U.S. patent application number 13/047915 was filed with the patent office on 2011-08-11 for system and method for electronic notes in a mobile environment.
This patent application is currently assigned to RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED. Invention is credited to Omar Barake, Somayeh Geraee Naezhad Fard, Vahid Moosavi, Scott Rose.
Application Number | 20110196756 13/047915 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39225591 |
Filed Date | 2011-08-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110196756 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Moosavi; Vahid ; et
al. |
August 11, 2011 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ELECTRONIC NOTES IN A MOBILE ENVIRONMENT
Abstract
A system and method for handling electronic notes in a mobile
environment, wherein the system includes a memory configured to
store an electronic note, which electronic note includes location
information, a location detector configured to detect location
information for the mobile device, and a processor configured to:
monitor the location information for the mobile device based on
data from the location detector; compare the location information
for the mobile device with the location information in the
electronic note; and activate the electronic note when the location
information for the mobile device is within a predetermined
distance of the location information in the electronic note.
Inventors: |
Moosavi; Vahid; (Kitchener,
CA) ; Fard; Somayeh Geraee Naezhad; (Kitchener,
CA) ; Rose; Scott; (Waterloo, CA) ; Barake;
Omar; (Waterloo, CA) |
Assignee: |
RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
Waterloo
CA
|
Family ID: |
39225591 |
Appl. No.: |
13/047915 |
Filed: |
March 15, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11533803 |
Sep 21, 2006 |
7912480 |
|
|
13047915 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/26.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 51/38 20130101;
G06Q 30/0601 20130101; H04W 4/02 20130101; H04L 51/20 20130101;
H04L 67/18 20130101; H04W 4/029 20180201; H04L 51/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/26.1 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/00 20060101
G06Q030/00 |
Claims
1. A mobile device configured to process electronic notes,
comprising: a memory configured to store an electronic note and a
filter, the electronic note comprises product information
identifying a product and the filter sets a minimum level of
discounting before the electronic note is activated; and a
processor configured to: receive product information and sale
information provided by a commerce server, the sale information
being updateable by the commerce server when an indication from a
merchant is received at the commerce server that the product is
discounted from its standard pricing; compare the product
information in the electronic note with the product information
provided by the commerce server; and activate the electronic note
in response to the sale information provided by the commerce server
indicating that the product is discounted from its standard pricing
by at least the minimum level of discounting set by the filter,
when the product information in the electronic note and the product
information provided by the commerce server match.
2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the mobile device further
comprises a location detector configured to detect location
information for the mobile device, wherein the processor is further
configured to receive location information provided by the commerce
server, wherein the processor is further configured to monitor the
location of the mobile device based on data from the location
detector, and wherein the processor is further configured to
compare the location information for the mobile device with the
location information provided by the commerce server to determine
whether the electronic note is to be activated.
3. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the processor is
configured to determine that the location information for the
mobile device and the location information provided by the commerce
server indicate that the mobile device is within a predetermined
distance of the merchant, before activating the electronic
note.
4. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the processor is
configured to change at least one of the form or color of the
electronic note in response to determining that the location
information for the mobile device and the location information
provided by the commerce server indicate that the mobile device is
within a predetermined distance of the merchant.
5. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the memory is further
configured to store location information detected by the location
detector in the memory.
6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further
configured to: compare an electronic note received from a different
device with the electronic note stored in the memory; determine if
the electronic note received from the different device corresponds
to an edited version of the electronic note stored in the memory;
and replace the electronic note stored in the memory with the
electronic note received from the different device if the
electronic note received from the different device corresponds to
the edited version of the electronic note stored in the memory.
7. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the processor is
configured to receive the electronic note from a different device,
before storing the electronic note in memory.
8. The mobile device of claim 7, wherein the processor is
configured to receive the electronic note from the different device
via e-mail.
9. The mobile device of claim 7, wherein the processor is further
configured to block electronic notes received from the different
device unless permitted based an authorized sender list stored on
the mobile device.
10. The mobile device of claim 7, wherein the processor is
configured to receive the electronic note from the different device
via a message management server.
11. The mobile device of claim 7, wherein the processor is
configured to receive the electronic note from the different device
via a mobile note server, wherein the mobile note server is
configured to store the electronic note.
12. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the electronic note
stored in the memory further comprises a function indicator and a
list identifying at least one recipient, and wherein the processor
is further configured to, for the electronic note stored in the
memory: monitor for changes in the electronic note; and send
changes to the electronic note to at least one recipient.
13. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising a signaling
device, wherein the processor is configured to activate the
signaling device to provide a sensory signal as output at the
mobile device when the electronic note is activated.
14. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising a time
detector configured to detect time information for the mobile
device, wherein the electronic note stored in the memory further
comprises time information, and wherein the processor is further
configured to, for the electronic note stored in the memory:
monitor the time information for the mobile device based on data
from the time detector; compare the time information for the mobile
device with the time information in the electronic note; and
determine that the time information of the mobile device is within
a predetermined range of the time information in the electronic
note before activating the electronic note.
15. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the processor is
configured to change at least one of the form or color of the
electronic note in response to determining that the time
information of the mobile device is within a predetermined range of
the time information in the electronic note.
16. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the time information is
provided by at least one of a clock, or a timing signal from an
external source.
17. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the memory is further
configured to store location information provided by the commerce
server in the memory.
18. The mobile device of claim 17, wherein the processor is further
configured to receive location information from a different device,
and wherein the processor is further configured to: compare
location information received from the different device with
location information provided by the commerce server stored in the
memory; determine if the location information received from the
different device corresponds to an updated version of stored
location information; and replace the stored location information
with the received location information if the received location
information corresponds to an updated version of the stored
location information.
19. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the processor is further
configured to poll a server for at least one of location
information or product information.
20. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further
configured to receive user input comprising information for the
electronic note.
21. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further
configured to transmit the electronic note stored in the memory to
a recipient.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of, and claims priority
to, prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/533,803, filed on
Sep. 21, 2006, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by
reference.
FIELD
[0002] This application relates to electronic "sticky" notes and in
particular, to a system and method for electronic notes in a mobile
environment in which the notes are activated based on function,
location and/or time.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Self-adhesive note paper, sometimes called "sticky" notes or
Post-it.TM. (trademark of 3M Corporation) notes, are pieces of
stationery having a strip of weak adhesive on the reverse and
designed for temporarily attaching notes to many types of surfaces,
including documents, books, computer displays and so forth. Since
their introduction, these notes have been very popular and are used
in many different ways. While very popular, these paper notes have
some drawbacks in that they are not backed up anywhere, can be easy
to lose, and are difficult to organize efficiently, among other
drawbacks.
[0004] More recently, many software applications have been
developed to allow the use of electronic "sticky" notes with
digital devices such as computers, personal digital assistants
(PDAs), mobile phones, and the like. These electronic notes are
intended to mimic the behavior of paper sticky notes but in a
digital environment.
[0005] Electronic notes have been slow to catch on in the digital
environment and do not appear to be as popular as sticky notes in
the paper world. This may be because electronic notes are generally
perceived to be less versatile than paper notes. For example, some
software applications limit the placement or "adhesion" of the
virtual note to a fixed spot over or on the desktop and it can be
difficult to transfer notes to other devices. Further, the use of
electronic notes typically requires a user to make a list,
categorize items, check the content often, and delete the
electronic notes when completed. These tasks can sometimes be
difficult, particularly on a smaller device such as a mobile
device, due to the limited screen space and the input options that
may or may not be available.
