WO2002073969A1

WO2002073969A1 - Method and apparatus for on-demand information provision

Info

Publication number: WO2002073969A1
Application number: PCT/JP2001/001979
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yoshikazu Inoshita; Cornelius O`Herlihy
Original assignee: Hokkaido Rokuga Center Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2001-03-13
Filing date: 2001-03-13
Publication date: 2002-09-19
Also published as: JPWO2002073969A1

Abstract

An on-demand information provision method is provided for providing local information for a remote place effectively and easily. When a user runs browser software using a keyboard or mouse of a client and accesses a streaming server (S501), the streaming server transmits a Web page. The client displays the received Web page on a display (S502). The user selects desired streaming data according to the description on the Web page. The streaming server extracts the selected data from a corresponding database and streams it. At the client, the received data is expanded and reproduced using a speaker (S506).

Description

Description On-demand information provision method and on-demand information provision system

The present invention relates to an on-demand type information providing method and an on-demand type information providing system, and more particularly, to an on-demand type information providing method capable of providing audio and streaming data of Z or image via the Internet, The present invention relates to an on-demand information providing system, a computer-readable recording medium, and a computer program. Background art

In recent years, rapid developments in distribution systems and means of transportation have led to the expansion of the market for businesses closely related to the region, such as the tourism business and the specialty product manufacturing industry. Providing information such as advertisements allows businesses operating these businesses to advertise their businesses and acquire customers in remote locations. In addition, with the spread of tourism and mail-order sales, demand for information at remote locations is increasing.

Thus, the transmission of local (local) information to remote locations has become extremely important for the promotion of local industries.

In recent years, technology related to multimedia communication, which adds still images and moving images to voice and data communications, has been developed, and it has become easier to provide voice and moving images to remote locations. As technology related to multimedia communication, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-004,485 discloses a technology related to content distribution of audio data using a wireless communication network as a transmission medium. I have. According to this technique, a radio station server stores a plurality of subscriber profiles with personal interest topics, and Assemble content material from websites according to the topic of. Then, in response to a request from the subscriber's user terminal, the assembled content is transmitted. The above-mentioned operators can use this communication technology to send information specific to their region to the whole country or the whole world. However, in the above-mentioned technologies, although the technology related to multimedia transmission is clarified, the method of providing information is not clarified. In other words, there is a problem in that it is up to the individual business operator to be able to provide information effectively to remote residents.

The most widespread medium for providing information that is closely related to the region is a program created by a local television or radio broadcasting station. Community-based programs created by these stations are broadcast only within a small broadcast area. By providing this unique program created by a local broadcaster to users at long distances, it is possible to excite residents at long distances and raise their interest in the area. it is conceivable that.

As a conventionally known technology for providing program contents, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-0-31 849 discloses a method for distributing a program file, and a data transmission / reception device receives the file. A technique for distributing broadcast data is disclosed. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-110190 discloses a technique of a broadcasting system including a device for transmitting broadcast content and a device for receiving broadcast content. However, although the technology for providing broadcast content as a device or system is disclosed, these technologies are intended to provide already recorded content and have the effect of appealing to the interest of information users. It does not imply that information is provided. Therefore, with the conventionally known technology, depending on the way of providing information, it does not attract or raise interest of the information user, or it is difficult for the information user to obtain the desired information. There was a problem that there is. The present invention has been made in order to solve such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an on-demand type information providing method and an on-demand information providing method capable of effectively and easily providing local information to a remote place. It is to provide a demand type information providing system.

The present invention uses techniques for audio and Z or image streaming. Streaming is a technology for playing video and sound data in real time. Streaming, unlike conventional multimedia distribution, in which all files are downloaded once and then the playback software is started and played back, can play the content in real time. Since the streamed stream is discarded after playback, the free space on the hard disk in the computer is less than that required for conventional multimedia distribution. Disclosure of the invention

In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, an on-demand information providing method according to the present invention obtains audio and Z or image data, Z or image data is converted to streamable data, the converted voice and / or image data is stored in a storage device, and in response to a request obtained via the Internet, The stored voice and Z or image data are transmitted as streaming data via the Internet.

