HK1009540B - Data conversion apparatus of data communication system - Google Patents

Description

Data conversion device for data communication system

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a data conversion device used in a television broadcasting system, and more particularly, to a data conversion device for converting a document described in html (hyper Text Markup language) between networks into a format for television broadcasting.

Background

In recent years, use between networks has been actively made so that information (homepage) stored in each place on the World Wide Web (WWW) can be effectively used. In the display operation of the screen having interactivity such as the homepage, selection of inter-page connection (designation of a page to be displayed on the next screen) using a keyboard or a mouse, particularly called a hot spot, can be performed by a movement operation of a cursor of the keyboard or a cursor of the mouse. As a technique for such an interactive operation, there is ネツトスケ - プ guide equipment available from ネツトスケ - プ, for example.

Therefore, in the above-described conventional technology, it is assumed that an input device is input to a computer by using an external device such as a pointing device such as a keyboard or a mouse, and an input operation using a remote controller attached to a television receiver is not intended. Therefore, even if the homepage on the ring network is displayed on the television screen, the interactive operation cannot be performed by a remote control method which is difficult to instruct.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a data converter for multimedia data that displays a home page on a television screen and can be easily operated interactively with a remote controller attached to a television.

The data conversion device for use in a data transmission apparatus of a data communication system capable of performing analog bidirectional communication by unidirectional communication from the data transmission apparatus to a plurality of data reception apparatuses, comprises: an original document information storage means for storing a plurality of original document information composed of at least one character information and at least one image information after a connection target information in which another original document information is a connection target is put in a part or all of the character information or the image information in the original document information; an additional shape storage means for storing in advance an additional shape list with a number; a reproduced image element generating device for sequentially reading the character information and the image information included in the original document information stored in the original document information storage device and generating reproduced image elements which are bitmap information generated from the respective character information or the respective image information; a reproduced image generating means for generating a reproduced image corresponding to one screen reproduced by the data receiving apparatus, based on the reproduced image element generated by the reproduced image element generating means; an additional shape allocation means for sequentially reading the additional shapes stored in the additional shape storage means in the order of appearance of the reproduced image elements in the reproduced image, from the reproduced image elements in the reproduced image generated from the character information or the image information in which the connection destination information in which another original document information is set as the connection destination is set, and allocating the additional shapes to the reproduced image elements in the reproduced image; and reproduction connection destination information conversion means for converting connection destination information indicating another original document information as a connection destination of the character information or the image information into reproduction connection destination information indicating another reproduction image as a connection destination of the reproduction image element corresponding to the number attached to the additional shape.

With this configuration, since the reproduced image element having the connector on the other reproduced image is visually enhanced by the additional shape, the user can easily see the reproduced image generated by the transition operation between the reproduced images. Further, since the additional shape added to the reproduced image element of the reproduced image is provided with a number, the image can be reproduced by using the number even when a transition operation between reproduced images is performed using a remote controller attached to a television, for example.

The reproduced image element generating device of the data conversion device comprises: a conversion table storage unit for storing character information included in the original document information, a head arrangement position of a reproduced image element of the image information in a horizontal direction of a screen, and a character size of the character information; and a reproduction element generation unit for generating a reproduction image element from the character information and a reproduction image element from the image information according to the character size stored in the conversion table storage unit.

Here, the reproduced image generating apparatus of the data conversion apparatus further includes: an arrangement position calculating section for storing the first arrangement position of each character information and each reproduced image of the image information in the horizontal direction of the screen in the conversion table storage section, for reading the first arrangement position of each reproduced image element stored in the conversion table storage section, and for calculating the arrangement position of each reproduced image element in the reproduced image; and a reproduced image generating section for arranging the reproduced image elements based on the arrangement positions of the reproduced image elements calculated by the arrangement position calculating section to generate a reproduced image corresponding to one screen.

Here, the reproduction connection destination information conversion device of the data conversion device includes: and a group reproduction connection destination information generating unit for generating a group of reproduction connection destination information and each of the reproduction images when the reproduction image generating unit generates a plurality of divided reproduction images from one original document information.

With this configuration, since the reproduced image for each screen corresponding to the display screen and the reproduced connection destination information for switching the reproduced image are held in a group, it is possible to obtain a reproduced image that cannot be scrolled and that is easily seen even on a television screen, for example.

Here, in the data conversion device, the additional shape storage device includes a maximum number storage unit that stores a maximum number of additional graphics arranged in the reproduced image, and the reproduced image generation device further includes: a maximum number judging section for judging whether or not the number of additional shapes to be arranged in the one reproduced image exceeds the maximum number; and a reproduced image division instructing section for instructing to divide the reproduced image so that an additional shape equal to or smaller than the maximum number is placed in the reproduced image corresponding to one screen generated by the reproduced image generating section for generating the divided reproduced image, when the maximum number judging section judges that the maximum number has exceeded the maximum number.

The reproduction connection destination information conversion device of the data conversion device further includes a divided reproduction connection destination information generation unit that generates a reproduction connection destination information group for each divided reproduction image when the reproduction image generation unit generates the divided reproduction images.

With this configuration, the number of reproduced image elements having a connector in another reproduced image in one display screen is limited to the range of the number of the reproduced image elements which are easy to switch, and therefore, even if a remote controller attached to a television is used, for example, reproduced images can be easily generated by a shift operation between reproduced images.

Here, the reproduced image generating section is configured to generate the reproduced image element by storing the reproduced image element in one reproduced image when the reproduced image elements are of the same type.

Here, the original document information is described in HTML language, and the reproduced image generating section determines whether or not the same type of element is described based on the identifier.

With this configuration, since the unified element of the document constitutes one reproduced image, display switching is facilitated.

Here, the data conversion device further includes: an information acquisition device for acquiring original document information including character information described in an HTML (hyper text markup language) language and image information associated with the character information through a communication line; and an information writing device for writing the original document information acquired by the information acquiring device into the original document information storage device.

Here, the data conversion device further includes: a1 st storage device for storing an identifier in a display image including a plurality of reproduction images with additional shapes arranged by the additional shape arranging device and divided reproduction images; a2 nd storage means for storing a reproduction connection destination information group to which the same identifier is added for each display image, in correspondence with the display image converted by the reproduction connection destination information converting means; and a broadcasting device for repeatedly transmitting a predetermined number of display images among the display images stored in the 1 st storage device together with the corresponding reproduction connection destination information group stored in the 2 nd storage device.

With such a configuration, the user can perform analog bidirectional communication using unidirectional communication from the data transmission device.

Drawings

These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a data communication system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the acquisition table stored in the acquisition table storage unit in the above embodiment.

Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an HTML document "report. htm 1" describing an example of page 1 of the WWW homepage in the above embodiment.

Gif is an explanatory view of image information showing an example of an image displayed on page 1 of the WWW homepage in the above embodiment.

Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an HTML document "tokyo. htm 1" describing an example of the page 2 of the WWW homepage in the above embodiment.

Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an HTML document "osaka. htm 1" describing an example of the page 3 of the WWW homepage in the above embodiment.

Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the connection information table stored in the data conversion table storage unit in the above embodiment.

Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing transmission data of page 1 of the WWW homepage generated from the HTML document, the sound information "weather.

Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the transmission data of page 2 of the WWW homepage generated from the HTML document of the above-described embodiment.

Fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the transmission data of page 3 of the WWW homepage generated from the HTML document of the above-described embodiment.

Fig. 11A is an explanatory diagram illustrating a transmission method of transmission data by the transmission unit of the above embodiment.

Fig. 11B is an explanatory diagram of a multiplexed stream transmitted in the satellite digital broadcasting by the other multiplexing unit of the above embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing a schematic processing procedure of the entire data transmission apparatus of the above embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the information acquisition processing procedure performed by the information acquisition unit according to the above embodiment.

Fig. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of a transmission data generation processing procedure performed by the transmission data generation unit according to the above embodiment.

Fig. 15 is a flowchart showing a specific example of a part of the processing procedure in step S1312 shown in fig. 14 in the above embodiment.

Fig. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a cursor pattern correspondence table created by the control unit of the above embodiment to control the display position of the cursor pattern.

Fig. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the graphic information held by the control unit in the above embodiment.

Fig. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a display image on the initial screen displayed on the display section based on the transmission data shown in fig. 8.

Fig. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a display image on an initial screen displayed on the display section by the transmission data shown in fig. 9 according to the above embodiment.

Fig. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a display image on an initial screen displayed on the display section by the transmission data shown in fig. 10 according to the above embodiment.

Fig. 21 is a flowchart showing an example of a display control processing procedure of the control unit according to the above embodiment.

Fig. 22 is a configuration diagram showing a data conversion device according to embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing one of documents held in the information acquiring section in the above embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing one of documents held in the information acquiring section in the above embodiment.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of image information held in the information acquiring unit in the above embodiment.

Fig. 26 is a view showing a reproduced image in which the document shown in fig. 23 is displayed on the display screen by a browser of a conventional WWW.

Fig. 27 is a view showing a reproduced image in which the document shown in fig. 23 is displayed on the display screen by a browser of a conventional WWW.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing one example of the font tables stored in the data conversion table storage unit according to the above embodiment.

Fig. 29 is a diagram showing one example of the connection information conversion table stored in the data conversion table storage unit according to the above embodiment.

Fig. 30 is an example of a list showing cursor shapes stored in the cursor shape storage unit in the above embodiment.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing one example of the converted image information stored in the generated information temporary storage unit in the above-described embodiment.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing one example of the converted image information stored in the generated information temporary storage unit in the above-described embodiment.

Fig. 33 is an illustration showing one of the connection information stored in the generated information temporary storage section of the above-described embodiment.

Fig. 34 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the above embodiment.

Fig. 35 is a block diagram showing a data conversion device according to embodiment 3 of the present invention.

Fig. 36 is an illustration showing one example of a remote controller which sends a signal to the signal receiving section of the above embodiment.

FIG. 37 is a diagram showing one example of reproduced image information and connection information stored in the generated information temporary storage section in the above-described embodiment.

FIG. 38 is a diagram showing one example of reproduced image information and connection information stored in the generated information temporary storage section in the above-described embodiment.

FIG. 39 is a diagram showing one example of reproduced image information and connection information stored in the generated information temporary storage section in the above-described embodiment.

Fig. 40 is a flowchart illustrating the inherent operation of the above embodiment.

FIG. 41 is a diagram showing one of the image information and the connection information stored in the generated information temporary storage section according to embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 42 is a diagram showing one example of the image information and the connection information stored in the generated information temporary storage section according to embodiment 4 of the present invention.

Fig. 43 is a flowchart illustrating the inherent operation of the present embodiment.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, a data conversion device of a data communication system according to the present invention will be described with reference to an embodiment.

(embodiment 1)

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a data communication system 100 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. The data communication system 100 is provided with a data transmission device 110 and a plurality of data reception devices 150.

The data transmission device 110 includes an information acquisition unit 111, a transmission data generation unit 112, a transmission data holding unit 113, a transmission data reading unit 114, a multiplexing unit 115, and a transmission unit 116.

The data receiving device 150 includes a reception/separation unit 151, a received data holding unit 152, a reproduction unit 153, a display unit 154, a control unit 155, a signal reception unit 156, and an audio output unit 157.

(structural explanation of the data transmission apparatus 110)

The following describes the structure of each part of the data transmission apparatus 110 with reference to fig. 1 to 11.

(explanation of the configuration of the information acquiring section 111)

The information acquiring unit 111 includes an acquisition table storage unit 121 and a buffer, not shown, that holds information acquired from an external database such as a WWW server.

The acquisition table storage unit 121 stores in advance an acquisition table indicating file names of information to be acquired and to be acquired by the information acquisition unit 111 in association with acquisition numbers indicating an acquisition order.

Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the acquisition table 200 stored in the acquisition table storage unit 121. The extender "htm 1" for the file name indicates that the HTML document is stored in the file, and the extender "GIF" indicates that the image information compressed in the GIF format is stored in the file. The extension symbol "AU" indicates that audio information in the AU format is stored in the file.

