Patent Abstract:
A file conversion method, a data converter, and a file display system for extracting data handled by a limited capability display device from a plurality of pieces of data displayable on a standard display unit with a start and an end of each piece of data indicated by respective identifiers and for outputting the extracted data to the device in which the identifier is detected by reading the file and it is then determined whether identified data can be displayed on the limited capability display device. The data identified by the identifier is extracted and an output file, different than the file that was read, is created from the extracted data.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a file conversion method, a data converter, and a file display system for extracting data, which can be handled by a device having a limited display capability, from a file composed of a plurality of pieces of data displayable on a display unit with a start and an end of each piece of data indicated by respective identifiers and for outputting the extracted data to the limited-capability device. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   The network called the Internet is now in widespread use, and users have an easy access to a diversity of information through personal computers over the Internet. Information the user monitors using a software program called Web browser is described in the HTML (HyperText Markup Language). 
   The HTML document is associated with an identifier called tag. The tag determines the structure of each document. Specifically, when the user monitors a HTML document using the Web browser, the font, the size, and the color of a text, and the location of an image file are described by the tag. The tag determines the structure of the text information and image information on a Web page monitored by the user. 
   The use of mobile terminals becomes widespread, and the user has an immediate access to various pieces of information in transit or at a destination of a travel. To gain access to desired information on a mobile terminal, the user needs to input information on the mobile terminal. As a means for collecting information to the mobile terminal, the user may use a personal computer. The user connects the mobile terminal to the personal computer to download the desired information to the mobile terminal. 
   When a user transmits, to a mobile terminal, Web page information which has been obtained to a personal computer from a particular server, it is necessary to reorganize the information into data displayable on the mobile terminal and then transmit the data to the mobile terminal. The user must select required data from unnecessary data, and transmit the required data only. Further, the user must reorganize the extracted data in a size and format displayable or easy to see on the mobile terminal. The user is therefore forced to perform a variety of jobs from acquiring home page data to transmitting the reorganized data to the mobile terminal. 
   Although the Web pages provided over the Internet are written in the HTML, their formats are diversified. Specifically, the contents provided by the servers are varied in HTML document structure from server to server. The user is forced to use different extraction methods and different shaping methods from content to content to reorganize the data for the mobile terminal. 
   When the user uses a browser, a home page service on the network may be preregistered as a bookmark on the computer. Since the bookmark is stored in the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) or character strings, the user has difficulty identifying the content provided by the service at a glance. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a file conversion method, a data converter, and a file display system for extracting data handled by a device having a limited display capability from a plurality of pieces of data displayable on a display unit with a start and an end of each piece of data indicated by respective identifiers and for outputting the extracted data to the limited-capability device. 
   The present invention in one aspect relates to a file conversion method for extracting, from a file composed of a plurality of pieces of data displayable on a display unit and with a start and an end of each piece of data indicated by respective identifiers, data displayable on a limited-capability device, in accordance with the identifiers, and for outputting the extracted data to the limited-capability device. The file conversion method includes a step of detecting the identifier by reading the file, a step of determining whether the limited-capability device can display the data indicated by the extracted identifier, a step of extracting the data, the start and the end of which are indicated by the determined identifier and which is determined to be displayable on the limited-capability device, and a step of outputting an output file which is newly created from the extracted data, as a different file from the first file. 
   The present invention in another aspect relates to a file converter for extracting, from a file composed of a plurality of pieces of data displayable on a display unit and with a start and an end of each piece of data indicated by respective identifiers, data displayable on a connected limited-capability device, and for outputting the extracted data to the limited-capability device. The file converter includes a file storage unit for storing the file, a detector unit for detecting the identifier which indicates the data displayable on a limited-capability device from the file stored in the file storage unit, a extractor unit for extracting, from the file, the data with the start and the end thereof indicated, in accordance with the identifier detected by the detector unit, an output unit for outputting the extracted data to the limited-capability device, and a control unit for controlling the detector unit to detect the identifier indicating the start and the end of the displayable data for the purpose of extracting the data displayable on the limited-capability device from the file stored in the file storage unit, for controlling the extractor unit to extract, as a new output file, data including the start and the end indicated by the identifier from the file, and for controlling the output unit to output the new output file to the limited-capability device. 
   The present invention in yet another aspect relates to a file conversion method for converting a file composed of a plurality of pieces of data displayable on a display unit with a start and an end of each piece of indicated by respective identifiers into data displayable on a connected limited-capability device, and outputting the data as a new output file to the limited-capability device. The file conversion method includes a step of initializing a first data buffer for buffering data when a plurality of pieces of data is read from the file, a step of detecting the identifier indicating the start of the data in the file, based on a rule for processing the data in the file into a data format displayable on the limited-capability device, when the data is from the file and is stored in the first data buffer, a step of moving the data stored in the first data buffer to a second data buffer for evacuation, a step of holding the data in the file, from the start thereof, into the first data buffer, based on the identifier indicating the start of the detected data, a step of detecting the identifier indicating the end of the data having the identifier indicating the end of the detected data, and a step of moving the data evacuated into the second data buffer to the first data buffer for restoration. 
