Abstract: A handheld computer includes a housing and a display supported by the housing and configured to display images representative of computer program applications. The handheld computer also includes a memory and a microprocessor coupled to the memory and the display and configured to run applications stored in the memory. The handheld computer also includes a software application that is stored in the memory. The handheld computer further includes a launching application stored in the memory. This launching application has an image on the display representative of the software application and the launching application carries out computer program steps to modify the launching environment prior to running the software application such that the software application runs properly on the handheld computer, the software application not originally designed to run on the handheld computer.

Abstract: A protocol for wireless data exchange may be used in conjunction with two or more portable computer systems. One of the portable computer systems may be a personal digital assistant (PDA) having an internal or an external wireless communication unit. The protocol can be used by a sending application residing on the portable computer system to transparently send a wireless message to a receiving computer system. The packet is then automatically routed to the proper destination application residing on the receiver utilizing a data type identifier. The data type identifier is used by the receiver, in conjunction with an application registry, to determine the proper destination application.

Abstract: A method and system of providing compatibility between a software application and an electronic device are disclosed. An exemplary method includes providing an electronic device having a processor and a memory, the processor running an operating system. The method also includes providing access to a software application configured to run on the process of the electronic device. Further, the method includes checking operating system compatibility information. The operating system compatibility information is included in the software application.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is a method and system for the secure activation of web clipping applications upon a portable information device (PID). In an embodiment of the invention, the method first provides for preventing a user from accessing web clipping applications that are installed on the PID and located within installed software. The method then continues with a user registering the PID with a proxy server by using a registration application within the installed software. Upon the authorized registration of the PID with the proxy server, the web clipping applications are revealed to the user, and with the web clipping applications thus revealed, the user may retrieve information from the proxy server through the implementation of any of the web clipping applications. The invention further provides for a method and system for the secure access of a proxy server by a PID such that the recurring step of device identification can be eliminated.

Abstract: A method and system of automating two-way beaming of information from one handheld electronic device to another handheld electronic device. Specifically, the present invention discloses a method and system for selectively transmitting business cards, calendar appointments or executable programs from one device to a requesting device. The receiver makes the selection of a response. The receiver accepts the information, accepts and automatically transmits information of the same category, or rejects the information based on a user choice. If the user select the receive and transmit option, the device will automatically receives and file the information and sends information of the same category to the initiator of the transmission. The two-way transmission of information appears as one integral transmission between the users. In one embodiment, the data to be exchanged is business cards and the devices are handheld computer system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that provides adaptation in the content delivered to a palmtop computer. Connections between a palmtop computer and the Internet can vary from low speed dial-up to very high speed. Also, a palmtop computer's display, memory and processing power can vary considerably. Communication with the Internet is generally through a proxy server that can deduce these considerations from the palmtop computer's serial number and/or other information specified by user. The proxy server can then adapt the content based upon these considerations (e.g. only send two bit gray scale images to non-color palmtop computer; only send first frame of animated gif to low processing power palmtop computer, etc.).

Abstract: A time zone management system and method for a date-book like application. A user can associate a time zone with an event or appointment, especially on a palmtop computer. The event can be associated with the time zone by selecting the time zone as an attribute from a details menu, or other suitable user interface mechanism or other mechanism. The user can select a display time zone, and all events to be displayed are translated to the display time zone to be displayed on the palmtop computer.

Abstract: A fully integrated email system for a desktop computer with an associated palmtop computer is disclosed. The portable computer has an email client for viewing incoming email messages and composing outgoing email messages. The personal computer has an email synchronization conduit that synchronizes email on the portable computer email client with email for the desktop computer system. The email synchronization conduit ensures that the email state on the portable computer system matches the email state on the desktop personal computer system exactly. Thus, if an email message is deleted on the portable computer system then that email message will be deleted from the desktop personal computer system. Similarly, if an email message is deleted on the desktop personal computer system then that email message will be deleted from the portable computer system.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a caller identification system and method for identifying a caller with a partial phone number look-up table. The caller identification system comprises a database that stores received calls and can be personalized to include information specific to partial phone numbers. In one embodiment, the caller identification system disclosed can be integrated into a cellular phone. In this embodiment, an incoming call initiates a search in a database to retrieve information about the caller. If a match is found, the identity of the caller is displayed. When an exact match is not found, a search for a partial match is executed with wild card values and information about the partial match is displayed. Information for a partial match can be personalized or pre-programmed into the caller ID system such as the city associated with a particular area code or prefix.

Abstract: A method and electronic system for exchanging data between a handheld device and another computer system are described. A data file is transferred to the handheld device using the install application of a synchronization manager. The transferred file is stored as a digital stream file with its native data encoding. After synchronization, a message is sent to notify the exchange manager about the data file. The exchange manager then uses an application registry to identify the application program that corresponds to the file stream based on the extension of the stream file. The pertinent application program is then invoked and the stream file is dispatched to the application for processing. During processing, the pertinent application then formats the stream file such that the data file becomes a record within the database file that is associated with the pertinent application.

