Patent Publication Number: US-2004044775-A1

Title: Content relay method for transmitting entry history information stored in history storage of content relay device to user terminal

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention generally relates to a content relaying technology, and more particularly, to a technology for relaying content information described in a markup language, such as an HTML, to a user terminal.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0004] Recently, portable Internet access terminals have been available. Such an Internet terminal is often connected to the Internet, with partially restricting functions of an HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) generally provided as content information, or with using other languages. Additionally, different languages are used in such portable Internet terminals; accordingly, some contents, which can be browsed from one Internet terminal, cannot be browsed from another Internet terminal. Thus, such Internet terminals are not always user friendly.  
       [0005] Under these circumstances, there is a patent application filed by the applicant of the present application, which is a method in which a relay server performing a language translation is provided, and an Internet terminal is connected to a content server via the relay server.  
       [0006] Normally, an Internet terminal device is provided with a function of storing entry history information and browse history information called Cookie, etc. However, as in the above-mentioned method, when such an Internet terminal device is connected not directly to a content providing server but via a relay server, information translated by the relay server is browsed by the Internet terminal device. Accordingly, only the information obtained upon connecting to the relay server is left in the Cookie. Therefore, conventionally, it is impossible to make a reentry using an entry previously made upon connecting to the same content, or to obtain history information of contents actually browsed previously.  
       [0007] In addition, not a few portable Internet terminals are incapable of using the Cookie due to a capacity limit thereof. With such an Internet terminal, entry items or addresses even for the contents browsed previously have to be re-input each time.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008] It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved and useful content relay method, device and program in which the above-mentioned problems are eliminated.  
       [0009] A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a content relay method, device and program which enable a reentry using a previous browse history and a previous entry history even upon a content browsing via a relay server.  
       [0010] In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, there is provided according to the present invention a content relay method in which a content relay device obtains user identification information from a terminal, and upon relaying content information between a content providing server and the terminal, stores history information of the content information in relation to the user identification information, and when content information obtained from the content providing server includes information requesting an entry of information, extracts entry history information from the stored history information according to the user identification information and information regarding the content information, and transmits the entry history information to the terminal.  
       [0011] According to the present invention, information previously requested by the terminal is stored in the content relay device, and according to this stored information, an operation using previous entry history is performed.  
       [0012] Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0013]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a content system using a content relay server according to the present invention;  
     [0014]FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a user terminal shown in FIG. 1;  
     [0015]FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a user portable terminal shown in FIG. 1;  
     [0016]FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a content relay server shown in FIG. 1;  
     [0017]FIG. 5 is a first flowchart of a procedure for registering a user in the content relay server;  
     [0018]FIG. 6 is a second flowchart of the procedure starting in FIG. 5;  
     [0019]FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating registration screens displayed on a display of the user portable terminal shown in FIG. 3;  
     [0020]FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a user registration table of a user DB storing user registration information;  
     [0021]FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a registration completion screen and an error screen displayed on the display of the user portable terminal shown in FIG. 3;  
     [0022]FIG. 10 is a first flowchart of a communication process between the user portable terminal and a content providing server via the content relay server shown in FIG. 1;  
     [0023]FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an authentication screen and an authentication permission screen displayed on the display of the user portable terminal shown in FIG. 3;  
     [0024]FIG. 12 is a second flowchart of the communication process starting in FIG. 10;  
     [0025]FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an authentication failure screen displayed on the display of the user portable terminal shown in FIG. 3;  
     [0026]FIG. 14 is a diagram used for explaining request information transmitted from the user portable terminal;  
     [0027]FIG. 15 is a third flowchart of the communication process starting in FIG. 10;  
     [0028]FIG. 16 is a fourth flowchart of the communication process starting in FIG. 10;  
     [0029]FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a folder table stored in a history folder prepared in a history DB shown in FIG. 4;  
     [0030]FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a content information screen displayed on the display of the user portable terminal shown in FIG. 3;  
     [0031]FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating the content information screen including entry support marks;  
     [0032]FIG. 20 is a fifth flowchart of the communication process starting in FIG. 10;  
     [0033]FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating the content information screen including entry candidates and a screen displaying only the entry candidates;  
     [0034]FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating the content information screens including a selected entry candidate;  
     [0035]FIG. 23 is a sixth flowchart of the communication process starting in FIG. 10;  
     [0036]FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a screen indicating an acceptance of entered information;  
     [0037]FIG. 25 is a first flowchart of a content information transmission process conducted by the content relay server;  
     [0038]FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a screen displaying content information including a “content information transmit” mark and a “content information store” mark;  
     [0039]FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a screen displaying a mail noticing a transmission of content information; and  
     [0040]FIG. 28 is a second flowchart of the content information transmission process starting in FIG. 25. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0041] A description will now be given, with reference to the drawings, of embodiments according to the present invention.  
     [0042]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a content system using a content relay server according to the present invention.  
     [0043] In FIG. 1, each of a content providing server-A  2 , a content providing server-B  3  and a content providing server-C  4  provides content information via an Internet communication network  1 .  
     [0044] A user terminal  5  used by a user is connected to a provider  6  by a telephone line or a private line, and is connected to the Internet communication network  1  via the provider  6 . In the present embodiment, when the user terminal  5  communicates with a server, etc., on the Internet communication network, the user terminal  5  connects to the server via the provider  6  and the Internet communication network  1 .  
