTTP almost always is used to client/server system, certainly, will be understood that the present invention is not limited only to and can be applied to other agreements.

Workload by placing a large amount of convergent-divergents is on server, and the amount of calculation of client cpu image manipulation is reduced 50% more than, and this is for being very important as the situation that has limited capability CPU in the cellular phone.

By unique shortcoming of convergent-divergent of the present invention is the zoom operations that the CPU of server must carry out all client computer that more are connected to this server.When servlets only has limited capability, becoming a problem.

As implied above, the true version of client devices feature head may be different and different according to the communications protocol between server and client computer.Anything type communications protocol can be used.

Though the present invention is described to the form of example, those of skill in the art will approve that the present invention can be used in the scope of panoply requirement after the change.

Claims

One kind between server and client computer the transmission content method, the method comprising the steps of:

Send feature from client computer to server to requests for content and client computer;

The feature of the client computer of sending according to client computer is moulded requested content; With

Mould the requested content in back by server to the client computer transmission.
2. in moulding the step of requested content, be included in the client computer feature convergent-divergent requested content of sending according to client computer on the server by the process of claim 1 wherein.
3. press the method for claim 2, in step:

Send requests for content and comprise head, comprise the feature of client computer in the head; The method of the step before the convergent-divergent step comprises:

On server, be the content of form storage client request by logical coordinates; Wherein the step of convergent-divergent comprises:

Feature convergent-divergent on server of the client computer that comprised is stored the element of content in the head of sending according to client computer.
4. by the method for claim 1, the method comprising the steps of:

A-carries out handshake procedure between the client-server by being placed on gateway between server and the client computer, and handshake procedure comprises transmits performance gateway of tabulating, this gateway successively the part of forwarding list to server;

B-is transmitted the request of page or leaf to Web server by client computer by gateway;

C-accepts requested page or leaf from Web server by gateway;

D-formats and clears up received page or leaf on gateway;

E-determines the size of cleaning back and format back page or leaf on gateway;

If the size of F-page or leaf limits greater than client memory, carry out step G, the memory limitations of client computer if the size of page or leaf is not more than the client memory restriction, is carried out step J in the performance table;

G-is cut apart this page or leaf and is two or more subpages, and the quantity of subpage is by the size and the client memory limit decision of page or leaf;

H-compiles subpage;

Page or leaf after I-sends and compiles or the one page in the subpage are to client computer;

If the size of page or leaf is not more than the client memory restriction in the J-step F, compiling page or leaf and the size of determining compiling back page or leaf;

If the size of K-compiling back page or leaf limits greater than client memory, carry out step G, if the size of compiling back page or leaf is not more than the client memory restriction, carry out step I.
5. by the method for claim 1, comprise that step is:

A-forwarding performance table is to the gateway that is placed between the client-server, and the performance table comprises the memory limitations of client computer;

B-is transmitted the request of page or leaf to Web server by client computer by gateway;

C-receives the size of requested page or leaf and definite page or leaf by gateway from Web server;

Be two or more subpages if the size of D-page or leaf, is cut apart page or leaf so greater than the memory limitations of client computer, the quantity of subpage is by the size and the client memory limit decision of page or leaf; Compiling subpage and the subpage that sends after compiling arrive client computer;

If the size of E-page or leaf is not more than the memory limitations of client computer, the compiling page or leaf is also determined the size of compiling back page or leaf so;

If the size of F-compiling back page or leaf limits greater than client memory, cut apart this page or leaf and be two or more subpages, the quantity of subpage is by the size and the client memory limit decision of page or leaf, and compile subpage and send to client computer, if the size of compiling back page or leaf is not more than the client memory restriction, also arrive client computer after the transmission compiling.
6. by the method for claim 4 or 5, wherein requested page or leaf comprises a WML (WAP Markup Language) page or leaf.
7. by the method for claim 4, wherein head comprises a HTTP (HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)) head.
8. by any method of claim 1 to 3, its feature comprises display device the ratio of width to height, the resolution of the size of at least one display device and client computer display device.
9. by the method for claim 4 or 5, its feature list comprises the memory limitations of client computer.
10. by the method for claim 5, also be included in and determine among the step C that the preceding format of size and the cleaning that are requested page or leaf are requested page or leaf.
11. by claim 4 or 10 method, format and cleaning are received and comprise shortening in the step of page or leaf and comprise URL, the step that the element of card name and variable name indicates on gateway.
12. one kind is the equipment of transmission content between server and client computer, this equipment is placed in the server, comprising:

A receiver is from the request of client computer received content and the characteristic of client computer;

The content of a memory stores client requests;

Mould device, mould the content of storage according to the client character of client computer forwarding;

An output unit sends and moulds the back requested content to client computer.
13. the equipment by claim 12 comprises:

Be suitable for storing with logical coordinates is the memory of content of the client requests of form;

The scaler of the content of the client computer feature convergent-divergent storage that comprises in the head that is transmitted according to client computer;

Be suitable for sending behind the convergent-divergent requested content to the output unit of client computer.
14. the equipment by claim 12 comprises:

A gateway is placed between server and the client computer, gateway be suitable for receiving and the forwarding performance table to server;

Wherein said gateway is further adapted for be to transmit the page or leaf that page or leaf that client computer comes asks Web server and reception, format and cleaning to receive, and determine after the cleaning with format after the size of page or leaf;

Wherein said gateway be suitable for the page or leaf size greater than the performance table in the client memory restriction time cut apart page or leaf and be two or more subpages, the quantity of subpage is by the size and the client memory limit decision of page or leaf, and gateway compiles subpage and transmit them to client computer;

Wherein said gateway is suitable for compiling page or leaf and definite page or leaf size when the size of page or leaf is not more than the client memory restriction, if the size of compiling back page or leaf limits greater than client memory, it is two or more subpages that described gateway is changed to cut apart page or leaf, the quantity of subpage is by the size and the client memory limit decision of page or leaf, the size that described gateway is changed with page or leaf after compiling is not more than client memory when restriction compiling subpage, and sends compiling back page or leaf to client computer.
15. by the equipment of claim 13, wherein head comprises a HTTP (HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)) head.
16. by the equipment of claim 12 or 13, its feature comprises the ratio of width to height of described client computer display device, the resolution of the size of at least one display device and client computer display device.
17. by the equipment of claim 14, wherein the performance table comprises the client memory restriction.
18., wherein be requested page or leaf and comprise a WML (WAP Markup Language) page or leaf by the equipment of claim 14.
19. by the equipment of claim 14, wherein format and cleaning are received page or leaf and comprise shortening and comprise URL that the element of card name and variable name indicates on gateway.