Abstract:
A gateway server includes a convert section and an output section. The convert section converts a first contents into a second contents. The first contents is received from a contents server in response to a request of a small terminal. The second contents corresponds to a display performance of a display section of the small terminal. The output section outputs the second contents to the small terminal.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a gateway server and a method of obtaining a contents. More particularly, the present invention relates to a gateway server for arbitrating a communication between a small terminal and a contents server, and a method of obtaining a contents. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , small terminals  1 - 1  to  1 - 4  are connected through a network infrastructure  4  to a gateway server  2 . The gateway server  2  is also connected through the network infrastructure  4  to contents servers  3 - 1  to  3 - 4 . 
   The small terminals  1 - 1  to  1 - 4 , when receiving a request of a contents retrieval from a user, requests the gateway server  2  to retrieve the contents, and displays the contents retrieved through the I/O device  2  from the contents servers  3 - 1  to  3 - 4 . 
   The gateway server  2  is the device for carrying out an arbitration between the small terminals  1 - 1  to  1 - 4  and the contents servers  3 - 1  to  3 - 4 . It accepts a request of a contents retrieval from the small terminals  1 - 1  to  1 - 4 . It checks whether the contents requested from the small terminals  1 - 1  to  1 - 4  is present on a LAN or present on an Internet  5 . If the contents is present on the LAN, it requests the contents servers  3 - 1  to  3 - 4  on the LAN to retrieve the contents requested from the small terminals  1 - 1  to  1 - 4 . If the contents is present on the Internet  5 , it requests the contents servers  3 - 1  to  3 - 2  on the Internet  5  to retrieve the contents requested from the small terminals  1 - 1  to  1 - 4 . If the gateway server  2  succeeds in retrieving the contents requested through the small terminals  1 - 1  to  1 - 4  from the contents servers  3 - 1  to  3 - 4 , distributes the retrieved contents to the small terminals  1 - 1  to  1 - 4 . 
   The contents servers  3 - 1  to  3 - 4  are the devices for storing therein the contents and distributing the requested contents. They search for the contents requested from the gateway server  2  through the contents servers  3 - 1  to  3 - 4 . If they can search for the contents, the contents servers  3 - 1  to  3 - 4  retrieve the searched contents, and distribute to the gateway server  2  of the request source. If the contents can not be searched, the contents servers  3 - 1  to  3 - 4  distribute an error message indicative of an absence of the contents to the gateway server  2  of the request source. 
   The network infrastructure  4  is the communication network to which the small terminal  1 , the gateway server  2  and the contents server  3  are connected. The distributed contents on which the request of the contents retrieval is performed flows through the communication network. 
   The gateway server  2  simply relays the request of the contents retrieval from the small terminals  1 - 1  to  1 - 4  and the contents to the contents servers  3 - 1  to  3 - 4  and the small terminals  1 - 1  to  1 - 4 . Thus, there may be a case that the requested contents is a picture contents, and thereby the display performance of the small terminals  1 - 1  to  1 - 4  is not sufficient, and accordingly the retrieved picture contents is not correctly displayed on the small terminals  1 - 1  to  1 - 4 . In order to display the picture contents on the small terminals  1 - 1  to  1 - 4 , a generator of the contents must generate two kinds of picture contents for a typical terminal and a small terminal. 
   A known server apparatus noted in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-A-Heisei, 11-250009) receives a release information of a terminal together with a request of a contents retrieval of the terminal, and performs a data conversion on the retrieved contents so as to match with the terminal, in accordance with the release information. Also, the server apparatus stores therein a database of a release information correlated with an ID of the terminal, and receives the ID of the terminal together with the request of the contents retrieval of the terminal, and captures the release information corresponding to the ID from the database, and then performs the data conversion on the retrieved contents so as to match with the terminal. Such a server apparatus must change a method of converting a data, in accordance with the release information. Thus, its process is complex, and its processing speed is slow. Moreover, such a server apparatus requires a memory for storing therein the database. Hence, its manufacturing cost is further expensive. 
   Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-A-Heisei, 10-149309) discloses a digital picture information accumulation system as described below. Installation terminals are installed at a plurality of locations at streets. A digital picture information obtained by the portable terminal during a movement is transferred at a high speed to the installation terminal at any position, and transiently accumulated in it. Then, an attribute information of the accumulated stored digital picture information is generated and transferred to a digital information server connected through a first network, and unitarily managed. This digital information server connects an installation terminal accumulating therein a digital picture information of a concerned person, to a computer of the concerned person of a house or an office accessing through a second network, and then transfers its digital picture information to the computer. 
   Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-A-Heisei, 10-162002) discloses an Internet browsing apparatus. The visibility and the operational performance can be improved by mounting: a picture data expander for expanding a reception picture data, generating a picture data and obtaining a picture size; a screen size setter for setting a size of a display screen size; and a display position modifier for calculating display positions of a character and a picture from a reception character data and the picture size and modifying the display positions so as to satisfy a lateral size of the display screen. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is accomplished in view of the above mentioned problems. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a gateway server in which a picture contents can be displayed in a small terminal, and a processing speed is fast, and a manufacturing cost is cheap. 
   In order to achieve an aspect of the present invention, a gateway server, includes: a convert section converting a first contents into a second contents, wherein the first contents is received from a contents server in response to a request of a small terminal and the second contents corresponds to a display performance of a display section of the small terminal; and an output section outputting the second contents to the small terminal. 
   In this case, the small terminal is one of a portable wireless telephone, a PHS terminal and a personal digital assistant. 
   Also in this case, the second contents can be displayed in the display section. 
   Further in this case, the convert section judges whether the first contents is a picture contents, and when the first contents is not the picture contents, the convert section does not convert the first contents into the second contents. 
   In this case, the convert section does not convert the first contents into the second contents, when the first contents is received from the contents server in response to a request of a non-small terminal other than the small terminal, and wherein the output section outputs the first contents to the non-small terminal. 
   Also in this case, the display performance corresponds to the number of display pixels of the display section. 
   Further in this case, the display performance corresponds to the number of display colors of the display section. 
   In order to achieve another aspect of the present invention, a contents obtaining system, includes: a terminal having a display section to display a contents; a contents server storing a contents; and a gateway server arbitrating a communication between the terminal and the contents server, and wherein the terminal outputs a first request of obtaining a needed contents to the gateways server, and wherein the gateway server outputs a second request of obtaining the needed contents to the contents server in response to the first request, and wherein the contents server outputs the needed contents to the gateway server in response to the second request, and wherein the gateway server converts the needed contents into a specific contents, wherein the specific contents corresponds to a display performance of the display section of the terminal, and wherein the gateway server outputs the specific contents to the terminal. 
   In this case, the gateway server judges whether the needed contents is a picture contents, and wherein when the needed contents is not the picture contents, the gateway server does not convert the needed contents into the specific contents and the gateway server outputs the needed contents instead of the specific contents to the terminal. 
   Also in this case, the terminal is one of a small terminal and a terminal other than the small terminal, and wherein when the terminal is the small terminal, the terminal outputs the first request of obtaining the needed contents to the gateways server, the first request including a information indicating that the terminal is the small terminal, and wherein the gateway server does not convert the needed contents into the specific contents when the gateway server does not receive the information. 
   In order to achieve still another aspect of the present invention, a contents obtaining method, includes: (a) outputting a first request of obtaining a contents to a gateways server from a terminal; (b) outputting a second request of obtaining the contents to a contents server from the gateway server in response to the first request; (c) outputting the contents to the gateway server from the contents server in response to the second request; (d) converting the contents into a specific contents in the gateway server, wherein the specific contents corresponds to a display performance of a display section of the terminal; and (e) outputting the specific contents to the terminal from the gateway server. 
   In this case, the contents obtaining method, further includes: (f) judging whether the contents is a picture contents, and wherein when the contents is not the picture contents as the result of the (f), the (d) is not performed and the (e) includes outputting the contents instead of the specific contents to the terminal from the gateway server. 
   Also in this case, the terminal is one of a small terminal and a terminal other than the small terminal, and wherein when the terminal is the small terminal, the (a) includes outputting the first request of obtaining the contents to the gateways server from the terminal, the first request including a information indicating that the terminal is the small terminal, and wherein the (d) is not performed when the gateway server does not receive the information. 
   In order to achieve yet still another aspect of the present invention, a computer readable recording medium for recording a program for a process, includes: (a) converting a first contents into a second contents, wherein the first contents is received from a contents server in response to a request of a small terminal and the second contents corresponds to a display performance of a display section of the small terminal; and (b) outputting the second contents to the small terminal. 
   In this case, the small terminal is one of a portable wireless telephone, a PHS terminal and a personal digital assistant. 
