JPH09134367A - Multimedia data processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Problem] In the multimedia information processing system in the conventional multimedia information search server and client,
In addition to the data requested by the client, unnecessary data is transmitted and received at the same time, which requires more communication volume and communication time than necessary for the user. SOLUTION: A multimedia information device having an output means such as a display and a speaker for outputting multimedia data such as video, audio and characters, an input means such as a mouse and a keyboard, and a storage means such as a hard disk and a floppy disk. At the time of externally acquiring data for the purpose of outputting to the output means,
It is provided with a partial data address generating means for generating a partial data address such as a coordinate value indicating a range of data to be acquired, a time, and the number of bytes from the information input from the input means. A multimedia data processing system, characterized in that a device outside a multimedia information device used by a user extracts data in a range corresponding to a partial data address to reduce the load of data extraction processing on the user side device.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a PDA (Personal Dig
multimedia data for searching and displaying multimedia information such as character strings, voice, and video on client / server devices using portable information terminals such as ital Assistant) and laptop computers, and multimedia terminals such as personal computers and workstations. Provide a processing system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a multimedia information processing system in a conventional multimedia information retrieval server and client represented by WWW (World Wide Web) and Mosaic, a unit of data to be transmitted and received is as large as a file unit.
In addition to the data requested by the client, unnecessary data is transmitted and received at the same time, which causes a problem that the user requires more communication volume and communication time than necessary. On the other hand, by displaying the beginning part of the received data while the client is receiving the data, a method to reduce the stress of the user due to the communication time longer than necessary has been realized. The amount has not been reduced.

[0003]

In the above prior art, data other than the data requested by the user is also transmitted and received, which requires more communication and communication time than necessary for the user. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to transmit the position information of the data requested by the client to the server,
By extracting data according to a request in the server, the data communication amount and communication time are reduced.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, output means of multimedia data consisting of video, audio and character information, input means such as mouse and keyboard, hard disk and floppy disk are provided. Inputting the request information of the data that can be output to the storage means and the output means, and based on the request information, a partial data address such as a coordinate value, a time, the number of bytes indicating the range of the data to be acquired is generated. A partial data address generating means is provided, the partial data address is transmitted to an external storage device connected via a communication network, and only data in a range corresponding to the address is extracted and output to the output means.

As another form, it is possible to output the multimedia data consisting of video, audio and character information, the input means such as a mouse and a keyboard, the storage means such as a hard disk and a floppy disk, and the output means. And the partial data address such as the coordinate value, the time, and the number of bytes indicating the position of the partial data in the entire data is input by the user's operation based on the request information of the partial data forming a part of the entire data. Partial data address generation means for generating from information, data transmission request protocol generation means for generating a data transmission request protocol including the partial data address and data path, and the data for a multimedia data search server (hereinafter, server) Data transmission request protocol transmitting means for transmitting a transmission request protocol , A multimedia data display client (hereinafter referred to as a client) including a data receiving means for receiving data from a server, and an output data generating means for converting partial data received by the data receiving means into an output format according to a medium. Multimedia data having a data transmission request protocol receiving means for receiving the data transmission request protocol from a client, a data searching means for searching the data, and a server having the data transmitting means for transmitting the data to the client In the processing system, the server has a data extraction unit that extracts partial data according to the partial data address included in the data transmission request protocol, thereby reducing the processing load on the client.

In addition to the above-described form, a server (hereinafter, relay server) that manages replication of data under server management is provided,
The client acquires the requested data at the relay server.

Further, in the relay server, according to the data transmission request protocol receiving means for receiving the data transmission request protocol from the client, the data searching means for searching the data, and the partial data address included in the data transmission request protocol. It has a data extraction means for extracting partial data.

Further, the partial data address generation means is provided with an address storage file reading means for acquiring a partial data address from a file in which at least data storage position information and the partial data address are described, or transmitted to the server. Data area information acquisition means for acquiring area information of the data displayed on the display for generating a partial data address indicating a data area to be requested, and a partial data address for converting the area information into the partial data address. And a conversion means.

The data extraction means determines the medium of the data to be extracted, using the data retrieved by the data retrieval means and the partial data address included in the data transmission request protocol received by the data transmission request protocol receiving means. Media judgment means, characters, still images,
It has a media extracting means for extracting partial data for each medium such as voice and moving image, and the server extracts the data of the requested area. The output data generating means is a data updating means for updating the existing data in addition to the data already acquired for the partial data received by the data receiving means, and an output format for converting the data into a format to be output by a display or a speaker. A conversion means is provided.

