WO2001065376A1

WO2001065376A1 - Contents providing method

Info

Publication number: WO2001065376A1
Application number: PCT/JP2000/007862
Authority: WO
Inventors: Toru Saito
Original assignee: Flex-Firm Inc.
Priority date: 2000-03-01
Filing date: 2000-11-08
Publication date: 2001-09-07
Also published as: AU2001213028A1; AU2001213027A1; WO2001065377A1

Abstract

A method for providing contents data to internet terminals (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) connectable to the Internet (4) through a server computer (6) connected to the Internet (4), comprising a description format converting step of converting the description format of the contents data to be distributed to the internet terminals (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) to a description format corresponding to the access method of the internet terminals and a distributing step of distributing the contents data the format of which is converted to the internet terminals.

Description

Description Content provision method Technical field

The present invention relates to a content providing method for delivering content to an Internet terminal connectable to the Internet. Background art

In recent years, the spread of the Internet, which is an open network of computers, has been remarkable, and the usage of personal computers has been increasing, and the use of personal computers has been increasing. The population of Internet users is also increasing rapidly.

On the other hand, with the spread of mobile phones in recent years, Internet connection services that allow these mobile phones to connect to the Internet have been provided. The number of users is rapidly increasing because it is possible to obtain desired information and various contents such as music and images even while moving. It is predicted that the number of people using mopile communication, which can access the Internet via a wireless line such as talk, will increase more and more because of its convenience and quick information acquisition.

In this way, the Internet, which was owned by some people until a few years ago, as described above, the spread of personal computers to homes and the spread of mobile phones with Internet connection functions have increased. Has become an indispensable means of information (tool) for people.

Therefore, it is indispensable to set up a web server for companies to provide or transmit information and other content as public relations, publicity and EC (Electric Commerce) sites when considering corporate strategies. It has become to.

However, as described above, ordinary PCs are used as Internet terminals. It is easy to set up a web server for such applications, etc., and it is not possible to set up a web server for these ordinary personal computers and mobile phones with the Internet connection function. Since the access method for the Internet for each carrier (mobile phone operator) that provides mobile phone services is different from the access method for browsing software that operates on ordinary personal computers, etc., On the content provider side, as shown in Fig. 15, it is necessary to create and register the content to be provided in a file format corresponding to each of these access methods. When updating content data, it is necessary to carry out an update operation for each content data of each access method. Cho will be properly complicated, both when the cost of maintenance of these updates, etc. is increased, the update period there has been a problem that can not be quickly provide a beneficial Konten' Te summer long.

In addition, when providing content data corresponding to the individual access methods, an individual address (URL) is required for each of these access methods. Personal computer and Internet — If you have both a mobile phone with a network connection function, etc., in order to obtain the same content, an address (URL) that matches the type of terminal you are using It is necessary for the user to manage these addresses (URLs) for each terminal type, which is difficult for the user to understand, and the management of these addresses (URLs) becomes complicated. There was a problem of getting it.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and the content provider can easily perform maintenance and development of the content data, and can provide the access user with the content data. Therefore, even if the type of Internet terminal used is different, the same content can be obtained at the same address (URL), and the type of Internet terminal used, etc. The purpose is to provide a content provision method that does not require awareness of the content. Disclosure of the invention

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a content providing method according to the present invention provides an Internet terminal capable of connecting to an Internet network with a server connected to the Internet network. A content providing method for providing content data using a computer, wherein the content data delivered to the Internet terminal is converted into a description format corresponding to an access method of the Internet terminal. And a distribution step of distributing the content data converted in the description format conversion step to the Internet terminal.

According to this feature, simply by registering the content file in a predetermined file format on the computer (server), it is possible to access the Internet terminal accessed by the description format conversion step. Since the content data is converted into a description format corresponding to the system and is delivered to the Internet terminal that has accessed the content data, each element of the huge content is divided by the access method as in the related art. It is not necessary to convert the content data into each description format in advance, and these content data can be centrally managed in one file format of a predetermined format, and the time and cost of updating these content can be saved. It is possible to greatly reduce the content, and thus it is possible to easily carry out maintenance and development of these contents. In addition, since the content data can be centrally managed in a predetermined file format, there is no need to provide an address (URL) for each description format, and these addresses (URLs) are also stored in each access format. , The access user can use the same address (URL) even when the type of Internet terminal used is different, making it easy for the user to understand. Performance can be improved.

