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: 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: The present invention includes a system and method of processing a web page. The method includes receiving a web page having a number of data elements. Each one of the data elements is classified into at least one of a number of known data types. A number of related operations are determined for each one of the classified data elements. The related operations are then output. For another embodiment, the data is extracted from each one of the classified data elements in the web page. The extracted data is then output to a selected one or more of the related operations. The selected related operation then processes the extracted data. For another embodiment, at least one of the related operations is promoted over the other, non-promoted, related operations.

Abstract: Techniques for controlling a network connection in accordance with connection information associated with a destination location on a network are disclosed. Controlling of the network connection in accordance with connection information associated with the destination location can be achieved in a variety of ways. One way is in the selection of a network transport (e.g., bearer selection). Another way is in the configuration of parameters associated with the connection (i.e., connection parameters). In either case, the connection information includes information with which the selection of the network transport and/or connection parameters can be made. The controlling of the network connection impacts quality of service provided to a requestor that is requesting use of the connection.

Abstract: Under the limited bandwidth of the current wireless data network and with the low memory in mobile devices in use today, the process of going through a number of intermediate pages to get to a desired page increases the latency of the information deliver and intensifies the network traffic. A method for accelerating the navigation of hypertext pages based on a compound request is disclosed. After a compound request is entered and activated, the compound request is parsed into an antecedent request followed by a final request wherein the antecedent request comprises a plurality of intermediate requests. All the intermediate requests are processed individually and sequentially as if they were entered individually and cards corresponding to the intermediate requests are fetched sequentially. A final card containing desired information by the final request is fetched based on the card corresponding to the last intermediate request and thereby displayed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing authorization to provision devices on a wireless network are described. A primary trusted provisioning domain (TPD) operating within a trusted environment established by the wireless carrier's firewall can provision the mobile devices. The primary TPD may distribute the authorization to provision one or more of the mobile devices to one or more secondary TPDs operating outside the trusted environment. Digital signatures may be used to authenticate provisioning requests from TPDs.

Abstract: Improved techniques for configuring user interfaces (e.g., man-machine interfaces) for wireless devices are disclosed. The configuring of user interfaces is able to be controlled by a network operator such that replacement, alteration or customization of the user interfaces by network operators is possible. Besides the ability to partially or completely change the user interface, such configuring or customization enables network operators to provide options, logos, advertising, etc. in a controllable way.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for providing visual interfaces to mobile subscriber account services suitable for mobile devices with a small screen and phone keypad communicating, via a wireless data network, with a remotely located server device providing the mobile subscriber account services. Apart from the interactive voice system and other related systems providing access to subscriber account services, the present invention provides direct visual interface to the mobile subscriber account services and allows mobile subscribers to efficiently, visually and interactively, for example, access desired information and place service requests, through the limited screen and phone keypad at anytime from anywhere with limited costs to the service providers and maximum convenience to mobile subscribers.

Abstract: Improved techniques for configuring user interfaces (e.g., man-machine interfaces) for wireless devices are disclosed. The configuring of user interfaces is able to be controlled by a network operator such that replacement, alteration or customization of the user interfaces by network operators is possible. Besides the ability to partially or completely change the user interface, such configuring or customization enables network operators to provide options, logos, advertising, etc. in a controllable way.

Abstract: A system for displaying idle content information on wireless computing devices during idle times is disclosed. The idle content information displayed on the wireless computing device might display the network operators customer support telephone number or advertisements. In one embodiment, a browser program within the wireless computing device is used to display other idle content information to the user during such time when the wireless computing device is idle. The browser program may be modified to support looping content, interaction with idle displays, automatic scrolling, and automatic updating of idle content information.

Abstract: To accept, store, and use dynamic information within a markup language, a markup language variable system is introduced. The markup language variable system allows variable scopes to be created within markup language user agents. Variables can then be assigned using static variable assignment via markup language tags or dynamic variable assignment via user requests. Variables can be used within markup language displays or within addresses such as Uniform Resource Locators (URLs). Automatic escaping ensures that variables are correctly modified for use within certain contexts such as URLs.

