US20080134031A1 - System, Method, and Computer Program Product for Placement of Channels on a Mobile Device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention includes systems, methods, computer program products, and combinations and sub-combinations thereof for enabling channels specific to a user's interest (as well as other objects) to be loaded on mobile devices (as well as other types of devices), and for users of mobile devices to operate with such channels on their mobile devices in an interactive manner while in an off-line mode.

Description

• This application is a continuation-in-part application of pending Ser. No. 09/559,964, “System, Method, and Computer Program Product for Enabling On-Device Servers, Offline Forms, and Dynamic Ad Tracking On Mobile Devices,” filed Apr. 28, 2000 (Atty. Docket No. 1933.0010001), which is a continuation-in-part application of pending Ser. No. 09/393,390, “Interactive Applications for Handheld Computers,” filed Sep. 10, 1999 (Atty. Docket No. 1933.0010000), both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This patent application is potentially related to the following co-pending U.S. utility patent application, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety:
• “An Interactive Advertisement Mechanism On A Mobile Device,” Ser. No. (to be assigned), Attorney Docket No. 1933.0010008, filed concurrently herewith.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• 1. Field of the Invention
• The present invention relates generally to mobile communications, and more particularly relates to technology for using interactive applications while on-line and off-line on mobile devices.
• 2. Related Art
• A variety of mobile devices (such as personal data assistants, or PDAs) exist. Such mobile devices include ones based on the Palm operating environment and the Windows CE operating environment.
• A variety of software applications for those mobile devices also exist. What does not exist is a mechanism that allows channels specific to a user's interest to be automatically loaded on mobile devices. Thus, what is needed is a system, method, and computer program product for enabling automatic loading of channels specific to a user's interest and for users of mobile devices to operate with such channels on their mobile devices in an interactive manner while in an off-line mode.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• Briefly stated, the invention includes systems, methods, computer program products, and combinations and sub-combinations thereof for enabling channels specific to a user's interest (as well as other objects) to be loaded on mobile devices (as well as other types of devices), and for users of mobile devices to operate with such channels on their mobile devices in an interactive manner while in an off-line mode.
• These and additional features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference characters generally identify corresponding elements throughout.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
• The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of embodiments of the invention.
• FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an embodiment of the invention;
• FIG. 1B is an alternative block diagram of an embodiment of the invention;
• FIG. 1B is a block diagram of an example data processing unit useful for implementing items fromFIGS. 1A and 1B;
• FIGS. 1C,1D,1E,1F,1G,1H,1I, and1J are used to generally describe embodiments of the invention;
• FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for default placement of channels on a mobile device according to an embodiment of the invention;
• FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of operation for featured channel placement according to an embodiment of the invention;
• FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example screen shot of featured channels and cool channels according to embodiments of the invention;
• FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating an interactive placement method according to an embodiment of the invention; and
• FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for providing statistical information to content providers according to an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THEPREFERRED EMBODIMENTS1. Overview of Embodiments of the Present Invention
• Embodiments of the present invention are briefly described in this section.
• Briefly stated, the invention is directed to placing objects such as, but not limited to, Internet or Web content on data processing devices, and more particularly, placing channels, specific to a user's interest, from Internet or Web content on data processing devices, such as but not limited to mobile devices. Table 1 lists examples of such Internet content, although the invention is not limited to these examples.

• TABLE 1
  Internet Content
  Internet content includes but is not limited to:

  	HTML
  	JavaScript ™
  	Channels
  	Java ™
  	ActiveX
  	Multimedia:
  	Images (e.g., JPEG, GIF, PNG, vector graphics, etc.)
  	Audio Files (e.g. MP3)
  	Video (e.g. AVI)
  	Streaming Content: Voice/Data/Video
  	Binary files
  	XML
  	Applications
  	Data Objects
  	Documents
  	Anything that can be delivered via a “browser”

• Table 2 lists examples of mobile devices, although the invention is not limited to these examples.

• TABLE 2
  Mobile Devices
  Mobile devices include but are not limited to:

  	Handheld Computers
  	Cellular Phones
  	Internet-enabled Phones
  	Pagers
  	Radios
  	TVs
  	Audio Devices
  	Car Audio Systems
  	Recorders
  	Text-to-Speech Devices
  	Bar-code Scanners
  	Net Appliances
  	Mini-browsers
  	Personal Data Assistants (PDAs)

