Method and system for modifying and transmitting data between a portable computer and a network

• US 20020107807A1
• Filed: 02/22/2002
• Published: 08/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Webloyaltycom Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Loyalty Ventures, Inc.
• Inventors: Ketonen, Jussi, Talcott, Carolyn
• Granted Patent: US 7,035,828 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A system for assisting a mobile client interact with associated computers includes a mobile device, a broker, a mini-server and a personal agent. The mobile device transmits requests which include identification information and security information. The requests are transmitted to the mini-server either directly or through the broker. The requests may also be transmitted to the personal agent. Public and restricted requests are transmitted to the mini-server which responds to the requests by providing information accessible through the internet. Private requests are transmitted to the personal agent. Secure connections between the mobile device, broker, mini-server and personal agent are used if required by the security level of the request. The mini-server or personal agent obtains the requested information and formats the requested information according to the requirements of the mobile client identification. The requested information is transmitted to the mobile client in a format which accounts for the visual display limitations of the mobile client.

Claims

1. A system for providing information to a mobile client comprising:

a mobile device for generating a query which has a visual display; and

a broker which receives the query from the mobile device;

wherein the query includes identification information about the mobile device and security information.

2. The system for providing information to a mobile client of claim 1, further comprising:

a mini-server having a mini-server rules database;

wherein the broker transmits the query to the mini-server and a secure connection is used to transmit the query if required by the security information.

3. The system for providing information to a mobile client of claim 2 wherein the mini-server processes the query according to rules obtained from the mini-server rules database.

4. The system for providing information to the mobile client of claim 3 wherein requested information is obtained and formatted for the visual display of the mobile device and the mini-server transmits the requested information to the broker.

5. The system for providing information to the mobile client of claim 4 wherein the requested information is transmitted from the broker to the mobile device and at least a portion requested information is displayed on the visual display.

6. The system for providing information to the mobile client of claim 1 further comprising:

a personal agent computer having a personal agent rules database;

wherein the broker transmits retrieval information to the mobile device and the broker transmits the query to the personal agent over a secure connection.

7. The system for providing information to mobile devices of claim 6 wherein the personal agent computer processes the query according to rules obtained from the personal agent rules database.

8. The system for providing information to the mobile client of claim 7 wherein requested information is obtained and formatted for the visual display of the mobile device and the personal agent computer transmits the requested information to the broker.

9. The system for providing information to mobile devices of claim 8 wherein if the retrieval information is transmitted to the broker the requested information is transmitted to the mobile device and at least a portion requested information is displayed on the visual display.

10. The system for providing information to mobile devices of claim 1, further comprising:

a mini-server having a mini-server rules database; and

a personal agent computer having a personal agent rules database.

wherein the broker has a broker rules database and the broker transmits the query to either the mini-server or the personal agent computer in accordance with rules from the broker rules database.

11. The system for providing information to mobile devices of claim 10, wherein the personal agent computer or mini-server processes the query according to rules obtained from the personal agent rules database or the mini-server rules database.

13. The system for providing information to the mobile client of claim 12 wherein requested information is obtained and formatted by the mini-server for the visual display of the mobile device, and the mini-server transmits the requested information to the mobile device and a portion of the requested information is displayed on the visual display.

14. The system for providing information to the mobile client of claim 13 wherein the query includes security information and the requested information is transmitted to the mobile device over a secure connection if required by the security information.

16. The method for providing information to mobile devices of claim 15 further comprising the steps:

transmitting retrieval information to the mobile device; and

transmitting the requested information to the mobile device if the retrieval information is transmitted to the broker.

17. The method for providing information to mobile devices of claim 15 wherein the query includes security information and the transmitting steps are made over secure connections if required by the security information.

19. The method for providing information to mobile devices of claim 18 further comprising the steps:

attaching a ticket to the request;

storing the request in the request que of the broker; and

transmitting retrieval information from the broker to the mobile device;

wherein the transmitting the modified requested information to the mobile device is only performed if the mobile device transmits the retrieval information to the broker.

20. The method for providing information to mobile devices of claim 18 wherein the query includes security information and the transmitting steps made are over secure connections if required by the security information.

12. The system for providing information to a mobile client comprising:

a mobile device for generating a query which includes identification information; and

a mini-server having a mini-server rules database;

wherein the mobile device transmits the query to the mini-server and the mini-server processes the query according to rules from the mini-server rules database.

15. A method for providing information to a mobile device comprising the steps:

providing a mobile device having a visual display, a broker and a mini-server having a mini-server database;

transmitting a query which includes identification information to the broker;

transmitting the query from the broker to the mini-server;

processing the query according to rules from the mini-server database;

obtaining requested information;

formatting the requested information for the visual display of the mobile device;

transmitting the requested information to the mobile device; and

displaying at least a portion of the requested information on the visual display of the mobile device.

18. A method for providing information to a mobile device comprising the steps:

providing a mobile device having a visual display, a broker and a personal agent computer having a personal agent database;

transmitting a query which include identification information to the broker;

transmitting the query to the personal agent computer;

processing the query according to rules obtained from the personal agent database;

obtaining requested information;

formatting the requested information for the visual display of the mobile device;

transmitting the requested information to the mobile device; and

displaying at least a portion of the requested information on the visual display of the mobile device.