The content providing method according to the present invention includes: type information capable of specifying or estimating either the type of the Internet terminal or the type of browsing software mounted on the Internet terminal; The description format corresponding to the type, and An extraction step having at least a terminal information database registered in association with the terminal, and extracting the type information from a request message transmitted from the Internet terminal;

A description format specifying step for specifying a description format corresponding to the type information extracted in the extraction step with reference to the terminal information database;

It is preferable to include

In this way, the access user has the trouble of sequentially inputting the type of the Internet terminal used by the user or the type of the browsing software installed in the Internet terminal. Can be omitted.

The content providing method of the present invention may include a type information receiving step of distributing and receiving an input screen for the type information to the Internet terminal when the type information cannot be extracted in the extracting step. Is preferred o

In this way, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience caused by the inability to identify the type of the Internet terminal used by the access user or the type of the viewing software installed on the Internet terminal.

In the content providing method according to the present invention, in the terminal information database, a file format of an image usable on an Internet terminal of the type is registered in association with the type information, and the content data to be distributed is included in content data to be distributed. An image file conversion step of converting the quoted image into a file format of an image specified in the terminal information database when there is quoted image data; and the distributed content-evening quote And an image file name updating step of changing the image name to the image name after the conversion.

In this way, it is possible to avoid the trouble of preliminarily registering the image data quoted in the content for each image file format that can be used on various Internet terminals. Updating of image data can also be easily performed.

In the content providing method according to the present invention, the corresponding file of the image to be converted is It is preferable to include a determination step of determining whether or not the data in the file format already exists. If it is determined in the determination step that the data already exists, the image file conversion step is preferably omitted.

By doing so, the processing load associated with unnecessary image file conversion can be reduced.

In the content providing method according to the present invention, in the terminal information database, display screen size information of the Internet terminal is registered in association with the type information, and a size of the quoted image file is registered. Reducing the image file size to an image size equal to or smaller than the display screen size when the size of the image file is larger than the display screen size in the comparison. It is preferable to include

In this way, it is possible to avoid a situation where the entire image is not displayed on the display screen of the Internet terminal.

In the content providing method according to the present invention, in the terminal information database, content information receivable by the internet terminal is registered in association with the type information. The size of the converted content data is compared with the content size specified on the terminal information data base, and in the comparison, the size of the converted content data is specified on the terminal information database. In the case where the content is larger than the content size, the method includes a page division step of dividing the converted content data, and the divided page is distributed for each individual page in the distribution step. It is preferable.

In this case, the size of the content data exceeds the content size that can be received by the Internet terminal overnight, and the excess portion is not displayed or the entire content is not displayed. Can be eliminated. In the content providing method according to the present invention, it is preferable that, in the page division step, a link display enabling selection to move to a previous page or a subsequent page is inserted for each divided page.

In this way, each divided page can be moved quickly and easily. Wear.

In the content providing method according to the present invention, when the content data includes a script language, a script execution step of executing the script, and display image data based on the script execution step are distributed in the distribution step. Is preferred.

In this way, depending on the model of the terminal and the type of viewing software, some scripts can be processed, some cannot, and the script has a description language. This makes it possible to avoid restrictions on the use of scripts associated with understanding or not being able to understand the scripts. Content that changes depending on the condition can be created using the script.

In the content providing method according to the present invention, the terminal information database includes a pictogram specifying a pictogram table used for converting pictograms used in various Internet terminals or browsing software into predetermined unified pictograms. The table identification information is registered, and the pictogram included in the request message transmitted from the Internet terminal is converted into a unified pictogram using the pictogram table corresponding to the type of the Internet terminal. A pictogram conversion step, and a unique pictogram conversion step of converting a unified pictogram included in the content data converted in the description format conversion step into a pictogram of an Internet terminal to be distributed. Is preferred.

In this way, conventionally, when the terminal model and the like usually differ, the emoticons incorporated in the terminal are also different. The content creator can use pictograms without having to master the differences in pictograms that accompany the differences in terminal models.

The content providing method according to the present invention has an access step of accessing a management server in which the new terminal information database is registered, a terminal information database registered in the management server, and the time. Terminal An update information comparison step for comparing update information with the information database; and, when the terminal information database registered in the management server is new in the comparison, data for updating to the new terminal information database. Preferably, it includes a base update step.

