Abstract: A method and apparatus for transforming a web page that contains main content and auxiliary data. The web page is converted into a string containing multiple first values and multiple second values. The first values correspond to formatting code segments within the web page and the second values correspond to text segments within the web page. Further, a low-pass filter is applied to the string containing multiple first values and multiple second values, and the output of the low-pass filter is used to determine the location of the main content within the web page.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing the selection of location information sources (e.g., position determining equipment sites) to provide location information for a mobile communications unit (e.g., a cellular phone) are disclosed. Embedded within a request for location information on a particular mobile communications unit are one or more specifications regarding the quality of the requested location information. Such specifications is used to determine if any location information sources are able to provide the location information with the desired location information quality. Upon locating a location information source capable of providing the requested location information, the source is invoked to the particular location information source. Once the location information is provided by the location information source it is provided to the requesting party.

Abstract: A comparison of a first version of a resource and a second version of the resource is performed. The comparison performed by a gateway connected to a network. The first version is stored in the gateway. The second version is sent to the gateway by a server connected to the network. When the second version is different from the first version, difference data between the second version and the first version is calculated. The difference data is sent to the client computer using a narrow bandwidth connection. The gateway stores the second version as the first version.

Abstract: Improved techniques for controlling notification characteristics for wireless communication devices are disclosed. One aspect of the improved techniques pertains to timer-based notification control for wireless communication devices. Another aspect of the improved techniques pertains to calendar-based notification control for wireless communication devices. Still another aspect of the invention pertains to graphical user interfaces that can be utilized to set or monitor notification characteristics for wireless communication devices. The improved techniques are particularly suitable for use with wireless communication devices having constrained keypads and wireless browsers that display documents (e.g., such as markup language documents) or messages to users of the wireless communication devices.

Abstract: An information broker operates a location server coupled to a wireless network and a wireline network, which acquires and processes information indicating locations of mobile communication devices on the wireless network. The information broker provides the processed information to one or more recipients. The processed information may be provided by the information broker to a recipient in exchange for payment, as part of a business transaction. The raw or processed location related information may include a history of locations of a mobile communication device and times and durations associated with the locations. The processed information may include graphs or maps of geographic areas in which the mobile devices have been located, movement trends, or other behavioral patterns of mobile users. The processed location data can also be used in performing location-based searches and other location-related applications and for customer analysis, among other uses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting the identities of mobile devices on a wireless network are described. A proxy gateway couples the wireless network to a wired network and maintains data associating a set of service initiators with a set of cryptographic keys. Upon receiving a request from a mobile client device directed to an origin server on the wired network, the proxy gateway identifies the cryptographic key for that origin server and sends to the origin server a proxy request. The proxy request includes an identifier of the mobile device, encrypted using the cryptographic key. When the proxy gateway receives a request from a service initiator on the wired network to push information to a mobile device, it uses the cryptographic key for that service initiator to decode a client identifier in the request and thereby determine whether the request is valid.

Abstract: A structured screen display process presents structured information that includes a plurality of elements on any width screen display so that the user is able to see as many of the elements as possible at once, and is able to see the complete text of any element as needed. The process dynamically adapts the display of structured information to the screen display width of the device. Further, in this dynamic adaptation, the user sees at a glance as many as possible of the elements of the structure, and the user can see any of the elements at the user's discretion in a way which is compatible with using structured information such as a menu of choices. The structured information is presented on a screen display by displaying at least a portion of each element in a plurality of elements on the screen display where at least one of the elements has a width greater than a width of the screen display.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting the identities of mobile devices on a wireless network are described. A proxy gateway couples the wireless network to a wired network and maintains data associating a set of service initiators with a set of cryptographic keys. Upon receiving a request from a mobile client device directed to an origin server on the wired network, the proxy gateway identifies the cryptographic key for that origin server and sends to the origin server a proxy request. The proxy request includes an identifier of the mobile device, encrypted using the cryptographic key. When the proxy gateway receives a request from a service initiator on the wired network to push information to a mobile device, it uses the cryptographic key for that service initiator to decode a client identifier in the request and thereby determine whether the request is valid.

Abstract: A proxy gateway is coupled to one or more wireless hand-held devices over a wireless network and to one or more origin servers over a wired network. The proxy gateway proxies requests and responses between the wireless devices and the origin servers. The proxy gateway determines when private information associated with a wireless device is needed or requested by another network entity, such as an origin server. In response to such determination, the proxy gateway communicates with the wireless device to enable the wireless device to present a user interface which allows a user of the wireless device to dynamically control release of the private information.