A position input means such as a mouse for designating an area of data displayed on the display, a data area information acquisition means for acquiring area information of the data, and a portion for converting the data area information into the partial data address. By having the data address converting means and the address storing means for storing at least the partial data address in the file, the address of the data is stored instead of the data.

In the user interface provided with at least the data display area for displaying the data on the display and the means for designating the range on the data display area, the range is designated on the data display area.

The server determines processing efficiency of the client for the data retrieved by the data retrieval means, and determines processing efficiency determination means for determining whether the data extraction is performed by the server or the client. In preparation for this, the amount of data communication between the client and server and the amount of processing in the client and server are reduced.

The client and the server are provided with an agent for managing the data to be stored, and the cooperation between the agents controls so as not to acquire the data to be stored again. Furthermore, the relay server may also be provided with an agent that manages the data to be stored, and the cooperation between the agents may control so that the data to be stored is not acquired again.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Here, as an environment for realizing a multimedia data processing system, a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as
A description will be given assuming a client-server environment configured by combining a multimedia terminal such as a PC) or a workstation (hereinafter, WS) and a server type information processing device having an information search function.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a multimedia data processing system of the present invention. In FIG.
The client 101 represents a program or its terminal device which is started in the terminal of the user of the multimedia data processing system. The server 102 is a program or its device for searching the multimedia data and providing information to the client 101. Here, the server 10
Both 1 and client 102 will be described below as programs. The display 103 is means for outputting characters, still images, moving images and the like as images. The display
103 may be provided with a speaker or may be replaced by a speaker in the case where audio output is accompanied when outputting an image. The input unit 104 is a position input unit such as a mouse or a character input unit such as a keyboard. The partial data address generation unit 111 is a unit that generates a partial data address indicating a range within multimedia data such as video, audio, and characters. The disk 106 is a storage medium such as a hard disk or a floppy disk. The data search means 107 is means for searching data from the data storage area. The data extraction means 108 is a means for performing partial extraction of data.

The present invention is different from the conventional one in that the client
The partial data address generating means 105 is provided in 101.

In FIG. 1, when data is externally acquired for the purpose of being output to the display 103 by the client 101, partial data addresses such as coordinate values, time, and the number of bytes indicating the range of the data to be acquired are It is generated by the data address generation means 105. The server 10 acquires the data using the generated partial data address.
By making a request to 2, the acquisition request range of the client 101 can be clearly transmitted to the server 102. As a result, it becomes possible to realize a data acquisition mechanism in consideration of copyright by transmitting the acquisition request range. Further, it is possible to extract the data of the acquisition request range outside the client 101 in advance, and as a result, it is possible to reduce the load of the data extraction process in the client 101. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the multimedia data processing system of the present invention. In FIG.
The client 201 represents a program or its terminal device which is started in the terminal of the user of the multimedia data processing system. The server 202 represents a program or its device that searches multimedia data and provides information to the client 201. Here, the server 20
Both 1 and client 202 will be described below as programs. The partial data address generation unit 211 is a unit that generates a partial data address indicating a range within multimedia data such as video, audio, and characters. The data transmission request protocol generating means 203 is means for generating a data transmission request protocol including the storage position information of multimedia data and a partial data address. The data transmission request protocol transmitting means 204 is means for transmitting the data transmission request protocol to the server. The data receiving means 205 is means for receiving the data transmitted from the server. The output data generating means 206 is the data receiving means 2
It is a means to convert the data received by 05 into an output format suitable for the output media such as video, audio, and characters. The display is a means for outputting data on the screen. Although a display is shown as an output destination of the output data generating means in FIG. 2, another output means such as a speaker can be used. The data transmission request protocol receiving means 207 is means for receiving the data transmission request protocol transmitted from the client 201.
The data retrieval means 208 is a means for retrieving data from the data storage area. The data extraction means 209 is a means for performing partial extraction of data according to the partial data address included in the data transmission request protocol. Data transmission means
210 is a means for transmitting data to the client 201.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, first, the client 201 causes the partial data address generation means 211 to generate a partial data address using the information input by the user's operation. Here, the partial data address indicates a value such as a coordinate value indicating a partial data position in the entire data, a time, and a byte address. Next, the data transmission request protocol generation means 203 generates a data transmission request protocol including the storage location information of the data requested to be transmitted and the partial data address, and the data transmission request protocol transmission means 204 transmits it to the server 202. When the server 202 receives this protocol by the data transmission request protocol receiving means 207, the data searching means 208 searches the data using the storage location information of the data included in the protocol. Further, the data extraction means 209 extracts data according to the partial data address included in the protocol, and transmits the extracted data to the client 201. In the client 201, the partial data transmitted from the server 202 is received by the data receiving means 205, and converted by the output data generating means 206 into a format to be output to the display. Output to the display.

