Abstract: A method and apparatus for presenting a tab-based graphic user interface (GUI) having more tabs than can be fitted across a screen side for a computer system. The computer system can be handheld devices such as personal digital assistants (PDA's) and cell phones. The tab-based GUI displays as many tabs as possible on the screen side. The on-screen tabs are arranged in a sequence on a side of the display screen wherein each of these displayed tabs is adapted to be selected by a user for entering into a file category. The off-screen and on-screen tabs form a circular array conceptually such that a portion of the circular array being displayed on the screen side is the sequence of the on-screen tabs. In response to the selection of a on-screen tab, the selected on-screen tab is automatically scrolled to the center position of the screen side. In response to the selection of another on-screen tab, the newly selected on-screen tab is automatically scrolled to the center position of the screen side.

Abstract: A method and system supporting location based services for a mobile electronic device that supports multiple wireless communication technologies. The mobile device contains a resource proxy for dynamically storing a set of resources that are available to the electronic device and that are location specific, e.g., accessible via a point that is near the electronic device. The resource proxy contains a resource table recording the available resources and a gateway table indicating a pathway for reaching the data. The resource proxy definitions are technology independent with respect to the communication mechanisms required to obtain the data. Resources are added to the resource proxy via a resource discovery mechanism automatically performed by the mobile device. Multiple network gateways can be defined and each is responsible for requesting and retrieving information for the resource proxy.

Abstract: A method and system of selecting one set of data from among multiple related data sets and beaming the data set from one handheld electronic device to another handheld electronic device. One embodiment discloses a method and system, which uses multiple cards, one for each category. The transmitter of the business card can transmit a business card from the active category of the device. Upon an attempt to transmit a business card from a category which does not have a pre-selected business card, the system issues a warning providing the user with a selection. The user has choices of sending a business card from any one category with pre-defined business card or sends a pre-defined default business card. In another embodiment, the transmitter of the business card can make a selection of a business card from a number of pre-defined electronic cards in the system and upon review of the business cards on the screen the user may decide to send the selected business card.

Abstract: A Trojan horse method and apparatus to permit email access to secure enterprise resources within an enterprise's firewall. An email message is used to permit a user to gain access to computer resources such as databases maintained within a secure enterprise's firewall. An email message generated from a palmtop computer or any other computer capable of sending and receiving email messages is used to pass through the firewall as a conventional email message would. The email message is received at a designated computer that recognizes reserved command words as a part of the email message, preferably as a part of the subject line thereof. Upon recognizing the reserved command word, the email message is parsed to determine key components of a command that can be executed on a desired enterprise computer resource. An appropriate command (e.g., an SQL query) is then created for execution on the enterprise computer resource (e.g., a database).

Abstract: A method of routing telephone calls, emails and faxes using a palmtop computer. Using a date book forming a part of a personal information manager application of a palmtop computer, the user enters an appointment into the date book. Such an appointment has a starting and an ending time. The user then selects (either at the time of entry of the appointment or after receipt of an alarm reminder of the appointment) a destination telephone number for routing of telephone calls between the starting time and the ending time. This selection can be in the form of a menu selection of a predetermined profile for routing telephone calls. The palmtop computer then sends a representation of the destination telephone number, the starting time and the ending time to a telephone call server (and/or email server and/or fax server), so that the telephone call server routes telephone calls to the destination telephone number between the starting time and the ending time.

Abstract: A method and system for installing an application or a set of applications on a client device, such as a portable (or palmtop) computer system. The application(s) to be installed are identified. The host device has stored therein an operating system comprising a plurality of software routines. A subset of the operating system is generated. In one embodiment, the subset comprises those software routines needed to support the applications installed on the client device. In another embodiment, the subset comprises those software routines that, in combination with software routines used by the operating system on the client device, supports the applications installed on the client device. The application(s) and the subset are installed on the client computer system. Thus, the operating system of the client computer system contains only those software routines needed to support the installed applications, thereby efficiently using memory resources in the client computer system.

