US 5,694,580 A · Method of converting data and device for performing the method

Abstract

A data conversion apparatus includes a plurality of computers connected to a network, a storage section, a retrieval section, data conversion processing sections, and a control section. The storage section stores plural sorts of information on the converter including a name of a computer equipped with a converter, a way of using the converter. A retrieval section retrieves information on the subject converter from the storage section according to a conversion request from a computer which requesting data conversion. The data conversion processing sections are connected to the respective computers and converts data into data of a format to be used with the converter on the basis of the result retrieved by the retrieval section. The control section controls the retrieval processing of the retrieval section and the conversion processing of the data conversion processing section to output converted data to the computer which requests data conversion.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A data conversion apparatus for converting data having a first format into data having a second format on a network having a plurality of computers connected thereto, said data conversion apparatus comprising:

a converter installed in at least one computer;
storage means for storing a plurality of information regarding said converter said storage means comprising:
converter information means for storing information representing a sort of data including a name of data to be converted and a name of converted data, an assigned computer entering a conversion command therein, an existing place and a use way;
and
data discriminating information means for storing a correspondence of a discriminating condition for discriminating a kind of data to a data name;
retrieval means for retrieving the plurality of information regarding a converter from said storage means according to a conversion request from a computer requesting data conversion;
conversion processing means connected to said computers for causing said converter to convert data having one format into data having a second format the basis of the information retrieved by said retrieval means;
and
control means for controlling said retrieval means and said conversion processing means to output converted data to the computer requesting data conversion.

6 more elements

A data conversion method of converting data having a first format into data having a second format on a network to which a plurality of computers are connected, said method comprising the steps of:

storing, in a converter information table, information on a name of data to be converted and a converted data name both representing sorts of data, a conversion command, an assigned computer entering a conversion command therein, an existing place and a use way;
and
storing, in a data discrimination table, a correspondence of a discrimination condition for discriminating the sort of data to the data name;
retrieving the information from the converter information table according to a conversion request from a computer which requests data conversion;
converting data having a first format into data having a second format on the basis of the retrieved information;
and
controlling retrieval processing and conversion processing to output converted data to a computer which requested the data conversion.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method of converting data and device for performing the method

Life of this patent

Method of converting data and device for performing the method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17