U.S. patent application number 12/825308 was filed with the patent office on 2010-10-21 for content access from a communications network using a handheld computer system and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to PALMSOURCE, INC.. Invention is credited to Sanjiv Maurya, Michel Turcotte.
Application Number | 20100268848 12/825308 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25278771 |
Filed Date | 2010-10-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100268848 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Maurya; Sanjiv ; et
al. |
October 21, 2010 |
CONTENT ACCESS FROM A COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK USING A HANDHELD
COMPUTER SYSTEM AND METHOD
Abstract
A handheld computer including a wireless communications link
with a wireless server is disclosed. The wireless communications
link allows browsing of information provided through the wireless
server which is coupled to a communications network. A user of the
handheld computer may generate a request for content, for example,
by selecting a link to content. The request is communicated to the
wireless server which requests the content from the content source.
When the content is received by the wireless server, a plug-in
mechanism or other type of software program is used to convert the
particular content type into a format easily communicated and used
by the handheld computer. The handheld computer receives the
formatted content, and using a compatible plug-in mechanism or
software program, is able to display content using the handheld
computer.
Inventors: |
Maurya; Sanjiv; (Sunnyvale,
CA) ; Turcotte; Michel; (Sunnyvale, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BERRY & ASSOCIATES P.C.
9229 SUNSET BOULEVARD, SUITE 630
LOS ANGELES
CA
90069
US
|
Assignee: |
PALMSOURCE, INC.
Sunnyvale
CA
|
Family ID: |
25278771 |
Appl. No.: |
12/825308 |
Filed: |
June 28, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09839066 |
Apr 20, 2001 |
7747781 |
|
|
12825308 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
709/246 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 67/04 20130101;
H04L 69/08 20130101; H04L 29/06 20130101; H04L 67/2823 20130101;
H04L 67/20 20130101; H04L 69/329 20130101; G06F 16/9577 20190101;
G06F 16/258 20190101 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/246 |
International
Class: |
G06F 15/16 20060101
G06F015/16 |
Claims
1. A handheld computer system to access content for a user,
comprising: a handheld computer capable of transmitting a request
for content and lacking the capability to access the content in an
unformatted form; a first server with formatting capability to
format the content of the request, the server being configured to
send the formatted request to a source of the content; a second
server in communication with the first server over a communication
link, the second server being a source for the content requested by
the handheld computer; the first server further having formatting
capability and configured to format the content requested into a
form for delivery to the handheld computer; the handheld computer
configured to receive the requested formatted content, from the
first server and to provide access to the content by the user of
the handheld computer.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
09/839,066, entitled "Content Access From a Communications Network
Using a Handheld Computer System and Method", filed Apr. 20, 2001,
to be issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,747,781, and assigned to the
assignee of the present application. The subject matter in the
above-identified co-pending and commonly owned application is
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present specification relates to a method and apparatus
for accessing content on a handheld computer. In particular, the
content is provided over a communications network, such as the
internet, to a wireless server which communicates wirelessly with
the handheld computer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The internet includes a communications network linking a
vast number of computers with smaller computers, computer networks,
and wireless devices. The computers coupled to these networks
exchange information using various services, such as electronic
mail, gopher, and the World Wide Web (WWW). The World Wide Web
allows a computer server (sometimes referred to as a web server or
a website) to send graphical web page information to a remote
client computer system. The remote client computer system is
configured to display the web page information in a graphical
format.
[0004] Resources, such as individual computers or individual web
pages on the World Wide Web may be uniquely identified by a uniform
resource locator (URL). For a user to view a specific web page, a
client computer system specifies the URL for that web page in a
request, such as a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) request. The
request is forwarded through the communications network, to the web
server that supports the particular web page. The web server
responds to the request by sending the particular web page through
the requesting client computer system. When the requesting client
computer system receives the particular web page, the particular
web page is displayed on a video display using a browser. The
browser is typically a special-purpose application program that
affects the requesting of web pages and the supplying of web
pages.
