JPH1153388A - Number embedded type html file retrieval device and number management server device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to retrieve a WWW from a facsimile terminal with a number common to plural retrieval devices and to easily trace a related link after receiving a homepage picture. SOLUTION: A number embedded type HTML file retrieval device 2 obtains a number corresponding to a uniform resource locator(URL) of a related link at a URL/number database part 24 at the time of converting a retrieved homepage to transmission picture data to facsimile equipment 1. At this time, if a number of URL is already registered, the number is returned and if it is not registered, a conversion request is made to a number management server device 4. The number management server device 4 returns a corresponding number if a received URL is already registered by a URL/number information management part 42 and registers the number anew, returns the number and sends it back to the retrieval device 2 if it is not registered. The retrieval device 2 registers the sent result as URL/number information, converts the homepage to picture data after the number is inserted and transmits picture information to the facsimile equipment 1 through line response part 21.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a WWW (World).
d Wide Web), which belongs to the technical field of converting HTML files used in facsimile terminals into image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A WWW constructed on the Internet is a distributed database, and a computer connected to a network equipped with a mouse and a keyboard is required for browsing information (document: "Internet and WWW").
Technology (I) ", Journal of the Institute of Image Electronics Engineers of Japan, Vol. 26, No. 1).

[0003] On the other hand, there is WebFax or the like as a system capable of extracting information by accessing WWW on the Internet from a facsimile apparatus (document: "Monthly Intranet 1997 February", SO
FTBANK, P .; 180-181). In a conventional system, an HTML file on the Internet is converted into image data for fax output and output. A number for extracting data is assigned to a link point on the homepage. For this reason, users can use HTM on the Internet.
PB (push button) which is a dial means of a telephone in accordance with the operation guidance voice
And can be obtained by pressing the fax start button.

[0004]

However, the above-described facsimile apparatus for searching for an HTML file on the Internet has the following problems.

(1) When there is a related link in a hypertext format in an HTML file, the computer searches related information by clicking a link point with a mouse. However, if you search with a facsimile machine,
Although image information can be received, hypertext related information cannot be specified because there is no input device corresponding to the mouse.

(2) A URL (Uniform Resource) is used to search for a related link part in an HTML file.
When inserting a number corresponding to a “src Locator”, URL / number information is required. Therefore, there is a method of storing URL and number correspondence information in advance. However, in this method, since the URL / number information is centrally managed, the management becomes complicated in a system such as the WWW which is characterized by distributed management.

(3) When there are a plurality of search devices, the same U
There is a problem that the URL / number information varies depending on the device even though the RL address is used. Simply the same U
If RL / number information is to be used, the amount of communication increases just to obtain the URL / number information.

According to the present invention, in an apparatus for searching a WWW on the Internet by inputting a number from a facsimile terminal, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, (1) a desired HTML file such as a desired homepage image (2) Eliminating the complexity of managing the URL and the number corresponding to the related link in the WWW characterized by distributed management; (3) ) A number-embedded HTML file search device and a number management server device that enable a common number to be used without increasing the communication volume and communication time when there are a plurality of search devices (client devices). The challenge is to do it.

[0009]

The present invention solves the above problems by the following means <1> to <5>.

<1> Line connection response unit having means for controlling line connection response, analyzing a PB sound input by a user from a facsimile terminal, and outputting image information to the facsimile terminal, a number corresponding to the URL information and the URL UR that manages information and converts URLs to numbers and numbers to URLs
Based on the L / number database unit and the analysis result of the PB sound, the HTML / HTML file on the WWW desired by the user is searched by the ULR obtained by converting the number input in the PB sound by the URL / number database unit. A search unit, an HTM that analyzes the tag information, character information, and related image information of the HTML file, converts the HTML file into the image information, and outputs the image information to the line response unit.
L / image conversion unit, wherein the HTML / image conversion unit is configured to follow a related link to the related link of the HTML file when converting the HTML file of the homepage into image information. A number-embedded HTML file search device, comprising means for inquiring the URL / number database unit for a number corresponding to a URL, converting and inserting the number.

<2> The URL / number database unit extracts the URL of the related link from the HTML / image conversion unit, and when the HTML / image conversion unit inquires the number corresponding to the URL,
If the URL is already registered in the RL / number database, the already registered number is returned without performing new registration, and the URL not registered in the URL / number database is returned.
A number embedding HTML file search apparatus, wherein a new number is assigned, registration is performed, and the assigned number is returned.

