Patent ID: 8213987

Claim:
A terminal device usable in connection with a server and an external display device, wherein the server is configured to store an original image data set, divide the original image data set into a plurality of sub-image data sets, such that a size of each sub-image data set is within a display area size of the terminal device, and transmit the plurality of sub-image data sets to the terminal device, the terminal device comprising: a sub-image receiver configured to receive the plurality of sub-image data sets from the server; a format converter configured to convert an image format of the plurality of sub-image data sets into a same image-format as an image format of the external display device, on a per-sub-image-data-set basis, the image format defining at least one of color information and tone level information assigned to each pixel of an image to be displayed; an original-image regenerator configured to regenerate the original image data set from the plurality of format-converted sub-image data sets in a form of an entire set of data by sequencing and combining the plurality of sub-image data sets, or in a form of a plurality of separate data blocks each of which is formed by sequencing and combining a sub-plurality of the plurality of sub-image data sets; and an output device configured to output the regenerated entire set of data or data blocks to the external display device.