1. Method for adapting a document so as to make it viewable on a terminal (11) having limited display capabilities, which method includes the following steps of:
determining (21) processing and display capabilities of the terminal,
converting (23) a page of a document into a graphic or semi-graphic format chosen on the basis of the processing andor display capabilities of the terminal, and
at least partially transmitting (25, 27) the image of the converted document page to the terminal,
characterized in that it includes steps consisting of analyzing (22, 30) the document page to be displayed by the terminal (11) so as to determine its characteristics, wherein the image resulting from the conversion has a resolution selected on the basis of the characteristics of the document, so that the contents of the document page can be read on the screen of the terminal.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the determination (21) of the processing and display capabilities of the terminal comprises a step of determining a display axis corresponding to an axis of a larger dimension of an image capable of being displayed by the terminal (11), wherein the analysis of the document page to be displayed comprises a step of determining a reading direction of the document page, and the conversion of the document page is followed by a step of adapting the image resulting from the conversion, consisting of making the reading direction of the document page coincide with the display axis of the terminal.
3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it also includes a step (26) of extracting, from the image resulting from the conversion, a band of which the dimensions correspond to the maximum dimensions of an image capable of being displayed by the terminal, and of which the orientation in the image corresponds to the reading axis of the document page, which image band is transmitted to the terminal.
4. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the resolution of the image generated by the conversion of a document page is determined on the basis of the size of alphanumeric characters present in the document page and on the basis of the dimensions of the page.
5. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a preliminary step of selecting a portion of a document page to be displayed on the screen of the terminal (11) including steps consisting of converting the document page into a reduced image having a format compatible with the processing and display capabilities of a terminal, and with a resolution selected so that the entire image can be displayed by the terminal, and transmitting the reduced image of the page to the terminal, wherein the user of the terminal then has the possibility of selecting an area of the displayed image, which selected area of the document page is then converted to a resolution selected on the basis of the characteristics of the document page, so that the contents of the document page can be read on the screen of the terminal.
6. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that if the document page is an image representing text, the analysis of the document page includes steps of recognizing the alphanumeric characters present in the document page and determining a main size of the recognized alphanumeric characters, with the resolution of the image generated by the conversion of a document page being determined on the basis of the main size obtained.
7. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the analysis of the document page consists of separating images and text contained on the page, wherein the conversion of the document page consists of generating, based on the text, images in an adapted format, and converting the format of the images so that they can be viewed on the terminal.
8. System for adapting a document so as to make it viewable on a terminal having limited display capabilities, which system includes an adaptation module (15) comprising means (13) for determining processing and display capabilities of a terminal (11), and means (17) for converting a page of a document into a graphic or semi-graphic format selected on the basis of the processing and display capabilities of the terminal, which system also includes means for at least partially transmitting the image of the converted document page to the terminal, characterized in that the adaptation module (15) also includes means (18) for analyzing the document page to be displayed by the terminal (11), so as to determine its characteristics, wherein the image resulting from the conversion has a resolution selected on the basis of the characteristics of the document, so that the contents of the document page can be read on the display screen of the terminal.
9. System according to claim 8, characterized in that the means for determining the processing and display capabilities of the terminal include means for determining a display axis corresponding to an axis of a larger dimension of an image capable of being displayed by the terminal, wherein the means for analyzing the document page to be displayed comprise means for determining a reading direction of the document page, the adaptation module (15) includes means for adapting the image resulting from the conversion causing the reading direction of the document page to coincide with the display axis of the terminal.
10. System according to claim 8, characterized in that the adaptation module is integrated in a web server (12) delivering documents to mobile terminals (11).
11. System according to claims claim 1, characterized in that the adaptation module is integrated in a web server (12) delivering documents to mobile terminals (11).
12. System according to claim 8, characterized in that the adaptation module (15) is integrated in a gateway (4) providing the interconnection between a mobile telephone network (2) to which the terminals are capable of being connected, and a data transmission network (5) providing access to documents capable of being viewed on the terminals.
13. System according to claim 8, characterized in that the adaptation module (15) is integrated in a specialized server (10) connected to a data transmission network (5) providing access to documents capable of being viewed on the terminals (11), wherein the terminals are mobile terminals capable of being connected to a mobile telephone network (2) interconnected with the data transmission network.
14. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that it also includes a step (26) of extracting, from the image resulting from the conversion, a band of which the dimensions correspond to the maximum dimensions of an image capable of being displayed by the terminal, and of which the orientation in the image corresponds to the reading axis of the document page, which image band is transmitted to the terminal.
15. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the resolution of the image generated by the conversion of a document page is determined on the basis of the size of alphanumeric characters present in the document page and on the basis of the dimensions of the page.
16. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the resolution of the image generated by the conversion of a document page is determined on the basis of the size of alphanumeric characters present in the document page and on the basis of the dimensions of the page.
17. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that it includes a preliminary step of selecting a portion of a document page to be displayed on the screen of the terminal (11) including steps consisting of converting the document page into a reduced image having a format compatible with the processing and display capabilities of a terminal, and with a resolution selected so that the entire image can be displayed by the terminal, and transmitting the reduced image of the page to the terminal, wherein the user of the terminal then has the possibility of selecting an area of the displayed image, which selected area of the document page is then converted to a resolution selected on the basis of the characteristics of the document page, so that the contents of the document page can be read on the screen of the terminal.
18. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that it includes a preliminary step of selecting a portion of a document page to be displayed on the screen of the terminal (11) including steps consisting of converting the document page into a reduced image having a format compatible with the processing and display capabilities of a terminal, and with a resolution selected so that the entire image can be displayed by the terminal, and transmitting the reduced image of the page to the terminal, wherein the user of the terminal then has the possibility of selecting an area of the displayed image, which selected area of the document page is then converted to a resolution selected on the basis of the characteristics of the document page, so that the contents of the document page can be read on the screen of the terminal.
19. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that it includes a preliminary step of selecting a portion of a document page to be displayed on the screen of the terminal (11) including steps consisting of converting the document page into a reduced image having a format compatible with the processing and display capabilities of a terminal, and with a resolution selected so that the entire image can be displayed by the terminal, and transmitting the reduced image of the page to the terminal, wherein the user of the terminal then has the possibility of selecting an area of the displayed image, which selected area of the document page is then converted to a resolution selected on the basis of the characteristics of the document page, so that the contents of the document page can be read on the screen of the terminal.
20. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that if the document page is an image representing text, the analysis of the document page includes steps of recognizing the alphanumeric characters present in the document page and determining a main size of the recognized alphanumeric characters, with the resolution of the image generated by the conversion of a document page being determined on the basis of the main size obtained.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. Apparatus for processing data, said apparatus comprising:
data processing circuits operable to perform data processing operations and powered by a power supply signal;
a power controller operable to control said power supply signal supplied to said data processing circuits; wherein
said power controller is operable to generate a power control signal to trigger generation of said power supply signal with a level operable to power said data processing circuits;
said data processing circuits are responsive to an active signal to adopt a predetermined reset state independent of any preceding state; and
said power controller is operable following generation of said power control signal to de-assert said active signal to said data processing circuits to force said data processing circuits to adopt said predetermined reset state until said power supply signal has said level operable to power said data processing circuits, whereupon said active signal is asserted such that said data processing circuits may commence data processing operation, wherein said data processing circuits form a first power domain and further data processing circuits form a least one further power domain, wherein inter-domain signals being passed between power domains are gated so as to be clamped at predetermined levels when an active signal is being asserted upon a power domain that is one of generating said inter-domain signals and receiving said inter-domain signals.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power supply signal is controlled by said power controller to have either a high level operable to power said data processing circuits or a low level non-operable to power said data processing circuits.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said active signal serves to force said data processing circuits to adopt said reset state when substantially equal to said low level.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein signal values within said data processing circuits decay to said low level when said data processing circuit are not powered.
5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said power control signal serves to trigger generation of said power supply signal when substantially equal to said high level.
6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein all outputs from said data processing circuits use active high signalling.
7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein all inputs to said data processing circuits other than any active signals use active high signalling.
8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said active signal is being asserted upon a power domain that is generating said inter-domain signals.
9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said active signal is being asserted upon a power domain that is receiving said inter-domain signals.
10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power control signal and said active signal are logically combined to generate a signal operable to gate supply of power to said data processing circuits.
11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first power domain and said one or more further power domains are arranged in a hierarchy of power domains whereby power domain lower in said hierarchy may be unpowered whilst power domains higher in said hierarchy are powered.
12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said active signal for said first power domain is supplied to at least one of said one or more further power domains to provide information as to whether or not said first power domain is in a powered or an unpowered state.
13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising a power supply unit responsive to said power control signal to generate said power supply signal.
14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said power supply unit is operable to provide a power valid signal to said power controller to indicate whether or not said power supply signal has reached a valid level.
15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said power controller uses said power valid signal to control removal of said active signal from said data processing circuits.
16. A method of controlling power supply to data processing circuits powered by a power supply signal, said data processing circuits being responsive to an active signal to adopt a predetermined reset state independent of any preceding state, said method comprising the steps of:
generating a power control signal to trigger generation of said power supply signal with a level operable to power said data processing circuits; and
following generation of said power control signal, de-asserting said active signal to said data processing circuits to force said data processing circuits to adopt said predetermined reset state until said power supply signal has said level operable to power said data processing circuits, whereupon said active signal is asserted such that said data processing circuits may commence data processing operation, wherein said data processing circuits form a first power domain and further data processing circuits form one or more further power domains, wherein inter-domain signals being passed between power domains are gated so as to be clamped at predetermined levels when an active signal is being asserted upon a power domain that is one of generating said inter-domain signals and receiving said inter-domain signals.
