Data conversion server for voice browsing system

A conversion server responsive to browsing requests issued by a browser unit operative in accordance with a first protocol, said conversion server comprising:

• a retrieval module for retrieving web page information from a web site in accordance with a first browsing request issued by said browsing unit, said web page information being formatted in accordance with a second protocol different from said first protocol;
• a conversion module for converting at least a primary portion of said web page information into a primary file of converted information compliant with said first protocol;
• and
• an interface module for providing said primary file of converted information to said browsing unit.

A method for facilitating information retrieval from remote information sources comprising:

• receiving a browsing request from a browser unit operative in accordance with a first protocol, said browsing request being issued by said browser unit in response to a first user request;
• retrieving content from a remote information source in accordance with said browsing request, said content being formatted in accordance with a second protocol different from said first protocol;
• and
• converting said content into a file of converted information compliant with said first protocol.

A conversion server responsive to browsing requests issued by a browser unit operative in accordance with a first protocol, said conversion server comprising:

• a retrieval module for retrieving information from a remote information source in accordance with a first browsing request issued by said browsing unit, said information being formatted in accordance with a second protocol different from said first protocol;
• a conversion module for converting said information into a file of converted information compliant with said first protocol;
• and
• an interface module for providing said file of converted information to said browsing unit.

A computer-readable storage medium containing code for controlling a conversion server connected to the Internet, said conversion server interfacing with a browser unit operative in accordance with a first protocol, comprising:

• a retrieval routine for controlling retrieval of information from a remote information source in accordance with a first browsing request issued by said browser unit, said information being formatted in accordance with a second protocol different from said first protocol;
• a conversion routine for converting at least a primary portion of said information into a primary file of converted information compliant with said first protocol;
• and
• an interface routine for providing said primary file of converted information to said browsing unit.

A method for facilitating information retrieval from remote information sources comprising:

• receiving a browsing request from a browser unit, said browsing request being issued by said browser unit in response to a first user request;
• retrieving content from a remote information source in accordance with said browsing request;
• parsing said content in accordance with a predefined document type definition and storing a resultant document object model representation, said document object model representation including a plurality of nodes;
• determining a first classification associated with a first of said nodes;
• and
• converting information at said first of said nodes into converted information based upon said first classification.

A method for facilitating information retrieval from remote information sources comprising:

• receiving a URL from a browser unit, said URL being issued by said browser unit in response to a first user request;
• retrieving content from a remote information source identified by said URL;
• parsing said information and storing a resultant document object model representation, said document object model representation including a plurality of nodes organized in a hierarchical structure;
• classifying each of said plurality of nodes into one of a set of predefined classifications during traversal of said hierarchical structure, said traversal originating at a root node of said hierarchical structure;
• and
• converting information at each of said plurality of nodes into converted information based upon the one of said predefined classifications associated with each of said nodes.