[0006] As such, there is a need for an improved system for
electronic notes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] For a better understanding of the embodiments described
herein and to show more clearly how they may be carried into
effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the
accompanying drawings which show the exemplary embodiments and in
which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a
mobile communication device;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a
communication subsystem component of the mobile communication
device of FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a
node of a wireless network that the mobile communication device of
FIG. 1 may communicate with;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a
host system;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of an exemplary
embodiment of a system for electronic notes;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a screen shot showing electronic notes on a mobile
device display;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a screen shot showing an electronic note that has
been scrolled on the display of FIG. 5;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a screen shot showing an electronic note being
added as displayed on the screen of FIG. 5;
[0016] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for directly
adding/editing electronic notes;
[0017] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for indirectly
adding/editing electronic notes;
[0018] FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for notifying
a user in regard to a mobile note;
[0019] FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of another embodiment
of a system for electronic notes; and
[0020] FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operation
of an electronic note server with a commerce server.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The following description will provide an overview of
aspects of the embodiments and then proceed to a more detailed
description of the embodiments.
[0022] According to one aspect, there is provided a system for
handling electronic notes in a mobile device, the system including:
a memory configured to store an electronic note, wherein the
electronic note comprises location information; a location detector
configured to detect location information for the mobile device;
and a processor configured to: monitor the location information for
the mobile device based on data from the location detector; compare
the location information for the mobile device with the location
information in the electronic note; and activate the electronic
note when the location information for the mobile device is within
a predetermined distance of the location information in the
electronic note.
[0023] In a particular case, the memory may be further configured
to store location information, for example, in a location database,
and the processor further configured to receive location
information for storage in the memory.
[0024] In another particular case, the system may further include
an input configured to receive electronic notes from another system
and the processor is further configured to: compare a received
electronic note with stored electronic notes; determine if an
electronic note stored in memory matches with the received
electronic note; and replace the stored note with the received note
if there is a match. In this case, the electronic notes from
another system may be received via e-mail. In this case, the system
may further include an authorized sender list that stores a list of
users authorized to send notes to the system and further comprises
a filter to block electronic notes from users that are not on the
authorized sender list.
[0025] In yet another particular case, the electronic note may
further include a function indicator and a list of one or more
recipients and the processor may be further configured to: monitor
for changes in an electronic note having a function indicator; and
send changes to the electronic note to the one or more recipients
in order to synchronize the information in the electronic note with
the one or more recipients.
[0026] In still yet another particular case, the electronic note
may further include product information and the processor may be
further configured to: compare the product information in the
electronic note and the location information for the mobile device
with the product information and location information provided by a
merchant; and activate the electronic note when the location
information of the mobile device is within a predetermined distance
of the location information for the merchant and the product
information in the electronic note corresponds with the product
information provided by the merchant. In this case, the product
information provided by the merchant may further include
information indicating if a product is on sale and the processor
may be further configured to activate the electronic note only if
the product information in the electronic note corresponds with the
product information provided by the merchant and the product is on
sale.
[0027] In a further particular case, the system may further include
a signaling device and be configured to activate the signaling
device to provide a sensory signal to a user of the mobile device
when the electronic note is activated.
[0028] In yet a further particular case, the system may further
include a time detector configured to detect time information of
the mobile device, the electronic note may further includes time
information, and the processor may be further configured to:
monitor the time information of the mobile device based on data
from the time detector; compare the time information of the mobile
device with the time information in the electronic note; and
activate the electronic note when the time information of the
mobile device is within a predetermined range of the time
information in the electronic note.
[0029] In yet a further particular case, the system further
includes an input configured to receive location information from
another system and the processor is further configured to: compare
received location information with stored location information;
determine if location information stored in memory matches with the
received location information; and replace the stored location
information with the received location information if there is a
match.
[0030] According to another aspect, there is provided a method for
handling electronic notes in a mobile device. The method includes:
storing an electronic note, the electronic note including location
information; monitoring the location information for the mobile
device; comparing the location information of the mobile device
with the location information in the electronic note; and
activating the electronic note when the location information of the
mobile device approximately corresponds to the location information
in the electronic note.
[0031] In a particular case, the method may further include storing
location information, for example in a location list or
database.
[0032] In another particular case, the method may further include:
receiving electronic notes from another system; comparing a
received electronic note with stored electronic notes; determining
if a stored electronic note matches the received electronic note;
and replacing the stored note with the received note if there is a
match. In this case, the electronic notes from another system may
be received via e-mail. In this case, the method may further
include comparing received electronic notes with an authorized
sender list and blocking received electronic notes that are not
from an authorized sender.
[0033] In yet another particular case, the activating may include
providing a sensory signal to a user of the mobile device.
[0034] In still yet another particular case, the electronic note
may further include a function indicator and a list of one or more
recipients and the method may further include: monitoring for
changes in an electronic note having a function indicator; and
sending changes in the electronic note to the one or more
recipients in order to synchronize the information in the
electronic note with the one or more recipients.
[0035] In a further particular case, the electronic note may
further include product information and the method may further
include: comparing the product information in the electronic note
with product information provided by a merchant and comparing the
location information of the mobile device with location information
provided by the merchant; and activating the electronic note when
the location information of the mobile device is within a
predetermined distance of the location of the merchant and the
product information in the electronic note corresponds with the
product information provided by the merchant. In this case, the
product information provided by the merchant may further include
information indicating if a product is on sale and the method may
further include activating the electronic note only if the product
information in the electronic note corresponds with the product
information provided by the merchant and the product is on
sale.
[0036] In yet a further particular case, the electronic note may
further include time information and the method may further
include: monitoring time information of the mobile device;
comparing the time information of the mobile device with the time
information for the electronic note; and activating the electronic
note when the time information of the mobile device approximately
corresponds to the time information in the electronic note.
[0037] In yet a further particular case, the mehtod further
includes: receiving location information from another system;
comparing received location information with stored location
information; determining if stored location information matches the
received location information; and replacing the stored location
information with the received location information if there is a
match.
[0038] It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of
illustration, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may
be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or
analogous elements or steps. In addition, numerous specific details
are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the
exemplary embodiments described herein. However, it will be
understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the
embodiments described herein may be practiced without these
specific details. In other instances, well-known methods,
procedures and components have not been described in detail so as
not to obscure the embodiments described herein. Furthermore, this
description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the
embodiments described herein in any way, but rather as merely
describing the implementation of the various embodiments described
herein.
[0039] Some of the embodiments make use of a mobile communication
device, sometimes referred to herein as a mobile device, that is a
two-way communication device with advanced data communication
capabilities having the capability to communicate in a wireless or
wired fashion with other computing devices. The mobile device may
also include the capability for voice communications. Depending on
the functionality provided by the mobile device, it may be referred
to as a data messaging device, a cellular telephone with data
messaging capabilities, a wireless Internet appliance, or a data
communication device (with or without telephony capabilities).
Examples of mobile communication devices include cellular phones,
cellular smart-phones, wireless organizers, personal digital
assistants, handheld wireless communication devices, wirelessly
enabled notebook computers and the like. Typically, the mobile
device communicates with other devices through a network of
transceiver stations. The mobile device may also include the
capability to communicate wirelessly with other mobile devices or
with accessory devices using personal area networking (PAN)
technologies such as infrared, Bluetooth, or the like.