By doing so, the updating work for updating these terminal information databases to the latest ones can be performed easily and quickly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a content providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a server computer constituting the content providing system in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing processing contents in a “cross-sublet (X-Servlet) engine” which is a file conversion program used in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an overall flow chart showing the processing contents in a “cross-sublet (X-Servlet) engine” which is a file conversion program used in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a method of acquiring terminal information from a request message sent from an access user's Internet terminal in the terminal type identification processing in the embodiment of the present invention. is there.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing contents in the terminal type identification processing in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a terminal information database used in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing the content of the conversion process of the image data of the quoted image in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the content conversion process in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen divided into pages in the content data conversion process in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the processing content of session management in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the processing content of the script processing in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing processing contents in pictogram / code conversion processing in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the contents of the updating process of the terminal information table and the pictograph table in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the status of the distribution process in the conventional content providing system. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Example)

Fig. 1 shows a content conversion server built with a cross-subletter (XServlet) engine, which is a file conversion program created to implement the content providing method of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the content providing system according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the content providing server used in the present embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline of processing of a “cross-sublet (XServlet) engine” which is a file conversion program used in the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a “cross-subletter” which is a file conversion program used in the embodiment. (X-servlet) engine ”is an overall flowchart showing the processing contents. Figure 5 shows the terminal type identification processing sent from the access user's Internet terminal. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a method of acquiring terminal information from a request message to be transmitted. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing in terminal type identification processing. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing terminal information data used in the present embodiment. Show evening configuration FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the contents of the conversion process of the image data of the cited image, FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the contents of the conversion process of the content data, and FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen divided into pages in a conversion process of content data. FIG. 11 is a flow diagram showing processing contents of session management. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing processing contents of script processing. FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing processing contents in pictogram and code conversion processing, and FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing contents of updating processing of the terminal information table and the pictogram table. FIG.

First, the content providing system of the present embodiment is configured as shown in FIG. 1, and a distribution center 15 that provides a content providing service is provided with a server computer 6 that is a computer that distributes each content data. The server computer 6 is connected to a carrier A, which provides a normal telephone service via the Internet 4, and provides a convenience terminal la and a mobile phone service. The carriers B, Carrier C, and Carrier D are connected to the central control stations 3a, 3b, and 3c, respectively. The mobile terminals 1b, 1c and 1d, which are the wireless terminals subscribed to by Carrier C and Carrier D, are the carriers of each carrier. Stations 2b, 2c, 2d, central control stations 3b, 3c, 3d, and a gateway server (not shown) that can be connected to the Internet network 4 and are connected to the Internet. The server computer 6 of the distribution center 5 can be accessed via the network 4.

As the mobile phone used in these embodiments, a normal mobile phone having an Internet connection function corresponding to a predetermined access method in each carrier company can be used. In the present embodiment, the wireless terminal is a mobile phone. The present invention is not limited to this, and may be a simple mobile phone (Personal Handy Phone; PHS). May be a terminal such as an MCA radio.

In this practical example, the server computer 6 is connected to the Internet network 4. The present invention is not limited to the power connected to the central control stations 3b, 3c, and 3d of the respective carrier companies through the central control stations 3b, 3c, and 3d. Connecting the server computer 6 with a dedicated line or the like is optional.

In addition, a content provider that transmits information and the like also has a computer terminal 7 connected to the server computer 6 installed in the distribution center 5 via the Internet network 4 so as to be able to perform data communication overnight. The computer terminal 7 is used to access the server computer 6 so that the server computer 6 can update the content data to be provided to the access user. ing.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, terminal information of each carrier and a mobile phone terminal used in the carrier and information of a browser which is a viewing software are registered in the server computer 6 as shown in FIG. There are registered terminal information tables and pictogram tables in which conversion information such as pictograms used in each terminal and browser is registered.These terminal information tables and pictogram tables are new models. And new versions are released successively, and it is necessary to add and update the serial information in order to respond to them. A computer terminal 8 is installed at the management center, and the server computer 6 is connected to the updating computer terminal 8 via the Internet. 4 Regularly accessed via, so as to update the pictogram table arrangement terminal information table registered.