Further, in the first invention, the acquisition, conversion, storage, and transmission of the audio and / or image data can be performed by an information providing server.

In the first invention, the acquisition and conversion of the audio and / or image data is performed by a multimedia server; the accumulation and transmission of the audio and / or Z or image data is performed by a streaming server; Functional data may be supplied from the multimedia server to the streaming server.

Further, in the first invention, the audio and / or video data is transmitted to a tourist spot in a broadcasting area of a radio or television broadcasting station, an event performed in the broadcasting area, and It may include any of the specialty information.

Here, in response to the request, a Web page of a map including the broadcast area may be displayed.

Here, the displayed Web page may include, for each broadcast area, a hyperlink for selecting audio and / or image data related to the broadcast area.

Here, according to the selection of the hyperlink, a hyperlink to a homepage that provides information in a broadcasting area corresponding to the selected hyperlink may be displayed.

Further, in the first invention, further, the client receives the transmitted voice and Z or image data, converts the received voice and Z or image data into a radio signal, and A signal may be transmitted. In a second aspect of the present invention, an on-demand information providing system according to the present invention comprises: an acquiring unit for acquiring audio and / or image data; and a streamer for acquiring the acquired audio and / or image data. Converting means for converting the data into possible data; storing means for storing the converted voice and Z or image data in a storage device; and storing the stored voice in response to a request obtained via the Internet. And / or transmitting means for transmitting image data as streaming data via the Internet.

Further, in the second invention, the acquisition unit, the conversion unit, the storage unit and And the transmitting means may be provided in an information providing server. In the second invention, the acquisition unit and the conversion unit are provided in a multimedia server, the storage unit and the transmission unit are provided in a streaming server, and the streaming-capable data is stored in the multimedia server. The data can be supplied from the super server to the streaming server.

Further, in the second invention, the audio, Z or image data is information of a tourist spot in a broadcasting area of a local radio or television broadcasting station, an event performed in the broadcasting area, and information of a special product in the broadcasting area. Or any of the following.

Here, it is possible to further include display means for displaying a Web page of a map including the broadcasting area in response to the request.

Here, the displayed Web page may include, for each broadcast area, a hyperlink for selecting audio and / or image data relating to the broadcast area.

Here, in accordance with the selection of the hyperlink, the display unit may further display a hyperlink to a homepage that provides information in a broadcasting area corresponding to the selected hyperlink.

Also, in the second invention, receiving means for receiving the transmitted voice and Z or image data via the Internet, and converting means for converting the received voice and Z or image data into a wireless signal And a broadcasting unit for transmitting the converted wireless signal.

In a third aspect of the present invention, a computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention comprises: acquiring audio and Z or image data; and streaming the acquired audio and Z or image data. Converting the converted voice and Z or image data into a storage device. Transmitting the stored voice and Z or image data as streaming data via the Internet in response to a request obtained via the Internet. Remember the program.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, a computer program according to the present invention comprises the steps of: acquiring audio and / or image data; and converting the acquired audio and / or Z or image data into streamable data. Converting; storing the converted voice and Z or image data in a storage device; and responding to a request obtained via the Internet, storing the converted voice and / or Z or image data. And causing the computer to execute a step of transmitting the image data as streaming data via the Internet. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example of the multimedia server according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example of a streaming server and a client to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the on-demand information providing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the on-demand information providing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a Web page displayed on the display of the client.

Figure 7 shows an example of a web page displayed on the client display. It is.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a system to which the present invention is applied. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, "streaming data" refers to data formatted for streaming.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of an on-demand information providing system to which the present invention is applied. This system consists of a multimedia server 102 that edits streaming data, a streaming server 103 that registers and provides streaming data edited by the multimedia server, and reception and playback of streaming data. Are connected to the Internet 100, and these are configured to be able to communicate with each other.

