Abstract: Apparatus and methods, including computer program products, for providing a network-accessible queue. The queue is stored on a network-accessible file system having a locking mechanism providing strictly-enforced, network-wide file locking. The data structures of the queue are stored in the file system. The file system is preferably implemented on a network accessible RAID array storage device providing a native CIFS file system for storing queue entries received over a network from sender clients and for delivery of such queue entries to receiver clients. Synchronization is implemented using file locks enforced by the file system, so there is no need for a master synchronization process. Notification of the availability of queue entries to receiver clients is also done by a decentralized process.

Abstract: Techniques that facilitate participation of mobile devices in accessing resources over a data network are disclosed. The data network can be wired, wireless or some combination thereof. In one aspect, a mobile navigation metaphor is provided to yield similar navigation experiences on both mobile devices and personal computers. In another aspect, a central content server is able to return requested content to requesters in a format suitable for their device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products for sharing a user STL object among processes. A shared memory segment is created. A system STL (Standard Template Library) map is anchored in the shared memory segment. A user STL object is received. An address is obtained for the user STL object by requesting storage from an allocator allocating memory from the shared memory segment to store at least one node of the user STL object and data added to the user STL object. The user STL object is inserted into the system STL map. Garbage collection is performed using the allocator, a first map containing a first set of nodes denoting sizes and addresses of a plurality of free blocks, and a second map containing a second set of nodes representing the addresses of and the pointers to the plurality of free blocks in the first map.

Abstract: A mobile communication device operable to allow a user to access hypermedia content via a wireless link is configured to allow a user to more easily input hypermedia identifiers, such as Uniform Resource Locators (URLs). The device includes a processor, a display, a set of user input keys, each of which is operable to allow a user to input a predetermined numeral, and a storage facility in which a microbrowser program is stored. The microbrowser program is executed by the processor to configure the mobile telephone to allow the user to access remotely stored hypermedia content via the wireless link. Also stored in the storage facility are a plurality of URL fragments. Each URL fragment is associated with one of the user input keys. In response to a single predefined user input at a given one of the user input keys, the microbrowser program selects the corresponding URL fragment and causes the selected URL fragment to be displayed.

Abstract: The disclosed system determines capabilities of client devices on a network to facilitate responses to requests from the client devices. The system attempts to use information in or associated with a request, such as a session identifier or a header of the request, to search for matching information in a device capabilities database. If found, the system maps the information to a set of stored device capabilities of the client device. If the system is unable to find an exact match for the information, the system attempts to find an approximate match. If an approximate match is found, the system takes the stored device capabilities associated with the stored matching information to be the capabilities of the client device. The new association is then recorded for future use. Any capabilities specified in the request are also added to the set of stored capabilities associated with the client device.

Abstract: According to the principles disclosed herein, an image requested by a mobile device is first processed in a server device. In accordance with a set of parameters about the screen of the mobile device, the requested image is transformed to a reduced version that fits well into the screen. In addition, the reduced version is inherently divided into a number of subareas, each embedded a link to a detailed version thereof and associated with one of the keys in the mobile device. When the reduced version is, displayed on the mobile device, a user decides to view an area that falls into one of the subareas, a corresponding key is activated. A new request including the link is send to the server device that consequently sends out the detailed version. Similary, the detailed version is inherently divided into the same number of subareas. As a result, all parts in the original image can be recursively viewed.

Abstract: The present invention has particular applications to the navigation of Internet web pages using two-way interactive communication devices, such as a mobile device, a mobile phone, a landline telephone, and an Internet capable remote controller. According to one aspect of the present invention, each of the two-way interactive communication devices is a node in a distributed network, thus the devices can access hypermedia or hierarchic layers of information stored in server devices on the network. When one or more pages of information are updated, rather than sending the entire updated information to users of the devices subscribing to the updated information through the network, the present invention sends a notification to a proxy server that forwards the notification to the users using a messaging system via a low cost narrowband channel. Upon receiving the notification, the users can fetch the updates, when needed, through a wideband channel.

Abstract: The inventive system relates to applications for providing graphical display information regarding mobile resources. In the illustrated embodiment, the system (100) provides graphical location information regarding one or more mobile resources (110, 120 and/or 130). The graphical location information is provided via a display (147) associated with a client platform (140). The display includes mapping information and mobile resource marker information transmitted from a server (170) to the client platform (140) via the Internet (180). The mapping information and marker information are provided in separate message sets thereby providing certain processing advantages.

Abstract: A unified interface is disclosed for sending update notifications to different wireless clients on different wireless networks. The update notifications may be push notifications or pull notifications. Push notifications include a data payload with updated information. Pull notifications merely specify an address where update information is available. The updated information must be “pulled” using the supplied address. Several maintenance requests are provided for querying notification status, deleting individual notifications, and clearing all notifications addressed to a particular subscriber.

Abstract: Techniques that facilitate participation of mobile devices in accessing resources over a data network are disclosed. The data network can be wired, wireless or some combination thereof. In one aspect, a mobile navigation metaphor is provided to yield similar navigation experiences on both mobile devices and personal computers. In another aspect, a central content server is able to return requested content to requesters in a format suitable for their device.