     [0045] A wireless user portable terminal  7 , such as a mobile phone provided with an Internet access function or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) provided with a wireless communication function, used by a user is connected to a wireless communication network  9  via a wireless relay station  8 . The wireless communication network  9  is connected to the Internet communication network  1  via a POI (Point Of Interface)  10 . In the present embodiment, when the user portable terminal  7  communicates with a server, etc., on the Internet communication network, the user portable terminal  7  connects to the server via the wireless relay station  8 , the wireless communication network  9 , the POI  10  and the Internet communication network  1 .  
     [0046] A content relay server (a content relay device)  11  relays a communication between the content providing server  2 ,  3  or  4  and the user terminal  5  or the user portable terminal  7 . Upon relaying, the content relay server  11  translates a content language that describes content information, and stores entry/browse history, etc.  
     [0047] A server administration terminal  12  is used by an administrator of the content relay server  11  to administrate the content relay server  11 . In the present embodiment, the server administration terminal  12  is connected directly to the content relay server  11 ; however, the server administration terminal  12  may be connected to the content relay server  11  via the Internet communication network  1  or a dedicated communication line, etc.  
     [0048] Hereinbelow, descriptions will be given of elements composing the user terminal  5 , the user portable terminal  7  and the content relay server  11  shown in FIG. 1.  
     [0049] First, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 2, of a configuration of the user terminal  5 .  
     [0050] In FIG. 2, a provider communicator  501  performs a communication with the provider  6 . An Internet browser  502  obtains content information specified by a user using a keyboard  503 , etc., from one of the servers connected to the Internet communication network  1 , and displays the obtained content information on a display  504 . The Internet browser  502  controls the provider communicator  501  to connect to the provider  6 , and as described with reference to FIG. 1, the Internet browser  502  connects to the Internet communication network  1  via the provider  6 , and communicates with a targeted server connected to the Internet communication network  1  so as to obtain the specified content information. Additionally, history information gained by the Internet browser  502  is stored in a history storage  505 .  
     [0051] A mail manager  506  controls the provider communicator  501  to connect to the provider  6 , and connects to the Internet communication network  1  via the provider  6  so as to control an exchange of mail utilizing the Internet communication network  1 . Additionally, information of each exchanged mail is stored in a mail storage  507 .  
     [0052] A medium information reader  508  reads information stored in a recording medium  509 , such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM. The Internet browser  502  and the mail manager  506  are often provided as programs causing the user terminal  5  to perform the above-described functions of the Internet browser  502  and the mail manager  506 . By the medium information reader  508  reading the programs stored in the recording medium  509 , and making the programs executable in the user terminal  5  (i.e., installing the programs in the user terminal  5 ), the user terminal  5  can function as the Internet browser  502  and the mail manager  506 .  
     [0053] Next, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 3, of the user portable terminal  7 .  
     [0054] In FIG. 3, a wireless communicator  701  performs a communication with the wireless relay station  8 . An Internet browser  702  obtains content information specified by a user using a keyboard  703 , etc., from one of the servers connected to the Internet communication network  1 , and displays the obtained content information on a display  704 . The Internet browser  702  controls the wireless communicator  701  to connect to the wireless relay station  8 . Thus, the Internet browser  702  connects to the Internet communication network  1  via the wireless relay station  8 , the wireless communication network  9  and the POI  10 , and communicates with a targeted server connected to the Internet communication network  1  so as to obtain the specified content information.  
     [0055] A mail manager  705  controls the wireless communicator  701  to connect to the wireless relay station  8 , and connects to the Internet communication network  1  via the wireless relay station  8 , the wireless communication network  9  and the POI  10  so as to control an exchange of mail utilizing the Internet communication network  1 . Additionally, information of each exchanged mail is stored in a mail storage  706 .  
     [0056] Finally, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 4, of the content relay server  11 .  
     [0057]FIG. 4 shows a configuration of the content relay server  11 . In FIG. 4, a communication controller (a communicating part)  1101  performs a communication with the Internet communication network  1 . A user register  1102  communicates with the user portable terminal  7  or the user terminal  5 , etc., so as to store registration (identification) information of a user in a user DB  1103 . A user terminal type verifier  1104  verifies a terminal type of the user terminal  5  or the user portable terminal  7  with which the user register  1102  communicates, by using information stored in a terminal type DB  1105 . Content browse history, entry history and so forth for each user ID registered in the user DB  1103  is stored in a history DB  1106 . Specifically, in the history DB  1106 , the above-mentioned histories are stored in history folders corresponding to the respective user IDs (a history folder  1107  for a user ID “AAAAA”, a history folder  1108  for a user ID “BBBBB”, a history folder  1109  for a user ID “CCCCC”, a history folder  1110  for a user ID “DDDDD”). A content relay  1111  performs a relaying process between the servers connected to the Internet communication network  1  and the user terminal  5  or the user portable terminal  7 . The content relay  1111  comprises a history storage controller  1112 , a content translator  1113 , an entry supporter  1115 , a mail transmitter  1116 , and an authentication-permitted ID DB  1117 . The history storage controller  1112  stores the content browse history, the entry history and so forth of each user in the history DB  1106 . The content translator  1113  performs a language translation of content information by using rule information stored in a translation rule DB (a language translation rule storage)  1114 . The entry supporter  1115  performs an entry support by using information stored in the history DB  1106  when content information sent from the content providing server includes an entry field. The mail transmitter  1116  transmits content information to a specified destination as a mail with an attachment file. A user ID for which an authentication is permitted according to the user ID and a password sent from the user terminal  5  or the user portable terminal  7  is stored in the authentication-permitted ID DB  1117 . In addition, a temporary storage  1118  is used for temporary storage by the above-described elements provided in the content relay server  11 , and information of various screens is stored in a screen information storage  1119 . Besides, each of the history DB  1106  and the temporary storage  1118  forms a history storage for storing history information upon the relaying process.  
