Abstract:
An information distribution system configured to deliver various types of content provided by an information distributor to information receivers through a network and transmitting the content to be distributed converted to colors, color values, or color digital values. By converting the content to colors, color values, or color digital values, it is possible to reduce the amount of information transmitted. Due to this, it becomes possible to shorten the time required for distribution of content and to improve practicality. Further, it becomes possible to reduce the distribution costs.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an information distribution system, more particularly relates to an information distribution system for distributing various types of information of newspapers, magazines, encyclopedias, security reports, etc. (hereinafter referred to as “content”) through the Internet or another open network to information receivers. This information distribution system can distribute vast amounts of content safely at a high speed. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In recent years, the spread of the Internet and other open networks (hereinafter referred to as “networks”) has led to an increase in electronic newspapers, electronic books, etc. prepared and distributed by information distributors. Homes and companies are now able to receive content such as electronic newspapers and electronic books on PCs and view them on-line or download them for viewing. 
     The information distribution systems of the related art, however, are configured to distribute one day&#39;s worth of a newspaper or one volume&#39;s worth of a book as it is as text data or image data, so the amount of the information transmitted becomes enormous. Accordingly, unless a broadband network or other high-speed communications line is used, it takes too much time to distribute the information and therefore the systems are impractical. Further, even if using the high-speed communication lines, the amount of the information transmitted remains the same, so the problem arises of the distribution costs increasing in proportion to the amount of information transmitted. Further, the problem arises of the need to lay new high-speed communication lines. 
     Further, even if high-speed communication lines are already laid, the problem of the communication speed of the lines between the high-speed line network and the PCs remains. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an information distribution system transmitting the information to be distributed converted into colors, color values, or color digital values so as to minimize the amount of information transmitted. 
     According to the present invention, there is provided an information distribution system for distributing newspaper, magazine, book, encyclopedia, security report, and other content provided by an information distributor to an information receiver through an open network such as the Internet. The information distribution system transmits the content to be distributed converted to colors, color values, or color digital values. 
     Preferably, the information distribution system divides the content to be distributed into a plurality of objects and transmits the objects converted to the colors, color values, or color digital values. 
     More preferably, the information distribution system divides the content into objects consisting of at least one of individual letters; entries in dictionaries such as words, phrases, personal names, place names, specialized terms, and foreign words; and word strings appearing in the content. 
     Alternatively or more preferably, the information distribution system provides a color conversion table for converting the content or objects to be transmitted to the colors, color values, or color digital values at the information distributor side. 
     Still more preferably, the information distribution system provides a color reversion table for converting back the transmitted colors, color values, or color digital values to the content or objects at the information receiver side. 
     Further, still more preferably, the information distribution system distributes the color reversion table to the information receiver side through the open network. 
     More preferably, the information distribution system outputs the content or objects converted back from the colors, color values, or color digital values by the color reversion table by display, printing, or sound. 
     Alternatively or still more preferably, the information distribution system makes the correspondence between the content or objects and the colors, color values, or color digital values in the color conversion table and color reversion table freely changeable. 
     Alternatively or still more preferably, the information distribution system makes the correspondence between the content or objects and the colors, color values, or color digital values in the color conversion table and color reversion table assignable to a hierarchical structure. 
     Preferably, the information distribution system distributes color reversion table designation information designating a color reversion table for use when converting back the colors, color values, or color digital values to the content or objects to information receivers before or simultaneously with transmitting the colors, color values, or color digital values. 
     More preferably, the color reversion table designation information is authorized to be distributed to information receivers specifically qualified by concluding a distribution agreement. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other objects and features of the present invention will become clearer from the following description of the preferred embodiments given with reference to the attached drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a flow chart of production of a newspaper; 
         FIG. 2  is a view of the configuration of a newspaper information distribution system; 
         FIG. 3  is a detailed view of the configuration of the system at the information distributor side; 
         FIG. 4  is a view of an example of a color conversion table and color reversion table; 
         FIG. 5  is a view of another example of a color conversion table and color reversion table; 
         FIG. 6  is a view of an actual example of analysis of composition; and 
         FIG. 7  is a detailed view of the configuration of the system at the information receiver side. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below while referring to the attached figures. The configurations, relative arrangements, etc. explained in the embodiments are just explained schematically to an extent enabling understanding of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below and may be changed in various ways to an extent not departing from the scope of the technical idea indicated in the claims. In particular, importantly, in the following explanation, reference is made to an English language newspaper information distribution system for facilitating understanding of the invention, but the invention is not limited to the same and in fact was originally designed for and may be more optimally suited to languages using more complicated writing systems employing combinations of phonetic syllabary and ideographs such as Japanese and therefore requiring much more data to encode and transmit. 