   The present invention in still another aspect relates to a file display system including a first apparatus for receiving a file including a plurality of pieces of data, displayable on a display unit, with the start and the end of each piece of data indicated by respective identifiers, and a second apparatus having a throughput lower than that of the first apparatus and receiving and displaying data into which the first apparatus converts the file. The first apparatus includes a storage unit for storing the file input thereto, a detector unit for detecting an identifier which indicates the data, which is processable by the second apparatus, from the file stored in the storage unit, an extractor unit for extracting, from the input file, the data which is detected by the detector unit and is processed into data processable by the second apparatus, a processing unit for processing the extracted data into the data that is processable by the second apparatus, an output unit for outputting the data, which has been processed to be processable by the second apparatus, to the second apparatus, and a control unit for controlling the storage unit to store the file input thereto in the storage unit, for controlling the detector unit to detect the identifier that indicates, from the file stored in the storage unit, data that can be processed to be processable by the second apparatus, for controlling the extractor unit to extract the data that is processed by the processing unit in accordance with the identifier detected by the detector unit, and for controlling the output unit to output the data that has been processed by the processing unit. The second apparatus includes a receiver unit for receiving the data output by the first apparatus, and a display unit for displaying the data received by the receiver unit. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a network diagram showing a preferred embodiment of an information processing apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing the hardware structure of a preferred embodiment of the information processing apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a mobile terminal which receives data from the information processing apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3B  is a partial perspective view of the mobile terminal on a larger scale which receives data transmitted from the information processing apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing the mobile terminal which receives data transmitted from the information processing terminal of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5A  shows a first display state of a display screen of the mobile terminal which receives data from the information processing apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5B  shows a second display state of the display screen of the mobile terminal which receives data from the information processing apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram showing a preferred embodiment of the information processing apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  shows the data structure of processing condition data in the information processing apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8A  shows an initial state of in a shaping process in the information processing apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8B  shows source data out of page data representing the shaping process in the information processing apparatus; 
       FIG. 8C  shows a state subsequent to the shaping process in the information processing apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  shows the data structure of a processing condition data area in the information processing apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 10  shows one example of page data associated with a designated identifier in the information processing apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 11A  shows another example of page data associated with a designated identifier in the information processing apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 11B  shows the result of shaping process performed on the page data associated with a designated identifier in the information processing apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 12A  shows another example of page data associated with a designated identifier in the information processing apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 12B  shows first text data that has been shaped from the example of page data associated with the designated identifier in the information processing apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 12C  shows second text data that has been shaped from the example of page data associated with the designated identifier in the information processing apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 13  shows one example of page data associated with a designated identifier in the information processing apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 14  shows a screen window in a preferred embodiment of the information processing apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 15  is a flow diagram showing a preferred embodiment of the information processing method of the present invention; 
       FIG. 16  shows a screen window in a preferred embodiment of the information processing apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 17  is a flow diagram showing a preferred embodiment of the information processing method of the present invention; 
       FIG. 18  is a flow diagram showing the processing of a designated identifier in the information processing method of the present invention; 
       FIG. 19  is a flow diagram showing the processing of a designated identifier in the information processing method of the present invention; 
       FIG. 20  is a flow diagram showing the processing of a designated identifier in the information processing method of the present invention; 
       FIG. 21  is a flow diagram showing the processing of a designated identifier in the information processing method of the present invention; 
       FIG. 22  is a flow diagram showing the processing of a designated identifier in the information processing method of the present invention; 
       FIG. 23  shows a screen window in the information processing method of the present invention; 
       FIG. 24A  shows one example of a bitmap file generated in the information processing method of the present invention; 
       FIG. 24B  shows one example of a first text file generated in the information processing method of the present invention; 
       FIG. 24C  shows one example of a second text file generated in the information processing method of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 25  shows a screen window in the information processing method of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The embodiments of the present invention are now discussed, referring to the drawings. The following embodiments are illustrative only, and unless otherwise particularly described, the scope of the invention is not limited to these embodiments. 
     FIG. 1  is a network diagram showing a preferred embodiment of an information processing apparatus  20  of the present invention. The information processing apparatus  20  is now discussed, referring to  FIG. 1 . An information network  10  is connected to a plurality of servers  40 , a client  50 , and the information processing apparatus  20  to exchange data in a communication protocol such as the TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol). The server  40  stores a diversity of information to be provided to the client  50  and the information processing apparatus  20 . The client  50  and the information processing apparatus  20  gain access to the server  40  to acquire information (data). The information network  10  is a wide-area network such the Internet or a LAN (Local Area Network). The information network  10  is constructed to provide the client with HTML documents of the WWW (World Wide Web). 
   The information processing apparatus  20  is a client computer on the network, and is provided with a file monitor  200  called Web browser as shown in  FIG. 6  as will be discussed later. Using the file monitor  200 , the client accesses a WWW server to acquire and monitor the data thereof. The information processing apparatus  20  has an external terminal to be connected to a mobile terminal  30 , and can exchange data with the mobile terminal  30 . The information processing apparatus  20  thus sends data stored therewithin to the mobile terminal  30 , and further acquires the data stored in the mobile terminal  30 . 
     FIG. 2  shows the hardware structure of a preferred embodiment of the information processing apparatus  20  of the present invention. The information processing apparatus  20  is now discussed, referring to  FIG. 2 . As shown, the information processing apparatus  20  is constructed of hardware resources of a personal computer, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit)  21 , a memory  22 , an auxiliary storage device  23 , an input device  24 , a display device  25 , a network interface  26 , and an external interface  27 . 
   The CPU  21  reads software programs stored in the auxiliary storage device  23  or the memory  22  via a bus  28 , and generally controls the operation of the information processing apparatus  20 . The CPU  21  executes a variety of software programs stored in the auxiliary storage device  23  to be discussed later. The memory  22  forms a work area for the CPU  21 , and temporarily stores software programs and data. 
   The auxiliary storage device  23  is a storage medium in a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive, or an optical disk drive, and stores an OS (Operating System), application software programs, and a variety of data including page data PD, transmission data TD, and processing condition data PCD. The input device  24  is a keyboard or a mouse, for example. The user operates the input device  24 , controlling the information processing apparatus  20  to execute a variety of software programs. 
   The display device  25  is a liquid-crystal display or a CRT (Cathode-Ray Tube) display, and has a display screen. A screen window is presented on the display screen when software programs to be discussed later are executed. The network interface  26  has a function of exchanging data between the information network  10  and the information processing apparatus  20 . The network interface  26  may include a modem to be connected to the information network  10  through a telephone line or an Ethernet adaptor to be connected to the information network  10  through a proxy server. 
   The external interface  27  exchanges data with an external device, and may be an USB interface, an IEEE1394 interface, an infrared communication interface, or a Bluetooth interface, for example. The external interface  27  has an external connection terminal, to which the mobile terminal  30  is connected in a wired or wireless fashion. The transmission data TD may be exchanged between the information processing apparatus  20  and the mobile terminal  30 . The bus  28  is a signal line that permits information to be conveyed between devices constituting the information processing apparatus  20 . Through the bus  28 , data is internally exchanged in the information processing apparatus  20 . 
     FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of the mobile terminal  30 . Referring to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the mobile terminal  30  is now discussed. As shown, the mobile terminal  30  has a flat configuration, and has, on the front thereof, a display unit  31  formed of a liquid-crystal display panel. The display unit  31  has elongated projections  37   a  and  37   b  along the longitudinal edges thereof so that the display unit  31  is protected from a damage in the event of a fall, for example. Referring to  FIG. 3A , a knob  32  and a power switch  33  are arranged on a left side panel  38   a  of a body  37 . With the knob  32  and the power switch  33  mounted on the left side panel  38   a , the left hand is used to operate the knob  32  and the power switch  33  with the mobile terminal  30  held in the left hand with the display unit  31  facing toward the user. 
   The knob  32  controls the operation of the mobile terminal  30 . Operating the knob  32 , the user displays predetermined information on the display unit  31 . Specifically, the knob  32  is rotatable in the direction represented by an arrow R, and is pressed in the direction represented by an arrow P. The user rotates the knob  32  in the direction R to select transmission data TD to be displayed, and presses the knob  32  in the direction of the arrow P to cause the display unit  31  to display the transmission data TD. The power switch  33 , a slide switch, controls the power for ON/OFF operation. 
   An external terminal  93 , not shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , is arranged on a right side panel  38   b , diametrically opposite to the side of the knob  32 . The external terminal  93  constitutes an interface for exchanging data with the information processing apparatus  20  shown in  FIG. 1 . The external terminal  93  performs communication via a wired link, a wireless link, or a infrared link, for example, and is formed of a USB terminal, an IEEE1394 terminal, or a radio communication interface antenna of Bluetooth. Referring to  FIG. 3B , controls  34 ,  35  and  36  are arranged on the top end face  39  of the body  37 . The controls  34 ,  35 , and  36  control the back light for the display unit  31  for an ON/OFF operation, and control the operation mode of the mobile terminal  30 . 
     FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing the construction of the mobile terminal  30 . The mobile terminal  30  is discussed, referring to  FIG. 4 . As shown, an external terminal controller  91  exchanges data with an external device connected to the external terminal  93  under the control of a CPU (Central Processing unit)  92 . A display controller  94  contains a VRAM (Video Random Access Memory)  94   a , and displays a desired image by driving the display unit  31  in accordance with the content in the VRAM  94   a . Under the control of the CPU  92 , a driver circuit  95  drives a back light  95   a . The back light  95   a  illuminates the display unit  31 . The user operates the control  36 , thereby controlling the operation of the driver circuit  95 . 
   A storage unit  96  is fabricated of a flash memory, and stores a variety of software programs required by the CPU  92  for the operation thereof while storing the transmission data TD sent from the information processing apparatus  20 . The transmission data TD in the storage unit  96  has a directory structure, and each directory stores files with the content thereof falling within the category of the directory. 
   The programs stored in the storage unit  96  include a transmission data processing program that processes the transmission data TD sent from the information processing apparatus  20  and displays the processed transmission data TD on the display unit  31 . The transmission data processing program processes a predetermined data format only. By restricting processable data formats, hardware resources are simplified and the mobile terminal  30  is thus miniaturized with a flat design implemented. 
   The predetermined data formats may be text data for text information and bitmap data for image information. The transmission data TD is organized in files of text data or bitmap data. The text data refers to a file containing character data and limited control codes such as the one for line feed. The bitmap data refers to image data that is expressed by a set of points. 
     FIGS. 5A and 5B  are plan views showing examples of the display screen of the mobile terminal  30 . The screen of the display unit  31  displays the content of the storage unit  96  which is provided by the CPU  92  when the CPU  92  executes a processing program.  FIG. 5A  shows a main screen when the mobile terminal  30  is switched on. As shown, the top portion of the display unit  31 , serving as an index display area ARA, displays the name of this mobile terminal  30  and a file name of text data or bitmap data. A battery mark M 361  is presented on the right hand side portion of the index display area ARA. The battery mark M 361  indicates a remaining battery power with the black area thereof varying depending on a battery status. The user thus monitors the remaining battery power. 
   An operation mark M 362  is presented on the right of the battery mark M 361 . The operation mark M 362  indicates the direction in which the knob  32  is rotatable. The user recognizes the operational state of the knob  32  at a glance. This provides a good user interface in operation. 
   A data display area ARM is presented below the index display area ARA. The data display area ARM displays the transmission data TD stored in the storage unit  96  of the mobile terminal  30  in a tree structure. The data display area ARM also displays the text data and the bitmap data in the storage unit  96 , as shown in  FIG. 5B . Viewing the data display area ARM, the user monitors the content of the transmission data TD. 
   The data display area ARM in  FIG. 5A  presents a variety of setting items for the mobile terminal  30 , which is treated as a virtual folder, in a tree structure. For example, the setting items include system for this mobile terminal  30  user&#39;s personal information, History holding a record of displayed file names, Star mark being a virtual folder containing files marked by the user, Heart mark, Checkmark, and Set/information in which various settings are performed. 
   A select item display area ARB is provided on the bottom portion of the display unit  31 . The select item display area ARB displays an item selected by a cursor K in the data display area ARM. Referring to  FIG. 5B , the select item display area ARB is not displayed when the data display area ARM presents the content of a file on the screen. 
   The operation of the mobile terminal  30  is now discussed, referring to  FIG. 3A  through  FIG. 5B . As shown in  FIG. 3A , the power switch  33  is operated to switch on the mobile terminal  30 . The screen appears on the display unit  31  as shown in  FIG. 5A . Manipulating the knob  32 , the user moves the cursor K within the display unit  31  to select a directory that stores the transmission data TD to be displayed. 
   When the user presses the knob  32  in the direction of the arrow P, the information of the selected directory appears in a tree structure. The user moves the cursor K within the directory using the knob  32 , places the cursor K on a file to be displayed, and presses the knob  32 . Referring to  FIG. 5B , the transmission data TD is displayed on the data display area ARM. 