As shown in FIG. 2, the configuration of the server-computer 6 used in the present embodiment is such that the operation control of the server-computer 6 is performed, Implements control to manage the status of data exchange (session) with the computer terminal 1a that has accessed it and the mobile phone terminals 1b, lc, and 1d of each company carrier based on a predetermined processing program. Access to the carrier of the content data distribution destination, such as the overnight terminal 1a or the mobile phone terminals 1b, lc, and 1d A central processing unit (CPU) 21 that performs the process of converting to a file format that conforms to the system based on the file conversion program “XS ervlet” engine A RAM 24 for performing temporary storage, a real-time clock (RTC) 26 capable of outputting time information such as access time, and a communication interface enabling data communication with the Internet network 4. A control program, which is composed of an interface 22, a display device 23 such as a display, a magnetic disk and a magneto-optical disk, and describes various control contents to be executed by the central processing unit (CPU) 21. Cross data (XSer V1 et) engine, which is a file conversion program, and content data in which information provided by content providers is registered. Terminal (DB), a terminal information table in which terminal information of mobile phones used in each carrier and the carrier and information of a browsing software, etc. are registered. A storage device 25 storing pictogram tables and the like in which conversion information such as pictograms used in the user is registered, and a normal computer connected to and capable of performing relatively high-speed processing The server has a single (common) server address that can be used when accessing from the combination terminal 1a or the mobile phone terminals 1b, lc, and Id of each carrier. A dress (URL) is assigned.

Next, a summary of the process of distributing content data to the evening terminal 1a and the mobile phone terminals 1b, lc, and Id is described with reference to Fig. 3. Then, for example, when accessing the server computer 6 from the mobile phone terminal 1 b of the carrier B, the server computer 6 is first included in the header of the request message from the mobile phone terminal 1 b. From the user agent information, information that can identify the type of the carrier of the mobile phone terminal 1b and the model of the terminal is extracted, and the type of the access method (markup language) of the carrier corresponding to this information is extracted. And information such as the display performance of the terminal from the terminal information table, and the content data requested by the request message is transmitted to the Obtain from the base.

The content data read from this content database is converted into a file in HDML format, which is the access method of the carrier company B of the mobile phone terminal 1b that has accessed the file, and in the file conversion, Based on the obtained information such as the display performance which is the terminal information of the mobile phone terminal 1b, the layout is displayed in accordance with the number of display lines and the number of digits of the display device (LCD panel) of the mobile phone terminal 1b. In this way, the converted HDML file is appropriately modified, for example, divided into pages, and transmitted and distributed to the mobile phone terminal lb, as shown in FIG. If the accessing terminal is the computer terminal 1a of the carrier A, the terminal is the HTML file format, and the accessing terminal is the carrier C or the carrier. A) In the case of Company D, all of these access terminals are converted to MML and C-HTML file formats, respectively, and transmitted and distributed, so that all these access terminals can transmit content data from the same server computer 6. Since the content can be obtained, the content provider registers and updates the information to be provided in the server computer 6 so that the same server address (URL) can be used for a mobile phone or a portable terminal with a different carrier at the same server address (URL). Content can be distributed to all. The content data provision processing of the server computer 6 of the present embodiment will be described below in detail with reference to FIG.

First, a request message from the computer terminal 1a or a mobile phone or a mobile phone terminal lb, lc, or 1d (hereinafter collectively referred to as an Internet terminal) used by the access user is as follows: The terminal type ID that is received by the servlet engine running on the server computer 6 and that can identify the type of carrier terminal included in the request message, the session ID, and the It is sent to the cross-sublets core program.

As a method of acquiring the terminal type ID, as shown in FIG. 5, the user-agent information is included in the HTTP header transmitted at the beginning of the request message. User agent information includes: As shown in Fig. 5, information specific to each carrier is described, as well as the model of the Internet terminal that transmitted the request message and the version information of the browser. Which carrier and what type of terminal the description content matches can be specified by checking the terminal information table shown in FIG.

The specific processing content of the terminal type identification processing for specifying the terminal type based on the extracted description data in the user agent information is as shown in FIG. Based on the acquisition of the description data of one agent information, a carrier name included in the description data and a word indicating the model (model) of the terminal are detected.

Next, the terminal information table is searched using the detected carrier name / terminal model name as a search keyword. At this time, if there is no corresponding registration, the terminal information table is searched again with the model identification information as “default”. If this does not apply, the carrier suggestion information is set to “default”. The registration information corresponding to the carrier suggestion information and the model identification information determined in this manner, such as the markup language format, the maximum number of bytes of the content, the number of lines on the display screen, and the number of characters, are acquired from the terminal information table. Apply to subsequent content conversion processing.

