JP2000305837A - Information processor, its processing method and information recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the cost of each client, to attain quick reproduction in the client, to reduce communication cost in accordance with the quick reproduction, and to attain attractive reproduction. SOLUTION: The information processor is provided with an information acquisition means (data control part 11) for acquiring information, a converted information storing means (memory 12) for storing the information acquired by the information acquiring means as converted information obtained by converting the information into an exclusive file format allowed to be reproduced by a client 4 under an optimum reproducing condition and an information sending means (data control part 11) for sending the converted information to the client 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information recording medium for reading information in various file formats, converting the information into a dedicated file format, and sending the converted information to a client. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, BMP and GIF (Graphics Interchange Forma) have been used as image data file formats.
t), JPEG (Joint Photographic coding experts G
roup), ZIP, TIFF (Tag Image File Format)
Etc. are known. Image information (hereinafter referred to as image data) included in information on the Internet is created in various file formats as described above. For this reason, in order for the client on the reproducing side to reproduce the image data in all of these file formats, the client on the reproducing side can also reproduce the image data in each file format by using advanced hardware and various kinds of hardware. We are preparing each software.

The same applies to character data or sound data other than image data. That is, in order to reproduce character data described in various fonts on the Internet or sound data in a plurality or a wide frequency range, a client needs advanced hardware and various kinds of reproduction corresponding to these. Software.

A server disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-247179 (hereinafter referred to as "conventional server") is a server for solving the problem of providing a client with high-level hardware and various kinds of software on the client side. )It has been known. When the conventional server receives a plurality of types of reception data from a plurality of transmission paths such as the Internet, a public telephone line, or a scanner, the server analyzes these data formats to analyze the storage format, and based on the analysis result, The data is converted into usable data in a unified processing form and stored. Then, the client can exchange data even through data from different types of clients through the conventional server. For example, if the data read by a scanner is sent to the Internet via a conventional server,
A personal computer connected to the Internet can reproduce data and the like read by the scanner.

The GIF file format has a technique called transparent color processing. The transparent color processing is used to create an image composed of a plurality of images as described below. That is, as shown in FIG. 13, when a target image (hereinafter, referred to as a character image 91) is pasted on a background image 92, a blank area 91b other than the character area 91a in the character image 91 is converted to a transparent color. . Then, a background tile 92a, which is a constituent unit of the background image 92, is laid in the display area of the client. Next, a character image 91 that has been subjected to transparent color processing is pasted on the background image 92 to form one image. As a result, the background image 92 is displayed in the blank area 91b of the character image 91, and a good-looking image is completed.

[0006]

However, the above prior art has the following problems. First, it is not preferable to provide a client with sophisticated hardware and a variety of software for reproducing information in various file formats, since this increases the cost of the client. Therefore, it is desired to provide a client with minimum hardware and software to display character data described in various fonts, and to reproduce image data and sound data according to the reproduction capability of the client.

A conventional server disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-247179 converts data received from a plurality of transmission paths into a common file format such as an HTML document usable on the WWW or TIFF handled by the HTML document. Converting. Therefore, in an environment where various types of clients are connected, the client does not need to have sophisticated hardware and various types of software, which leads to prevention of cost increase of the clients.

However, when a conventional server is used, even if all connected clients can share data converted into a common file format, it is not always possible for each client to reproduce data under optimum conditions. For this reason, in the client connected to the server in the related art, problems such as poor image quality and long time for reproduction occur. If the reproduction takes time, there is a problem that not only the communication cost increases but also such a time-consuming reproduction has to be stopped.

On the other hand, in order for the client to reproduce an image in which the character image 91 subjected to the conventional transparent color processing and the background image 92 are pasted together, the processing of laying down the background tile 92a and the margin area where the transparent color processing is performed It is necessary to perform a plurality of processes, such as a process of recognizing 91b and a process of calculating the display position of the character image 91 and pasting it to the background image 92. Therefore, even if the code amount of the image data is small,
The client takes a lot of time to perform the above processing. For this reason, it is difficult for a client without advanced hardware to perform high-speed reproduction.

A character image 91 and a background image 92
However, there is a problem in that the positional relationship between them changes each time depending on the display size or display magnification of the client.
This is a process of laying out the background tile 92a to the display size as shown in FIG.
Is attached to the center of the display. Therefore, the positional relationship between the character image 91 and the background image 92 is not the same, and there is a problem that the appearance is poor.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information recording medium capable of lowering the cost of a client, reproducing at a higher speed in the client, reducing communication costs and reproducing the image with a good appearance. With the goal.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an information acquisition unit for acquiring information; And a conversion information holding means for holding the conversion information as conversion information converted into a dedicated file format reproducible by the client, and an information sending means for sending the conversion information to the client. As a result, even if information obtained from another server includes information in various file formats, the client can reproduce information in the original format that is optimal for the client.

