Abstract: The invention allows access to the Internet by two-way mobile communication devices capable of wireless communication via a link server. Despite limited computing resources in the mobile devices, the invention allows the mobile devices to interact with Internet entities using a control engine in the link server and an interface engine in the mobile devices. The control engine utilizes the computing resources of the link server and handles tasks requiring considerable computing resources, such as processing of URL requests, interpreting markup language files, managing a data cache and variable states. Working with a message processor in the link server, the control engine communicates with an interface engine using a compact data format that is efficiently transportable in the wireless data network. The interface engine typically performs tasks that do not require considerable computing resources, such as receiving input from users and rendering data received from the link server.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing the selection of location information sources (e.g., position determining equipment sites and handset-based location finding capabilities) 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 provide the particular location information. Once the location information is provided by the location information source, it is provided to the requesting party.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for establishing a secure tunnel through a proxy between a user device and a secure server on a network are described. The method comprises storing information retrievable by the proxy server, in the event of the user device sending a request to the proxy server to access the secure server during a current session with the proxy server. The information indicates that the user device wishes to access the secure server. Thereafter, the current session between the user device and the proxy server is terminated. A tunnel is set through the proxy server between the user device and the secure server (via a trusted domain proxy/firewall) in the event of the user device sending a further request to the proxy server to access the secure server.

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: Improved techniques for synchronizing different electronic mail mailboxes (accounts) of a user are disclosed. The user is able to effectively see and interact with only a single “virtual” mailbox, which is the synchronized combination of the two different electronic mailboxes. The electronic mailboxes are used to receive, store, read and send electronic mail over a network to electronic mailboxes associated with recipients. The electronic mail can include electronic messages that contain text, graphics or video. The synchronization of the two different electronic mailboxes can be performed automatically in a two-way manner without user interaction. The synchronization can also be performed securely even though electronic messages are transmitted over a public network.

Abstract: A method of providing location-based services for a mobile unit operating in a wireless network including network structures. The method includes receiving an identifier associated with the mobile unit. The method also includes monitoring a location of the mobile unit using the identifier and a network-assisted location finding system to identify a crossing of a service zone boundary by the mobile unit. The service zone boundary is defined by reference to at least one of the network structures. The service zone boundary also corresponds to a geographic zone boundary. The method further includes transmitting service information to a system user in response to the crossing of the service zone boundary.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting an optimum gateway for a mobile client are described. The mobile client receives an acknowledgement from a home agent, indicating that the mobile client has moved from the home agent to a foreign agent. An optimum gateway is then determined from several gateways and then selected for the mobile client.

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.