   Also in this case, the second contents can be displayed in the display section. 
   Further in this case, the computer readable recording medium for recording a program for a process, further includes: (c) judging whether the first contents is a picture contents; and wherein the (a) is not performed when the first contents is not the picture contents as the result of the (c). 
   In this case, the (a) is not performed when the first contents is received from the contents server in response to a request of a non-small terminal other than the terminal, and wherein the (b) includes outputting the first contents to the non-small terminal when the (a) is not performed. 
   Also in this case, the display performance corresponds to the number of display pixels of the display section. 
   Further in this case, the display performance corresponds to the number of display colors of the display section. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a view showing an embodiment of a gateway server according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a circuit block diagram showing a small terminal in the embodiment of the gateway server according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a circuit block diagram showing a gateway server in the embodiment of the gateway server according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a circuit block diagram showing a contents server in the embodiment of the gateway server according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a time chart showing an embodiment of a method of obtaining a contents according to the present invention; and 
       FIG. 6  is a time chart showing an embodiment of a method of obtaining a contents according to the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described referring to the relevant drawings. 
   An embodiment of a gateway server according to the present invention is the gateway server for mainly arbitrating a communicating between a small terminal and a contents server. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , a small terminal  1  is provided with a CPU  11 , an external input/output device  12 , a timer device  13 , an input device  14  and a display  15 . The CPU  11  is connected to the external input/output device  12 , the timer device  13 , the input device  14  and the display  15 . The small terminal can be a portable wireless telephone, a PHS terminal, or a personal digital assistant. 
   The CPU  11  instructs the display  15  to display a request of a contents retrieval accepted from the input device  14 , and instructs the external input/output device  12  to transmit the request of the contents retrieval, and then instructs the display  15  to display the retrieved contents. 
   The external input/output device  12  is an interface portion with a network infrastructure  4 . It passes a message or a contents received from a gateway server  2  to the CPU  11 , or it transmits the request of the contents retrieval received from the CPU  11  to the gateway server  2 , in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  11 . 
   The timer device  13  has a built-in timer to wait for an retrieval of a contents of the CPU  11 . A timer is started in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  11 . The timer is stopped after a predetermined period from the start. The timer device  13  reports the stop of the timer to the CPU  11 . Also, the timer device  13  can stop the timer during the operation, in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  11 . 
   The input device  14  is a portion for receiving a request of a contents retrieval from a user. It passes the received request to the CPU  11 . The display  15  is a portion for displaying the contents. It displays the request of the contents retrieval from the user, or a message, in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  11 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , the gateway server  2  is provided with a CPU  21 , an external input/output device  22 , a timer device  23 , a contents accumulator  24 , a contents request table  25  and a picture contents conversion work area  26 . The CPU  21  is connected to the external input/output device, the timer device  23 , the contents accumulator  24 , the contents request table  25  and the picture contents conversion work area  26 . 
   The CPU  21  controls the external input/output device  22 , the timer device  23 , the contents accumulator  24 , the contents request table  25  and the picture contents conversion work area  26 . Also, the CPU  21  initially has the data with regard to the number of display pixels and the number of display colors of the small terminal  1 . Then, it converts a retrieved picture contents into a contents that can be displayed on the small terminal  1  in accordance with the data. 
   The external input/output device  22  is an interface portion with the network infrastructure  4 . It transmits a contents or a message to the small terminal  1 , in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  11 , or transmits a request of a contents retrieval to the contents server  3 . Moreover, it passes the request of the contents retrieval received from the small terminal  1  and the contents received from the contents server  3  to the CPU  21 . 
   The timer device  23  has a built-in timer to wait for an retrieval of a contents of the CPU  21 . A timer is started in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  21 . The timer is stopped after a predetermined period from the start. The timer device  23  reports the stop of the timer to the CPU  21 . Also, the timer device  23  can stop the timer during the operation, in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  21 . 
   The contents accumulator  24  is a portion for storing therein a contents. It stores therein a contents retrieved from the contents server  3 , in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  11 ,  15  passes the stored contents to the CPU  21 , and deletes the stored contents. 
   The contents request table  25  is a portion for storing therein a request of a contents retrieval received from the small terminal  1 . It stores therein the request of the contents retrieval received from the small terminal  1 , in accordance with the CPU  21 , and deletes it. 