When the information acquisition unit 111 is connected to a network, for example, and sets to acquire information from a WWW server, the acquisition table 200 shown in fig. 2 is stored in the acquisition table storage unit 121. The acquisition table 200 stores the URL of the WWW server up to the directory unit as an acquisition target name 202 in correspondence with the acquisition number 201. Since each page of the homepage provided by each WWW server is represented by 1 HTML document and an image information file and an audio information file of a file name specified in the HTML document, the file name of the HTML document of the page, the file name of the image information, and the file name of the audio information are described as file names 203 to be acquired, and are stored in the acquisition table 200 in page units.

In the acquisition table storage unit 121, the acquisition target name and the file name are not necessarily described separately, and may be represented by 1 URL. In addition, when the acquisition destination of the information acquisition unit 111 is not a WWW server, the acquisition destination can be represented by the device address of the external database and the file to be acquired can be represented by the file address.

The information acquiring unit 111 reads the URL of the acquisition target and the file name of the information to be acquired from the acquisition table storage unit 121 in the order of the acquisition number 200, accesses the WWW server indicated by the URL, and acquires the file of the file name. The information acquiring unit 111 stores the acquired file in the buffer with the file name.

(get an example description of the document)

The contents of the file acquired by the information acquiring unit 111 will be described in detail below with reference to fig. 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an HTML document 301 "report. htm 1" describing an example of page 1 of the WWW homepage. HTML document 301 "report.htm 1" indicates HTML document 301 stored in a file having a file name "report.htm 1".

In each HTML document, a control code expressed by < (character string) > is called an identifier, and a combination of < (character string) > and </(character string) > is used in principle. The character string within < > represents the control content of the identifier.

The string of the clip between the (/ HTML) and (/ HTML) representations (HTML) of line 311 and 323 is 1 HTML document 301.

The string between < H1> and </H1> of line 312 represents the title of the document.

< CENTER > of line 313 and </CENTER > of line 315 indicate that the display elements of the document represented by the character string sandwiched therebetween are inserted into the display.

Gif of line 314 indicates that the image information 401 shown later in fig. 4 is contained at that position as a display element of the document. "SRC" ("IMG") as an attribute of the identifier < IMG > indicates the designation of the image information file, and "weather" as an attribute value indicates the file name of the designated file.

Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram of image information 401 "weather" showing an example of an image displayed on page 1 of the WWW page.

As shown in fig. 4, image information 401 stored in the image information file "weather.

Lines 316 and 317 of HTML document 301 indicate that the string enclosed by < P > and </P > "Minitian nationwide weather" is paragraph 1 in the body of the document.

The < UL > of the row 318 and the </UL > of the row 322 indicate that the display elements of the document to be represented by the character string therebetween are represented in a form in which they are individually noted by unnumbered headings.

The < LI > of lines 319 and 320 indicates that the next < LI > or </UL > preceding string follows as 1 item noted one by one.

The word "a HREF" in the row 319 "tokyo. htm 1" > tokyo "indicates that the HTML document 501" tokyo. htm1 "shown in fig. 5, which follows from the string" tokyo "is extended. As shown in the string "Tokyo", the string or image connecting another file extension is called a hotspot or fixed point. For example, when the user selects a hotspot "tokyo" displayed on the monitor of the personal computer by the browser by operating the mouse or the like, the HTML document 501 "tokyo. htm 1" of the connection character string "tokyo" is read by the browser and the image is displayed. The attribute of the identifier < a >, "HREF" ", indicates the specification of the connection destination of the identifier < a >, and the attribute value," tokyo. htm1 "", indicates the file name of the connection destination.

The word "a HREF" in line 320 "osaka. htm 1" > osaka "indicates an extension from the string" osaka "connection followed by the HTML document 601" osaka. htm1 "shown in fig. 6. The character string "osaka" in the row 320 is also a hot spot similar to the character string "tokyo" in the row 319, and after the character string "osaka" is selected, a display image of the HTML document 601 "osaka. htm 1" connected to the character string "osaka" is displayed on the monitor.

The < a HREF > sound narrative "of the line 321 indicates an extension from the string of characters" sound narrative "to connect the sound information" sound. The character string "sound comment" is a hot spot, and when the character string "sound comment" is selected, the connected sound information "sound.

Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an HTML document 501 "tokyo. htm 1" describing an example of the 2 nd page of the WWW homepage.

The identifier described in the HTML document 501 has already been described except for the description of the connection to another page, and therefore the description will not be repeated.

The < a HREF > return of line 511 indicates that the HTML document 301 shown in fig. 3 is extended from the string "return" connection to "report.htm 1".

Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an HTML document 601 "osaka. htm 1" describing an example of the page 3 of the WWW homepage.

The identifier described in the HTML document 601 has already been described except for the description of the connection to another page, and therefore the description will not be repeated.

Line 611's < a HREF ═ report. htm1 "> return indicates that the extension is made from a string" return "connection to HTML document 301" report. htm1 "shown in fig. 3.

The information acquiring unit 111 can continuously acquire full-text files indicated by the acquisition table storage unit 121, store the acquired full-text files in the buffer, acquire a document in units of the page, and store the document in the buffer, and the transmission data generating unit 112 described later can acquire the next document each time the processing for the page is completed.

(explanation of the configuration of the transmission data generating section 112)

The transmission data generating section 112 includes a data conversion table storage section 122 and a storage area, not shown, which becomes a transmission data generating work area. The data conversion table storage unit 122 stores an identifier table indicating the control content of each HTML identifier and a flag corresponding thereto, a font file used for storing a character font for TV display, and a connection information table indicating a format for the data communication system 100 describing connection information of a hotspot. The work area is composed of a file storage area for holding 1 file of HTML document, an identifier storage area for securing a character string sandwiched by < > in the identifier, a character string storage area for securing a character string other than the identifier, and a flag storage area composed of an area for creating a flag for controlling generation of display image information representing image data corresponding to 1 frame. The character string written in the identifier storage area and the character string written in the character string storage area are erased after each processing corresponding to the identifier (flag) is completed. If there are a plurality of flags in the flag storage area, the flags are set in order from the upper bit and reset in order from the lower bit.

Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the connection information table 700 stored in the data conversion table storage unit 122. "9" shown in the connection information table 700 indicates 1-bit number in 10.

As shown in the connection information table 700, connection information is composed of index information 701 and hot spot information 702, and the index information 701 and the hot spot information 702 are represented by strings sandwiched by < >.

The INDEX information 701 is composed of an information identification portion "INDEX" indicating INDEX information and a file identification number indicated by a 4-bit 10-digit number. The file identification number indicates the file identification number of the transmission data to which the index information belongs.

The hot spot information 702 is composed of an information identification portion "hot spot" indicating hot spot information, an X-Y coordinate "X999 and Y999" 999 which indicate the cursor display position in the display image indicated by the corresponding display image information, a command "GO _ TO _ PAGE" corresponding TO the cursor indicated by the X-Y coordinate, and a variable value of the command indicated by 4-digit 10-digit increments. The variable value of the command indicates the file identification number of another transmission data connected with the cursor.

Further, the transmission data generating section 112 handles a set of display image information, sound information, and connection information generated from 1 HTML document as 1 transmission data file. The transmission data generating section 112 sets storage areas for storing the display image information, the audio information, and the connection information stored in 1 file of the transmission data, in the display image information storage section 123, the audio information storage section 124, and the connection information storage section 125, respectively, which are provided in the transmission data holding section 113 described later. Hereinafter, the storage area in the display image information storage unit 123 is referred to as a display image information storage area, the storage area in the audio information storage unit 124 is referred to as an audio information storage area, and the storage area in the connection information storage unit 125 is referred to as a connection information storage area.

The transmission data generating section 112 assigns the same identification number for reading the transmission data to the first of the set display image information storage region, the sound information storage region, and the connection information storage region in order to store the display image information, the sound information, and the connection information of the same transmission data file. The transmission data generation unit 112 manages the audio information and the connection information belonging to the same transmission data file as 1 file, and attaches the same identification number to both of them. The identification number is, for example, an acquisition number 201 in the acquisition table 200 corresponding to a file name 203 of the acquired file.

The transmission data generating unit 112 extracts the unprocessed HTML document file acquired by the information acquiring unit 111 from the buffer in the information acquiring unit 111 based on the acquisition number 201 of the acquisition table 200, writes the file in the file storage area of the work area, and generates index information based on the format of the index information 701 in the link information table 700. The generated index information is stored at the head of the connection information storage area of the transmission data holding unit 113.

The transmission data generation unit 112 reads identifiers in order from the head of the HTML document, and interprets the control content of the identifiers by referring to the read identifiers and the identifier table. The interpretation of the control content is carried out by writing a character string one character after the beginning character of the identifier into the identifier storage area of the work area until the ending character of the identifier occurs, and interpreting the character string written into the work area, that is, the character string sandwiched between the "" and "", by comparing it with the identifier table at the time when the ending character of the identifier occurs in principle.

If the read identifier is a character string other than "(" a "," IMG ", or" start character string "), the transmission data generation unit 112 first creates a flag indicating the result of the above-described interpretation in the flag storage area of the work area, and secures a character string sandwiched between the identifier < > and the identifier </> corresponding thereto in the character string storage area of the work area in accordance with the flag. The method of ensuring a character string sandwiched between corresponding identifiers in the character string storage area is the same as the character string within the identifier. Then, the secured character string is converted into an image of characters by using character fonts in the font file, and the character image generates display image information arranged in accordance with the marks. Next, the generated display image information is added to the display image information storage area set in the transmission data holding section 113. In addition, when the identifier < (another character string) > is not followed by the above identifier <, only the flag corresponding to the above identifier < > is created in the flag storage area, and the processing corresponding to the next identifier < (another character string) > is performed.

If the read identifier is < IMG >, the transmission data generation unit 112 extracts an image information file having an attribute of "file name" specified by "SRC ═ from the buffer of the information acquisition unit 111, expands the file in a format corresponding to the extension of the file name, and converts the file into image information represented in a predetermined format such as bitmap data or graphic data. For example, if the extension of the file name of the designated image information file is "" GIF "", the image information is expanded in accordance with the GIF format and converted into image information of a predetermined format. If there is a high-order flag indicating the control content corresponding to the converted image information, the display image information is generated based on the control content, and if not, the image is arranged at the display position set initially. The generated display image information is then added to the above display image information storage area.

If the read identifier is < a >, the transmission data generation unit 112 checks whether or not the "connection target file" specified by the attribute of the identifier < a, i.e., "" HREF "", is the audio information of the extender "".au "". If the voice information is the voice information, the voice information is extracted from the acquisition table storage unit 121, converted into the predetermined voice information of a predetermined format, and the converted voice information is stored in the voice information storage area.

If the character image is not the voice information, a character image is generated based on a character string sandwiched by an identifier < A > and an identifier </A >, and display image information is generated so that the generated character image is displayed after a display position arranged in accordance with a high mark or a region for displaying a cursor based on the display position set initially is emptied. The generated display image information is added to the display image information storage area stored in the transmission data holding section 113. Next, X-Y coordinates of the cursor display position as the empty area are calculated. Then, with reference to the hotspot information 702 in the connection information table 700, hotspot information is generated based on the X-Y coordinates of the calculated cursor display position and the "connection target file name" specified by the attribute "HREF" of the identifier < a >. In this case, referring to the acquisition table 200, the acquisition number 201 corresponding to the file name 203 is adjusted based on the "connection destination file name" of the identifier < a >, and the acquisition number 201 is described in the hotspot information as the identification number of the file. If the connection destination file name does not exist in the acquisition table, the file name of the file itself is set as the connection destination file name. The generated hotspot information is then additionally stored in the connection information storage area of the transmission data holder 113.

By the above-described processing, if all the contents described in 1 HTML document are processed, the transmission data generating section 112 images the identification number attached to the display image information area and writes the identification number in a predetermined position of an area which is not actually displayed in the display image information stored in the display image information area.