• FIG. 1C illustrates a concept of the invention of placing objects, such as, but not limited to, advertisements on data processing devices, such as mobile devices. In one embodiment, the concept of placing objects on data processing devices is disclosed in more detail in copending application entitled “System, Method, and Computer Program Product for Enabling On-Device Servers, Offline Forms, and Dynamic Ad Tracking On Mobile Devices,” Ser. No. 09/559,964, filed on Apr. 28, 2000 (Atty. Docket No. 1933.0010001), which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
1.1. Enabling Mobile Devices to Interact with Networked Applications
• The invention includes technology for using applications on mobile devices that interact with the Internet or with intranets. The invention enables applications available via a network or via an Internet/intranet to download and to run on mobile devices. Consequently, the invention includes software and methods for administering a server that manages the variables relevant to a mobile device/server environment.
• The invention enables:
• Mobile devices to operate in conjunction with a Web server, even when the mobile devices are not coupled directly to the PC using portable on-device servers: Web pages are loaded, viewed, cached, and deleted even when the device is not coupled to any network.
• Mobile devices to operate in conjunction with the Web, Internet, or intranet via a connection mechanism and then in disconnected mode or with the Web, Internet, or intranet in wireless mode with a continuous or a discontinuous connection mechanism.
• A technique for interactive connectivity between handheld computers and computer networks.
• Fleet management for centrally administering information in a handheld network environment that includes, but is not limited to, user data, user groups, group channels, channel data, personal channels, commercial channels, user accounts, corporate account, software groupings, personal information management, form delivery, form management, device configuration, device databases, device contents, and devices parameters.
• Obtaining updated Web pages and other network objects, for use when the mobile device is not communicating with the PC.
• An example mobile device/server environment is shown inFIG. 1D.
1.2. Rapid Transfer of Web Pages to Mobile Devices
• To improve efficiency of data exchange between mobile devices and networked content, the invention includes an improved communication protocol that collects requests and responses for network objects into a smaller number of protocol (such as HTTP) requests and responses. The server also determines the nature and the resources of the mobile device. This protocol is represented, for example, inFIG. 1E.
• Downstream, the data is encoded in a data format called content stream (tokenized version of the data) and sent to the device. The content stream format creates a tokenized codification of HTML pages that is sent to the device. (The device receives the content stream and presents the material on the device.)
• The HTML page is encoded into the content stream and sent to the device. The encoding is a mapping of parent and child HTML elements and/or resources to alphanumeric values.
• The sync operation of the invention includes various synchronization processes that can collect information from the Internet to a server, and to the client. In embodiments, the usage of the term “sync” refers to the overall operation of connecting a client to a server for the exchange, interaction, creation, and removal of data.
• In one embodiment, syncing can be defined as mirroring data on a client and a server, such that the data is the same on client and server. In other embodiments, syncing can be defined as overwriting data on a client or on a server, such that the data on either a client replaces the data on a server, and vice versa.
• In one embodiment, a sync operation involves a user placing a mobile device into an adapter that includes a sync button. The adapter is connected to a server. Upon pressing the sync button, the user initiates the sync operations of the invention, which include various synchronization processes (specific delivery modes). Thus, the term sync is meant to refer to the overall operation of linking a client to a server. Synchronization is meant to refer to the specific process of copying, adding, filtering, removing, updating and merging the information between a client and a server. Any number of synchronization processes can be executed during a sync.
• Before being sent downstream the data is compared to the data that is known to be on the client and then the client is updated all at once in a one-up/one-down synchronization method, which is represented inFIG. 1F. In an embodiment, the one-up/one-down synchronization process is disclosed in more detail in co-pending application entitled “System, Method, and Computer Program Product for Enabling On-Device Servers, Offline Forms, and Dynamic Ad Tracking On Mobile Devices,” Ser. No. 09/559,964, filed on Apr. 28, 2000 (Atty. Docket No. 1933.0010001). The server sets the client to preemptively prepare all device information necessary during the sync. Then the server receives the set of information in a one-up fashion. The server collates the information and sends the information in a one-down fashion. This optimizes the sync's efficiency and speed. The sync process, according to embodiments of the invention, is represented inFIGS. 1G and 1H, and further described in co-pending application entitled “System, Method, and Computer Program Product for Enabling On-Device Servers, Offline Forms, and Dynamic Ad Tracking On Mobile Devices,” Ser. No. 09/559,964, filed on Apr. 28, 2000 (Atty. Docket No. 1933.0010001).
1.3. Optimizing Content of Web Pages for Mobile Devices
• When Web content and other network objects pass through the server they are processed to minimize their size and to optimize their delivery to mobile devices: for presentation, for ease of use, for efficiency, for size, etc.
• The invention uses server logic to optimize content. The server assesses the mobile device to optimize web content for the particular device. Factors that the server logic considers when performing this optimization include, but are not limited to (it is noted that the server may consider subsets of the following, depending on the application and implementation):
• Dynamic memory specifications
• High memory specifications
• Protected Memory
• Storage Memory
• Database Memory
• Available storage space
• Screen size
• User profile(s)
• Color depth
• Applications on device
• Buttons on-device
• Data markers (e.g., cookies, tokens)
• Preferences
• Fonts
• Font specifications
• Sync type
• Synchronization types
• Supported data types
• Supported mime types
• Connection/Network profile
• An example optimization process is shown inFIG. 11.
• On the server, the graphic is optimized per the state information of the device. If the device sends down the need for the graphic on a page for a device with a display that is 27 cm wide and in grayscale, the server sends its best version of a graphic optimized for that environment. In one embodiment, the optimization process is disclosed in co-pending application entitled “System, Method, and Computer Program Product for Enabling On-Device Servers, Offline Forms, and Dynamic Ad Tracking On Mobile Devices,” Ser. No. 09/559,964, filed on Apr. 28, 2000 (Atty. Docket No. 1933.0010001).
• The technology of the invention is extended by tags on HTML pages that identify content that is designed for additional modifications. Bytes processed by the server are potentially examined for compression/optimization. The server detects the tag and executes the necessary logic.
• Table 3 illustrates example tags (the invention is not limited to the tags shown in Table 3).

• TABLE 3
  Sample Markup Language

  Tag	Effect
  <META NAME=“Handheld-	This tag enables several HTML
  Friendly” content=“True”>	features that are normally turned off.
  	Most notably, The invention does not
  	try to display TABLE tags or the
  	HSPACE and VSPACE attributes of
  	IMG tags unless the page is marked as
  	“HandheldFriendly”. Most TABLEs or
  	H/VSPACEs are designed for much
  	larger screens.
  <AGIGNORE></AGIGNORE>	Used in a wireless channel. Use the
  	AGIGNORE tag to surround content
  	within an HTML page that may be
  	inappropriate or unattractive on
  	Internet-enabled phones.
  <AGPAGEBREAK	Used in a wireless channel. Breaks up
  TITLE=“your title”>	pages on request. When processing
  	pages for devices other than WAP
  	phones, the server ignores the
  	AGPAGEBREAK tag.

