Method, apparatus and recording medium for data transfer

A method of transferring image data to a plurality of terminals, at least two of the terminals comprising at least one of a CRT display, an LCD, a projection display, and a plasma display, connected to an image server which comprises means for storing image data and converting a level of an image to be output, the method comprising:

• obtaining information regarding a first terminal of the plurality of tenminals;
• transferring to the first terminal the image data at a level of resolution appropriate for the terminal, based on the information regarding the terminal;
• obtaining information regarding a second terminal of the plurality of terminals;
• and
• transferring to the second terminal the image data at a higher level of resolution than for the first terminal, based on the information regarding the second terminal.

A method of transferring image data from an image server storing image data comprising a plurality of levels to a plurality of terminals, at least two of the terminals comprising at least one of a CRT display, an LCD, a projection display, and a plasma display connected to the image server, the method comprising:

• obtaining information regarding a first terminal of the plurality of terminals;
• transferring to the first terminal the image data at a level of resolution appropriate for the first terminal, based on the information obtained regarding the first terminal;
• obtaining information regarding a second terminal of the plurality of terminals;
• and
• transferring to the second terminal the image data at a higher level of resolution than for the first terminal, based on the information obtained regarding the second terminal,
• wherein the information regarding the first terminal is information regarding a user of the first terminal input from the terminal.

A computer readable recording medium storing a program to cause a computer to execute a method of transferring image data from an image server storing image data comprising a plurality of levels to a plurality of terminals, at least two of the terminals comprising at least one of a CRT, an LCD, a projection, and a plasma display, connected to the image server, the program comprising:

• obtaining information regarding a first terminal of the plurality of terminals;
• transferring to the first terminal the image data at a level of resolution appropriate for the terminal, based on the information regarding the terminal;
• obtaining information regarding a second terminal of the plurality of terminals;
• and
• transferring to the second terminal the image data at a higher level of resolution than for the first terminal, based on the information obtained regarding the second terminal.

A computer readable recording medium storing a program to cause a computer to execute a method of transferring image data to a terminal of a plurality of terminals, at least two of the terminals comprising at least one of a CRT display, an LCD, a projection display, and a plasma display, connected to an image server which comprises means for storing image data and converting a level of an image to be output, the program comprising:

• obtaining information regarding a first terminal of the plurality of terminals;
• and
• transferring to the first terminal the image data at a level of resolution appropriate for the first terminal, based on the information regarding the terminal;
• obtaining information regarding a second terminal of the plurality of terminals;
• and
• transferring to the second terminal the image data at a higher level of resolution than for the first terminal, based on the information obtained regarding the second terminal.

An image data transmission system comprising:

• an image server storing image data at a plurality of levels of resolution;
• a plurality of terminals, at least two of the terminals comprising at least one of a CRT display, an LCD, a projection display, and a plasma display, coupled by a network to the image server;
• means for automatically obtaining information regarding each of said plurality of terminals via said network;
• means for converting said image data to image data of a level of resolution appropriate for each terminal of said plurality of terminals based on the information obtained regarding each terminal of said plurality of terminals;
• and
• means for transmitting to a first terminal of said plurality of terminals said image data at a level of resolution appropriate for the first terminal based on the information obtained regarding the first terminal, and for transmitting to a second terminal of said plurality of terminals the image data at a higher level of resolution than for the first terminal, based on the information obtained regarding the second terminal.

An image data transmission system comprising:

• an image server storing image data;
• a plurality of terminals, at least two of the terminals comprising at least one of a CRT display, an LCD, a projection display, and a plasma display, coupled to the image server;
• an information obtaining module, configured to obtain automatically terminal information regarding a terminal of said plurality of terminals;
• a terminal information database configured to store information about each terminal, from which terminal information database the obtained terminal information is used to determine the appropriate level of resolution and density appropriate for said terminal;
• a data conversion module configured to convert, prior to transfer, said image data to a level of resolution and density appropriate for said terminal;
• and
• a data transfer module configured to transfer to a first terminal of said plurality of terminals said image data at a level of resolution and density appropriate for said first terminal, based on the information obtained regarding said terminal, and to transfer to a second terminal of said plurality of terminals the image data at a higher level of resolution than for the first terminal, based on the information obtained regarding the second terminal,
• wherein image data at a high level of resolution and density are reversibly compressed and image data at a low level of resolution and density are irreversibly compressed.