       FIG. 1  is a flow chart of the production of a newspaper. Step  1  consists of the collection and storage of articles and images. This step  1  collects and stores articles and images sent from news sites, branch offices, other news agencies, etc. 
     Step  2  consists of the editing of the articles and images. This step  2  selects and edits the suitable articles and images to be carried in the newspaper from the large number of articles and images collected and stored at step  1 . 
     Step  3  consists of the layout of the articles and images. This step  3  attaches headlines etc. to the articles and images edited at step  2  and lays out the pages. 
     Step  4  consists of the printing. This step  4  uses film of the laid out copy produced at step  3  to print the newspaper by a printing press. 
     Step  5  consists of the shipping step. This step  5  divides the newspapers printed at step  4  for the different destinations, then ships them to newspaper delivery centers. 
     Step  6  consists of the delivery step. This step  6  delivers the newspapers from the newspaper delivery centers to the different homes. Steps  1  to  6  show the process of newspaper production by paper as in the past. 
     Step  7  consists of the conversion of the newspaper to electronic data. In recent years, more and more electronic versions of newspapers have been produced. This step  7  delivers the electronic data of the newspaper to terminals  9  through the network  8 . The information distribution system according to the present invention is used for distribution of newspaper information from step  7  on. 
       FIG. 2  is a view of the configuration of a newspaper information distribution system. In this newspaper information distribution system, reference numeral  10  shows the system at the information distributor side, while reference numeral  11  shows the system at the information receiver side. The information distributor side system  10  corresponds to step  7 , while the information receiver side system  11  corresponds to any one of the above terminals  9 . 
     The information distributor side system  10  converts the newspaper article original data  12  to converted color data  13  by a color conversion table  13 . Details will be explained later. Further, the information receiver side system  11  converts the converted color data  14  delivered through the network  8  back to the reproduced newspaper article data  16  by a color reversion table  15 . The reproduced newspaper article data  16  is output as an image by a display  17 , output as speech or sound by a speaker  18 , or output as papers by a printer  19 . Further, it is output for recording and storage in a storage device  20 . These types of output may be performed independently or freely combined. 
     The color conversion table  13  encodes the newspaper article original data  12  to the converted color data  14 . The color reversion table  15  decodes the newspaper article original data  12  which had been encoded to the converted color data  14  by the color conversion table  13  to the reproduced newspaper article original data  16 . The color reversion table  15  is provided at the information receiver side system  11  by transmission over the network  8  or the mail. 
       FIG. 3  shows the detailed configuration of the information distributor side system  10 . In  FIG. 3 , reference numeral  21  shows a newspaper article original data input unit. The newspaper article original data input unit  21  may receive as input the newspaper article original data  12 . 
     Reference numeral  22  is an original data composition analysis unit. The original data composition analysis unit  22  analyzes the sentence structure of the newspaper article original data  12  input to the newspaper article original data input unit  21  and breaks it down into individual letters; words, phrases, personal names, place names, specialized terms, foreign words, and other entries in various types of dictionaries; or word strings frequently appearing in the newspaper article original data  12 . Note that the individual letters broken down by the original data composition analysis unit  22  are letters for each type of word such as verbs, adjectives, adverbs, etc. Further, verbs with changes in form, adjectives, adverbs, etc. are broken down for each form of use. 
     Reference numeral  23  is an object automatic extraction unit. The object automatic extraction unit  23  extracts the individual letters, entries in various dictionaries, or word strings broken down by the original data composition analysis unit  22  as objects. 