Abstract: A method and system for notification in a palm-sized computer system. Specifically, the present invention discloses an Attention Manager that manages application demand for a user's attention. The Attention Manager receives multiple attention requests from varying applications. With each new attention request received that indicates a record needs a user's attention, the Attention Manager stores the request in memory and determines if there are other outstanding attention requests that have not been cleared. Depending on the number of outstanding requests, the Attention Manager sends a request for record information in list or detail format. If there are multiple outstanding attention requests, the Attention Manager displays a notification dialog in a list format. If there is only one outstanding attention request, the Attention Manager displays the notification dialog in detail format. Additionally, a simple user interface to navigate to the application and record entry requiring attention is provided.

Abstract: A method and device are provided for handling network activation between a computer and a carrier. In one example, the method involves receiving a command to initiate network activation procedures. The network activation status of the computer is then determined. If the computer is network enabled, a request is sent to a device having network activation information. The network activation information is received from the device. The computer is then configured with the network activation information in order to establish network activation with the carrier.

Abstract: A method and system whereby an initiator device discovers the user-friendly name of another device in a wireless network of devices, such as a Bluetooth network. Initially, the initiator device broadcasts an inquiry message that is received by the other device (the responding device). The responding device provides its address in response to the inquiry. The initiator device then transmits a page, followed by a name request, to the responding device. The responding device provides its user-friendly name in response to the name request. The initiator device stores (e.g., caches) the address and the associated user-friendly name in a memory cache. When the initiator device subsequently sends an inquiry message that is received by the responding device, the responding device will provide its address to the initiator device. However, instead of sending a name request, the initiator device can retrieve the user-friendly name from the memory cache based on the address.

Abstract: A method and system for protecting portable computer data from unauthorized transfer or using portable computers to download unauthorized data. The invention is applicable to any computer capable of transferring data, but in one embodiment a portable computer is described. Authorization is enabled by an interface permitting synchronization of the portable computer with a host computer by authentication of the particular portable computer identity. For instance, in one embodiment, when a portable computer is docked with a compatible interface connected to a host desktop computer, it is sensed and identified by the interface. If the particular portable computer identity is authenticated as authorized for that desktop, then synchronization will be enabled by the interface. The computers may then transfer data. However, if the identity is not an authorized one, then authentication will not occur, synchronization is correspondingly disabled, and data transfer is prevented.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a networked software and service dispensing vending machine (also referred to as a “software ATM”) for dispensing software and providing services to a portable computer system. Software stored on the software ATM is offered for sale and, once payment is received, downloaded into a portable computer system. A communications interface on the software ATM allows communications with the portable computer system. The software can be displayed on the software ATM prior to being purchased. Once payment is received for the software, it is downloaded into the portable computer system using the communications interface. A network connection on the software ATM provides communications with a network server.

Abstract: A secure simplified transaction processing method and apparatus for a palmtop computer. Sensitive personal information is stored in a secure personal information database. A site map database contains information which maps the fields of the personal information database to frames of a Web page. On request of a palmtop computer, a robot program correlates the personal information fields with the frames of the Web page and sends the personal information back to the palmtop computer. The palmtop computer uses this information to automatically populate the frames of a Web clipping representing a Web page. This has the advantage that the user does not have to manually fill in the frames of the web clipping while providing security for sensitive information.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention enables nodes or endpoints involved with synchronization of data items to determine which version of a data item (if any) has priority over another version of that same data item. Within the present embodiment, when a data item is modified by a node, it is presumed that the modified data item takes priority over the previous version of that data item. Therefore, the “descendant” data item (modified) takes precedence over its “ancestor” data item (previous version). By including this type of “pedigree” information with data items involved with synchronization between different nodes or endpoints, the present embodiment enables the endpoints to determine which version of a data item (if any) has priority over another version of that same data item.