[0005] The web pages themselves are typically defined using a
hypertext mark-up language (HTML). HTML simply provides a standard
set of tags that define how a web page is to be displayed. When a
user indicates to the browser to display a web page, the browser
sends a request to the server computer to transfer to the client
computer system an HTML document that defines the web page. When
the requested HTML document is received by the client computer
system, the browser displays the web page as defined by the HTML
document. The HTML document contains various tags that control the
displaying of text graphics, controls, and other features. The HTML
document may further contain URLs of other web pages or of other
documents or other types of content, such as, but not limited to,
audio and video content, available on that server computer system
or other server computer systems. These URLs are often referred to
as links. Each of these links may be selected by the HTML document
user and an HTTP request is sent to the associated web server.
[0006] Although the origins of the worldwide web arose from the
need for an exchange of scientific and engineering information
between scientists and engineers, the worldwide web has become
especially conducive to conducting electronic commerce
(e-commerce), searching for information by individuals for both
personal and professional use, and for managing and facilitating
day-to-day activities by individuals in a personal and professional
context, among others.
[0007] It has become increasingly desired that individuals be able
to gain access to the resources and content available through the
World Wide Web while using any of a variety of mobile devices,
including, but not limited to mobile computers, cellular
telephones, personal digital assistants and handheld computers.
With increased demands being put on these devices, users
increasingly demand access to content available over the World Wide
Web that would conventionally be available to a personal computer
user as well, for example. Portable devices, such as handheld
computers typically do not have the communication bandwidth
typically associated with a personal computer. The wireless link
over which the handheld computer communicates with the wireless
server typically has a relatively low bandwidth.
[0008] Accordingly, there is a need for software for both handheld
computers (as well as mobile computers and cellular telephones) and
server computers which enable content delivery and exchange over a
wireless communication link. There is also a need for a "plug-in"
software mechanism for computer servers and handheld computers
which facilitates content delivery to and from a handheld computer
by particular formatting and/or compression. Further still, there
is a need for methods for delivering content provided over a
communications network, to a handheld computer.
[0009] The techniques herein below extend to those embodiments
which fall within the scope of the appended claims, regardless of
whether they accomplish one or more of the above mentioned
needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] An exemplary embodiment relates to a method of obtaining
content to be accessed on a handheld computer. The method includes
sending a request for content by a server on a communications
network. The method also includes retrieving the content by the
server. Further, the method includes converting the content by the
server, to a format useable by a handheld computer. Further still,
the method includes sending the content to the handheld
computer.
[0011] Another exemplary embodiment relates to a system configured
for a handheld computer to access content. The system includes a
handheld computer. The system also includes a server in
communication with the handheld computer. Further, the system
includes a content server in communication with the server. Further
still, the system includes a server program running on one of the
server and the content server and configured to format the content
into a form for delivery to a handheld computer. Yet further still,
the system includes a handheld program running on the handheld
computer and configured to receive the formatted content and
provide access to the content by a user using the handheld
computer.
[0012] Further, another exemplary embodiment relates to a method of
accessing content on a handheld computer. The method includes
establishing a communications link with a server coupled to a
communications network. The method also includes running a browser
program on the handheld computer. Further, the method includes
receiving data configured to be viewed using the browser. Further
still, the method includes requesting content from a location
described by the data. Yet further still, the method includes
receiving the content in a format designed for the handheld
computer. Yet further still, the method includes converting the
content to a format useable by an application on the handheld
computer.
[0013] Further still, another exemplary embodiment relates to a
method of accessing content on a handheld computer. The method
includes receiving a request for content, in a third party format,
by a server coupled to a communications network. The method also
includes sending the request for content to a server having the
capability to convert third party format content to a handheld
format. Further, the method includes requesting the content, by the
server having the capability to convert third party format content
to a handheld format, from a content source. Further still, the
method includes receiving the content by the server having the
capability to convert third party format content to a handheld
format and converting the content to the handheld format.