<3> The URL / number database unit transmits the URL when the HTML / image conversion unit inquires of the number corresponding to the URL or the ULR corresponding to the number.
If the URL or the number is already registered in the URL / number database, the already registered ULR or the number is returned, and the U / R not registered in the URL / number database is returned.
In the case of an RL or a number, a URL is used so that the number information among a plurality of number-embedded HTML file search devices does not fall apart only for unregistered URL / number information.
/ URL to the number management server that manages the number information
Or make a request to convert the number, and return the returned result as a URL
/ Number registration type HTM characterized by registering in a number database and returning a URL or a number
L file search device.

<4> When there are a plurality of number-embedded HTML file search devices as client devices, the UR
A server device that manages L information and number information corresponding to a URL, and receives a number from each of the client devices that receives a request to convert a number or URL information that has not been registered in a URL / number database in the client device. And if the received conversion request is a URL, the URL corresponding to the registered URL is returned without performing new registration if the URL is a registered URL, and the unregistered URL is returned. If it is, a new number is assigned and registered, and the assigned number is returned. If the received conversion request is a number, if the number is an already registered number, the registered number is A URL / number information management unit that returns a URL corresponding to the URL, and returns an incorrect number if the number is not registered, and a request for conversion of the URL or the number. To the client device that is, the UR
L / Number or URL returned from number information management unit
And a URL / number information transmission unit for returning a number.

<5> A manual registration unit for manually registering and deleting URL / number information managed by the URL / number information management unit is newly provided, and the URL / number information management unit includes:
When the administrator manually registers the URL / number information, only the own URL / number information is updated and the URL / number information is updated.
If the administrator manually deletes the URL / number information, the URL / number information in the client device is updated via the URL / number information transmission unit while updating the own URL / number information. Characteristic number management server device.

According to the present invention, when a user searches for an arbitrary homepage on the desired WWW by inputting PB from a facsimile terminal and converts an HTML file of the searched homepage into image information, a link UR is added to a related link.
By inserting the number corresponding to L into the image data to be sent to the facsimile terminal in the facsimile terminal, when the user of the facsimile apparatus inputs the number inserted in the image data by PB at the time of the next search designation, the related link can be easily set Follow it.

In addition, by inserting a number into the related link section when searching for an HTML file, it is not necessary to previously register the URLs of all the related links and the numbers corresponding to the related links. The complexity of managing a URL corresponding to a link and a number corresponding to the URL is eliminated.

When there are a plurality of number-embedded HTML file search devices (client devices), there are a plurality of client devices by inquiring only the URL / number information not registered in the client device to the number management server device. In this case, a common number can be used, and the communication amount between the number management server device and the client device can be reduced, so that the communication time can be reduced.

[0018]

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

First, HTML in the basic configuration of the present invention
An embodiment of a file search device will be described. This HTML
The file search device includes a line response unit having means for controlling line connection response, analyzing a PB sound input by the user from the facsimile terminal, and outputting image information to the facsimile terminal; URL information and number information corresponding to the URL. U that converts URLs to numbers and numbers to URLs
Based on the analysis result of the PB sound in the RL / number database unit and the line response unit, the number input in the PB sound
The home page on the WWW desired by the user is converted to the HTTP (Hy) by the ULR converted by the RL / number database unit.
per Text TransferProtoco
1) A search unit for searching according to the method, and converts the HTML file of the searched home page into image information to be transmitted to the facsimile terminal by analyzing tag information, character information, and related image information of the HTML file, and outputs the image information to the line response unit. H
And a TML / image conversion unit.

In this embodiment, when the HTML / image converter of the HTML file search apparatus converts the HTML file of the home page into image information, the number corresponding to the link URL is inserted into the related link of the image data. This allows the user of the facsimile apparatus to follow the link by inputting the number inserted in the image data by PB at the time of the next search designation or the like.

FIG. 1 shows an example of output to a facsimile machine. The number enclosed by [] in FIG. 1 is a number corresponding to the inserted URL, and if the user of the facsimile apparatus inputs the inserted number, for example, 180, by PB,
You can follow the "Test I'm Script read" link.

