Method for rendering formatted content on a mobile device
A method for transmitting formatted content to a mobile device having a small display screen comprises retrieving a page of formatted content, rendering the page as a graphic such as a JPEG that is sized for display on the small display screen, and transmitting the graphic to the requesting device for display. Hyperlinks are collected and sent with the graphic and are presented as menu options on the device for selection by a user. The user may then request a zoom-in to a portion of the graphic and have a corresponding portion of the page transmitted to the device. The returned web page portion operates as a typical formatted content page, permitting the user to read the contents, select a hyperlink or enter data into a form. A method for displaying a large graphic files on a mobile device having a small display screen comprises requesting the graphic file from a server, in response to the request, receiving the graphic file scaled for display and an identification of portions of the graphic file; displaying said graphic file and an overlaid grid corresponding to said identification of portions of said graphic file. Using the grid, a portion of the graphic file is selected and requested from the server, received and displayed.
1 . A method of transmitting formatted data to a requestor, the method comprising:
retrieving a page of formatted data;
rendering said page as a graphic sized for display by said requester; and
in response to a request from said requester for said page, transmitting said graphic to said requester.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said retrieving is done in response to said request for said page.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an additional request for a portion of said page; and
transmitting said portion of said page in response to said additional request.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein said additional request includes graphic coordinates corresponding to said portion of said page.
5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein said additional request includes a predetermined identification of said portion of said page.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
subdividing said graphic into portions;
in association with said graphic, transmitting an identification of said portions to said requestor.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein said subdividing is determined in accordance with an aspect of said page.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in association with said graphic, transmitting at least one hyperlink in said page to said requestor.
9 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
in association with said identification of said portions, transmitting hyperlinks in corresponding portions of said page to said requestor.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in association with said graphic, transmitting said page to said requester in response to said request.
11 . A method of displaying formatted data, comprising:
requesting a page of formatted data from a server;
in response to said request, receiving a graphic rendering of said page from said server; and
displaying said graphic.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
selecting a portion of said graphic;
initiating a second request for a portion of said page corresponding to said portion of said graphic;
in response to said second request, receiving said portion of said page; and
displaying said portion of said page.
13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
in association with said graphic, receiving at least one hyperlink in said page;
providing a user with an option to select said at least one hyperlink; and
in response to a selection by said user, initiating a request for corresponding formatted content.
14 . A method of transmitting a graphic file to a requester, the method comprising:
retrieving a graphic file;
scaling said graphic file for display by said requestor;
subdividing the scaled graphic file into portions;
in response to a request from said requestor for said graphic file, transmitting the scaled graphic file and an identification of said portions to said requester.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said subdividing is determined in accordance with an aspect of said graphic file.
16 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
in association with said graphic, transmitting at least one hyperlink to said requestor.
17 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
in association with said identification of said portions, transmitting hyperlinks to said requestor.
18 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
receiving an additional request for a portion of said graphic file;
transmitting said portion of said graphic file to said requester in response to said additional request.
19 . A method of displaying a graphic file, comprising:
requesting said graphic file from a server;
in response to said request, receiving said graphic file scaled for display and an identification of portions of said graphic file; and
displaying said graphic file and an overlaid grid corresponding to said identification of portions of said graphic file.
20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
using said grid, selecting a portion of said graphic file;
requesting said portion of said graphic file from said server;
receiving said portion sized for display; and
displaying said portion.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein said portion sized for display is received with an identification of portions of said portion for displaying another overlaid grid over said portion.
22 . The method of claim 19 , wherein at least one hyperlink is received in association with corresponding said portions of said graphic file and said at least one hyperlink is selectable upon selection of a corresponding portion of said graphic file.