[0040] Referring first to FIG. 1, shown therein is a block diagram
of a mobile device 100 in one exemplary implementation. The mobile
device 100 comprises a number of components, the controlling
component being a main processor 102 which controls the overall
operation of mobile device 100. Communication functions, including
data and voice communications, are performed through a
communication subsystem 104. The communication subsystem 104
receives messages from and sends messages to a wireless network
200. In some implementations of the mobile device 100, the
communication subsystem 104 is configured in accordance with the
Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) and General Packet
Radio Services (GPRS) standards. The GSM/GPRS wireless network is
used worldwide. Other standards that can be used include the
Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), Universal Mobile
Telecommunications Service (UMTS), Code Division Multiple Access
(CDMA), and Intelligent Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN.TM.)
standards. New standards are still being defined, but it is
believed that they will have similarities to the network behavior
described herein, and it will be understood by persons skilled in
the art that the embodiments described herein can use any other
suitable standards that are developed in the future. The wireless
link connecting the communication subsystem 104 with the wireless
network 200 represents one or more different Radio Frequency (RF)
channels, operating according to defined protocols specified for
GSM/GPRS communications. With newer network protocols, these
channels are capable of supporting both circuit switched voice
communications and packet switched data communications.
[0041] Although the wireless network 200 associated with the mobile
device 100 is a GSM/GPRS wireless network in some implementations,
other wireless networks can also be associated with the mobile
device 100 in other implementations. The different types of
wireless networks that can be employed include, for example,
data-centric wireless networks, voice-centric wireless networks,
and dual-mode networks that can support both voice and data
communications over the same physical base stations. Combined
dual-mode networks include, but are not limited to, Code Division
Multiple Access (CDMA) or CDMA2000 networks, iDEN networks,
GSM/GPRS networks (as mentioned above), and future third-generation
(3G) networks like EDGE and UMTS. Some other examples of
data-centric networks include WiFi 802.11, Mobitex.TM. and
DataTAC.TM. network communication systems. Examples of other
voice-centric data networks include Personal Communication Systems
(PCS) networks like GSM and Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)
systems.
[0042] The main processor 102 also interacts with additional
subsystems such as a Random Access Memory (RAM) 106, a flash memory
108, a display 110, an auxiliary input/output (I/O) subsystem 112,
a data port 114, a keyboard 116, a speaker 118, a microphone 120,
short-range communications 122, and other device subsystems
124.
[0043] Some of the subsystems of the mobile device 100 perform
communication-related functions, whereas other subsystems can
provide "resident" or on-device functions. By way of example, the
display 110 and the keyboard 116 can be used for both
communication-related functions, such as entering a text message
for transmission over the network 200, and device-resident
functions such as a calculator or task list. Operating system
software used by the main processor 102 is typically stored in a
persistent store such as the flash memory 108, which can
alternatively be a read-only memory (ROM) or similar storage
element (not shown). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that
the operating system, specific device applications, or parts
thereof, can be temporarily loaded into a volatile store such as
the RAM 106.
[0044] The mobile device 100 can send and receive communication
signals over the wireless network 200 after required network
registration or activation procedures have been completed. Network
access is associated with a subscriber or user of the mobile device
100. To identify a subscriber, the mobile device 100 may require a
SIM/RUIM card 126 (i.e. Subscriber Identity Module or a Removable
User Identity Module) to be inserted into a SIM/RUIM interface 128
in order to communicate with a network. Accordingly, the SIM
card/RUIM 126 and the SIM/RUIM interface 128 are entirely
optional.
[0045] The SIM card or RUIM 126 is one type of a conventional
"smart card" that can be used to identify a subscriber of the
mobile device 100 and to personalize the mobile device 100, among
other things. Without the SIM card 126, the mobile device 100 is
not fully operational for communication with the wireless network
200. By inserting the SIM card/RUIM 126 into the SIM/RUIM interface
128, a subscriber can access all subscribed services. Services can
include: web browsing and messaging such as e-mail, voice mail,
Short Message Service (SMS), and Multimedia Messaging Services
(MMS). More advanced services can include: point of sale, field
service and sales force automation. The SIM card/RUIM 126 includes
a processor and memory for storing information. Once the SIM
card/RUIM 126 is inserted into the SIM/RUIM interface 128, it is
coupled to the main processor 102. In order to identify the
subscriber, the SIM card/RUIM 126 contains some user parameters
such as an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI). An
advantage of using the SIM card/RUIM 126 is that a subscriber is
not necessarily bound by any single physical mobile device. The SIM
card/RUIM 126 may store additional subscriber information for a
mobile device as well, including datebook (or calendar) information
and recent call information. Alternatively, user identification
information can also be programmed into the flash memory 108.
[0046] The main processor 102, in addition to its operating system
functions, enables execution of software applications 134 on the
mobile device 100. The subset of software applications 134 that
control basic device operations, including data and voice
communication applications, will normally be installed on the
mobile device 100 during its manufacture. The programs 134 can
include an email program, a web browser, an attachment viewer, and
the like.
[0047] The mobile device 100 further includes a device state module
136, an address book 138, a Personal Information Manager (PIM) 140,
and other modules 142. The device state module 136 can provide
persistence, i.e. the device state module 136 ensures that
important device data is stored in persistent memory, such as the
flash memory 108, so that the data is not lost when the mobile
device 100 is turned off or loses power. The address book 138 can
provide information for a list of contacts for the user. For a
given contact in the address book, the information can include the
name, phone number, work address and email address of the contact,
among other information. The other modules 142 can include a
configuration module (not shown) as well as other modules that can
be used in conjunction with the SIM/RUIM interface 128.
[0048] The PIM 140 has functionality for organizing and managing
data items of interest to a subscriber, such as, but not limited
to, e-mail, calendar events, voice mails, appointments, and task
items. A PIM application has the ability to send and receive data
items via the wireless network 200. PIM data items may be
seamlessly integrated, synchronized, and updated via the wireless
network 200 with the mobile device subscriber's corresponding data
items stored and/or associated with a host computer system. This
functionality creates a mirrored host computer on the mobile device
100 with respect to such items. This can be particularly
advantageous when the host computer system is the mobile device
subscriber's office computer system.
[0049] Additional applications can also be loaded onto the mobile
device 100 through at least one of the wireless network 200, the
auxiliary I/O subsystem 112, the data port 114, the short-range
communications subsystem 122, or any other suitable device
subsystem 124. This flexibility in application installation
increases the functionality of the mobile device 100 and can
provide enhanced on-device functions, communication-related
functions, or both. For example, secure communication applications
can enable electronic commerce functions and other such financial
transactions to be performed using the mobile device 100.
[0050] The data port 114 enables a subscriber to set preferences
through an external device or software application and extends the
capabilities of the mobile device 100 by providing for information
or software downloads to the mobile device 100 other than through a
wireless communication network. The alternate download path may,
for example, be used to load an encryption key onto the mobile
device 100 through a direct and thus reliable and trusted
connection to provide secure device communication.
[0051] The data port 114 may be any suitable port that enables data
communication between the mobile device 100 and another computing
device. The data port may be a serial or a parallel port. In some
instances, the data port 114 may be a USB port that includes data
lines for data transfer and a supply line that can provide a
charging current to charge the mobile device 100.
[0052] The short-range communications subsystem 122 provides for
communication between the mobile device 100 and other mobile
devices, computer systems or accessory devices, without the use of
the wireless network 200. For example, the subsystem 122 can
include a wireless transmitter/receiver and associated circuits and
components for short-range communication. Examples of short-range
communication standards include those developed by the Infrared
Data Association (IrDA), Bluetooth, and the 802.11 family of
standards developed by IEEE. These short-range communication
standards allow the formation of wireless connections between or
among mobile devices and accessory devices and, in some cases,
allow the formation of personal area networks (PANs) involving
several devices. The establishment of short-range communications is
described in greater detail below.
[0053] In use, a received signal such as a text message, an e-mail
message, or web page download will be processed by the
communication subsystem 104 and input to the main processor 102.
