Abstract: An improved method and system for record selection. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention interprets the “gesture” of swiping the pen horizontally across a line-item of a record entry as a command to highlight the line-item and to select the entire record. Furthermore, a contiguous group of multiple records are highlighted and selected by selecting the first record, as above, and then continuing to swipe the pen vertically through the records, in accordance with another embodiment. Lastly, discontiguous records are selected by repeating the above sequence for two or more discontiguous groups of records. Previous selections are maintained until the user executes any other non-selection action.

Abstract: A method for automatically tracking application and content usage is disclosed. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method first recites the step of accessing an application interface (API) call with a parameter specifying a first portion of content to be measured. For example, the amount of time for which the portion of content is used is measured. Next the method recites, in response to the accessed call, measuring usage for the first portion of content. Then, the method recites continuing to access API calls specifying additional portions of content to be measured until the program making the calls finishes execution. In this fashion, content usage is tracked. Application developers may determine, from the content usage, where users are getting stuck in a game or what segments of an electronic document are being viewed.

Abstract: A device for providing wireless Internet access has been described. The device includes an antenna. The antenna is for receiving wireless queries and transmitting wireless responses. The device includes a program. The program is for converting the wireless queries into Internet compatible protocols. The program is for receiving the Internet protocol formatted responses. These responses are then converted in to the wireless responses.

Abstract: Within one embodiment of the present invention, the rules for transcoding web content are abstracted from the transcoding functionality of a transcoding proxy server. Specifically, within the transcoding proxy server, the functions that perform the transcoding of web content for a device having limited display capabilities is completely separate and distinct from the transcoding rules, e.g., extensible transcoder annotation (XTA), that provide the order, manner, and/or what web content should be transcoded for the requesting device. Therefore, when the transcoding proxy server receives a web page request from a device, its transcoding software accesses an XTA file to find a rule set that pertains to the web page request. Upon finding a corresponding XTA rule set, the transcoding proxy server follows the instructions of the rule set in order to transcode the requested web page for the device having limited display capabilities.

Abstract: A palmtop computer system that incorporates mechanical buttons that combine the task of turning the palmtop computer system on and starting a particular application program. Furthermore, the same mechanical button can be used to navigate the application program to find the information that is most likely needed by the user. Additionally, external devices can be coupled to the palmtop computer system in a manner that allows the external hardware device to initiate specific application programs that cooperate with the external hardware device.

Abstract: A unified view of mailboxes is presented. The unified view allows the user to see in one mailbox all actions performed in all mailboxes on a message. One of the clients of a mailbox has both a high cost and a low cost communication channel. When a message is received by a client from its respective mailbox without an identifier, an identifier is generated and a copy of the message is sent to the other mailboxes along with the identifier. When the user performs actions on a message on a client, the identifier for the message and the action is conveyed to the other clients in a message to the other mailboxes. The unified view can be selectably updated either over the high cost communication channel or the low cost communication channel. The presence of two communication channels enables management of the cost of performing the unification. The user can select options to control the unification process and the use of the high cost communication channel.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for software contrast control and a portable computer implementing software contrast control. The contrast control is initiated by a single interaction with an input mechanism, for example a pressing of a dedicated contrast control button. The method can be applied more generally to viewing parameters other than contrast such as brightness, color bit depth, color versus monochrome, and screen resolution. The method includes a processor disposed in the portable computer receiving an activation signal from a button or other input mechanism, and displaying viewing parameter adjustment graphics on the image screen. The method continues with the processor receiving a viewing parameter adjustment signal and responding to the adjustment signal by adjusting the viewing parameter levels for the image screen to levels based on the adjustment graphics.

Abstract: Separate processors, a PDA processor, and a baseband processor are maintained in a PDA having an integrated telephone device. The PDA processor runs PDA related programs and a user interface for the telephone device. A link between the PDA processor and baseband processor transfers data and commands from the user interface to a phone control program executing on the baseband processor. The base band processor is connected to the telephone device, and the phone control program controls operation of the telephone device. The separation of processors reduces vulnerability of the telephone device to hacker rogue applications that invade or program crashes that occur on the PDA processor.

Abstract: A method and system for communicating with a communications network using message-queues is disclosed. The method includes establishing a wireless link from a mobile device. The method also includes retrieving a request from the mobile device, the request including a server address. The method further includes sending the request over a communications network to the server corresponding to the server address. Further still, the method includes retrieving information from the server corresponding to the server address. Yet further still, the method includes placing the information from the server corresponding to the server address into a queue corresponding to a mobile device. Still yet further, the method includes awaiting a wireless link to the mobile device and sending the information from the queue over the wireless link to the mobile device.