[0013] In the information processing apparatus according to another aspect of the invention, the conversion information has a smaller code amount than the information obtained by the information obtaining means. This allows the client to read the conversion information from the information processing device at high speed,
This can be reproduced.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus, comprising: an information analyzing unit that analyzes whether or not there is defect information that cannot be reproduced by a client or that is difficult to reproduce in information acquired by the information acquiring unit; File format conversion means for converting information into conversion information is further provided. As a result, the conversion information converted into the original format is stored in the information processing device without passing through another device for performing the information conversion.

In the information processing apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention, the conversion information is information in which a code amount is changed in a plurality of steps. As a result, information that can be selected according to the traffic between the information processing device and the client is held in the information processing device.

Further, in the information processing apparatus according to another invention, the conversion information includes information obtained by converting a font that cannot be reproduced by the client into an image. by this,
Even if there is a font that cannot be reproduced by the client in the acquired information, it can be reproduced.

Further, in the information processing apparatus according to another invention, the conversion information includes information obtained by combining a plurality of pieces of image information forming one frame with one piece of image information.
As a result, the client can display images by simple processing without performing extra processing such as calculating and pasting the positions of a plurality of images.

Further, in the information processing apparatus according to another invention, the conversion information includes information obtained by converting a portion indicating the link destination so that the information of the link destination can be displayed on the client. As a result, even if link information is included in the acquired information, the client can perform a link operation.

[0019] In the information processing apparatus according to another aspect of the invention, the conversion information is information in which the information obtained by the information obtaining means and other information linked to the information are combined into one file. I have to. This facilitates information management even if there are a plurality of pieces of link information.

Further, the information processing method according to the present invention provides an information acquisition step of acquiring information, and an information analysis step of analyzing whether or not the acquired information contains defect information that the client cannot reproduce or has difficulty reproducing. Step, a file format conversion step of converting the defect information into conversion information of a dedicated file format that can be reproduced by the client under optimum reproduction conditions, a conversion information holding step of holding the conversion information, and sending the conversion information to the client And an information sending step. This allows information obtained from other servers to
Even if information in various file formats is included, the client can reproduce information in the original format that is optimal for the client.

[0021] Further, in the information processing method according to another invention, the file format conversion step is configured to make the code amount smaller than the acquired information. As a result, the client can read the converted information at high speed and reproduce it.

Further, in the information processing method according to another invention, in the file format conversion step, the code amount is changed in a plurality of steps. As a result, the server holds a plurality of pieces of information from which information of the optimal code amount can be selected according to the traffic.

Further, in the information processing method according to another invention, the file format conversion step converts a font that cannot be reproduced by the client into an image. As a result, even if the obtained information includes a font that cannot be reproduced by the client, the font can be reproduced.

Further, in the information processing method according to another invention, the file format conversion step combines a plurality of pieces of image information forming one frame into one piece of image information. As a result, the client can display images by simple processing without performing extra processing such as calculating and pasting the positions of a plurality of images.

Further, in the information processing method according to another invention, the file format conversion step converts a portion indicating the link destination so that the information of the link destination can be displayed on the client. As a result, even if link information is included in the acquired information, the client can perform a link operation.

Further, in the information processing method according to another invention, in the file format conversion step, the acquired information and other information linked to the information are combined into one file. This facilitates information management even if there are a plurality of pieces of link information.

Further, the information recording medium according to the present invention holds an information obtaining step of obtaining information, and conversion information obtained by converting the obtained information into a dedicated file format that can be reproduced by a client under optimum reproduction conditions. A program including a conversion information holding step and an information transmission step of transmitting the conversion information to the client is stored. Therefore, by executing the program stored in the information recording medium, even if the information obtained from another server includes information of various file formats, the client can use the original format optimal for the client. Information can be reproduced.

An information recording medium according to another aspect of the present invention stores a program that stores conversion information with a smaller code amount than acquired information. Therefore, by executing the program stored in the information recording medium, the client can read the converted information at a high speed and reproduce the converted information.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information recording medium, comprising: an information analyzing step of analyzing whether or not the acquired information includes defect information that the client cannot reproduce or cannot reproduce; And a file format conversion step of converting the file format into a file format. Therefore, by executing the program stored in the information recording medium, the conversion information converted into the original format is stored in the server without using the information recording medium storing the program for performing the information conversion. Will be done.

In the information recording medium according to another aspect of the present invention, the conversion information stores a program in which the code amount is changed in a plurality of stages. Therefore, by executing the program stored in the information recording medium, information that can be selected according to the traffic is held in the server.