Here, when the HTML / image conversion unit inserts the number corresponding to the link URL into the image data,
Cut out the URL of the related link and enter the corresponding number
/ Inquire the number database section. In contrast, U
The RL / number database unit returns a registered number without performing new registration if the URL is already registered in the URL / number database, and newly returns a URL that has not been registered in the URL / number database. A new registration is performed by assigning a number, and the assigned number is returned.

When there are a plurality of such number-embedded HTML file search devices (hereinafter, referred to as client devices), a number management server device is arranged and a UR registered in the URL / number database section of each client device.
The number corresponding to L is managed as follows.

(A) When converting a URL into a number, FIG.
Is performed. First, an attempt is made to convert the URL into a number in the client device, and if registered, the number is returned. If not registered, the UR is sent to the number management server
Request conversion of L / number information. In the number management server device, if the received URL is a registered URL, the registered number is returned without performing new registration,
If the URL is unregistered, a new number is assigned, new registration is performed, and the number is returned. The client device that has requested the conversion of the URL / number information transmits the result to the U
Register in the RL / number database section and return the number.

(B) When converting a number into a URL, FIG.
Is performed. First, the UR of the number in the client device
Attempts to convert to L, and if registered, returns the URL. If it has not been registered, U
Request conversion of RL / number information. If the number is already registered, the number management server device returns the registered URL. The client device that has requested the conversion of the URL / number information stores the result in the URL in its own client device.
/ Register in the database section. If the number is not registered in the number management server device, the wrong number is returned.

As described above, each number-embedded HTML
By inquiring only the unregistered URL / number information in the file search device to the number management server device, a common number can be used even when there are a plurality of client devices;
The communication amount between the number management server device and the client device can be reduced, and the communication time can be reduced.

When the administrator manually registers the URL / number information, only the information in the URL / number information management unit in the number management server is updated, and the URL / number information is manually deleted by the administrator. Is the URL in the number management server
The information of the / number information management unit and the URL / number information in the client device managed by the number management server device are also updated.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a specific configuration according to the present invention. In FIG. 4, 1 is a facsimile machine, and 2 is a number-embedded HT as a representative.
ML file search device (client device), 2-1
2-n is a plurality (n) number-embedded HTML file search devices, 3 is the Internet, and 4 is a number management server device.

First, the configuration of the number-embedded HTML file search device (client device) 2 will be described.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a line response unit having means for controlling line connection response, analyzing PB sound input by a user, and outputting transmission image data to a facsimile terminal. Reference numeral 22 denotes an HTT.
According to P, data on the WWW on the Internet 3 (HT
A search unit 23 for searching for an ML file) inserts the number corresponding to the URL into the related link of the HTML file,
An HTML / image converter that analyzes tag information, character information, and related image information of a TML file and outputs image information;
4 manages the URL and the number information corresponding to the URL,
UR that translates a number into a number and a number into a URL
L / number database unit. It is assumed that n units are installed.

Next, the configuration of the number management server device 4 will be described. Reference numeral 41 denotes a URL / number accepting unit that receives information on a number or a URL that has not been registered in a URL / number database in the client device 2 from each client device 2.
If it is an RL, return the registered number without performing new registration. If it is an unregistered URL, add a new number, register newly, and return the number. A URL / number information management unit 43 that returns a registered URL if the number is already registered, and returns an incorrect number if it is an unregistered number.
Is a manual registration unit for manually registering and deleting URL / number information, and 44 is a U for transmitting a number or a URL to the client device 2 which has requested the URL or the number conversion.
RL / number information transmission unit.

With the above configuration, for example, ht shown in FIG.
tp: // surf / IMSTEST / imtest
00. The case of searching for an html file will be described.