Here, although the identification number is represented by a 4-digit number in 10-system, the identification number may be in 2-system or may be a number or symbol in a character mixture. And may be represented by a graphic or barcode, etc. Or may be a file name. Further, as with the identification number in a general digital data file, the audio information stored in the audio information storage region and the connection information stored in the connection information storage region have the identification number in the corresponding storage region.

After the above processing, the transmission data generating section 112 generates the transmission data 800 of page 1, the transmission data 900 of page 2 and the transmission data 1000 of page 3 of the WWW homepage based on the acquired HTML document 301, audio information not shown, image information 401, HTML document 501 and HTML document 601.

(example of Transmission data generated by the Transmission data generating section 112)

Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing transmission data 800 of page 1 of the WWW homepage generated from the HTML document 301, the sound information "weather. Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing transmission data 900 of page 2 of the WWW homepage generated from the HTML document 501. Fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing transmission data 1000 of page 3 of the WWW homepage generated from the HTML document 601. The transmission data 800 shown in fig. 8 indicates the page 1 of the WWW homepage, and is composed of the display image information 801, the sound information 802, and the connection information 803 associated with the display image information 801. Fig. 8(a) is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of the display image information 801 by a display image displayed based on the display image information 801. Fig. 8(b) is an explanatory diagram showing the audio information 802. Fig. 8(c) is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of the connection information 803.

The area indicated by the broken line in the upper part of the display image information 801 indicates a non-display area where no display image information is displayed. The non-display area is not displayed on the display screen of the display unit 154. The identification number "000" indicated as an image by the transmission data generating section 112 is written in the upper right corner of the non-display area. The character string represented by the character code in the original document is imaged in the displayed area and displayed, and the displayed image of 1 screen is displayed as 1 image in total together with the image displayed as the image information. The sound information 802 is sound information of a hot spot in the HTML document 301, that is, a connection character string. As shown in fig. 8(b), the file storing the audio information 802 has the identification number "0001".

As shown in fig. 8(c), the file storing the connection information 803 has an identification number "0001" as in the case of the audio information 802. The connection information 803 is not displayed because it is information for control. The line 811 in the connection information 803 is the already described index information, and indicates that the identification number of the file of the transmission data 800 is "0001".

The row 812 indicates that the image of the cursor held on the data receiving apparatus 150 side is displayed at the position indicated by the coordinate values (100, 600) on the display image information 801 in association with the command "G O _ TO _ PAGE (0002)". The command "G O _ TO _ PAGE (0002)" indicates a command TO display a PAGE indicated by the transmission data 900 having an identification number of "0002".

The row 813 indicates that the cursor image is displayed at the position indicated by the coordinate values (100, 700) on the display image information 801 in association with the command "G O _ TO _ PAGE (0003)". The command "G O _ TO _ PAGE (0003)" indicates a command for displaying a PAGE indicated by the transmission data 1000 with an identification number of "0003".

The transmission data 900 shown in fig. 9 indicates the 2 nd page of the WWW homepage, and is composed of display image information 901 and link information 902 associated with the display image information 901. Fig. 9(a) is an explanatory diagram showing the content of the display image information 901 by a display image displayed based on the display image information 901. Fig. 9(b) is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of the connection information 902.

The display image information 901 has identification number "0002" written in the upper right corner of the non-display area indicated by the broken line, as with the display image information 801.

As shown in fig. 9(b), the file storing the connection information 902 has an identification number "0002".

A row 911 in the connection information 902 indicates that the identification number of the file of the transmission data 900 is "0002".

Line 912 indicates that the cursor is displayed at the position indicated by the coordinate values (050, 400) on the display image information 901 in association with the command "G O _ TO _ PAGE (0001)". The command "G O _ TO _ PAGE (0001)" indicates a command TO display a PAGE indicated by the transmission data 800 having the identification number "0001".

The transmission data 1000 shown in fig. 10 indicates the 3 rd page of the WWW homepage, and is composed of display image information 1001 and connection information 1002 associated with the display image information 1001. Fig. 10(a) is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of the display image information 1001 by a display image displayed based on the display image information 1001. Fig. 10(b) is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of the connection information 1002.

The identification number "0003" is written as an image in the upper right corner of the non-display area of the display image information 1001.

As shown in fig. 10(b), the file storing the connection information 1002 has an identification number "0003".

Row 1011 in connection information 1002 indicates that the identification number of the file of transmission data 1000 is 0003.

Line 1012 indicates that the cursor is displayed at the position indicated by the coordinate values (050, 400) on the display image information 1001 in association with the command "G O _ TO _ PAGE (0001)". The command "G O _ TO _ PAGE (0001)" indicates a command TO display a PAGE indicated by the transmission data 800 having the identification number "0001".

(description of example of processing by the information acquisition unit 111 and the transmission data generation unit 112)

The following specifically describes the processing performed by the information acquisition unit 111 and the transmission data generation unit 112 to acquire the files shown in fig. 3, 4, 5, and 6 and generate the transmission data shown in fig. 8, 9, and 10 using these files.

(processing situation of the information acquiring section 111)

The information acquiring unit 111 requests connection to a WWW server on the network indicated in the acquisition table storage unit 121, and acquires the HTML document 301 "report. Then, the acquired HTML document 301 is stored in the buffer with the file name "report. Similarly, the compressed image information 401, the HTML document 501, and the HTML document 601 are acquired from the WWW server.

(processing situation of the transmission data generating section 112)

The transmission data generating section 112 sets a memory area for storing the transmission data 800, which is composed of a memory area for the display image information 801, a memory area for the audio information 802, and a memory area for the connection information 803, in the transmission data holding section 113, and the set memory area includes an identification number "0001" for reading the transmission data 800. The unprocessed HTML document 301 is fetched from the buffer of the information obtaining portion 111, and the fetched HTML document 301 is written in the file storage area of the work area.

The transmission data generating unit 112 generates INDEX information "< INDEX ═ 0001> displayed in a line 811 showing the outgoing data 800 of the page 1 of the WWW page to be displayed, based on the file name" < report. htm1 "attached to the HTML document 301, and stores the INDEX information in the head of the storage area for the connection information 803 in the transmission data holding unit 113.

The transmission data generation unit 112 reads the identifier < HTML > of the line 311 from the HTML document 301. The character string "" HTML "" in the read identifier < HTML > is secured in the identifier storage area in the work area, and interpreted with reference to the identifier table in the data conversion table storage unit 122, thereby identifying the start line of the HTML document 301. Thereafter, the character string in the identifier storage area is deleted.

Next, the transmission data generating unit 112 reads the identifier < H1> of the line 312, interprets the identifier < H1> with reference to the identifier table, and creates a header flag in the flag storage area in the work area. The title flag indicates that the character string following the identifier < H1> is a title, and the application title is indicated by a font. Subsequently, until the identifier < H1> appears, 1 character of the character string is written into the character string storage area 1 character after the identifier < H1>, as a result, the character string "" weather forecast "" is read in, and if the identifier < H1> appears, the character string "" weather forecast "" in the character string storage area is informationized by a font for a predetermined title. The generated display image information is added to the display image storage area set in the transmission data holding section 113. The title flag created in the work area is reset, and the character string "" weather forecast "" secured in the character string storage area and the character string "" H1 "" secured in the identifier storage area are deleted.

The transmission data generation unit 112 reads the identifier < CENTER > of the line 313 and creates an insertion flag in the work area. The insertion flag indicates that a character string read subsequent to the flag should be inserted and displayed. Second, assuming that the string is read following the identifier < CENTER >, there is no string, so the line 314 read is moved to.

The transmission data generation unit 112 reads the identifier < IMG SRC ═ heat. The transmission data generating section 112 checks whether or not the file of the image information 401 indicated by the file name "weather. gif" exists in the buffer of the information acquiring section 111, and reads it because it exists. Next, the image information 401 stored after the read file is compressed is converted into, for example, bitmap data in accordance with the GIF expansion method.

The transmission data generating section 112 reads the identifier (/ CENTER >) of the line 315, and arranges the image information 401 converted into bitmap data in accordance with the insertion flag created in the work area. The display image information thus generated is added to the display image storage area in the transmission data holding section 113. Second, the insert flag in the working area is reset.

The transmission data generation unit 112 reads the identifier < P > of the line 316 and creates a paragraph mark. The paragraph mark indicates that the character string following the mark up to the identifier is displayed as a blank line after which a paragraph is inserted. Like the weather forecast in the row 312, the character string "national weather sunny" in the tomorrow is read in and secured in the character string storage area in the work area. Next, if the identifier P is read, the character string held is imaged in the font for the paragraph stored in the font file, and added as display image information to the storage area for the display image information 801 in the transmission data holding unit 113. And then the working area is restored.

Similarly, the transmission data generation unit 112 reads and interprets the identifier < UL > of the line 318, and creates a piece-by-piece identification flag in the work area. The item-by-item notations flag indicates that the first item string and the interpreted character string should be presented item-by-item notations as unnumbered items after the flag.

The transmission data generation unit 112 reads the identifier < LI > of the line 319, interprets the head of the 1 st entry with reference to the identifier table, and creates an entry tag in the tag storage area. The item flag indicates that the display position of the display image should be changed after reading the identifier < LI > or the identifier </UL >.

The transmission data generation unit 112 reads the identifier < a HREF ═ tokyo. htm 1>, subsequent to the identifier < LI >, and writes the identifier in the identifier storage area. The transmission data generation unit 112 creates a connection flag in the flag storage area based on the identifier table interpretation identifier < AHREF ═ tokyo.

The connection flag indicates whether or not the connection destination file is voice information, which is checked based on the extension of the attribute value in the identifier < A >, and if the connection destination file is voice information, the voice information is converted into a predetermined format, the converted voice information is stored in the voice information storage area, and the processing related to the identifier < A > is to be completed. Further, if the connection destination file is not the audio information, the connection flag indicates that a 2-character blank is set as a cursor display area before the character string expanded by the identifier < A > sandwiched by the identifier < A > and the identifier </A >, the character string is imaged to generate display image information of the character string, and hot spot information is generated in accordance with the format of the hot spot information 702.

Before the identifier (a) appears, the transmission data generation unit 112 reads a character string (tokyo) following the identifier (a HREF) and (tokyo. htm 1), and writes the character string into the character string storage area of the work area. After reading the identifier, the transmission data generating unit 112 sets a blank space of 2 characters before the character string "tokyo", images the character string "tokyo", arranges the character string "tokyo" on the basis of the item-by-item identification mark, generates display image information, and adds the display image information to the memory area for the display image information 801 of the transmission data holding unit 113. Next, the transmission data generation unit 112 calculates the coordinates of the display position of the cursor. Hot spot information shown in a line 812 in fig. 8 is generated based on the calculated coordinate values (100, 600) and the attribute value "tokyo. htm 1" stored in the identifier storage area of the work area. Next, the generated hotspot information is added to the storage area for the connection information 803 in the transmission data holding unit 113. Then, the character string "AHREF" ("tokyo. htm 1") in the identifier written in the identifier storage area of the work area and the character string "tokyo" written in the character string storage area are deleted, and the connection flag is reset.

After reading the identifier < LI > of the line 320, the transmission data generation unit 112 changes the display position of the display image to the line because of the item flag, and performs the processing in the same manner as the processing of the line 319 to generate the display image information of the character string "" osaka ", and also generate the hot spot information shown in the line 813 in fig. 8. The generated display image information is added to the storage area for the display image information 801 in the transmission data holding unit 113, and the hot spot information is added to the storage area for the connection information 803 in the transmission data holding unit 113. Then, the intra-identifier character string "a HREF" and the character string "osaka. htm 1" are deleted, and the connection flag is reset.

Next, after reading the identifier < LI > of the line 321, the transmission data generating unit 112 changes the display position of the display image to a line because of the item flag, and establishes a link flag based on the identifier < a HREF ═ heat. Since the connection destination file is audio information in the AU format, the AU format is converted into a predetermined format, and the converted audio information is stored in a storage area for audio information 802 by checking the extension of the attribute value based on the connection flag.