In the information recording medium according to another aspect of the present invention, the conversion information stores a program for converting fonts that cannot be reproduced by the client into images. Therefore, by executing the program stored in the information recording medium, the client can reproduce even if the acquired information includes a font that cannot be reproduced by the client.

In the information recording medium according to another aspect of the present invention, the conversion information stores a program which is information obtained by combining a plurality of pieces of image information constituting one frame into one piece of image information. Therefore, by executing the program stored in the information recording medium, the client can display images by simple processing without performing extra processing such as calculating and pasting the positions of a plurality of images. Become.

In the information recording medium according to another aspect of the present invention, the conversion information stores a program in which a part indicating the link destination is converted information so that the information of the link destination can be displayed on the client. I have to. Therefore, by executing the program stored in the information recording medium, even if the acquired information includes the link information, the client can perform the link operation.

In the information recording medium according to another aspect of the present invention, the conversion information stores a program for converting the acquired information and other information linked to the information into one file. I have to. Therefore, by executing the program stored in the information recording medium, even if there is a plurality of pieces of link information, the information can be easily managed.

[0035]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

In this embodiment, the information processing apparatus reads information from another server 5 via the Internet 2 between the LAN 3 which is the local area network shown in FIG. A server that supplies information to the network display 4 as a client (hereinafter, referred to as a proxy server 1). Proxy server 1 is Internet 2
Information obtained through the network display 4
The device can be converted into an original format that can be reproduced under optimum reproduction conditions. further,
Upon selection, the proxy server 1 transmits the acquired information via the Internet 2 to a personal computer 6 as a multiplexing device connected thereto. Then, the proxy server 1 can convert the original format by the personal computer 6 and hold the converted information.

Although the network display 4 which also serves as a part of the display means is used as the reproducing apparatus, another personal computer may be applied. For connection between the Internet 2 and the proxy server 1, connection between the proxy server 1 and the LAN 3, etc., connection means to a network such as a DSU (Digital Service Unit), a terminal adapter, a modem, an IP router and the like are used. .

The proxy server 1 is connected to the Internet 2
Is converted into an original format for the network display 4 as a client. Specifically, the acquired data is compressed, unnecessary data is deleted, the image is synthesized, the character data is imaged, and a specific Performs resampling or the like for extracting only the frequency range.
These processes will be described later. Data compression ratio,
Size, resampling frequency of sound data, etc.
It can be set arbitrarily according to the display capability, reproduction capability, and data transfer capability of the network display 4. Further, the proxy server 1 performs a multiplexing process of changing the code amount in multiple stages. By converting and multiplexing the file format, the burden on the client of enriching the hardware and software is reduced, and there is no danger that the reproduction will be interrupted according to the traffic, and reproduction with the highest possible accuracy can be realized.

A technique called scalability is used for the process of multiplexing by reducing the code amount. There are three scalabilities: temporal scalability, quality scalability, and partial scalability.
Different approaches are employed. Temporal scalability refers to changing the code amount by so-called image thinning. For example, when 30 frames are normally reproduced per second, the code amount can be reduced by reproducing only 15 frames per second. Further, the quality scalability (= SNR scalability) is to change the code amount by changing the SN ratio, that is, the image quality. Further, the spatial scalability (= spatial scalability) means changing the code size by changing the image size.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of the proxy server 1. The data control unit 11 uses the Internet 2
Via the other server 5 to obtain information,
Data is sent out in response to a request from the network display 4. Further, the data control unit 11 passes information acquired from another server 5 to the data analysis unit 13. Then, the data control unit 11 receives the conversion information from the memory 12 after the data is converted by the data analysis unit 13. As described above, the data control unit 11 serves as both an information acquisition unit and an information transmission unit.

The memory 12 is a conversion information holding means for holding the analyzed data and the data converted into the original format for the network display 4, and is a random access memory. Memory 12
Sends the held conversion information to the data control unit 11 in response to a request from the data control unit 11.

The data analyzer 13 analyzes the data received from the data controller 11. Specifically, text data in the data is determined, and it is analyzed whether or not there is character data described in a font other than the font that can be reproduced by the client. In addition, the file format of the image data and the frequency of the sound data are also analyzed, and it is checked whether there is any data that hinders the reproduction by the network display 4 or that there is useless data in view of the capability of the network display 4.

The data converter 14 converts the text data, image data and sound data into the original format based on the result analyzed by the data analyzer 13. Then, next, the data conversion unit 14
Multiplexing processing is performed by changing the code amount of the converted data in various ways. When the data conversion and the data multiplexing process are completed,
The data converter 14 sends the multiplexed data to the memory 12.