The main processor 102 will then process the received signal for
output to the display 110 or alternatively to the auxiliary I/O
subsystem 112. A subscriber can also compose data items, such as
e-mail messages, for example, using the keyboard 116 in conjunction
with the display 110 and possibly the auxiliary I/O subsystem 112.
The auxiliary subsystem 112 can include devices such as: a touch
screen, mouse, track ball, infrared fingerprint detector, or a
roller wheel with dynamic button pressing capability. The keyboard
116 is preferably an alphanumeric keyboard and/or telephone-type
keypad. However, other types of keyboards can also be used. A
composed item can be transmitted over the wireless network 200
through the communication subsystem 104.
[0054] For voice communications, the overall operation of the
mobile device 100 is substantially similar, except that the
received signals are output to the speaker 118, and signals for
transmission are generated by the microphone 120. Alternative voice
or audio I/O subsystems, such as a voice message recording
subsystem, can also be implemented on the mobile device 100.
Although voice or audio signal output is accomplished primarily
through the speaker 118, the display 110 can also be used to
provide additional information such as the identity of a calling
party, duration of a voice call, or other voice call related
information.
[0055] Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram of an exemplary
embodiment of the communication subsystem component 104 of FIG. 1
is shown. The communication subsystem 104 comprises a receiver 150
and a transmitter 152, as well as associated components such as one
or more embedded or internal antenna elements 154, 156, Local
Oscillators (LOs) 158, and a communications processor 160 for
wireless communication. The communications processor 160 can be a
Digital Signal Processor (DSP). As will be apparent to those
skilled in the field of communications, the particular design of
the communication subsystem 104 can depend on the communication
network with which the mobile device 100 is intended to operate.
Thus, it should be understood that the design illustrated in FIG. 2
serves only as an example.
[0056] Signals received by the antenna 154 through the wireless
network 200 are input to the receiver 150, which can perform such
common receiver functions as signal amplification, frequency down
conversion, filtering, channel selection, and analog-to-digital
(A/D) conversion. A/D conversion of a received signal allows more
complex communication functions such as demodulation and decoding
to be performed by the communications processor 160. In a similar
manner, signals to be transmitted are processed, including
modulation and encoding, by the communications processor 160. These
processed signals are input to the transmitter 152 for
digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion, frequency up conversion,
filtering, amplification and transmission over the wireless network
200 via the antenna 156. The communications processor 160 not only
processes communication signals, but also provides for receiver and
transmitter control. For example, the gains applied to
communication signals in the receiver 150 and transmitter 152 can
be adaptively controlled through automatic gain control algorithms
implemented in the communications processor 160.
[0057] The wireless link between the mobile device 100 and the
wireless network 200 can contain one or more different channels,
typically different RF channels, and associated protocols used
between the mobile device 100 and the wireless network 200. An RF
channel is a limited resource that must be conserved, typically due
to limits in overall bandwidth and limited battery power of the
mobile device 100.
[0058] When the mobile device 100 is fully operational, the
transmitter 152 is typically keyed or turned on only when it is
sending to the wireless network 200 and is otherwise turned off to
conserve resources. Similarly, the receiver 150 is periodically
turned off to conserve power until it is needed to receive signals
or information (if at all) during designated time periods.
[0059] Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram of an exemplary
embodiment of a node of the wireless network 200 is shown as 202.
In practice, the wireless network 200 comprises one or more nodes
202. The mobile device 100 communicates with the node 202. In the
exemplary implementation of FIG. 3, the node 202 is configured in
accordance with General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and Global
Systems for Mobile (GSM) technologies. The node 202 includes a base
station controller (BSC) 204 with an associated tower station 206,
a Packet Control Unit (PCU) 208 added for GPRS support in GSM, a
Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 210, a Home Location Register (HLR)
212, a Visitor Location Registry (VLR) 214, a Serving GPRS Support
Node (SGSN) 216, a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) 218, and a
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) 220. This list of
components is not meant to be an exhaustive list of the components
of every node 202 within a GSM/GPRS network, but rather a list of
components that can be used in communications through the wireless
network 200.
[0060] In a GSM network, the MSC 210 is coupled to the BSC 204 and
to a landline network, such as a Public Switched Telephone Network
(PSTN) 222 to satisfy circuit switching requirements. The
connection through PCU 208, SGSN 216 and GGSN 218 to the public or
private network (Internet) 224 (also referred to herein generally
as a shared network infrastructure) represents the data path for
GPRS capable mobile devices. In a GSM network extended with GPRS
capabilities, the BSC 204 also contains a Packet Control Unit (PCU)
208 that connects to the SGSN 216 to control segmentation, radio
channel allocation and to satisfy packet switched requirements. To
track mobile device location and availability for both circuit
switched and packet switched management, the HLR 212 is shared
between the MSC 210 and the SGSN 216. Access to the VLR 214 is
controlled by the MSC 210.
[0061] The station 206 is a fixed transceiver station. The station
206 and BSC 204 together form the fixed transceiver equipment. The
fixed transceiver equipment provides wireless network coverage for
a particular coverage area commonly referred to as a "cell". The
fixed transceiver equipment transmits communication signals to and
receives communication signals from mobile devices within its cell
via the station 206. The fixed transceiver equipment normally
performs such functions as modulation and possibly encoding and/or
encryption of signals to be transmitted to the mobile device 100 in
accordance with particular, usually predetermined, communication
protocols and parameters, under control of its controller. The
fixed transceiver equipment similarly demodulates and possibly
decodes and decrypts, if necessary, any communication signals
received from the mobile device 100 within its cell. The
communication protocols and parameters may vary between different
nodes. For example, one node may employ a different modulation
scheme and operate at different frequencies than other nodes.
[0062] For all mobile devices 100 registered with a specific
network, permanent configuration data such as a user profile is
stored in the HLR 212. The HLR 212 also contains location
information for each registered mobile device and can be queried to
determine the current location of a mobile device. The MSC 210 is
responsible for a group of location areas and stores the data of
the mobile devices currently in its area of responsibility in the
VLR 214. Further, the VLR 214 also contains information on mobile
devices that are visiting other networks. The information in the
VLR 214 includes part of the permanent mobile device data
transmitted from the HLR 212 to the VLR 214 for faster access. By
moving additional information from a remote HLR 212 node to the VLR
214, the amount of traffic between these nodes can be reduced so
that voice and data services can be provided with faster response
times and at the same time require less use of computing
resources.
[0063] The SGSN 216 and GGSN 218 are elements added for GPRS
support; namely packet switched data support, within GSM. The SGSN
216 and MSC 210 have similar responsibilities within the wireless
network 200 by keeping track of the location of each mobile device
100. The SGSN 216 also performs security functions and access
control for data traffic on the wireless network 200. The GGSN 218
provides internetworking connections with external packet switched
networks and connects to one or more SGSN's 216 via an Internet
Protocol (IP) backbone network operated within the network 200.
During normal operations, a given mobile device 100 must perform a
"GPRS Attach" to acquire an IP address and to access data services.
This requirement is not present in circuit switched voice channels
as Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) addresses are used
for routing incoming and outgoing calls. Currently, all GPRS
capable networks use private, dynamically assigned IP addresses,
thus requiring the DHCP server 220 to be connected to the GGSN 218.
