JP2000132466A - Method and system for transmitting media file, and record medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an application system which efficiently performs specific application using a fixed application form of large data size while using a low-speed line such as a radio line. SOLUTION: A file having necessary items entered into an application form is managed in one layer. An application-side portable terminal and a reception center terminal have the same layer and when either one alters part of the media file, only its difference file is transmitted as a new layer to the other to prevent a duplicate file from being transmitted. On the reception side, the new layer is reflected on a layer which is already held and the both are displayed in integrated form.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improved method for efficiently performing two-way communication using a plurality of media files such as image files, sound data files, and text files.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, two-way communication using image files is performed in a format in which editing information is added to an original image file. For example, when performing bidirectional transmission of an image file between the site A and the site B, it is assumed that the site A first transmits the original image file X to the site B. On the site B side, the operator views the received image file X, performs necessary editing, and transmits the edited image file Y to the site A. On the site A side receiving this, the operator views the image file Y and performs necessary editing, and transmits the edited image file Z to the site B again. At the site B, the operator looks at the image file Z and performs further editing if necessary. Hereinafter, these are repeated.

[0003] Two-way communication using sound data files is performed in such a format that each sound data file is created independently. That is, it is assumed that a certain sound data file AV1 is transmitted from the site A to the site B. At the site B, the operator listens to the contents of the received sound data file AV1 and creates a sound data file BV1 in response to the received sound data file AV1 to transmit it to the site A. At the site A, the operator listens to the contents of the sound data file BV1, creates a sound data file AV2 as a response, and transmits it to the site B. At site B, the operator listens to the contents of the sound data file AV2,
Create sound data file BV2 in response to site A
Transmit to Hereinafter, this is repeated.

[0004] With respect to two-way communication using a text file, electronic mail is typical. Recent communication tools for dealing with e-mail are fairly well-organized, such as being able to quote other people's comments and linking other files. However, if the text information is in a file format other than the text format, such as a document in a certain application format, if you try to add the bi-directional transmission to one file, it will be the same as the image file. On the other hand, if an attempt is made to generate each independent file, the result is the same as that of a sound data file.

[0005]

The following problems occur when bidirectional transmission of each media file is performed in the above-described conventional procedure.

(1) In the case of an image file When communicating using an image file,
In many cases, there are duplicated parts before and after editing. Therefore, even if the changed portion is small, the entire file including the changed portion must be transmitted. Typically,
Since the image file has a larger file size than the text file, the transmission time becomes extremely long on a line having a small transmission band such as a wireless line. Further, since a wireless line is generally more unstable than a wired line, instantaneous line disconnection or the like during transmission is sufficiently conceivable. In such a case, the file must be retransmitted.
Very inefficient communication. In particular, when an image file is additionally written every time transmission is made to the other party, the file size becomes larger and larger, so that the time occupied by transmission becomes longer than that of editing.

(2) In the case of a sound data file In the case of a sound data file, a new file is generated each time it is transmitted to the other party, so the number of files generated increases as the number of transmissions increases. Therefore, even if the size of each file is small, if the size of each file is large, it is difficult to manage the files because they are not associated with each other.

(3) In the case of a text file Even if a text file is transmitted in a format such as e-mail, if a citation or the like is used, the portion has an overlapping portion in content, so that it is efficient. I can't say. On the other hand, when quotations etc. are transmitted in a format other than e-mail, if they are done in one file, it will be the same as the image file, if they are done in an independent file, it will be the same as the sound data file . Either case is inefficient.

(4) In the case where a plurality of media are integrated When two-way communication is performed using a plurality of media such as images, sounds, texts, etc., conventionally, a display having a correlation between media files, that is, a certain display is used. It is not possible to display only arbitrary media such as overlapping an image with an image or displaying a text and a text.

(5) When managing a file in a format in which required information is entered in a fixed format, more generally, a method of using a card type database or the like or saving the data in the same format can be considered. However, the former method takes too much labor, and the latter method duplicates the same information (in this example, a fixed format), so that the disk space cannot be effectively used.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method capable of efficiently transmitting a plurality of media files when two-way transmission is performed between a certain device. Another object of the present invention is to provide a media file transmission system suitable for implementing the above method and a recording medium for realizing the transmission system on a computer device.

[0012]

A media file transmission method according to the present invention manages one or more types of media files in one layer when performing bidirectional transmission of media files between a plurality of devices. While maintaining the same layer of content between each device, when a part of the media file is changed in any device, only the changed portion is transmitted as a new layer from the device to another device, Another device is characterized in that the new layer received is reflected on the layer held by itself to obtain a changed media file.