The data receiving / transmitting unit 15 is a part in which the proxy server 1 exchanges data with the outside. The data receiving / transmitting unit 15 receives data from another server 5 via the Internet 2 and performs data conversion and multiplexing processing. I do. Also,
Thereafter, the proxy server 1 transmits data to the network display 4 via the data transmission / reception unit 15 in response to a request from the network display 4.

An external information source 1 as software
Reference numeral 6 denotes an information recording medium such as a CD-ROM storing a program including an information acquisition step, an information analysis step, a file format conversion step, a conversion information holding step, and an information transmission step. By reading the program stored in the information recording medium into a computer, the read computer may be operated as the proxy server 1. When the data file format conversion process and the multiplexing process are performed by the personal computer 6 as a multiplexing device, the proxy server 1 stores a program including an information acquisition step, a conversion information holding step, and an information transmission step. A CD in which an information recording medium such as a CD-ROM is read, and a personal computer 6 stores a program including an information analysis step and a file format conversion step.
-An information recording medium such as a ROM may be read.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the network display 4, which is a client, has a display section 21 composed of a central liquid crystal, an operation section 22 disposed around the display section 21, and a speaker section for outputting sound. 23, a magnetic card reader unit 24 capable of inserting a magnetic card capable of accessing a specific web page and reading the magnetic card,
It mainly comprises a power supply line and a connection unit 25 connected to a personal computer as a host.

The left and right operation units 22 of the display unit 21
There are ten types of menu buttons 22 such as 0
The corresponding operation menu is displayed on the display unit 21 close to. For example, data including various moving images stored therein (hereinafter referred to as moving image data) is selected by its number. That is, when the first menu button 22a is pressed, the first moving image data is reproduced. Various operation buttons 22b for accessing a homepage on the Internet 2 are disposed below the display unit 21. An instruction operation unit 22c for moving the operation arrow on the screen up, down, left, and right is provided near the magnetic card reader unit 24.

As shown in FIG. 4, the circuit of the network display 4 includes a display unit 21 composed of an LCD (liquid crystal).
A CPU (= central processing unit) 31, a dedicated graphics LSI 32, a main memory 33 for reading and storing data acquisition information for acquiring moving image data, and instructions from an external information source 34. CPU3
1 and a dedicated graphics LSI 32 for transmitting a command from the CPU 31 to the outside.
(Video ram) 36 connected to the external device and a sound circuit 37 for supplying sound to an external amplifier or speaker unit 23
, A display control unit 38 for driving and controlling the display unit 21, and a peripheral device control unit 39.

CPU 31 and dedicated graphics LSI
32, a main memory 33, and a data receiving / transmitting circuit 35
And the peripheral device control unit 39 are connected by a high-speed host bus 40. The sound circuit 37 has
A microphone input terminal 41 is connected, and external sound can be input. The display control unit 38 includes a first drive control unit 38a for driving the MIM-type liquid crystal, a second drive control unit 38b for displaying the analog-processed RGB values on the TFT-type liquid crystal, and digital processing. RGB value to TFT
Drive control unit 38c for displaying with a liquid crystal of the type
A fourth drive control unit 38d for driving the RT,
It can correspond to a plurality of display objects.

In this embodiment, the third drive control unit 38
c.

The peripheral device control section 39 includes an operation section 22 and
A magnetic card reader unit 24 is connected to receive data input therefrom. Further, the peripheral device control unit 39 includes an LED display unit 26 provided on the network display 4, for example, a power supply O.
N, OFF display (POWER display), display of ready state (READY display), display of busy processing (BUSY display) are connected, and each display is possible. Also, a flash memory 2 composed of an EEPROM
7 can be connected. In addition, the network display 4 incorporates an image / audio decoding unit 28. If the data downloaded from the outside is compressed data, a predetermined decoding process is performed to reproduce the data.

The external information source 34 is provided outside the network display 4 and includes software for largely controlling a playback device incorporated in the network display 4.

The dedicated graphics LSI 32 has a CPU
While the sequence control between the screens is controlled by 31, the display of a series of images and sprites in each screen is performed based on the scenarios and data in the main memory 33 based on the scenario and data. A series of movements of the sprite and the like are controlled. further,
The VRAM 36 can take in two or four screens. The reason why two screens or four screens are used is that one screen or two screens are used for display and another screen is used.
This is because one screen or two screens can be used for writing. This two-screen or four-screen method eliminates flicker during writing and improves image quality. Also,
The sound circuit 37 is a 16-bit, 44.1 KHz, 1
Although it is a channel, other values can be used as appropriate.