There are many mechanisms for dynamic IP assignment, including
using a combination of a Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service
(RADIUS) server and DHCP server. Once the GPRS Attach is complete,
a logical connection is established from the mobile device 100,
through the PCU 208, and the SGSN 216 to an Access Point Node (APN)
within the GGSN 218. The APN represents a logical end of an IP
tunnel that can either access direct Internet compatible services
or private network connections. The APN also represents a security
mechanism for the wireless network 200, insofar as each mobile
device 100 must be assigned to one or more APNs and the mobile
devices 100 cannot exchange data without first performing a GPRS
Attach to an APN that it has been authorized to use. The APN may be
considered to be similar to an Internet domain name such as
"myconnection.wireless.com".
[0064] Once the GPRS Attach is complete, a tunnel is created and
all traffic is exchanged within standard IP packets using any
protocol that can be supported in IP packets. This includes
tunneling methods such as IP over IP as in the case with some
IPSecurity (IPsec) connections used with Virtual Private Networks
(VPN). These tunnels are also referred to as Packet Data Protocol
(PDP) contexts and there are a limited number of these available in
the wireless network 200. To maximize use of the PDP Contexts, the
wireless network 200 will run an idle timer for each PDP Context to
determine if there is a lack of activity. When the mobile device
100 is not using its PDP Context, the PDP Context can be
de-allocated and the IP address returned to the IP address pool
managed by the DHCP server 220.
[0065] Referring now to FIG. 4, a block diagram illustrating
components of a host system 250 in one example configuration is
shown. Host system 250 will typically be a corporate office or
other local area network (LAN), but may instead be a home office
computer or some other private system, for example, in variant
implementations. In this example shown in FIG. 4, host system 250
is depicted as a LAN of an organization to which a user of mobile
device 100 belongs.
[0066] LAN 250 comprises a number of network components connected
to each other by LAN connections 260. For instance, a user's
desktop computer 262a with an accompanying cradle 264 for the
user's mobile device 100 is situated on LAN 250. Cradle 264 for
mobile device 100 may be coupled to computer 262a by a serial or a
Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection, for example. Other user
computers 262b are also situated on LAN 250, and each may or may
not be equipped with an accompanying cradle 264 for a mobile
device. Cradle 264 facilitates the loading of information (e.g. PIM
data, private symmetric encryption keys to facilitate secure
communications between mobile device 100 and LAN 250) from user
computer 262a to mobile device 100, for example, through data port
114, and may be particularly useful for bulk information updates
often performed in initializing mobile device 100 for use. The
information downloaded to mobile device 100 may include
certificates used in the exchange of messages. It will be
understood by persons skilled in the art that the cradle 264 is not
required to connect the mobile device 100 to the computer 262a and
that computers 262a, 262b will typically also be connected to other
peripheral devices not explicitly shown in FIG. 4.
[0067] Furthermore, only a subset of network components of LAN 250
are shown in FIG. 4 for ease of exposition, and it will be
understood by persons skilled in the art that LAN 250 will
generally comprise additional components not explicitly shown in
FIG. 4, for this example configuration. More generally, LAN 250 may
represent a smaller part of a larger network [not shown] of the
organization, and may comprise different components and/or be
arranged in different topologies than that shown in the example of
FIG. 4.
[0068] In this example, mobile device 100 communicates with LAN 250
through a node 202 of wireless network 200 and a shared network
infrastructure 224 such as a service provider network or the public
Internet. Access to LAN 250 may be provided through one or more
routers [not shown], and computing devices of LAN 250 may operate
from behind a firewall or proxy server 266.
[0069] In a variant implementation, LAN 250 comprises a wireless
VPN router [not shown] to facilitate data exchange between the LAN
250 and mobile device 100. The concept of a wireless VPN router is
one in which a VPN connection can be established directly through a
specific wireless network to mobile device 100. The possibility of
using a wireless VPN router has only recently been available and
could be used when Internet Protocol (IP) Version 6 (IPV6) arrives
into IP-based wireless networks. This new protocol will provide
enough IP addresses to dedicate an IP address to every mobile
device, making it possible to push information to a mobile device
at any time. An advantage of using a wireless VPN router is that it
could be an off-the-shelf VPN component, not requiring a separate
wireless gateway and separate wireless infrastructure to be used. A
VPN connection would preferably be a Transmission Control Protocol
(TCP)/IP or User Datagram Protocol (UDP)/IP connection to deliver
the messages directly to mobile device 100 in this variant
implementation.
[0070] Messages intended for a user of mobile device 100 are
initially received by a message server 268 of LAN 250. Such
messages may originate from any of a number of sources. For
instance, a message may have been sent by a sender from a computer
262b within LAN 250, from a different mobile device [not shown]
connected to wireless network 200 or to a different wireless
network, or from a different computing device or other device
capable of sending messages, via the shared network infrastructure
224, and possibly through an application service provider (ASP) or
Internet service provider (ISP), for example.
[0071] Message server 268 typically acts as the primary interface
for the exchange of messages, particularly e-mail messages, within
the organization and over the shared network infrastructure 224.
Each user in the organization that has been set up to send and
receive messages is typically associated with a user account
managed by message server 268. One example of a message server 268
is a Microsoft Exchange.TM. Server. In some implementations, LAN
250 may comprise multiple message servers 268. Message server 268
may also be adapted to provide additional functions beyond message
management, including the management of data associated with
calendars and task lists, for example.
[0072] When messages are received by message server 268, they are
typically stored in a message store [not explicitly shown], from
which messages can be subsequently retrieved and delivered to
users. For instance, an e-mail client application operating on a
user's computer 262a may request the e-mail messages associated
with that user's account stored on message server 268. These
messages would then typically be retrieved from message server 268
and stored locally on computer 262a.
[0073] When operating mobile device 100, the user may wish to have
e-mail messages retrieved for delivery to the handheld. An e-mail
client application operating on mobile device 100 may also request
messages associated with the user's account from message server
268. The e-mail client may be configured (either by the user or by
an administrator, possibly in accordance with an organization's
information technology (IT) policy) to make this request at the
direction of the user, at some pre-defined time interval, or upon
the occurrence of some pre-defined event. In some implementations,
mobile device 100 is assigned its own e-mail address, and messages
addressed specifically to mobile device 100 are automatically
redirected to mobile device 100 as they are received by message
server 268.
[0074] To facilitate the wireless communication of messages and
message-related data between mobile device 100 and components of
LAN 250, a number of wireless communications support components 270
may be provided. In this example implementation, wireless
communications support components 270 comprise a message management
server 272, for example. Message management server 272 is used to
specifically provide support for the management of messages, such
as e-mail messages, that are to be handled by mobile devices.
Generally, while messages are still stored on message server 268,
message management server 272 can be used to control when, if, and
how messages should be sent to mobile device 100. Message
management server 272 also facilitates the handling of messages
composed on mobile device 100, which are sent to message server 268
for subsequent delivery.
[0075] For example, message management server 272 may: monitor the
user's "mailbox" (e.g. the message store associated with the user's
account on message server 268) for new e-mail messages; apply
user-definable filters to new messages to determine if and how the
messages will be relayed to the user's mobile device 100; compress
and encrypt new messages (e.g. using an encryption technique such
as Data Encryption Standard (DES), Triple DES or Advanced
Encryption Standard (AES)) and push them to mobile device 100 via
the shared network infrastructure 224 and wireless network 200; and
receive messages composed on mobile device 100 (e.g. encrypted
using Triple DES), decrypt and decompress the composed messages,
re-format the composed messages if desired so that they will appear
to have originated from the user's computer 262a, and re-route the
composed messages to message server 268 for delivery.
[0076] Certain properties or restrictions associated with messages
that are to be sent from and/or received by mobile device 100 can
be defined (e.g. by an administrator in accordance with IT policy)
and enforced by message management server 272. These may include
whether mobile device 100 may receive encrypted and/or signed
messages, minimum encryption key sizes, whether outgoing messages
must be encrypted and/or signed, and whether copies of all secure
messages sent from mobile device 100 are to be sent to a
pre-defined copy address, for example.