A media file transmission system according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned other problems has a transmitting unit and a receiving unit for performing bidirectional transmission of a media file with a partner device. The transmission unit manages one or more types of media files in units of layers, and transmits a difference between a media file to be transmitted and a media file held by a partner apparatus as a new layer to a predetermined transmission path. It comprises a sending means. On the other hand, the receiving unit analyzes the association between the new layer received from the transmission path and another layer already held, and outputs the media files of a plurality of layers in an integrated manner. And an output unit for selectively outputting a media file belonging to the layer of (i).

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium having one or more types of media files provided to a computer device having a function of performing bidirectional transmission of media files with a partner device. And transmitting the difference between the media file to be transmitted and the media file held by the other device to a predetermined transmission path as a new layer, and processing a new file received from the transmission path. Executes the process of analyzing the association between a layer and another layer already held and outputting media files of multiple layers in an integrated manner, or the process of selectively outputting media files belonging to a specific layer This is a computer-readable recording medium on which digital information to be recorded is recorded.

[0015]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, between the site A and the site B each having a computer device having a mutual communication function and a file control function with the opposing site,
An embodiment of a method for reducing the amount of data on a transmission path and reducing transmission delay when performing bidirectional transmission of a media file will be described.

In this embodiment, some or all of a plurality of media files, for example, image files, text files, and sound data files (for example, audio files) are
Layered as a set, and file management is performed for each layer. Specifically, the file management in this case is realized by generating a set of a layer management file, a media list file, a media management file, and a media file (substantial part) for each layer. These files are hierarchical between the same layers and cooperative with other layers. This will be described later.

Transmission to and from the partner site is performed in units of layers as shown in FIG. That is, initially, Site A,
B, all layer management files, media list files, media management files,
The media file is transmitted to the other site so that a common layer (original palette) is retained, and if the content of the layer, for example, a part of the media file is modified at any site, the modification occurs. The created difference file is managed as a new layer (additional palette) different from the original palette, and the additional palette is transmitted to the partner site.

The site receiving the additional palette integrates it into the existing layer (original palette). Optional processing for integrated layers (layer palette), such as overwriting display processing for image files, append display (additional display) processing or citation display processing for text, and audio synchronized with image files for audio files Output processing and the like.

FIG. 2A shows a transmission mode according to the above method.
FIG. 1B schematically shows a transmission mode according to a conventional method for transmitting the same media file. FIG. 3 illustrates the relationship among the original palette, the additional palette, and the layer palette.

The contents of the above-described layer management file, media list file, and media management file are specifically as shown in FIG. The flow of processing using these files is as follows.

(1) Layer Management File The layer management file is a file for managing the layer, and includes “owner ID”, “media list file name”, “latitude”, “longitude”, “direction”, and “security”. , "Lower layer management file name", "upper layer management file name", and the like. “Owner ID” is identification information of a person who owns a media file belonging to the layer, and “media list file name” is identification information of a media list file to be linked. “Latitude”, “longitude”, and “azimuth” are position information of the site that generated the layer, and “security” is information about security of the layer management file. The “lower layer management file name” and the “upper layer management file name” are identification information for linking the lower and upper layer management files of the layer management file. In addition, items representing attributes of the layer management file, such as time, a synchronization ID, and the like, can be included in the content. Note that these items can be arbitrarily added, changed, or deleted.

(2) Media List File The media list file is managed by a layer management file, and includes “the number of management files” and “media management file name” as contents. The “management file number” is the number of media files managed (that is, linked) in the media list file, and the “media management file name” is all media files (image files, sound files) belonging to the layer. Data file, text file, etc.).

(3) Media Management File A media management file is created for each medium and managed by a media list file, and “media file name”, “icon file name”, and “media attribute” are used as contents. It is comprised including. The “media file name” is the actual media file name (in the case of small text, the entity information itself), and the “icon file name” is the identification information of the media file that is automatically expanded (displayed, etc.) by clicking the icon. It is. The “media attribute” is an attribute of the media file, for example, a coordinate, a size, an angle, and a display method for an image file, and a coordinate, an angle, a font, and the number of points for a text file.