   The picture contents conversion work area  26  is an area for converting a picture contents  25  into a contents satisfying the number of display pixels and the number of display colors of the small terminal  1 . It is used by the CPU  21  when the picture contents is converted into the contents satisfying the number of display pixels and the number of display colors of the small terminal  1 . 
   The contents server is a device for storing therein a contents and distributing a requested contents. A contents requested by the gateway server is retrieved from the contents server and distributed to the gateway server. 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , the contents server  3  is provided with a CPU  31 , an external input/output device  32 , a timer device  33  and a contents accumulator  34 . The CPU  31  is connected to the external input/output device  32 , the timer device  33  and the contents accumulator  34 . 
   The CPU  31  retrieves the contents requested by the gateway server  2  by searching for it through the contents accumulator  34 , and then instructs the external input/output device  32  to transmit the retrieved contents. 
   The external input/output device  32  is an interface portion with the network infrastructure  4 . It passes a request of a contents retrieval received from the gateway server  2 , or transmits the contents passed by the contents accumulator  34  to the gateway server  2 , in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  31 . 
   The timer device  33  has a built-in timer to wait for an retrieval of a contents of the CPU  31 . A timer is started in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  31 . The timer is stopped after a predetermined period from the start. The timer device  33  reports the stop of the timer to the CPU  31 . Also, the timer device  33  can stop the timer during the operation, in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  31 . 
   The contents accumulator  34  is a portion for storing therein a contents. It passes the stored contents to the CPU  31 , in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  11 . 
   In the operation of the small terminal  1 , the input device  14  receives the request of the contents retrieval from the user, as shown in  FIG. 5 . It passes the received request of the contents retrieval to the CPU  11 . The CPU  11  instructs the display  15  to display the request of the contents retrieval, and instructs the external input/output device  12  to transmit the request of the contents retrieval. The display  15  displays a message of the request of the contents retrieval in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  11 . The external input/output device  12  transmits the request of the contents retrieval through the network infrastructure  4  to the gateway server  2  in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  11 . After the external input/output device  12  transmits the request of the contents retrieval, the CPU  11  instructs the timer device  13  to start the timer. The timer device  13  starts the timer in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  11 . 
   When the external input/output device  12  receives the contents requested by the small terminal  1  from the gateway server  2 , the external input/output device  13  passes the received contents to the CPU  11 . The CPU  11  receiving the contents instructs the timer device  13  to stop the timer. The timer device  13  stops the timer in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  11 . 
   If the reception of the requested contents is completed, the CPU  11  instructs the display  15  to display the retrieved contents. The display  15  displays the contents in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  11 . 
   If the reception of the requested contents is not completed ( 51 ), the CPU  11  again instructs the timer device  13  to start the timer. The timer device  13  starts the timer in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  11 . After that, if the reception of the contents is completed, the CPU  11  instructs the timer device  13  to stop the timer, and instructs the display  15  to display the retrieved contents. The timer device  13  stops the timer in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  11 . The display  15  displays the contents, in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  11 . 
   If the external input/output device  12  receives a message indicative of a failure in the contents retrieval from the gateway server  2 , the external input/output device  12  passes this message to the CPU  11 , as denoted by symbols  62 ,  63  of  FIG. 6 . The CPU  11  receiving this message instructs the timer device  13  to stop the timer, and instructs the display  15  to display the message indicative of the failure in the contents retrieval. The timer device  23  stops the timer in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  11 . The display  15  displays the massage indicative of the failure in the contents retrieval, in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  11 . 
   If the timer of the timer device  13  becomes at a time-out state, the timer device  13  reports the time-out to the CPU  11 , as denoted by a symbol  61  of  FIG. 6 . The CPU  11  receiving the report of the time-out judges as the failure in the contents retrieval, and instructs the display  15  to display a message instructive of the failure in the contents retrieval. The display  15  displays the message of the failure in the contents retrieval in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  11 . 
   In the operation of the gateway server  2 , the external input/output device  22  receives a request of a contents retrieval from the small terminal  1 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . It passes the received request of the contents retrieval to the CPU  21 . The CPU  21  stores the request of the contents retrieval in the contents request table  25 , and instructs the external input/output device  22  to transmit the request of the contents retrieval. The external input/output device  22  transmits the request of the contents retrieval to the contents server  3 , in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  21 . After the completion of the transmission of the request of the contents retrieval, the CPU  21  instructs the timer device  23  to start the timer. The timer device  23  starts the timer in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  21 . 