By performing the above processing, the server 20
2 provides the data in the range according to the request of the client 201, and can reduce the data communication cost between the client and the server.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the multimedia data processing system of the present invention. In FIG.
The client 301 indicates a program or its terminal device to be activated in the terminal of the user of the multimedia data processing system. The server 303 indicates a program or its device for searching multimedia data and providing information to the client 301. Here, the server 30
Both 1 and the client 302 will be described below as programs. As with the server 302, the relay server 302 represents a program or its device that searches multimedia data and provides information to the client 301. Here, each of the client 301, the server 303, and the relay server 302 will be described below as a program. Data retrieval means
The 304 and the data retrieval means 306 are means for retrieving data from the data storage area.

In FIG. 3, in the relay server 302 that manages copying of data under the control of the server 303, the same data search as the data search by the data search means 306 in the server 303 can be performed. Therefore, the client
The 301 acquires the data requested by the relay server 302, and as a result, particularly when the relay server 302 is closer to the client 301 than the server 303, the communication cost when the client 301 acquires the data is reduced. To be able to do.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the multimedia data processing system of the present invention. In FIG.
The client 401 represents a program or its terminal device that is activated in the terminal of the user of the multimedia data processing system. The server 402 is a program or its device that searches multimedia data and provides information to the client 201. As with the server 402, the relay server 402 represents a program or its apparatus that searches multimedia data and provides information to the client 301. Here, the client 401, the server 402, and the relay server 415 will be described below as programs. The partial data address generation unit 403 is a unit that generates a partial data address indicating a range within multimedia data such as video, audio, and characters. The data transmission request protocol generating means 404 is a means for generating a data transmission request protocol including storage location information of multimedia data and a partial data address. Here, the difference from FIG. 2 is that, as the storage location information of multimedia, the location information of the relay server 415 is used in addition to the location information of the server 402 where the data is actually stored. The data transmission request protocol transmitting means 405 is means for transmitting the data transmission request protocol to the relay server 415. The data receiving unit 406 is a unit that receives the data transmitted from the relay server 415. Output data generation means
407 represents the data received by the data receiving means 206,
It is a means for converting the output format such as video, audio, and characters according to the output media. In FIG. 4, a display is shown as an output destination of the output data generating means, but other output means such as a speaker can be used. Further, in the relay server 415, the data transmission request protocol receiving means 408 is a means for receiving the data transmission request protocol transmitted from the client 201. The data search means 409 is means for searching data in the data storage area. The data extraction means 410 is a means for performing partial extraction of data according to the partial data address included in the data transmission request protocol. Data transmission means 41
1 is a means for transmitting data to the client 401.
Further, in the server 402, the data transmission request protocol receiving means 412 is a means for receiving the data transmission request protocol transmitted from the relay server 415. The data search means 413 is means for searching data in the data storage area. The data transmission means 414 transmits the data to the client 401.
Means to send to

The present invention is different from the conventional one in that the relay server 41
5 is that the data extraction means 410 is provided.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, first, the client 401 causes the partial data address generating means 403 to generate the partial data address by using the information input by the operation of the user. Next, the data transmission request protocol generation means 404 generates a data transmission request protocol including the storage position information of the data requested to be transmitted and the partial data address, and the data transmission request protocol transmission means 405 transmits it to the relay server 415. When the relay server 415 receives this protocol by the data transmission request protocol receiving means 408, the data searching means 409 searches the data using the storage location information of the data included in the protocol. Therefore, when the relay server 415 retrieves the data, the data is input to the data extracting means 410. If the relay server 415 finds no data, the server 402 that is the original data storage location
The data transmission request protocol is transmitted to. In this case, in the server 402, first, the data transmission request protocol receiving means 412 receives the data transmission request protocol, and the data retrieval means 413 retrieves the data using the storage location information of the data included in the protocol. Further, the retrieved data is transmitted to the relay server 415. The relay server 415 that has received the data inputs the data to the data extracting unit 410, as in the case where the data is retrieved by the data retrieving unit 409. Further, the data extraction means 410 extracts data according to the partial data address included in the protocol, and transmits the extracted data to the client 401. In the client 401, the data receiving means 406 receives the partial data transmitted from the server 402, and the output data generating means 407 converts the partial data into a format to be output to a display. Output to the display.

