JPH10301955A - Image information conversion apparatus and image information conversion method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display an URL(Uniform resource location) number corresponding to relating URL without largely changing the layout of original image information by inserting an index number to the position of the related partial character string information of HTML document information. SOLUTION: The index number uniquely corresponding only to the URL number appearing in the HTML document is inserted in the HTML document. Also, it is superimposed on partial image information and displayed and the correspondence relation of the index number and the URL number is displayed at the blank part of FAX image information. A digit number required for the index number can be the digit number sufficient for expressing the total number of the URL number to be inserted in the HTML document. By indirectly displaying the URL number by using the index number in such a manner, the digit number required for the index number is reduced and the distortion of the layout in the case of converting HTML document information to the FAX image information is minimized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a distributed database comprising a plurality of information storage devices and information retrieval devices connected to a network constituted by telecommunications equipment. Belongs to the technical field of searching for desired image information stored in the distributed database and outputting it to the facsimile machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to increase the number of users who can search the World Wide Web (hereinafter referred to as WWW) built on a computer network called the Internet, a WWW is called by a system as shown in FIG. 2. Description of the Related Art An image information search device that enables a user to search from an ordinary facsimile (hereinafter, referred to as a facsimile) terminal via a network has been proposed and put to practical use.

[0003] The WWW originally assumed that a computer connected to the Internet was used as an image information search device. For this reason, search for image information on the WWW is performed using a URL (Uniform Resource).
This is implemented by inputting an alphanumeric character string called Locator) from a computer keyboard.

However, a general FAX terminal is not provided with a keyboard like a computer, and is equipped with a PB (push button) capable of inputting only numbers 0 to 9, * and # symbols. I'm just there. That is, F
It is impossible to directly input a URL from the AX terminal.

Therefore, conventionally, in the system shown in FIG. 4, a URL number database in which a number is uniquely assigned to a URL is built in the image information search device, and the number (URL number) is transmitted from the facsimile terminal by (1) PB. Is input, (2) the image information search device determines the URL corresponding to the URL number by referring to the URL number database, and (3) searches the WWW for the corresponding image information.
(4) It has been converted to FAX image information and sent to a FAX terminal.

[0006] The image information handled on the WWW is HTML.
(Hyper Text Markup Langua
ge) described in HTML document information, and has a hypertext structure. That is, when the image information A includes partial character string information or partial image information related to the other image information B, the storage position information (URL) of the image information B is written in HTML describing the image information A. It can be included in document information.

Such image information is assumed to be displayed and searched for by a computer such as a personal computer or a workstation, and the associated partial character string information or partial image information in the image information A is input to a computer such as a mouse. By specifying with a pointing device, the UR of the image information B corresponding to the partial character string information or the partial image information is obtained.
L was obtained, and the image information B was searched and displayed.

However, since the FAX terminal does not have a pointing device, it is impossible to directly specify partial character string information or partial image information. Therefore, in the conventional image information search device, the URL of the related image information is included in the HTML document information describing the image information retrieved from the WWW.
If there is, refer to the URL number database,
A URL number corresponding to the URL is calculated, and the URL number is inserted into the URL insertion position of the HTML document information.
It has been converted to AX image information and sent to a FAX terminal.

[0009] By doing so, in the FAX image information sent to the user's hand, the URL number corresponding to the URL is inserted and displayed at the position of the associated partial character string information. For the device, the UR
By inputting the L number from the PB, it is possible to search for related image information.

[0010]

However, in the method of inserting a URL number into the HTML document information described above,
When the number of URLs registered in the URL number database increases, the number of digits of the corresponding URL number necessarily increases. Therefore, when such a long number of digits is inserted into the HTML document information, there is a problem that the layout of the FAX image information and the layout of the image information represented by the original HTML document information are greatly different. Was. For example, when a URL number is inserted into the information shown in FIG. 5A, the layout is greatly changed as shown in FIG. 5B. Further, when there is an association with the partial image information as in the clickable map shown in FIG. 6A, where the URL number should be displayed becomes a big problem.
In this case, when the corresponding URL number is superimposed and displayed on the partial image information as shown in FIG. 6B, when the number of digits of the URL number is long, the lower partial image information is blocked by the URL number. . Further, when a URL number corresponding to a blank portion adjacent to the partial image information is displayed as shown in FIG. 6C, when a plurality of URLs are associated with the partial image information, which URL corresponds to the partial image information There was a problem that it became unclear which part to deal with.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image information search device for searching image information stored in a WWW from a facsimile terminal in an HTML document information describing the image information. It is an object of the present invention to realize an image information conversion apparatus and an image information conversion method capable of inserting and displaying a URL number with little layout distortion of FAX image information output to a FAX when inserting a URL number therein.