The multimedia server 102 is a personal computer (PC) installed at a local FM radio station, and is an audio mixer device for editing audio data of programs created at the FM radio station. It receives audio data from 5, and edits and transmits streaming data based on the received data. The streaming server 103 receives the streaming data transmitted from the multimedia server 102 and registers it in a data base (not shown). The streaming server 103 registers a Web page for providing the client with streaming data in the database, and also functions as a WWW server.

The multimedia server 102 and the streaming server 103 function as the information providing server of the present invention.

Client 101a, 10lb and 101c (hereinafter referred to as client Is a computer for receiving information provision from the streaming server 103.

A mobile communication network 110 is connected to the Internet 100. A wireless mobile station 112 is connected to this mobile communication network through a base station 111 via a wireless line. A mobile phone or PHS capable of communicating with the mobile communication network 110 is used as the wireless mobile device 112, and browser software for reproducing streaming data is introduced as described later. .

The multimedia server 102, the storage server 103, and the client 101 are, specifically, personal computers that have installed multimedia-compatible system software (computer programs). used. The processing contents of the computer program installed in each personal computer will be described later.

Next, the hardware configuration of the multimedia server according to the present invention will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The multimedia server 102 is composed of an audio controller 201 for receiving audio signals and a system memory (RAM) for storing object data for executing the program and data required for executing the program. 203 and ROM 211 and a CPU 205 that executes processing based on program instructions are connected to a bus 202. Further, a hard disk drive (HDD) 207 and a communication interface (IZF) 210 for executing communication with a network are connected to the bus 202.

The audio controller 201 is an audio mixer device that edits an audio signal from a playback device such as a tape recorder 222, a microphone 222, or a telephone 222 connected through a telephone network (not shown). Connected to 5. For the audio controller 201, specifically, a sound board equipped with a chip such as a PCM sound source is used, and its microphone connection terminal is connected to the sound of the audio mixer device 105. Connected to voice output terminal.

The system memory 203 stores an authoring tool 204 as a program for performing the processing according to the present invention. The authoring tool 204 is a program for registering, in the HDD 207, a streaming data obtained by digitally converting an audio signal. Such a program is generally called a media encoder.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, compressed streaming data is used. For example, the data in the asf (Advanced Streaming Format) format created by Microsoft's Windows On-demand Producer program corresponds to such data.

Each of the streaming data has characteristic (property) data composed of information such as the FM radio broadcasting station that created the data and a program name indicating the content of the data. This characteristic data may be automatically created at the time of registration, or may be created by an operator of the multimedia server after registration. By adopting such a configuration, the mixer 105 that has collected the audio from the tape recorder 221, the microphone 222, and the telephone 222 has been able to directly or edit the audio. Send to multimedia server 102. The audio signal received by the multimedia server 102 is converted into streaming data by the CPU 205 executing the program code of the authoring rule 204, compressed, and sent to the hard disk drive 207. be registered.

By this registration process, one streaming data is registered. The registered streaming data is collectively transmitted to the streaming server 103 via the communication interface 210 and the Internet 100 after a certain period of time.

Next, referring to the block diagram of FIG. 3, the streaming server 1 to which the present invention is applied. An example of a hardware configuration of the client 03 and the client 101 will be described.

The streaming server 103 has a system memory 302, a CPU 306, a database (DB) 307 storing a plurality of streaming data, a ROM 308, and a communication interface 309 connected to a bus 301. The system memory 302 stores a DB control program 303, a streamer program 304, and a CGI script 305.

The DB control program 303 is a program for performing processing such as registration, update, and deletion of a database with respect to the database 307. The streaming server program 304 is a program for streaming distribution of data registered in the database 307. The CGI script 305 is a program conforming to the interface (Common Gateway Interface; CGI) that starts a corresponding program in response to a request from the browser software of the client 101 and returns the result obtained by this program to the client side. is there.

The registration processing to the database 307 is performed based on the characteristic data. That is, the streaming data is registered with an index for each broadcasting station, each program, and each time of reception.