By performing the above processing, relay server 415 provides the data in the range corresponding to the request of client 401, and relay server 415 is physically closer than server 402, and When 415 already stores the requested data, the data communication cost between the client and the server can be further reduced as compared with the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the data transmission request protocol generating means 203 of FIG. In FIG. 5, an address storage file 502 is a file in which data storage location information and the partial data address are described. The address storage file reading means 501 is means for acquiring the partial data address described in the address storage file 502.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, first, in addition to the storage location information of the data described in the address storage file 502, the partial data address of the data to be requested is read by the address storage file reading means 501, and the partial data address is read. To get. FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the data transmission request protocol generating means 203 of FIG. In FIG. 6, the data area information acquisition means 601 is means for acquiring area information of data to be output in the data. Partial data address generation means 602, the data area information acquired by the data area information acquisition means 601,
It is a means for converting the requested data into a value such as a byte address indicating the position in the entire data, a time, or a coordinate value.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, first, the data area information acquisition means 601 acquires area information indicating the range of data to be output from the user's input or the like. Here, the area information is a value such as the coordinate value of the end point of the specified area with respect to the image of the character data output to the display, for example. In this case, the area information does not necessarily match the address in the data, because the area information may change according to the format in which the data is displayed. In order for the data extraction means 109 in the server 202 of FIG. 2 to perform data extraction, it is necessary to use a value that is an absolute index in the data, such as a byte address, as the partial data address. Next, the protocol generation unit 602 converts the area information into the partial data address.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the data extraction means 209 of FIG. In FIG. 7, the data transmission request protocol receiving means 207 is means for receiving the data transmission request protocol including the area information of the data requested to be transmitted from the client 201 in the server 202. The data search means 208 is a means for searching the data requested by the protocol. The media determination unit 701 is a unit that determines the medium of the data to be extracted. As a method of determination, there are a method in which the type of medium is described in the data itself, and a method of determining by the data and a method of including the type of the medium of the data requested to be transmitted in the data transmission request protocol. In either case, the data extraction means 209 shown in this embodiment can deal with it. The character data extraction unit 702 is a unit that extracts a corresponding area of character data based on a partial data address such as a byte address. The still image data extraction unit 703 is a unit that extracts the corresponding region of the still image data based on the partial data address such as the coordinate value. The voice data extraction means 704 is a means for extracting a corresponding area of voice data based on a partial data address such as time. The moving image data extraction means 705
It is a means for extracting the corresponding region of the moving image data based on the partial data address such as time or coordinate value. The data transmitting means 210 is means for transmitting data to the client 201.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, first, in the data transmission request protocol receiving means 207, the client 201
The data transmission request protocol transmitted from is received, and the data retrieval means 208 retrieves the data based on the storage location information of the data included in the protocol or the retrieval condition of the data. Next, regarding the retrieved data,
The media determination unit 701 determines the type of data medium. When the media determination unit 701 determines that the data is character data, the character data extraction unit 702 extracts the data of the area corresponding to the partial data address included in the protocol. When it is determined that the image is a still image, the still image data extraction unit 703
The data in the area corresponding to the partial data address included in the protocol is extracted by. If it is determined to be voice, the voice data extraction unit 704 extracts the data of the area corresponding to the partial data address included in the protocol. If it is determined to be a movie,
The moving image data extraction means 705 extracts the data of the area corresponding to the partial data address included in the protocol. Then, the data transmitting means 210 transmits the extracted data from the server 202 to the client 201. In this way, by extracting and transmitting only the area designated by the user terminal according to each medium, it becomes possible to reduce the communication cost between the client and the server.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the data receiving means 205 of FIG. In FIG. 8, the data receiving means 20
5 is a means for receiving the data transmitted from the server 202. The data updating means 801 is means for updating the existing data 803 currently displayed on the display screen by adding the partial data received by the data receiving means 205. The output format conversion means 802 is means for converting the data updated by the data update means 801 into a format for outputting.