[0077] Message management server 272 may also be adapted to provide
other control functions, such as only pushing certain message
information or pre-defined portions (e.g. "blocks") of a message
stored on message server 268 to mobile device 100. For example,
when a message is initially retrieved by mobile device 100 from
message server 268, message management server 272 is adapted to
push only the first part of a message to mobile device 100, with
the part being of a pre-defined size (e.g. 2 KB). The user can then
request more of the message, to be delivered in similar-sized
blocks by message management server 272 to mobile device 100,
possibly up to a maximum pre-defined message size.
[0078] Accordingly, message management server 272 facilitates
better control over the type of data and the amount of data that is
communicated to mobile device 100, and can help to minimize
potential waste of bandwidth or other resources.
[0079] The wireless support components 270 may also include a
mobile note server 288 that, in a similar manner to that of the
message management server 272, facilitates the handling of
electronic notes. For example, mobile note server 288 may: provide
a storage area for a user's electronic notes; monitor for new or
edited notes; communicate with other devices when a note is edited;
communicate with other servers; and the like.
[0080] It will be understood by persons skilled in the art that
message management server 272 and mobile note server 288 need not
be implemented on a separate physical server in LAN 250 or other
network. For example, some or all of the functions associated with
message management server 272 and mobile note server 288 may be
integrated with message server 268, or some other server in LAN
250. Furthermore, LAN 250 may comprise multiple message management
servers 272 or mobile note server 288, particularly in variant
implementations where a large number of mobile devices need to be
supported.
[0081] As shown in FIG. 4, the mobile device 100 or the host system
250 may also connect to a commerce server 276, generally via shared
network infrastructure 224. The commerce server 276 is provided by
one or more merchants and includes information about the merchants
(including location information) and about the types of merchandise
sold by each merchant, and may further include information
regarding the actual products available of the merchant location
(collectively, "commerce information"). The commerce server may
also be updated regularly with information about merchandise that
is on sale and the time period for the sale. It will be understood
by persons skilled in the art that commerce server 276 need not be
implemented on only one physical server and may comprise any number
of servers that include commerce information and that may relate to
information from many merchants.
[0082] Now that the general mobile environment has been described,
an exemplary embodiment of a system and method for electronic notes
in a mobile environment will be described.
[0083] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a
system for electronic notes 310 in a mobile environment. This
system 310 includes a mobile note controller 312, which controls
the operation of the system 310 and co-ordinates the various
functional blocks within the system 310. The mobile note controller
312 is connected to, and interacts with, a notes database 314, an
input module 316, an output module 318, a display/notification
module 320, a location information module 322 and a time
information module 324.
[0084] The system 310 allows a user to enter electronic notes into
the notes database 314 via the input module 316 and the mobile note
controller 312. When entering a new electronic note or editing an
electronic note, the user (the person inputting the electronic
note) is given the option of entering information, for example, in
various fields, including, for example, a location and a time. This
information allows the person inputting the electronic note to
better define when the electronic note should be made active and/or
when a user is to be notified.
[0085] For example, a spouse at home may realize at ten o'clock in
the morning that the family needs milk for the next day. That
spouse will be able to enter an electronic note in a mobile device
or in a home computer for sending to the spouse that is already at
work. When entering the electronic note, the spouse at home will
specify as the title "Buy Milk" and will specify a time of 4:00
p.m. so that the electronic note will not alert the spouse at work
until closer to the time at which the spouse at work will be
leaving to come home. The spouse at home may also specify a
location, such as a grocery store, that is on the way home for the
spouse at work. A system 310 on the mobile device 100 of the spouse
at work will receive the electronic note and store it in the notes
database 314. The system 310 will then activate the electronic note
at the appropriate time and/or location such that the spouse at
work will only be notified by their mobile device 100 of the new
electronic note at the appropriate time and can also be notified
again as they are approaching the grocery store on their way
home.
[0086] As seen from the above example, the input module 316
includes both a direct input module 326 and an indirect input
module 328. The direct input module 326 allows a user to enter new
electronic notes directly into the system 310 whereas the indirect
input module 328 allows system 310 to receive electronic notes from
outside parties and adds the electronic notes to the notes database
314. In a particular case, the indirect input module 328 may also
be provided with an authorized user database 330, such as, for
example, a list of authorized users, which restricts the indirect
entry of electronic notes so that only authorized users may
indirectly input electronic notes. The authorized users may be
identified by an address used to send electronic notes (for
example, an e-mail address or similar) or some other
identification. In some embodiments, the outside parties or
authorized users that send electronic notes may also be able to
edit/replace an electronic note that they have previously sent to
the mobile device 100 as described in further detail below.
Further, the system 310 may include other filters, such as a filter
to prevent an outside party or authorized user from sending more
than a predetermined number of messages in a predetermined time
period or a filter to block specific outside senders of electronic
notes.
[0087] The output module 318 is used by the mobile note controller
312 to output electronic notes that have been created locally but
that are to be sent to another user for addition to that user's
notes database 314.
[0088] On input of a new electronic note, either directly or
indirectly, the electronic note is stored by the mobile note
controller 312 in the notes database 314. The mobile note
controller 312 then uses the location information module 322 and
time information module 324 to monitor the location and time of the
mobile device 100 to thereby determine, based on the location and
time information received, whether or not to activate the
electronic note.
[0089] As will be understood by a person skilled in the art, the
time information module 324 can be provided by a clock or the like
that is on the mobile device 100 or alternatively, the time
information module 324 may receive a timing signal received by the
mobile device 100 for some external source (not shown). The time
information module 324 is used to monitor the current time and to
allow the mobile note controller 312 to determine when an
electronic note should be activated.
[0090] Similarly, the location information module 322 may be any of
various known or hereafter developed systems for tracking and
identifying the location of a mobile device, including systems such
as the global positioning system (GPS), base station triangulation,
RFID systems and the like. The location information module 322
allows the mobile note controller 312 to monitor the location of
the mobile device 100 (as represented by location information such
as GPS data, relative distances in relation to base stations, or
other data representing location) and determine when an electronic
note should be activated in relation to location. In particular,
the mobile note controller 312 can be set to activate the
electronic note when the location of the mobile device 100
approximately corresponds to the location in an electronic note.
For example, when the mobile device 100 is within a predetermined
distance of the location specified in the electronic note. The
predetermined distance may be, for example, a radius of 2 km, 1 km,
500 m, 250 m or some other appropriate distance. Further, the
predetermined distance may be set at manufacturing or may be
settable by a user, for example, the user of the mobile device 100
may set a default value or the user that sends the electronic note
may set a specific value. In some embodiments, the predetermined
distance may be set by a user depending on the importance of the
item in the mobile note. It will be understood that modules such as
the location information module 322 may be a part of the mobile
device 100 or may be independent units that communicate with the
mobile device 100 via a communications system such as the
Bluetooth.TM. wireless communications system.
[0091] The location information module 322 also preferably includes
a location database 332, which is accessible by the mobile note
controller 312. The location database 332 maintains a list of
locations (that is, for example, a location name, such as "work"
and location information representing the physical location in one
ore more predetermined formats) that may be used by a user. The
locations in the location database 332 can be entered into the
location database 332 through the mobile note controller 312 by,
for example, creating an electronic note when in a particular
location and selecting that the location be saved for future
reference. For example, when visiting a grocery store that is near
a user's house, the user may enter that location for future
reference. In future, when the user is at a different location and
wishes to enter a note that is activated when near the grocery
store, the user is able to select the grocery store from the list
of common locations in the location database 332. Alternatively,
locations may be entered by receiving information from an on-line
mapping resource that may be accessed through an Internet browser
on the mobile device or the like.
