System and method for digital data communication

• US 20030115222A1
• Filed: 06/11/2002
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sovereign Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Sonoda, Yasuyuki, Shimoji, Tatsuya, Yamamuro, Keisei, Oashi, Masahiro
• Granted Patent: US 6,643,655 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/106 Receiver-side switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/16 Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/86 Arrangements characterised by the broadcast information itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/613 for the control of the source by the destination control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A plurality of HTML files having their file names which may directly be recognized by a filtering part 415 in a data receiver are stored in a data storage part 411. File names of the HTML files are assigned to their headers by a data converter 412, and the files converted and multiplexed are repeatedly transmitted by a data multiplexing and transmitting part 413. A filtering part 415 selects the data having exact match with the filtering condition. A data processing part 419 performs data processing required for generating images, and the images thus generated are displayed on a screen of the display part 421. The data processing part 419 provides a switching command to a filtering conditions varying part 417 when an operator enters a file to be linked through an input part 420. The file to be linked is received as a result of changing the filtering conditions. In this way, the files required can be received and be displayed dynamically without storing all the HTML files linked one another even in temporary basis.

Claims

1. A digital data communication system comprising a transmitter and a receiver,

A) the transmitter including:

a1) file storing means for storing a plurality of files, and

a2) transmission means for repeatedly transmitting the files packetized thereby in accordance with a transmission protocol, the packetized files uniquely assigned identifiers;

B) the receiver including;

b1) selective receiving means for selectively receiving the packetized files having predetermined identifiers in accordance with a selecting condition set therein and outputting data contained in the packetized files,

b2) display data generating means for generating display data according to the outputted data, and

b3) selecting condition varying means for varying the selecting condition; and

C) wherein c1) the file storing means stores files formed of self-descriptive data which include a reference command for referring another file, and wherein the identifier of each file includes characters directly be selected by the selecting condition varying means,

c2) the display data generating means generates display data according to the self-descriptive data outputted by the selective receiving means, and

c3) the selecting condition varying means provides an identifier assigned to a file so as to obtain the file specified by the reference command in the self-descriptive data to the selective receiving means.

2. The digital data communication system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the selective receiving means includes receiving means for receiving the packetized files transmitted and selecting means for selecting predetermined packetized files out of the packetized files received by the receiving means.

3. The digital data communication system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the system further comprises display means for displaying the display data generated by the display data generating means,

and wherein the selecting condition varying means varies the selecting condition set in the selecting means so as to select a file specified by the reference command when one of a plurality of regions displayed on the display means which is specified by the reference command is selected thereon.

4. The digital data communication system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the system further comprises data converting means for converting the identifier of the each file and an identifier of the reference command into characters directly selected by the selecting means in accordance with a rule for conversion when identifiers of the files stored in the file storing means are provided in a form incapable of directly selecting by the selecting means.

10. The digital data communication system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the files stored in the file storing means are divided into groups according to the identifiers assigned thereto,

and wherein the selecting means divides the self-descriptive data being outputted into groups by using the identifiers and outputs the divided self-descriptive data therefrom.

11. The digital data communication system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the files divided in the same group are transmitted with the same packet id.

5. A digital data transmitter comprising:

file storing means for storing a plurality of files, each of the files comprising self-descriptive data which include a reference command for referring another file, and an identifier of the each file consisting of characters directly selected by selective receiving means in a receiver, and

transmission means for repeatedly transmitting the files packetized thereby in accordance with a transmission protocol, the packetized files being assigned unique identifiers.

6. The transmitter in accordance with claim 5, wherein the transmitter further comprises data converting means for converting the identifier of the each file and an identifier of the reference command into characters directly selected by selecting means in the receiver according to a rule for conversion when identifiers of the files stored in the file storing means are provided in a form incapable of directly selecting by the selecting means.

7. A digital data receiver comprising:

selective receiving means for selectively receiving the packetized files having predetermined identifiers in accordance with a selecting condition set therein and outputting data contained in the packetized files,

display data generating means for generating display data according to the outputted data, and

selecting condition varying means for varying the selecting condition,

wherein the data outputted from the selective receiving means forms a file comprising self-descriptive data which include a reference command for referring another file,

and wherein the display data generating means generates display data according to the self-descriptive data outputted by the selective receiving means,

and wherein the selecting condition varying means provides an identifier of a file as the selecting condition to the selective receiving means so as to obtain the file specified by the reference command in the self-descriptive data.

8. The receiver in accordance with claim 7, wherein the selecting condition varying means includes receiving means for receiving the packetized files being transmitted, and selecting means for selecting predetermined packetized files out of the packetized files being received.

9. The receiver in accordance with claim 8, wherein the selecting condition varying means varies the selecting condition set in the selecting means so as to select the file specified by the reference command when one of regions displayed on the display means according to the display data generated by the display data generating means, is selected thereon, in the case of including the reference command in each of the packetized files being received.

