Browsing system, terminal, image server, program, computer-readable recording medium storing program, and method

Abstract

A browsing system ( 1 ) comprises a terminal ( 100 ) for extracting additional information specifying characters or character strings that should be added to an image, from a document or text character strings that are to be transformed contained in a program specified by that document. In addition, the browsing system ( 1 ) comprises an image server ( 200 ) that receives an image request and sends as an image response an image to which are added characters or character strings specified by the additional information designated by an image parameter specified in the received image request.

1 . A browsing system comprising a terminal for displaying text character strings of a document and an image acquired based on image location information contained in that document, and an image server for receiving an image request and transmitting a corresponding image response to a transmission source of that image request, wherein
 (A) the terminal comprises:   an additional information extractor that extracts additional information specifying characters or character strings that should be added to an image whose location is indicated by the image location information contained in the document, from text character strings to be transformed that are contained in the document or a program specified by the document;   an image location information generator that generates new image location information specifying the image server as a request destination, specifying an image parameter that designates the extracted additional information, and containing background image designation information for use in designating a background image to which the characters or the character strings that are contained in the document or the program specified by the document and are specified by the additional information should be added; and,   an over-writer that overwrites the image location information associated with the extracted additional information in the document with the new image location information generated; and   (B) the image server comprises:   an image generator that generates an image-in which characters or character strings specified by additional information designated by an image parameter specified in the image request are added to the background image designated based on the background image designation information, being an image transmitted to the terminal as an image response corresponding to the image request specifying the image parameter specified in the new image location information and transmitted from the terminal.   
     
     
         2 . The browsing system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the background image designation information is background information that identifies the background image;   the background information is described on the document or the program specified by the document;   the image location information generator of the terminal generates new image location information further specifying a background parameter designating the background information; and   the image generator of the image server generates an image in which   characters or character strings specified by the additional information designated by the image parameter are added to a background image identified by the background information designated by the background parameter.   
     
     
         3 . The browsing system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 style information indicating a style with which the characters or character strings specified by the additional information are added to an image is described on the document or the program specified by the document;   the image location information generator of the terminal generates new image location information further specifying a style parameter designating the style information; and   the image generator of the image server generates an image to which characters or character strings specified by additional information designated by the image parameter are added to a background image identified by background information designated by the background parameter, with the style designated by the style parameter.   
     
     
         4 . The browsing system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the background image designation information is background information that identifies the background image;   image location information prior to being overwritten by the over-writer of the terminal contains the background information;   the image location information generator of the terminal generates new image location information containing background information contained in the image location information prior to being overwritten; and   the image generator of the image server generates an image to which characters or character strings specified by additional information designated by the image parameter specified in the image request in which the background information contained in the new image location information is further specified, are added to a background image identified by the background information.   
     
     
         5 . The browsing system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the document is written in HTML (HyperText Markup Language);   a program specified in that document is indicated by an onload attribute of a body tag;   image location information contained in the document is indicated by an src attribute of an img tag; and   additional information associated with that image location information is indicated by an alt attribute of that img tag.   
     
     
         6 . The browsing system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the document is written in HTML (HyperText Markup Language);   a program specified in that document is indicated by an onload attribute of a body tag;   image location information contained in the document is indicated by an src attribute of an img tag; and   additional information associated with that image location information is described by text surrounded by tags having a class attribute or an id attribute associated with the img tag.   
     
     
         7 . A browsing method executed by a browsing system comprising a terminal for displaying text character strings of a document and an image acquired based on image location information contained in that document, and an image server for receiving an image request and transmitting a corresponding image response to a transmission source of that image request, this browsing method including:
 an additional information extraction step in which the terminal extracts additional information specifying characters or character strings that should be added to an image whose location is indicated by the image location information contained in the document, from text character strings to be transformed that are contained in the document or a program specified by the document;   an image location information generation step in which the terminal generates new image location information specifying the image server as a request destination, specifying an image parameter that designates the extracted additional information, and containing background image designation information for use in designating a background image to which the characters or the character strings that are contained in the document or the program specified by the document and are specified by the additional information should be added; and,   an overwriting step in which the terminal overwrites the image location information associated with the extract additional information in the document with the new image location information generated; and   an image generation step in which the image server generates an image-in which characters or character strings specified by additional information designated by an image parameter specified in the image request are added to the background image designated based on the background image designation information, being an image transmitted to the terminal as an image response corresponding to the image request specifying the image parameter specified in the new image location information and transmitted from the terminal.   
     