It is assumed that the page number is registered in advance and is 179. The user makes a call from the facsimile machine 1 to the number-embedded HTML file search device, and in accordance with voice guidance, a PB which is a dial means.
(Push button) to input 179 #. In the client device 2, the line response unit 21 analyzes the PB sound and passes the number 179 to the URL / number database unit 24. The URL / number database unit 24 includes:
Since the number 179 has been registered in advance,
RL (http: // surf / IMSTEST / im
test00. html) and passes it to the search unit 22 to request a search. The search unit 22 retrieves the information of the designated URL on the WWW through the Internet 3 by using the HTTP (Hyper).
er Text Transfer Protocol
1) to retrieve the specified HTML file and related image information. After searching, the HTML file is H
It is passed to the TML / image converter 23. The HTML / image converter 23 cuts out the URL from the related link information specified by the HREF tag, and puts the cut-out URL into the URL /
The number is passed to the number database 24, and the number corresponding to each URL is obtained. At this time, if the URL is already registered in the URL / number database, the registered number is returned without performing new registration, and if the URL is not registered in the URL / number database, a new number is assigned. To register and return the number. Then, the HTML / image conversion unit 23 inserts the obtained number as a character string in the HTML file immediately before the HREF tag. After inserting the number,
The TML file is converted into image data, and the line response unit 2
The image information is transmitted to the facsimile machine 1 via the first communication device 1.

A user who wants to follow the related link again
By making a telephone call to the number-embedded HTML file search device 2 and inputting the number embedded in the link portion by PB, related information can be searched.

Next, consider the case where there are a plurality of number-embedded HTML file search devices (client devices) 2-1 to 2-n. If the numbers are managed independently for each device, the numbers vary depending on the device, even though the information is the same. Therefore, a number management server device 4 for managing URL / number information is used.

As described above, the HTML file shown in FIG. 1 is used for a search example. URL = http: // surf /
IMSTEST / imtest00. The html is registered in the URL / number database 24 in the client device 2 with the number 179, and it is assumed that the related link has not been registered in the client device 2. The process up to the portion where the search is performed and the portion where the related link is cut out are the same as described above.

After cutting out the related link, cut out the UR
L is passed to the URL / number database 24, and a number corresponding to each URL is obtained. At this time, the URL / number database unit 24 of the client device 2 first attempts to convert the URL into a number in the client device 2 and returns the number if it has been registered. In this example, since the related link is not registered, the URL /
Request conversion of number information. In the number management server device 4, the URL / number receiving unit receives the URL, and
The information is passed to the L / number information management unit 42. When the received URL is a URL already registered in the number management server device 4, the URL / number information management unit 42 returns the registered number without performing new registration, and determines whether the received URL is an unregistered URL. If a new number is assigned, registration is performed and the number is returned.
Here, it is registered in the number management server device 4,
It is assumed that 180, 181, 182, 183, and 184 have been returned as numbers. The obtained number is transmitted to the URL / number of the client device 2 via the URL / number information transmitting unit 44.
The number is transmitted to the number database unit 24. These URLs
And UR in the client device 24 are not registered.
The L / number database unit 4 registers as URL / number information. The HTML / image conversion unit 23 uses the obtained number as a character string in the HTML file,
Insert immediately before the F tag. After the number is inserted, the HTML file is converted into image data, and the image information is transmitted to the facsimile machine 1 via the line response unit 21.

As described above, a plurality of number-embedded HTMs
Even if there is an L file search device (client device) 2, the numbers can be centrally managed. Further, since communication is performed with the number management server device 4 only for URL / number information that does not exist in the client device 2, unnecessary communication of unnecessary URL / number information is not required, so that the amount of communication is reduced and the communication speed is reduced. Is shortened.

The case where an unregistered number, for example, the number 250 is input into the client device 2 will be described. Since there is no registration, there is no corresponding URL in the URL / number database 24 in the client device 2. The URL / number database unit 24 requests the URL / number receiving unit 41 in the number management server device 4 to convert the input number into a URL. If the number is already registered, the number management server device 4 returns the registered URL. The client device 2 that has requested the conversion of the URL / number information registers the result in the URL / number database unit 24 in the client itself. If the number is not registered in the number management server device 4, the wrong number is returned.

Next, the URL is transmitted by the number management server device 4.
A case where URL / number information is manually registered or deleted when the / number information is managed will be described.
URL is added to all client devices 2 every time it is added or deleted.
If the URL / number information is sent, there is a possibility that unnecessary URL / number information that is not used by the client device 2 will be transmitted.

Therefore, when the administrator manually registers the URL / number information, the URL / number information is input from the manual registration section 43 in the number management server device 4. Only the information in the URL / number information management unit 42 in the number management server device 4 is updated, and when the client device 2 requests URL / number conversion, the URL / number information is returned. On the other hand, when the administrator manually deletes the URL / number information, the user inputs the URL / number information to be deleted from the manual registration unit 43 in the number management server. The information of the URL / number information management unit 42 in the number management server device 4 and the URL / number information in the URL / number database units 24 in all the client devices 2 managed by the number management server device 4 are also stored. Update.

