Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and apparatus that allow for personalization of services provided to wireless-device users. The portal server is communicatively coupled with at least one wireless network for sending and receiving communications over the wireless network. The portal server is also communicatively coupled to service providers for providing content to wireless-network users over channels of the portal server. An interface is provided that allows for communicating with service providers. Questions are specified that can be used for obtaining information about wireless-device users. Upon receiving a request from a service provider that includes at least one question and that identifies a wireless-device user, a response to the question is determined by the wireless portal server. The response is then sent to the requesting service provider.

Abstract: A method for using user location information to customize information in a Web portal. The method includes the steps of receiving user location information from a user, receiving a request for application specific information from the user, selecting pertinent application specific information based on the user location information, and transmitting the pertinent application specific information to the user. The method is implemented within a client/server framework. The client device can be a portable handheld device such as a cellular phone or a wirelessly connected PDA (personal digital assistant). The user location information can be received in accordance with WAP (wireless application protocol) communication standards. The pertinent application specific information can be transmitted to the user in accordance with WML communication standards. The user location information can be a current address, can be a zip code, or can be geographical coordinates of the user.

Abstract: A wireless portal system has a wireless server with a client aware content selection and retrieval method and system. The client aware content selection and retrieval system includes logic for identifying client wireless devices connecting to the wireless server by using particular characteristics of the client in presenting content selected in response to connection requests from the client to the server. In one embodiment of the invention, the client aware content selection system receives an indication of a client type and uses this information to automatically update an extensible presentation logic that allows the server to format content selected by the end-user. The presentation logic further allows the client to dynamically add-on client content information, which are not already pre-stored in the wireless server.

Abstract: A wireless portal system having a wireless server with an automatic client aware detection mechanism. The client aware detection mechanism includes logic for identifying client wireless devices connected to the wireless server by using particular characteristics of the client in detecting service connection requests from the client to the server. In one embodiment of the invention, the client aware detection mechanism is capable of being extended by the client to add-on client information characteristics which are not already pre-stored in the wireless server. In this way, the client detection logic of the invention is extensible to recognize new devices without requiring software version updates or complex programming tasks. An API can be used to collect extensible data sets that include custom parameters for recognizing a particular client class, such as defined header information of the client's browser, the time of day the client requests are received and the client's bandwidth.

Abstract: A wireless portal system having a wireless server with a client aware file management system. The client aware file management system includes logic for identifying client wireless devices connecting to the wireless server by using particular characteristics of the client in granting service file access in response to connection requests from the client to the server. In one embodiment of the invention, the client aware file management system includes extensible hierarchical modular file parameters that allow the client to add-on client file information characteristics which are not already pre-stored in the wireless server. The file management system receives an indication of a client type and uses this information to automatically construct files available for the client. A hierarchical file system helps to locate the best available file. By automatically constructing the file path in an intelligent manner, more clients can be supported by the server with more customized data delivery and appearances.

Abstract: A wireless portal system has a wireless server with a client aware content scrapping and aggregation method and system. The client aware content scrapping and aggregation system includes logic for identifying client wireless devices connecting to the wireless by using particular characteristics of the client in presenting content selected in response to connection requests from the client to the server. In one embodiment of the invention, the client aware content scrapping system receives an indication of a client type and uses this information to automatically search for content from a variety of web-sites on the Internet and formats content selected by the end-user for delivery to the client. The scrapping logic further allows content gathered from the various web-sites selected by the end-user to be aggregated in a format suitable for delivery to the client.

Abstract: A wireless portal system having a wireless server with a client aware authentication system. The client aware authentication system includes logic for automatically identifying client wireless devices connecting to the wireless server by using particular characteristics of the client in granting service connection requests from the client to the server. Depending on the client type, one or more, client-specific authentication modules are selected for the Client. In this way, the invention provides dynamic selection of authentication modules based on the Client type of an identified client. In one embodiment of the invention, the client aware authentication system includes extensible modular authentication parameters that allows the client to add-on client information characteristics which are not already pre-stored in the wireless server.

Abstract: In a wireless portal system having a wireless server, a client aware Extensible Markup Language (XML) content integration and transformation method and system. The client aware XML content integration and transformation system includes logic for identifying wireless client devices connecting to the wireless server by using particular characteristics of the client in presenting XML content formatted in response to connection requests from the client to the server. In one embodiment of the present invention, the client aware XML content transformation system receives an indication of a client type and uses this information to automatically search for XML content from a plurality of back-end resource servers on the Internet and transforms the content into a format suitable for delivery to the client.