     
         8 . A terminal for displaying text character strings of a document and an image acquired based on image location information contained in that document, this terminal comprising:
 an additional information extractor that extracts additional information specifying characters or character strings that should be added to an image whose location is indicated by the image location information contained in the document, from text character strings to be transformed that are contained in the document or a program specified by the document;   an image location information generator that generates new image location information specifying the image server as a request destination, specifying an image parameter that designates the extracted additional information, and containing background image designation information for use in designating a background image to which the characters or the character strings that are contained in the document or the program specified by the document and are specified by the additional information should be added;   an over-writer that overwrites the image location information associated with the extracted additional information in the document with the new image location information generated; and   an image request transmitter that transmits image requests specified by the image parameter specified in the new image location information.   
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a program executed by a computer for displaying text character strings of a document and an image acquired based on image location information contained in that document before acquiring this image, the program being specified by the document and causing the computer to function as:
 an additional information extractor that extracts additional information specifying characters or character strings that should be added to an image whose location is indicated by the image location information contained in the document, from text character strings to be transformed that are contained in the document or the program;   an image location information generator that generates new image location information specifying the image server as a request destination, specifying an image parameter that designates the extracted additional information, and containing background image designation information for use in designating a background image to which the characters or the character strings that are contained in the document or the program specified by the document and are specified by the additional information should be added;   an over-writer that overwrites the image location information associated with the extracted additional information in the document with the new image location information generated; and   an image request transmitter that transmits image requests specified by the image parameter specified in the new image location information.   
     
     
         11 . A method executed by a terminal for displaying text character strings of a document and an image acquired based on image location information contained in that document, this method including:
 an additional information extraction step in which additional information specifying characters or character strings are extracted, which should be added to an image whose location is indicated by the image location information contained in the document, from text character strings to be transformed that are contained in the document or a program specified by the document;   an image location information generation step in which new image location information is generated, which specifies the image server as a request destination, specifies an image parameter that designates the extracted additional information, and contains background image designation information for use in designating a background image to which the characters or the character strings that are contained in the document or the program specified by the document and are specified by the additional information should be added;   an overwriting step in which the image location information is overwritten, which is associated with the extracted additional information in the document with the new image location information generated; and   an image request transmission step in which image requests are transmitted, which are specified by the image parameter specified in the new image location information.   
     
     
         12 . An image server capable of communicating with a terminal for displaying text character strings of a document and an image acquired based on image location information contained in that document, this image server comprising:
 an image request receiver that receives image requests transmitted from the terminal, this terminal comprising an additional information extractor that extracts additional information specifying characters or character strings that should be added to an image whose location is indicated by the image location information contained in the document, from text character strings to be transformed that are contained in the document or a program specified by the document, an image location information generator that generates new image location information specifying the image server as a request destination, specifying an image parameter that designates the extracted additional information, and containing background image designation information for use in designating a background image to which the characters or the character strings that are contained in the document or the program specified by the document and are specified by the additional information should be added, and an over-writer that overwrites the image location information associated with the extracted additional information in the document with the new image location information generated, the request specifying the image parameter specified in the new image location information;   an image generator that generates images in which characters or character strings specified by the additional information designated by the image parameter specified in the received image request are added to the background image designated based on the background image designation information; and   an image response transmitter that transmits the generated images as an image response to the terminal that is the transmission source of the image request received.   
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a program executed by a computer capable of communicating with a terminal for displaying text character strings of a document and an image acquired based on image location information contained in that document, the program causing the computer to function as:
 an image request receiver that receives image requests transmitted from the terminal, this terminal comprising an additional information extractor that extracts additional information specifying characters or character strings that should be added to an image whose location is indicated by the image location information contained in the document, from text character strings to be transformed that are contained in the document or a program specified by the document, an image location information generator that generates new image location information specifying the image server as a request destination, specifying an image parameter that designates the extracted additional information, and containing background image designation information for use in designating a background image to which the characters or the character strings that are contained in the document or the program specified by the document and are specified by the additional information should be added, and an over-writer that overwrites the image location information associated with the extracted additional information in the document with the new image location information generated, the image request specifying the image parameter specified in the new image location information;   an image generator that generates images in which characters or character strings specified by the additional information designated by the image parameter specified in the received image request are added to the background image designated based on the background image designation information; and   an image response transmitter that transmits the generated images as an image response to the terminal that is the transmission source of the image request received   
     
     
         15 . A method executed by an image server capable of communicating with a terminal for displaying text character strings of a document and an image acquired based on image location information contained in that document, this method including:
 an image request receiving step in which image requests are received, which are transmitted from the terminal, this terminal comprising an additional information extractor that extracts additional information specifying characters or character strings that should be added to an image whose location is indicated by the image location information contained in the document, from text character strings to be transformed that are contained in the document or a program specified by the document, an image location information generator that generates new image location information specifying the image server as a request destination, specifying an image parameter that designates the extracted additional information, and containing background image designation information for use in designating a background image to which the characters or the character strings that are contained in the document or the program specified by the document and are specified by the additional information should be added, and an over-writer that overwrites the image location information associated with the extracted additional information in the document with the new image location information generated, the image request specifying the image parameter specified in the new image location information;   an image generation step in which images are generated, in which characters or character strings specified by the additional information designated by the image parameter specified in the received image request are added to the background image designated based on the background image designation information; and   an image response transmission step in which the generated images are transmitted as an image response to the terminal that is the transmission source of the image request received.   
     