17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said power supply signal is controlled to have either a high level operable to power said data processing circuits or a low level non-operable to power said data processing circuits.
18. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said active signal serves to force said data processing circuits to adopt said reset state when substantially equal to said low level.
19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein signal values within said data processing circuits decay to said low level when said data processing circuit are not powered.
20. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said power control signal serves to trigger generation of said power supply signal when substantially equal to said high level.
21. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein all outputs from said data processing circuits use active high signalling.
22. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein all inputs to said data processing circuits other than any active signals use active high signalling.
23. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said active signal is being asserted upon a power domain that is generating said inter-domain signals.
24. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said active signal is being asserted upon a power domain that is receiving said inter-domain signals.
25. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said power control signal and said active signal are logically combined to generate a signal operable to gate supply of power to said data processing circuits.
26. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said first power domain and said one or more further power domains are arranged in a hierarchy of power domains whereby power domain lower in said hierarchy may be unpowered whilst power domains higher in said hierarchy are powered.
27. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said active signal for said first power domain is supplied to at least one of said one or more further power domains to provide information as to whether or not said first power domain is in a powered or an unpowered state.
28. A method as claimed in claim 16, comprising generating said power supply signal with a power supply unit responsive to said power control signal.
29. A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein said power supply unit is operable to provide a power valid signal to indicate whether or not said power supply signal has reached a valid level.
30. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein said power valid signal is used to control removal of said active signal from said data processing circuits.
31. A signal protocol for controlling supply of power to data processing circuits powered by a power supply signal, said signal protocol comprising:
a power control signal to trigger generation of said power supply signal with a level operable to power said data processing circuits; and
an active signal operable to force said data processing circuits to adopt a predetermined reset state independent of any preceding state; wherein
following generation of said power control signal said active signal is de-asserted to said data processing circuits to force said data processing circuits to adopt said predetermined reset state until said power supply signal has said level operable to power said data processing circuits, whereupon said active signal is asserted such that said data processing circuits may commence data processing operation, wherein said data processing circuits form a first power domain and further data processing circuits form one or more further power domains, wherein inter-domain signals being passed between power domains are gated so as to be clamped at predetermined levels when an active signal is being asserted upon a power domain that is on of generating said inter-domain signals and receiving said inter-domain signals.
32. A signal protocol as claimed in claim 31, wherein said power supply signal is controlled to have either a high level operable to power said data processing circuits or a low level non-operable to power said data processing circuits.
33. A signal protocol as claimed in claim 32, wherein said active signal serves to force said data processing circuits to adopt said reset state when substantially equal to said low level.
34. A signal protocol as claimed in claim 33, wherein signal values within said data processing circuits decay to said low level when said data processing circuit are not powered.
35. A signal protocol as claimed in claim 32, wherein said power control signal serves to trigger generation of said power supply signal when substantially equal to said high level.
36. A signal protocol as claimed in claim 31, wherein all outputs from said data processing circuits use active high signalling.
37. A signal protocol as claimed in claim 31, wherein all inputs to said data processing circuits other than any active signals use active high signalling.
38. A signal protocol as claimed in claim 31, wherein said active signal is being asserted upon a power domain that is generating said inter-domain signals.
39. A signal protocol as claimed in claim 31, wherein said active signal is being asserted upon a power domain that is receiving said inter-domain signals.
40. A signal protocol as claimed in claim 31, wherein said power control signal and said active signal are logically combined to generate a signal operable to gate supply of power to said data processing circuits.
41. A signal protocol as claimed in claim 31, wherein said first power domain and said one or more further power domains are arranged in a hierarchy of power domains whereby power domain lower in said hierarchy may be unpowered whilst power domains higher in said hierarchy are powered.
42. A signal protocol as claimed in claim 31, wherein said reset signal for said first power domain is supplied to at least one of said one or more further power domains to provide information as to whether or not said first power domain is in a powered or an unpowered state.
43. A signal protocol as claimed in claim 31, comprising a power supply unit responsive to said power control signal to generate said power supply signal.
44. A signal protocol as claimed in claim 43, wherein said power supply unit is operable to provide a power valid signal to said power controller to indicate whether or not said power supply signal has reached a valid level.
45. A signal protocol as claimed in claim 44, wherein said power controller uses said power valid signal to control removal of said reset signal from said data processing circuits.