Abstract: A method and system for personalized venue marketing is disclosed herein. An application that is resident on a mobile communication device of a patron sends personally identifiable information and the identifying device address to a server when the patron enters a venue. The server associates the identifying device address of the mobile device with the patron in a CRM database for the venue. The identifying device address allows for tracking of the patron by WiFi sensors positioned throughout the venue.

Abstract: A method and system for providing voice based host services with CRM data without an end user's phone number for loyalty program is disclosed herein. A VoIP application is resident on a mobile communication device of an end user. The VoIP application allows the end user to control how the loyalty program will identify the end user (without the end user's phone number) when the end user requests loyalty program services from the loyalty program using the end user's mobile communication device.

Abstract: A method and system for qualifying and transmitting an invitation to a mobile phone number to receive digital communications is disclosed herein. A customer profile stored at a CRM database is analyzed and processed to determine if the data capable phone carrier and data capable communication device is associated with a phone number in the customer profile that has opted-in to receive digital communications such as for a mobile marketing campaign.

Abstract: A method and system for qualifying and transmitting an invitation to a mobile phone number to receive digital communications is disclosed herein. A customer profile stored at a CRM database is analyzed and processed to determine if the data capable phone carrier and data capable communication device is associated with a phone number in the customer profile that has opted-in to receive digital communications such as for a mobile marketing campaign.

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: The invention allows access to the Internet by two-way mobile communication devices capable of wireless communication via a link server. Despite limited computing resources in the mobile devices, the invention allows the mobile devices to interact with Internet entities using a control engine in the link server and an interface engine in the mobile devices. The control engine utilizes the computing resources of the link server and handles tasks requiring considerable computing resources, such as processing of URL requests, interpreting markup language files, managing a data cache and variable states. Working with a message processor in the link server, the control engine communicates with an interface engine using a compact data format that is efficiently transportable in the wireless data network. The interface engine typically performs tasks that do not require considerable computing resources, such as receiving input from users and rendering data received from the link server.

Abstract: Improved techniques for reducing delays faced by users of mobile devices due to unavailability of wireless networks are disclosed. The techniques facilitate the reduction of delays faced by users of mobile devices during unavailability of wireless networks. A first technique allows mobile devices to communicate with remote servers using asynchronous communications, namely asynchronous requests. Such asynchronous communications allow the processing at a mobile device to continue while the asynchronous request is processed in the background. A second technique pertains to the use of content channels with mobile devices. The content channels are stored and retained in cache memory so that their resources are guaranteed to be locally available, regardless of availability of wireless networks. A third technique pertains to improved list processing within mobile devices such that lists can be manipulated without server interaction. These various techniques can be used separately or in combination.

Abstract: A system configured to manage and process service requests within a data network. The system comprises a link server device that is configured to receive a service request from an interactive communication device, wherein the link server device attaches link server information to the service request indicating the operational capabilities of the link server device. A server device configured to receive the service request from the link server device and supply a service request response based upon information in the service request and the link server information. Wherein the link server executes a service command upon receipt of the service request response and supplies a status response to the interactive communication device.

Abstract: Improved techniques for reducing delays faced by users of mobile devices due to unavailability of wireless networks are disclosed. The techniques facilitate the reduction of delays faced by users of mobile devices during unavailability of wireless networks. A first technique allows mobile devices to communicate with remote servers using asynchronous communications, namely asynchronous requests. Such asynchronous communications allow the processing at a mobile device to continue while the asynchronous request is processed in the background. A second technique pertains to the use of content channels with mobile devices. The content channels are stored and retained in cache memory so that their resources are guaranteed to be locally available, regardless of availability of wireless networks. A third technique pertains to improved list processing within mobile devices such that lists can be manipulated without server interaction. These various techniques can be used separately or in combination.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically adjusting timing parameters in a wireless data network is disclosed. A server system receives a set of timing statistics that may include a set of timing statistics measured by a wireless client and a set of timing statistics measured by a server device that services the wireless client. The timing statistics reflect the performance of the wireless network. Using the timing statistics and other timing related information such as the type of the wireless networks, the sever device determines a new set of timing parameters to be used by itself and the wireless client device or other client devices. Besides other functional values having impact on the performance of the wireless data network, the timing parameters include an ordered set of numbers that represents a back-off curve for message retransmission. The server device then transmits the new timing parameters respectively to one or more wireless client devices.

Abstract: The present invention has particular applications to the navigation of Internet web pages using two-way interactive communication devices, such as a mobile device, a mobile phone, a landline telephone, and an Internet capable remote controller. According to one aspect of the present invention, each of the two-way interactive communication devices is a node in a distributed network, thus the devices can access hypermedia or hierarchic layers of information stored in server devices on the network. When one or more pages of information are updated, rather than sending the entire updated information to users of the devices subscribing to the updated information through the network, the present invention sends a notification to a proxy server that forwards the notification to the users using a messaging system via a low cost narrowband channel. Upon receiving the notification, the users can fetch the updates, when needed, through a wideband channel.

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 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: Techniques for routing messages to addressable portions (e.g., processes) within an apparatus are disclosed. The techniques can be performed by a variety of apparatus including, for example, a gateway, a proxy server or a mobile device. After receiving the messages routed thereto, the addressable portions are able to process the messages and perhaps return a reply message. Often, the apparatus is a gateway or proxy server coupled between a network containing remote computers storing information and a wireless communication system including a plurality of mobile devices. The processing of the message will typically act to produce a message that forwards certain of the information from one or more of the remote computers on the network to a mobile device coupled to the wireless communication system.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for establishing an authenticated and secure communication session for transactions between a server and a client in a wireless data network that generally comprises an airnet, a landline network and a link server therebetween. The client having limited computing resources is remotely located with respect to the server and communicates to the server through the wireless data network. To authenticate each other, the client and the server conduct two rounds of authentication, the client authentication and the server authentication, independently and respectively, each of the authentication processes is based on a shared secret encrypt key and challenge/response mechanism. To reach for a mutually accepted cipher in the subsequent transactions, the server looks up for a commonly used cipher and forwards the cipher along with a session key to the client.

Abstract: The invention allows access to the Internet by two-way mobile communication devices capable of wireless communication via a link server. Despite limited computing resources in the mobile devices, the invention allows the mobile devices to interact with Internet entities using a control engine in the link server and an interface engine in the mobile devices. The control engine utilizes the computing resources of the link server and handles tasks requiring considerable computing resources, such as processing of URL requests, interpreting markup language files, managing a data cache and variable states. Working with a message processor in the link server, the control engine communicates with an interface engine using a compact data format that is efficiently transportable in the wireless data network. The interface engine typically performs tasks that do not require considerable computing resources, such as receiving input from users and rendering data received from the link server.

Abstract: The present invention is particularly applicable to navigation of Internet by two-way interactive communication mobile devices that are capable of wireless communication via a link server with service providers or network servers on the Internet. Despite the limited computing resources in mobile devices that make it economically and technically impractical for the mobile devices to operate a local browser functioning as if it was in a desktop computer, the present invention allows the mobile devices to interact effectively with the Internet using a control engine operating in the link server and an interface engine operating in the mobile devices. The control engine, which utilizes the computing resources of the link server device, is responsible for tasks that require considerable computing power and memory, such as processing of URL requests, interpretation of markup language files, management of data cache and variable states.

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: 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: 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.