     
         16 . A browsing system comprising a terminal, a document server, an image server and a transformation server, wherein:
 (a) the terminal comprises:   a document location information acceptor that accepts input of first document location information;   a terminal-side document request transmitter that transmits a first document request specifying a first parameter specified in the first document location information, to the transformation server specified as a request destination in the first document location information accepted;   a terminal-side document response receiver that receives, from the transformation server, a first document response in concert with the first document request;   a program executor for executing on the first document a program specified in the first document received as the first document response;   an image location information extractor that extracts image location information contained in the first document on which the program is executed;   an image request transmitter that transmits an image request specifying an image parameter specified in the image location information to the image server specified as a request destination in the extracted image location information;   an image response receiver that receives an image response in concert with the image request, from the image server; and   a document display for displaying text character strings of the first document on which the program is executed, and images received as the image response;   (b) the transformation server comprises:   a transformation server-side document request receiver that receives the first document request;   a document location information extractor that extracts second document location information designated by the first parameter specified in the first document request that was received;   a transformation server-side document request transmitter that transmits a second document request specifying the second parameter specified in the second document location information, to the document server specified as a request destination in the extracted second document location information;   a transformation server-side document response receiver that receives, from the document server, a second document response in concert with the second document request;   a transformer that implements a prescribed transformation process on text character strings contained in a second document received as the second document response, and through this transforming the second document into the first document; and   a transformation server-side document response transmitter that transmits the first document after transformation by the transformation process as the first document response to the terminal that is the transmission source of the received first document request;   wherein the prescribed transformation process maintains a program specified by the second document;   (c) the document server comprises:   a document server-side document request receiver that receives the second document request; and   a document server-side document response transmitter that transmits the second document designated by the second parameter specified in the received second document request as the second document response to the transformation server that is the transmission source of the received second document request;   (d) the image server comprises:   an image request receiver that receives the image request;   an image generator that generates an image to which are added characters or character strings specified by the additional information specified by the image parameter specified in the received image request; and   an image response transmitter that transmits the generated image as an image response to the terminal that is the transmission source of the received image request;   wherein the document location information acceptor of the terminal accepts the first document location information specifying the first parameter designating “the second document location information specifying the second parameter designating the required second document, with the document server as the request destination”, with the transformation server as the request destination; and   the program that is maintained in the prescribed transformation process and is specified in the first document received as the first document response transmitted from the transformation server causes the program executor of the terminal to function as:   (1) an additional information extractor that extracts additional information specifying the characters or character strings that should be added to the image whose location is expressed by the image location information contained in the first document, from text character strings that are the target of transformation contained in the first document or the program specified by the first document;   (2) an image location information generator that generates new image location information specifying the image server as a request destination, specifying an image parameter that designates the extracted additional information, and containing background image designation information for use in designating a background image to which the characters or the character strings that are contained in the document or the program specified by the document and are specified by the additional information should be added; and   (3) an over-writer that overwrites image location information corresponding to the extracted additional information in the first the document with the generated new image location information,   wherein the image generator of the image server generates an image in which the characters or the character strings specified by the additional information designated by the image parameter specified by the received image request are added to the background image designated based on the background image designation information.   
     
     
         17 . A browsing system comprising:
 a document server for transmitting a document consisting of text only;   and an image server for transmitting an image to a terminal that requests the image designated by image location information contained in the document, wherein   (A) the document server transmits, before the terminal requests image to the image server, the document containing program or specifying the program to cause the terminal function as:   an additional information extractor that extracts, as additional information, characters or character strings that are added to background image from the document of which characters or character strings are indicated at a position of a target to be transformed by transformer or a program specified by that document;   an image location information generator that generates image location information specifying the image server as a request destination, and-containing an image parameter that designates the extracted additional information and the background image; and,   an over-writer that overwrites the image location information contained in the document with the image location information generated; and   (B) the image server comprises:   an image generator that generates an image in which additional information designated by an image parameter contained in the image location information when the image designated by the image location information is requested from the terminal is added to the background image specified by the image parameter; and   a transmitter that transmits the generated image to the terminal as response associated with the request.   
     
     
         18 . The browsing system according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the document is written in HTML (HyperText Markup Language);   image location information contained in the document is indicated by an src attribute of an img tag;   additional information associated with that image location information is indicated by an alt attribute of that img tag; and   the additional information extractor extracts, as additional information, characters or character strings specified by the alt attribute or text surrounded by quotation marks in the program.   
     