[0092] Once locations have been entered into the location database
332, a user's location list from the locations database 332 can be
sent to other users by, for example, sending an electronic note
with the subject "locations" or some other suitable identifier that
notifies the user's system 310 to attach the sending user's
location list. Similarly, the receiving user's system 310 may then
identify an electronic note as including a location list based on
the identifier and save the location list into a locations database
332 on the receiving user's system 310. In particular, the location
list can be saved in association with the sending user's address or
other identification. In this way, when a sending user is sending
an electronic note to a receiving user, the sending user can
specify a location from the sending user's location list or from
the receiving user's location list.
[0093] The display/notification module 320 is used by the mobile
note controller 312 to display electronic notes on the display 110
of the mobile device 100 and to also provide notification to the
mobile device user.
[0094] The display of the electronic notes may take various forms
as described in reference to examples shown in FIGS. 6-8, which
show the display 110 of the mobile device 100. In this example, a
main screen 408 of the mobile device 100 shows the electronic notes
410 as smaller rectangular tabs along the edge of the display 110.
The electronic notes function can then be selected from the main
screen 408 by using any of various input devices including, for
example, tapping the screen with a stylus or scrolling to the tabs
using a scroll wheel. As shown in FIG. 7, when the electronic notes
function is selected from the main screen 408, the titles 412 of
the electronic notes 410 are shown beside each electronic note 410
and an input device can be used to select an individual electronic
note 410 such that details 412 of the electronic note 410 are
displayed in a window on the display 110. In this example, each
electronic note includes various fields including a title 414, the
person 416 who generated the electronic note (or the person to whom
the note is directed), the location 418 where the note is expected
to be activated, and the time 420 that the note is expected to be
activated, as well as a general field 422 for entering additional
information. FIG. 8 shows an example display 110 during entry of a
new electronic note 410. As shown, the user has the ability to
enter the necessary information into the electronic note 410 using
any of various input mechanisms. The interface used for editing an
electronic note 410 will generally be similar to the interface used
for entering a new note.
[0095] It will be understood that there are a variety of ways of
handling a new electronic note on receipt and based on the
condition of the electronic note as active or not (i.e. whether or
not the time/location for the electronic note has been reached or
not.) In some embodiments, these settings that govern the handling
of electronic notes can be user configurable. For example, when an
electronic note is first received and not yet activated, the
electronic note may be displayed as a rectangular area on the side
of the display 110, as shown in FIG. 6. Alternatively, the
electronic note may not be displayed in this manner until the
electronic note is activated based on one or more of time and/or
location. In this way, the user would not have to view or consider
any notes that are not active. Further, the user may or may not be
otherwise notified on receipt of a new electronic note, for
example, by some sensory notification or the like.
[0096] Once an electronic note is activated based on time and/or
location, various actions may be performed by the mobile note
controller 312. These actions may include displaying the note on
the display 110 or otherwise notifying the user. For example, the
user of the mobile device 100 may be notified via some form of
sensory notification.
[0097] The display/notification module 320 provides the
functionality of notifying a user of the activation of the
electronic note. In particular, as noted above, the notification
may be display of the electronic note or may be another kind of
sensory notification and take any of various forms, including, for
example, audible, visual (e.g. flashing LED, screen display, etc.),
vibration, or other sensory signal that are known to one of skill
in the art or which may hereafter be developed. As explained
briefly above, notification regarding an electronic note may also
occur in stages such that an electronic note may not even appear as
a tab on the display 110 until the time is reached (activation)
after which the electronic note will then be displayed as a tab but
no other notification will be given until the location is reached,
at which point the user may be notified by a vibration signal or
the like. Alternatively, the electronic note may be displayed as a
tab on the display as soon as received but may then be displayed in
a different color based on the specified time being reached and may
further be altered when the location is reached. Various other
arrangements will be understood by those of skill in the art. It
will also be understood that display/notification settings may be
adjusted by the user.
[0098] The system according to the present embodiment has the
advantage that electronic notes can easily be sent from one user to
another and also has the advantage that the electronic notes will
be activated at a time and/or a location that is convenient for the
user and provides some connection between the notification and the
task or information that is provided in the electronic note.
[0099] In another exemplary embodiment, the user may be able to
create an electronic note that has a particular function/category
(refered to as a "function electronic note"), such as, for example,
a grocery list. In this case, the electronic note will include a
field that allows a user to specify if the electronic note is
functional and may also include a function field for information
regarding the function/category, for example, grocery, gifts,
favorite menus, or the like. It will be understood that the
function field may correspond to the title field described above.
An function electronic note having the function of grocery list may
then have items or elements entered into the electronic note such
as, for example, produce, meat, milk, cleaning supplies, and other
common grocery related items. Items may be added to and removed
from the function electronic note without the note being removed
from the notes database.
[0100] In this embodiment, the function electronic note may also be
present on more than one user's mobile device. For example, within
a family each spouse may have a copy of a "grocery" electronic note
which contains the most recent items needed from the grocery store.
Either spouse may add/remove/edit items to the grocery electronic
note and the mobile note controller 312 will be configured to
automatically update a corresponding grocery electronic note on the
other spouse's mobile device. When an electronic note is designated
as a function electronic note and added to the notes database 314,
the mobile note controller 312 controls the input module 316 and
output module 318 such that changes made by any user of the
function electronic note is reflected in the current version of the
function electronic note in other user's notes databases 314.
[0101] Other examples of lists that may operate in this manner are
lists of presents for particular holidays or special events within
a group, favorite dishes at a particular restaurant, prescriptions,
flowers or the like.
[0102] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an exemplary method 500 of directly
inputting or editing an electronic note in this embodiment. The
user enters the electronic note or the change to the electronic
note at 510 and then, at 512, the system 310 determines whether or
not the electronic note is a function electronic note. If the
electronic note is a function electronic note, the system 310
determines whether or not there are group members associated with
the function electronic note at 514. If so, the function electronic
note is sent to the group members at 516 and is then saved into the
notes database 314 at 518. If there are no group members at 514 the
note is saved directly into the notes database 314 at 518.
[0103] If the electronic note is determined not to be a function
electronic note at 512, then the system 310 determines whether or
not the electronic note is intended to be sent to another user at
520. If the electronic note is intended to be sent to another user,
the note is transmitted to the intended recipient at 522. As will
be understood by one of skill in the art, the sent electronic note
may also be saved on the sender's mobile device 100 (at 523) for
future reference and/or future editing.
[0104] If the electronic note is not intended to be sent to another
user at 520, the note is stored only in the notes database 314 of
the inputting user at 524.
[0105] In the flowchart of FIG. 9, it will be understood that a
similar procedure will apply to both initially inputting and
editing/changing an electronic note. When an electronic note is
edited, the electronic note can be resent to the intended recipient
or function group members, as appropriate.