By the way, the proxy server 1 or the personal computer 6 as a multiplexing device includes information on audio and still images, mainly on a plurality of compressed or uncompressed moving images, and information for reproducing them at a designated time. This is a device that performs an operation of combining the data into one file (this is called multiplexing). As a result of the multiplexing process, data acquisition information for acquiring moving image data and data reproduction information for reproducing moving image data are created, and the reproduction data is added thereto. The multiplexed moving image data is arranged in the proxy server 1, and the network display 4 can select and reproduce various data according to the traffic situation of the proxy server 1.

Next, the basic flow of the file format conversion process and the multiplexing process will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the description will be made assuming that both the file format conversion process and the multiplexing process are performed inside the proxy server 1.

The proxy server 1 first reads and acquires moving image data from an information recording medium or another server 5 (step S101). Then, the proxy server 1 converts the data into an original format that can be reproduced by the network display 4 under the optimum reproduction condition (step S102). Details of this conversion processing will be described later. Next, the proxy server 1 applies three types of scalability (ie, temporal scalability, quality scalability, and partial scalability) to the data to be reproduced (step S103).

Next, the proxy server 1 arranges the reproduced data in ascending order of the code amount (step S10).
4). Next, the proxy server 1 creates data acquisition information based on the arrangement of the reproduction data (Step S).
105). The data acquisition information refers to information about where to acquire a scalability step or information that sets a time for acquiring data.

Next, the proxy server 1 creates data playback information based on the array of playback data (step S).
106). More specifically, frame information is arranged from the earlier processing time to the later processing time, and time difference information for decoding and reproduction is added to each frame. Then, when the creation of the data reproduction information is completed, the proxy server 1 adds the data acquisition information and the data reproduction information to a plurality of pieces of reproduction data of which the code amount has been changed, and creates a file (step S107). ). Finally, the file is held (step S108), and the network display 4
It is in a state of waiting for a request from. With such a series of operations, the file format conversion process and the multiplexing process are completed.

Note that the above-described file format conversion processing and multiplexing processing may be processing performed by the personal computer 6 instead of processing performed by the proxy server 1. In such a case, the proxy server 1 obtains data from another server 5 and transfers it to the personal computer 6.
The personal computer 6 that has received the data performs a series of processes from step S102 to step S107 in the flowchart shown in FIG. Then, the personal computer 6 sends the filed data to the proxy server 1. Then, the proxy server 1 holds the conversion information from the personal computer 6.

Next, step S in the flowchart of FIG.
The flow of the file format conversion process to the original format shown in FIG. 102 will be described with reference to FIG. The proxy server 1 acquires character data from the data received from the other servers 5 (Step S20)
1). Then, the proxy server 1 searches for character data, and checks whether there is character data described in a font that the network display 4 cannot reproduce (step S202). If there is character data described in a font that the network display 4 cannot reproduce, the proxy server 1 converts this character data into image data (step S203). On the other hand, if there is no such character data, the process proceeds to step S204.

Next, the proxy server 1 acquires image data (step S204). Proxy server 1
Converts the data compressed in various formats such as GIF and TIFF into an original format to further compress the data, thereby reducing the code amount (step S205). The details will be described later.

Next, the proxy server 1 acquires sound data (step S206). The proxy server 1 samples only sound data in a frequency range necessary for the network display 4 to reproduce from the sound data (step S207). In this embodiment, since the network display 4 has a built-in monaural speaker, stereo output is not possible. Therefore, unnecessary sound data that cannot be output can be reduced. Then, the proxy server 1 checks whether or not the link information is included in the text data (step S208). As a result, when it is determined that there is link information, the proxy server 1 converts the link information into original link information (step S2).
09). Next, the proxy server 1 similarly performs the steps S201 to S2 for the link destination information.
Each processing up to 07 is performed.

When there are no more linked files, the linked files are combined into one file (step S210). Next, proxy server 1
Holds the compiled file (step S21).
1), a state of waiting for a data request from the network display 1 is entered. With such a series of operations, the conversion process to the original file is completed.

FIG. 7 shows a part of the data structure held in the proxy server 1 by the multiplex processing of the proxy server 1 or the personal computer 6. Sound data (ch
0) and image data (ch1, ch2) are arranged in different channels. Scalability employs three types: temporal, quality and spatial. The image data is arranged from the top to the bottom of the table in ascending order of the code amount by mixing these three scalability steps. For example, focusing on temporal scalability, reproduction of regular image data is 1
In the case of 5 frames / sec, the data of 15 frames / sec is used as the video No. 6 scalability steps,
The data of 5 frames / sec, in which the number of decimated frames is 10, is recorded as video No. Place in 3 scalability steps.