12. The receiver in accordance with claim 8, wherein the files stored in the file storing means are divided into groups according to the identifiers assigned thereto,

and wherein the selecting means divides the self-descriptive data being outputted into groups by using the identifiers and outputs the divided self-descriptive data therefrom.

13. The receiver in accordance with claim 12, wherein the files divided in the same group are transmitted with the same packet id.

14. A computer readable program storage medium, a program stored therein controlling a digital data receiver having a CPU and selective receiving component,

wherein the selective receiving component selectively receives packetized files having predetermined identifiers in accordance with a selecting condition set therein and outputs data contained in the packetized files,

and wherein the data outputted from the selective receiving component forms a file comprising self-descriptive data which include a reference command for referring another file,

and wherein the CPU performs the following steps in accordance with the program;

a) generating display data according to the outputted self-descriptive data, and

b) providing an identifier of a file as the selecting condition to the selective receiving component so as to obtain the file specified by the reference command in the self-descriptive data.

15. The program storage medium in accordance with claim 14, wherein the reference command is contained in a part of the packetized files being received,

and wherein the selecting condition set in the selecting means is varied so as to select the file specified by the reference command when one of regions displayed on the display means according to the display data, is selected thereon.

16. A digital data receiver comprising a tuner, a transport decoder, a CPU, and a memory;

wherein the tuner receives packets being transmitted,

and wherein the transport decoder selects packets having predetermined identifiers out of the packets in accordance with a selecting condition set therein and outputs data contained in the packets,

and wherein the outputted data forms a file comprising self-descriptive data which include a reference command for referring another file,

and wherein the CPU performs the following steps;

a) generating display data according to the self-descriptive data outputted from the transport decoder, and

b) providing an identifier of a file as the selecting condition to the transport decoder so as to obtain the file specified by the reference command in the self-descriptive data.

17. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave, wherein the data signal forms a program, the program controlling a digital data receiver which has a selective receiving component and a CPU, the selective receiving component selectively receiving packets having predetermined identifiers in accordance with a selecting condition set therein and outputs data contained in the packets;

the data outputted from the selective receiving component forming a file comprising self-descriptive data which include a reference command for referring another file;

the CPU performing the following steps in accordance with the program;

a) generating display data according to the outputted self-descriptive data, and

b) providing an identifier of a file as the selecting condition to the selective receiving component so as to obtain the file specified by the reference command in the self-descriptive data.

18. A method of communicating digital data, comprising the steps of:

repeatedly transmitting a plurality of files after packetizing the files according to a transmission protocol with identifiers uniquely assigned thereto in a transmitting station, each of the files comprising self-descriptive data which include a reference command for referring another file, the identifier of the each file consisting of characters directly selected by a receiving station; and

performing the following steps in the receiving station, selectively receiving the packetized files having predetermined identifiers in accordance with a selecting condition set therein, and generating display data in accordance with the self-descriptive data contained in the packetized files, and outputting the generating data, and varying an identifier of a file as the selecting condition so as to obtain the file specified by the reference command in the self-descriptive data.

19. A digital data communication system comprising a transmitter and a receiver,

A) the transmitter including:

a1) file storing means for storing a plurality of files, and

a2) transmission means for repeatedly transmitting the files packetized thereby in accordance with a transmission protocol, the packetized files uniquely assigned identifiers;

B) the receiver including;

b1) selective receiving means for selectively receiving the packetized files having predetermined identifiers in accordance with a selecting condition set therein and outputting data contained in the packetized files,

b2) received data storing means for storing data contained in the packetized files each having same identifier in one independent file basis,

b3) display data generating means for generating display data according to the outputted data, and

b4) selecting condition varying means for varying the selecting condition; and

C) wherein c1) the file storing means stores files formed of self-descriptive data which includes a reference command for referring another file,

c2) the transmission means assigns one module identifier including characters capable of being read directly with the selective receiving means to both a reference file which refers other files and a referred file which is referred by the reference file, and transmits the reference file and the referred file, and

c3) the display data generating means generates display data according to the self-descriptive data contained in the reference file, and generates another display data according to a desired referred file which is read out thereby from the received data storing means.

20. A digital data receiver comprising:

selective receiving means for selectively receiving packetized files having predetermined identifiers in accordance with a selecting condition set therein and outputting data contained in the packetized files;

received data storing means for storing the outputted data each having same identifier under a file basis;

display data generating means for generating display data according to the outputted data; and

selecting condition varying means for varying the selecting condition;

wherein the packetized files thus received are one of a reference file formed of self-descriptive data which includes a reference command for referring another file and a referred file which is referred by the reference file, and one identifier including characters capable of being read directly with the selective receiving means is assigned to these files,

and wherein display data generating means generates display data according to the self-descriptive data contained in the reference file, and generates another display data according to a desired referred file which is read out thereby from the received data storing means,

and wherein the selecting condition varying means varies the selecting condition so as to selectively receive packetized files each assigned same identifier with that of a specific reference file in order to selectively receive the specific reference file.

