JP2002259283A - Device and method for providing data and program therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide data for a plurality of terminals. SOLUTION: A Web page generation part 10 on a server computer 10 recognizes the kind and machine type of a terminal according to request data from the terminal and retrieves matching attribute data and a template prescribing a layout from databases 10b and 10c. Contents data are read out of a contents database(DB) 10a, converted to the format corresponding to the kind of the terminal according to the property data, and embedded in the template to have the format corresponding to the machine type. The contents data having been edited according to the kind and machine type are sent to the terminal as the request source.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data providing apparatus, a data providing method, and a program, and more particularly to a technique for providing digital data stored in a server computer to a terminal upon request.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A technique for accessing the Internet using a computer and acquiring various digital contents existing on the Internet is known. However, recently, in addition to computers as communication terminals, PDs
A variety of information devices such as A and mobile phones are used, and even when digital content is provided from a server computer to a terminal, it is necessary to provide data in a form corresponding to each terminal.

Therefore, conventionally, for example, a computer and a mobile phone are assumed as terminals, and a Web page described in HTML for a computer is prepared in a server computer, while another Web page described in compact HTML is used for a mobile phone. We prepare for and cope.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-134362 discloses an HT for providing data to various users.
HT that prepares multiple ML templates and supports users
There is described a technique of creating a Web page for each user by combining data with an ML template.

[0005]

However, in the method of preparing a Web page for each terminal, a plurality of Web pages must always be created for the same content, resulting in a problem of redundancy. Also, when a new terminal appears, a new Web page must be created from the beginning according to the terminal, and there is a problem that it takes time to respond.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 11-134362 can cope with a case where a plurality of users access using the same type of terminal, for example, a computer. However, the user can access using a plurality of types of terminals. There is a problem that cannot be dealt with. Of course, HTML
In addition to the template, it is conceivable to prepare a template according to the type of terminal, but even if the type of terminal is the same, the basic performance (display screen etc.) differs for each model.
Data cannot be provided accurately.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the related art, and has as its object to provide an optimal form for each terminal even when a user requests data using a plurality of types of terminals. An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, a method, and a program capable of providing data.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an apparatus for providing data to a terminal in response to a request from the terminal. Means, and processing means for editing data to be provided based on the recognized attribute and model.

In the present apparatus, data storage means for storing data to be provided, attribute storage means for storing a plurality of terminal attribute data, and template storage means for storing page layout data of the terminal model of the terminal as a template. The processing unit searches the attribute storage unit and the template storage unit for attribute data and a template that match the attribute and model identified by the identification unit, and stores the data to be provided in the attribute storage unit. It is preferable to edit based on the data and the template.

Here, it is preferable that the processing means edits the data to be provided by converting the data to be provided based on the attribute data, and further embedding the data in the template.

The attribute data includes at least one of a data description language, a display screen size, an image format, an image size, an image color number, an image color space, a text character code, and a text display character number.
The page layout data includes an image format, an image size, an image color number, an image color space,
It may include at least one of a text character code and the number of text display characters.

The present invention also provides a method for providing data between a terminal and a server connected via a communication line,
In the server, receiving a request from the terminal, recognizing the type and model of the terminal,
Editing data to be provided based on the recognized type and model.

In the method, it is preferable that in the editing step, the data to be provided is converted so as to match the type, and the converted data is converted again so as to match the model.

In the method, in the editing step, at least the data description language, display screen size, image format, image size, number of image colors, image color space, text character code, and text display of the data to be provided are provided. Any of the number of characters can be converted.

Further, the present invention is a program for providing data from a server computer to a plurality of types of terminals, wherein the program provides at least an ID transmitted from the terminal to the server computer.
Based on the type and model of the terminal, the attribute data and the page layout data for each model stored in the first memory of the server computer are searched based on the recognized type and model. The data stored in the second memory of the server computer is edited based on the attribute data and the page layout data thus obtained.

In this program, the attribute data may include at least one of a data description language, a display screen size, an image format, an image size, an image color number, an image color space, a text character code, and a text display character number. it can. Further, the page layout data may include at least one of an image format, an image size, an image color number, an image color space, a text character code, and a text display character number.

In the present invention, data for each terminal is generated by a two-stage process, and the data is provided to the requesting terminal. The first stage is data conversion that matches the type of terminal, and is obtained by recognizing the type of terminal and converting data based on attribute data that matches the type of terminal. The terminal type is a computer, a PDA, a mobile phone, or the like. The second stage is a process in consideration of the fact that there are various models even if they are of the same type, and is data conversion that matches the model of the terminal. It can be obtained by recognizing the model of the terminal and embedding the data in the template of the page layout that matches the model. When embedding data in a template, if the data matches the format required by the template, the data can be embedded as it is. However, if the format is different, conversion to the format of the template is performed and embedded. This makes it possible to provide data in an optimal form without preparing content data in advance for each type and model of terminal.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a data providing apparatus according to this embodiment. A server computer 10 functioning as a data providing device includes a content database (DB) 10 for storing content data.
a, a terminal attribute database (DB) 10b for storing attribute data of a plurality of types of terminals, a template database (DB) 10c for storing templates that define page layout data for each terminal model, and a Web page creation unit 10d. And provides the data to the terminal A or B that has requested the data via the communication line.