     FIG. 6  is a block diagram showing a preferred embodiment of the information processing apparatus of the present invention. The information processing apparatus  20  is discussed, referring to  FIG. 6 . As shown, the information processing apparatus  20  is generally controlled by the CPU  21  which works in accordance with information processing programs stored in the hard disk. Available as media for storing programs to be installed in a computer for execution are not only removable package media such as a floppy disk, a CD-ROM, and a DVD, but also a semiconductor memory and a magnetic disk into which programs are temporarily or permanently stored. Means for storing programs in a program storing medium may be a wired communication system or a wireless communication system such as a local area network, the Internet, or a digital broadcasting satellite. A variety of communication interfaces such as a router and a modem may be used between the communication system and the information processing apparatus  20 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , the information processing apparatus  20  includes a data converter  101 , a transmission unit  102 , a processing controller  111 , a page data acquisition unit  112 , and a page data shaping unit  113 . The data converter  101  converts data in a variety of formats stored in a data area  23   a  of the auxiliary storage device  23  into the transmission data TD in a format displayable on the mobile terminal  30 . For example, the data of a HTML document resulting from an electronic mail, an address book, schedule, maps, and an automatic Web page download program is converted into text data or bitmap data by the data converter  101 . 
   The transmission unit  102  has the function of transmitting the transmission data TD stored in a transmission data area  103  to the mobile terminal  30 . The transmission unit  102  has also the function of receiving and the transmission data TD from the mobile terminal  30  through the external interface  27  shown in  FIG. 2  and the external terminal  93  shown in  FIG. 4  and storing the received transmission data TD in the transmission data area  103 . The transmission data TD transmitted from the transmission unit  102  can be monitored on the mobile terminal  30 , while the transmission data TD transmitted from the mobile terminal  30  can be monitored on the information processing apparatus  20 . 
   The transmission data area  103 , storing the transmission data TD, is formed in the auxiliary storage device  23 . In the transmission data area  103 , the transmission data TD is arranged in a tree structure with the text files or the bitmap files in a directory. The data converter  101  and the page data shaping unit  113  to be discussed later are used to create a directory in the transmission data area  103  and store the text data or the bitmap data in the created directory. The transmission data TD is stored in a manner such that each file is held in a respective directory which is created corresponding to the category of the file. Viewing the directory, the user immediately learns which category the transmission data TD belongs to. In this way, the user interface of the information processing apparatus  20  is enhanced. 
   The processing controller  111  has the function of calling the processing condition data PCD stored in a processing condition data area  114 , and sending the processing condition data PCD to the page data shaping unit  113  to be discussed later. Specifically, when the user clicks a service icon SA, the processing controller  111  recognizes a clicked service identifier  403 . The processing controller  111  acquires the processing condition data PCD from the processing condition data area  114  according to the service identifier  403 . The processing controller  111  sends address information  407  in the processing condition data PCD to the file monitor  200  while sending the address information  407  to the page data shaping unit  113  at the same time. The processing condition data area  114  is formed in the hard disk drive in the auxiliary storage device  23  shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   As will be discussed later, the processing controller  111 , connected to a processing condition data server  11 , updates the processing condition data PCD or adds new processing condition data PCD in the processing condition data area  114 . The processing controller  111  starts up the file monitor  200  and displays an acquired icon AA to be discussed later. 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , the processing condition data PCD includes file information  401 , category information  402 , the service identifier  403 , a service name  404 , icon information  405 , directory information  406 , the address information  407 , shaping conditions  408 , etc. The file information  401  includes information about the date of creation of the processing condition data PCD, the date of update of the processing condition data PCD, a file version number, etc. The category information  402  indicates the service content provided by the processing condition data PCD. Based on the category information  402 , the processing condition data PCD is stored in a predetermined location in the processing condition data area  114 . Network servers on the information network  10  are respectively tagged with their own service identifiers  403 . The service name  404  is derived from the service provided by that network server. 
   The icon information  405  is image information for use in the service icon SA and the acquired icon AA, as will be discussed later. The directory information  406  is local address information according to which the page data shaping unit  113  creates a directory in the transmission data area  103 . The address information  407  is an address of a network server providing service, for example, a URL. The shaping conditions  408  are conditions under which the page data shaping unit  113  shapes the page data PD. Based on these pieces of information, the processing controller  111  and the page data shaping unit  113  shape the page data PD. 
   As shown in  FIG. 7 , the shaping conditions  408  include format conditions  408   a , tag analysis conditions  408   b , and imaging conditions  408   c . The format conditions  408   a  include a character count per line condition defining a character count per line in shaped text data, and a line boundary character condition setting a character that is prohibited from being positioned at the start of a line or the end of the line. The format conditions  408   a  also include file conditions that set the type of image data of an image contained in the page data PD, for example, JPEG, GTE, etc. 
   The tag analysis conditions  408   b  are used to analyze the tag structure of the page data PD in the shaping of the page data PD. When a table shown in  FIG. 8A  is inserted into the page data PD, the source of the page data PD is something like the one shown in  FIG. 8B . The tag analysis conditions  408   b  are so set that a new line begins at a &lt;TR&gt;. . .&lt;TR&gt; tag and that another new line begins at a &lt;TD&gt; tag. In the shaped text data shown in  FIG. 8C , a line begins at each cell. In this way, page data PD that is displayed in a particular format under the control of tag is automatically laid out and shaped in text data. 
   The imaging conditions  408   c  include, in the shaped bitmap data, an image size condition for setting the maximum file size of bitmap data, an image width condition for setting the minimum image width, and an image height condition for setting the minimum image height. The imaging conditions  408   c  set the size of the bitmap data displayable on the display unit  31  of the mobile terminal  30 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 9 , the processing condition data area  114  has a data structure containing a plurality of categories CY, each storing a plurality of pieces of processing condition data PCD. Specifically, the processing condition data server  11  creates categories CY 1 –CY 4  having contents for restaurants, automobiles, computers, travels, for example. The category CY can be a directory, for example. The categories CY 1 –CY 4  store the processing condition data PCD corresponding to the network servers assigned thereto. For example, if the category CY 1  is for the computer field, the category CY 1  corresponds to network servers of computer software firms and computer hardware firms, for example, and stores processing condition data PCDa 1 –PCDa 4 . The determination of the category CY is performed by the processing controller  111  according to the category information  402  in the processing condition data PCD. 