The data of 3 frames / sec, in which the number of thinned frames is 12, is the video No. 0 scalability steps. When traffic to and from the server becomes heavy, the requested scalability step is set to the video No. 6 to video no. The transition is made in the direction of 0 to reduce the code amount. Conversely, if there is room for traffic with the server, the requested scalability step is set to the video No. 0 to video No. Transition to the direction of 6. As a result, the reproduction can be performed without interruption and as accurately as possible according to the traffic.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a part of character data represented by a plurality of fonts. The font 51 is a font that can be reproduced on the network display 4, and the font 52 is a font that cannot be reproduced on the network display 4. In such a case, the proxy server 1 analyzes the character data and converts the font 52 into image data while holding the font 51 as text data. That is, the proxy server 1 selects fonts in the character data that cannot be reproduced on the network display 4 and has these as image data. As a result, character data can be reproduced without providing the network display 4 with software that supports various types of fonts. Holding part of the character data as image data is more disadvantageous from the viewpoint of the code amount than holding the character data itself, but is advantageous from the viewpoint of reducing the cost on the client side.

Next, a process in which the proxy server 1 obtains image data including an image subjected to the transparent color processing from another server 5 and converts the image data into image data in the original format for the network display 4 will be described with reference to FIG. It will be described based on.

The proxy server 1 receives (A) image data of the background tile 61, (B) image data of the character image 62, and (C) the background tile 61 from another server 5.
And (D) data for performing transparent color processing on a blank area of the character image 62, and (E) the character image 62 at a predetermined position of the background image. Get data to paste. The proxy server 1 has a background tile 6
The background image in which one image is pasted to the display size and the character image 62 are combined into one image.

Then, the proxy server 1 changes the size according to the display size of the network display 4. If the maximum number of network displays 4 connected to the proxy server 1 is known in advance, the traffic when all the network displays 4 are connected can be known. The proxy server 1 determines a data compression ratio so that reproduction is not interrupted even when all the network displays 4 are connected. Thereafter, the proxy server 1 performs multiplexing processing with scalability in accordance with the reproduction capability of the network display 4 and the like.

As a result, even if the image data is obtained by pasting an image subjected to the transparent color processing, the network display 4 spreads the image of the background tile 61 and places the character image subjected to the transparent color processing on the image. It is possible to omit the trouble of calculating the pasting position and synthesizing the image 62, and simply reproduce the image 62 as an integrated image 63. Note that the code amount of the image data itself acquired by the network display 4 from the proxy server 1 is larger than the code amount of the image data itself acquired by the proxy server 1 from another server 5. However, comparing the code amount of the entire data, the network display 4
Since the data is converted by determining the size and the compression ratio for use, the code amount of all the converted data is smaller than that of all the data before the conversion. As a result, the burden of the reproduction processing on the network display 4 is reduced.

The above-described image data composition also has the following advantages. FIG. 10A shows image data 67 acquired from another server 5. This image data 67 includes a background image 65 in which background tiles 65a are spread.
Is image data in which a character image 66 partially transparent-colored is pasted on top of the image data. Proxy server 1
When the image data 67 is sent to the network display 4 without performing any processing, an image as shown in FIG. 10B is displayed on the display unit 21 of the network display 1.

The image shown in FIG. 10B is an image in which background tiles 65a are laid out in accordance with the size of the display unit 21 and a character image 66 is pasted on the tiles 65a so as to be at the center of the display unit 21. . As is apparent from a comparison between FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B, the positional relationship between the background image 65 and the character image 66 in FIG.
It is different from that of (A). Specifically, in FIG. 10A, the boundary of the background tile 65a is on the right side of the character image 66, but in FIG.
Is on the left side of the background tile 65a.

On the other hand, FIG. 10C shows that the proxy server 1 combines the image data 67 shown in FIG. 10A and converts it into one image data, and then causes the display unit 21 of the network display 4 to display it. Image. FIG.
The positional relationship between the character image 66 and the background image 65 in (C) is the same as the positional relationship in FIG. Note that FIG. 10C is a dotted line range 69 connecting points A1, A2, A3, and A4 in FIG. 10A in order.
Is displayed. As described above, since the positional relationship between the images does not shift, in the case of the image data 67 in which the positional relationship between the background image 65 and the character image 66 is regarded as important, an unnatural display does not occur.

When the data obtained from another server 5 includes sound data, the proxy server 1 converts the sound data into data suitable for the reproduction capability of the network display 4. Since the speakers mounted on the network display 4 cannot reproduce the CD sound quality, the stereo data of 16 bits and 44.1 kHz is reduced to the data having a code amount smaller than that. Thus, the proxy server 1
By excluding the frequency range in which the network display 4 cannot be heard with high accuracy and sampling only the frequencies that can be heard with high accuracy, the code amount of data can be reduced.