Digital data such as image data and text data is stored in the content DB 10a, and the Web page creation unit 10d reads out data requested by the terminal from this database. The image data and the text data are basically stored in a certain form. For example, image data is stored in a JPEG format of 300 pixels × 300 pixels. Of course, a plurality of image data may be stored in different forms (in accordance with the content of the image, not for each type of terminal).

In the terminal attribute DB 10b, attribute data for each type of terminal is stored for each type of terminal. The attribute data includes, for example, an ID indicating the type of terminal, a page description language (HTML, C (compact) HTML,
XML, etc.), the display screen size of the terminal, the image format, the image size, the number of image colors, the image color space, the text character code, the number of text display characters, and the like. FIG. 2 shows an example of attribute data stored in the terminal attribute DB 10b. “ID” is an ID of the terminal, and in this example, indicates “IMODE (registered trademark)”, that is, a mobile phone connectable to the Internet. "Language" is a description language used in the browser of the terminal. In this example, "Language" indicates "HTML", that is, compact HTML. "Scr
“enSize” is the display screen size, in this example, 11
8 × 128 pixels, “TextSize” is a text display screen. In this example, 16 × 6 characters, “TextCod”
"e" is the character code of the text. In this example, "SJI
S ”, that is, Shift JIS,“ ImageForma ”
"t" is an image format, in this example "GI
F "and" ImageSize "are the size of the image,
In this example, 94 × 72 pixels, and “Color” is a color gradation, and in this example, it is “2”, that is, a black and white binary value.

The template DB 10c stores page layout data for each terminal model. In FIG.
An example of a template is shown. Basic layout data for each model is described in the header of the template. In this example, the size of the image data is 50, the height is 50, the color is 256 gradations, and the width of the text is 10 characters.

The Web page creation unit 10d is specifically composed of a CPU, and is connected to the terminal A or B via a communication line.
When a search request is received from the terminal, the type and model of the terminal A or B are identified, terminal attribute data matching the type is searched from the terminal attribute DB 10b, and a template matching the model is searched from the template DB 10c. And
Edits the content data read from the content DB 10a based on the attribute data and the template, and
Create a page. Then, the created Web page is transmitted to the requested terminal.

FIG. 4 shows a processing flowchart of the Web page creation unit 10d. First, the Web page creation unit 10d recognizes the type and model of the terminal from the request data transmitted from the browser used by the requesting terminal, and searches for attribute data and templates that match the terminal type and model (S101). For example, when the terminal is a mobile phone, the mobile terminal searches for attribute data for the mobile phone and a template of the model of the mobile phone. The model may be specified by a product number. After searching for the attribute data and the template, necessary content data is searched from the requested data (S102), and the obtained content data is converted based on the attribute data (S103). For example, if the request data includes image data, and the image data stored in the content DB 10a is JP
When the image data is 150 × 150 pixels of EG and the image data in the attribute data is 94 × 72 pixels of GIF,
The Web page creation unit 10d changes the format of the image data from JPEG to GI to match the attribute data.
In addition to the conversion to F, the size is reduced from 150 × 150 pixels to 94 × 72 pixels. Known image processing techniques can be used for format conversion and size conversion itself.

After converting the content data based on the attribute data, the Web page creation unit 10d creates a Web page by embedding the converted content data in a template (S104). When embedding, the data described in the header of the template is read, and the content data is re-converted and embedded so as to match the header information. For example, when an image format or an image size is defined as the header information, the image format or the image size converted based on the attribute data is further converted for a template and embedded in the layout of the template. After editing the content data for each terminal type and model, the Web page creation unit 10d transmits the edited data to the requesting terminal via a communication interface (not shown) (S10).
5).

The processes in S101 to S105 described above can be realized by sequentially reading and executing programs installed in the server computer 10 by the Web page creation unit 10d as a CPU.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the content data is converted according to the type of the terminal, and further, the content data is converted according to the model of the terminal. Generated data can be transmitted. Thus, data can be provided in an optimal form to any terminal while efficiently using content data.

In this embodiment, when a new type or model of terminal is present, attribute data or a template may be added to the database each time.

Further, in the present embodiment, the attribute data and the template are searched based on the request data from the terminal. However, the attribute data itself is transmitted from the terminal, and the server computer 10 uses the received attribute data by Content data may be converted. The same applies to templates.

[0030]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One image data (300.times.300 pixel JPEG) and a plurality of text data are stored in a memory of a server computer 10, and the image data is converted using a template stored in another memory of the server computer 10. And transmitted to a personal computer, and displayed on the screen of the personal computer.