In the embodiment of FIG. 8, first, the server 202
The data transmitted from the data transmitting means 210 of 1 is received by the data receiving means 206 of the client 201. Further, the data updating means 801 adds the received data to a specific position and updates the existing data 803 on the memory currently displayed on the display screen. Further, the output format converting means 802 recreates the screen for displaying the data and outputs it on the display screen.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which address storage means is added to the multimedia data processing system and its apparatus of FIG. In FIG. 9, a data area information acquisition means 901 is means for acquiring area information of data to be output in the data. The partial data address generation unit 902 is a unit that converts the data area information acquired by the data area information acquisition unit 901 into a value such as a byte address, time, or coordinate value indicating the position of the requested data in the entire data. Address storage file 90
Reference numeral 4 is a file describing location information of data and area information of data to be displayed. Address storage means
903 is a means for storing the area information in the address storage file 904.

In the embodiment of FIG. 9, first, the data area information acquisition means 901 acquires area information indicating the range of data to be output from the user's input or the like. Here, the area information is a value such as the coordinate value of the end point of the specified area with respect to the image of the character data output to the display, for example. In this case, the area information does not necessarily match the address in the data, because the area information may change according to the format in which the data is displayed. In order to perform data extraction by the data extraction means 209 in the server 202 of FIG. 2, it is necessary to use a value that is an absolute index in data, such as a byte address, as a partial data address. Next, the protocol generation unit 902 converts the area information into the partial data address. That is, the display area information such as the coordinate value unique to the window system is converted into the byte address in the character data or the partial data address such as the frame number in the moving image.

The address storage means 903 stores the partial data address in an electronic file using a storage medium such as a disk. By doing so, in the present embodiment, by re-reading this file, it is possible to partially acquire the data using the partial data address.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the user interface of the multimedia data processing system of the present invention. In FIG. 10, the original information display unit 1003 is shown in FIG.
This is an area for displaying the original information retrieved and transmitted by the server 201. The edit information display unit 1006 is an area for displaying the information edited and virtually stored in the user terminal. The designated area 1005 is an area when a range is designated for the purpose of displaying on the edit information display unit 1006 or virtually storing the result data. In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the user designates a partial range of the still image shown in the designated area 1005 among the data displayed on the original information display unit 1003, and the drag-and-drop function and the cut-and-paste function. The designated area 1005 is copied to the stored information display unit 1006 using a user interface such as. However, at this time, although the designated area of the still image data is copied as the user interface on the display screen, by using the address storage means 903 of FIG. 9, only partial data addresses are stored when the data is stored. Is a feature of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the user interface of the multimedia data processing system of FIG. In FIG. 11, a current display area 1101 is a display area of moving image data on the display screen. The designated display area 1102 is an area designated to enlarge the current display area. The size 1103 of all data is the original size of moving image data.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the user uses a position input means such as a mouse to enlarge the current display area 1101 with respect to the moving image data displayed on the display screen. In response to the user's operation for designating an area in the designated display area 1102 in FIG. 11, the partial data address conversion means 903 in FIG. 9 calculates the ratio of the designated display area 1102 to the size 1103 of all data. , You can get the address that indicates the absolute position of the specified data.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a structure in which a processing efficiency judging means is added to the structure of the multimedia data processing system of FIG. In FIG. 12, a data transmission request protocol receiving means 207 is means for receiving a data transmission request protocol including a partial data address of data from the client 201 in the server 202. The data search means 208 is a means for searching the data requested by the protocol. The processing efficiency determination means 1201 is means for determining whether or not the server 202 should perform data extraction using the environment information of the client detected in the protocol. The data extraction means 209 is a means for extracting data according to the partial data address.
The data transmitting means 210 is means for transmitting data to the client 201.

In the embodiment of FIG. 12, first, in the data transmission request protocol receiving means 207, the client 2
Receives the data transmission request protocol transmitted from 01,
The data search means 208 searches for data based on the storage location information of the data included in the protocol or the search condition of the data. Next, regarding the retrieved data, the processing efficiency determination unit 1201 uses the client environment information included in the protocol to
Calculate the efficiency of processing such as communication between servers and data extraction. As a result of calculating the processing efficiency, the data extraction server 202
If it is determined that the processing efficiency is higher in the case of performing the processing in the client 201 than in the case of performing the processing in the client 201, the data transmitting means 210 is executed after the data extracting means 209 performs the data extraction.
To send data by. On the contrary, when it is determined that the processing efficiency is higher when the data extraction is performed by the client 201 than when the server 202 performs the data extraction, the data transmission unit 210
To send data by.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the multimedia data processing system of FIG. In FIG. 13, the agent 1301 evaluates the attribute values such as the content of the data 1303 and the update date and time in the client 201,
It is means for controlling the partial data address generation means 211 and the data transmission request protocol generation means 203 of FIG. The agent 1302 evaluates the content of the data 1304 and the attribute values such as the update date and time in the server 202, and the data search means
It is means for controlling the 208 and the data extracting means 209.