     Reference numeral  24  is an object/color conversion unit. The object/color conversion unit  24  refers to the color conversion table  13  prepared in advance to convert the objects extracted by the object automatic extraction unit  23  to colors  14   a,  color values  14   b,  or color digital values  14   c  as converted color data  14  corresponding to the objects. Details of the colors  14   a,  color values  14   b,  and color digital values  14   c  will be explained later. Note that in this embodiment, the explanation was given of a configuration preparing a color conversion table  13  in advance, but the present invention is not limited to this. A color conversion table  13  may be automatically generated each time a new object is extracted by the object automatic extraction unit  23  by newly assigning a color  14   a,  color value  14   b,  or color digital value  14   c  by using a known automatic dictionary preparation method. 
     Reference numeral  25  is a converted color data output unit. The converted color data output unit  25  selectively outputs colors  14   a,  color values  14   b,  or color digital values  14   c  obtained by conversion at the object/color conversion unit  24 . The selectively output colors  14   a,  color values  14   b,  or color digital values  14   c  are transmitted to the information receiver side system  11  through the network  8 . 
       FIG. 4  shows an example of a color conversion table  13  and color reversion table  15  used in a newspaper information distribution system. In the conversion or reversion table, information is arranged alphabetically in two levels. In the figure, reference numeral  26  shows the rows of individual letters as a first level. Each row  26  is divided into objects  27  as a second level. Note that  FIG. 4  shows part of a color conversion table  13  and color reversion table  15 , in particular shows nouns with no changes in form. 
     Each object  27  may be expressed by colors  14   a  each comprised of two specific colors. Specifically, one object  27  is expressed by a minimum of two pixels. That is, colors  14   a  are output as the converted color data  14  from the converted color data output unit  25  by the method of using the object/color conversion unit  24  read printed matter consisting of sets of color dots of one pixel per level each and then output the colors. 
     Assuming that printed matter consisting of sets of color dots is printed at a density of 1200 dpi, 1.44 million dots are printed per square inch. That is, in the case of the present embodiment expressing one object by two dots, it is possible to store an extremely vast amount of information of 720,000 objects on one square inch of paper. Further, if converting the printed matter to A4 size paper, it is possible to store information of about 70 million objects or as much as 97 times the above figure. If the number of individual letters used per day of a newspaper were 400,000 letters and average number of letters for one object were three, it would be possible to store about 1.4 years&#39; worth of newspaper articles on one sheet of A4 size paper. Note that if only one level was used in the color conversion table  13  and color reversion table  15 , the amount of information stored would double of course. 
     Each object  27  may also be expressed by color values  14   b  each comprised of a total of four freely assigned numerals, that is, two numerals for each level. That is, the color values  14   b  are output as the converted color data  14  from the converted color data output unit  25  by the method of having the object/color conversion unit  24  directly output four numerals. Note that the number of numerals of each level is not limited to two. It is possible to freely set the number in accordance with the size of the color conversion table  13  and color reversion table  15 . 
     Each object  27  may also be expressed by color digital values  14   c  each comprised of a total of 24 bits for each level, that is, a total of 48 bits of RGB data. That is, the color digital values  14   c  are output as the converted color data  14  by the method of having the object/color conversion unit  24  directly output 48 bits of data. Note that the number of bits for each layer is not limited to 24 bits and can be set to any number in accordance with the size of the color conversion table  13  and color reversion table  15 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a table of verbs with changes in form in the table shown in  FIG. 4  as an example of the color conversion table  13  and color reversion table  15 . The structure of the table in this example is the same as the example shown in  FIG. 4 , so the same reference numerals are assigned and detailed explanations are omitted. 
     Next, the color conversion tables  13  shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  will be used to explain the processing in the original data composition analysis unit  22  and the object automatic extraction unit  23 . As one example, the case of analyzing newspaper article original data  12  comprised of the 34 letters of “APPLY TO BUREAU OF HOUSING FOR APARTMENT” input to the newspaper article original data input unit  21  by the original data composition analysis unit  22  will be explained using  FIG. 6 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the original “APPLY TO BUREAU OF HOUSING FOR APARTMENT” is broken down by the original data composition analysis unit  22 , whereby five objects of object  1  to object  5  are extracted by the object automatic extraction unit  23 . Due to this, the 34 letters of the original are converted to five sets of, that is, ten, color dots and expressed by an average of 6.8 letters&#39; worth of data per set. Note that in  FIG. 6 , object  2  and object  4  are particles. If preparing the color conversion table  13  in a form joining them with the previous objects, that is, the object  2  with the object  1  and the object  4  with the object  3 , it becomes possible to express the 34 letters by three sets of, that is, six, color dots. 