[0042]

As described above, according to the number embedded HTML file search device and the number management server device according to the present invention, (a) after receiving image data obtained by converting an HTML file such as an arbitrary homepage image, By inputting the number of the number inserted in the data by PB, it becomes possible to follow the related link to the related link.

(A) Since a number is inserted into the related link part when searching the HTML file, the UR of all the related links is used.
There is no need to register the number corresponding to L in advance.

(C) When there are a plurality of number-embedded HTML file search devices (client devices), the numbers do not vary among the plurality of client devices, and a common number can be used. At this time, since each client device inquires only the unregistered URL / number information to the number management server device, it is possible to reduce the communication volume between the number management server device and the client device, and to shorten the communication time. Become.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an output example of a number-embedded HTML file search device to a facsimile device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a process performed when converting a URL into a number according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a process performed when a number is converted into a URL according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a specific configuration according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Facsimile apparatus 2, 2-1-2-n ... Number embedded type HTML file search apparatus (client apparatus) 21 ... Line response part 22 ... Search part 23 ... HTML / image conversion part 24 ... URL / number database part 3. Internet 4 ... Number management server device 41 ... URL / number reception unit 42 ... URL / number information management unit 43 ... Manual registration unit 44 ... URL / number information transmission unit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A line response unit having means for controlling line connection response, analyzing a PB sound input by a user from a facsimile terminal, and outputting image information to the facsimile terminal, and URL information and number information corresponding to the URL. Manage the UR
A URL / number database unit for converting L to a number and a number to a URL, and a ULR converted from the number input in the PB sound based on the analysis result of the PB sound by the URL / number database unit. HTML on the WWW desired by the user
A retrieval unit for retrieving the file; an HTML / HTML for analyzing the retrieved HTML file by analyzing tag information, character information and related image information of the HTML file into the image information and outputting the image information to the line response unit;
An image conversion unit, wherein the HTML / image conversion unit corresponds to a link URL for following a related link to a related link of the HTML file when converting the HTML file into image information. A number-embedded HTML file search device, comprising: means for inquiring the URL / number database unit for a number and converting and inserting the number. 2. The URL / number database section, when the HTML / image conversion section cuts out a URL of a related link and inquires a number corresponding to the URL,
If the URL is already registered in the L / number database, the registered number is returned without performing new registration. If the URL is not registered in the URL / number database, a new number is assigned. 2. The number embedded type HT according to claim 1, wherein the number is registered and the assigned number is returned.
ML file search device. 3. The URL / number database unit, when the HTML / image conversion unit inquires of a URL or a number corresponding to the URL, uses the URL or number already registered in the URL / number database. If there is, return the registered ULR or number, and register the URL not registered in the URL / number database.
Alternatively, if it is a number, only the URL / number information of the unregistered URL / number information is transmitted to the number management server device managing the URL / number information so that the number information among a plurality of number-embedded HTML file search devices does not become different. 2. The number-embedded HT according to claim 1, wherein a request for conversion of a number is made, the returned result is registered in a URL / number database, and the URL or the number is returned.
ML file search device. 4. A server device that manages URL information and number information corresponding to a URL when there are a plurality of number-embedded HTML file search devices that are client devices. Number or U not registered in the URL / number database of
A number receiving unit for receiving a request for conversion of RL information, and, when the received conversion request is a URL,
If the LR is an already registered URL, the number corresponding to the registered URL is returned without performing new registration. If the LR is an unregistered URL, a new number is assigned and registered. If the received conversion request is a number, the URL corresponding to the registered number is returned if the received number is a registered number. U to return wrong number
An RL / number information management unit; and a URL / number information transmission unit that returns the number or URL returned from the URL / number information management unit to the client device that has requested the URL or number conversion. Characteristic number management server device. 5. A new manual registration unit for manually registering and deleting URL / number information managed by the URL / number information management unit, wherein the URL / number information management unit manages the URL / number information. When the user manually registers, the URL / number information is updated only. When the administrator manually deletes the URL / number information, the URL / number information is updated and the URL / number information is updated. The number management server device according to claim 4, wherein the URL / number information in the client device is also updated via the number information transmitting unit.