   The processing condition data PCD is stored according to the category CY. As will be discussed later, to select the processing condition data PCD to be used, the user selects the category first, and selects the processing condition data PCD. The user can register desired service with ease, and user interface is improved. 
   The page data acquisition unit  112  acquires the page data PD displayed on the file monitor  200 , and sends the page data PD to the page data shaping unit  113 . The file monitor  200 , a so-called browser, is a computer application software for browsing the page data PD that can be accessed over a global network such as the Internet or a local network. The page data PD is compatible with a format such as HTML, SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language), or XML (extensible Markup Language), and includes a control character called a tag. The file monitor  200  includes a cache area  201  for temporarily storing the browsed page data PD. The cache area  201  is formed in the hard disk in the auxiliary storage device  23 . 
   The page data acquisition unit  112  searches for the page data PD currently displayed on the file monitor  200  referring to the page data PD stored in the cache area  201  of the file monitor  200 . This searching operation is performed based on the address AS of the page data PD displayed on the file monitor  200 . The address AS indicates the location of the page data PD over the network, and can be a URL (Uniform Resource Locator), for example. The page data acquisition unit  112  sends the page data PD in the cache area  201  to the page data shaping unit  113 . 
   Specifically, the page data acquisition unit  112  acquires, from the cache area  201  of the auxiliary storage device  23 , the page data PD already monitored with the information processing apparatus  20  connected to the network. Even in its unconnected state with the network, the page data PD currently viewed is monitored again. As will be discussed later, the user shapes the page data PD after viewing the page data PD, and determining whether to shape the page data PD. 
   The page data shaping unit  113  shapes the page data PD sent from the page data acquisition unit  112  based on the processing condition data PCD to display the page data PD on the mobile terminal  30 . When the page data PD is a HTML document, for example, the page data PD may include text data, image data, banner advertisements, scripts, backgrounds, etc. The form of the text data and the size of the image data are different from page data to page data. 
   Analyzing the page data PD, the page data shaping unit  113  extracts data to be transmitted to the mobile terminal  30 , such as text data and image data, in accordance with the processing condition data PCD. Specifically, the page data shaping unit  113  removes unnecessary data such as the banner advertisements. The page data shaping unit  113  organizes the text data portion of the extracted page data PD into a text file. In the extraction of the data, the page data shaping unit  113  recognizes a designated identifier STG attached to the page data PD, and determines the type of the data delimited by the designated identifiers STG. 
   The designated identifiers STG include a &lt;GETINFO&gt; tag and a &lt;/GETINFO&gt; tag for delimiting a data shaping area, a &lt;DUMPINFO&gt; tag and a &lt;/DUMPINFO&gt; tag for delimiting an unnecessary data area, a &lt;IC_INDEX&gt; tag and a &lt;/IC_INDEX&gt; tag for indicating data index information, and a &lt;COUPON&gt; tag and a &lt;/COUPON&gt; tag for indicating coupon information. 
   The &lt;GETINFO&gt; tag and the &lt;/GETINFO&gt; tag are located at the ends of the transmission data TD to be acquired. For example, in the page data PD shown in  FIG. 10 , the page data shaping unit  113  analyzes the data between the &lt;GETINFO&gt; tag and the &lt;/GETINFO&gt; tag, and recognizes the data as the data to be shaped. The &lt;GETINFO&gt; tag permits a “name” parameter and a “link” parameter to be designated. The “name” parameter designates a name when the range delimited by the &lt;GETINFO&gt; tag and the &lt;/GETINFO&gt; tag is shaped. The “link” parameter designates a link to another file in the shaped file. 
   The &lt;DUMPINFO&gt; tag and the &lt;/DUMPINFO&gt; tag designate an unnecessary data area in need of no shaping process in the page data PD. In the page data PD shown in  FIG. 11A , for example, the page data shaping unit  113  recognizes the data delimited by the &lt;DUMPINFO&gt; tag and the &lt;/DUMPINFO&gt; tag as a range in need of no shaping, and performs no tag analysis for HTML. If the &lt;GETINFO&gt; tag and the &lt;/GETINFO&gt; tag are set up, there is no need for designating an unnecessary data range. However, when the unnecessary data range is extremely large, the use of the &lt;DUMPINFO&gt; tag and the &lt;/DUMPINFO&gt; tag shortens the process involved.  FIG. 11B  shows an actual shaping result of the description shown in  FIG. 11A . The file name actually shaped is “Samplefile.txt”, and the data delimited by the &lt;DUMPINFO&gt; tag and the &lt;/DUMPINFO&gt; tag, namely, the message “This range is not acquired” is not present after the shaping process as shown in  FIG. 11B . 
   The &lt;IC_INDEX&gt; tag and the &lt;/IC_INDEX&gt; tag indicate the type of data and individual information expressed in the page data PD. When the &lt;IC_INDEX&gt; tag and the &lt;/IC_INDEX&gt; tag are included within the range delimited by the &lt;GETINFO&gt; tag and the &lt;/GETINFO&gt; tag, the data between the &lt;IC_INDEX&gt; tag and the &lt;/IC_INDEX&gt; tag is extracted to form a single file. In this case, a file formed by the &lt;GETINFO&gt; tag and the &lt;/GETINFO&gt; tag excludes the data delimited between the &lt;IC_INDEX&gt; tag and the &lt;/IC_INDEX&gt; tag. Like the &lt;GETINFO&gt; tag, the &lt;/IC_INDEX&gt; tag permits a “name” parameter and a “link” parameter to be designated. 
   In the page data PD shown in  FIG. 12A , the page data shaping unit  113  creates the file name “exptag.txt” by the &lt;GETINFO&gt; tag shown in  FIG. 12B  and the file name “contents.txt” by the &lt;IC_INDEX&gt; tag shown in  FIG. 12C . 