Web Content Aggregation, Web Channel Development, and Web Content Delivery for Users of the Internet and of Mobile Devices
• The invention is extended by the coupling of devices to the content available at the server web site (see the example shown inFIG. 1J).
• These and other embodiments of the present invention are described in greater detail below.
Structural Embodiments of the Present Invention
• Prior to describing the invention in detail, a data processing environment in which the present invention may be implemented is provided.FIG. 1A is a block diagram of adata processing environment102 according to an embodiment of the invention. Thedata processing environment102 includes a server104 (although only oneserver104 is shown, in practice thedata processing environment102 may include a plurality of servers), one ormore devices106, one ormore adapters118, and one ormore providers128.
• Generally, theserver104 maintains a collection of channels. In an embodiment, a channel comprises a collection of objects. An object is any entity that can be transferred to a client108, such as but not limited to content, applications, services, images, movies, music, links, etc.
• A channel includes a number of properties. At least some of these properties define the objects that the channel includes. Such properties include, but are not limited to, the following (properties of channels may vary depending on the application and/or implementation):
• A name of the channel.
• A location of a root object (such as but not limited to a URL). In an embodiment, this root object is included in the channel. An indication of the number of levels below the root object, for which to include objects in the channel. For example, in an embodiment, if this property is equal to “1 level,” then all objects that are 1 level down from the root object (reached by traversing links in the root object), are included in the channel. If this property is equal to “2 levels,” then all objects that are 1 level down from the root object (reached by traversing links in the root object), and all objects that are 1 level down from those objects (reached by traversing links in those objects), are included in the channel. Embodiments of the invention allow “uneven” trees, where some branches of the tree extent to a greater number of levels than other branches of the tree. In other embodiments, the trees are even or balanced.
• A maximum size of the channel. For example, if this is set to 500 Kbytes, then the aggregate size of the objects in the channel cannot be greater than 500 Kbytes. If the aggregate size of the objects in the channel is greater than this value, then embodiments of the invention may delete objects from the channel and/or delete portions of objects in the channel.
• An indication of which resource objects are enabled for the channel:
• An indication of whether or not images are to be included in or excluded from objects in the channel; and
• An indication of whether or not scripts are enabled in objects in the channel.
• A refresh methodology. It is noted that the properties associated with channels may vary from implementation to implementation. Also, implementations may employ combinations of the above properties, and/or properties in addition to the following, as will be appreciated by persons skilled in the relevant art(s).
• The invention includes processes for managing channels, including but not limited to adding channels to the collection of channels maintained by theserver104.
• Theserver104 offers channels to clients108. A user associated with or on behalf of a client108 may access theserver104 and view the collection of channels. The client108 (via the user, for example) may then select any combination of the channels in the collection. Theserver104 maintains a list of the channels associated with each of the clients108.
• During a synchronization process, theserver104 loads a device108 with the channels associated with the client108. Generally, theserver104 does this by obtaining fromproviders128 the objects defined by the channels, and causing those objects to be stored on the client108. Thus, during the synchronization process, theserver104 will load the client108 with the selected channels. More particularly, theserver104 will load the client108 with the objects associated with the channels.
• The client108 may process and use those objects when not connected to theserver104. The invention enables the client108 to actively interact with the objects and channels.
• In one embodiment, theclient108A directly interacts with theserver104 via sometransmission medium120B, which may be any wired or wireless medium using any communication protocol.
• In another embodiment, the client108B indirectly interacts with theserver104 via anadapter118. For example, the client108B may be a mobile device (such as a Palm device) and theadapter118 may be a cradle and a computer coupled to the cradle (the mobile device is inserted into the cradle). In this instance, theadapter118 presents itself to theserver104 as a client108B (via client communications module110C). When theserver104 sends objects to theadapter118, theadapter interface module116 writes those objects to client108B. In embodiments,adapter interface module116 can be a Hot Sync™ Manager, an Active Sync™, etc. It is noted that the invention is not limited to any of the implementation examples discussed herein.
• The components shown inFIG. 1A shall now be described in greater detail.
• Theserver104 includes anadministration module122, adatabase module126, auser interface130, aweb synchronization module124, aserver extension module156, afleet management module154, anotification module132, and aserver communication module114. Other embodiments ofserver104 may include a subset of these modules, and/or may include additional modules.
• Theadministration module122 controls and manages the states of theserver104 and the clients108. For example, theadministration module122 manages and controls groups of clients108, permissions assigned to clients108, groups, and channels. For example, theadministration module122 administers the users/clients108 assigned to groups, and the channels associated with users. These and additional functions performed by theadministration module122 are described in co-pending application entitled “System, Method, and Computer Program Product for Enabling On-Device Servers, Offline Forms, and Dynamic Ad Tracking On Mobile Devices,” Ser. No. 09/559,964, filed on Apr. 28, 2000 (Atty. Docket No. 1933.0010001).
• Thedatabase module126 controls access to databases associated with theserver104. Thedatabase module126 maintains information relevant to the clients108, as well as information relevant to the modules contained in theserver104. Thedatabase module126 manages information on the collection of channels maintained byserver104. These and additional functions performed by thedatabase module126 are described in co-pending application entitled “System, Method, and Computer Program Product for Enabling On-Device Servers, Offline Forms, and Dynamic Ad Tracking On Mobile Devices,” Ser. No. 09/559,964, filed on Apr. 28, 2000 (Atty. Docket No. 1933.0010001).