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided: (1) Image information stored in a world wide web constructed on a computer network is retrieved from a facsimile apparatus connected to the network, and the image information is retrieved from the facsimile apparatus. In the output image information conversion device,
HTM that captures and accumulates hypertext-structured HTML document information handled by the World Wide Web
L document information storage means and a URL number database in which the URL information and the URL number that appears in the HTML document information and indicates the position of the partial character string information or the partial image information related to the image information are stored in association with each other. And the H
A related URL information extracting unit for extracting URL information of image information associated with the HTML document information stored in the TML document information storing unit, and a URL number corresponding to the extracted URL information is searched from the URL number database. , Index number and index number / URL
An index number / URL number correspondence table generating means for generating a number correspondence table, an index number / URL number correspondence table storing means for storing the index number / URL number correspondence table, and an index number for the HTML document information storing means. An index number insertion unit that stores the URL information at the storage location where the URL information was stored; and an index number / URL number correspondence table stored in the index number / URL number correspondence table storage unit that is converted into HTML document information. An index number / URL number correspondence table insertion unit to be inserted at the end of the HTML document information stored in the HTML document information storage unit or a margin equivalent portion; and the HTML document stored in the HTML document information storage unit HTML document that converts information into facsimile image information Information / facsimile image information conversion means, and inserts an index number into the HTML document information at a position of the partial character string information associated with the HTML document information, and inserts the index number and the URL number in a margin equivalent portion. Is converted into facsimile image information for displaying a table indicating the correspondence between the two.

(2) Further, according to the present invention, in the apparatus of the above (1), the URL extracted by the related URL information extracting means is provided.
When the information is associated with the partial image information, the partial image information is read out from the HTML document information storage unit, and the partial image information and the index number / UR are read.
An index number / partial image information superimposing means for generating partial image information in which an index number read from the L number correspondence table generating means is superimposed, and the generated partial image information is stored in the HTML document information storing means. H
A partial image information insertion unit that inserts the partial image information into the storage position of the partial image information of the TML document information, and inserts an index number into the HTML document information at a position of the partial character string information associated with the HTML document information; Is replaced with partial image information in which an index number and partial image information are superimposed on each other, and converted into facsimile image information that displays a table showing the correspondence between the index numbers and the URL numbers in a margin equivalent portion. Features.

(3) According to the present invention, image information stored in a world wide web constructed on a computer network is searched from a facsimile apparatus connected to the network, and the image information is converted to be output to the facsimile apparatus. In the method, a predetermined index number corresponding to a URL number indicating a position of partial character string information or partial image information which appears in HTML document information of a hypertext structure handled in the world wide web and is related to image information. Facsimile image information that inserts the index number at the position of the partial character string information associated with the HTML document information, and displays a table showing the correspondence between the index number and the URL number in a margin equivalent portion It is characterized by being converted into.

(4) According to the present invention, image information stored in a world wide web constructed on a computer network is searched from a facsimile apparatus connected to the network, and the image information is converted to be output to the facsimile apparatus. In the method, a predetermined index number corresponding to a URL number indicating a position of partial character string information or partial image information which appears in HTML document information of a hypertext structure handled in the world wide web and is related to image information. , And the index number is inserted at the position of the partial character string information associated with the HTML document information, and the partial image information associated with the HTML document information is superimposed on the index number and the partial image information. Information and replace the index number and U It is characterized by converting the facsimile image information to display a table showing the correspondence between the L number.

(5) A URL to image information related to the HTML document information stored in the HTML document information storage means.
If there is a number, an index number corresponding to the URL number is generated and inserted at the position of the partial character string information associated with the HTML document information. A table showing the correspondence between the index numbers and the URL numbers is shown in HT.
The HTML document information is converted into ML document information, and inserted into a blank portion of the HTML document information into which the index number has been inserted. As described above, the URL number is indirectly displayed by the index number, and the number of digits required for the index number can be extremely small. Therefore, layout distortion when HTML document information is converted into facsimile image information is minimized. Can be.