     [0058] Hereinbelow, a description will be given of operations of the content system having the above-described configuration.  
     USER-ID REGISTRATION PROCESS  
     [0059] First, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, of a procedure for registering a user in the content relay server  11 .  
     [0060] In the present embodiment, a user registers by using the user portable terminal  7 . Besides, a user may register not only by using the user portable terminal  7  but also by using the user terminal  5  or the server administration terminal  12  according to a similar procedure.  
     [0061] Besides, in the following description, it is described that the user portable terminal  7  and the content relay server  11  intercommunicate directly. However, as described hereinbefore, the user portable terminal  7  and the content relay server  11  intercommunicate via the wireless relay station  8 , the wireless communication network  9 , the POI  10  and the Internet communication network  1  by controlling the wireless communicator  701  to connect to the wireless relay station  8 .  
     [0062] First, the user performs a request for displaying a user registration screen of the content relay server  11  by using the keyboard  703  of the user portable terminal  7  (S 101 ). Upon receiving this request, the Internet browser  702  transmits information of the request for displaying the registration screen to the content relay server  11  (S 102 ).  
     [0063] When the user register  1102  receives this information via the communication controller  1101  of the content relay server  11  (S 103 ), the user register  1102  extracts registration screen information stored in the screen information storage  1119  (S 104 ), and transmits this registration screen information to the user portable terminal  7  (S 105 ).  
     [0064] When the Internet browser  702  of the user portable terminal  7  receives this registration screen information via the wireless communicator  701  (S 106 ), the Internet browser  702  displays a request for entering a user ID, a password and a mail address, and entry frames  72  for entering these items, on the display  704 , as displayed on a screen  71  shown in FIG. 7, according to the received registration screen information (S 107 ).  
     [0065] When the user enters these items from this screen by using the keyboard  703 , etc., the Internet browser  702  displays the items entered in the entry frames  72  on the display  704 , as displayed on a screen  73  shown in FIG. 7 (S 108 ).  
     [0066] In this state, when the user performs a transmission operation by using the keyboard  703 , etc., the Internet browser  702  controls the wireless communicator  701  to transmit information of the entered items to the content relay server  11  as user registration information (S 109 ).  
     [0067] When the user register  1102  receives this user registration information via the communication controller  1101  (S 110 ), the user register  1102  checks whether or not the user registration information includes errors (for example: the user registration information includes prohibited characters; the user registration information is already registered in the user DB  1103 ) (S 111 ). When the user registration information includes no errors (N in S 112 ), the user register  1102  stores the user registration information in the user DB  1103 . This user registration information is stored therein with the user ID, the password and the mail address being related to one another, as stored in a user registration table  81  shown in FIG. 8 (S 113 ). In this example, the user enters “user ID: AAAAA”, “password: ghghaj” and “mail address: aaaaa@mail.ne.jp”; accordingly, this user registration information is registered as items  82  in the user registration table  81  shown in FIG. 8. Other items in the user registration table  81  are also registered by the user register  1102  based on user registration information transmitted from either the user terminal  5 , the user portable terminal  7  or the server administration terminal  12 , according to a similar registering procedure. Additionally, in this course, the user register  1102  creates the history folder  1107  for the user ID “AAAAA” in the history DB  1106  (S 114 ).  
     [0068] Upon completion of these processes, the user register  1102  extracts screen information indicating completion of the registration from the screen information storage  1119 , and controls the communication controller  1101  to transmit this information to the user portable terminal  7  (S 115 ).  
     [0069] When the Internet browser  702  receives this information via the wireless communicator  701  (S 116 ), the Internet browser  702  displays an indication of the completion of the registration on the display  704 , as displayed on a screen  91  shown in FIG. 9, according to the received information (S 117 ), and ends the procedure.  
     [0070] On the other hand, in the foregoing step S 112 , when the user register  1102  judges that the user registration information includes an error (Y in S 112 ), a procedure shown in FIG. 6 is performed. Specifically, the user register  1102  of the content relay server  11  extracts error screen information from the screen information storage  1119  (S 118 ), and transmits this error screen information to the user portable terminal  7  (S 119 ). When the Internet browser  702  of the user portable terminal  7  receives this error screen information via the wireless communicator  701  (S 120 ), the Internet browser  702  displays a notice of entry error and an indication of prompting reentry on the display  704 , as displayed on a screen  92  shown in FIG. 9, according to the received error screen information (S 121 ).  
     [0071] From this screen, by operating the keyboard  703 , etc., the user selects whether or not to perform a reentry (S 122 ). When the user selects to perform a reentry (Y in S 123 ), the Internet browser  702  transits to the foregoing step S 107  shown in FIG. 5 for the reentry, and performs the processes regarding the entry of the above-mentioned entry items again. On the other hand, in the foregoing step S 123 , when the user selects not to perform a reentry (N in S 123 ), the registering procedure ends (S 124 ).  