Next, the identifier of the line 322 is read in, and if the interpretation is finished, the item-by-item indication flag and the item flag are reset.

The identifier of the line 323 is read again, and if interpreting the HTML document 301 is finished, the generation processing of the transmission data 800 is completed.

Then, the transmission data generating section 112 checks that there is an unprocessed HTML document 501, sets a storage area for storing transmission data 900, which is composed of a storage area for display image information 901 and a storage area for connection information 902, in the transmission data holding section 113, and makes the two set storage areas carry identification number "0002" for reading transmission data 900. The unprocessed HTML document 501 is fetched from the buffer of the information obtaining unit 111, and the fetched HTML document 501 is written in the work area.

The transmission data generating unit 112 generates INDEX information "< INDEX ═ 0002 >" indicated by the line 911 of the outgoing data 900 indicating the page 2 of the WWW homepage based on the file name "" tokyo. htm1 "attached to the HTML document 501, and stores the INDEX information in the top of the storage area for the connection information 902 of the transmission data holding unit 113. Hereinafter, the same processing as that for generating the transmission data 800 from the HTML document 301 and the image information 401 is performed, and the transmission data 900 can be generated from the HTML document 501 and the transmission data 1000 can be generated from the HTML document 601, so that the following description will be omitted.

(explanation of the configuration of the transmission data holding section 113, transmission data reading section 114, multiplexing section 115, and transmitting section 116.)

The transmission data holding section 113 includes a display image information storage section 123, a sound information storage section 124, and a connection information storage section 125 which can be read out simultaneously.

The display image information storage section 123 can be implemented by, for example, a RAM or a hard disk device, and has a plurality of display image storage areas set by the transmission data generation section 112. Each display image information storage area holds information of 1 file of the display image information generated by the transmission data generation section 112.

The audio information storage unit 124 can be implemented by a RAM, a hard disk device, or the like, and includes a plurality of audio information storage areas set by the transmission data generation unit 112. Each audio information storage area holds the audio information of 1 file generated by the transmission data generation unit 112.

The connection information storage unit 125 can be implemented by a RAM, a hard disk device, or the like, and includes a plurality of connection information storage areas set by the transmission data generation unit 112. Each connection information storage area holds information of 1 file of the connection information generated by the transmission data generation section 112.

The transmission data reading section 114 reads out the display image information, the audio information, and the link information in the file of the same transmission data from the respective memory areas set in the transmission data holding section 113 in the order of the file identification number of the transmission data, and outputs them to the multiplexing section 115. After reading the file of the transmission data corresponding to the last identification number, the identification number returns transmission data of "0001", and the transmission data is read in the order of the identification number. That is, the transmission data reading section 114 cyclically reads the transmission data stored in the transmission data holding section 113 in the order of the identification number, and outputs the read transmission data to the multiplexing section 115. In this case, if there is no audio information, the reading method differs from the presence method in the following manner. That is, when there is no audio information, the transmission data reading section 114 reads the transmission data file 1 time and then shifts to the reading of the transmission data file with the next 1 identification number. When there is voice information, the voice information is read from the transmission data file, the time required for reproducing the voice information, the display image information of the transmission data file, and the connection information are read a plurality of times, and then the process shifts to the reading of the transmission data file with the next 1 identification number. For example, assuming that the reproduction time of the audio information is 2 seconds, the transmission data reading section 114 reads the audio information 1 time, reads the video information and the connection information 60 times (2 seconds × 30 frames/second), and shifts to the reading of the transmission data file having the next identification number 1. Thereby ensuring the transmission time of the sound information.

The multiplexing unit 115 multiplexes the display image information (including audio information) and the connection information read by the transmission data reading unit 114, and outputs the multiplexed information to the transmitting unit 116. The multiplexing method is, for example, a method using a conventional character multiplexing technique for TV broadcasting. In this case, the display image information and the audio information are multiplexed as in the conventional broadcast program composed of images and sounds, and the connection information is multiplexed as in the general character information multiplexed in the broadcast program. That is, when the audio information is not present, the display image information is transmitted in the video section of the television video signal carried in the 1 frame, and the connection information is transmitted in the retrace line section of the television video signal carried in the 1 frame. When the audio information exists, the audio information is converted into a television audio signal, and the video section and the retrace line section of the television video signal are transmitted in a plurality of frames in which the display image information and the connection information are carried through the reproduction time of the audio data.

The transmitting unit 116 sequentially transmits the transmission data multiplexed by the multiplexing unit 115 by using a TV broadcast ground wave.

(description of Transmission method of Transmission data)

Fig. 11A is an explanatory diagram illustrating a transmission method of transmission data by the transmission unit 116. Fig. 11A shows a case where transmission data from page 1 to page n (n is a natural number) is generated by the transmission data generation section 112. Fig. 11A shows a set of display image information and audio information having the same identification number in 1 transmission unit corresponding to a normal broadcast program of a TV, and shows connection information having 1 identification number in 1 transmission unit corresponding to general character information multiplexed in the broadcast program.

As shown in fig. 11A, the display image information, the audio information, and the connection information stored in the same transmission data file are associated with the same identification number, and then transmitted at the corresponding time. Then, the transmission data from page 1 to page n held in the transmission data holding section 113 is repeatedly transmitted in the order of the identification number.

Here, the transmission data reading section 114 reads out the display image information, the sound information, and the connection information stored in the same transmission data file from the display image information storage section 123, the sound information storage section 124, and the connection information storage section 125 at the same time, and therefore, the display image information, the sound information, and the connection information are transmitted in correspondence with both the identification number and the transmission time, but the transmission of the display image information (including the sound information) and the connection information does not necessarily coincide with the transmission time. For example, the transmission data reading unit 114 may be constituted by a1 st reading unit and a2 nd reading unit, the 1 st reading unit may successively read a set of display image information and audio information generated in the display image information storage unit 123 and the audio information storage unit 124 and output the read set to the multiplexing unit 115, and the 2 nd reading unit may successively read only connection information generated in the connection information storage unit 125 and output the read set to the multiplexing unit 115. In this case, even if the display image information and the connection information are stored in the same transmission data file, the transmission timing from the transmission section 116 does not necessarily match, and the display image information and the connection information are provided with identification numbers, respectively, so that the corresponding display image information and connection information can be accessed on the data receiving apparatus 150 side based on the identification numbers.

The multiplexing unit 115 multiplexes the display image information (including audio information) and the connection information generated by the transmission data generating unit 112, and the transmitting unit 116 transmits the multiplexed transmission data by a TV broadcast ground wave, but the display image information and the connection information are not necessarily multiplexed and may be transmitted, for example, by transmitting the display image information and the audio information by a TV broadcast ground wave, a satellite digital broadcast, or the like, and transmitting the connection information by a telephone line, a modem, or the like. Multiple channels may also be used for transmission.

When satellite digital broadcasting is used as a data transmission method, for example, a compression coding technique and a multiplexing technique based on the MPEG2 video system and the system are used to transmit display image information as I images and audio information and connection information as private information. In this way, when the display image information, the audio information, and the connection information can be transmitted as digital data, it is not necessary to write the identification number formed by imaging into the non-display area in the display image information as described above, and the display image information, the audio information, and the connection information can be transmitted with only the identification number as in the case of the display image information, the audio information, and the connection information. The MPEG2 format is described in detail in the "latest MPEG textbook" (published by the japanese society アスキ).

Fig. 11B is an explanatory diagram of a multiplexed stream transmitted when satellite digital broadcasting is used. The upper side of the figure shows a transport stream generated by the MPEG2 standard. The transport stream is multiplexed by the multiplexing section 115.

"V1, a1, and L1" in the multiplexed stream indicate display image information, audio information, and connection information that are read from the transmission data file corresponding to identification number 1 and multiplexed. "V2, A2, L2" - "Vn, An, Ln" are the same.

"V1" is a video elementary stream showing display image information converted into I (intra) images in accordance with the MPEG2 standard, and includes a PID (packet identifier) "0 x 0100" for stream distinction. The same applies to "V2".

"a 1" indicates an audio elementary stream converted into audio information in accordance with the MPEG2 standard, and includes a PID "0X 0101" for stream discrimination. The same applies to "A2" and below.

"L1 to Ln" are dedicated fields based on the MPEG2 standard for broadcasting each connection information, and include PID "0 xB 0" for distinguishing the dedicated fields, and identification numbers are set in table ID extensions for distinguishing each connection information. At least 1 set of a part of the image area in the corresponding display image and information indicating connection to another display image is set in each connection information. For example, in "L1", a connection to the display image of the identifier 0002 is set for the image area centered on the coordinate (X, Y) (100, 600) (GOTO PAGE (0002)), and a connection to the display image of the identifier 0003 is set for the image area centered on the coordinate (X, Y) (100, 700) (GOTO _ PAGE (0002)).

The correspondence between the PID and the identification number is set in a PMT (program map table) based on the MPEG2 standard. As shown in this figure, the identification number can be set in a component _ tag (component identifier) in the PMT, and the correspondence between the PID and the identification number can be described by a descriptor in a dedicated field.

In this case, the video elementary stream, the audio elementary stream, and the dedicated segment are generated by the transmission data generating unit 112 and stored in the transmission data holding unit 113.

Thus, if a group of n pieces of display image information, audio information, and connection information in the transport stream and the PMT are multiplexed, satellite data broadcasting can be easily used for transmission.

(simplified processing procedure of the entire data transmission apparatus 110)

Hereinafter, the processing procedure of the data transmission device 110 will be specifically described with reference to fig. 12 to 14.

Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing a schematic processing procedure of the entire data transmission apparatus 110.

The information acquiring unit 111 acquires predetermined information from an external database and stores the information in an internal buffer (step S1101).

The transmission data generating unit 112 interprets the information acquired by the information acquiring unit 111, generates display image information, audio information, and connection information, and stores the display image information, audio information, and connection information in the transmission data holding unit 113 (step S1102).

The transmission data reading unit 114 cyclically reads the transmission data in the transmission data holding unit 113 in the order of the identification number (step S1103).

The multiplexing unit 115 multiplexes the read display image information (including audio information) and the connection information, and the transmitting unit 116 transmits the multiplexed transmission data by a ground wave for TV broadcasting (step S1104).

(procedure of processing by the information acquiring section 111)

Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the information acquisition processing procedure performed by the information acquisition unit 111.

The information acquiring unit 111 refers to the acquired information table in the acquired table storage unit 121 and checks whether or not there is any information that has not been acquired (step S1201). If not, the process of obtaining information is ended. If so, 1 acquisition destination address (URL) of the information that has not been acquired is extracted (step S1202).

Based on the retrieved address, connection to an external database is requested (step S1203), and whether or not the connection is successful is confirmed (step S1204). If the failure occurs, the process returns to step S1203 (step S1204).

If the connection is successful, the file name of the information that has not been acquired is read from the acquired information table, the target file is acquired from the external database, and the target file is stored in the internal buffer (step S1205). Returning to step S1201.

(processing procedure of the transmission data generating section 112)

Fig. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of a transmission data generation processing procedure performed by the transmission data generation unit 112.

The transmission data generation unit 112 checks whether or not there is an unprocessed HTML document with reference to the buffer in the information acquisition unit 111 (step S1301). If not, the process of generating the display image is ended. If there is any, the storage area for storing the transmission data is set in the transmission data holding section 113, and the set storage area is attached with the identification number, and 1 unprocessed HTML document is fetched from the buffer (step S1302).

Index information indicating the file name of the transmission data is generated based on the file name of the retrieved HTML document, and added to the link information storage area set in the transmission data holding section 113 (step S1303).

Reading 1 character from the HTML document taken out, writing it in the character string storage area (step S1304)

It is checked whether the read character is the start character of the identifier "<" ("step S1305). If it is the start character of the identifier, the process proceeds to step S1307. If the character is not the start character of the identifier, the read character is added to the character string storage area in the work area and written, and the process returns to step S1304 (step S1306)

The next character is read in (step S1307). It is checked whether it is the end character "" (step S1308). If the character is the end character of the identifier, the process proceeds to step S1310. If the character is not the end character of the identifier, the read character is additionally written in the identifier storage area in the work area, and the process returns to step S1307 (step S1309).