[0106] FIG. 10 shows an exemplary process 900 upon indirect receipt
of a new or edited note. The process 900 begins with the indirect
receipt of a note (910). The system 310 on the recipient mobile
device 100 then searches the notes database 314 to determine if the
received electronic note matches an existing note (either function
electronic note or electronic note) (912). If the electronic notes
do not match, the received electronic note is stored in the notes
database 314 (914). If the electronic notes do match, the existing
electronic note can be replaced with the received electronic note
(916). There are various methods/procedures of comparing electronic
notes to determine if the electronic notes match, for example, if
the newly received electronic note is from the same user and has a
function or title/subject that matches with the function or
title/subject of the previously received electronic note, there may
be a match. Further, other methods may be found in the e-mail
technical field related to e-mail threads or the like, and any of
these various methods may be used. In a particular case, an
electronic note may also include an additional field that indicates
whether or not the electronic note is a new electronic note or an
edited electronic note to facilitate the matching process. Further
alternatively, the receiving user may be queried to determine if a
received electronic note is a match with an existing electronic
note, either upon receipt or at a later time/location.
[0107] In a similar way to the method for indirectly receiving a
new or edited electronic note as described above, when an
electronic note is received that is identified as including a
location list, the receiving system 310 may save a new location
list or replace an existing location list from the sending user
with the new location list from the sending user. In this way,
users may edit their location lists and then easily send an updated
location list to other users or authorized users that could make
use of such a list. In a particular case, the system 310 may be
configured to automatically send a location list to a predetermined
set of recipients following any updates in the user's location
list. Similarly, at the receiving system 310, the location list may
be updated automatically without notifying the recipient user.
[0108] In this description, it will be understood that the
transmission of electronic notes between mobile devices 100 or
mobile devices 100 and other computing devices may be performed
using e-mail functionality as is known in the art and, in this
light, may include the use of message management server 272 as
described above. In these cases, it may be useful to provide a
separate indication that a particular message is an electronic note
or an e-mail message. In this case, the electronic notes may be
transmitted directly between mobile note controllers 312 on
respective mobile devices 100 using message management server
272.
[0109] As an alternative, electronic notes may be transmitted
between mobile devices 100 and other computing devices using a
separate notes functionality and may be managed by mobile note
server 288 in a similar way to the handling of e-mail by message
management server 272. In this alternative, electronic notes can
also be stored on mobile note server 288 and be pushed to the
mobile device 100 when a new note arrives or when a note is edited.
Mobile note server 288 may also manage and process edited
electronic notes and function electronic notes to perform the
matching with existing electronic notes. The use of the mobile note
server 288 is intended to relieve some of the processing load of
the mobile device 100 and may also be used as a back-up of
electronic notes.
[0110] FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method 600
for notifying a user in relation to a particular electronic note
when the note is activated. At 610, the mobile note controller 312
monitors the location and/or time information received from the
time information module 324 and location information module 322
and, making use of the current location and/or time information at
612 either continually or periodically polls the notes database 314
with regard to the location and/or time information entered for the
electronic notes in the notes database 314.
[0111] If during polling the mobile note controller 312 detects a
hit with regard to location and time at 614, that is, a
correspondence between a location and/or time at 614 in a
particular electronic note and the current location and/or time of
the mobile device 100, the mobile note controller 312 proceeds to
activate the note and/or notify the user at 616. If there is not a
hit at 614, the mobile note controller 312 continues to monitor
location and/or time and poll the notes database 314 at 612. It
will be understood by one of skill in the art that the mobile note
controller 312 may also change the form/color or the like of the
electronic note on the mobile device display 110 based on its
current condition. For example, an electronic note that has passed
the due time may be displayed in red rather than in yellow.
Further, a note that is currently within range of its target
location may be displayed in a flashing red format or something
similar.
[0112] In yet another exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 12, a
system for electronic notes 700 in a mobile environment may further
include a location/needs module 712 in the output module 318.
Elements of this embodiment that are substantially similar to the
previous embodiment will be identified by similar reference
numbers.
[0113] The location/needs module 712 provides information from, for
example, function notes, to the mobile note server 288 via the
mobile note controller 312. The mobile note server 288 then
interacts with the commerce server 276 (described above with regard
to FIG. 4) to determine common information related to the
function/category of an electronic note on a mobile device 100 with
information on the commerce server 276. For example, the mobile
note server 288 may conduct a search on the commerce server 276 for
groceries as a type of product or for one or more particular
products on the grocery function note and may include location
information from the mobile device 100. The commerce server 276 can
then provide information from the commerce server 276 related to
merchants or stores that carry that type of product or the
particular products that are within a predetermined range of the
mobile device 100. In alternate embodiments, the commerce server
276 may provide further information related to the products, such
as information that a product is "on sale" or the like.
[0114] In this embodiment, the user of the mobile device 100
benefits in that the user is notified when he/she is near a
location that has a product that he/she is interested in. The user
can then choose whether or not to visit that location to purchase
the product. In a particular case, the location/needs module 712
(or the mobile note server 288) may also include a filter or the
like (not shown), which allows the mobile device user to set a
level of possible alerts from a commerce server 276. For example,
the mobile device user might set the filter to avoid any
notifications in which the product is not "on sale" or for any sale
provided by the commerce server 276 that is less than, for example,
10% off of the merchant's standard pricing for the product or the
like.
[0115] It will be understood that it will generally be preferable
if the location/needs module 712 interacts with the mobile note
server 288, which will then handle communications with the commerce
server 276. However, in alternate arrangements, the location/needs
module 712 may also interact directly with the commerce server
276.
[0116] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method 800
of operation of the electronic note server 288 working with the
commerce server 276. At 810, the electronic note server 288
receives location and electronic note information from the mobile
device 100. As noted above, the electronic note may include
function and/or product information. Also it will be understood
that the mobile note server 288 may already have saved a copy of
the electronic notes locally for caching purposes. At 812, the
mobile note server 288 then communicates with the commerce server
276 to poll the commerce server 276 for matching location or
function/product information from merchants. It will be understood
that the polling process may proceed in various ways as are known
in the art, such as, for example, known or hereafter developed
search techniques. The mobile note server 288 receives information
from the commerce server 276 and then determines if there is a
match between the location and function/product information of the
merchant with the location of the mobile device and
function/product information of an electronic note at 814. If there
is a match, this result can be sent to the mobile note controller
312 and the electronic note may be activated at this point (not
shown). However, in this example, the mobile note server 288 then
further polls the commerce server 276 for products indicated as on
sale at 816. It will be understood that the two polling operations
at 812 and 816 could also be conducted together. Alternatively, the
polling for products on sale could be performed on the results
returned from the polling at 812. At 818, if a product on sale
matches with the product information for an electronic note, the
mobile note server 288 then returns the details of the sale to the
mobile device 100 at 820 after which the electronic note may be
activated. If there is no match for products on sale at 818, the
mobile note server 288 may return that there is a match with regard
to the function and location at 822. Lastly, if there has not been
a match with regard to location and function at 814 then the mobile
note server 288 continues monitoring for location and function
group at 810.
[0117] As noted above, in this embodiment, a mobile device user can
be notified of a match of location and function or of a sale on a
product at a store in the vicinity. It will be understood that
different notifications can be used depending on the type of
notification, for example, for a sale product, the notification may
include changing the color of the electronic note or the like.
[0118] It should be understood that various modifications can be
made to the exemplary embodiments described and illustrated herein,
without departing from the general scope of the appended claims. It
should also be understood that while the embodiments have been
described for electronic notes on mobile devices, the embodiments
are generally applicable to electronic notes on various computing
and communications devices. As such electronic notes could be
entered, edited, or otherwise handled via a desktop or laptop
computer or the like. Further, the various functions of elements
such as the mobile note controller 312 and mobile note server 288
as well as other elements may be implemented as hardware or
software and the functions may be distrubuted differently between
the elements, as appropriate. For example, as described above, the
function of comparing a new note with notes in a notes database to
determine if an electronic note has been edited may be performed at
the mobile note controller 312 or at the mobile note server 288
depending on the configuration.
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