If the carrier name and the word indicating the model (model) of the terminal have not been extracted or if there is no corresponding word in the terminal information table search, the carrier registered in the terminal information table is not registered. A data entry screen configured to allow the access user to select and input information of each company and terminal model is returned to the Internet terminal that transmitted the request message, and the carrier company and When a terminal model is selected, information on the selected carrier company and terminal model is retrieved by searching the terminal information table.

As described above, when the carrier company and the terminal model cannot be specified from the request message, the data entry screen is returned to the access user's Internet terminal to return information on the carrier company and the terminal model. To accept This is preferable because it is possible to avoid the inconvenience that inappropriate conversion processing is performed in subsequent content conversion processing, etc., because these carrier companies and terminal models are unspecified, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is not done.

The configuration of the terminal information table used in this embodiment used in the terminal type identification processing and the like is as shown in Fig. 7, and the "name" of "browser" and model corresponding to each carrier company Corresponding “terminal” “name”, information about receivable content (“markup language” “name”, content character code, maximum number of content bytes), terminal screen size Information about the number of horizontal characters and the number of vertical lines in the “screen”, and information about the images that can be displayed (the “format”, “number of horizontal pixels”, and “vertical pixels” in the image) Information, such as “number”, “aspect ratio”, “animated animation”, “color mode”, “color / gradation number”, etc., and these terminal information tables are periodically updated by an update process described later. Also the latest It has been updated to.

Next, in the cross-sublet core program, as shown in FIG. 4, session information acquisition processing is performed, and specific processing contents of the session information are as shown in FIG. That is, if the session ID is not included in the request message, the session ID is recognized as a new session, and the session ID is created. If the session is shorter than the standard lifetime, it is stored and managed in the GO set, otherwise it is stored in the other set (Other) and managed.

Here, the GO set is a set that manages all sessions that have been accessed between a certain time and the reference life time (however, those whose lifespan is less than the reference life). If the current time has passed “the time obtained by adding the reference life time from a certain time”, the G 0 set is managed by changing the name to the G 1 set. Then, the GO set is newly defined as “from the current time to the time obtained by adding the reference life time”. When the G0 set is changed to the G1 set, if the G1 set already exists, all its contents are discarded. This enables efficient deletion of invalid sessions. Here, if the request message contains a session ID, the expiration date of the session ID is checked. If not, the session is discarded and a new session ID is obtained as described above. . If it is valid, the last access time of the session is updated and stored in the GO set or the other set other than G.

In this way, the session is identified and the session is identified using the session ID as a key. After that, processing such as content acquisition and conversion is performed, and before responding to the processing result to the user, if HTTP Cookie is available, the session ID is set to Cookie and the user is responded to with the content processing result. You. If the Cookie cannot be used, it responds to the user by adding the session ID information to all the link destination URLs included in the content. Even if the above-mentioned HTTP Cookie can be used, the HTTP Cookie may not be used.

Next, the pictograms and character codes included in the request message are converted based on the conversion contents registered in the pictogram table corresponding to the carrier company and terminal model information acquired in the terminal type identification processing. The corresponding pictograms and character codes are converted to the specified ones.

Based on the request message converted to the predetermined character code, the requested content data is identified, the corresponding content data is obtained from the content data base (DB), and the document object is obtained. Model (D 0 M).

After the creation of these document object models (DM), script execution processing is performed. The processing contents of the script execution processing in the present embodiment are as shown in FIG. 12, and based on the request message, the contents acquired from the contents database (DB) as described above are added to the script (user terminal). If it includes a type of program processed above, execute the script on the server, set the values of variables, etc., and determine the contents of the screen to be displayed.

The content conversion process and the emoji conversion process are performed on the determined content. Respond to the user. At this time, standard style sheets are provided for content conversion. Note that the script is used to change the value of a variable or the like in accordance with a user operation, and to change the display screen only by processing on the user terminal. In the case of this embodiment, the script is used. The operation result is transmitted to the server as a request message, and the server performs this processing.

Doing so will only allow content to be provided to Internet terminals that do not have the ability to process the script in the format contained in the content, and the processing at the Internet terminal that accompanies the processing of these scripts. Although it is preferable because the load can be significantly reduced, the present invention is not limited to this.

After these script processes, the content data conversion process is performed. FIG. 9 shows the contents of the content conversion process in this embodiment. If the content requested by the request message has already been converted and exists in the cache, the content is converted from the cache to the designated content. Fetch the specified page of content and respond to the user. If it does not exist in the cache, the content is obtained by executing an application program on the server side, such as a servlet, and the content is converted based on the terminal information.