• Theuser interface130 is, in an embodiment, a graphical user interface (GUI) that enables users and clients108 to access functions and modules offered by theserver104. More generally, theuser interface130 withinserver104 provides access toserver104 and the modules and resources contained therein.
• The invention supports various server web sites that are available through any communication medium, such as but not limited to the Internet, intranets, direct dial up links, etc. TheUI130 enables such web sites.
• These and additional functions performed by theuser interface130 are described in co-pending application entitled “System, Method, and Computer Program Product for Enabling On-Device Servers, Offline Forms, and Dynamic Ad Tracking On Mobile Devices,” Ser. No. 09/559,964, filed on Apr. 28, 2000 (Atty. Docket No. 1933.0010001).
• Theweb synchronization module124 is an application/instance ofserver extension module156, and controls synchronization of web content to client108. The invention may include other synchronization modules (which are application/instances of server extension module156) that control synchronization of other types of objects to clients108. For example, theserver104 may administer a calendar that may be installed on clients108. The synchronization of appointments, events and/or dates on this calendar between clients108 and theserver104 may be performed by a calendar synchronization module. These and additional functions performed by theserver extension module156 are described in co-pending application entitled “System, Method, and Computer Program Product for Enabling On-Device Servers, Offline Forms, and Dynamic Ad Tracking On Mobile Devices,” Ser. No. 09/559,964, filed on Apr. 28, 2000 (Atty. Docket No. 1933.0010001).
• Thefleet management module154 performs functions associated with fleets of clients108, which are groups of clients108. For example,fleet management module154 may perform global or mass operations on groups (fleets) of clients108, such as loading or updating an application on groups (fleets) of clients108. Another example of a mass operation is retrieval of information on clients108 in a fleet, such as the free memory in clients108 in a fleet (this would help an organization determine if its clients108 need a memory upgrade). These and additional functions performed by thefleet management module154 are described in co-pending application entitled “System, Method, and Computer Program Product for Enabling On-Device Servers, Offline Forms, and Dynamic Ad Tracking On Mobile Devices,” Ser. No. 09/559,964, filed on Apr. 28, 2000 (Atty. Docket No. 1933.0010001).
• The server extension interface/module156 enables modules, such as third party modules, to operate in or work with the server104 (and modules contained in the server104). Theserver extension module156 presents an API (application programming interface). Modules in theserver104 may operate with other devices in theserver104 by conforming to the server API.
• For example, theweb synchronization module124 and the fleet management module154 (as well as other types of synchronization modules, not shown inFIG. 1A) may interact with databases on theserver104 via thedatabase module126 by going through theserver extension module156. Theweb synchronization module124 and thefleet management module154 may not be able to interact directly with thedatabase module126 for a number of reasons. For example, they may support different data formats, or simply “speak different languages.” However, they can interact via theserver extension module156 as well as other server modules as long as they conform to the API of theserver extension module156. This is true of any modules in theserver104, or that interact with theserver104.
• Server communication module114 enables communication between theserver104 and entities external to theserver104, such as clients108,adapters118,providers128, work stations, etc. Theserver104 communicates with these entities via communication mediums120, which may be any type of wireless or wired communication using any protocol. It is noted that multipleserver communication modules114 may execute in asingle server104. For example, in one embodiment,server communication module114 is a TCP/IP stack. In another embodiment,server communication module114 is a secure socket layer stack or a compression stack. The invention is not limited to any implementation examples discussed herein. These and additional functions performed by theserver communication module114 are described in co-pending application entitled “System. Method, and Computer Program Product for Enabling On-Device Servers, Offline Forms, and Dynamic Ad Tracking On Mobile Devices,” Ser. No. 09/559,964, filed on Apr. 28, 2000 (Atty. Docket No. 1933.0010001).
• Thenotification module132 sends objects to clients108 beyond objects related to channels associated with clients108. Such objects could be requested by client108 in advance. For example, a client108 could ask for a notification when an event happens, such as when a stock reaches a target price. When the event occurs, thenotification module132 would cause an appropriate notification(s)/object(s) to be sent to the client108. Alternatively, thenotification module132 may send objects to clients108 without any prior explicit request from the client108. For example, thenotification module132 might send channels to clients108 when such channels are identified to be similar to those already selected by the clients108. Also, thenotification module132 might send appropriate notifications/objects to the clients108 when such clients108 receive email or faxes at theserver104. In embodiments, thenotification module132 transmits such objects to the client108 immediately when the event occurs, during the next synchronization with the client108, or at some other future synchronization.
• An alternative representation ofserver104 is shown inFIG. 1B.FIG. 1B illustrates, for example, that messages from entities outside ofserver104 are received by server extension interface/module156 viaserver communications modules114. Generally, such messages represent requests for theserver104 to perform various functions. Theserver extension module156 conceptually operates as a dispatcher who routes such messages to other modules contained in theserver104, such as web synchronization module124 (who handles requests to synchronize with web content),notification module132, fleet management module154 (who handles fleet related requests), and/or third party modules155 (such as other synchronization modules). Thus, the invention supportsmodules155 generated by third parties to perform various functions.Such modules155 “plug-in” to theserver104 via theserver extension module156.
• Referring again toFIG. 1A, thedevices106 may be any type of data processing device. In embodiments of the invention, thedevices106 are mobile computing devices, although the invention is not limited to these embodiments. In such example embodiments, thedevices106 may include, but are not limited to, handheld computers, cellular phones, internet-enabled phones, pagers, radios, tvs, audio devices, car audio systems, recorders, text-to-speech devices, bar-code scanners, net appliances, mini-browsers, personal data assistants (PDAs), etc.