FIG. 5 shows a template used in this embodiment. In the header 100 of this template, the image size of “image2” is 150 for width, 150 for height, 256 tones for image color, and GR for color space.
AY (gray level: 256 gray levels), the image size of “image3” is 100
The height is 100, the image format is GIF, and the image color is black and white binary. Also, body 102
Here, a layout is defined in which image 1 (original image data stored in the memory), image 2 and image 3 are displayed vertically, and text data 1, 2, and 3 are displayed beside each image. ing. "I
“image1”, “image2”, and “image3” are variables of the images 1, 2, and 3, respectively, and are “text”
“1”, “text2”, and “text3” are variables of texts 1, 2, and 3, respectively.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which image data and text data are embedded in the template shown in FIG. The variable “image1” of the body 102 is the original image data testimg.jpg
(File name of the original image data) is embedded, and the variable “image2” is obtained by converting the size of the original image data from 300 × 300 to 150 × 150 and converting it to 256 gray levels of gray. Tmp-image2. jpg is embedded. Note that “tmp” of the image data is an abbreviation of temporary, and is a data name temporarily given to image data obtained by converting the original image data. The image data obtained by the conversion is stored in the R of the server computer.
It can be stored in the AM. Also, the variable "image
For “3”, the size of the original image data is 300 × 300
To mp-image3, which is image data obtained by converting the image data into 100 × 100 and converting the image data into a black-and-white binary (monochrome) GIF. gif is embedded. The file name of this image data is also temporarily rewritten. In addition, the variables “text1” and “text
2 ”and“ text3 ”respectively contain“ Original JP ”
EG image "," Grayscale JPEG converted image ",
The text of “monochrome GIF converted image” is embedded.

FIG. 7 shows a screen when the page in the HTML format shown in FIG. 6 is interpreted and displayed by the browser installed in the personal computer. The image 200 is an original image, and is an image after the image 202 and the image 204 are respectively converted. Image 200 is color, but image 202 is smaller in size than image 200,
Gray level. Further, the image 204 is smaller in size than the image 202 and is monochrome. From this, not only personal computers but also 256 gray scales and 150 gray scales can be used.
It can be seen that data can be provided from the same content to terminals having the ability to display image data of × 150 size and terminals capable of displaying only monochrome and 100 × 100 size images.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, in this embodiment, the original data is edited based on the attribute data and the template. In some cases, the original data is converted to a considerable extent. In some cases, features of the original data may be excluded. For example, when the image data is simply reduced and converted, depending on the content of the image, it may be unclear what the image is when displayed on a terminal. Therefore, for example, when the reduction ratio is equal to or more than a certain value, it is possible to perform conversion for extracting only the main part of the original image data instead of reducing the entire original image. Specifically, data indicating the range of the main part is added to the original image data, and when the Web page creation unit 10d edits based on the attribute data or the template, the data is extracted using the main part range data. I just need. As an example, when the original image data is a person image, the face of the person is set as the main part range. When the original data is text data, it is conceivable to extract only a predetermined keyword or to extract a specified range from the head.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Optimal data can be generated and provided for each terminal. In particular, according to the present invention, there is no need to prepare content data for each terminal in advance, so that content data can be used efficiently.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of attribute data in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a template in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a processing flowchart of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a template according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a state where data is embedded in the template of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a screen displaying the template of FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

10 server computer, 10a content database, 10b terminal attribute database, 10c template database, 10d Web page creation unit (CPU).

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for providing data to a terminal in response to a request from the terminal, comprising: recognition means for recognizing an attribute and a model of the terminal; and data to be provided based on the recognized attribute and model. And a processing means for editing the data. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: data storage means for storing data to be provided; attribute storage means for storing a plurality of terminal attribute data; And a template storage unit that stores the attribute data and the template that match the attribute and the model identified by the identification unit from the attribute storage unit and the template storage unit, respectively. The data providing apparatus edits the data to be provided based on the attribute data and the template. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processing unit edits the data to be provided by converting the data to be provided based on the attribute data, and further embedding the data in the template. Data providing device. 4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the attribute data is a data description language, a display screen size, an image format, an image size, an image color number, an image color space, and a text character code. And at least one of the number of displayed characters. 5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the page layout data includes an image format, an image size, an image color number, an image color space,
A data providing device including at least one of a text character code and a text display character number. 6. A method for providing data between a terminal and a server connected via a communication line, wherein the server receives a request from the terminal, and recognizes a type and a model of the terminal. And a step of editing data to be provided based on the recognized type and model. 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein, in the editing step, the data to be provided is converted to match the type, and the converted data is re-converted to match the model. A data providing method, characterized in that: 8. The method according to claim 6, wherein in the editing step, at least a data description language, a display screen size, an image format, an image size, an image color number, of the data to be provided are provided. A data providing method comprising converting one of an image color space, a text character code, and the number of text display characters. 9. A program for providing data from a server computer to a plurality of types of terminals,
The program causes the server computer to recognize the type and model of the terminal based on at least the ID transmitted from the terminal, and is stored in the first memory of the server computer based on the recognized type and model. And searching the attribute data and the page layout data for each model, and editing the data stored in the second memory of the server computer based on the attribute data and the page layout data obtained by the search. program. 10. The program according to claim 9, wherein the attribute data is at least one of a data description language, a display screen size, an image format, an image size, an image color number, an image color space, a text character code, and a text display character number. A program characterized by including any of the above. 11. The program according to claim 9, wherein the page layout data includes an image format, an image size, an image color number, an image color space,
A program comprising at least one of a text character code and a text display character number.