   If the external input/output device  22  receives the requested contents from the contents server  3 , the external input/output device  22  passes the received contents to the CPU  21 . The CPU  21  receiving the contents stores the contents in the contents accumulator  24 , and instructs the timer device  23  to stop the timer. The timer device  23  stops the timer in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  21 . If the reception of the requested contents is completed, it is judged whether or not the received contents is a picture contents. 
   If the reception of the requested contents is not completed ( 52 ), the CPU  21  again instructs the timer device  23  to start the timer. The timer device  23  starts the timer in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  21 . After that, if the reception of the contents is completed, the CPU  21  judges whether or not the received contents is the picture contents, and instructs the timer device  13  to stop the timer. The timer device  23  stops the timer in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  21 . 
   If it is judged that the received contents is the picture contents ( 53 ), the CPU  21  retrieves the contents from the contents accumulator  24 . It uses the picture contents conversion work area  26 , and converts the retrieved contents into the contents satisfying the data with regard to the number of display pixels and the number of display colors initially owned by the CPU  21 . It replaces the contents stored in the contents accumulator  24  with the converted contents. 
   If it is judged that the received contents is not the picture contents, or if the retrieved contents is already converted into the contents satisfying the number of display pixels and the number of display colors of the small terminal  1  since it is judged as the picture contents, the CPU  21  retrieves the contents from the contents accumulator  24 , and instructs the external input/output device  22  to transmit the contents. The external input/output device  22  transmits the contents to the small terminal  1 , in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  21 . After the external input/output device  22  transmits the contents, the CPU  21  deletes the contents after the end of the transmission from the contents accumulator  24 , and deletes the request of the contents retrieval transmitted by the contents request table  25 . 
   If the external input/output device  22  receives a message indicative of a failure in the contents retrieval from the contents server  3 , the external input/output device  23  passes this message to the CPU  21 , as denoted by a symbol  63  of  FIG. 6 . The CPU  21  receiving this message instructs the timer device  23  to stop the timer, and instructs the external input/output device  22  to transmit the message indicative of the failure in the contents retrieval. The timer device  23  stops the timer in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  21 . The external input/output device  22  transmits the message indicative of the failure in the contents retrieval to the small terminal  1  in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  21 . After the transmission of the message, the CPU  21  deletes the request of the contents retrieval that can not be retrieved because of the failure in the retrieval from the contents request table  25 . If there is any contents retrieved until the middle, it deletes its contents from the contents accumulator  24 . 
   If the timer of the timer device  23  becomes at a time-out state ( 62 ), the timer device  23  reports the time-out to the CPU  21 . The CPU  21  receiving the report of the time-out instructs the external input/output device  22  to transmit the message indicative of the failure in the contents retrieval. The external input/output device  22  transmits the message indicative of the failure in the contents retrieval to the small terminal  1  in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  21 . After the transmission of the message, it deletes the request of the contents retrieval that can not be retrieved because of the failure in the obtainment from the contents request table  25 . If there is any contents retrieved until the middle, it deletes its contents from the contents accumulator  24 . 
   In the operation of the contents server  3 , the external input/output device  32  receives a request of a contents retrieval from the gateway server  2 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . It passes the received request of the contents retrieval to the CPU  31 . The CPU  31 , after receiving the request of the contents retrieval, instructs the timer device  33  to start the timer. The timer device  33  starts the timer in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  31 . The CPU  31  analyzes the received request of the contents retrieval, checks a position of the contents, and retrieves the contents stored in the contents accumulator  34 . After retrieving the contents, the CPU  31  instructs the timer device  33  to stop the timer and instructs the external input/output device  32  to transmit the retrieved contents. The timer device  33  stops the timer in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  31 . The external input/output device  32  transmits the retrieved contents to the gateway server  2  in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  31 . 
   If the timer of the timer device  33  becomes at the time-out state, the timer device  33  reports the time-out to the CPU  31 , as denoted by the symbol  63  of  FIG. 6 . The CPU  31  receiving the report of the time-out instructs the external input/output device  32  to transmit the message indicative of the failure in the contents retrieval. The external input/output device  32  transmits the message indicative of the failure in the contents retrieval to the gateway server  2  in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  31 . 