• In embodiments of the invention, thedevices106 include software, hardware, and/or combinations thereof related to client functionality (such client functionality is described herein). When adevice106 includes such software, hardware, and/or combinations thereof, thedevice106 is referred to herein as a client108. Accordingly, it can be said that thedata processing environment102 includes one or more clients108.
• Clients108 each may include a layout and rendering module134, a forms module136, a control module142, a user interface144, a client extension interface138, a client interface module112, a client communications module110, a JavaScript™ engine140, and a database module146. Other embodiments of clients108 may include a subset of these modules, and/or may include additional modules.
• Layout and rendering module134 controls the processing of data objects on client108, such as the layout and rendering of data objects on client108. For example, the layout portion of module134 obtains information from databases of the client108 (via the database manager146) and determines where such information should be rendered on the display of the client108. Such information may include anything that can be rendered, such as but not limited to images, text, links, etc. The rendering portion of module134 is responsible for drawing items on the display (drawing bits to the screen). These and additional functions performed by the layout and rendering module134 are described in co-pending application entitled “System, Method, and Computer Program Product for Enabling On-Device Servers, Offline Forms, and Dynamic Ad Tracking On Mobile Devices,” Ser. No. 09/559,964, filed on Apr. 28, 2000 (Atty. Docket No. 1933.0010001).
• The forms module136 controls and manages forms. For example, in embodiments the forms module136 manages aspects of off-line forms, such as HTML forms and/or multi-page forms. The forms module136 enables access to and user interaction with forms (in some embodiments, the forms module136 via UI144 enables users of client108 to directly access forms). The forms module136 maintains the status of forms. Forms module136 can also include a forms manager (not shown) to provide added functionality. These and additional functions performed by the forms module136 are described in co-pending application entitled “System, Method, and Computer Program Product for Enabling On-Device Servers, Offline Forms, and Dynamic Ad Tracking On Mobile Devices,” Ser. No. 09/559,964, filed on Apr. 28, 2000 (Atty. Docket No. 1933.0010001).
• The user interface144 is preferably a graphical user interface that enables users to interact with client108 and functions and modules provided by the client108. More generally, UI144 controls how functions presented by modules of the client108 are presented to users. The UI144 controls how users interact with such functions and modules. It is noted that the functionality of the UI144 may be distributed. For example, portions of the UI144 may reside in the forms module136, as well as other modules of client108. These and additional functions performed by the user interface144 are described in co-pending application entitled “System, Method, and Computer Program Product for Enabling On-Device Servers, Offline Forms, and Dynamic Ad Tracking On Mobile Devices,” Ser. No. 09/559,964, filed on Apr. 28, 2000 (Atty. Docket No. 1933.0010001).
• The client extension interface138 enables modules, such as third party modules, to operate in or work with the client108 (and modules contained in the client108). The client extension interface138, also known as an on-device server, presents an API (application programming interface) that is, in embodiments, common to clients108 on many architectures.
• Modules in the client108 can work together via the client extension interface138. For example, the JavaScript™ engine140 may decide that it wishes to display a message to the user. To do this, the JavaScript™ engine140 would work through the client extension interface138 to cause the UI144 to display the message to the user. The JavaScript™ engine140 may not know how to directly interact with the UI144. However, as long as both the JavaScript™ engine140 and the UI144 conform to the API of the client extension interface138, then they can operate together.
• Similarly, the control module142 may decide that it needs to store some data in a database. The control module142 would do this by working with the client extension interface138 to access the database module146 to effect such a modification to the databases in the client108. These and additional functions performed by the client extension interface138 are described in co-pending application entitled “System, Method, and Computer Program Product for Enabling On-Device Servers, Offline Forms, and Dynamic Ad Tracking On Mobile Devices,” Ser. No. 09/559,964, filed on Apr. 28, 2000 (Atty. Docket No. 1933.0010001).
• The JavaScript™ engine140 executes objects written in the JavaScript™ language that operate on client108. As noted, the JavaScript™ engine140 conforms to the API of the client extension interface138, and works with the client extension interface138 to work with other modules in client108. These and additional functions performed by the JavaScript™ engine140 are described in co-pending application entitled “System, Method, and Computer Program Product for Enabling On-Device Servers, Offline Forms, and Dynamic Ad Tracking On Mobile Devices,” Ser. No. 09/559,964, filed on Apr. 28, 2000 (Atty. Docket No. 1933.0010001).
• Although not shown inFIG. 1A, embodiments of the invention include other engines for executing other types of scripts on client108. These other engines can interact with other modules on client108 as long as the engines conform to the API of the client extension interface138.
• The database module146 controls access to databases associated with client108. More generally, the database manager146 controls access to resources on the client108. For example, the control module142 may interact with the database manager146 to open an address book in the databases, and to write a record to the address book. Alternatively, the forms module136 can interact with the database module146 to access forms that are stored in the databases. These and additional functions performed by the database module146 are described in co-pending application entitled “System, Method, and Computer Program Product for Enabling On-Device Servers, Offline Forms, and Dynamic Ad Tracking On Mobile Devices,” Ser. No. 09/559,964, filed on Apr. 28, 2000 (Atty. Docket No. 1933.0010001).