In the case where the URL information is associated with partial image information such as a clickable map, the generated index number is superimposed on the associated position of the partial image information. Again, the number of digits required for the index number is extremely small,
Even when the index numbers are superimposed, the range in which the partial image information is shielded is kept to a minimum.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the prior art, as described above, since a URL number having a long number of digits is inserted into an HTML document, the layout of image information is distorted, and partial image information such as a clickable map is hidden. Had the problem that According to the present invention, in order to degenerate the number of digits of the URL number, a UR appearing in the HTML document is used.
An index number uniquely corresponding to only the L number is inserted into the HTML document information as shown in FIG. 1 or is superimposed on the partial image information as shown in FIG. 2, and the correspondence between the index number and the URL number is faxed. Displayed in the margin of image information.

The number of digits required for the index number is
It suffices if the number of digits is sufficient to represent the total number N of the URL numbers to be inserted in the ML document. By displaying the URL number indirectly using the index number in this manner, the number of digits required for the index number can be greatly reduced. Therefore, when the HTML document information is converted to FAX image information, Layout distortion can be minimized.

Since the number of digits of the index number is sufficiently small, even if the index number is superimposed on partial image information such as a clickable map as shown in FIG. 2, the concealed range can be minimized. .

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an image information conversion apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein 1 is HTML document information input means, 2 is HTML document information storage means, and 3 is a related URL.
Information extraction means, 4 is an index number / URL number correspondence table generation means, 5 is a URL number database, 6 is an index number / URL number correspondence table storage means, 7 is an index number insertion means, and 8 is an index number / partial image information superimposition. Means, 9 means for inserting partial image information, 10 means for inserting index number / URL number correspondence table, 11 means HTM
L document information / FAX image information conversion means 12 is a FAX image information output means.

In the apparatus shown in FIG. 3, first, the HTML document information input means 1 inputs HTML document information.
The input HTML document information is temporarily stored in the HTML document information storage unit 2. Related URL information extraction means 3
Is the HT stored in the HTML document information storage means 2
ML document information is read sequentially, and U
If there is RL information, the URL information and the storage position information of the information in the HTML document information storage unit 2 are extracted, the storage position information is output to the index number insertion unit 7, and the URL information is output. Index number / URL
It is output to the number correspondence table generating means 4. Index number /
The URL information correspondence table generating means 4 searches the URL number database 5 for a URL number corresponding to the input URL information, generates an index number for the URL number in the order of extraction, and determines the correspondence between the two by the index number. / U
It is stored in the RL number correspondence table storage means 6. Upon reading the index number generated by the index number / URL number correspondence table generating means 4, the index number inserting means 7 inserts the index number into the storage position indicated by the storage position information of the HTML document information storage means 2. I do. If the URL information read by the related URL information extracting means 3 is associated with partial image information such as a clickable map, the storage position information, partial image information, UR
After extracting the L information, the storage position information is output to the partial image information inserting means 9 and the URL information is output to the index number / URL number correspondence table generating means 4. The index number / partial image information superimposing unit 8 reads the partial image information read by the related URL information extracting unit 3 and the index number generated by the index number / correspondence table generating unit 4, and associates the partial image information with each other. A partial image in which the index number is superimposed on the position is generated. The partial image information insertion unit 9 inserts the partial image information into the storage position of the HTML document information storage unit 2 indicated by the storage position information.

The above procedure is performed by the related URL information extracting means 3 by using all the URLs from the HTML document information storing means 2.
Iterate until L information is extracted.