   The &lt;COUPON&gt; tag and the &lt;/COUPON&gt; tag indicate the coupon information in the page data PD. Coupon information for providing price discount or service in restaurants, tailor&#39;s, mass merchandise outlets, for example, has been conventionally distributed by a paper sheet ticket as a medium. When coupon information is distributed using a network such as the Internet, the coupon information is transmitted to the mobile terminal  30 , and the coupon information may be verified at a restaurant, for example. The &lt;COUPON&gt; tag and the &lt;/COUPON&gt; tag provide the coupon information in the page data PD. 
   In the page data PD shown in  FIG. 13 , the page data shaping unit  113  recognizes the range delimited by the &lt;COUPON&gt; tag and the &lt;/COUPON&gt; tag as the coupon information. Like the &lt;GETINFO&gt; tag, the &lt;COUPON&gt; tag permits a “name” parameter and a “link” parameter to be designated. Further, the &lt;COUPON&gt; tag designates a “limit” parameter. The “limit” parameter indicates the expiration date of the content of the coupon information. 
   In accordance with the designated identifier STG, the page data shaping unit  113  analyzes the page data PD for the acquired area, the unnecessary area, the file name, and the coupon information, and then shapes the transmission data TD. Using the designated identifier STG, the page data shaping unit  113  efficiently and quickly shapes the page data PD. Based on the designated identifier STG, the page data shaping unit  113  imparts new additional information, such as an expiration date and a file name of the shaped data file to the shaped data. For example, when the file shaped by the user is the coupon information, the data may be organized so that the user easily recognizes when it comes the expiration date. 
   It is possible to dynamically impart information to the page data PD, for example, of how many days the information remains effective from when the user acquired the page data PD. The information provider has more freedom of information added to the page data PD. Now, described in the page data PD is a designated identifier for imparting additional information using information prestored and set in the information processing apparatus  20 , namely, the user computer. The additional information is imparted according to the information prestored and set in the user computer. Information is thus dynamically imparted. 
   For example, map information is now stored. By simply designating latitude and longitude by the designated identifier STG or the parameters thereof, the geographic position on the map is determined. The page data PD may include a designated identifier STG for creating a map file detailing a geographical area in and around the designated latitude and longitude for the user. The page data PD may include a designated identifier STG for adding to the shaped data, the data of the user name, user information, the age and sex of the user already registered in the user computer. By using the designated identifier STG in this way, not only the information provided by the service but also the user&#39;s individual additional information are added to the shaped data. 
   The page data PD may provide particular information such as the coupon information. As for the coupon information, the tags of the page data PD may not be sufficient enough to convey the expiration date. By allowing the page data shaping unit  113  to analyze the designated identifier STG and the parameters thereof, the user may use the coupon information provided by the page data PD in substantially the same intervals as the coupon information provided by an actual paper sheet coupon ticket. 
   The page data shaping unit  113  converts image data of various formats for instance, JPEG (Joint Photographic Coding Experts Group) or GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) into black and white binary bitmap data. The data converter  101  may convert the image data into the black and white binary bitmap data using a pattern method, a cluster method, or a dithering method. The page data acquisition unit  112  aligns the text document while adjusting the size of the image data. 
   In this way, the page data shaping unit  113  has the function of shaping the page data PD, such as analyzing, extracting, converting, and aligning the page data PD. The data converter  101  creates a directory (a folder) in the transmission data area  103 , and stores the converted transmission data TD in that directory. 
     FIG. 14  shows a main window  130  of the information processing apparatus  20  of the present invention. The user operates the information processing apparatus  20  observing the main window  130 . The main window  130  is presented on the display device  25  at the startup of an information processing program. The main window  130  of the information processing apparatus  20  shown in  FIG. 14  includes a title bar  131 , a menu bar  132 , a tool bar  133 , a transmission data window AR  8 , a preview window AR  9 , a mobile terminal window AR  10 , etc. 
   The title bar  131  displays a window name K 251  and an icon S 251 . The menu bar  132  is used to execute commands for shaping and transmitting the page data PD, and settings for the information processing apparatus  20 . The tool bar  133  presents icons of frequently used commands registered in the menu bar  132 . By clicking an icon, the respective process is executed. 
   The tool bar  133  presents a conversion icon CA and a service icon SA. When the conversion icon CA is clicked, the data converter  101  shown in  FIG. 6  starts up, performing a conversion operation. The service icon SA is formed for each server, and each service icon SA is assigned with a service identifier  403  shown in  FIG. 7A . In response to the clicking of the service icon SA, the service identifier  403  is sent to the processing controller  111  shown in  FIG. 6 . The processing controller  111  starts up, thereby extracting the processing condition data PCD in accordance with the service identifier  403 . 
   The transmission data window AR  8  displays the content of the transmission data area  103 , namely, the transmission data TD in a tree structure. By selecting a predetermined file in the transmission data window AR  8  with a cursor, the selected file is transmitted and displayed on the preview screen. The transmission data window AR  8  includes, on the upper portion thereof, a memory window AR  8   a  for displaying the capacity of the storage unit  96  in the mobile terminal  30  and the size of the transmission data TD stored in the transmission data area  103 . Monitoring the memory window AR  8   a , the user transmits data to the mobile terminal  30 . The user can thus adjust the number and file size of the transmission data TD transmitted to the mobile terminal  30 . 
   The preview window AR  9 , formed below the transmission data window AR  8 , displays the transmission data TD selected in the transmission data window AR  8 . When a text file is selected in the transmission data window AR  8 , the preview window AR  9  displays a text document. When a bitmap file is selected, the preview window AR  9  displays a black and white binary image. The mobile terminal window AR  10  displays the front view of the mobile terminal  30  with the data shown in a tree structure on the screen of the mobile terminal  30 . 
   The mobile terminal window AR  10  displays a transmission icon Y 0 . The transmission icon Y 0  includes an arrow Y 1  pointing from the transmission data window AR  8  to the mobile terminal window AR  10  and an arrow Y 2  pointing from the mobile terminal window AR  10  to the transmission data window AR  8 . When the transmission icon Y 0  is clicked, the transmission unit  102  shown in  FIG. 6  starts up, sending the transmission data TD to the mobile terminal  30 . Specifically, when the arrow Y 1  is clicked, the transmission data TD is sent from the transmission data area  103  to the mobile terminal  30 . When the arrow Y 2  is clicked, the transmission data TD is sent from the mobile terminal  30  to the transmission data area  103 . 