     [0072] As described above, information related to each user ID is registered in the content relay server  11 , and a folder for storing history information of the user ID is prepared therein.  
     CONTENT RELAY PROCESS  
     [0073] Next, a description will be given, with reference mainly to flowcharts shown in FIG. 10, FIG. 12, FIG. 15, FIG. 16, FIG. 20 and FIG. 23, of a communication process between the user portable terminal  7  and the content providing server-A  2  via the content relay server  11  storing user IDs as described above. In the present embodiment, the user portable terminal  7  communicates with the content providing server-A  2  according to a hereinbelow-described procedure. Additionally, the user portable terminal  7  can communicate with other servers, such as the content providing server-B  3  and the content providing server-C  4  according to a similar procedure. Further, the user terminal  5  can communicate with each of the content providing servers via the content relay server  11  according to a similar procedure. Besides, the user portable terminal  7  and the content relay server  11  intercommunicate basically via the wireless relay station  8 , the wireless communication network  9 , the POI  10  and the Internet communication network  1 . Further, the content relay server  11  and the content providing server-A  2  intercommunicate basically via the Internet communication network  1 .  
     [0074] First, when the user requests an access to the content relay server  11  by using the keyboard  703  of the user portable terminal  7 , the Internet browser  702  transmits information of the access request to the content relay server  11  (S 201 ).  
     [0075] When the content relay  1111  of the content relay server  11  receives this information via the communication controller  1101 , the content relay  1111  extracts authentication screen information from the screen information storage  1119  (S 202 ), and transmits this authentication screen information to the user portable terminal  7  (S 203 ).  
     [0076] When the Internet browser  702  of the user portable terminal  7  receives this authentication screen information via the wireless communicator  701  (S 204 ), the Internet browser  702  displays a message  94  prompting the user to enter a user ID and a password, and entry frames  95  for entering the user ID and the password, on the display  704 , as displayed on a screen  93  shown in FIG. 11, according to the received authentication screen information (S 205 ).  
     [0077] When the user enters the user ID and the password in the entry frames  95  from this screen by using the keyboard  703  (S 206 ), the Internet browser  702  controls the wireless communicator  701  to transmit information of the user ID and the password to the content relay server  11  (S 207 ).  
     [0078] When the content relay  1111  receives this information via the communication controller  1101  (S 208 ), the content relay  1111  performs an authentication by comparing the received information of the user ID and the password with user registration information stored in the user DB  1103  (S 209 ). Thus, the content relay  1111  forms a user information obtaining part for obtaining the user registration information from the user portable terminal  7 . When the content relay  1111  permits the authentication of the user ID (Y in S 210 ), the content relay  1111  stores the user ID in the authentication-permitted ID DB  1117  (S 211 ). That is, information registered in the authentication-permitted ID DB  1117  is a user ID of a user currently connecting to the content relay server  11  among user IDs of users stored in the user DB  1103 .  
     [0079] Then, the content relay  1111  extracts authentication permission screen information from the screen information storage  1119  (S 212 ), and controls the communication controller  1101  to transmit this authentication permission screen information to the user portable terminal  7  (S 213 ).  
     [0080] When the Internet browser  702  receives this authentication permission screen information via the wireless communicator  701  (S 214 ), the Internet browser  702  displays a screen noticing the authentication permission on the display  704  according to the received authentication permission screen information (S 215 ). This screen prompts the user to select items of content information or to enter a URL which the user requests, as displayed on a screen  96  shown in FIG. 11. After this process, a substantial part of the relaying process commences from step S 225 .  
     [0081] On the other hand, in the foregoing step S 210 , when the content relay  1111  cannot permit the authentication of the user ID (N in S 210 ), the content relay  1111  extracts authentication failure screen information indicating the failure of the authentication from the screen information storage  1119  (S 216  in FIG. 12), and controls the communication controller  1101  to transmit this authentication failure screen information to the user portable terminal  7  (S 217 ).  
     [0082] When the Internet browser  702  of the user portable terminal  7  receives this authentication failure screen information via the wireless communicator  701  (S 218 ), the Internet browser  702  displays a screen  95  indicating the failure of the authentication on the display  704 , as shown in FIG. 13, according to the received authentication failure screen information (S 219 ).  
     [0083] This screen  95  includes information  98  asking whether or not to reenter. From this screen, by using the keyboard  703 , the user selects whether or not to reenter (S 220 ). When the Internet browser  702  judges that the user selects to reenter (Y in S 221 ), the Internet browser  702  controls the wireless communicator  701  to transmit the information of the access request to the content relay server  11  again (S 222 ). Thereafter, the procedure transits to the foregoing step S 202  shown in FIG. 10.  
     [0084] On the other hand, when the Internet browser  702  judges that the user selects not to reenter (N in S 221 ), the procedure transits to step S 225  shown in FIG. 10. That is, when the user portable terminal  7  communicates via the content relay server  11  without an authentication, the substantial part of the relaying process is performed without the user ID being registered in the authentication-permitted ID DB  1117 .  
     [0085] After the foregoing step S 215 , or after the Internet browser  702  judges that the user selects not to reenter in the foregoing step S 221 , the user enters content request information by using the keyboard  703  of the user portable terminal  7  (S 225 ). Thereupon, the Internet browser  702  controls the wireless communicator  701  to transmit the request information to the content relay server  11  (S 227 ). In the present embodiment, the request information includes a URL  100  as an address in the content relay server  11  followed by a URL  101  as an address in the content providing server, as described in request information  99  shown in FIG. 14.  