• Client communications module110 enables the client108 to interact with external entities, such asserver104. In embodiments, the client communications module110 enables TCP/IP traffic, although the invention is not limited to this example. More generally, the client communications module110 enables communication over any type of communication medium120, such as wireless, wired, etc., using any communication protocol, such as a pager protocol. These and additional functions performed by the client communications module110 are described in co-pending application entitled “System, Method, and Computer Program Product for Enabling On-Device Servers, Offline Forms, and Dynamic Ad Tracking On Mobile Devices,” Ser. No. 09/559,964, filed on Apr. 28, 2000 (Atty. Docket No. 1933.0010001). The client interface module112 enables the client108 to communicate withadapters118. Client interface module112 optionally links to client communications module110 in some embodiments to provide functionality (for example, when the client communications module110 uses a wireless modem's drivers, which are accessed via client interface module112). In embodiments, the client interface module112 may be Hot Sync™ Manager in the Palm operating environment, or Active Sync™ in the Windows CE™ operating environment, or Pilot Link™ in the Unix operating environment. It is noted that these implementation examples are provided for illustrative purposes only. The invention is not limited to these examples. These and additional functions performed by the client interface module112 are described in co-pending application entitled “System, Method, and Computer Program Product for Enabling On-Device Servers, Offline Forms, and Dynamic Ad Tracking On Mobile Devices,” Ser. No. 09/559,964, filed on Apr. 28, 2000 (Atty. Docket No. 1933.0010001).
• The control module142 coordinates the activities of the other modules in client108 so that all the modules share resources properly. For instance, control module142 can determine priorities for shared resources such as processing time, accessing memory, etc.
• Providers128 are sources of various types of objects, such as but not limited to content (content providers128A), applications (application providers128B), services (service providers128C), etc.Providers128 may also includeservers104′ (similar to server104), which may provide objects such as but not limited to content, applications, services, etc. For example, and without limitation, theapplication providers128B may provide objects relating to (without limitation) operating system updates/changes, system upgrades, application updates/changes, etc.
• Adapters118 include anadapter interface module116, auser interface148, adatabase module150, anadapter synchronization module152, and a client communications module110. Other embodiments ofadapters118 may include a subset of these modules, and/or may include additional modules.
• Client communications module110 is the same as similarly named modules in clients108.
• Theadapter interface module116 enables theadapter118 to communicate with clients108.
• Theadapter synchronization module152 is involved with synchronization operations betweenserver104 and clients108.
• TheUI148 enables users to interact with modules and functions ofadapter118.
• Thedatabase module150 controls access to databases associated withadapter118. Thedatabase module150 manages information needed for clients108 to remain in sync withserver104. In some embodiments, theadapter118 does not include thedatabase module150 or the UI148 (i.e., in embodiments where theadapter118 operates essentially as a pipe, as in some embodiments on Unix).
• These and additional functions performed by modules of theadapter118 are described in co-pending application entitled “System, Method, and Computer Program Product for Enabling On-Device Servers, Offline Forms, and Dynamic Ad Tracking On Mobile Devices,” Ser. No. 09/559,964, filed on Apr. 28, 2000 (Atty. Docket No. 1933.0010001).
• Additional features of embodiments of the invention are described below.
1.4 Example Implementation Embodiments
• FIG.1B1 illustrates a block diagram of adata processing unit103A that can be used to implement the entities shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B. It is noted that the entities shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B may be implemented using any number ofdata processing units103A, and the configuration actually used is implementation specific.
• Data processing unit103A may represent laptop computers, hand held computers, lap top computers, and/or any other type of data processing devices. Which type of data processing device used to implement entities shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B is implementation specific.
• Data processing unit103A includes a communication medium103B (such as a bus, for example) to which other modules are attached.
• Data processing unit103A includes one or more processor(s)103C, and a main memory103D. Main memory103D may be RAM, ROM, or any other memory type, or combinations thereof.
• Data processing unit103A may includesecondary storage devices103E, such as but not limited tohard drives103F or computer program product interfaces103G. Computer program product interfaces103G are devices that access objects (such as information and/or software) stored in computer program products103. Examples of computer program product interfaces103G include, but are not limited to, floppy drives, ZIP™ drives, JAZ™ drives, optical storage devices, etc. Examples ofcomputer program products103H include, but are not limited to, floppy disks, ZIP™ and JAZ™ disks, memory sticks, memory cards, or any other medium on which objects may be stored.
• Thecomputer program products103H include computer useable mediums in which objects may be stored, such as but not limited to optical mediums, magnetic mediums, etc.
• Control logic or software may be stored in main memory103D, secondary storage device(s)103E, and/orcomputer program products103H.
• More generally, the term “computer program product” refers to any device in which control logic (software) is stored, so in this context a computer program product could be any memory device having control logic stored therein. The invention is directed to computer program products having stored therein software that enables a computer/processor to perform functions of the invention as described herein.
• Thedata processing unit103A may also include aninterface103J which may receive objects (such as data, applications, software, images, etc.) fromexternal entities103N via any communication mediums including wired and wireless communication mediums. In such cases, theobjects103L are transported betweenexternal entities103N andinterface103J viasignals103K,103M. In other words,such signals103K,103M include or represent control logic for enabling a processor or computer to perform functions of the invention. According to embodiments of the invention,such signals103K,103M are also considered to be computer program products, and the invention is directed to such computer program products.
2. Placement of Channels on a Mobile Device
• The present invention provides numerous ways in which channels may be placed on mobile devices. For example, the invention allows a user to create custom channels by manually entering information regarding a user favorite web site or selecting an automatic channel option that enables the creation of a customized channel while surfing web pages. A user may also click a quick channel button supplied by thecontent provider128 on the content provider's web page or choose a bookmark on a web browser to enable the placement of channels on their mobile device. These methods are further described in co-pending application entitled “System, Method, and Computer Program Product for Enabling On-Device Servers, Offline Forms, and Dynamic Ad Tracking On Mobile Devices,” Ser. No. 09/559,964, filed on Apr. 28, 2000 (Atty. Docket No. 1933.0010001).