   The gateway server  2  according to the present invention converts the picture contents to be relayed so that it satisfies the display performance of the small terminal  1 , and then distributes it. It is enough that the small terminal  1  can display the picture contents and contain the minimum display performance. It is not necessary that the contents generator is conscious of the small terminal  1  and the terminals except the small terminal and individually generates the picture contents. Even in a case of an occurrence of a new type picture contents, it can be displayed on the small terminal  1  by only the correspondence in the gateway server  2 . As for the small terminal having the different display performance, the picture contents can be displayed further comfortably by installing the gateway server for each display performance. Thus, this is desirable. 
   The CPU  21  initially has the data with regard to the numbers of display pixels and the numbers of display colors of small terminals (not shown) having display performances respectively different from the display performance of the small terminal  1 , in addition to them of the small terminal  1 . Then, it converts a retrieved picture contents into a contents that can be displayed on one of the small terminals requesting the picture contents in accordance with a portion corresponding to the one of the small terminals requesting the picture contents of the data. 
   In another embodiment of the gateway server according to the present invention, the gateway server arbitrates a communication between a small terminal and a contents server, and further arbitrates even a communication between a terminal except the small terminal and the contents server. The configuration of the gateway server  2  is similar to that of another embodiment. 
   In the operation of the small terminal  1 , the input device  14  receives the request of the contents retrieval from the user, as shown in  FIG. 5 . It passes the received request of the contents retrieval to the CPU  11 . The CPU  11  instructs the display  15  to display the request of the contents retrieval, and instructs the external input/output device  12  to transmit the request of the contents retrieval and an information indicating that a self-terminal is a small terminal. The display  15  displays a message indicative of the request of the contents retrieval in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  11 . The external input/output device  12  transmits the request of the contents retrieval and the information indicating that the self-terminal is the small terminal, through the network infrastructure  4  to the gateway server  2  in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  11 . After the external input/output device  12  transmits the request of the contents retrieval, the CPU  11  instructs the timer device  13  to start the timer. The timer device  13  starts the timer in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  11 . 
   If the external input/output device  12  receives the contents requested by the small terminal  1  from the gateway server  2 , the external input/output device  12  passes the received contents to the CPU  11 . The CPU  11  receiving the contents instructs the timer device  13  to stop the timer. The timer device  13  stops the timer in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  11 . 
   If the reception of the requested contents is completed, the CPU  11  instructs the display  15  to display the retrieved contents. The display  15  displays the contents in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  11 . 
   If the reception of the requested contents is not completed ( 51 ), it again instructs the timer device  13  to start the timer. The timer device  13  starts the timer in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  11 . After that, if the reception of the contents is completed, the CPU  11  instructs the timer device  13  to stop the timer, and instructs the display  15  to display the retrieved contents. The timer device  13  stops the timer in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  11 . The display  15  displays the contents in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  11 . 
   If the external input/output device  12  receives the message indicative of the failure in the contents retrieval from the gateway server  2 , the external input/output device  12  passes this message to the CPU  11 , as denoted by the symbols  62 ,  63  of  FIG. 6 . The CPU  11  receiving this message instructs the timer device  13  to stop the timer, and instructs the display  15  to display the message indicative of the failure in the contents retrieval. The timer device  23  stops the timer in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  21 . The display  15  displays the massage indicative of the failure in the contents retrieval, in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  11 . 
   If the timer of the timer device  13  becomes at the time-out state ( 61 ), the timer device  13  reports the time-out to the CPU  11 . The CPU  11  receiving the report of the time-out judges as the failure in the contents retrieval, and instructs the display  15  to display the message instructive of the failure in the contents retrieval. The display displays the message of the failure in the contents retrieval in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  11 . 
   In the operation of the gateway server  2 , the external input/output device  22  receives the request of the contents retrieval from the small terminal  1 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . It passes the received request of the contents retrieval to the CPU  21 . The CPU  21  stores the request of the contents retrieval in the contents request table  25 , and instructs the external input/output device  22  to transmit the request of the contents retrieval. If a terminal information is added to the request of the contents retrieval, this terminal information is also stored in the contents request table  25 . The external input/output device  22  transmits the request of the contents retrieval to the contents server  3  in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  21 . After the completion of the transmission of the request of the contents retrieval, the CPU  21  instructs the timer device  23  to start the timer. The timer device  23  starts the timer in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  21 . 
   If the external input/output device  22  receives the requested contents from the contents server  3 , the external input/output device  22  passes the received contents to the CPU  21 . The CPU  21  receiving the contents stores the contents in the contents accumulator  24 , and instructs the timer device  23  to stop the timer. The timer device  23  stops the timer in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  21 . If the reception of the requested contents is completed, the CPU  21  judges whether or not the received contents is the picture contents. Moreover, it judges whether or not the terminal requesting this contents is the small terminal, in accordance with the terminal information stored in the contents request table  25 . 