     [0086] When the content relay  1111  of the content relay server  11  receives this request information via the communication controller  1101  (S 228 ), the content relay  1111  analyzes the request information so as to extract the URL  101  of the content providing server (S 229  in FIG. 15), and uses the communication controller  1101  to transmit the request information to the address represented by the URL  101  (S 230 ).  
     [0087] When the content providing server-A  2  receives this request information (S 231 ), the content providing server-A  2  transmits content information corresponding to the request information to the content relay server  11  (S 232 ).  
     [0088] When the content relay  1111  receives this content information via the communication controller  1101  (S 233 ), the content relay  1111  stores the content information in the temporary storage  1118 , and starts the content translator  1113 . Thus, the content relay  1111  forms a content information obtaining part for obtaining the content information from the content providing server-A  2 . The content translator  1113  refers to the terminal type DB  1105  so as to translate the content information stored in the temporary storage  1118  into a language used by the user portable terminal  7  that has transmitted the request information, and stores the translated content information again in the temporary storage  1118  (S 234 ). This translation is performed according to a procedure substantially similar to a procedure described in the above-mentioned patent application filed by the applicant of the present application, and thus will not be described herein.  
     [0089] Subsequently, the content relay  1111  verifies whether or not the user ID of the user portable terminal  7  is authenticated, i.e., whether or not the user ID is stored in the authentication-permitted ID DB  1117  (S 235 ).  
     [0090] When the content relay  1111  judges that the user ID of the user portable terminal  7  is not authenticated (N in S 235 ), the relaying process is continued to step S 301  and so forth shown in a flowchart of FIG. 16 without performing a log record process or an entry history process. The flowchart of FIG. 16 will be described hereinafter.  
     [0091] When the content relay  1111  judges that the user ID is stored in the authentication-permitted ID DB  1117 , i.e., that the user ID is authenticated (Y in S 235 ), the content relay  1111  starts the history storage controller  1112  so as to store the actually accessed content information together with an access time thereof as history information in the folder prepared for the user ID in the history DB  1106  (S 236 ).  
     [0092] In the present embodiment, the user portable terminal  7  is authenticated according to the user ID “AAAAA”, i.e., the user ID “AAAAA” is registered in the authentication-permitted ID DB  1117 . Accordingly, the above-mentioned history information is stored in the folder  1107  prepared for the user ID “AAAAA” in the history DB  1106 .  
     [0093] Subsequently, the content relay  1111  checks whether or not the content information stored in the temporary storage  1118  includes an entry field, i.e., information regarding an entry frame for the user to enter (S 237 ).  
     [0094] When the content relay  1111  judges that the content information includes no entry field (N in S 237 ), the process starting from step S 301  shown in FIG. 16 is performed as follows.  
     [0095] First, the content relay  1111  controls the communication controller  1101  to transmit the translated content information stored in the temporary storage  1118  to the user portable terminal  7  (S 301 ). Thus, the content relay  1111  forms a transmitting part for transmitting the content information to the user portable terminal  7 . When the Internet browser  702  receives this translated content information via the wireless communicator  701  (S 302 ), the Internet browser  702  displays the content information on the display  704  according to the translated content information (S 303 ), and returns to the foregoing step S 225  shown in FIG. 10 so as to accept a next request from the user.  
     [0096] On the other hand, in the foregoing step S 237  shown in FIG. 15, when the content relay  1111  judges that the content information includes at least one entry field (Y in S 237 ), the content relay  1111  starts the entry supporter  1115 .  
     [0097] The entry supporter  1115  creates an entry support screen (S 238 ) according to a hereinbelow-described procedure. In this procedure, for example, an address “www.abcd.index1” in the content providing server-A  2  is specified, and content information including entry fields for entering a desired article and a desired price as displayed on a screen  1802  shown in FIG. 18 is obtained from the content providing server-A  2 . In this state, the history folder  1107  prepared for the user ID “AAAAA” in the history DB  1106  is referred to.  
     [0098] Here, a description will be given, with reference to a folder table  1701  shown in FIG. 17, of contents stored in entry fields in the history folder  1107 . As shown in FIG. 17, a URL as an address of requested content information, entry items, information entered in the entry items, and identifiers identifying whether or not the entry items are authentication items, are stored in the folder table  1701  with being related to one another. Additionally, entry count information indicating the number of times the information is entered is also stored in the folder table  1701  with being related thereto. This information is an identifier provided for identifying the number of times a variety of entries is made to a same entry item at a same address.  
     [0099] As shown in the folder table  1701  in FIG. 17, history information previously entered in entry items (a searched item (a desired article) and a desired price) at a corresponding URL is stored in the folder  1107 . In this case, content information including the entry items and entry support marks  1805  and  1806  beside the entry items, as represented in a screen  1804  shown in FIG. 19, is created.  
     [0100] Thereafter, the entry supporter  1115  stores the thus created content information again in the temporary storage  1118 .  
     [0101] Then, the entry supporter  1115  controls the communication controller  1101  to transmit the content information created as above in the step S 238  and stored in the temporary storage  1118  to the user portable terminal  7  (S 241  in FIG. 20). Thus, the entry supporter  1115  forms a transmitting part for transmitting the content information to the user portable terminal  7 .  
