Transcoder hinting
A transcoding system ( 1 ) comprises a mobile communication device ( 2 ) that retrieves a web resource from a web server ( 6 ) using a mobile communication network ( 3 ) and the internet ( 4 ) via a transcoder ( 5 ). The transcoder ( 5 ) transcodes the web resource before delivering it to the mobile communication device ( 2 ). The process of transcoding the web page is carried out based on style sheet classes and/or meta tags in the web page. This allows a web site owner ( 7 ) to control the actions of the transcoder ( 5 ) in transcoding the web page.
1. A method of providing a web resource to a first browser and to a mobile communication device, one or more processors executing the method comprising
storing the web resource on a server with one or more instructions as to how the web resource should be transcoded for the mobile communication device;
retrieving the web resource with one or more instructions from the server;
rendering the web resource in the first browser;
transcoding the web resource using a transcoding system and based on a tag in the web resource so the web resource is suitable for the mobile communication device based on the instructions; and
delivering the transcoded web resource to the mobile communication device across a network,
wherein the instructions are provided in at least one style sheet class of the web resource that is ignored when the web resource is rendered by the first browser.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of transcoding the web resource comprises altering mark-up language of the web resource based on the at least one style sheet class.
3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of transcoding comprises removing at least one element from the web resource based on the at least one style sheet class.
4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of transcoding comprises adding at least one element to the web resource based on the at least one style sheet class.
5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of transcoding comprising changing the colour of at least one element of the web resource based on the at least one style sheet class.
6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of transcoding comprises creating a user-accessible menu based on the at least one style sheet class.
7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the style sheet class is a cascaded style sheet class.
8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the tag is a meta tag in the web resource.
9. A method according to claim 8 , wherein the meta tag is contained in a head section of mark-up language of the web resource.
10. A method according to claim 8 , wherein step of transcoding comprises introducing elements into the web resource based on meta-tags in the web resource.
11. A method according to claim 8 , wherein the step of transcoding is carried out based on the provision of a license key in the meta tag.
12. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of delivering the transcoded webpage occurs across a network.
13. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the network is a mobile communication network.
14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for carrying out the method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions.
15. An apparatus for providing a web resource to a first browser and to a mobile communication device, the apparatus comprising:
a server on which the web resource is stored with one or more instructions as to how the web resource should be transcoded for the mobile communication device;
the first browser on which the web resource is rendered; and
a transcoder that:
retrieves the web resource;
transcodes the web resource based on a tag in the web resource so the web resource is suitable for the mobile communication device; and
delivers the transcoded web resource to the mobile communication device across a network,
wherein the instructions are provided in at least one style sheet class of the web resource that is ignored when the web resource is rendered by the first browser.