(4) Process Flow These layer management files, media list files,
The media management file is grouped for each layer serving as a transmission unit and transmitted to the partner site. If the size is large, it is compressed and transmitted. On the other hand, the site receiving the layer performs a decompression process as needed, and then performs a required file management process by analyzing related information of each file. That is, the upper layer management file name of the transmitted layer management file is specified, and the specified upper layer management file is associated with the transmitted layer management file. Then, the attached media file is expanded, and the upper layer management file of the layer management file is sequentially traced to integrally display from a certain layer to the latest (last) layer. Alternatively, only the selected layer is displayed. At this time, the media files that have already been received and are regarded as duplicates are treated as media files of the originally managed layer and the currently transmitted layer, and are displayed.

As described above, by performing the bidirectional transmission of the media file between the sites A and B, the information (transmission information) flowing on the transmission path is only the difference between the information owned by the respective sites. In addition, transmission of duplicated information can be omitted. As a result, communication using a plurality of media files can be performed even on a transmission line having a small bandwidth such as a wireless line, and the transmission delay at that time is reduced.

Further, since the media file and the difference file of the transmission unit are managed in different layers, it is possible to output any information using the media file retroactively. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, in the case where layers corresponding to changes are sequentially stacked from the base layer such as information # 1, all or a part of the past media files are integrated from the layer 7 back to the base. It is possible to display the contents of the media file from layer 7 back to the media file of layer 2 as shown in information # 2 and to use the layer 2 as a new base to change the new media file as in layers 3 'to 7'. It is also possible to stack, form a shared file that can be shared with the layer 7 ′ using a part of the layer 5 ′, and partially modify the media file of the layer 5 ′. In these cases, since the media files can be shared from the base to the layer 2, there is an advantage that the disk space can be reduced as compared with a case where all the media files are newly generated.
In addition, the media file created once can be repeatedly used, which is advantageous in terms of processing efficiency.

Further, when the method of the present invention is applied to a case where a file in a format to be written in a fixed format is managed, the changed information can be managed as a difference file. In comparison, labor saving and effective use of disk space can be achieved.

[0028]

Next, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an application system for performing a predetermined application and receiving the same using electronic data in a fixed format will be specifically described. As shown in FIG. 6, the application system connects a portable terminal 10 possessed by the applicant and a reception center side terminal 20 that receives the applied electronic data and performs required processing through a wireless transmission path L. It is configured by connecting through.

The portable terminal 10 includes a wireless communication mechanism 11 for performing two-way wireless communication with a partner device, a display mechanism 12 having a display screen, a data input mechanism 13 for performing data input and the like, This is realized by a computer device having a storage device 14 for recording a media file or the like. Known mechanisms can be used for these mechanisms 11 to 14. The portable terminal 10 further includes an input / output interface unit 15, a layer management unit 16, and an input / output interface unit 15, which are formed by the CPU of the computer device reading a predetermined program code and executing the program code in cooperation with its own operating system (OS). It has functional blocks of a difference extracting unit 17 and a media managing unit 18.

The input / output interface unit 15 provides a menu screen for inputting / outputting data required for the applicant, a screen for presentation from the reception center terminal 20, and the like to the applicant. The layer management unit 16 generates various media files such as image files for each layer, and manages the above-described layer management file, media list file, and media management file in order to manage the types and attributes of the media files of each layer. To generate. The file group for each layer is associated with one another through a layer management file. The difference extracting unit 17 detects an overlapping portion between a file group already held and a newly generated media file, and extracts a difference file. This difference file is used when the layer management unit 16 generates a file group. The media management unit 18 analyzes the association between the layer received from the partner apparatus and another layer already received and held, and displays the media files belonging to a plurality of layers related to the received layer in an integrated manner. I do. Alternatively, a media file of a specific layer is selectively displayed.

The reception center terminal 20 has at least the same wireless communication mechanism 11, display mechanism 12, data input mechanism 13, storage device 14, input / output interface unit 15, layer management unit 16, and difference extraction unit 17 as the portable terminal 10. , A media management unit 18.

The program codes for forming the functional blocks 15 to 18 in the portable terminal 10 and the reception center terminal 20 are recorded on a predetermined recording medium in a computer-readable form. This recording medium is usually a fixed disk or a semiconductor memory that can be read at any time by a CPU of a computer device, but may be a flexible disk, a portable hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD, a magnetic tape, or the like. It is recorded and distributed on portable media or a program server accessible by a computer device,
It may be installed on the fixed disk or the like during operation. In addition, the CPU executes only the above-mentioned program code, whereby each of the functional blocks 15 to
Not only is formed, but also the OS running on the computer device based on the instruction of the program code.
May perform a part of the actual processing, and the functional blocks 15 to 18 may be formed through the processing.