     FIG. 15  is a flow diagram showing a preferred embodiment of the information processing method of the present invention. The information processing method is now discussed, referring to  FIG. 15 . In step ST 1 , the user manipulates the mouse to click the service icon SA shown in  FIG. 14 . Instep ST 2 , the processing controller  111  shown in  FIG. 6  receives the service identifier  403  assigned to each service icon SA. 
   In step ST 3 , the processing controller  111  reads the processing condition data PCD of the service identifier  403  received from the processing condition data area  114 . In step ST 4 , the processing controller  111  displays the acquired icon AA on the display device  25  using the image of the service identifier  403  in the processing condition data PCD. The processing controller  111  starts up the file monitor  200 , sending the address information  407  of the processing condition data PCD to the file monitor  200 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 16 , the display device  25  displays, on the screen thereof, the file monitor  200  with the page data PD of the address information  407  of the processing condition data PCD presented thereon, and the acquired icon AA. The page data PD presented on the file monitor  200  can be an index page, i.e., the top page of the database accessible on the network server. 
   Referring to  FIG. 17 , a procedure from the acquisition of the page data PD to the shaping of the page data PD is now discussed. In step ST 10 , monitoring the page data PD, the user operates the file monitor  200  so that the file monitor  200  presents the desired page data PD to be displayed, namely, the page data PD to be transmitted to the mobile terminal  30 . In step ST 11 , the user clicks the acquired icon AA when the target page data PD is displayed on the file monitor  200 . In response to the clicking of the acquired icon AA, the page data acquisition unit  112  starts up. 
   In step S 12 , the page data acquisition unit  112  shown in  FIG. 6  acquires the address AS such as the URL from the file monitor  200 . In step S 13 , the page data acquisition unit  112  searches for the data file of the page data PD currently being observed, based on the address AS. The page data acquisition unit  112  searches for the corresponding page data PD from among the page data PD stored in the cache area  201  in the file monitor  200 . The page data acquisition unit  112  sends the acquired page data PD to the page data shaping unit  113 . 
   In this way, the acquisition of the page data PD is performed in a off-line state without connecting to a network. This method eliminates a step for connecting to the network, and results in costs lower than those when a telephone line is used. 
   In step ST 14 , the page data shaping unit  113  creates a directory in the transmission data area  103 , based on the directory information of the processing condition data PCD. Used as the name of the direction is the service name shown in  FIG. 7A . A file corresponding to each service is stored in the directory created according to the type of service in the transmission data area  103 . A file searching in the transmission data TD having a tree structure becomes easy, and user interface is improved. 
   The page data shaping unit  113  recognizes the designated identifier STG of the acquired page data PD, extracts the data from the page data PD, and analyzes the tag in the extracted data according to the tag analysis conditions  408   b  shown in  FIG. 7B . The page data shaping unit  113  thus produces a text file and a bitmap file. Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 18 , a current buffer to be used for character string processing is initialized in step ST 101 . In step ST 102 , a check is made to determine whether the character string forming the page data PD includes a designated identifier STG. When it is determined that the character string forming the page data PD includes a designated identifier STG, steps in ST 103 , ST 104 , ST 105 , and ST 106  are respectively performed in accordance with the type of the designated identifier STG. When no designated identifier STG is included, the character string of the page data PD is stored in the current buffer. The character string of the page data PD within the range delimited by the designated identifiers STG is also stored in the current buffer. Steps ST 102 –ST 108  are performed on all character strings of the page data PD. 
     FIG. 19  is a flow diagram showing the processing method of the &lt;DUMPINFO&gt; tag and the &lt;/DUMPINFO&gt; tag as the designated identifiers STG. In step ST 111  in  FIG. 19 , it is determined whether a tag recognized by the page data shaping unit  113  is a &lt;DUMPINFO&gt; tag. When it is determined that the &lt;DUMPINFO&gt; tag is recognized, the content of the current buffer is stored in a second buffer for character string processing in step ST 112 . The data stored in the current buffer is thus protected during the processing of character strings. In steps ST 102 –ST 108  in  FIG. 18 , the character data following the &lt;DUMPINFO&gt; tag is stored in the current buffer. 
   If a &lt;/DUMPINFO&gt; tag is recognized in the page data PD in step ST 113 , all data stored in the current buffer is erased in step ST 114 . The data within the range delimited by the &lt;DUMPINFO&gt; tag and the &lt;/DUMPINFO&gt; tag is deleted. In step ST 115 , the data evacuated in the second buffer is moved to the current buffer. 
     FIG. 20  is a flow diagram showing the processing method of the &lt;IC_INDEX&gt; tag and the &lt;/IC_INDEX&gt; tag as the designated identifiers STG. In step ST 121  in  FIG. 20 , it is determined whether a tag recognized by the page data shaping unit  113  is a &lt;IC_INDEX&gt; tag. When it determined that the &lt;IC_INDEX&gt; tag is recognized, the content of the current buffer is stored in a second buffer for character string processing in step ST 122 . The data stored in the current buffer is thus protected during the processing of character strings. In step S 123 , a “name” parameter and a “link” parameter designated in the &lt;IC_INDEX&gt; tag are recognized. In steps ST 102 –ST 108  in  FIG. 18 , the character data following the &lt;IC_INDEX&gt; tag is stored in the current buffer. 
   If a &lt;/IC_INDEX&gt; tag is recognized in the page data PD in step ST 124 , the page data shaping unit  113  regards the content of the current buffer and the parameter as the data to be shaped, and reads the data stored in the current buffer in step ST 125 . In step ST 126 , the data stored in the second buffer is moved to the current buffer. 