In FIG. 13, the agent 1301 evaluates the attribute values such as the contents of the data 1303 and the update date and time,
The partial data address generation means 211 and the data transmission request protocol generation means 203 are controlled so as to newly acquire the data of the part not included in the data 1303 among the data requested to be acquired by the client 201. further,
In the server 202 which has received the data transmission request protocol by the data transmission request protocol transmission means 204 of FIG. 2, the agent 1302 evaluates the attribute values such as the contents and update date and time of the data 1304, and the client 201 obtains the data requested to be acquired. Compare with the attribute value such as update date and time. At this time, if the data requested to be acquired by the client 201 is stored in the data 1304, the data search means
The data is searched by 208. But client 2
If the data requested to be acquired in 01 is not stored in the data 1304, or if the attribute value such as the update date and time in the data 1303 and the attribute value such as the update date and time in the data 1304 are different, the acquisition request is made in the client 201. It is necessary to update data other than the data. Therefore, the data search unit 208 searches the data other than the data requested to be acquired by the client 201, and the data transmission unit 210 transmits the data to the client 201. In this way, the agents included in the client 201 and the server 202 cooperate with each other and perform efficient processing based on the states of their mother bodies. In addition to the above-mentioned forms, the form of the agent may be a form in which the agent itself is communicated between the client 201 and the server 202 to mutually provide information and solve common problems.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the multimedia data processing system of FIG. In FIG. 14, the agent 1401 evaluates attribute values such as the content of the data 1404 and the update date and time in the client 401,
It is means for controlling the partial data address generation means 403 and the data transmission request protocol generation means 404 of FIG. The agent 1402 evaluates the contents of the data 1405 and the attribute values such as the update date and time in the server 415, and the data search means
It is means for controlling the 409 and the data extraction means 410. server
A means for controlling the data search means 413 by evaluating the contents of the data 1406 and attribute values such as update date and time in 402.

In FIG. 14, the agent 1401, the agent 1402, and the agent 1403, as in the case of FIG. 13, cooperate with each other and perform efficient processing based on the state of their respective mother bodies. As an agent form, in addition to the form shown above, there is a form in which the agent itself is communicated among the client 401, the server 402, and the relay server 415 to mutually provide information and solve common problems. .

[0045]

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION Multimedia information having output means for outputting multimedia data such as video, audio and characters such as a display and a speaker, input means such as a mouse and a keyboard, and storage means such as a hard disk and a floppy disk. In the device, when acquiring data from the outside for the purpose of outputting to the output means,
By providing a partial data address generation unit that generates a partial data address such as a coordinate value, a time, and the number of bytes indicating the range of data to be acquired from the information input from the input unit, the partial data address generation unit is provided in advance outside the multimedia information device. It is possible to extract the data in the range corresponding to the partial data address, and as a result, it is possible to reduce the load of the data extraction processing in the multimedia information device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a multimedia data processing system.

FIG. 2 is a processing block diagram of a multimedia data processing system.

FIG. 3 is an overall configuration diagram of a multimedia data processing system.

FIG. 4 is a processing block diagram of a multimedia data processing system.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a partial data address generating means.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a partial data address generating means.

FIG. 7 shows an example of data extraction means.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of output data generating means.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of address storage means.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a display screen of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an example of a display screen of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of processing efficiency determination means.

FIG. 13 is an overall configuration diagram of a multimedia data processing system.

FIG. 14 is an overall configuration diagram of a multimedia data processing system.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 ... Client, 102 ... Server, 103 ... Display, 104 ... Input means, 105 ... Partial data address generation means, 106 ... Disk, 107 ... Data retrieval means, 108 ... Data extraction means.