The character string in the identifier storage area is checked against the identifier table to see if it is a character string starting from "/" (step S1310). If it is a character string starting from "/", it is checked whether the read-in identifier is an HTML identifier (step S1311). If the identifier is the identifier of HTML, the working area is completely restored, and the step 1301 is returned. If not, the processing corresponding to the flag placed at the lowest position of the flag storage area is performed in accordance with the identifier to restore the corresponding storage area in the work area (step S1312), and the process returns to step S1304.

In step S1310, if the character string is not a character string starting from "/", it is checked whether the read-in identifier is an < IMG > identifier (step S1313). If the identifier is the < IMG > identifier, the image information file having the file name specified by the attribute value of the < IMG > identifier is retrieved from the buffer of the information acquiring unit 111 (step S1314). The fetched image information is converted into image information represented by bitmap data in accordance with the GIF expansion scheme, and the process returns to step S1304 (step S1315).

When the read identifier is not the < IMG > identifier, the character string in the identifier storage area is compared with the identifier table, a flag corresponding to the identifier is created in the flag storage area, or processing corresponding to the identifier is performed (step S1316), and the process returns to step S1304.

The HTML document uses a plurality of identifiers, and the processing corresponding to these identifiers can be performed in the same manner as the browser. Therefore, as an example of the processing in step 1312, only the processing of pair </a > relating to connection information generated in a format specific to the data communication system 100 will be described below.

Fig. 15 is a flowchart showing a specific example of a part of the processing procedure in step S1312 shown in fig. 14.

It is checked whether it is an < a > identifier (step S1401). If it is not the < a > identifier, the process proceeds to step S1408.

In the case of the < a > identifier, it is checked whether or not the connection destination file represented by the attribute value is a sound information file (step S1402). If it is a sound information file, the process proceeds to step S1407.

If it is not the sound information file, the display area of the cursor figure is vacated, and the display image information of the character string secured in the character string storage area is generated and added to the display image information storage area of the transmission data holding section 113 (step S1403).

The X-Y coordinates representing the display position of the cursor graphic are calculated (step S1404). Hot spot information is generated based on the calculated X-Y coordinates and the attribute value secured in the identifier storage area, and is added to and stored in the connection information storage area of the transmission data holding section 113 (step S1405). The connection flag in the work area is reset, and the character strings in the identifier storage area and the character string storage area are deleted (step S1406).

The audio information file is extracted, and the audio information in the file is converted into a predetermined format and stored in the audio information storage area (step S1407).

Processing corresponding to the read identifier is performed (step S1408).

(structural description of data receiving apparatus 150)

Hereinafter, the structure of each part of the data receiving apparatus 150 will be described with reference to fig. 16 to 20.

(Structure of reception/separation section 151)

The reception/demultiplexing unit 151 includes a read buffer 161 for reading an identification number attached to transmission data. The read buffer 161 has a storage area for temporarily holding display image information (including audio information) of 1 file and connection information of 1 file, respectively.

The reception separating section 151 separates the display image information (including the audio information) and the connection information from the received transmission data, and stores the separated display image information (including the audio information) of 1 file and the connection information of 1 file into the storage areas in the read buffers 161 corresponding to each other. The display image information stored in the storage area is subjected to character recognition of an image written at a predetermined position in a non-display area of the display image information, and the identification number is read. The connection information stored in the storage area is read in the same manner as the identification number attached to a general digital data file. If the read identification number is the identification number instructed by the control section 155, the display image information (including sound information) or the connection information held in the read buffer 161 is stored in the corresponding storage area in the received data holding section 152. At this time, the reception/separation section 151 stores the display image information and also stores the audio information in a corresponding storage area in the received data holding section 152, and further stores the audio information while continuously transmitting the display image information having the same identification number as the identification number instructed by the control section 155. Thus separating the sound information transmitted in consecutive frames.

If the identification number read is the identification number instructed by the control section 155, the display image information (including the audio information) or the connection information thereof held in the read buffer 161 is discarded before the identification number instructed by the control section 155 is read, and new display image information (including the audio information) and connection information are taken into the read buffer 161, and the above-described processing is repeated.

(configuration of the received data holding section 152, the reproduction section 153, and the display section 154)

The received data holding section 152 stores the display image information (including the audio information) and the connection information separated by the reception separating section 151 in association with each other based on the identification number. The storage area for storing the display image information may be realized by, for example, a RAM or a hard disk device for storing 1 screen of still images.

The reproduction section 153 reproduces the display image information stored in the received data holding section 152 and the graphic information described later inputted from the control section 155 in accordance with an instruction from the control section 155, and outputs the reproduced information to the display section 154. In addition, in synchronization with the reproduction of the display image information, the audio information stored together with the display image information is reproduced and outputted to the audio output unit 157.

The display section 154 is realized by a TV monitor or the like that displays an image in accordance with the NTSC system or the like, and displays the display image and a cursor pattern on the screen in accordance with an input signal from the reproduction section 153.

(construction of control section 155)

The control unit 155 first sets an initial value in a register storing a variable value, and instructs the reception/separation unit 151 to acquire display image information (including audio information) having, for example, identification numbers of "0001" and connection information corresponding to a page indicated by the initial value.

The control unit 155 instructs the reproduction unit 153 to reproduce the display image information (including the audio information) every time new display image information (including the audio information) is stored in the received data holding unit 152, interprets the connection information every time new connection information is stored in the received data holding unit 152, and generates a cursor figure correspondence table corresponding to a cursor figure described later at each cursor display position. The cursor pattern is represented by pattern information held in the control unit 155. The control unit 155 outputs the graphic information indicating the cursor graphic and the display position thereof to the reproduction unit 153, and instructs reproduction of the graphic information.

Fig. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a cursor pattern correspondence table created by the control unit 155 to control the display position of the cursor pattern.

The cursor pattern correspondence table indicates the correspondence between each cursor display position indicated by the hotspot information of the connection information held in the received data holding unit 152 and the cursor number of the cursor pattern to be displayed at that display position. For example, the control unit 155 marks the cursor display positions in the connection information with a cursor number in the order of decreasing Y coordinates and then in the order of decreasing X coordinates, and writes the display positions in the items corresponding to the cursor numbers in the cursor figure correspondence table.

Fig. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the graphic information held by the control unit 155.

As shown in fig. 17, the control unit 155 holds, in association with each cursor number, graphic information indicating a cursor graphic when the cursor is selected and a cursor graphic when the cursor is not selected.

Further, the control unit 155 interprets the type of input signal held by the signal receiving unit 156 in accordance with the interrupt signal from the signal receiving unit 156, selects the graphic information of the corresponding cursor graphic, and outputs the graphic information to the reproduction unit 153. Then, the reception separator 151 controls the reception of the transmission data in accordance with the cursor specified by the selection.

(display control processing of received data)

The following specifically describes the reception of a set of display image information (including audio information) and connection information having the same identification number stored in a corresponding storage area in the received data holding unit 152 as received data by the reception separating unit 151 and the display control processing of the received data by the control unit 155.

The control unit 155 sets the variable P-Index indicating the identification number of the received data to be displayed to a predetermined value, for example, "< 1 >. Next, the variable Cur-Pos of the light mark indicating the selected state is set to a predetermined value, for example, "< 1 >. The control unit 155 instructs the reception/separation unit 151 to acquire transmission data not indicated by the variable P-Index. Then, the connection information of the received data stored in the received data holding unit 152 after being taken in accordance with the instruction is interpreted, and the graphic information of each cursor, which has the cursor indicated by the variable Cur-Pos as the selected state, is outputted to the reproduction unit 153 together with the corresponding display position. Next, if an interrupt signal from the signal receiving section 156 occurs, the input signal held in the signal receiving section 156 is interpreted. First, it is checked whether the input is "up", if yes, the value of the variable Cur-Pos is subtracted by 1, and it is checked whether the input is "down", if yes, the value of the variable Cur-Pos is added by 1. If the input is 'confirm', the coordinates of the display position are obtained based on the optical mark represented by the variable Cur-Pos, and the identification number of the connection destination file described in the hotspot information is obtained based on the coordinates. The identification number is set to the value of the variable P-Index, and instructs the reception/separation unit 151 to acquire the transmission data indicated by the variable P-Index.

(construction of Signal receiving section 156 and Audio output section 157)

When receiving an input signal from an external remote controller or the like, not shown, the signal receiving unit 156 generates an interrupt signal to the control unit 155 in response to the input signal, and holds the received input signal.

The audio output unit 157 is realized by a speaker or the like, and outputs reproduced audio information as audio.

(example of displaying image)

Fig. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a display image 1800 on the initial screen displayed on the display unit 154 based on the transmission data 800 in fig. 8.

As shown in fig. 18, in the display image 1800, the cursor graphic 1801 corresponding to the cursor number "1" is displayed at the display position (100, 600) in the display image indicated by the display image information 801, based on the hot spot information indicated by the row 812 of the connection information 803. Further, the initial value of the variable Cur-Pos of the control unit 155 is used to select graphic information indicating the selection state as the cursor graphic 1801.

Similarly, based on the hotspot information shown in the row 813 of the connection information 803, the cursor graphic 1802 corresponding to the cursor number "2" is displayed at the display position (100, 700). Since the light symbol "2" is not the initial value of the variable Cur-Pos, the cursor graphic 1802 selects graphic information indicating the non-selection state.

Further, since the transmission data 800 includes the audio information 802 together with the display image information 801, the display image 1800 is displayed on the display unit 154, and the "audio comment" generated by the audio is output from the audio output unit 157.

Fig. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a display image 1900 on the initial screen displayed on the display section 154 based on the transmission data 900 in fig. 9.

As with the display image 1800 shown in fig. 18, in the display image 1900, the cursor graphic 1901 corresponding to the cursor number "1" is displayed at the display position in the display image shown by the display image information 901, based on the hotspot information shown in the row 912 of the connection information 902 (050, 400). Further, as the cursor graphic 1901, graphic information indicating a selection state is selected.

Fig. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a display image 2000 on the initial screen displayed on the display section 154 based on the transmission data 1000 in fig. 10.

Similarly, in the display image 2000, the cursor graphic 2001 indicating the selection state is displayed at the display position (050, 400) in the display image indicated by the display image information 1001 in accordance with the cursor number "1" based on the hotspot information indicated by the row 1012 of the connection information 1002.

(specific example of processing of the control section 155)

The processing procedure of the control unit 155 when the display image 1800 is displayed on the display unit 154 based on the transmission data 800 will be specifically described below.

The control unit 155 first sets the initial value of the variable P-Index to "0001" and the initial value of the variable Cur-Pos to "1". Next, the reception/separation unit 151 is instructed to acquire display image information 801 (including audio information 802) having an identification number "0001" indicated by the variable P-Index and connection information 803. The control unit 155 instructs the reproduction unit 153 to reproduce the display image data 801 (including the audio information 802) stored in the received data holding unit 152. The reproduction section 153 reproduces the display image information 801 of page 1 and outputs the reproduced information to the display section 154, and reproduces the audio information 802 and outputs the reproduced information to the audio output section 157. The control unit 155 interprets the connection information 803 stored in the received data holding unit 152, generates a cursor graphic correspondence table, and outputs graphic information of each cursor and a display position thereof to the reproduction unit 153. At this time, the 1 st cursor, which is a cursor indicated by the variable Cur-Pos, is set as an image of the selected state.

The control section 155 waits for an input signal from the signal receiving section 156. The "next" signal is input to the signal receiving section 156 from an external remote controller or the like. If the input signal is "" down "", the control portion 155 increases the value of the variable Cur-Pos by 1. The value of the variable Cur-Pos is set to be "" 2 "". Next, the graphics with the optical symbol "2" indicated by the new variable Cur-Pos are used as the graphics information in the selected state, and the graphics with the optical symbol "1" indicated by the original variable Cur-Pos are used as the graphics information in the unselected state, and are output to the reproducing unit 153.