[0014] Yet further still, another exemplary embodiment relates to a
method of accessing information over a communications network by a
handheld computer. The method includes operating a browser on a
handheld computer. The method also includes requesting from a first
server a browser document over a wireless link. Further, the method
includes requesting from a second server by the first server a
browser document in a customized format. Further still, the method
includes retrieving by the first server from the second server a
browser document in the customized format. Yet further still, the
method includes retrieving over a wireless link the browser
document in the customized format from the first server.
[0015] Yet still another exemplary embodiment relates to a system
configured for a handheld computer to access content. The system
includes a handheld computer, a first server in communication with
the handheld computer, a second server in communication with the
first server, and a third server in communication with the first
server and with the second server and the third server being a
source for content requested by the handheld computer. The system
also includes a server program running on the second server and the
server program configured to format the content into a form for
delivery to a handheld computer. Further, the system includes a
handheld program running on the handheld computer and configured to
receive the formatted content from the first server and provide
access to the content by a user using the handheld computer.
[0016] Yet still a further exemplary embodiment relates to a system
configured for a handheld computer to access content. The system
includes a handheld computer and a wireless gateway. The system
also includes a first server in communication with the wireless
gateway and a second server in communication with the first server.
The system also includes a third server in communication with the
first server and the second server and the third server being a
source for content requested by the handheld computer. Further, the
system includes a server program running on the second server and
the server program configured to format the content into a form for
delivery to a handheld computer through the wireless gateway.
Further still, the system includes a handheld program running on
the handheld computer and configured to receive the formatted
content from the wireless gateway and provide access to the content
by a user using the handheld computer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The invention will become more fully understood from the
following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to
like elements, in which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communication network and a
handheld computer connected wirelessly thereto;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram depicting steps of obtaining
content by a handheld computer;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram depicting alternative steps of
obtaining content by a handheld computer;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram depicting another set of
alternative steps of obtaining content by a handheld computer;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram depicting yet another set of
alternative steps for obtaining content by a handheld computer;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram depicting yet another set of
alternative steps of obtaining content by a handheld computer;
and
[0024] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an alternative communication
network and a handheld computer connected wirelessly thereto.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] Referring to FIG. 1, a communications system 100 is
depicted. Communications system 100 includes the internet 110 or
any other type of communications system. In the exemplary
embodiment depicted, internet 110 is a widely distributed
communications system in which a plurality of server and client
computers are coupled in communication with a plurality of other
server and client computers distributed worldwide. For example,
server computers may include such servers as a wireless server 120,
a content source 130, a web portal 140, a third party content
software provider server 150 and many other types of server
computers having a variety of functions and resources. In the
exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, wireless server 120
services a plurality of handheld computers, such as handheld
computer 160. Handheld computer 160 may be any of a variety of
handheld computers, such as, but not limited to personal digital
assistants, palmhelds, palmtop computers, cellular telephones,
wireless pagers, and the like. Handheld computer 160 is configured
to communicate wirelessly with wireless server 120 and therefore
gain access to resources over internet 110. For example, web
browser 170 may be configured to access HTML web pages via wireless
server 120 which communicates over internet 110.
[0026] During an exemplary usage of web browser 170, a user
utilizing handheld computer 160 often wishes to download and view
certain documents available over internet 110 from such sources as
content source 130. Accordingly, a user utilizing web browser 170
would "click on", select, or request, access to the content by
communicating a URL associated with the content, to wireless server
120 which communicates over internet 110. The URL directs the
request to content source 130.