At this time, if the converted size exceeds the content size that can be received by the terminal (specified in the terminal information table), the acquired content is viewed from the end and the part that can be separated (selection list , Check box, table table, etc.) and convert the content and pictograms again for the first divided part. This is repeated until the size of the content reaches the size that can be received by the terminal. One or both links of “previous page” or “next page” are assigned to each page, and each of the divided pages is provided to the user. The page that responds. Then, for the unprocessed portion of the first content, the content conversion, pictograph conversion, and size check are repeated in the same manner, and all the content is converted. Create all pages and register them in the cache. After that, the user responds with the specified page (or the first page if no purge is specified).

The display situation by page division in these file conversion processes will be described with reference to Fig. 10. If the content size exceeds the size (number of characters) that can be received (displayable) by the terminal, the content must be divided into pages. However, as shown in FIG. 10, a part of the content is not displayed or the entire content is not displayed.

In contrast, when page division is performed as described above, as shown in Fig. 10, all contents can be displayed without omission by sequentially moving each divided page. When moving these divided pages, one or both links of “previous page” and “next page” are provided as in this embodiment, so that the pages can be easily moved between pages. Although it is preferable because it becomes possible, the present invention is not limited to this.

If there is a quoted image in the content-converted content file, the image data of the quoted image is converted. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 8, when an image is requested in the request message, the specified image name (for example, a.gif) and the identified terminal name (for example, N502i and Search) using the key as the key. If the corresponding data exists in the cache, calculate the Digest value of the specified image a.gif and compare it with the saved Digest value.

If the two match, it is determined that the specified image has not been changed, and the converted image data stored in the cache is responded to the user as a response. Except in this case, when the size of the specified image a.gif is large, the compression process is performed, when the number of colors is large, the color reduction process is performed, and when the format is different, the format is different from the specifications of the user terminal. Performs conversion and responds to the user with the processing result. At this time, if the digest value for a.gif already exists in the cache and it is different from the value calculated this time, all cache contents for a.gif are discarded. And a. Gif digest value, list Then, the converted image is stored in the cache using the image name a.gif and the terminal name N502i as keys.

As described above, when converting image data, it is determined whether or not the data corresponding to the converted image data already exists in the cache, and if so, the conversion process is not performed. Although it is preferable because the processing load associated with the image conversion process can be reduced, the present invention is not limited to this, and the image data may be uniquely updated to update the cache data.

In addition to the conversion of the image data, conversion processing of pictograms and character codes in the converted content data is performed. These processing contents are described as specific processing contents based on the flow of FIG. 13 as a series of processing together with the conversion of pictograms and character codes in the request message, and are specified in the request message. If the URL is an execution of a server-side program such as a servlet, the pictograph code included in the request message is converted to a unified pictograph code by searching the “pictograph table”. Also converts the request message into the character code assumed by the specified server-side program. After that, the server side program is executed and the content is obtained as a result.

When the URL specified in the request message is not the execution of the server-side program, the content may be obtained from the specified URL, for example, the computer terminal 7 of the content provider.

The character code of the content obtained in this way is converted into the character code of the output terminal, and all the pictogram codes included in the contents are searched for in the “pictograph table” to obtain the pictogram for the output terminal. Convert to code and respond to user.

The “pictogram table” and “qenpo terminal table” are updated periodically by performing the update process shown in FIG. 14 and accessing the computer terminal 8 of the management center. It is updated to the latest data. Specifically, the computer terminal of the management center is periodically 8 and issues an inquiry to obtain the update time of the “terminal information database” registered in the computer terminal 8. If this time is later than the time managed by the server computer 6, a request message is issued to the combination terminal 8, and the terminal information table is sent from the computer 8. Download and update the information registered on server computer 6.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the content corresponding to the message requested by the access user from the Internet terminal is transmitted to the Internet terminal of each carrier company from the same server computer 6. When the content is distributed, the content is converted to a file in a format compatible with the access method of each carrier company, and the files in each format are individually converted. The labor required for management can be greatly reduced, and these contents can be distributed easily and quickly to many users at low cost.

In addition, a single server address (URL) can be used for access from the mobile terminal, which is a wireless terminal, which not only simplifies the management of users but also enables the server address (URL). ) Can be easily understood.