The control unit 155 waits for the interrupt signal from the signal receiving unit 156, and after the interrupt signal occurs, holds the input signal indicating "ok" in the signal receiving unit 156. If the input signal is "OK", the control part 155 reads the X-Y coordinate (100, 700) corresponding to the cursor number "2" indicated by the variable Cur-Pos from the cursor figure corresponding table. Next, based on the read X-Y coordinates (100, 700), the identification number of the destination file of the hotspot information in row 813 is read out to obtain the identification number of the unique destination file of 0003. The obtained identification number [ 0003 ] is set as the value of the variable P-Index. Next, the reception/separation unit 151 is instructed to acquire display image information 1001 having an identification number indicated by a variable P-Index and connection information 1002. The control part 155 initializes the value of the variable Cur-Pos to 1.

By performing the same processing as described above, the display image 2000 shown in fig. 20 can be displayed on the display unit 154. When the value of the variable Cur-Pos is "1", an interrupt occurs, and the control unit 155 refers to the signal receiving unit 156 due to the interrupt, and when the signal receiving unit 156 holds an input signal indicating "ok", the control unit 155 can display the display image 1900 shown in fig. 19 on the display unit 154 as described above.

(display control processing sequence)

Fig. 21 is a flowchart showing an example of the display control processing procedure of the control unit 155.

The control unit 155 sets a variable P-Index indicating an identification number of transmission data to be received as an initial value (step S2101).

The control section 155 sets a variable Cur-Pos of an optical mark indicating a selected state of an initial screen of each display image to an initial value (step S2102).

The control unit 155 instructs the reception/separation unit 151 to acquire transmission data having an identification number of the variable P-Index. The reception separating section 151 separates the display image information and the connection information from the received transmission data in accordance with the instruction of the control section 155, and stores the display image information and the connection information in association with each other in the reception data holding section 152 in accordance with the identification number (step S2103).

The reproduction section 153 reproduces the display image information in the received data holding section 152 and outputs the information to the display section 154 in accordance with an instruction from the control section 155. If there is audio information corresponding to the display image information, the audio information is reproduced and output to the audio output unit 157 (step S2104).

The control unit 155 interprets the connection information in the received data holding unit 152, outputs graphic information indicating the cursor graphic to the reproduction unit 153 together with the X-Y coordinates indicating the display position thereof, and instructs the reproduction of the graphic information. The reproduction unit 153 reproduces the graphics information input from the control unit 155 and outputs the information to the display unit 154 (unit S2105). Then, the display section 154 displays a display image of 1 screen.

The control unit 155 waits for an interrupt signal from the signal receiving unit 156 (step S2106), and after the interrupt signal is generated, checks whether or not the input signal held in the signal receiving unit 156 is "upper" (step S2107).

If yes, the value of the variable Cur-Pos is subtracted by 1 (step S2108), and if not, it is checked whether it is the next (step S2109).

If the "next" is found, the value of the variable Cur-Pos is added by 1 (step S2110), and if not, it is checked whether the "determination" is found (step S2111).

If "determine", the values are determined in the order of the cursor number → cursor display position (X, Y) → identification number of the file to be connected in the hot spot information in the cursor figure correspondence table based on the value of the variable Cur-Pos at this time, and the determined identification number is set as the value of the variable P-Index. And then returns to step S2102. If not, "[ confirm", then return to step S2106.

If this embodiment is adopted as selected above, it is said that the display image information to be generated is generated and transmitted in advance on the data transmission device 110 side while interpreting the control information on the data reception device 150 side, so that the load on the data reception device 150 can be reduced. In addition, the number of processes is relatively small because the type of control processing performed for each connection information is limited compared to the number of types of display control processing and the number of processes for the display character string described in the control information. Therefore, the data receiving apparatus 150 can easily perform analog bidirectional communication with the data transmitting apparatus 110 using such connection information.

In addition, if this embodiment is adopted, since the data communication system 100 performs analog bidirectional communication using 1-to-many TV broadcasts when displaying the WWW homepage on the network, a desired page can be displayed on the display portion 154 quickly without being affected by the transmission line state, as compared with when displaying using a browser of a personal computer. Further, since the display image information expressed in advance in the TV format is used, a full-color, high-resolution display image can be easily displayed on the display section 154. Further, when the display image generated by the browser is displayed on the TV, the reproduction processing of the display image and the like cannot sufficiently utilize the configuration originally provided in the TV, but in the present embodiment, the above-described analog bidirectional communication can be performed by effectively utilizing the memory, decoder and the like originally provided in the TV.

In the present embodiment, as examples of the acquired information, an HTML document used in WWW, and compressed image information in the GIF format and audio information in the AU format associated with the HTML document are shown, but information described in other formats and languages such as a super card (ハイパ - カ - ド) may be used. In this case, the processing relating to the < a > identifier can be changed in a method corresponding to the form and the language. In the present embodiment, a conversion example of an HTML document including only the limited identifier is given, but other identifiers may be included.

In addition, in the present embodiment, a processing method of displaying another screen has been described as an example of control of analog bidirectional communication using connection information, but in addition to the above analog bidirectional communication, processing of blinking and scrolling a screen, processing of starting and operating an apparatus such as FAX, telephone, or television connected to a data receiving device, or the like may be described.

In the data communication system 100, the transmission data generation unit 112 describes the file in the connection information with an identification number, but may not describe the file with an identification number. For example, the identification number of the file in the connection information may be described by the original file name. At this time, the display image information (including the audio information) and the connection information of each transmission data are transmitted with the identification number, and the data receiving apparatus 150 receiving the transmission data sequentially takes in the connection information circulated once in advance at the time of activation, and checks the correspondence between the file name and the identification number.

The data receiving device 150 may store all the display image information and the connection information of one cycle repeatedly transmitted from the data transmitting device 110 in the received data holding section 152.

When the transport stream shown in fig. 11B is transmitted from the data transmission device 110, the data reception device 150 may read, from the PMT, the PID of the display image information to be acquired after the PMT is first separated by the reception separation unit 151, and acquire the display image information from the transport stream using the PID as a filtering condition. In the connection information, the PID of the dedicated segment carrying the connection information is read from the PMT, and the connection information may be acquired from the transport stream separation using the table ID and the identification number as the screening condition.

In the transport stream shown in fig. 11B, the video elementary stream is composed of 1 picture, but P pictures or B pictures may be included as the video elementary stream. The display image information is encoded in the MPEG2 format, but may be in other formats such as the MPEG1 format, the JPEG format, and the GIF format. Further, although the display image information and the audio information are used as the video elementary stream and the audio elementary stream, they may be multiplexed in the form of a dedicated segment, as in the connection information.

(embodiment 2)

Fig. 22 is a configuration diagram showing embodiment 2 of the data conversion device of the data communication system of the present invention. Since the overall configuration of the data communication system is not different from that of embodiment 1, the description thereof will be omitted, and only the portions related to the embodiment will be described.

The data conversion device includes an information acquisition unit 2201, a data conversion table storage unit 2202, a cursor shape storage unit 2203, a document temporary storage unit 2204, a control unit 2205, an image information generation unit 2206, a connection information generation unit 2207, and a generated information temporary storage unit 2208.

This data conversion device corresponds to the information acquisition unit 111 and the transmission data generation unit 112 of embodiment 1 described above, and the information acquisition unit 2201 is connected to an external database, and the control unit 2205 is connected to the transmission data holding unit 113.

In addition, although the cursor pattern is held inside the control unit 155 of the data receiving device 150 in the above embodiment 1, in the present embodiment, the cursor pattern is not held in the data receiving device 150 in advance, but is included in the image information and transmitted from the transmitting unit 116 of the data transmitting apparatus 110.

The information acquiring unit 2201 includes a buffer, and acquires and holds multimedia data from an external database. The multimedia data includes documents 2301 and 2401 described in html (hyper Text Markup language) shown in fig. 23 and 24, and image information 2501 shown in fig. 25. The image information 2501 is compressed in the GIF form.

The contents of the documents 2301, 2401 and the image information 2501 are basically described in the above embodiment 1, and therefore, the description is omitted. This document 2301 and image information 2501 are displayed on a display screen 2601 of a personal computer having a screen size of 640 × 480 dots by a WWW browser used in the past, as shown in fig. 26 and 27. The document 2301 is displayed as continuous reproduction images 2602, 2701 on 2 screens of the display screen 2601. The reproduced images 2602 and 2701 are continuous images, and by instructing scroll bars 2603 and 2604 provided at the upper and lower right ends of the display screen 2601, the reproduced images 2602 and 2701 can be moved in the vertical direction.

The data conversion table storage unit 2202 stores a data conversion table for converting the multimedia document held by the information acquisition unit 2201 into the information stored in the transmission data holding unit 113 according to embodiment 1. The data conversion table includes an identifier table (not shown), a font table 2801 shown in fig. 28, and a connection information conversion table 2901 shown in fig. 29.

The identifier table stores information for explaining identifiers in the document 2301 and the like described in HTML shown in fig. 23 and the like. The contents of which have already been described with reference to fig. 2, 4 and the like of embodiment 1 above, and therefore the description will be omitted.

The font table 2801 includes the coordinates of the head display position 2803 of the character string attached in association with the identifier 2802 included in the document 2301, and the font size 2804 when the character string is displayed. Their coordinates X, Y and font size are expressed in pixel units (dots).

The connection information conversion table 2901 includes conversion information for generating connection information as reproduction control information at the time of reproduction of the document 2301 and the like. The conversion information 2902 indicates the conversion of the "file name" of the document 2301 into the "Index" file name ".

The conversion information 2903 indicates conversion of the "file name" of the connection destination in the < a > identifier into "Hot Spot (M" file name "). Here, M is a header number added at the time of conversion.

The cursor shape storage unit 2203 is stored in the cursor shape table 3001 shown in fig. 30. The cursor shape table 3001 has a list of title numbers 3002 and cursor shapes 3003. The title number 3002 is a number added to a part representing a connection relationship with other documents in the document 2301, for example, the document 2401, in order from the beginning of the document 2301. The cursor shape 3003 indicates an image shape added to a display image portion indicating the connection relationship in the document 2301 when the document 2301 is converted into the display image, and the number contained in the cursor shape 3003 coincides with the title number 3002.

The document temporary storage unit 2204 stores one document and one image information among the documents held in the information acquisition unit 2201. For example, the document 2301 shown in fig. 23 and the image information 2501 shown in fig. 25 are stored.

When receiving an instruction to generate reproduction information from the outside, the control unit 2205 reads one document held in the information acquisition unit 2201, stores the read document in the document temporary storage unit 2204, and activates the image information generation unit 2206 and the connection information generation unit 2207. Further, when receiving a write instruction from the image information generating unit 2206 to the transmission data holding unit 113, the image information stored in the image information storage area of the generated information temporary storage unit 2208 is read out and written in the image information storage unit 123, and the connection information stored in the connection information storage area is read out and written in the connection information storage unit 125.

In this case, the same identifier is added to the written image information and the connection information, and both pieces of information are recognized as one set. In addition, when the image information storage area stores more than 2 frames of image information, each image information can be grouped with the connection information.

Further, when the document temporary storage unit 2204 which designates the image information file designated by the image information generating unit 2206 is loaded, the image information held in the information acquiring unit 2201 is read and stored in the document temporary storage unit 2204.

When the image information generating section 2206 is activated by the control section 2205, an image information storage area capable of storing image information for one screen is secured in the generated information temporary storage section 2208, and a connection information storage area paired with the image information area is secured.

After the image information storage area is secured in the created information temporary storage unit 2208, the identifier table (not shown) and the font table 2801 stored in the data conversion table storage unit 2202 are read out, and the character string or the image information as the element in the document stored in the document temporary storage unit 2204 is converted into the image information at the time of reproduction.

The conversion to the image information has been described in the transmission data generating section 112 of embodiment 1, and will not be described here.

When the content of the < IMG > identifier 2304 is read, the image information generating unit 2206 instructs the control unit 2205 to fetch the image information file "weather.