Abstract: A protocol for wireless data exchange may be used in conjunction with two or more portable computer systems. One of the portable computer systems may be a personal digital assistant (PDA) having an internal or an external wireless communication unit. The protocol can be used by a sending application residing on the portable computer system to transparently send a wireless message to a receiving computer system. The packet is then automatically routed to the proper destination application residing on the receiver utilizing a data type identifier. The data type identifier is used by the receiver, in conjunction with an application registry, to determine the proper destination application.

Abstract: A method and system of providing compatibility between a software application and an electronic device are disclosed. An exemplary method includes providing an electronic device having a processor and a memory, the processor running an operating system. The method also includes providing access to a software application configured to run on the process of the electronic device. Further, the method includes checking operating system compatibility information. The operating system compatibility information is included in the software application.

Abstract: A handheld computer includes a housing and a display supported by the housing and configured to display images representative of computer program applications. The handheld computer also includes a memory and a microprocessor coupled to the memory and the display and configured to run applications stored in the memory. The handheld computer also includes a software application that is stored in the memory. The handheld computer further includes a launching application stored in the memory. This launching application has an image on the display representative of the software application and the launching application carries out computer program steps to modify the launching environment prior to running the software application such that the software application runs properly on the handheld computer, the software application not originally designed to run on the handheld computer.

Abstract: A method for communicating between a first handheld computer and a second handheld computer is provided. The method includes selecting at least a first information item from a first index on the first handheld computer, and signaling the first information item to the second handheld computer. The method includes identifying a second information item on the second handheld computer that corresponds to the first information item, and synchronizing the second information item with the first information item.

Abstract: A method and system for N-way synchronization of computer databases. Synchronization of computer databases is structured into three rounds, namely an agenda round, a query round and a report round. In the agenda round, a synchronization agent software module inquires of a common synchronization engine for updates to the agent's database and provides information as to the level of information in the agent's database. During a query round, a common synchronization engine may request information from databases with new information and distribute that database information to databases needing the new information during a report round. Multiple agents, each representing an associated database may participate a synchronization. In addition, various special purpose agents may also receive, provide and otherwise operate on synchronization information.

Abstract: Method and system that enables faster data synchronization between different databases. In one embodiment, a method for synchronizing data records between databases is provided. Initially, a first database is designated as a source database and a second database as a target database. The modification flag of a first data record in the source database is examined. If the first modification flag is set, the first data record is propagated to the target database. On the other hand, if the first modification flag is not set, a first modification count of the first data record is compared with a second modification count of a corresponding data record in the target database. In this embodiment, each of the modification counts is a value indicating how many times the respective data record has been modified. If it is determined that the first modification count has a higher value than the second modification count, the corresponding data record is updated according to the first data record.

Abstract: A system and method for changing data displayed on a touch-sensitive display screen. The present system and method recognize handwritten strokes made with a stylus on the touch-sensitive display screen of a PDA or palmtop computer in order to alter or correct displayed data. In one mode of operation, computer controlled association of the location of the handwritten strokes on the display screen with one or more of the displayed characters will result in automatic replacement of those characters by the handwritten strokes. In a second mode of operation, matching at least one of the handwritten strokes with one character of the displayed data will result in replacement of one or more characters of the displayed data with the handwritten characters. With the present system and method, the number of steps required to alter displayed data is reduced to the number of handwritten strokes. A significant reduction in time and effort as well as a simplification in application is therefore offered.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatic delivery of a phone call on a device (e.g. a portable computer system) regardless of whether other tasks are running on the operating system. A separate background task (“thread”), independent of the operating system, enables telephony functionality without regard to the mode of a graphical user interface. The background task is always active and functions to respond to an incoming call even if the user is in a graphical user interface window that requires some input from the user (e.g. the graphical user interface is blocked). In one embodiment, the background task running under the operating system monitors an interrupt line and controls the serial port connected to a phone chipset/module. The background task also senses any of the device's buttons and controls any ringer, vibrator or LEDs of the device's hardware. In one embodiment, if the graphical user interface is not blocked then one or more phone related displays can automatically be displayed on the screen.

Abstract: A method and system of determining the screen capability and rendering the appropriate display attribute is herein described. The present invention performs this task by using a color table, which contains a list of object types and a corresponding list of display attributes. The application program obtains the correct display attribute for the object by calling the color table, giving it an identifier of the object. The color table is indexed by the identifier of the object and a screen capability flag that is obtained, in one embodiment, from the operating system. The color table provides the display attribute for the specified object based on the screen capability flag. Advantageously, the application program does not need to know the computer's display capability. Furthermore, the application program needs only one piece of computer code, regardless of the number of display capabilities which are possible. Thus, memory space in the palmtop is conserved.

Abstract: A method and a system for navigating a display screen to search for a desired item of information stored in an electronic device. The electronic device includes a novel fly over user interface (FOUI) capable of receiving commands from a user to provide a zoom out view of the display screen. A user may commence a navigation session by touching the display screen in a non active area or by clicking on a specifically designated icon to activate the user interface. During the navigation session, the display screen is zoomed-out and a magnifying area may appear on the display screen. The user interface enables the user to scroll the zoomed-out display screen by dragging the magnifying area towards an edge of the display screen to find a desired item of information. The display screen may be a display screen of a digital device (e.g., portable computer, personal computer, a cellular telephone, a digital watch, etc). The user may terminate a navigation session by removing the pointer from the display screen.