21. The receiver in accordance with claim 20, wherein the reference file is a file including an automatic reference tag.

22. The receiver in accordance with claim 21, wherein the reference file and the referred file are linked with each other.

23. The receiver in accordance with claim 22, wherein the reference file and the referred file comprise a unitized file.

24. A computer readable program storage medium in which a program, for controlling a digital data receiver including a CPU and selective receiving component which selectively receives packetized files having predetermined identifiers in accordance with a selecting condition set therein and outputting data contained in the packetized files, is stored for operating the digital data receiver as the digital data receiver defined in claim 20.

25. A method of communicating digital data, comprising the steps of:

repeatedly transmitting a plurality of files stored in a transmitting station after packetizing the files according to a transmission protocol with identifiers uniquely assigned thereto in the transmitting station; and

performing the following steps in a receiving station, selectively receiving the packetized files having predetermined module identifiers in accordance with a selecting condition set therein, storing data contained in the packetized files each having same identifier in one independent file basis, and generating display data according to the outputted data,

wherein one module identifier including characters capable of being read directly with the receiving station is assigned to both a reference file which refers other files and a referred file which is referred by the reference file in the transmitting station,

and wherein the following steps are performed by the receiving station, the selecting condition is varied so as to selectively receive packetized files each assigned same identifier with that of a specific reference file in order to selectively receive the specific reference file, and display data is generated according to self-descriptive data contained in the reference file, and generates another display data according to a desired referred file which is read out thereby.

26. A digital data communication system comprising a transmitter and a receiver,

A) the transmitter including:

a1) file storing means for storing a plurality of files, and

a2) transmission means for repeatedly transmitting the files packetized thereby in accordance with a transmission protocol, the packetized files uniquely assigned identifiers;

B) the receiver including;

b1) selective receiving means for selectively receiving the packetized files having predetermined identifiers in accordance with a selecting condition set therein and outputting data contained in the packetized files,

b2) received data storing means for storing data contained in the packetized files each having same identifier in one independent file basis,

b3) display data generating means for generating display data according to the outputted data, and

b4) selecting condition varying means for varying the selecting condition;

C) wherein c1) the file storing means stores a plurality of reference files formed of self-descriptive data which includes a reference command for referring a plurality of other files,

c2) the transmission means assigns one module identifier including characters capable of being read directly with the selective receiving means to the reference files and transmits the reference files,

c3) the display data generating means generates display data according to the self-descriptive data contained in the reference files, and generates another display data according to desired referred files which are read out thereby from the received data storing means, and

c4) the selecting condition varying means uses the module identifier as the selecting condition.

27. A digital data receiver comprising:

selective receiving means for selectively receiving packetized files having predetermined identifiers in accordance with a selecting condition set therein and outputting data contained in the packetized files;

received data storing means for storing data contained in the packetized files each having same identifier in one independent file basis;

display data generating means for generating display data according to the outputted data; and

selecting condition varying means for varying the selecting condition;

wherein the packetized files thus received are one of a reference file formed of self-descriptive data which includes a reference command for referring a plurality of other files and a referred file which is referred by the reference file,

and wherein one identifier including characters capable of being read directly with the selective receiving means is assigned to the referred files through the reference file,

and wherein the display data generating means generates display data according to the self-descriptive data contained in the reference file,

and wherein the selecting condition varying means varies the selecting condition so as to selectively receive packetized files each assigned same identifier with that of a specific reference file in order to selectively receive the specific reference file in accordance with data of the reference file.

28. The receiver in accordance with claim 27, wherein same module identifier with that of the referred files is assigned to the reference file.

29. A digital data receiver comprising:

selective receiving means for selectively receiving packetized files having predetermined identifiers in accordance with a selecting condition set therein and outputting data contained in the packetized files,

received data storing means for storing data contained in the packetized files each having same identifier in one independent file basis,

display data generating means for generating display data according to the outputted data, and

selecting condition varying means for varying the selecting condition;

wherein the packetized files thus received are one of a reference file formed of self-descriptive data which includes a reference command for referring another file and a referred file which is referred by the reference file, and one identifier including characters capable of being read directly with the selective receiving means is assigned to these files,

and wherein display data generating means generates display data according to the self-descriptive data contained in the reference file, and generates another display data according to a desired referred file which is read out thereby from the received data storing means,

and wherein the selecting condition varying means extracts characters directly be selected by the selective receiving means out of absolute path assigned to the referred files and provides the characters to the selective receiving means as the selecting condition so as to selectively receive packetized files each assigned same identifier with that of the reference file in order to selectively receive the reference file.