Abstract: Sharing information between a host computer system and a peripheral computer system. Conduit programs running simultaneously on the host computer system synchronize information between the two computer systems. The conduits initiate multiple time multiplexed transfers across a single communication link between the two computer systems. In general, one or more conduits can perform a non-transfer task while another conduit can simultaneously perform a transfer over the host-peripheral communication link. The conduits may be used to load software onto the peripheral computer or to exchange e-mail between the two computer systems. While one active conduit is performing a task that does not involve use of the communication link, the other simultaneously executing conduits can use the communication link to transfer records between the host and the peripheral computer system.

Abstract: A method and a system for dispensing software programs from a networked software dispensing kiosk device or ATM. Software developers can place software for sale within the network thereby causing various remote software ATMs to offer the software. The user causes a display of a list of different categories of software titles available through a remotely located software ATM, e.g., located in a retail market place, or other public place. The user makes a selection from the list and may optionally execute the selected software using an on-screen emulation of the user's device. If the user is satisfied with the execution of the selected software, the user can purchase or rent the selected software using automated vending equipment of the software ATM. Purchased or rented software titles are electronically communicated from the software ATM to the user's portable computer system. The software ATM can also provide backup and archiving services for a portable computer user.

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 for software control using a user-interactive display screen feature is disclosed that reduces stylus or other manipulations necessary to invoke software functionality from the display screen. According to the method, a graphical feature having a surface area is displayed on a touch-sensitive screen. The touch-sensitive screen is coupled to at least one processor and the graphical feature is generated by an operating system and uniquely associated with a particular software program by the operating system. To control software executing on the processor, a user-supplied writing on the surface area is received and the software is controlled responsive to the writing. In alternate embodiments, the method further controls data stored in a memory device responsive to the writing or further controls transmission of data from a radiation emitter, which may be coupled to voice and data networks.

Abstract: A method and system for managing when a responder device (a device having a transceiver for wireless communication) is operating in a discoverable mode in a wireless network of devices, such as a Bluetooth network. In the discoverable mode, the responder device is set to scan for and respond to general inquiry messages broadcast from another device (e.g., an initiator device). When in the non-discoverable mode, the responder device will not respond to and/or scan for general inquiry messages broadcast from an initiator device. The responder device automatically enters the discoverable mode when the responder device enters into its awake mode. The responder device automatically enters the non-discoverable mode when the device enters into its sleep mode. Therefore, the responder device will be in discoverable mode for a reduced period of time, and as such will respond to fewer general inquiry messages.

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: A palmtop computer system that incorporates mechanical buttons that combine the task of turning the palmtop computer system on and starting a particular application program. Furthermore, the same mechanical button can be used to navigate the application program to find the information that is most likely needed by the user. Additionally, external devices can be coupled to the palmtop computer system in a manner that allows the external hardware device to initiate specific application programs that cooperate with the external hardware device.

Abstract: A method and system thereof for identifying records are described. Records on a node are distinguished from other records on the node by assigning each record a unique local identifier. When a record is moved from one node to another node, a unique global identifier is assigned to the record. A translation technique is employed to map the local identifier to the global identifier (and vice versa).

Abstract: A preferences option maintains preferences for enabling and disabling notifications for device(s) of an electronic device. The notifications are for any of e-mails, phone calls, or other communications, or events (datebook alarms, for example). One or more devices may produce notifications, and individual preferences for each device may be maintained, or a single set of notifications preferences may direct the output of notifications for each device. The notifications preferences includes a schedule option that allows a time period where the notifications may be specifically enabled or disabled automatically. In one embodiment, the notifications preferences control notifications only, and in other embodiments, the notification preferences control notifications and whether or not the devices themselves are enabled or operating (for example, turning a cell phone device off).

Abstract: Method and apparatus for updating the contents of a first memory of a computer system. In one embodiment, new information intended for the first memory is received by the computer system from an external source, wherein the first memory is for storing information that is required during startup of the computer system. The new information thus received is stored in a second memory capable of retaining information stored therein upon a restart of the computer system. The computer system is restarted without relying on the new information. The new ROM image can be pre-flighted before it is flashed into ROM. In this embodiment, the new information stored in the second memory can be verified to ensure that it is safe to load the new information into the first memory. When a positive verification result is obtained, the new information is loaded from the second memory into the first memory such that the new information can be used for a subsequent startup of the computer system.

Abstract: Methods and devices for data serialization are described. Numbers are each encoded as one or more four-bit nibbles. Three bits of a nibble are for encoding some portion of a number and one bit of the nibble is for indicating whether encoding of the number is continued to another nibble. A begin command and an end command are used to bracket and thereby group selected nibbles. The numbers and the commands are serialized in a stream. An interpreter of the stream reads the numbers into data fields of a data object starting at the begin command. The interpreter automatically skips to the end command when the data fields are filled. As such, a newer version of an interpreter can read data serialized using an older version of an encoder, and an older version of an interpreter can read data serialized using a newer version of an encoder.