Abstract: A microbrowser in a mobile telephone or other hand-held mobile device generates a Graphical User Interface (GUI) having features that make the device more user-friendly. In one mode, the GUI includes a softkey indicator indicating a corresponding softkey action and an input field for receiving a user-input character string, such as a telephone number. In response to typing in the input field, a softkey action previously associated with the input field, such as a dial action, is automatically selected, and the softkey indicator is automatically changed to indicate the selected action. In another mode, the GUI displays an input field and a menu listing performable actions. In response to a user input representing a single action by the user and designating one of the performable actions, the designated action is selected and the input field is activated, enabling the user to input characters associated with the designated action.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for support of bi-directional text in legacy applications is disclosed. The method may be used in different embodiments for either monospace or proportionally spaced fonts. In general, the method involves first flipping all of the text, and thereby putting most of the text into its proper position and orientation. The method then involves finding any foreign (left-to-right) text within the flipped text, and flipping it back.

Abstract: Improved approaches are disclosed for processing overloaded keys substantially more in accordance with user's expected behavior. With the improved approaches, users are less likely to undergo unexpected processing in response to overloaded key presses. In one embodiment, the processing ignores certain overloaded key presses and/or imposes delays to ensure that users have an opportunity to appreciate when an overloaded key has switched to another function. These approaches are particularly well suited for small scale mobile devices having reduced size displays and overloaded keys such as mobile phones (e.g., cellular phones), two-way pagers, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), or other two-way mobile communication devices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving database concurrency are described. Upon receiving a request to access data, a data locality within a database may be determined utilizing unique data keys. An access to the data may be provided while locking part of the database based on a data locking level determined based on deadlock history corresponding to the data locality.

Abstract: A system and method for verifying an application's authorization to receive position information comprising receiving a request for position information from the application, determining that the application has not yet been approved to receive the requested position information, sending a challenge key to the device on which the application is running, sending an application key to the application, sending a challenge string to the application, receiving an encrypted hash of the challenge key, application key and challenge string from the application, verifying that the encrypted hash is an expected value, and sending positioning server information to the application.

Abstract: Improved approaches for enabling thin devices to efficiently communicate ideas and transactions into data networks by using other devices with full functional user interfaces in the networks. According to one aspect, the thin device exclusively controls the authentication of a rendezvous that is associated with a user account in a server. The thin device running a micro-browser provisions the rendezvous with a set of credential information in an authenticated and secure communication session so that the provisioning process is truly proprietary. To access the user account, the other devices equipped with well known browsers must submit the correct credential information to the rendezvous for verification in the server.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a fleet managing system in which fleet data can be securely managed and disseminated to a selective group of mobile stations serviced by a carrier infrastructure. The fleet managing system relies on a series of consecutive transitive trusts between pairs of components in the system so that all communications from a provisioning entity to the mobile stations are secure. The access to the fleet managing system is guarded with a challenge response every time there is a request arriving at the system while the mobile stations are verified by an account manager in the system to ensure that the fleet data is eventually pushed to the correct group of mobile stations.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for providing location information to a location application directly from a mobile device. In an embodiment of the invention, a mobile device comprises means for detecting when the mobile device has moved from a first base station coverage area to a second base station coverage area, and means for creating a data-layer message, the message comprising an identification of the second base station. In another embodiment of the invention, a wireless device provides location information by detecting when the wireless device changes from communicating with a first cell to communicating with a second cell, and by sending a data-layer message from the wireless device to a location application, wherein the data message comprises an identification of the second cell.

Abstract: A system and method for accessing resources comprising entering a code on a mobile device, and launching a browser on the mobile device in response to the activation of a web button on the mobile device, wherein the code is automatically used as a resource identifier when the browser launches. A system and method for establishing a data session for a mobile device comprising receiving a request to establish the data session, wherein the request includes a resource identifier code that is an invalid resource identifier, converting the resource identifier code to a valid resource identifier, and establishing the data session between the mobile device and a resource associated with the valid resource identifier.

Abstract: A content descriptor is received at a download server on a network from a remote content server, which is coupled to the download server through a computer network. The content descriptor is indicative of a selection by a user transmitted from a wireless client device to the remote content server and relating to a digital product hosted by the remote content server. The content descriptor is used by the download server to obtain the digital product from the remote content server. The digital product is then downloaded from the download server to the wireless client device via a wireless network. The content descriptor may include information such as a reference for use by the download server in locating the digital product, information describing the digital product, price information relating to the digital product, and/or information specifying a licensee of the digital product.

Abstract: A method and system for retrieving and installing for output display one or more configurable elements over a data network including the steps of receiving a list of configurable elements, selecting one or more of the configurable elements from the list of configurable elements, the each one or more of the configurable elements having associated therewith an attribute, the attribute including one or more properties associated with a user interface element of a mobile device, verifying the selected one or more configurable elements, and storing the verified one or more configurable elements is disclosed.