Abstract: A system and method for provisioning a two-way mobile communications device having a display screen and user interface that is initiated from the device to be provisioned. The device to be provisioned establishes a secure communications session with a provisioning server device. The subject communications path may utilize an intermediate server device. The user of the device is then presented with a plurality of input and choice screens, which may be used in conjunction with the user interface to provide user information, select device features and services. The user information and selected feature and service requests are then forwarded to the provisioning server device. The provisioning server device processes the received information and generates provisioning packages, registration requests, and notifications for the subject mobile device and for any associated server device providing services. The provisioning packages may comprise software modules, parameters and any required security information.

Abstract: The Web Services Development Kit (WSDK) comprises a set of build-time tools and run-time components designed to support the development of web services and the interface to those services. WSDK provides a framework for the development of web services that isolates developers from the implementation details of the markup and transport layers, by separating the logical aspects of the service development from the physical aspects. A “call” generated by a client contains a batch of operations to be executed in the context of a single request/reply message exchange. A markup library translates logical structure to a specific markup language. Additional markup languages are supported by adding additional modules to the markup library.

Abstract: The Web Services Development Kit (WSDK) comprises a set of build-time tools and run-time components designed to support the development of web services and the interface to those services. WSDK provides a framework for the development of web services that isolates developers from the implementation details of the markup and transport layers, by separating the logical aspects of the service development from the physical aspects. A “call” generated by a client contains a batch of operations to be executed in the context of a single request/reply message exchange. A markup library translates logical structure to a specific markup language. Additional markup languages are supported by adding additional modules to the markup library.

Abstract: A two-way data communication device such as a data ready cellular telephone, a two-way pager, or a telephone communicates via a two-way data communication network with a server computer on a computer network that has an interface to the two-way data communication network, i.e, is coupled to the two-way data communication network. For example, the computer network can be a corporate wide area network, a corporate local-area network, the Internet, or any combination of computer networks. The two-way data communication device utilizes a client module to transmit message including a resource selector chosen by the user to a server on a server computer on the computer network. The server processes the message and transmits a response over the two-way data communication network to the client module. The client module interprets the response and presents the response to the user via a structured user interface.

Abstract: Techniques that facilitate participation of mobile devices in accessing resources over a data network are disclosed. The data network can be wired, wireless or some combination thereof. In one aspect, a mobile navigation metaphor is provided to yield similar navigation experiences on both mobile devices and personal computers. In another aspect, a central content server is able to return requested content to requestors in a format suitable for their device.

Abstract: A credential caching proxy server that handles credential caching for a set of wireless client devices is disclosed. The credential caching proxy server handles most credential transactions for wireless client devices that wish to access resources within a protected realm where the protected realm requires credentials. In one embodiment, the credential caching proxy server intercepts and caches a wireless client's credentials when a credential is first sent from the wireless user agent to a protected server. The cached credential will then be used for all requests to resources within the same protected realm. Thus, after first sending a first credential for accessing the resource in a particular realm, the wireless user agent does not need to attach the credential for all the subsequent requests for any other resources belong to the same realm. In an alternate embodiment, the proxy server sends a special request to the wireless client device requesting a credential for a particular resource.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for providing subscriber loyalty and retention techniques. These techniques are suitable for mobile devices with small screens and limited keypad communication. This system and method allows mobile subscribers who have been identified as being likely candidates for churning, to efficiently, visually and interactively, review an offer for a mobile service plan better meeting the subscriber's needs. The subscriber can review and execute the offer using the display and interface of a mobile device.

Abstract: A method and system for automated navigation through voice menu information systems for mobile devices are disclosed. Navigation of the voice menu information systems is accomplished using a stored script (i.e., a time ordered log of the input associated with a previous interaction). A user wishing to store such a script, prior to an interaction with a voice menu system, would select this option from a menu displayed on the display screen of the wireless client device. The user is prompted to provide a label for the script. The labeled script is then created and stored by monitoring the input characters and timings thereof. After a new script has been stored, the information used to generate menu displays pertaining to available scripts for the wireless client device is updated to reflect the addition of the new script.

Abstract: Improved approaches are disclosed for efficiently navigating a cursor to an edit location within previously entered text so that the text can be edited. These improved approaches enable users to position a cursor within previously entered text more quickly and with greater ease than conventionally possible. These approaches are particularly well suited for small scale mobile devices having reduced size displays and limited 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 chaining system for Usenet applications allows local Usenet servers having a relatively small storage capacity to provide access to a large number of articles through network connections with large-capacity storage devices. The local servers can thereby advertise the availability of the union of its own stored content and the content stored on the large-capacity storage device. Chaining can be accomplished with and without-caching. In addition, the chaining system of the present invention allows storage devices to be staged throughout a network so that the most requested Usenet articles are available on fast, local servers, thereby freeing larger storage devices to hold greater numbers of less-popular articles. The larger devices may be shared among several local servers.