Database ₃ 07 receives from Maruchimeda server 102 via the communication Intafue Ichisu 309, the string one Mingude Isseki registered, a set of We b page provided to the client 1 01, registered in Haiti de disk on Have been. On the other hand, in the client 101, a CPU 316, a ROM 318, a system memory 313, an audio controller 321 connected to a speaker 322, and a communication interface 317 are connected to a bus 311. Further, a display 312, a keyboard 319, and a mouse 320 are connected to the bus 311 as peripheral devices.

The system memory 313 contains web pages and The browser software 314 for browsing contents and the playback program 315 for playing streaming media are stored. As the playback program, for example, software such as Microsoft's Windows MediaPlayer or RealNetworks' RealPlayer is used.

The display 3 1 2 has an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or CRT

(Cathode-Ray Tube) is used. The keyboard 319 and the mouse 320 are used for controlling a cursor on the display 313 and inputting an instruction to the CPU 316.

Note that, similarly to the client 101, the wireless mobile device 112 of FIG. 1 can also operate as a client for the streaming server 103. The wireless mobile device 112 has the same hardware configuration as the client 101 except that a button is used instead of a keyboard and a mouse, and that the communication interface is connected to the network via a wireless line. Therefore, detailed description is omitted.

The functions related to the present invention are as follows. Each of the CPUs of the multimedia server 102, the streaming server 103 and the client 101 described above is executed by a program of a program recorded in a system memory or a ROM. Needless to say, this can be achieved by reading and executing the code.

Next, with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 4, a procedure performed between the multimedia server 102 and the streaming server 103 in the information providing method according to the present invention will be described.

First, an audio signal is transmitted from the audio mixer 105 installed at the local FM radio broadcasting station to the multimedia server 102. The audio data to be transmitted may be audio of a broadcast program input from the microphone 222, audio of a recorded program input from the tape recorder 201, or may be transmitted during the broadcast of the program. It may be voice transmitted from the listener's telephone. Upon receiving the analog audio data from the audio mixer device 105 (step S401), the multimedia server 102 converts it into digital data, ie, streaming data, compresses the data, and stores it in the hard disk 207. (Step S402).

Next, streaming data on the hard disk 207 is transmitted from the multimedia computer 102 to the streaming server 103 (step S 403). Upon receiving the streaming data, the streaming server 103 registers it in the database 307 based on the characteristic data (step S404). The operator of the stream server 103 creates a web page to provide streaming data registered in the database 307 to the client, or a web page has already been created. If so, update it.

Next, a procedure in which the client 101 uses the information providing method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

First, the client accesses the store server 103 (step S501). The store server 103 responds to this access, and the client 101 has a home page, that is, a hierarchical structure. The first page of the Web page is transmitted (step S502). The home page displayed here contains hyperlinks that provide information on the broadcasting area of the FM radio station that created the streaming video. This will be described later.

Next, when the user selects a desired hyperlink using the mouse or the like of the client 101 (Yes route in step S503), the streaming server 103 selects the hyperlink. The corresponding web page is extracted from the database and displayed on the client 101 (step S502). _D The web page displayed here provides information on the selected broadcast area. To homepage And a hyperlink for downloading streaming data. The specific contents of this Web page will be described later using FIG.

When the user selects a hyperlink for download from this Web page using a mouse or the like (Yes route in step S505), the streaming data is sent from the streamer server 103 to the client 101. At the same time as the evening is downloaded, streaming of the program is performed on the client, and sound is output from the speaker 3222 (step S506).

On the other hand, if the user selects a hyperlink to the homepage that provides information on the broadcasting area (Yes route in step S508), the client connects to the WWW server of the corresponding address, and the homepage is accessed from the www server. get. A home page is displayed on the display (step S509).

Next, an example of a Web page displayed on the display of the client 101 in the above-described processing will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the home page of the streamer displayed on the display in step S502. This screen is an example of a homepage for providing streaming data created by multiple local FM radio stations in Hokkaido, Japan. The homepage has a title 603, a burner advertisement 602, and a map 600 of the entire Hokkaido area.