[0027] In an exemplary embodiment, the content source may be any of
a variety of document or content types, such as, but not limited
to, Microsoft Word (.doc) documents, Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) files,
sound files such as .wav files, picture files such as .gif, or .jpg
files, video files such as .mpg files, or many other types of files
and/or content. Conventionally, handheld computers 160 are not
necessarily set up to view the plurality of content types which may
be available over internet 110, from sources such as content source
130 because of display limitations, bandwidth limitations, memory
limitations, and other limitations associated with a handheld or
portable device. Because wireless link 175 may be a relatively low
bandwidth data link, it may be advantageous to communicate such
content from wireless server 120 to handheld computer 160 in a
compressed format. Therefore, as wireless server 120 accesses
content from content source 130 and receives the content therefrom,
wireless server 120 is configured with a software program or
software plug-in mechanism 180 which is configured to convert the
content received from content source 130 into a compressed format
and further into a format usable by handheld computer 160.
Likewise, handheld computer 160 runs a software program or software
plug-in mechanism which is also configured to either decompress the
compressed content received from wireless server 180 or to directly
read and utilize the content received from wireless server 180 in a
format which is viewable and usable on handheld computer 160.
Plug-in mechanism 180 along with plug-in mechanism 185 enables
communication of content from sources such as content source 130
over wireless interconnection 175 such that the content is
accessible and viewable by handheld computer 160.
[0028] In another exemplary embodiment, handheld computer 160,
using browser 170, communicates a request for content over wireless
link 175 to wireless server 120. Wireless server 120 communicates
the request to a third party content software provider 150. Third
party content software provider 150 is associated with the type of
content requested by wireless server 120. Wireless server 120
communicates the URL for the content to third party content
software provider 150. Third content software provider 150 uses the
URL received from wireless server 120 to retrieve content from a
content source such as content source 130. Third party content
software provider 150 includes formatting software 190 which is
used to format the content for communication to devices such as
handheld computer 160 over wireless links. Accordingly, third party
content software provider 150 uses formatting software 190 to
format the content retrieved from content source 130 and then
communicates the formatted content to wireless server 120 over
internet 110. Wireless server 120 then sends the formatted content
over wireless links 175 to handheld computer 160. Handheld computer
160 uses plug-in mechanism 185 to read the formatted information
from wireless server 120 and view such information on the display.
In an exemplary embodiment, third party content software provider
150 is the third party which writes software for creating content,
for example, third party content software provider may be a
provider of software for creating .doc files, .jpg files, or .pdf
files, for example. Accordingly, the third party content software
provider may be the best source for providing a plug-in mechanism
190 for formatting such content for access by a handheld computer
160 over a wireless link 175.
[0029] In another exemplary embodiment, the user of handheld
computer 160 using browser 170 via wireless link 175 may request
web page information from a variety of sources on the internet such
as web portal 140 or any of a variety of other websites.
Conventionally, if web portal 140 receives a request from handheld
computer 160 the web page is delivered to wireless server 120 which
communicates the HTML document over wireless link 175 to handheld
computer 160. Handheld computer 160 then views the HTML document
using browser 170. However, browser 170, having a limited display
area, may have limited capabilities to easily read and access the
web page. Accordingly, it is often desirable to have a web page
which is formatted in accordance with the display constraints of
handheld computer 160 using browser 170. Therefore, when the user
of handheld computer 160 requests a web page from web portal 140,
the web page identifies that the requesting computer is a handheld
computer running a browser 170 and accordingly formats the HTML
document for the display constraints of handheld computer 160
before communicating such HTML document to wireless server 120.
Wireless server 120 receives the formatted HTML document and
communicates the HTML document with or without compression over
wireless link 175. If the HTML document received by handheld
computer 160 is in a compressed format, handheld computer 160
utilizes mechanism 185 for uncompressing the HTML document and the
document is viewable using browser 170. However, if the document is
not compressed, the user of handheld computer 160 simply views the
document on handheld computer 160 using browser 170.