When reading out the < a > identifier 2305 or the like stored in the document temporary storage unit 2204, the image information generation unit 2206 notifies the connection information generation unit 2207 of the contents thereof (the file name of the connection destination). Upon receiving the notification of the value of the count M from the connection information generation unit 2207, the cursor shape 3003 of the title number 3002 "M" in the cursor shape table 3001 stored in the cursor shape storage unit 2203 is acquired. The position at which the cursor should be configured next is calculated (Xst, Yst). The arrangement position is represented by the coordinates of the upper left end of the display element. Since the head position x of the < L1> identifier in the font table 2801 that defines the arrangement of the display elements of the < a > identifier is 10, the x coordinate Xst is Xst 10. The Y coordinate Yst can be obtained by adding the number of pixels in the Y direction of the display element displayed before the display element displaying the < a > identifier.

For example, the arrangement position of "osaka" which is a display element of the < a > identifier 2305 in fig. 23 is set to a value of Xst ═ 10, Yst ═ 10+80+ (270) +60 ═ 420, () which is the number of pixels in the Y direction after the image information "weather. Gif has an image size of (360 × 270) dots. I.e., at the position of coordinates (10, 420).

When the arrangement position (Xst, Yst) is determined, the image information generating unit 2206 writes the acquired cursor shape 3003 at the head of the arrangement position (Xst, Yst) in the image information storage area of the temporary generated information storage unit 2208, and then writes the character string of the display element. Thus, if the document 2301 shown in FIG. 23 is converted into image information, image information 3102 of one screen is obtained in the image information storage area 3101 as shown in FIG. 31.

When the image information 3102 of one screen shown in fig. 31 is written in the image information storage area 3101, the image information generating unit 2206 has no area to be written next, and therefore, a new image information storage area 3201 (see fig. 32) can be secured only in another area of the generated information temporary storage unit 2208. Next, the document 2301 which has not been parsed is parsed, and image information is written in the image information storage area 3201. If there is no unanalyzed document 2301, the control unit 2205 is instructed to write.

After the connection information generating unit 2207 is activated by the control unit 2205, it reads out the "file name" of the document stored in the document temporary storage unit 2204, for example, "report rt. htm 1", from the connection information conversion table 2901 in the data conversion table storage unit 2202, converts the "file name" into "Index (" report. htm1 "), and writes the" file name "into the connection information storage area prepared in the generated information temporary storage unit 2208.

When the "file name" of a document is converted into "Index (file name)", "1" is set in the counter M which becomes the title number 3002. When the notification of the content such as the < a > identifier 2305 is received from the image information generating unit 2206, connection information is generated in a lump based on the conversion information 2903 in the connection information conversion table 2901, and then written into the connection information storage area of the temporary generated information storage unit 2208, and the counter M is incremented by "1". The title number 3002, i.e., the value of the counter M, is given to M preceding the file name in the connection information.

The generated information temporary storage unit 2208 temporarily stores the image information and connection information generated by the image information generating unit 2206 and connection information generating unit 2207. Fig. 31 and 32 show 2 pieces of 2-screen image information 3102 and 3202 generated from the document 2301 described by the HTML shown in fig. 23, and fig. 33 shows connection information 3301 generated from the document 2301 and common to both the image information 3102 and 3202.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flow chart in fig. 34.

First, if the control unit 2205 receives an image generation instruction from the outside, the image information generating unit 2206 holds the corresponding image information storage area and connection information storage area in the generated information temporary storage unit 2208 (S3402).

Next, when there is an unresolved HTML document stored in the document temporary storage unit 2204 (S3404), the link information generation unit 2207 and the image information generation unit 2206 analyze the HTML document (S3406). If there is no unresolved HTML document (S3404), the control unit 2205 reads out the image information and connection information stored in the generated information temporary storage unit 2208, writes them as a set in the transmission data holding unit 113, and ends the processing.

The image information generating unit 2206 judges whether or not the analyzed document is the connection information (control information including the < a > identifier) (S3408), and if so, acquires a predetermined cursor shape from the cursor shape storage unit 2203 (S3410). If the connection information is not included, the cursor shape is not acquired, and the process proceeds to S3412. At S3412, the image information generating unit 2206 calculates the arrangement position of the display elements included in the document (S3412) and arranges the image information. In this case, if the display element is the connection information display element, the acquired cursor shape is collectively written in the position of the display element, and the connection information generating unit 2207 writes the connection information in the connection information storage area (S3414). Next, the image information generating unit 2206 judges whether or not there is an area in which a new display element is written in the image information storage area (S3416), and if so, returns to S3404, and if not, again secures only the image information storage area in the generated information temporary storage unit 2208 (S3418), and returns to S3404.

(embodiment 3)

Fig. 35 is a configuration diagram of embodiment 3 of a data conversion device in a data communication system of the present invention. The data conversion device comprises an information acquisition unit 2201, a data conversion table storage unit 2202, a cursor shape storage unit 2203, an output device information storage unit 3501, a document temporary storage unit 2204, a control unit 2205, an image information generation unit 3502, a connection information generation unit 3503, and a generated information temporary storage unit 2208. The same components as those of the embodiment 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted, and only the components of the embodiment itself will be described.

Fig. 36 shows a remote controller (hereinafter, referred to as "remote controller") 3601 that transmits signals to the signal receiving unit 156 described in embodiment 1. The remote controller 3601 can use 6 keys from the key "1" to the key "6" to designate a cursor.

The output device information storage unit 3501 stores in advance the maximum number K of cursors (display for specifying a file to be connected) that can be displayed in one screen. The maximum number K of the cursor is "6", for example, since 6 keys can be used in the remote control 3601.

The control unit 2205 is capable of notifying the image information generating unit 3502 and the connection information generating unit 3503 of the information of the end of writing when the image information and the connection information are written in the image information storing unit 123 and the connection information storing unit 125, in addition to the functions of embodiment 2.

The image information generating unit 3502 can count the number of < a > identifiers included in the document 2301 based on the value of the counter M notified by the connection information generating unit 3503, in addition to the functions of the embodiment 2. When the image information "weather" of the document 2301 shown in fig. 23 is converted into dots with a size of (360 × 210) when displaying an image, image information 3701 of one screen can be obtained as shown in fig. 37. After generating image information for one screen, the control unit 2205 is notified of an instruction to write to the transmission data holding unit 113.

The image information generating unit 3502 determines whether or not the value of the counter M notified from the connection information generating unit 3503 matches the value K stored in the output device information storage unit 3501, and when the value K matches the value K, writes the cursor shape and the display element in the image information storage area of the generated information temporary storage unit 2208, and then notifies the control unit 2205 of the instruction written to the transmission data holding unit 113. Then, as shown in fig. 38, image information 3801 having a connection information number not exceeding the maximum number K stored in the output apparatus information storage unit 3501 is generated.

In addition, if the display element of the document 2301 is imaged, as shown in fig. 39, one image information 3901 is generated.

The connection information generating unit 3503 sets "0" in the counter N if activated by the control unit 2205 in addition to the functions of embodiment 2. When the control unit 2205 receives the notification of the write completion, the counter N is incremented by "1". When the value of the counter N is other than "0", the counter is converted into connection information "Index (" report. When the value of the counter N is set or changed, a value "1" is set in the counter M.

Then, concatenated information 3702 composed of a set of image information 3701, concatenated information 3802 composed of a set of image information 3801, and concatenated information 3902 composed of a set of image information 3901 are generated.

When receiving a normal television broadcast, the signal receiving unit 156 assumes that channel "12" of the display unit 154 is an inter-network broadcast, and if the "12" key 3602 is pressed, the same image as the image information 3701 stored in the generated information temporary storage unit 2208 shown in fig. 37 is displayed on the display unit 154. Here, if the "1" key 3603 on the remote controller is pressed, osaka of the hotspot "1" is selected, and the page is shifted to "weather of osaka" indicated by the document 2401. In order to return to channel switching of television broadcasting from the screen, keys "1" to "11" are pressed after key 3604 "CH" is pressed.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment itself will be described with reference to the flow chart in fig. 40. The image information generating unit 3502 secures an image information memory area and a connection information memory area corresponding to the display screen in the generated information temporary storage unit 2208 (S4002). Next, when there is an unresolved HTML document stored in the document temporary storage 2204 (S4004), the image information generation unit 3502 analyzes the HTML document (S4006). When there is no unresolved HTML document (S4004), the control unit 2205 reads the image information and the link information stored in the generated information temporary storage unit 2208, writes them as a set in the transmission data holding unit 113, and ends the processing.

The HTML document analyzed in S4006 is imaged and playback control information is formed (S4008). The image information generator 3502 determines whether or not the number of < a > identifiers in one output screen, that is, the value of the counter M notified from the connection information generator 3503 matches the maximum number K stored in the output apparatus information storage 3501 (S4010), and when it matches it, in S4014, notifies the controller 2205 of an instruction to write the information stored in the generated information temporary storage 2208 into the transmission data storage 113, and upon receiving a notification of the completion of writing from the controller 2205, sets a new image information storage area and a new connection information storage area, and proceeds to S4016. If they do not match, it is determined whether or not there is an area in the image information storage area to which the generated image information is written (S4012), and if there is an area, the image information generated in S4016 is written, and the connection information generator 3503 writes connection information. And then returns to S4004.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the hot spot can be easily designated to the display unit 154 by the external remote controller 3601, and image information and connection information that can be transferred to and viewed on a desired page can be generated.

In this embodiment, the maximum number K of cursors stored in the output device information storage unit 3501 can be set as the number of cursors that can be designated by the remote controller 3601, and the maximum number K of cursors can be set as the number of designated cursors that can be easily viewed on the display screen selected as the connection destination in consideration of the resolution of the display screen of the display unit 154.

(embodiment 4)

This data conversion device has substantially the same configuration as that of embodiment 3. However, the image information generating unit of this apparatus has a function of considering the arrangement of the display character string of the < a > identifier in the < UL > identifier, in addition to the function of the image information generating unit 3502 of embodiment 3 described above.

The structure of the present embodiment itself will be described below.

When analyzing the document 2301 shown in fig. 23, the image information generating unit 3502 integrates display character strings such as the < a > identifier 2305 surrounded by the < UL > identifier 2306 and the </UL > identifier 2307, and converts them into reproduced image information. It is determined whether or not all of the converted character strings, such as "" Osaka "", "" Tokyo "", "" famous ancient houses "", "" Xianta "", "" Guangdao "", "" Fugang "", and "" Sakadoac "" can be stored in the image information storage region. When all the images can be stored, the processing for converting the reproduced image into information is sequentially performed from the display character string of the first < a > identifier 2305 starting with the < UL > identifier 2306, as in the above-described embodiment 3. When it is judged that all display character strings cannot be stored, after a new image information storage area is set, it is judged whether or not all display character strings of < a > identifiers in the < UL > identifiers can be stored in the area, and when it is judged that it cannot be stored, the same processing as in embodiment 3 described above is performed. When it is judged that the data can be stored in the area, it is judged whether or not the number of < a > identifiers in the < UL > identifiers exceeds the maximum number K, and if so, the same processing as in embodiment 3 above is performed. When it is judged that the image data has not passed, a write command is sent to the control unit 2205, and if a notification of the end of writing is received from the control unit 2205, the image data storage area and the connection data storage area are set in the generated data temporary storage unit 2208, and the same processing as in embodiment 3 is performed.