     [0102] When the Internet browser  702  of the user portable terminal  7  receives this content information via the wireless communicator  701  (S 242 ), the Internet browser  702  displays the content information on the display  704  (S 243 ). Specifically, the Internet browser  702  displays the content information that is transmitted from the content providing server-A  2  and is provided with the entry support marks  1805  and  1806 , as displayed on the screen  1804  shown in FIG. 19.  
     [0103] From this screen, when the user performs an entry operation by using the keyboard  703  (S 244 ), the Internet browser  702  verifies whether or not either the entry support mark  1805  or  1806  is selected by the entry operation (S 245 ). When the Internet browser  702  judges that either the entry support mark  1805  or  1806  is selected (Y in S 245 ), the Internet browser  702  controls the wireless communicator  701  to transmit entry support mark selection information (indicating which of the entry support marks  1805  and  1806  is selected) to the content relay server  11  (S 246 ). In the present embodiment, the entry support mark  1805  is selected, for example, and entry support mark selection information indicating this selection is transmitted to the content relay server  11 .  
     [0104] When the entry supporter  1115  of the content relay server  11  receives this information via the communication controller  1101  (S 247 ), the entry supporter  1115  extracts entry history information (entry candidates) corresponding to this information from the history folder  1107  prepared for the user ID “AAAAA” in the history DB  1106  (S 248 ). Thus, the entry supporter  1115  forms an extracting part for extracting the entry history information from the history DB  1106  according to the user registration information (including the user ID) and the entry support mark selection information regarding the content information. In the present embodiment, since the entry support mark  1805  corresponding to the entry field of the desired article is selected, entry history information corresponding to the entry item of the searched item (desired article) at a corresponding URL (www.abcd.index2) is extracted, the entry history information including “notebook PC”, “CD-ROM”, “scanner” and “DVD software”.  
     [0105] At this point, the entry supporter  1115  creates “entry candidate selection screen information” used by the user to select from contents of the previous entry information. This entry candidate selection screen information is created according to the following procedure: the contents of the entry history information extracted from the history folder  1107  are arranged in descending order of the number of times the contents were entered previously according to the entry count information stored in the history folder  1107 ; and a screen displaying the arranged contents of the entry history information is created. In the present embodiment, the entry count information corresponding to the contents of the entry history information are as follows:  
     [0106] “Notebook PC” entry count: 10  
     [0107] “CD-ROM” entry count: 5  
     [0108] “Scanner” entry count: 20  
     [0109] “DVD software” entry count: 1  
     [0110] Accordingly, the contents of the entry history information are arranged in the order of “scanner”, “notebook PC”, “CD-ROM” and “DVD software”, and a screen additionally displaying the previously entered contents (entry candidates) arranged in this order is created, as displayed on a screen  1807  shown in FIG. 21 (S 249 ).  
     [0111] Besides, when the display  704  of the user portable terminal  7  is so small as to make the screen  1807  shown in FIG. 21 not easily recognizable in which the previously entered contents (the entry candidates) are overlapped on the original screen. In this case, only the previously entered contents (the entry candidates) may be independently displayed as in a screen  1808  shown in FIG. 21.  
     [0112] The entry supporter  1115  controls the communication controller  1101  to transmit the entry candidate selection screen information created as above to the user portable terminal  7  (S 250 ). Thus, the entry supporter  1115  forms a transmitting part for transmitting the entry candidate selection screen information including the entry history information to the user portable terminal  7 .  
     [0113] When the Internet browser  702  of the user portable terminal  7  receives this entry candidate selection screen information via the wireless communicator  701  (S 251 ), the Internet browser  702  displays the screen  1807  or the screen  1808  shown in FIG. 21 on the display  704  according to the entry candidate selection screen information (S 252 ).  
     [0114] From this screen, when the user selects either of the entry candidates by using the keyboard  703  (S 253 ), the Internet browser  702  controls the wireless communicator  701  to transmit information regarding this selection to the content relay server  11  (S 254 ). In the present embodiment, the “CD-ROM” is selected, for example, and information regarding this selection is transmitted to the content relay server  11 .  
     [0115] When the entry supporter  1115  of the content relay server  11  receives this information regarding the selection via the communication controller  1101  (S 255 ), the entry supporter  1115  creates content information by inserting the received information regarding the selection into the foregoing content information obtained from the content providing server-A  2  and then translated which is stored in the temporary storage  1118  (S 256 ). In the present embodiment, since the “CD-ROM” is selected, content information as displayed on a screen  1809  shown in FIG. 22 is created. Thus, a screen is created in which the “CD-ROM” is inserted into the entry field of the desired article, and the procedure returns to the foregoing step S 241 . In this course, the information inserted into this entry field, i.e., the information regarding the selection transmitted from the user portable terminal  7 , is stored in the temporary storage  1118 . Subsequently, the content information created as above is retransmitted to the user portable terminal  7 , and the entry operation supported by the entry supporter  1115  is continued.  
     [0116] In the foregoing step S 245 , when the Internet browser  702  judges that neither the entry support mark  1805  nor  1806  is selected (N in S 245 ), the entry operation in the step S 244  may be performed without the support by the entry supporter  1115 . In this case, the entry operation in the step S 244  may be performed as follows, for example: information is directly entered into the entry fields of the screen  1804  shown in FIG. 19; and a “transmit” mark is selected so as to transmit the information entered in the entry fields to the content providing server-A  2 , a “clear” mark is selected so as to clear the information entered in the entry fields, or a request of another URL is made.  