• Other methods by which channels may be placed on mobile devices include default placement, featured placement, and interactive placement. These methods are shown in flow diagrams contained herein and are described in detail below.
2.1 Default Placement of Channels on a Mobile Device
• When a user registers withserver104 for the first time, there are no channels loaded on the user'smobile device106. The present invention automatically loads some channels on the user'sdevice106 when the user registers withserver104. To enhance the user's initial experience withserver104, the present invention loads channels that correspond to the user's interest on the user's device. In an embodiment, multiple channels per a user's interest may be placed on the user's device. For example, if the user is a sports lover, multiple sports channels may be placed on the user's mobile device.
• FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating amethod200 for default placement of channels on a mobile device. According todefault placement method200, the user's interests are first determined and then channels corresponding to the user's interests are loaded on the user's device. In one embodiment of the invention, content providers pay a compensation fee toserver104 to add their channels to a list of channels for default placement operation. In an embodiment, the business model requires content providers to pay server104 a fee each time their channel is loaded on a user'sdevice106 viaserver104.
• Referring now toFIG. 2, the process for default placement of channels begins withstep202, where the process immediately proceeds to step204.
• Instep204, theuser registers device106 withserver104. The registration process is further described in co-pending application entitled “System, Method, and Computer Program Product for Enabling On-Device Servers, Offline Forms, and Dynamic Ad Tracking on Mobile Devices,” Ser. No. 09/559,964, filed on Apr. 28, 2000 (Atty. Docket No. 1933.0010001). The process proceeds to step206.
• Instep206, during the registration process a list of categories of interest are presented to the user. The categories of interest include, but are not limited to, sports, entertainment, lifestyle, travel, business, news, weather, etc. In one embodiment, the categories of interest are presented to the user using a checklist format. The process proceeds to step208.
• Instep208, the user selects the categories that are of interest to the user. In one embodiment, the user may select the categories of interest by placing a checkmark beside the category of interest. In another embodiment, the user may click on a category to select it. One skilled in the relative art(s) would know that other ways for selecting categories of interest may be implemented without departing from the scope of the invention. The process then proceeds to step210.
• Instep210, the categories of interest to the user are transmitted toserver104 via connection120. The process then proceeds to step212.
• Instep212,server104 identifies channels for default placement on the user'sdevice106. In an embodiment,server104 selects channels for default placement from a subset of channels that have been paid for by content providers.Server104 balances the selection of channels by attempting to match channels with the user's selected categories of interest, thereby enhancing the user's initial experience with the system. However, all of the channels chosen byserver104 for default placement may not come from the subset of channels that have been paid for by content providers. When necessary,server104 may select other channels that coincide with the user's interest. The process then proceeds to step214.
• Instep214, during a subsequent sync, the channels selected for default placement instep212 are loaded on the user'sdevice106.
2.2 Featured Placement of Channels on Mobile Devices
• Server104 provides other methods for selecting channels to be viewed on a user'sdevice106. A large number of channels are available to the user. For example,server104 currently offers over 500 channels that may be placed on a user'sdevice106. With so many channels being offered byserver104,server104 must employ creative mechanisms for enabling content provider channels to be selected by users for loading on theirdevices106. Many of the mechanisms employed by the present invention are via editorialized content. For example, in one embodiment, the invention employs a “cool channels” mechanism whereinserver104 places channels on a “cool channels” list that are determined to be of a particular interest to users. Users may select channels from the “cool channels” list to be loaded on theirdevices106. Other channels may be selected using statistical methods. For example, in one embodiment,server104 keeps track of the number of users that subscribe to each channel offered byserver104, how often a user uses a channel, and how long a user allows a channel to remain on theirdevice106. Therefore, the server may select one or more channels from the channels that are heavily subscribed (according to such statistics) by users of the system. A user may also select one or more channels from channels that are heavily used by users of the system.
• In one embodiment of the present invention, content providers may pay to have their channels placed on the home web page ofserver104. With so many channels being offered byserver104,server104 provides a mechanism for highlighting the channels in whichcontent providers128 pay server104 a fee to have placed on the web page ofserver104. These channels are referred to as featured channels.FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of operation for featured channel placement according to an embodiment of the present invention. The process begins withstep302, where control immediately proceeds to step304.
• Instep304, certain content providers pay server104 a compensation fee to be featured on the web page of server104 (such as the home page).Such content providers128 may be listed using the featured channels mechanism. The compensation fee may be based, for example, on assumptions regarding the number of subscribers and impressions by such subscribers. The process proceeds to step306.
• Instep306, all channels are made available to the user via categories on the web site ofserver104. Certain channels are highlighted as noted above. Such channels are highlighted via the “cool channels” mechanism, a “top 10 channels” mechanism, and the “featured channels” mechanism. When a user visits the web site ofserver104, the user may select one or more channels using any of these mechanisms. The selected channels are loaded on the user'sdevice106 during the next or a subsequent sync operation.FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example screen shot of the featured channel and cool channel mechanisms, described above, ofserver104.
2.3 Interactive Placement of Channels and Applications on Mobile Devices