       FIG. 7  is a detailed view of the configuration of the information receiver side system  11 . In  FIG. 7 , reference numeral  28  shows the converted color data input unit. The converted color data input unit  28  receives as input the converted color data  14  transmitted through the network  8 . 
     Reference numeral  29  shows a color/object conversion unit. The color/object conversion unit  29  converts the converted color data  13  input to the converted color data input unit  28  to objects corresponding to the converted color data  14  by referring to the color reversion table  15  distributed through the network  8  or mailed in advance. Here, when using the colors  14   a  as the converted color data  14 , it is also possible to output the printed matter comprised of sets of color dots before conversion to objects, then convert the printed matter to objects corresponding to the colors  14   a  by the color/object conversion unit  29 . 
     Reference numeral  30  shows an object automatic editing unit. The object automatic editing unit  30  recomposes the objects converted at the color/object conversion unit  29  to the sentences of the newspaper article original data  12 . 
     Reference numeral  31  shows a newspaper article data reproduction unit. This newspaper article data reproduction unit  31  divides the sentences recomposed at the object automatic editing unit  30  into headlines, text, etc. in the same way as the conventional layout step  3  and reproduces the paper layout. 
     Reference numeral  32  shows a newspaper article data output unit. This newspaper article data output unit  32  outputs the reproduced newspaper article data  16  reproduced at the newspaper article data reproduction unit  31  by a display  17 , speaker  18 , printer  19 , or storage device  20  alone or in combination. 
     Based on the above configuration, the newspaper information is distributed upon instruction of the information distributor or request of the information receiver. Even when using color digital values  14   c  comprised of two levels, the converted color data  14  transmitted through the network  8  becomes very short in length. In the case of a Japanese language system, the converted color data  14  transmitted through the network  8  becomes a maximum of three Japanese kanji ideographs&#39; (48 bits&#39;) worth of data in length. The longer the corresponding objects  27 , the more easily it is to deliver newspaper information with a high compression rate. In particular, in the case of use of the color conversion table  13  and the color reversion table  15  as shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the compression rate becomes remarkably high. 
     Further, in the present embodiment, the explanation was given assuming a fixed correspondence among the objects  27  and colors  14   a,  color values  14   b,  and color digital values  14   c.  That is, as shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , objects  2  and colors  14   a,  color values  14   b,  and color digital values  14   c  were converted back and forth in the same row. When, for example, converting back and forth between objects  27  and colors  14   a,  color values  14   b,  and color digital values  14   c  in different lines, however, it is also possible to transmit correspondence changing information to the information receivers simultaneously with the distribution of information or in advance and make the correspondence freely changeable. 
     Due to this, it is possible to not transmit correspondence changing information to information receivers other than specific receivers whose distribution agreements remain valid and therefore are qualified to receive it. Therefore, information receivers whose agreements for information distribution have expired cannot correctly reproduce the newspaper information, and illegitimate viewing of newspaper information can be prevented. 
     In the present embodiment, the color conversion table  13  and the color reversion table  15  were explained as single tables, but it is also possible to prepare a plurality of color conversion tables  13  and distribute a plurality of color reversion tables  15  corresponding to them. In this case, it is sufficient to transmit color reversion table designating information indicating which color reversion table to use at the time of distribution of information simultaneous with the distribution of information or in advance. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment chosen for purpose of illustration, the present invention is not limited to the newspaper information distribution system in the embodiment. It may also be applied to an information distribution system for various content including vast amounts of information such as of magazines, books, encyclopedias, security reports and the like. It should be apparent that numerous modifications could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the basic concept and scope of the invention. 
     According to the present invention, it is possible to transmit the tremendous amounts of data about various content of newspapers, magazines, books, encyclopedias, security reports, etc. in a radically compressed form on the Internet or another open network. Therefore, it is possible to distribute information at a high speed even by a conventional communications line rather than a high-speed communications line of a broadband network etc. The data transmitted over the network is converted color data which in itself is not data of any meaning, so it is possible to distribute information safely without leakage of the content of the information to a third party. Further, it is possible to easily manage the color reversion table distributed to the information receivers. 
     The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-158864, filed on May 28, 2001, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.