   If the reception of the requested contents is not completed ( 52 ), the CPU  21  again instructs the timer device  23  to start the timer. The timer device  23  starts the timer in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  21 . After that, if the reception of the contents is completed, the CPU  21  judges whether or not the received contents is the picture contents, and instructs the timer device  13  to stop the timer. The timer device  23  stops the timer in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  21 . 
   If it is judged that the received contents is the picture contents and also the terminal requesting this contents is the small terminal ( 53 ), and if it is judged that the received contents is the picture contents ( 53 ), the CPU  21  retrieves the contents from the contents accumulator  24 . It uses the picture contents conversion work area  26 , and converts the retrieved contents into the contents satisfying the data with regard to the number of display pixels and the number of display colors initially owned by the CPU  21 . It replaces the contents stored in the contents accumulator  24  with the converted contents. 
   If it is judged that the received contents is not the picture contents, or if it is judged that the terminal requesting this contents is not the small terminal, or if the retrieved contents is already converted into the contents satisfying the number of display pixels of the small terminal  1  and the number of display colors since it is judged as the picture contents, the CPU  21  retrieves the contents from the contents accumulator  24 , and instructs the external input/output device  22  to transmit the contents. The external input/output device  22  transmits the contents to the small terminal  1 , in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  21 . After the external input/output device  22  transmits the contents, the CPU  21  deletes the contents after the end of the transmission from the contents accumulator  24 , and deletes the request of the contents retrieval transmitted by the contents request table  25 . 
   If the external input/output device  22  receives the message indicative of the failure in the contents retrieval from the contents server  3  ( 63 ), the external input/output device  23  passes this message to the CPU  21 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The CPU  21  receiving this message instructs the timer device  23  to stop the timer, and instructs the external input/output device  22  to transmit the message indicative of the failure in the contents retrieval. The timer device  23  stops the timer in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  21 . The external input/output device  22  transmits the message indicative of the failure in the contents retrieval to the small terminal  1 , in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  21 . After the transmission of the message, the CPU  21  deletes the request of the contents retrieval that can not be retrieved because of the failure in the obtainment from the contents request table  25 . If there is any contents retrieved until the middle, it deletes its contents from the contents accumulator  24 . 
   If the timer of the timer device  23  becomes at the time-out state ( 62 ), the timer device  23  reports the time-out to the CPU  21 . The CPU  21  receiving the report of the time-out instructs the external input/output device  22  to transmit the message indicative of the failure in the contents retrieval. The external input/output device  22  transmits the message indicative of the failure in the contents retrieval to the small terminal  1 , in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  21 . After the transmission of the message, it deletes the request of the contents retrieval that can not be retrieved because of the failure in the obtainment from the contents request table  25 . If there is any contents retrieved until the middle, it deletes its contents from the contents accumulator  24 . 
   In the operation of the contents server  3 , the external input/output device  32  receives the request of the contents retrieval from the gateway server  2 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . It passes the received request of the contents retrieval to the CPU  31 . The CPU  31 , after receiving the request of the contents retrieval, instructs the timer device  33  to start the timer. The timer device  33  starts the timer in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  31 . The CPU  31  analyzes the received request of the contents retrieval, checks the position of the contents, and retrieves the contents stored in the contents accumulator  34 . After retrieving the contents, the CPU  31  instructs the timer device  33  to stop the timer, and instructs the external input/output device  32  to transmit the retrieved contents. The timer device  33  stops the timer in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  31 . The external input/output device  32  transmits the retrieved contents to the gateway server  2  in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  31 . 
   If the timer of the timer device  33  becomes at the time-out state ( 63 ), the timer device  33  reports the time-out to the CPU  31 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The CPU  31  receiving the report of the time-out instructs the external input/output device  32  to transmit the message indicative of the failure in the contents retrieval. The external input/output device  32  transmits the message indicative of the failure in the contents retrieval to the gateway server  2 , in accordance with the instruction of the CPU  31 . 
   Accordingly, it is not necessary to prepare the two gateway servers  2  for the small terminal  1  and the terminal except the small terminal. 
   In the gateway server according to the present invention, it is possible to display the picture contents in the small terminal, and its processing speed is further fast, and its manufacturing cost is cheap.