Abstract: A Trojan horse method and apparatus to permit email access to secure enterprise resources within an enterprise's firewall. An email message is used to permit a user to gain access to computer resources such as databases maintained within a secure enterprise's firewall. An email message generated from a palmtop computer or any other computer capable of sending and receiving email messages is used to pass through the firewall as a conventional email message would. The email message is received at a designated computer that recognizes reserved command words as a part of the email message, preferably as a part of the subject line thereof. Upon recognizing the reserved command word, the email message is parsed to determine key components of a command that can be executed on a desired enterprise computer resource. An appropriate command (e.g., an SQL query) is then created for execution on the enterprise computer resource (e.g., a database).

Abstract: A method of routing telephone calls, emails and faxes using a palmtop computer. Using a date book forming a part of a personal information manager application of a palmtop computer, the user enters an appointment into the date book. Such an appointment has a starting and an ending time. The user then selects (either at the time of entry of the appointment or after receipt of an alarm reminder of the appointment) a destination telephone number for routing of telephone calls between the starting time and the ending time. This selection can be in the form of a menu selection of a predetermined profile for routing telephone calls. The palmtop computer then sends a representation of the destination telephone number, the starting time and the ending time to a telephone call server (and/or email server and/or fax server), so that the telephone call server routes telephone calls to the destination telephone number between the starting time and the ending time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of managing a phone device of a personal digital assistant (PDA) is provided. In one example of the present invention, the PDA retrieves a call history list from a stored memory location, the call history list including a call history list record. The PDA then displays at least a portion of the call history list on a screen of the PDA. The call history list preferably includes phone numbers and names associated with those phone numbers. In another example, the method further includes displaying call details of a selected call history list record. The call details preferably includes a date, a timestamp, and a duration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for utilizing a graphic user interface in a portable electronic device. Specifically, the present invention pertains to a method of using a portion of a graphic user interface display to provide information to the user without disrupting an application in progress. The user interface provides tools that enable the user to answer or reject an incoming call, without interruption of applications already operating on the device during the call. On a portable electronic device that combines computer functions and wireless telephone functions, the user is able to view caller ID information, in an information window, while using another application. Further, the user is able to make a decision about answering or rejecting the call and execute the appropriate response, all without having to interrupt the application currently in use. It is appreciated that the portable electronic device could be a cellular phone, a personal data assistant, a pager, etc.

Abstract: A system and method for prioritizing multiple audio sources and balancing them in a single combined output in a handheld device. Audio sources are sensed and combined with the level of each source subject to adjustment by an attenuator/amplifier. A priority logic unit controls the attenuator/amplifier associated with each source. the level of each source being combined is adjusted on the basis of the character of the sources being combined and a set of programmed rules. For example, if source A is a high priority source (e.g. a telephone ring or other alert tone) and source B is a lower priority source (e.g. a music program) then the sound management system may lower the volume on source B combine with source A and output the result. Alternatively, source A may be raised in volume, combined with source B, and then output. In one embodiment, the sound management system is integrated with a palm sized handheld computer system.

Abstract: A system and method of identifying a source of a software distribution between portable computer systems. A user of a first hand held computer may transfer software, for example operating system extensions, application programs and data sets etc. to a second hand held computer. This transfer may occur wirelessly. An identification token which may identify the source of the software distribution may also be transferred, and further transferred from the second hand held computer to an “e commerce” web site in an automatic manner. In this novel manner, the sources of software distribution of respective files among many hand held computer users, may be identified to the website. This may result in wider distribution of both information about available software and the software itself, and a multi-order multiplication of economic effects in the hand held industry, while overcoming many deficiencies in the prior art of software distribution for hand held computers.

Abstract: A system and method is described for managing a phone call to a phone device of a personal digital assistant, the phone call being transmitted from a device in a mobile phone network. In one example, the method involves determining a status of a radio switch of the personal digital assistant. The personal digital assistant determines a status of the network coverage of the phone device. In other words, the personal digital assistant determines the relative strength of the phone call signal that is transmitted to the phone device from the mobile phone network. If the radio switch is turned on and the network coverage is adequate, the phone device receives the phone call. A user of the personal digital assistant preferably has an option of answering or not answering the phone call. If the phone call is not answered, the phone call is preferably redirected to a voicemail application.