Next, the operation of the application system 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the sequence chart of FIG. 7 and FIGS. Here, an example will be described in which an application is made using a standard application format, for example, a standard application format having six input portions as shown in FIG.
It is assumed that an electronic mail is used as a transmission form, and the difference file is attached and transmitted in a MIME format.
Hereinafter, the operation performed by the applicant on the portable terminal 10 side is referred to as “application side”, and the operation performed by the person in charge on the reception center terminal 20 side is referred to as “reception side”.

Referring to FIG. 7, first, the application side makes an inquiry about the application to the receiving side (S101). The receiving side responds to the inquiry with the application format (application.doc) F11.
To the applicant by e-mail (MIME format) (J
101). At this time, there are three files generated and transmitted together with application.doc on the receiving side: application.lcf which is a layer management file, application.mlf which is a media list file, and application.mcf which is a media management file. The contents of these three files are shown in the upper part of FIG.

The application side receives the above-mentioned three files from the receiving side and the unfilled application format (application.doc) F11, which is an entity file, manages them as one layer, and executes the unfilled application format ( Application.d
An application format F13 in which necessary information is entered in oc) is generated (S102). At this time, the difference file F12 generated on the application side includes application 1.lcf, application 1.mlf, application 1in
1.mcf, application 1in6.mcf, address.txt, name.txt, occupation.txt, TEL.txt. The contents of these files and their relationships are shown in the middle and lower parts of FIG. Thereafter, the application side manages the difference file F12 as a new layer, and replies this to the receiving side in the MIME format (S103). The blank form (application.doc) F11, which is one of the entity files, is not transmitted because it overlaps with the receiving side.

The receiving side receives the above-mentioned layer and opens the difference file. Then, the previous layer and the new layer are associated with each other, and are integrated and displayed with the information of the difference file F12 reflected in the application format F11 (J
102). That is, based on the application format F11 belonging to the immediately preceding layer, the application.lcf and the application 1.lcf are displayed in a new application format in which they are integrated.
The application format F13 on the left side of FIG. 10 shows the application format integrated and displayed on the receiving side.

If the receiving side finds an erroneous entry as a result of looking at the application format F13, a correction example is entered in the corresponding portion of the application format F13. Thus, the difference files, application 2.lcf and application 2.ml
f, application 2.mcf, correction.txt are generated. Application.doc, address.txt, name.txt, occupation.txt, and TEL.txt are duplicated files and are not generated. FIG. 11 shows the contents and relevance of these files. The receiving side
This difference file is managed as a new layer, and this file is returned to the application side in MIME format (J10
3).

The application side receives this layer and opens the difference file. Then, based on the application format F13 belonging to the immediately preceding layer, application.lcf, application 1.lcf,
A new application format in which the application 2.lcf is integrated is displayed (S104). The application format F14 on the right side of FIG. 10 is an application format integrated and displayed on the application side. When the applicant corrects the relevant part of the application format F14 and forms a new application format F15 as shown in the right side of FIG. 12, the difference files, ie, application 3.lcf, application 3.mlf, and application 3.mcf are generated. Is done. However,
Since the date of correction is a small text, it is embedded in the media management file (application 3.mcf). FIG. 13 shows the contents and relevance of these files. The application side manages this difference file as a new layer, and replies this to the receiving side in MIME format (S
105).

The receiving side receives the new layer and opens the difference file. Then, the correct application format F16 in which the application.lcf, application 1.lcf, and application 3.lcf are integrated is integrated and displayed (J104). This application format F
Confirm the contents of No. 16, and if there is no mistake, accept the application (J105). In this step, the date information that has been corrected is entered in the application 3.mcf.
No entity file is transmitted for it.

As described above, in the application system 1 of this embodiment, only the difference file is transmitted between the application side and the reception side, and the other parts are integrated when displayed. You can reduce the amount of data flowing,
Efficient, high-speed data transmission can be performed.

In the application system 1 of this embodiment, a case has been described where the contents of an application format including an image file and a text file are bidirectionally transmitted.
In addition to these, an audio file may be transmitted together. In this case, the audio file is generally synchronized with the image file.

The present invention can also be applied to other applications for bidirectional transmission of a plurality of media files, for example, foreign language education, in addition to the application system 1 described above. In this case, the application side is replaced by the student and the reception side is replaced by the educational institution.