Next, the index number / URL number correspondence table inserting means 10 reads out the index number / URL number correspondence table from the index number / URL correspondence table storage means 6 and converts it into HTML document information representing the correspondence table. Then, the index number stored in the HTML document information storage means 2 is inserted into a margin equivalent portion (such as the tail) of the inserted HTML document information. The HTML document information / FAX image information conversion means 11 reads out the HTML document information stored in the HTML document information storage means 2 and converts it into FAX image information. FAX image information output means 12 outputs the FAX image information. With such a configuration of the apparatus of the present invention, layout distortion when HTML document information is converted into FAX image information can be minimized. Further, the concealment of the associated partial image information such as the clickable map can be suppressed to the minimum.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, the layout of the original image information can be largely changed in the image information search device for searching and displaying the image information stored in the WWW from the FAX terminal. Not relevant U
The URL number corresponding to the RL can be displayed. Also, the URL number can be displayed on the clickable map without concealing the clickable map, and while clearly storing the associated position on the clickable map.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram when image information is displayed by applying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram in a case where partial image information is displayed by applying the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of an image information conversion device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram of an image information search device for searching and displaying image information stored in the WWWN from a FAX terminal.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing how URL numbers are inserted into HTML document information according to a conventional method.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing how a URL number is inserted into partial image information according to a conventional method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... HTML document information input means 2 ... HTML document information storage means 3 ... Related URL information extraction means 4 ... Index number / URL number correspondence table generation means 5 ... URL number database 6 ... Index number / URL number correspondence table storage means 7 ... Index number inserting means 8 ... Index number / partial image information superimposing means 9 ... Partial image information inserting means 10 ... Index number / URL number correspondence table inserting means 11 ... HTML document information / FAX image information converting means 12 ... FAX image information outputting means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FIG06F 15/419 320

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image information conversion apparatus for retrieving image information stored in a world wide web constructed on a computer network from a facsimile apparatus connected to the network and outputting the image information to the facsimile apparatus. HTM that captures and stores hypertext-structured HTML document information handled by Web
L document information storage means, and a URL that appears in the HTML document information and indicates the position of partial character string information or partial image information related to image information
UR in which a number and URL information are associated and stored
An L number database; related URL information extraction means for extracting URL information of image information associated with the HTML document information stored in the HTML document information storage means; and a URL number corresponding to the extracted URL information. An index number / URL number correspondence table generating means for searching the URL number database and generating an index number and an index number / URL number correspondence table; and storing an index number / URL number correspondence table for storing the index number / URL number correspondence table. Means, an index number inserting means for storing the index number in a storage position of the HTML document information storing means where the URL information is stored, and an index number stored in the index number / URL number correspondence table storing means. / URL number correspondence table H
The end of the HTML document information stored in the HTML document information storage means after being converted into HTML document information;
Or index number / UR to be inserted in the margin
L number correspondence table inserting means, and the HTM stored in the HTML document information storing means
HTML for converting L document information to facsimile image information
Document information / facsimile image information converting means, wherein an index number is inserted into the HTML document information at a position of the partial character string information associated with the HTML document information, and the index number and the URL are inserted into a margin equivalent portion.
An image information conversion apparatus for converting a table showing a correspondence relationship with a number into facsimile image information to be displayed. 2. When the URL information extracted by the related URL information extracting means is associated with partial image information, the partial image information is read from the HTML document information storage means, and the partial image information and the index are read. An index number / partial image information superimposing means for generating partial image information in which the index number read from the number / URL number correspondence table generating means is superimposed; and the generated partial image information being stored in the HTML document information storing means. A partial image information insertion unit for inserting the partial image information into the storage position of the partial image information of the HTML document information, and inserting an index number into the HTML document information at a position of the partial character string information associated with the HTML document information. A partial image in which the associated partial image information is superimposed with the index number and the partial image information Replaced by distribution, the margin corresponding parts, picture information converting apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that converting the facsimile image information to display a table showing the correspondence between the index number and the URL ID. 3. The image information conversion method for retrieving image information stored on a world wide web constructed on a computer network from a facsimile device connected to the network and outputting the image information to the facsimile device. U that appears in HTML document information of a hypertext structure handled by the web and indicates the position of partial character string information or partial image information related to image information
Define a predetermined index number corresponding to the RL number,
Inserting the index number at a position of the partial character string information associated with the HTML document information, and converting the index number into facsimile image information displaying a table showing a correspondence relationship between the index number and the URL number in a margin equivalent portion; An image information conversion method characterized by the following. 4. An image information conversion method for retrieving image information stored in a world wide web constructed on a computer network from a facsimile apparatus connected to the network and outputting the image information to the facsimile apparatus. U that appears in HTML document information of a hypertext structure handled by the web and indicates the position of partial character string information or partial image information related to image information
Define a predetermined index number corresponding to the RL number,
Inserting the index number at the position of the partial character string information associated with the HTML document information;
Replace partial image information with document information with partial image information in which index numbers and partial image information are superimposed, and convert to facsimile image information that displays a table showing the correspondence between the index numbers and the URL numbers in the margin. Image information converting method.