     FIG. 21  is a flow diagram showing the processing method of the &lt;COUPON&gt; tag and the &lt;/COUPON&gt; tag as the designated identifiers STG. In step ST 131  in  FIG. 21 , it is determined whether a tag recognized by the page data shaping unit  113  is a &lt;COUPON&gt; tag. When it determined that the &lt;COUPON&gt; tag is recognized, the content of the current buffer is stored in a second buffer for character string processing in step ST 132 . The data stored in the current buffer is thus protected during the processing of character strings. In step S 133 , a “limit” parameter designated in the &lt;COUPON&gt; tag are recognized. In steps ST 102 –ST 108  in  FIG. 18 , the character data following the &lt;COUPON&gt; tag is stored in the current buffer. 
   If a &lt;/COUPON&gt; tag is recognized in the page data PD in step ST 134 , the page data shaping unit  113  regards the content of the current buffer and the parameter as the data to be shaped, and reads the data stored in the current buffer in step ST 135 . In step ST 136 , the current buffer restores the data thereof, with the data stored in the second buffer moved thereto. 
     FIG. 22  is a flow diagram showing the processing method of the &lt;GETINFO&gt; tag and the &lt;/GETINFO&gt; tag as the designated identifiers STG. In step ST 141  in  FIG. 22 , it is determined whether a tag recognized by the page data shaping unit  113  is a &lt;GETINFO&gt; tag. When it determined that the &lt;GETINFO&gt; tag is recognized, the content of the current buffer is stored in a second buffer for character string processing in step ST 142  for evacuation. The data stored in the current buffer is thus protected during the processing of character strings. In step S 143 , a “name” parameter and a “link” parameter designated in the &lt;GETINFO&gt; tag are recognized. In steps ST 102 –ST 108  in  FIG. 18 , the character data following the &lt;GETINFO&gt; tag is newly stored in the current buffer. 
   If a &lt;/GETINFO&gt; tag is recognized in the page data PD in step ST 144 , the page data shaping unit  113  regards the content of the current buffer and the parameter as the data to be shaped, and retrieves the data stored in the current buffer in step ST 145 . In step ST 146 , the current buffer restores the data thereof, with the data stored in the second buffer moved thereto. 
   In this way, the page data shaping unit  113  recognizes the designated identifiers STG and extracts, from the page data PD, the data to be shaped. The page data shaping unit  113  shapes the page data PD to be displayable on the mobile terminal  30  based on the processing condition data PCD. Specifically, the processing condition data PCD shown in  FIG. 23  is now acquired and shaped. For example, first page data PD 1  of the page data PD is associated with the &lt;COUPON&gt; tag and the &lt;/COUPON&gt; tag, and second page data PD 3  is associated with the &lt;IC_INDEX&gt; tag and the &lt;/IC_INDEX&gt; tag. The page data shaping unit  113  extracts the first acquired page data PD 1  and the second acquired page data PD 3 . 
   The page data shaping unit  113  analyzes the first acquired page data PD 1  and the second acquired page data PD 3  according to the tag analysis conditions  408   b . The page data shaping unit  113  converts the first acquired page data PD 1  and the second acquired page data PD 3  into text files TEXT  1  and TEXT 2  according to the tag analysis conditions  408   b . Further, the page data shaping unit  113  performs a character count per line process and a line boundary character process on the text files TEXT 1  and TEXT 2  according to the format conditions  408   a.    
   On the other hand, the page data shaping unit  113  extracts acquired image data PD 2  as an image file within the page data PD to be converted, according to the file condition in the shaping conditions  408   a . The page data shaping unit  113  converts the data format of the acquired image data PD 2  compatible with GIF, JPEG, or the like into a bitmap file BMP 1 . The page data shaping unit  113  adjusts the converted bitmap file BMP 1  in file size, file height, width according to the imaging conditions  408   c.    
   Referring to  FIGS. 24A ,  24 B, and  24 C, the mobile terminal  30  presents the text files TEXT 1  ( FIG. 24B ), and TEXT 2  ( FIG. 24C ), and the image file BMP 1  ( FIG. 24A ) in their proper state. Since the page data shaping unit  113  shapes the data according to the shaping conditions  408 , the user performs the acquisition and shaping process by simply clicking the acquired icon AA. The acquisition and shaping process is thus efficiently performed. 
   In step ST 15  shown in  FIG. 17 , the page data shaping unit  113  stores the created transmission data TD in the transmission data area  103 . In this case, the page data shaping unit  113  holds the transmission data TD in directories (folders) created in the transmission data area  103 . Referring to  FIG. 25 , the transmission data window AR  8  displays the text file and the bitmap file, created by the page data shaping unit  113 , in their state held in the directories. The user selects a file in the transmission data window AR  8 , or transmits the transmission data TD to the mobile terminal  30  in a bulk. 
   In each of the above embodiments, the page data shaping unit  113  extracts the necessary data from the page data PD in accordance with the designated identifier attached to the page data PD, and shapes the extracted data according the processing condition data PCD. The shaping operation of the data is efficiently and quickly performed. With the designated identifier attached, the data within the page data has a particular meaning. Specifically, by attaching the coupon identifier indicating the coupon information, for example, the coupon service may be provided over the Internet. 
   The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. In the above discussion, the page data PD is located on the network. The present invention is applicable to a HTML document in the form of a manual distributed on a CD-ROM or a floppy disk. In this case, the address AS presented on the file monitor  200  is the location of the corresponding file in the auxiliary storage device  23 . The page data PD may be stored in the hard disk when the information processing apparatus  20  is shipped. In this case, the address AS presented in the file monitor  200  is the location of the corresponding file in the auxiliary storage device  23 . The page data acquisition unit  112  shown in  FIG. 6  may have an acquisition area for separately storing another page data PD. The page data acquisition unit  112  may directly access the page data PD on the network in accordance with the address AS and store the page data PD on the acquisition area. 
   In the above discussion, the mobile terminal  30  handles the text data and the bitmap data as the data format of the transmission data TD. Another data format is acceptable as long as the mobile terminal  30  can handle. 
   In accordance with the present invention, the page data is processed to be displayable on the mobile terminal according to the designated identifier and processing information data. The present invention thus provides the information processing apparatus, and the information processing method having good user interface capability, and a program storage medium for storing the information processing program.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8