Abstract: An apparatus and method for security object enhancement and management are provided. The apparatus and method make use of security objects in which security object data is encapsulated with security object attributes and methods defining the way in which the security object may be used. Because the security object is an encapsulated object, the security object may operate on itself to perform security object management operations. Furthermore, because the security object need not be linked to the items requiring security object protection a priori, the security object may be defined in any manner deemed appropriate by the user. As a result, users of the security objects are given greater freedom in defining the security object, the security object content type, and the way in which the security object may be used.

Abstract: A method and system for capturing a telephone number record from a Web site. The method includes recording on the browser a destination address of a communications terminal that contains an electronic telephone directory, selecting one or more telephone number records to capture that are displayed on a Web page, and transmitting a message, either from the computer running the browser or from the server hosting the Web page sent to the communications terminal containing the electronic telephone directory. The telephone number record is then recorded in the electronic telephone directory.

Abstract: A method for sending a message containing a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) to a customer. The method includes recording in a customer's telephone system a destination address of the communications terminal, selecting at least one URL to be sent to the communications terminal during a telephone call, obtaining the destination address, generating a message containing the URLs, and sending the message from a telephone system of the merchant or sender to the destination address of the customer's communications terminal. The message may also contain additional items, including for example, electronic coupons, an on-line trial subscription, a user ID, a user password, advertisements, sender information, or combinations thereof, wherein the user ID and user password are required by the Website having the address of the URLs. The method may further include recording the at least one URL into the bookmark section of the browser in the communications terminal.

Abstract: A method and system for sending a telephone number record from a browser to at least one user device having an electronic telephone directory. The method includes recording in the browser a destination address of a user device that contains an electronic telephone directory, entering a telephone number record into a browser dialogue box, and transmitting the telephone number record to the user device identified or associated with the destination address. The telephone number record is then recorded in the electronic telephone directory. Preferably, the content and format and other aspects of the record are determined in accordance with a user customizable profile.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product that send wireless control messages to electronic devices, such as audio and video recorders, cameras, radios, televisions, mobile phones, portable or handheld computers and personal digital assistants, that have come within an environment or that are in an environment that changes. In such an environment, a wireless receiver in the mobile electronic device receives the control messages. In a hardware implementation, electronic gates are set to disable the one or more features of the device. In a software implementation, current power status flags are set in a memory device within the mobile electronic device to a reduced power setting. Outside the environment, the electronic gates or power status flags revert to full power. The device driver for each feature of the mobile electronic device will reject I/O operations inconsistent with the current power status flags for that feature.

Abstract: The present invention presents a method and computer program product for operating a mobile electronic device having a wireless transceiver within an automobile having an on-board computer. The method includes: receiving a wireless information message from the mobile electronic device within the automobile to the on-board computer, establishing a wireless communication link between the on-board computer and the mobile electronic device; communicating instructions from the on-board computer to the mobile electronic device to disable a one or more features within the mobile electronic device; and then communicating reconfiguration instructions from the on-board computer to the mobile electronic device, whereby the mobile electronic device reconfigures itself to become a slave device to the on-board computer. The motorist may then utilize the mobile electronic device through the input and output devices of the on-board computer.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are designed to manage web content displayed at a client device during one or more browser sessions. Responsive to a request for a first web page, the first web page is displayed at the client device through the browser session. A timeout condition at the browser is detected and a second predetermined web page is displayed at the client device, replacing the first web page, and optionally also clearing cache memory.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for a central control computer, located within a given environment, to wirelessly communicate with, control and enhance the use of various mobile electronic devices entering the given environment. These devices each possess a wireless transceiver. The central control computer transmits a discovery signal and control message to these mobile electronic devices within the range of the wireless transmissions. This allows discovery of the central control computer by the mobile electronic device and, after setting up a communication, the mobile electronic device disables one or more of its features as instructed by the central control computer. Furthermore, enhancements are provided by making available substitute features for the features of the mobile electronic device that were limited or disabled and by making available features not contained within the mobile electronic device itself.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for managing a mobile phone answering mode and outgoing message or other indicator based on a location of the mobile phone are provided. The apparatus and method make use of a location system to ascertain the current location of a mobile telephone being carried by a user. Based on the current location, the apparatus and method determine whether operation of the mobile telephone to receive and/or send calls should be restricted. In addition, the apparatus and method determine an appropriate outgoing message to be provided to calling parties while the mobile telephone is located in an area where use of the mobile telephone to receive calls is prohibited. The particular outgoing message provided is customized to the current location of the mobile telephone and optionally, the caller ID of the calling party.