As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described in the above embodiments with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and may be modified or added without departing from the gist of the present invention. Needless to say, this is also included in the present invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example was described in which the number of carrier companies was four, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be four or more carrier companies. Both mobile phone companies and PHS service companies may be able to connect.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the format of the conversion file converted from the content file registered in the content database is exemplified by the HDML format, the C-HTML format, and the MML format, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, these file formats are converted to the next generation file format, XHTM. The L method may be used.

Also, in this embodiment, the conversion from the content registered in the content database to the file format is performed directly. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In the conversion to the format, the conversion to the file of the desired format may be performed after the conversion to the file of the XML format once as the intermediate file. Explanation of reference numerals

1a computer terminal

1 b 1 c 1 d mobile phone terminal

2 b 2 c 2 d base station

3 b 3 c 3 d Central control station

4 Internet network

5 Distribution Center

6 Server computer

7 Computer terminal (content provider)

8 Computer terminal (Administration Center Yuichi)

2 0 Data bus

2 1 Central processing unit (CPU)

2 2 Communication interface

2 3 Display device

2 4 RAM

twenty five

2 6 Real-time clock (RTC

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. A content providing method for providing content data to an Internet terminal connectable to an Internet network using a server computer connected to the Internet network, A description format conversion step for converting the content data to be distributed to the Internet terminal into a description format corresponding to the access method of the Internet terminal, and content data converted by the description format conversion step. A distribution step of distributing the content to the internet terminal.

2. There are few types of information that can identify or estimate either the type of the Internet terminal or the type of browsing software installed on the Internet terminal, and the description format corresponding to the type. Has a terminal information database registered in association with

An extracting step of extracting the type information from a request message transmitted from the Internet terminal;

2. The content providing method according to claim 1, further comprising: a description format specifying step of specifying a description format corresponding to the type information extracted in the extraction step by referring to the terminal information database.

3. The type information receiving step according to claim 2, further comprising a type information receiving step of distributing and receiving an input screen of the type information to the Internet terminal when the type information cannot be extracted in the extracting step. Content delivery method.

4. In the terminal information database, a file format of an image that can be used in the Internet terminal of that type is registered in association with the type information, and is quoted in the distributed content data. An image file conversion step of converting the quoted image into a file format of the image specified in the terminal information database when there is an image file; and a cited image name in the distributed content file 4. The content providing method according to claim 2, further comprising: an image file name updating step of changing an image name into the converted image name.

5. Including a determination step for determining whether or not data of the file format corresponding to the image to be converted already exists, and in the case where determination is made in the determination step that the image file already exists, the image file conversion is performed. 5. The content providing method according to claim 4, wherein steps are omitted.

6. In the terminal information database, display screen size information of the Internet terminal is registered in association with the type information, and the size of the quoted image file is compared with the display screen size. 6. The method according to claim 2, further comprising: reducing the size of the image file to an image size equal to or smaller than the display screen size when the size of the image file is larger than the display screen size in the comparison. The content providing method according to any one of the above.

7. In the terminal information database, content size information receivable by the internet terminal is registered in association with the type information, and converted in the description format conversion step. The size of the content is compared with the content size specified in the terminal information database, and in the comparison, the size of the converted content data is specified in the terminal information database. Claims 1 to 5, further comprising a page division step of dividing the converted content data when the size is larger than the size, wherein the divided pages are distributed for each individual page in the distribution step. 6. The content providing method according to any one of 6.

8. The content providing method according to claim 7, wherein, in the page division step, a link display that can be moved to a previous page or a subsequent page by selecting is inserted for each divided page.

9. In the case where the content data includes a script language, a script execution step for executing the script, and display image data based on the script execution step are distributed in the distribution step. Content providing method according to any of the above.

10. The terminal information database contains pictograms used in various Internet terminals or browsing software to convert them into predetermined unified pictograms. The pictogram table specifying information for specifying the pictogram table to be used is registered, and the pictogram included in the request message transmitted from the Internet terminal is converted to a pictogram table corresponding to the type of the Internet terminal. A unified pictogram conversion step of converting the unified pictogram included in the content data converted in the description format conversion step into a pictogram of an Internet terminal to be distributed. The method for providing content according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising:

1 1. An access step for accessing a management server in which the new terminal information database is registered, and updating of the terminal information database registered in the management server and the terminal information database at that time. An update information comparing step of comparing information; and a data base updating step of updating the new terminal information database when the terminal information database registered in the management server is new in the comparison. The content providing method according to any one of claims 2 to 10.