The display character strings from [ osaka ] to [ sapporo ] cannot be stored in the storage region of one image information, and are divided into image information 3701 and image information 4101 shown in fig. 41. However, the display character strings "northern hemisphere" and "southern hemisphere" surrounded by the < UL > identifier 2308 and the </UL > identifier 2309 are not divided, and become the image information 4201 shown in fig. 42. The connection information generator 3503 generates reproduction control information 4102, 4202 as one set of the video information 4101, 4201, respectively.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment itself will be described with reference to the flow chart in fig. 43. After S4008 shown in fig. 40 of the above-mentioned embodiment 3, the image information generating unit 3502 calculates the size of the display character string of the < a > identifier surrounded by the < UL > identifier and the </UL > identifier, determines whether the display character string can be stored in the image information storage area (whether there is a written space) (S4302), moves to S4010 when there is a space, and determines whether all the display character strings (the display character string of the size calculated in S4302) can be stored in the area if a new image information storage area is set when there is no space (S4304). If the storage is not possible, the process proceeds to S4010, and if the storage is possible, it is determined whether the number of < a > identifiers in the display character string exceeds the maximum number K stored in the output apparatus information storage unit 3501 (S4306). The process proceeds to S4010, and if not, the control unit 2205 is notified of the write instruction of the content stored in the generation information temporary storage unit 2208 that has been written. When the control unit 2205 receives the notification of the end of writing, the generated information temporary storage unit 2208 reserves a new image information storage area and a new connection information storage area (S4308), and the process proceeds to S4010.

As described above, if the present embodiment is adopted, the related items can be displayed on one screen as the same image information.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various modifications and improvements will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, unless otherwise such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention, they should be construed as being included therein.

Claims (24)

1. A data conversion apparatus for use in a data communication system capable of analog bidirectional communication by unidirectional communication from a data transmission device to a plurality of data reception devices, comprising:

an information storage device for the original document,

storing a plurality of original document information composed of at least one character information, and embedding connection target information in a part of or all the character information in the original document information, the connection target information taking another original document information as a connection target;

the additional shape storage means is attached to the shape memory,

storing a list of additional shapes with numbers in advance;

a reproduced image element generating device for generating a reproduced image element,

sequentially reading the character information included in the original document information stored in the original document information storage means to generate the reproduced image element, wherein the reproduced image element is bitmap information generated from each character information;

a reproduced image generating device for generating a reproduced image element based on the reproduced image element generated by the reproduced image element generating device

A reproduced image corresponding to one screen reproduced by the data receiving apparatus;

an additional shape-configuring means is provided for,

sequentially reading out the additional shapes stored in the additional shape storage means in the order of appearance of the reproduced image elements in the reproduced image generated from the character information in which the connection destination information in which another original document information is set as the connection destination is set, and arranging the additional shapes in the reproduced image elements in the reproduced image;

the reproduction connection destination information converting means reproduces the connection destination information,

and a reproduction link destination information converting unit converting the link destination information of the original document information, which is a link destination of the character information, into a reproduction link destination information of a reproduced image, which is a link destination of the reproduced image element corresponding to the number attached to the additional shape, the reproduced image being generated by the reproduced image generating unit based on the original document information.

2. The data conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the original document information also has at least one image information;

the reproduced image element generating means for sequentially reading the image information included in the original document information stored in the original document information storage means to generate the reproduced image element, wherein the reproduced image element is bitmap information generated from each character information or each image information;

an additional shape allocation means for sequentially reading the additional shapes stored in the additional shape storage means in the order of appearance of the playback elements in the playback image, from the playback image elements in the playback image generated from the image information in which the connection information for connecting another original document information is placed, and for allocating the additional shapes to the playback image elements in the playback image;

the reproduction connection destination information conversion means converts connection destination information indicating another original document information which is a connection destination of the image information into reproduction connection information indicating another reproduction image which is a connection destination of the reproduction image element corresponding to the number attached to the additional shape.

3. The data conversion apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the reproduced image element generating apparatus includes:

a conversion table storage unit for storing a conversion table,

storing the character size of each character information contained in the original document information;

a regeneration element generation unit for generating a regeneration element,

according to the character size stored in the conversion table storage unit, a reproduced image element is generated from each character information, and a reproduced image element is generated from each image information.

4. The data conversion apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

the reproduced image generating apparatus stores, in the conversion table storage unit, a position of a top layout in a horizontal direction of a screen of each character information and each reproduced image element of each image information included in the original document information, and further includes:

a position calculating section is disposed at the position detecting section,

reading the head arrangement position of each reproduced image element stored in the conversion table storage unit, and calculating the arrangement position of each reproduced image element in the reproduced image;

a reproduction image generating section for generating a reproduction image,

the reproduced image elements are arranged based on the arrangement positions of the reproduced image elements calculated by the arrangement position calculating section, and a reproduced image corresponding to one screen is generated.

5. The data conversion apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

the reproduction connection destination information conversion device includes:

group regeneration connection destination information generation unit

When a plurality of reproduced images divided from one original document information are generated by the reproduced image generating section, reproduced connection destination information is generated for each reproduced image as a set.

6. The data conversion apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

the additional shape storage device is provided with:

the maximum number of the storage sections is stored,

storing the maximum number of additional graphics arranged in the reproduced image,

the reproduced image generating apparatus further includes:

a maximum number judging section for judging the maximum number,

determining whether the number of additional shapes to be arranged in the one reproduced image exceeds the maximum number; a reproduced image division instructing section for instructing to divide the reproduced image,

when the maximum number judging unit judges that the number of pixels exceeds the maximum number, the reproduced image generating unit instructs to divide the reproduced image so that an additional shape equal to or smaller than the maximum number is arranged in the reproduced image corresponding to one screen generated by the reproduced image generating unit, and the reproduced image generating unit generates the divided reproduced image.

7. The data transformation device according to claim 6, wherein:

the reproduction connection destination information conversion device is further provided with

A division/reproduction connection destination information generation unit,

when the reproduced image generating section generates the divided reproduced images, the reproduction connection destination information group is generated for each of the divided reproduced images.

8. The data conversion apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

an information acquisition device for acquiring information on a plurality of types of information,

obtaining original document information including character information described in an HTML (hyper Text Markup language) language and image information associated with the character information through a communication line;

an information writing device for writing information into a recording medium,

and writing the original document information acquired by the information acquiring means into the original document information storage means.

9. The data conversion apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

the 1 st storage device is a storage device,

adding an identifier to a plurality of display images having additional shapes arranged by the additional shape arranging means and storing the identifiers, wherein the display images are the reproduced images obtained by dividing the reproduced images and the reproduced images;

the number 2 of the storage means is such that,

storing, for each of the display images, a reproduction connection destination information group converted by the reproduction connection destination information conversion means, the reproduction connection destination information group being associated with the display image and having the same identifier;

a sending device for sending the data to a receiving device,

the predetermined number of display images among the display images stored in the 1 st storage device are repeatedly transmitted together with the corresponding reproduction connection destination information group stored in the 2 nd storage device.

10. The data conversion apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

when the reproduced image elements are elements of the same type, the reproduced image generating section generates the reproduced image elements by storing the reproduced image elements in one reproduced image.

11. The data transformation device according to claim 10, wherein:

the original document information is described in HTML language, and the reproduced image generating section determines whether or not the same type of element is described based on the identifier.

12. The data conversion apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

the additional shape storage device is provided with:

the maximum number of the storage sections is stored,

storing the maximum number of additional graphics arranged in the reproduced image,

the reproduced image generating apparatus further includes:

a maximum number judging section for judging the maximum number,

determining whether the number of additional shapes to be arranged in the one reproduced image exceeds the maximum number;

a reproduced image division instructing section for instructing to divide the reproduced image,

when the maximum number judging unit judges that the number of pixels exceeds the maximum number, the reproduced image generating unit instructs to divide the reproduced image so that an additional shape equal to or smaller than the maximum number is arranged in the reproduced image corresponding to one screen generated by the reproduced image generating unit, and the reproduced image generating unit generates the divided reproduced image.

13. The data transformation device of claim 12, wherein:

the reproduction connection destination information conversion device is further provided with

A division/reproduction connection destination information generation unit,

when the reproduced image generating section generates the divided reproduced images, the reproduction connection destination information group is generated for each of the divided reproduced images.

14. The data conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the reproduced image element generating apparatus includes:

a conversion table storage unit for storing a conversion table,

storing the character size of each character information contained in the original document information;

a regeneration element generation unit for generating a regeneration element,

a reproduced image element is generated from each character information according to the character size stored in the conversion table storage unit.

15. The data transformation device of claim 14, wherein:

the reproduced image generating apparatus stores, in the conversion table storage unit, a head arrangement position in a screen horizontal direction of a reproduced image element of each character information included in the original document information, and further includes:

a position calculating section is disposed at the position detecting section,

reading the head arrangement position of each reproduced image element stored in the conversion table storage unit, and calculating the arrangement position of each reproduced image element;

a reproduction image generating section for generating a reproduction image,

a reproduced image corresponding to one screen is generated based on the arrangement position of each reproduced image element calculated by the arrangement position calculating section.

16. The data transformation device of claim 15, wherein:

the reproduction connection destination information conversion device includes:

group regeneration connection destination information generation unit

When a plurality of divided reproduced images are generated from one original document information by the reproduced image generating section, a reproduced connection destination information group and each reproduced image are generated as one group.

17. The data transformation device of claim 16, wherein:

the additional shape storage device is provided with:

the maximum number of the storage sections is stored,

storing the maximum number of additional graphics arranged in the reproduced image,

the reproduced image generating apparatus further includes:

a maximum number judging section for judging the maximum number,

determining whether the number of additional shapes to be arranged in the one reproduced image exceeds the maximum number;

a reproduced image division instructing section for instructing to divide the reproduced image,

when the maximum number judging unit judges that the number of pixels exceeds the maximum number, the reproduced image generating unit instructs to divide the reproduced image so that an additional shape equal to or smaller than the maximum number is arranged in the reproduced image corresponding to one screen generated by the reproduced image generating unit, and the reproduced image generating unit generates the divided reproduced image.

18. The data transformation device of claim 17, wherein:

the reproduction connection destination information conversion device is further provided with

A division/reproduction connection destination information generation unit,

when the reproduced image generating section generates the divided reproduced images, the reproduction connection destination information group is generated for each of the divided reproduced images.

19. The data conversion apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising:

an information acquisition device for acquiring information on a plurality of types of information,

obtaining original document information including character information described in an HTML (hyper Text Markup language) language through a communication line;

an information writing device for writing information into a recording medium,

and writing the original document information acquired by the information acquiring means into the original document information storage means.

20. The data conversion apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising:

the 1 st storage device is a storage device,

adding an identifier to a plurality of display images having additional shapes arranged by the additional shape arranging means and storing the identifiers, wherein the display images are the reproduced images obtained by dividing the reproduced images and the reproduced images;

the number 2 of the storage means is such that,

at least one reproduction connection destination information converted by the reproduction connection destination information conversion means is stored for each of the reproduction images, the at least one reproduction connection destination information being associated with the reproduction image and being assigned with the same identifier,

here, the transmitting means of the data transmitting apparatus repeatedly transmits a predetermined number of reproduced images together with at least one piece of reproduction connection destination information.

21. The data transformation device of claim 16, wherein:

when the reproduced image elements are elements of the same type, the reproduced image generating section generates the reproduced image elements by storing the reproduced image elements in one reproduced image.

22. The data transformation device of claim 21, wherein:

the original document information is described in HTML language,

the reproduced image generating section determines whether or not the same type of element is present based on the description of the identifier.

23. The data transformation device of claim 22, wherein:

the additional shape storage device is provided with:

the maximum number of the storage sections is stored,

storing the maximum number of additional graphics arranged in the reproduced image,

the reproduced image generating apparatus further includes:

a maximum number judging section for judging the maximum number,

determining whether the number of additional shapes to be arranged in the one reproduced image exceeds the maximum number;

a reproduced image division instructing section for instructing to divide the reproduced image,

when the maximum number judging unit judges that the number of pixels exceeds the maximum number, the reproduced image generating unit instructs to divide the reproduced image so that an additional shape equal to or smaller than the maximum number is arranged in the reproduced image corresponding to one screen generated by the reproduced image generating unit, and the reproduced image generating unit generates the divided reproduced image.

24. The data transformation device of claim 23, wherein:

the reproduction connection destination information conversion device is further provided with

A division/reproduction connection destination information generation unit,

when the reproduced image generating section generates the divided reproduced images, the reproduction connection destination information group is generated for each of the divided reproduced images.