     
         19 . The browsing system according to  claim 18 , wherein a program specified in the document is indicated by an onload attribute of a body tag. 
     
     
         20 . The browsing system according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the document is written in HTML (HyperText Markup Language);   image location information contained in the document is indicated by an src attribute of an img tag; and   the additional information extractor extracts, as additional information, text surrounded by tags having a class attribute or an id attribute associated with the img tag or text surrounded by quotation marks in the program.   
     
     
         21 . The browsing system according to  claim 20 , wherein a program specified in the document is indicated by an onload attribute of a body tag. 
     
     
         22 . The browsing system according to any one of  claim 17 , wherein:
 style information indicating a style with which the characters or character strings specified by the additional information are added to an image is described on the document or the program specified by the document;   the image location information generator generates image location information containing an image parameter designating the style information; and   the image generator generates an image to which additional information designated by the image parameter is added to a background image-designated by the image parameter, with the style designated by the image parameter.   
     
     
         23 . The browsing system according to any one of  claim 17 , wherein:
 image location information prior to being overwritten by the over-writer contains background information identifying the background image;   the image location information generator generates image location information containing image parameter designating background information contained in the image location information prior to being overwritten; and   the image generator generates an image to which additional information designated by the image parameter contained in the image location information after being overwritten, is added to a background image identified by the background information.   
     
     
         24 . A browsing method executed by a browsing system comprising:
 a document server for transmitting a document consisting of text only;   to a terminal requesting the image designated by image location information contained in the document,   this browsing method, including:   a first transmission step wherein the document server transmits, before the terminal requests image to the image server, the document containing program or specifying the program to cause the terminal to function as:   an additional information extractor that extracts, as additional information, characters or character strings that are added to a background image from the document of which characters or character strings are indicated at a position of a target to be transformed by transformer or a program specified by the document;   an image location information generator that generates-image location information specifying the image server as a request destination, and containing an image parameter that designates the extracted additional information, and the background image; and,   an over-writer overwrites the image location information contained in the document with the image location information generated by the image location information generator;   an image generation step in which the image server generates an image in which additional information designated by an image parameter contained in the image location information when the image designated by the image location information is requested from the terminal is added to the background image specified by the image parameter; and   a second transmission step in which the image server transmits the generated image to the terminal as response associated with the request.   
     
     
         25 . A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a program executed by a computer for displaying text character strings of a document consisting of text only and an image acquired from an image server based on image location information contained in that document before acquiring this image, the program being specified by the document and causing the computer to function as:
 an additional information extractor that extracts, as additional information, characters or character strings that are added to background image from the document of which characters or character strings are indicated at a position of a target to be transformed by transformer or the program;   an image location information generator that generates image location information specifying the image server as a request destination, and containing an image parameter that designates the extracted additional information and the background image;   an over-writer that overwrites the image location information contained in the document with the image location information generated by the image location information generator; and   an image request transmitter that transmits image requests specifying the image parameter contained in the image location information after being overwritten.   
     
     
         26 . An image server capable of communicating with a terminal for displaying text character strings of a document consisting of text only and an image acquired based on image location information contained in that document, this image server comprising:
 an image request receiver that receives image requests from the terminal, this terminal comprising an additional information extractor that extracts, as additional information, characters or character strings that are added to an background image from the document of which characters or character strings are indicated at a position of a target to be transformed by transformer or a program specified by the document, an image location information generator that generates image location information specifying the image server as a request destination, and containing an image parameter that designates the extracted additional information and the background image an over-writer that overwrites the image location information contained in the document with the image location information generated by the image location information generator, and an image request transmitter that transmits an image request specifying the image parameter contained in the image location information after being overwritten, the request specifying the image parameter contained in the image location information after being overwritten;   an image generator that generates images in which additional information designated by the image parameter specified in the received image request is added to the background image specified by the image parameter; and   an image response transmitter that transmits the generated images as response associated with the request to the terminal.   
     
     
         27 . A method executed by an image server capable of communicating with a terminal for displaying text character strings of a document consisting of text only and an image acquired based on image location information contained in that document, this method including:
 an image request receiving step in which image requests are received, which are from the terminal, this terminal comprising an additional information extractor that extracts, as additional information, characters or character strings that are added to background image from the document of which characters or character strings are indicated at a position of a target to be transformed by transformer or a program specified by the document, an image location information generator that generates image location information specifying the image server as a request destination, containing an image parameter that designates the extracted additional information and the background image, contained in the document with the image location information generated by the image location information generator, and an image request transmitter that transmits an image request specifying the image parameter contained in the image location information after being overwritten, the image request specifying the image parameter contained in the image location information after being overwritten;   an image generation step in which images are generated, in which the additional information designated by the image parameter specified in the received image request are is added to the background image specified by the image parameter; and   an image response transmission step in which the generated images are transmitted as response associated with the request to the terminal.