Abstract: A method, computer program, and data processing system for providing telephone call minutes as an incentive for participating in commercial transactions is disclosed. An amount of telephone minutes commensurate with a transaction (e.g., a number of minutes per dollar spent at a store) is crediting to a user's pre-paid telephone account in response to entering into a commercial transaction with an organization offering the incentive.

Abstract: A method, computer program, and data processing system for accepting Internet access charges for a user examining a particular website is disclosed. The present invention enables businesses, organizations, and individuals to entice users that must pay for Internet access time to browse their websites freely without concern for cost.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for merging mobile, or wireless, telephone service with existing wired telephone equipment in a facility, such as a home or business, are provided. With the apparatus and method, a converter is associated with the facility such that a wireless telephone number is associated with the converter. Telephone calls may be made to the facility via a wireless telephone network and the converter. The converter receives calls from the wireless telephone network directed to the converter, converts the format of the wireless telephone call to a wired telephone call format, and routes these calls to one or more wired telephone units in the facility. Calls originating from the wired telephone units in the facility are received by the converter which converts the call signals to an appropriate format for wireless network routing, and forwards the call to the wireless network.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and data processing system for allowing a third party to assume a mobile telephone user's airtime and other charges when the mobile telephone user enters a particular geographic area, such as the third party's property is disclosed.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and data processing system for transferring mobile telephone minutes or other mobile telephone services or features from one customer to another is disclosed. A customer dials into an interactive service that allows the customer to specify one or more recipients and a number of minutes, services, or features to transfer. A data processing system associated with the customer's mobile telephone service provider effects a transfer of minutes, services, or features from the customer's account to the recipients' accounts. In addition, a notification that the transfer has occurred can be sent to the recipients.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and data processing system for specifying a party to be billed for the entirety of mobile telephone airtime and other charges in a telephone conversation is disclosed. Either the caller or a called party may accept all airtime and/or other charges. In addition, the parties need not operate a mobile telephone, but may use a conventional “wire” telephone.

Abstract: Online shopping including purchasing an electronic item from a merchant web site, wherein the purchasing is carried out by use of a client shopping cart, wherein the client shopping cart further comprises a merchandise pickup facility installed on a client, wherein the client is coupled for data communications to the merchant web site; downloading, to the client, the electronic item through the merchandise pickup facility to the client; and installing the electronic item through the merchandise pickup facility on the client.

Abstract: A method, program, and system for processing electronic receipts within a computer network are provided. The present invention comprises creating a customer profile for a user using a Smart Receipt application. When the user purchases items, electronic receipts (smart receipts) are sent from the point of sale to a designated database. The database may be on a credit card company server, the product manufacturer's server, a special cash receipts server, or a central clearing house server. When the customer wants a copy of a receipt, he or she enters search parameters which specify the desired receipt. The search parameters may include item type, date of purchase, and method of purchase. A Smart Receipt object is then initiated, which retrieves the specified electronic receipt from the appropriate database, according to the search parameters. A copy of the retrieved electronic receipt is then downloaded to a client machine (e.g. PDA, PC) designated by the customer profile.

Abstract: A mobile or desktop computer having a system bus that is exposed externally using a wireless transceiver so that input and output devices within proximity of the computer can be configured for immediate use. The wireless system bus of the invention provides discovery and acceptance of wireless peripheral devices within the range of the wireless transmissions. Serial or parallel communication can be supported on the same or different frequency channels. Preferably, the invention utilizes a dedicated discovery frequency for detecting the presence of peripherals in the proximity. Commands and data can be exchanged between the computer and the peripheral device in a secured manner.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for receiving postponing reception of data by a pager during an airline flight. A pager is registered prior to the beginning of an airline flight. A data collector monitors for data directed to the pager. Responsive to detecting data directed to the pager, the data is stored. Responsive to a termination of the airline flight, the data is transmitted to the pager at the destination by a transmitter.

Abstract: A window is generated for displaying information and for scrolling through the information responsive to receiving a scrolling command. Responsive to a user selection, either a non-context-sensitive scrolling mode is enabled, for which a certain one of the scrolling commands scrolls the window by a fixed step size, or a context-sensitive scrolling mode is enabled, for which the same certain one of the scrolling commands scrolls the window by a variable step size responsive to content of the information displayed. In a current position of the window a certain object is top-most in the window. With context-sensitive scrolling enabled, if the end of the top-most object is shown in the current position scrolling steps the window to a next position where a next portion of the information is displayed beginning at the top of a next object after the current top-most object.