[0030] Referring now to FIG. 2, a flow diagram 200 depicting steps
of obtaining content by a handheld computer, is depicted. In an
exemplary embodiment, a handheld computer, such as handheld
computer 160 obtains a communications link, such as link 175, with
a wireless server, such as wireless server 120 (step 210). Once the
communications link with wireless server 120 is obtained, a request
is made by a user of handheld computer 160 over wireless link 175
to wireless server 120 (step 220). Wireless server 120 retrieves
content over internet 110 in accordance with the request for
content (step 230). The content is then received and converted by
server 120 using a plug-in mechanism, such as mechanism 180, into a
format which is configured to be sent over wireless link 175 (step
240). The converted content is then sent over wireless link 175 to
handheld computer 160 (step 250). The converted content is then
accessed by handheld computer 160 using the plug-in mechanism 185
to convert the formatted content to a form displayable or usable by
handheld computer 160 (step 260).
[0031] Referring now to FIG. 3, a flow diagram 300 including
alternative steps of obtaining content by handheld computer 160 is
depicted. In flow diagram 300, a handheld computer 160 obtains a
communication link with internet 110 (step 310). Handheld computer
160 then retrieves a web page from a web server over the internet
(step 320). A user selects a link to content using a browser 170
running on handheld computer 160 (step 330). Content is sent to a
server, such as wireless server 120 (step 340). The content is
converted to a handheld compatible form using a software
application such as plug-in mechanism 180 (step 350). The converted
content is then sent to the handheld computer 160 (step 360).
Finally, the content is viewed or used by a user utilizing handheld
computer 160 by converting or using the converted content with or
without a specialized plug-in mechanism 185 on handheld computer
160 (step 370).
[0032] In another exemplary embodiment, a flow diagram 400 is shown
in FIG. 4 depicting alternative steps of obtaining content by a
handheld computer. Process 400 includes obtaining a communications
link 175 with a wireless server 120 (step 410). A handheld computer
160 requests content from the wireless server 120 via
communications link 175 (step 420). Wireless server 120 identifies
the type of content requested (step 430). The request is sent to
third party server 150 associated with the type of content that has
been requested (step 440). The third party server 150 retrieves the
content from a content source 130 (step 440). The retrieved content
is converted by third party server 150 to a handheld compatible
format (step 460). The handheld compatible format of the content is
sent to wireless server 120 (step 470). Wireless server 170 then
sends the converted content to handheld computer 160 over
communications link 175 (step 480). Handheld computer 480 then is
able to utilize the converted format either by directly using such
format or by converting the format to a usable format through a
plug-in mechanism such as plug-in mechanism 185. In a particular
embodiment, converted content is a compressed form such that it is
easily transmitted over a bandwidth limited communications link
such as link 175.
[0033] In yet another exemplary embodiment, a process 500 is
depicted in FIG. 5 showing alternative steps of obtaining content
by handheld computer 160. Handheld computer 160 contains a wireless
communications link 175 with a wireless server 120 (step 510). A
user of handheld computer 160 requests content through handheld
computer 160 from wireless server 120 (step 520). Wireless server
120 retrieves content from a content source 130 (step 530). The
type of content is identified by wireless server 120 (step 540)and
sends the content to a third party server 150 to convert the
content to a handheld format (step 550). Wireless server 120
receives the content in the handheld format from the third party
server 150 (step 560). The wireless server sends the content in the
handheld format over wireless link 175 to handheld computer 160
(step 570).
[0034] Referring now to FIG. 6, yet another process 600 is depicted
in which a request for an HTML document is made by handheld
computer 160 (step 610). Wireless server 120 receives the HTML
request from handheld 160 (step 620). The HTML is sent to the
document source, such as web portal 140 (step 630). Web portal 140
identifies the type of requesting source (step 640). Web portal 140
then formats the HTML document in a format appropriate for the type
of requesting source, such as handheld computer 160 (step 650). The
formatted HTML document is then sent to wireless server 120 (step
660). The formatted HTML document is then sent over wireless link
175 to handheld computer 160 for viewing on browser 170 (step
670).