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A means for outputting multimedia data consisting of video, audio and character information, an input means such as a mouse and a keyboard, a storage means such as a hard disk and a floppy disk, and a request for data which can be output to the output means. It is provided with a partial data address generating means for inputting information and generating a partial data address such as a coordinate value, a time, the number of bytes indicating a range of data to be acquired based on the request information, and is connected via a communication network. A multimedia data processing system, characterized in that the partial data address is transmitted to an external storage device, and only data within a range corresponding to the address is extracted and output to the output means. 2. A multimedia data output means consisting of video, audio and character information, an input means such as a mouse and a keyboard, a storage means such as a hard disk and a floppy disk, and an output means capable of outputting the whole data. A partial data address such as a coordinate value indicating the position of the partial data in the entire data, time, and the number of bytes is generated from information input by a user operation based on request information of partial data forming a part of the Partial data address generation means, data transmission request protocol generation means for generating a data transmission request protocol including the partial data address and data path, and the data transmission request protocol to a multimedia data search server (hereinafter referred to as a server). The data transmission request protocol transmission method to be transmitted and the data from the server. A multimedia data display client (hereinafter, referred to as a client) including a data receiving unit that receives the data, and an output data generation unit that converts the partial data received by the data receiving unit into an output format according to the medium, and from the client A multimedia data processing system, comprising: a data transmission request protocol receiving means for receiving the data transmission request protocol; a data search means for searching for data; and a server including the data transmitting means for transmitting data to a client. A multimedia data processing system, characterized in that the server has a data extraction means for extracting partial data according to a partial data address included in the data transmission request protocol, thereby reducing the processing load on the client. 3. The multimedia data processing system according to claim 2, further comprising a server (hereinafter referred to as a relay server) that manages copying of the data under the control of the server, and the client receives the data requested by the relay server. A multimedia data processing system characterized by acquiring. 4. The multimedia data processing system according to claim 2, wherein a server (hereinafter, relay server) that manages copying of data under the control of the server receives a data transmission request from a client. A multimedia data processing system comprising a protocol receiving means, a data searching means for searching data, and a data extracting means for extracting partial data according to a partial data address included in the data transmission request protocol. 5. The multimedia data processing system according to claim 2, wherein the partial data address generating means stores the partial data address from a file in which at least data storage position information and the partial data address are described. A multimedia data processing system comprising a file reading means. 6. The multimedia data processing system according to claim 2, wherein the partial data address generating means is displayed on the display for generating a partial data address indicating a data area to be requested to be transmitted to the server. A multimedia data processing system comprising: a data area information acquisition unit for acquiring area information of data; and a partial data address conversion unit for converting the area information into the partial data address. 7. The multimedia data processing system according to claim 2, wherein the data extraction means is included in the data retrieved by the data retrieval means and the data transmission request protocol received by the data transmission request protocol receiving means. Media determination means for determining the media of the data to be extracted using the partial data address
A multimedia data processing system having a media extracting means for extracting partial data for each medium such as characters, still images, voices, and moving images, and performing data extraction of a requested area by the server. 8. The multimedia data processing system according to claim 2, wherein the output data generation means updates the existing data in addition to the data already acquired by the partial data received by the data receiving means. A multimedia data processing system, comprising: a means and an output format conversion means for converting data into a format to be output by a display, a speaker, or the like. 9. The multimedia data processing system according to claim 2, wherein position input means such as a mouse for designating an area of data displayed on the display, and data area information acquisition means for acquiring area information of the data. When,
By having a partial data address conversion means for converting the data area information into the partial data address and an address storage means for storing at least the partial data address in a file, the address of the data is stored instead of the data. And multimedia data processing system. 10. The multimedia data processing system according to claim 2, wherein the display has at least a data display area for displaying data.
A multimedia data processing system, wherein a range is specified on the data display area, and a range is specified on the data display area in a user interface. 11. The multimedia data processing system according to claim 2, wherein the server judges the processing capability of the client for the data retrieved by the data retrieval means, and whether the data extraction is performed by the server. A multimedia data processing system, characterized in that the server is provided with a processing efficiency judging means for judging whether or not the processing is to be carried out by a client to reduce the amount of data communication between the client and the server and the amount of processing in the client and server. 12. The multimedia data processing system according to claim 2, wherein the client and the server each include an agent that manages data to be stored.
A multimedia data processing system characterized by controlling so that data already stored is not acquired again by cooperation between agents. 13. The multimedia data processing system according to claim 4, wherein the client, the server,
A multimedia data processing system, characterized in that the relay server includes an agent for managing data to be stored, and controls by cooperation between the agents so that the data to be already stored is not acquired again.