     [0117] In this case, a procedure is preformed according to a flowchart shown in FIG. 23.  
     [0118] First, the Internet browser  702  controls the wireless communicator  701  to transmit the information entered in the foregoing step S 244  shown in FIG. 20 to the content relay server  11  (S 401 ). When the content relay  1111  of the content relay server  11  receives this information via the communication controller  1101  (S 402 ), the content relay  1111  judges whether or not the entered information is the “transmit mark being selected” (S 403 ). When the content relay  1111  judges that the transmit mark is selected (Y in S 403 ), the content relay  1111  starts the content translator  1113 . By using the translation rule DB  1114 , the content translator  1113  translates the information entered (or selected) in the entry fields, which has been stored in the temporary storage  1118 , into a language used by the content providing server-A  2  (S 404 ). The content relay  1111  controls the communication controller  1101  to transmit this translated information to the content providing server-A  2  (S 405 ). When the content providing server-A  2  receives this information (S 406 ), the content providing server-A  2  returns content information corresponding to an acceptance of the received information (i.e., content information indicating that the entered information is accepted) to the content relay server  11  (S 407 ). When the content relay  1111  of the content relay server  11  receives this content information via the communication controller  1101  (S 408 ), the content relay  1111  starts the content translator  1113 . By referring to the translation rule DB  1114 , the content translator  1113  translates the received content information into the language used by the user portable terminal  7  (S 409 ). The content relay  1111  controls the communication controller  1101  to transmit this translated content information to the user portable terminal  7  (S 410 ). When the Internet browser  702  of the user portable terminal  7  receives this content information via the wireless communicator  701  (S 411 ), the Internet browser  702  displays a screen according to the received content information (S 412 ). This screen displays the content information that indicates that the content providing server-A  2  accepts the entered information and is translated into the language used by the user portable terminal  7 , as described above; thus, the Internet browser  702  displays, for example, a screen  1811  shown in FIG. 24.  
     [0119] After the step S 412 , the Internet browser  702  transits to the foregoing step S 225  shown in FIG. 10 so as to accept a next operation from the user.  
     [0120] In the foregoing step S 403 , when the content relay  1111  judges that the transmit mark is not selected (N in S 403 ), the content relay  1111  judges whether or not the entered information is the request of another URL (S 413 ). When the content relay  1111  judges that the entered information is the request of another URL (Y in S 413 ), the Internet browser  702  transits to the foregoing step S 227  shown in FIG. 10 so as to perform a process for the request of another URL.  
     [0121] On the other hand, when the content relay  1111  judges that the entered information is not the request of another URL, i.e., that the entered information is neither the “transmit mark” being selected nor the request of another URL (N in S 413 ), the content relay  1111  provides the content information stored in the temporary storage  1118  with a process corresponding to the entered information (e.g., clearing of information entered in the entry fields, insertion of entered information into the entry fields, etc.). Then, the procedure transits to the foregoing step S 241  shown in FIG. 20. That is, processes regarding the currently displayed entry fields are continued.  
     [0122] As described above, in the content relay process according to the present embodiment, a history folder is prepared for each user ID in the content relay server  11  so that history for each user ID is stored in this history folder, and according to the stored information, the content relay server  11  performs an entry support to entry fields displayed on the user terminal  5  or the user portable terminal  7 . Accordingly, in this content relay process, the content relay server  11 , which communicates directly with the content providing server-A  2 , manages communication history with the content providing server-A  2 . Therefore, it becomes possible to make a reentry using entry information previously made upon connecting to the same content, and to obtain history information of contents actually browsed previously.  
     [0123] Additionally, even when a terminal used by a user is not provided with a function, such as Cookie, the terminal can utilize entry history and browse history. Therefore, even with a terminal, such as a portable Internet terminal, which is incapable of using the Cookie due to a capacity limit thereof, it becomes possible to make a reentry using previous browse history and previous entry history.  
     [0124] Besides, the content relay server  11  stores history for each user ID, as mentioned above. Accordingly, by connecting to the content providing server via the content relay server, a user who is using both a desktop terminal at home and a portable terminal can utilize history information browsed or entered by using the desktop terminal when using the portable terminal.  
     [0125] In this case, according to the present embodiment, since the content relay server  11  is capable of translating content information into a language used by each terminal, the user can perform a communication with a desired content providing server regardless of whatever types of the terminals; and further, information browsed or entered by using the terminals can be shared.  
     CONTENT INFORMATION TRANSMISSION PROCESS  
     [0126] Upon connecting to the content providing server via the content relay server  11  as described above, redisplaying of content information previously displayed on the user terminal  5  or the user portable terminal  7  is also performed by a communication via the communication networks and the content relay server  11 . For example, the user portable terminal  7  uses the wireless communication network  9 : in many cases, a toll for using such wireless communication network is stipulated according to an amount of communicated data (an amount of packets) or a time of communication. Thus, a user has to pay the toll for only browsing the same information. Besides, when the same information is browsed necessarily via the content relay server  11 , this imposes a heavy load on the content relay server  11 .  
