Data transfer system capable of converting file formats

• US 8,832,308 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2007
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tsutsui, Kyoya
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Viet
• Assistant Examiner(s): Emdadi, Keyvan
• Application Number:
  US11/899,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20080059398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,562 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 709/246, 709/231, 709/236
• US Class Current: 709/236
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/116 Details of conversion of file system types or formats
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70

Abstract

In a data transfer system, when transferring data which has been transferred to a storage in a PC, to a mobile terminal connected to the PC, the PC acquires the file format of the data and the file format which can be processed by the mobile terminal and determines whether the conversion of the file format is necessary. When the conversion of the file format is necessary, the PC issues a request for a conversion to a format converter. The format converter acquires data from the PC and transfers the data back to the PC while performing conversion. The PC transfers the converted data to the mobile terminal.

Claims

1. A data transfer system for transferring a data stream to an apparatus connected to the system, comprising:

a first processing apparatus, which executes processing of a data stream transfer to the destination apparatus according to a user'"'"'s direct operation; and

a second processing apparatus, which converts the file format of the data stream sequentially in the order of stream into a designated file format,

wherein the first processing apparatus comprises;

an input unit which receives a data transfer request input by a user with designating the destination apparatus;

a format acquisition unit, which acquires a first file format of the data stream from the data stream and a second file format that can be processed by the designated destination apparatus from the destination apparatus; and

a conversion requesting unit, which executes data stream transfer via a network, to the second processing apparatus with requesting conversion of the first file format of the data stream into the second file format so that the file format is converted on the data stream transferring path in the network to the destination apparatus, when the first file format is different from the second file format acquired by the format acquisition unit, and

the second processing apparatus comprises;

a conversion unit which converts the data stream transferred by the first processing apparatus in the order of data arrival with receiving the data stream; and

a communication unit which sequentially outputs the data stream converted by the conversion unit in the order of data conversion, wherein the communication unit, every time one segment of the data stream is generated at the conversion unit, outputs the converted segment to the data stream transferring path in the network while not waiting for the completion of the conversion processing of all of the data stream.

2. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein:

the first processing apparatus further comprises a memory, which stores a supported format table associating identification information retained in the destination apparatus, which can be connected to the first processing apparatus, with a file format that can be processed by the destination apparatus; and

wherein the format acquisition unit acquires the second file format that can be processed in reference to the supported format table, based on identification information that is read out from the destination apparatus.

3. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the first processing apparatus acquires the data stream from a server connected to the system via a network and transfers the data stream acquired from the server and the data stream after format conversion acquired from the second processing apparatus to the destination apparatus, without storing either of the data into a memory to reuse.

4. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the first processing apparatus acquires a converted part of the data stream from beginning of the stream, on which file format conversion is requested, from the second processing apparatus sequentially via the network, and transmits the acquired part of the data stream to the destination apparatus sequentially.

14. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein:

the second processing apparatus is in the data stream transferring path in the network from the first processing apparatus to the destination apparatus irrespective of the first file format of the data stream, and when the first file format of the data stream is the second file format, transmits the data stream transferred from the first processing apparatus to the destination apparatus without conversion.

15. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein:

the first processing apparatus changes the data stream transferring path in the network toward the second processing apparatus so as to route through the second processing apparatus, when the first file format of the data stream is different from the second file format.

16. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein:

the conversion unit comprises a plurality of processors, which convert a plurality of units of processing of the data stream at a time in parallel, the plurality of units of processing of the data stream being obtained by dividing the time series of the data stream in the order of streaming.

17. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein:

the second processing apparatus is a centralized apparatus that is connected to the first processing apparatus and another apparatus via a network and receives a request thereof to improve functions of respective connected apparatuses.

5. A data transfer apparatus for relaying data stream transfer, via a network, from a data source apparatus to a destination apparatus designated by the data source apparatus, comprising:

a converter, which converts a file format of the data stream in the order of data arrival from the data source apparatus so that the file format is converted on the data stream transferring path in the network to the destination apparatus, when the file format of the data stream is different from a file format that can be processed by the destination apparatus; and

a communication unit, which sequentially outputs the data stream, of which the converter converts the file format, in the order of data conversion, wherein the communication unit, every time one segment of the data stream is generated at the converter, outputs the converted segment to the data stream transferring path to the destination apparatus while not waiting for the completion of the conversion processing of all of the data stream,

wherein the converter comprises a plurality of processors that convert a plurality of units of processing of the data stream at a time in parallel, the plurality of units of processing of the data stream being obtained by dividing the time series of the data stream in the order of streaming.

6. The data transfer apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the converter generates a segment of data sequence by sequentially reconstructing the plurality of units of processing of data stream converted at a time in parallel, and the communication unit, every time one segment of the data sequence is generated at the converter, transfers the segment of the data sequence to the destination apparatus.

7. A data transfer apparatus for transferring data according to a user'"'"'s direct operation, comprising:

an input unit which receives a data transfer request input by a user with designating a destination apparatus;

a format acquisition unit, which acquires a first file format of the data stream from the data stream and a second file format that can be processed by the designated destination apparatus from the destination apparatus;

a conversion requesting unit, which executes data stream transfer via a network, to the file format converter with requesting conversion of the first file format of the data stream into the second file format so that the file format is converted on the data stream transferring path in the network to the destination apparatus, when the first file format is different from the second file format acquired by the format acquisition unit, and

a communication unit, which relays the data stream of which the file format is converted at the file format converter on request from the conversion requesting unit, by transferring the data stream to the destination apparatus,

wherein the communication unit acquires the data stream segment by segment, the segment being obtained by dividing the time series of the data stream in the order of streaming and being converted at a time by the file format converter, wherein the communication unit, every time one segment of the data stream is generated at the file format converter, outputs the converted segment to the data stream transferring path and transfers the converted segment to the destination apparatus, while not waiting for the completion of the conversion processing of all of the data stream.