[0035] Referring now to FIG. 7, another exemplary embodiment of a
communication system 700 is depicted. Communication system 700
includes the internet 710 or any other type of communication
system. In the exemplary embodiment depicted, internet 710 is a
widely distributed communication system in which the plurality of
server and client computers are coupled in communication with a
plurality of other server and client computers geographically
distributed. For example, server computers may include such servers
as wireless server 720, a content source 730, a web portal 740, a
third party content software provider 750, an internet service
provider 755, and many other types of server computers having a
variety of functions and resources. In the exemplary embodiment
depicted in FIG. 7, wireless server 720 is configured to service a
plurality of handheld computers, such as handheld computer 760 that
is in communication, over a wireless link 775, with a wireless
gateway 776. Wireless gateway 776 is configured with a
communication connection 777 coupled to ISP 755 which communicates
with wireless server 720 over internet 710. Wireless server 720
provides reformatted content to wireless gateway 776 over internet
710. For example, web browser 770 may be configured to access HTML
web pages via wireless server 720 which communicates with ISP 755
over internet 710.
[0036] During an exemplary usage of web browser 770, a user
utilizing handheld computer 760 may wish to download and view
documents available over internet 710 from such sources as content
source 730. Accordingly, a user utilizing web browser 770 would
select or request access to the content by communicating a URL
associated with the content, to wireless server 720 by providing
the URL over wireless link 775 to wireless gateway 776 over link
777 to ISP 755 and over internet 710 to wireless server 720.
Wireless server 720 directs the request to content source 730.
[0037] Further, in an exemplary embodiment, wireless server 720
would receive the document and may be configured with software or a
software plug-in mechanism 780 which is configured to convert the
content received from the content source 730 into a compressed
format and further into a format usable by handheld computer 760.
The compressed and/or formatted content is communicated over
internet 710 to ISP 755 which communicates the compressed document
over link 777 to wireless gateway 776. The compressed document is
then communicated over wireless link 775 to handheld computer 760.
Handheld computer 760 utilizes a software program 785 to uncompress
or to facilitate viewing of the document on browser 770.
[0038] In another exemplary embodiment, a document request made by
handheld computer 770 is communicated through wireless gateway 776
and ISP 755 to wireless server 720. Wireless server 720 may
determine the type of document requested and send such request to a
third party content software provider 750. Third party content
software provider 750 then retrieves the content requested from
content source 730. Third party content software provider 750
utilizes a software mechanism 790 to format the software into a
handheld format or compress the document into a format suitable for
wireless transfer and then send the formatted and/or compressed
document back to either wireless server 720 or directly to ISP 755.
In the case that the compressed and/or formatted document is sent
to wireless server 720, the document is relayed to ISP 755. In
either case, once ISP 755 receives the compressed and/or formatted
document, the document is transmitted over link 777 to wireless
gateway 776 which transmits the document over wireless link 775 to
handheld 760.
[0039] In yet another exemplary embodiment, a user of handheld
computer 760 requests an HTML document over wireless link 775
through wireless gateway 776 and ISP 755. The request may go
directly to web portal 740. Web portal 740 is able to identify that
the request is coming from a handheld computer and therefore
formats or provides a formatted HTML or HTML type document directly
to ISP 755. ISP 755 then communicates the formatted HTML or HTML
type document over wireless link 777 to wireless gateway 776 and
over wireless link 775 to handheld computer 760.
[0040] While the detailed drawings, specific examples and
particular formulations given describe exemplary embodiments, they
serve the purpose of illustration only. The hardware and software
configurations shown and described may differ depending on the
chosen performance characteristics and physical characteristics of
the computing devices. For example, the type of computing device,
communications networks, or devices used may differ. The methods
and systems shown and described are not limited to the precise
details and conditions disclosed. Furthermore, other substitutions,
modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design,
operating conditions, and arrangement of the exemplary embodiments
without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in
the appended claims.
* * * * *