• The present invention also provides an interactive placement method for providing a user with quick access to channel information as well as other types of information. When a user accesses the client108 software on theirdevice106, typically a homepage is displayed. In this embodiment, instead of a homepage, a splash page is immediately displayed when the user accesses the client108 software. The splash page may list certain channels and provide information regarding those channels. For example, the splash page may list new channels, or other channels that correspond to content providers that have paidserver104 compensation for listing their channels in a highlighted manner, as described above. The user may then select one or more of the channels listed on the splash page. The selected channels are then loaded on the user'sdevice106 during the next or a subsequent sync operation.
• FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating an interactive placement method according to the present invention. The process begins withstep502, where the process immediately proceeds to step504.
• Instep504, the user initiates the client program ondevice106. The process then proceeds to step506.
• Instep506, a splash page is displayed ondevice106. Information for the splash page was previously loaded ondevice106 during a previous sync operation. As previously stated, the splash page lists various channels along with information about the listed channels. In one embodiment, the channels listed may be specific to the user. For example, the channels listed may be based on the user's profile relating to user interests. The process proceeds to step508.
• Instep508, the user may select one or more of the channels listed on the splash page to be loaded ondevice106. The process proceeds to step510.
• instep510, the channels selected by the user instep508 will be loaded ondevice106 during the next or a subsequent sync operation. Also, information regarding channels that are either listed on the splash page or to be listed on the splash page during the next iteration of the interactive operation are transmitted to client108 ofdevice106 during the sync operation. In one embodiment, information to be placed on the splash page is transmitted periodically or during every sync operation.
• As previously stated, other information, in addition to channels, may be displayed on the splash page. For example, the present invention may include transferring operations todevice106, in addition to channels. In this instance, the splash page, when displayed instep506, may also list applications that a user may wish to download todevice106. If the user selects such an application from the list, then various forms, including multi-page forms, may be displayed bydevice106 to obtain information regarding the user, such as the user's credit card information. An agreement regarding usage of the application may also be displayed to the user, requiring the user to accept the agreement. Alternatively, the information regarding the user may be stored onserver104. When the user selects an application from the list instep508, the application will be downloaded todevice106 during the next or a subsequent sync operation. If necessary, financial information is transmitted toprovider128 of the application in order forprovider128 to be compensated for the application.
• The interactive placement method, described above with reference toFIG. 5, operates in a wireless mode and a disconnected mode. In a wireless mode of operation, client108 communicates withserver104 in real time via link120, where link120 is a wireless link. This mode of operation enables the splash page to be populated with information that is being transmitted fromserver104 to client108 in real time. Client108 may also communicate withserver104 in real time via link120, where link120 is a wired connection. Alternatively, in a disconnected mode of operation, client108 is operating offline. The information displayed on the splash page reflects information that was provided to client108 during a previous sync operation.
• In one embodiment of the present invention, theprovider128 and the server share the revenues generated from the applications that are downloaded todevice106. For example, if the user selects an application to be loaded ondevice106 in which the provider of that application requires a fee, then a portion of the fee may be directed toserver104. The present invention is also applicable to other business methods that the user may perform viadevice106 withproviders128 that interact withserver104. In such cases, revenue from such business methods may be shared betweenserver104 andcontent provider128. It is noted that the invention facilitates such business methods being performed by client108, since the information transmitted to client108 enables the user to navigate through and review at the user's leisure.
2.4 Tracking Channel Information
• Server104 tracks information regarding the channels provided bycontent providers128.Content providers128 are allowed to view and manipulate the information tracked byserver104. In one embodiment,content providers128 pay a fee to view and manipulate the information tracked byserver104.
• FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for providing statistical information tocontent providers128. The process begins withstep602, where the process immediately proceeds to step604.
• Instep604,content provider128 accesses a web site provided byserver104 using a password protected mechanism. The process then proceeds to step606.
• Instep606, information relating tocontent provider128 is displayed. Such information may be provided to the content provider via canned reports whichcontent provider128 may select or via user defined reports wherecontent provider128 may specify the information that it wishes to see. Information available tocontent provider128 may include, but is not limited to, subscriber information and usage information. Subscriber information may include the number of users that are currently subscribed to the channel; the number of users that subscribed via default placement or featured placement, or via access from the subscriber's own web site; the number of users who actually use the channel, and information regarding the usage of the channel, including trend information, zip codes and other information relating to the subscribers, such as home addresses; the type ofdevices106 used by the subscribers; etc. Usage information may include how many people actively use the channel. This information may be provided over any time period. Such information may be valuable tocontent providers128 when viewing this information over a given time period that corresponds with some event specific to thecontent provider128. The information may also be characterized according to the geographic location of users, including both international and domestic;devices106 that the users employ, such as a Palm device or a Windows CE device; whether sever104 is being accessed via phone; etc. In one embodiment, bothserver104 and client108 track information regarding channel subscribers and subscriber activities.
3. Conclusion
• While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims (2)

1-36. (canceled)

37. A method for placing content on mobile devices, comprising the steps of:

(1) displaying a list of content to a user of a device;

(2) enabling the user to select content from said list;

(3) identifying channels based on the user's selected content; and

(4) loading the channels identified in step (3) on the user's device.

Images