Next, a process for converting the link information into the original format when the data obtained from the other server 5 includes the link information will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG.
When a specific character or image is designated, if the link destination is image data, the file name of the image data and its file format are described in the link information 71, 72 that jumps to another file. At the stage obtained from another server 5, GIF
Image data or ZIP image data exists at the link destination. When the proxy server 1 converts the data into the original format, the image data is converted from the GIF into the original format (here, “QAM”). Therefore, unless the link information is also converted according to the image data, it is impossible to fly to the link destination normally.

Therefore, the proxy server 1
As shown in (B), the image data at the link destination is converted into the original format, and the link information 71,
72 is detected, and the link information is converted so that the user can jump to a link destination of the file converted into the original format. In this example, link information 73, 74 in which the extension of the image data has been changed from GIF to QAM.
Is converted to As a result, even if link information is included in the acquired information, the network display 4 can fly to the link destination normally.

Next, one file including a plurality of linked files is included.
The process of creating one file will be described with reference to FIG. One html file 81 per page
a, the image data 81b, 81c, 81d, and the domain names indicating the link destinations 82a, 82b, 82c, 82d, etc., it is difficult to manage the files. Therefore, the proxy server 1 collects a plurality of files 82a, 82b, 82c, 82d of the page of the link destination and makes one file 83 together with the file 82e of the page. This allows a plurality of linked pages to correspond to a plurality of frames of the animation, thereby facilitating file management. As a result, when an image is designated, reproduction of a moving image such as an animation can be realized.

The data compression ratio and the data size can be variously changed according to the client's ability. The frequency range in which sound data is sampled can be variously changed depending on whether the client is stereo or monaural.

Further, in the above embodiment, both the information analysis means and the file format conversion means are provided in either the proxy server 1 or the personal computer 6. The personal computer 6 may be provided separately.

The proxy server 1 obtains data from another server 5 in advance and converts it.
For this reason, an advanced CPU
It can respond to user's request instantly and reproduce without having to install. It should be noted that an advanced CPU may be mounted on the proxy server 1 so that, in response to a request from a client, data acquisition and data conversion processing are performed in real time and transmitted to the client.

In the file format conversion process shown in FIG. 6, the character data, image data, and sound data may not be obtained in this order but may be obtained at the same time and converted at the same time. Further, the proxy server 1 is connected to an open world such as the Internet 2, but may be used as a server in a closed world, for example, an intranet, and used for company communication.
Further, as the information recording medium, a medium such as a floppy disk (FD) and an optical disk may be applied in addition to the CD-ROM.

[0082]

According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the cost of the client, perform high-speed reproduction in the client, reduce the communication cost, and reproduce the image with good appearance.

According to another aspect of the present invention, since the code amount can be held smaller than that of the acquired information, higher-speed reproduction can be performed, and the communication cost can be further reduced.

According to another aspect of the present invention, all of data acquisition, data analysis, data format conversion, data holding, and data transmission can be performed without using another device or another information recording medium. Operation is possible with only one server. Therefore, simplification of the data transmission path and high-speed processing associated therewith can be achieved.

According to another aspect of the present invention, since the information is such that the code amount of the data is changed in a plurality of stages, the client can acquire data having a different code amount according to the traffic and reproduce the data. There is no danger of being interrupted on the way, and the reproduction can be performed with as high a precision as possible.

According to another aspect of the present invention, even if character data includes a font that cannot be reproduced by a client, character data can be reproduced without incorporating software for supporting various fonts into the client. Becomes Therefore, the cost of the client can be further reduced.

According to another aspect of the present invention, since a plurality of pieces of image information constituting one frame are combined into one piece of image information, an image that has been subjected to transparent color processing is reproduced by a client. The image can be reproduced without providing any software for performing the operation. Therefore, the cost of the client can be further reduced.

According to another aspect of the present invention, even if the data includes link information, a link operation adapted to the original format of the client can be performed. Further, by managing a plurality of linked pages as one file, file management is facilitated, and images can be jumped from image to image to realize a moving image.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of an Internet system to which a proxy server as an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of the proxy server of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the network display of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the network display of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of a file format conversion process and a multiplexing process performed by the proxy server or the personal computer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows a file format conversion step (step S
It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of 102) in more detail.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration held in the proxy server by the multiplex processing of the proxy server or the personal computer in FIG. 1;

8 is a diagram showing a part of character data described in a plurality of fonts in data obtained by the proxy server in FIG. 1 from another server.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state in which the proxy server of FIG. 1 acquires image data composed of a plurality of image data from another server, integrates the image data, and sends it to a network display.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a comparison between a case where the image data acquired by the proxy server is displayed as it is on the network display and a case where the image data is converted to the original format and displayed on the network display in FIG. ) Is the image data obtained from another server, (B) is the image obtained by displaying the image of (A) on a network display, and (C) is the image data obtained by integrating the image data of (A). 4 shows an image displayed on a network display.