8. A method for allowing a computer to execute data stream transfer, comprising:

receiving a data transfer request input by a user with designating the destination apparatus;

acquiring a first file format of the data from the data stream to be transferred and a second file format that can be processed by the designated destination apparatus from the destination apparatus;

executing data stream transfer via a network to a file format converter with requesting conversion of the first file format of the data stream into the second file format so that the file format is converted on the data stream transferring path in the network to the destination apparatus, when the first file format of the data stream is different from the second file format;

converting, by the file format converter, the transferred data stream in the order of data arrival with receiving the data stream; and

proceeding the data stream transfer by transferring the converted data in the order of data conversion every time one segment of the data stream is generated at the file format converter, outputting the converted segment to the to the data stream transferring path in the network to the destination apparatus while not waiting for the completion of the conversion processing of all of the data stream;

wherein the converting the file format converts a plurality of units of processing of data stream at a time in parallel by a plurality of processors, the plurality of units of processing of data stream being obtained by dividing the time series of the data stream in the order of streaming.

9. A computer program product allowing a computer to execute data stream transfer to an external apparatus, comprising:

a module that receives a data transfer request input by a user with designating a destination apparatus;

a module that acquires a first file format of the data stream from the data stream and a second file format that can be processed by the designated destination apparatus from the destination apparatus;

a requesting module that executes data stream transfer via a network to the file format converter with requesting conversion of the first file format of the data stream into the second file format so that the file format is converted on the data stream transferring path in the network to the destination apparatus, when the first file format of the data stream is different from the second file format,

and a module that relays the data stream transfer by acquiring the data stream after the format conversion from the file format converter via a network and transferring the data to the destination apparatus,

wherein the module that acquires the data stream acquires the data stream segment by segment, the segment being obtained by dividing the time series of the data stream in the order of streaming and converted at a time by the file format converter, and transfers the segment to the destination apparatus, while not waiting for the completion of the conversion processing for all of the data stream, and

wherein the module that relays the data stream transfer, every time one segment of the data stream is generated at the file format converter, relays the converted segment to the data stream transferring path to the destination apparatus, while not waiting for the completion of the conversion processing for all of the data stream.

10. A computer program product allowing a computer to relay data stream transfer by transferring data stream transferred from a data source apparatus via a network to a destination apparatus designated by the data source apparatus comprising:

a receiving module, which receives a request to convert the file format of data stream;

a converting module, which converts the file format of the data stream in the order of data arrival from the data source apparatus so that the file format is converted on the data stream transferring path in the network to the destination apparatus, when the file format of the data stream is different from a file format that can be processed by the destination apparatus;

a communication module, which sequentially outputs the data stream, of which the converter converts the file format, in the order of data conversion, to the destination apparatus via a network; and

a communication module, which sequentially outputs the data stream, of which the converter converts the file format, in the order of data conversion, wherein the communication unit, every time one segment of the data stream is generated at the converting module, outputs the converted segment to the destination apparatus via a network while not waiting for the completion of the conversion processing for all of the data stream.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having embodied thereon a program product allowing a computer to execute data stream transfer to an external apparatus, the program product comprising:

a module that receives a data transfer request input by a user with designating a destination apparatus;

a module that acquires a first file format of the data stream from the data stream and a second file format that can be processed by the designated destination apparatus from the destination apparatus;

a requesting module that executes data stream transfer via a network to the file format converter with requesting conversion of the first file format of the data stream into the second file format so that the file format is converted on the data stream transferring path in the network to the destination apparatus, when the first file format of the data stream is different from the second file format,

and a module that relays the data stream transfer by acquiring the data stream after the format conversion from the file format converter via a network and transferring the data to the destination apparatus,

wherein the module that acquires the data stream acquires the data stream segment by segment, the segment being obtained by dividing the time series of the data stream in the order of streaming and converted at a time by the file format converter, and transfers the segment to the destination apparatus, while not waiting for the completion of the conversion processing for all of the data stream, and

wherein the module that relays the data stream transfer, every time one segment of the data stream is generated at the file format converter, relays the converted segment to the data stream transferring path to the destination apparatus, while not waiting for the completion of the conversion processing for all of the data stream.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having embodied thereon a program product allowing a computer to relay data stream transfer by transferring data stream transferred from a data source apparatus via a network to a destination apparatus designated by the data source apparatus, the program product comprising:

a receiving module, which receives a request to convert the file format of data stream;

a converting module, which converts the file format of the data stream in the order of data arrival from the data source apparatus so that the file format is converted on the data stream transferring path in the network to the destination apparatus, when the file format of the data stream is different from a file format that can be processed by the destination apparatus; and

a communication module, which sequentially outputs the data stream, of which the converter converts the file format, in the order of data conversion, wherein the communication unit, every time one segment of the data stream is generated at the converting module, outputs the converted segment to the destination apparatus via a network while not waiting for the completion of the conversion processing for all of the data stream.

13. A data transfer system for transferring data stream to an apparatus connected to the system, comprising:

a first processing apparatus, which executes processing of a data stream transfer to a destination apparatus; and

a second processing apparatus, which sequentially converts a first file format of the data stream by time series sequentially in the order of streaming into a second file format that can be processed by the destination apparatus,

wherein, when the first file format of the data stream is different from the second file format that can be processed by the destination apparatus, the first processing apparatus changes in a transfer route in a network so that the data stream is transferred to the destination apparatus while the file format is being converted along the way in the network, and every time one segment of the data stream is converted at the second processing apparatus, outputs the converted segment to the destination apparatus while not waiting for the completion of the conversion for all of the data stream.