Abstract: Techniques for ensuring secure access to local service of mobile devices of a wireless communication system are disclosed. The techniques control access to local services of mobile devices such that only authorized services are able to remotely alter the local services of the mobile devices. Before permitting access to local services of a mobile device, the identity of the network site seeking to have access is checked to determine whether the network site is authorized for such access. If the network site is authorized, then access is permitted and the network site is able to modify or alter the local services of the mobile device. On the other hand, when the network site is not authorized, then the network site is denied access to the local service so that the local services provided by the network site are not open to attack or corruption from unscrupulous network sites.

Abstract: Improved techniques for providing electronic mail services across a network are disclosed. A mail server and its clients communicate through a network. Although the mail server centrally manages the electronic mail services, the clients are able to themselves locally perform certain electronic mail services when the network is unavailable. Accordingly, clients seeking to perform electronic mail services no longer endure significant delays when the network is unavailable. The network can be unavailable for a variety of reasons, including: congestion, out of range, network failure, etc. The network can be wired or wireless. The invention is particularly well suited for networks having sporadic connectivity, high latencies or excessive traffic.

Abstract: Access to hypermedia servers connected to networks such as the Internet can be provided through mobile devices such as wireless telephones. Unfortunately, limitations in processing power and memory space of the mobile device and limitations bandwidth of the communication channels connecting the mobile devices to the rest of the network cause long wait times for many types of requests to be serviced. In one application, a user is notified that unsolicited electronic mail has arrived in the user's mail box on a computer connected directly a network and, in response, the user requests the mail to be sent to the mobile device. The perceived latency in servicing such a request can be reduced by delivering at least a portion of the unsolicited electronic mail to mobile device before notifying the user that the mail has arrived in the mail box. In this manner, at least a portion of that mail can be presented to the user in response to a request with little delay.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for providing visual interfaces to mobile subscriber account services suitable for mobile devices with a small screen and phone keypad communicating, via a wireless data network, with a remotely located server device providing the mobile subscriber account services. Apart from the interactive voice system and other related systems providing access to subscriber account services, the present invention provides direct visual interface to the mobile subscriber account services and allows mobile subscribers to efficiently, visually and interactively, for example, access desired information and place service requests, through the limited screen and phone keypad at anytime from anywhere with limited costs to the service providers and maximum convenience to mobile subscribers.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system for transcoding character sets between Internet hosts and thin client devices over data networks. A proxy server is provided as an intermediary between the Internet hosts and the thin client devices, and is informed when a specific character set is preferred by the client device. The client character set preference is communicated to the proxy server prior to the client receiving information from an Internet host. When a communication session is established between one of the Internet hosts and one of the thin client devices, the proxy server performs the character set transcoding if the character sets of the Internet host and the client device are not the same. Apart from any existing techniques, the proxy server handles the task of character set transcoding so as to alleviate the mobile computing devices from performing the transcoding locally.

Abstract: Access to hypermedia servers connected to networks such as the Internet can be provided through mobile devices such as wireless telephones. Unfortunately, limitations in processing power and memory space of the mobile device and limitations bandwidth of the communication channels connecting the mobile devices to the rest of the network cause long wait times for many types of requests to be serviced. In one application, a user is notified that unsolicited electronic mail has arrived in the user's mail box on a computer connected directly a network and, in response, the user requests the mail to be sent to the mobile device. The perceived latency in servicing such a request can be reduced by delivering at least a portion of the unsolicited electronic mail to mobile device before notifying the user that the mail has arrived in the mail box. In this manner, at least a portion of that mail can be presented to the user in response to a request with little delay.

Abstract: The present invention has been made in consideration of thin devices efficiently communicating ideas and transactions into data networks by using other devices with fill functional user interface in the networks. According to one aspect of the present invention, the thin device exclusively controls the authentication of a rendezvous that is associated with a user account in a server. The thin device running a micro-browser provisions the rendezvous with a set of credential information in an authenticated and secure communication session so that the provisioning process is truly proprietary. To access the user account, the other devices equipped with well known browsers must submit the correct credential information to the rendezvous for verification in the server.