On the map 600, a radio tower symbol 6001 corresponding to the FM radio broadcasting station that created the streaming day is arranged. The symbol 6001 is a hyperlink to a homepage that provides information on the broadcasting area of the FM radio broadcasting station, and is configured to be selectable with a mouse or the like. Thus, when the user selects one of the symbols 601, the corresponding home page is displayed on the client display. FIG. 7 shows an example of a web page displayed on the display in step S504. This web page is selected on the homepage, with a screen title 701, a button 702 for downloading the latest streaming of the program, and textual information 703. It has a hyperlink 704 to a homepage that provides information within the broadcasting area of the FM radio station, and a hyperlink 705 to the homepage of the FM radio station selected on the homepage. By selecting a desired one of these hyperlinks, the user can display a down-logout during the streaming day or display a homepage.

In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the client reproduces the streaming data downloaded from the server. However, a certain broadcasting station downloads the streaming data of a program of another broadcasting station, and the data is transmitted to the broadcasting station. It may be played back and broadcast.

FIG. 8 shows another configuration example of the information providing system to which the present invention is applied. This system includes a multimedia server 102 that edits the streaming data, a streaming server edited and provided by the multimedia server, and a streaming server 103, and electronic content. In addition to the client 101 that performs reception and playback, a multimedia server installed at an FM radio station in Asahikawa City, and a multimedia server installed at an FM radio station in Hakodate II The client 201c installed at the FM radio station in Kenichi Road is connected to the Internet 100b.

The multimedia servers 2 O la, 201 b and 201 c have the same functions as the multimedia server 102 and the client 101 described above, and generate streaming data. In addition to being able to transmit to the streaming server 103, it is also possible to download data from the streaming server. these Needless to say, the functions are realized by the above-described CPU that installs the computer program installed in the multimedia server 102 and the client 101.

The output terminals of the sound boards included in the multimedia servers 201a, 201b, and 201c each include a transmission device (not shown) that converts an audio signal into a wireless signal. It is connected to the radio towers 202a, 202b, and 202c via the antenna.

With such a configuration, the multimedia server 201a is created in the multimedia server 201b or 201c, and the streaming data registered in the stream server 103 is created. Can be downloaded. The downloaded data is played back in real time, and an audio signal is output to the transmitting device. The transmitting device converts the received audio signal into a radio signal and transmits the radio signal from the radio tower. As a result, it is possible to provide programs created at the City Hall and FM Radio Station in Kushiro from a broadcasting station in Asahikawa City to listeners within the broadcasting area. Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in other various forms. For example, in the above-described embodiment, audio streaming has been described as an example. However, streaming data may be moving images, or a combination of audio and moving images. In a preferred embodiment in this case, a multimedia server owned by a local television station creates streaming data of a television program.

The created streaming data is not limited to radio or television.

Also, in the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which audio data output from the audio mixer is input. The data may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, and the multimedia server may read the data on the recording medium to input the streaming data.

The present invention is executable on a computer system having a processor coupled to receive data and instructions from storage, input, and output devices and to send data and instructions to them. This can be done using a computer program. The program is written in a high-level procedural programming language, an object-oriented programming language, an assembly language, a machine language, or a markup language such as an HTML language.

Thus, the processor receives the computer program from the storage device. Examples of the storage device that incorporates the instructions of a computer program substantially include a semiconductor memory device such as a flash memory device, a magnetic disk such as a hard disk and a removable disk, and a medium such as a CD-R. Industrial applicability

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided an information providing method performed by an information providing server, wherein at least one voice and Z or moving image are input, and the input voice and Z or moving image are streamed. After converting the data into possible data and registering it in the storage device, accepting the selection of the registered audio and Z or moving image, and transmitting the selected audio and / or moving image in a streaming format, An information providing method, an information providing server, and an information providing device capable of effectively and easily providing unique information to a remote place can be provided.

In addition, a local broadcasting station reproduces and broadcasts streaming data of a program broadcasted at a remote broadcasting station, so that a listener in the local area can use a special information processing device. Users can view programs in remote locations using relatively simple devices, such as radios and televisions, without owning a device.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. Get audio and Z or image data,

Convert the acquired audio and / or image data into a streamable data,

Storing the converted audio and / or image data in a storage device;

An on-demand information providing method, wherein the stored voice and Z or image data is transmitted as streaming data via the Internet in response to a request obtained via the Internet.