11 is a diagram showing a comparison between information including link information acquired from another server by the proxy server of FIG. 1 and conversion information obtained by converting the information into an original format. FIG. Information obtained from
(B) shows the information after conversion to the original format.

FIG. 12 illustrates a case where the proxy server of FIG. 1 stores a plurality of linked pages included in information acquired from another server in one page.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which files are collectively managed.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an image in which an image subjected to a transparent color process is pasted to a background image in a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 proxy server (information processing device) 4 network display (client) 6 personal computer 11 data control unit (serving as information acquisition unit and information transmission unit) 12 memory (conversion information holding unit) 13 data analysis unit (information analysis unit) 14 Data converter (file format converter)

Claims (23)

[Claims] An information acquisition unit for acquiring information, and a conversion information holding unit for holding the information acquired by the information acquisition unit as conversion information converted into a dedicated file format that can be reproduced by a client under optimum reproduction conditions. And an information transmission unit for transmitting the conversion information to the client. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conversion information has a smaller code amount than the information obtained by the information obtaining means. 3. The information obtained by the information obtaining means includes:
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an information analysis unit configured to analyze whether or not the client has defect information that cannot be reproduced or is difficult to reproduce; and a file format conversion unit that converts the defect information into the conversion information. 1
Or the information processing apparatus according to 2. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said conversion information is information in which a code amount is changed in a plurality of steps. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conversion information includes information obtained by converting a font that cannot be reproduced by the client into an image. 6. The information according to claim 1, wherein the conversion information includes information obtained by combining a plurality of pieces of image information constituting one frame into one piece of image information. Processing equipment. 7. The conversion information according to claim 1, wherein the conversion information includes information obtained by converting a portion indicating a link destination so that the information of the link destination can be displayed on the client. 7. The information processing apparatus according to 4, 5, or 6. 8. The conversion information includes information obtained by the information obtaining means and another information linked to the information.
8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the information is collected in one file. 9. An information acquiring step for acquiring information; an information analyzing step for analyzing whether or not the acquired information includes defect information that cannot be reproduced or is difficult for the client to reproduce; A file format conversion step of converting the converted information into a dedicated file format that can be reproduced by a client under optimum reproduction conditions; a conversion information holding step of holding the conversion information; and an information sending step of sending the conversion information to the client. And an information processing method comprising: 10. The information processing method according to claim 9, wherein said file format conversion step has a smaller code amount than the acquired information. 11. The information processing method according to claim 9, wherein in the file format conversion step, the code amount is changed in a plurality of stages. 12. The information processing method according to claim 9, wherein the file format conversion step converts a font that cannot be reproduced by the client into an image. 13. The file format conversion step according to claim 9, wherein a plurality of pieces of image information constituting one frame are combined into one piece of image information.
2. The information processing method according to 2. 14. The file format conversion step according to claim 9, wherein a portion designating the link destination is converted so that the information of the link destination can be displayed on the client. Or the information processing method according to item 13. 15. The information processing method according to claim 14, wherein in the file format conversion step, the acquired information and other information linked to the information are combined into one file. 16. An information acquisition step of acquiring information, a conversion information holding step of holding the acquired information as conversion information converted into a dedicated file format that can be played back by a client under optimum playback conditions, And an information sending step of sending the information to the client. 17. The information recording medium according to claim 16, wherein the conversion information has a smaller code amount than the acquired information. 18. An information analysis step for analyzing whether or not the obtained information includes defect information that the client cannot reproduce or cannot reproduce, and a file format conversion step for converting the defect information into the conversion information. 18. The information recording medium according to claim 16, wherein a program further comprising: is stored. 19. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said conversion information is information in which a code amount is changed in a plurality of steps.
Or the information recording medium according to 18. 20. The information recording medium according to claim 16, wherein the conversion information includes information obtained by converting a font that cannot be reproduced by the client into an image. 21. The information according to claim 16, wherein the conversion information includes information obtained by combining a plurality of pieces of image information constituting one frame into one piece of image information. recoding media. 22. The conversion information according to claim 16, wherein the conversion information includes information obtained by converting a portion designating the link destination so that the information of the link destination can be displayed on the client. 21. The information recording medium according to 19, 20 or 21. 23. The information recording medium according to claim 22, wherein the conversion information is information in which the acquired information and other information linked to the information are combined into one file.