     [0127] As a countermeasure to these circumstances, the content relay server  11  according to the present embodiment has a function of transmitting browsed content information translated into a language used by the user terminal  5  or the user portable terminal  7 , or an address of the content information, as electronic mail.  
     [0128] Hereinafter, a description will be given, with reference mainly to FIG. 25, of an operation of the function. In the following description, a user uses the user portable terminal  7 . Besides, when the content relay  1111  transmits content information to the user portable terminal  7 , the content relay  1111  creates the content information by adding a “content information transmit” mark and a “content information store” mark to former content information, as represented in a screen  1812  shown in FIG. 26. According to the received content information, the Internet browser  702  of the user portable terminal  7  displays the screen  1812  shown in FIG. 26 on the display  704 .  
     [0129] In this state, when the user selects either the “content information transmit” mark or the “content information store” mark by using the keyboard  703  (S 601 ), the Internet browser  702  transmits information regarding this selection to the content relay server  11  as transmission request selection information (S 602 ).  
     [0130] When the content relay  1111  of the content relay server  11  receives this transmission request selection information via the communication controller  1101  (S 603 ), the content relay  1111  starts the mail transmitter  1116 . By referring to the user portable terminal  7 , the mail transmitter  1116  verifies whether or not the user portable terminal  7  is authenticated according to the user ID (S 604 ). When the mail transmitter  1116  judges that the user portable terminal  7  is authenticated (Y in S 604 ), the mail transmitter  1116  extracts a mail address corresponding to the user ID from the user DB  1103  (S 605 ). As described above, user registration information is stored in the user DB  1103  as represented in the user registration table  81  shown in FIG. 8. Accordingly, when the user portable terminal  7  is authenticated according to the user ID “AAAAA”, the mail transmitter  1116  extracts the mail address “aaaaa@mail.ne.jp” corresponding to the user ID “AAAAA”.  
     [0131] Next, the mail transmitter  1116  verifies which of the “content information transmit” mark and the “content information store” mark is indicated by the transmission request selection information (S 606 ). When the mail transmitter  1116  judges that the “content information store” mark is indicated by the transmission request selection information (“STORE” in S 606 ), the mail transmitter  1116  stores the content information in the history DB  1106  (S 607 ). On the other hand, when the mail transmitter  1116  judges that the “content information transmit” mark is indicated by the transmission request selection information (“TRANSMIT” in S 606 ), the mail transmitter  1116  creates a mail noticing the transmission of the content information, as read in a screen  2001  shown in FIG. 27 (S 608 ), and extracts the content information, which has been transmitted to the user portable terminal  7 , from the temporary storage  1118  or the history DB  1106 , and attaches the latest content information to the mail created in the step S 608  (S 609 ). Thus, the mail transmitter  1116  forms an extracting part for extracting the content information from the temporary storage  1118  or the history DB  1106  according to user information (regarding the user portable terminal  7  having received the content information) and the transmission request selection information regarding the content information. In this course, depending on the capability of the user portable terminal, the content information may be transmitted with only texts or with images. Further, not the content information as it is, but an extraction of texts and images from the content information may be transmitted.  
     [0132] The mail transmitter  1116  controls the communication controller  1101  to transmit the mail created as above to the mail address extracted in the step S 605  (S 610 ). Thus, the mail transmitter  1116  forms a mail transmitting part for transmitting the mail including the content information to a terminal of the mail address corresponding to the user ID using the user portable terminal  7 . The mail manager  705  receives this mail via the wireless communicator  701  (S 611 ), and the mail manager  705  stores the received mail in the mail storage  706  (S 612 ).  
     [0133] When the user selects a “content information” mark displayed in the mail as read in the screen  2001  shown in FIG. 27 so as to browse the same content information again, the content information attached to the mail stored in the mail storage  706  is browsed. Accordingly, the user can browse the desired content information without using the communication networks or the content relay server  11 . Therefore, the user does not have to pay the toll for using the communication networks, and the load of the content relay server  11  becomes light.  
     [0134] In addition, the user can connect to the same content providing server by specifying a mail address of the content providing server written in the mail without remembering the mail address.  
     [0135] In the foregoing step S 604 , when the mail transmitter  1116  judges that the user portable terminal  7  is not authenticated (N in S 604 ), a procedure is preformed according to a flowchart shown in FIG. 28.  
     [0136] Specifically, the mail transmitter  1116  extracts screen information indicating a rejection of mail transmission from the screen information storage  1119  (S 613 ), and controls the communication controller  1101  to transmit this screen information to the user portable terminal  7  (S 614 ). When the Internet browser  702  receives this screen information via the wireless communicator  701  (S 615 ), the Internet browser  702  displays the screen information indicating the rejection of mail transmission on the display  704  (S 616 ), and ends the procedure.  
     [0137] Thus, when the user portable terminal  7  is not authenticated, the mail transmission is not performed so as to distinguish a user with an authenticated user ID from a user without an authenticated user ID.  
     [0138] Besides, upon registering the user ID, the user register  1102  may store information indicating whether or not a file can be attached to a mail transmitted to the user terminal  5  or the user portable terminal  7 . By referring to this information, the mail transmitter  1116  may attach or not attach the content information in the foregoing step S 609 . Accordingly, the content information can be provided for the user in a form corresponding to the type of the terminal used by the user.  
     [0139] The present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiments, and variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.  
     [0140] The present application is based on Japanese priority application No. 2002-246634 filed on Aug. 27, 2002, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.