2. The on-demand information providing method according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition, conversion, storage, and transmission of the audio and Z or image data are performed by an information providing server. .

3. The on-demand information providing method according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition and conversion of the audio and Z or image data are performed by a multimedia server, and the storage and transmission of the audio and κ or image data are performed by a streaming server. The on-demand type information providing method, wherein the streaming data is supplied from the multimedia server to the streaming server.

4. The on-demand information providing method according to claim 1, wherein the audio and / or image data is a sightseeing spot in a broadcasting area of a local radio or television broadcasting station, an event performed in the broadcasting area, and An on-demand information providing method including information on one of special products in a broadcasting area.

5. The on-demand information providing method according to claim 4, wherein a web page of a map including the broadcasting area is displayed in response to the request.

6. The on-demand information providing method according to claim 5, wherein the displaying We An on-demand information providing method, wherein a hyperlink for selecting audio and / or image data relating to the broadcast area is arranged on page b for each broadcast area.

7. The on-demand information providing method according to claim 6, further comprising, in response to the selection of the hyperlink, a hyperlink to a homepage that provides information in a broadcasting area corresponding to the selected hyperlink. An on-demand type information providing method characterized by displaying the information.

8. The on-demand information providing method according to claim 1, further comprising:

A client receiving the transmitted voice and Z or image data; converting the received voice and Z or image data into a wireless signal;

An on-demand information providing method, comprising transmitting the converted wireless signal.

9. Acquisition means for acquiring audio and Z or image data;

Conversion means for converting the obtained audio and Z or image data into streamable data;

Storage means for storing the converted audio and Z or image data in a storage device;

Transmitting means for transmitting the stored voice and Z or image data as streaming data via the Internet in response to a request obtained via the Internet; and

An on-demand information providing system characterized by comprising:

10. The on-demand information providing system according to claim 9, wherein said acquisition means, said converting means, said storing means and said transmitting means are provided in an information providing server. Information system.

11. The on-demand information providing system according to claim 9, wherein The step and the converting means are provided in a multimedia server; the storing means and the transmitting means are provided in a streaming server; and the streamable data is supplied from the multimedia server to the streaming server. On-demand information providing system.

12. The on-demand information providing system according to claim 9, wherein the audio, the Z, or the image data is a tourist spot in a broadcasting area of a local radio or television broadcasting station, An on-demand information providing system characterized by including any of an event to be held and information on a special product in the broadcasting area.

13. The on-demand information providing system according to claim 12, further comprising: display means for displaying a web page of a map including the broadcast area in response to the request. Type information providing system.

14. The on-demand information providing system according to claim 13, wherein the displayed web page includes, for each broadcast area, audio and Z or image data related to the broadcast area. An on-demand information providing system characterized by hyperlinks.

15. The on-demand information providing system according to claim 14, wherein the display means, in response to the selection of the hyperlink, provides information within a broadcasting area corresponding to the selected hyperlink. An on-demand information providing system characterized by further displaying a hyperlink to a page.

1 6. In the on-demand information providing system according to claim 9,

Receiving means for receiving the transmitted audio and Z or image data via the Internet;

Converting means for converting the received audio and Z or image data into a wireless signal; and broadcasting means for transmitting the converted wireless signal.

An on-demand information providing system, further comprising:

1 7. Acquire audio and Z or image data

Converting the acquired audio and / or image data into streamable data;

Storing the converted audio and Z or image data in a storage device;

Transmitting the stored audio and / or image data as streaming data over the Internet in response to a request obtained via the Internet.

A computer-readable recording medium storing an on-demand information providing program for causing a computer to execute the program.

1 8. Acquire audio and Z or image data;

Converting the acquired audio and Z or image data into streamable data;

Storing the converted audio and / or image data in a storage device;

Transmitting the stored voice and / or image data as streaming data over the Internet in response to a request obtained over the Internet;

A computer program characterized by causing a computer to execute the following.