[0043]

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, both image files, text files, sound data files, etc. can be transmitted using a wireless infrastructure such as a cellular phone or PHS, or a line having a small transmission band. When transmitting in the
There is a unique effect that efficient and high-speed data transmission is enabled by suppressing the amount of data flowing on the transmission path. Therefore, even in a communication environment having certain restrictions such as mobile computing, bidirectional transmission of a large-capacity file can be performed at low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram schematically showing a transmission method according to the present invention.

2A is a transmission form according to the present invention, and FIG.
The figure showing the transmission form by the conventional method at the time of transmitting the same media file.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between an original palette, an additional palette, and a layer palette.

FIG. 4 shows a layer management file, a media list file,
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a hierarchical relationship of a media management file.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a process of changing layers.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of an application system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing a transmission procedure using the application system.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an application format displayed on the receiving side.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between various management files for forming the application format shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the content of an erroneous entry notification returned from the receiving side to the application side.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between various management files when realizing the contents of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a corrected application format returned from the application side to the reception side.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between various management files when realizing the contents of FIG. 12;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 application system 10 portable terminal 11 wireless communication mechanism 12 display mechanism 13 data input mechanism 14 storage device 15 input / output interface 16 layer management section 17 difference extraction section 18 media management section 20 reception center terminal L wireless communication paths F11 to F16 Application format

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme coat ゛ (reference) H04L 12/58 F term (reference) 5B045 BB58 DD16 5B082 AA13 GA04 GA14 HA05 5B089 GA21 HA11 JA32 JB01 JB03 JB05 KA05 KA06 KA07 KC15 KE02 KE03 LB11 5K030 GA03 GA18 GA20 HA05 HC01 JL01 KA01 KA06 LE11

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A method for performing bidirectional transmission of a media file between a plurality of devices, wherein one or a plurality of types of media files are managed in one layer, and a layer having the same content is held between the devices. In addition, when a part of the media file is changed in any device, only the change is transmitted as a new layer from the device to another device, and the other device receives the received new layer. A method for transmitting a media file, characterized in that a media file after a change is reflected by reflecting it on a layer held by itself. 2. The transmission method according to claim 1, wherein a media file belonging to each layer is expressed in a unique media file in cooperation with a media file belonging to any other layer. 3. The transmission method according to claim 1, wherein the other device expresses the media file in a different form according to the type and attribute of the media file. 4. A transmission means and a reception means for performing bidirectional transmission of a media file to and from a partner device, wherein the transmission means manages one or more types of media files on a layer basis. And a means for transmitting a difference between a media file to be transmitted and a media file held by the other device to a predetermined transmission path as a new layer, A first method for analyzing the association between a new layer received from a road and another layer already held and integrally outputting media files of a plurality of layers
A transmission system for a media file, comprising: 5. A transmitting device and a receiving device for performing bidirectional transmission of a media file with a partner device, wherein the transmitting device manages one or more types of media files in a layer unit. And a means for transmitting a difference between a media file to be transmitted and a media file held by the other device to a predetermined transmission path as a new layer, A second output unit for analyzing a relationship between a new layer received from the road and another layer already held and selectively outputting a media file belonging to a specific layer. Characterized by a media file transmission system. 6. The transmission means has means for creating a management file for managing attributes of individual media files and information related to other layers for each layer, and transmits the management file to the partner device. The transmission system according to claim 4, wherein the transmission system is configured to perform the transmission. 7. The management file according to claim 1, wherein the management file is composed of a plurality of hierarchical files associated with each other, and the management file of the highest layer is associated with the management file of the highest layer of another layer. 7. The transmission system according to 6. 8. The transmission system according to claim 7, wherein the transmission path is a wireless line. 9. A computer-readable recording medium in which digital information for causing a computer device having a function of performing bidirectional transmission of a media file to and from a partner device to execute the following processing is recorded. (1) One or more types of media files are managed in units of layers, and a difference between a media file to be transmitted and a media file held by the other device is set as a new layer in a predetermined transmission path. (2) A process of analyzing the relationship between a new layer received from the transmission path and another layer already held and outputting media files of a plurality of layers in an integrated manner. 10. A computer-readable recording medium in which digital information for causing a computer device having a function of performing bidirectional transmission of a media file to and from a partner device to execute the following processing is recorded. (1) One or more types of media files are managed in units of layers, and a difference between a media file to be transmitted and a media file held by the other device is set as a new layer in a predetermined transmission path. (2) a process of analyzing the association between a new layer received from the transmission path and another layer already held, and selectively outputting a media file belonging to a specific layer.