Systems and methods for automatically accessing internet information from a local application on a handheld internet appliance

• US 20020165932A1
• Filed: 04/13/2001
• Published: 11/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EarthLink Incorporated
• Inventors: Williams, George, Rensin, David K., Miniati, John, Flank, Joshua
• Granted Patent: US 7,277,923 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation

Abstract

Systems and methods for automatically accessing Internet information and local applications from another local application on a handheld Internet appliance is provided. The systems and methods of the present invention consist of a software solution that enables users of handheld Internet appliances to interact with the Internet and other local applications from any local application in the handheld Internet appliance. Each local application is equipped with a user interface to enable users quick and easy access to Internet information and other local applications.

Claims

1. A system for automatically accessing Internet information from a first local application on a handheld Internet appliance, the system comprising:

a software plug-in to automatically launch a second local application and a web site from the first local application;

a user interface in the first local application to enable a user to launch the second local application and the web site from the first local application, the user interface comprising a button to display a menu with links to the second local application and the web site; and

a database programmed to store the information required to create the links in the user interface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the handheld Internet appliance comprises a wirelessly-enabled personal digital assistant.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first local application and the second local application comprise:

an address book application;

a calendar application;

an e-mail application;

a memo pad application;

a to-do list application;

a web browser application;

a word processing application; and

a spreadsheet application.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the web site is formatted for display on the handheld Internet appliance.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first local application comprises a database to store a plurality of data records representing information entered by the user when interacting with the first local application on the handheld Internet appliance.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second local application comprises a database to store a plurality of data records representing information entered by the user when interacting with the second local application on the handheld Internet appliance.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the software plug-in comprises software routines for:

launching the second local application from the first local application;

launching the web site from the first local application;

creating the user interface links to the second local application and the web site; and

replacing parameters associated with a data record of the first local application on the web site'"'"'s URL, the web site displaying information associated with the data record.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the software plug-in further comprises software routines for:

automatically filling on-line forms of the web site with a data record stored in the database associated with the first local application; and

automatically saving information from the web site into the database associated with the first local application.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface in the address book application comprises links to enable the user to perform a plurality of actions, the plurality of actions comprising:

returning to a main menu of the handheld Internet appliance with a single tap on the user interface menu;

disconnecting from the Internet with a single tap on the user interface menu;

sending an e-mail from the address book application;

launching a financial web site with a single tap on the user interface menu;

launching a travel web site with a single tap on the user interface menu;

mapping an address stored in the address book application;

getting driving directions to an address stored in the address book application;

getting driving directions from an address stored in the address book application; and

finding a commercial location nearest to an address stored in the address book application.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein sending an e-mail from the address book application comprises:

selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the data record associated with the e-mail recipient;

extracting the name of the e-mail recipient from the data record; and

automatically filling the e-mail recipient field with the name of the e-mail recipient extracted from the data record.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein mapping an address stored in the address book application comprises:

selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the data record comprising the address to be mapped;

launching a web site proving maps of addresses; and

automatically filling the web site'"'"'s URL with the address to be mapped.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein getting driving directions to an address stored in the address book application comprises:

selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the data record comprising the address to which driving directions are requested;

launching a web site providing driving directions; and

automatically filling an on-line form in the web site corresponding to the destination address with the data record.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising automatically filling an on-line form in the web site corresponding to a starting address with an address selected by the user and stored in the address book application.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein getting driving directions from an address stored in the address book application comprises:

selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the data record comprising the address from which driving directions are requested;

launching a web site providing driving directions; and

automatically filling an on-line form in the web site corresponding to the starting address with the data record.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising automatically filling an on-line form in the web site corresponding to a destination address with an address selected by the user and stored in the address book application.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein finding a commercial location nearest to an address stored in the address book application comprises:

selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the data record comprising the address for which a nearest commercial location is desired;

launching a web site providing addresses of commercial locations in a given neighborhood;

automatically filling the web site'"'"'s URL field corresponding to the neighborhood with the data record selected from the address book application.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface in the calendar application comprises links to enable the user to perform a plurality of actions, the plurality of actions comprising:

returning to a main menu of the handheld Internet appliance with a single tap on the user interface menu;

disconnecting from the Internet with a single tap on the user interface menu;

sending an e-mail from the address book application;

launching a financial web site with a single tap on the user interface menu; and

launching a travel web site.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein launching a travel site comprises:

selecting one or more dates from the calendar application;

automatically filling an on-line form in the travel site corresponding to a departure travel date with a date selected from the calendar application;

automatically filling an on-line form in the travel site corresponding to an arrival travel date with another date selected from the calendar application; and

selecting a departure and arrival locations from a database of favorite locations stored in the handheld Internet appliance.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the database comprises a plurality of data fields and a plurality of data records associated with the information required to create the links in the user interface.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the data fields comprise:

an action type data field;

an action name data field;

an action context data field;

an action URL data field; and

an action application data field.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the action type data field stores an action performed by the user from the first local application, the action comprising:

launching the second local application from the first local application;

launching the web site from the first local application;

returning from a main menu of the handheld Internet appliance; and

disconnecting from the Internet.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the action name data field comprises the name of the action performed by the user.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the action context data field stores a list of local applications having access to the action stored in the action name data field.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the action URL data field stores a URL for an action comprising launching a web site from the local application.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the action application data field stores the name of the second local application launched from the first local application.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the handheld Internet appliance comprises a wirelessly-enabled personal digital assistant.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the plurality of local applications comprises:

an address book application;

a calendar application;

an e-mail application;

a memo pad application;

a to-do list application;

a web browser application;

a word processing application; and

a spreadsheet application.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein each web site from the plurality of web sites is formatted for display on the handheld Internet appliance.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein each of the local applications from the plurality of local applications comprises a database to store a plurality of data records representing information entered by the user when interacting with each of the local applications from the plurality of local applications on the handheld Internet appliance.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the already open local application comprises a database to store a plurality of data records representing information entered by the user when interacting with the already open local application on the handheld Internet appliance.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the software plug-in comprises software routines for:

launching the plurality of local applications from the already open local application;

launching the plurality of web sites from the already open local application;

creating the user interface links to the plurality of local applications and the plurality of web sites; and

replacing parameters associated with a data record of the already open local application on a URL of a web site from the plurality of web sites, the web site displaying information associated with the data record.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the software plug-in further comprises software routines for:

automatically filling on-line forms of each web site from the plurality of web sites with a data record stored in the database associated with the local application; and

automatically saving information from each web site from the plurality of web sites into the database associated with the local application.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein the user interface in the address book application comprises links to enable the user to perform a plurality of actions, the plurality of actions comprising:

returning to a main menu of the handheld Internet appliance with a single tap on the user interface menu;

disconnecting from the Internet with a single tap on the user interface menu;

sending an e-mail from the address book application;

launching a financial web site with a single tap on the user interface menu;

launching a travel web site with a single tap on the user interface menu;

mapping an address stored in the address book application;

getting driving directions to an address stored in the address book application;

getting driving directions from an address stored in the address book application; and

finding a commercial location nearest to an address stored in the address book application.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein sending an e-mail from the address book application comprises:

selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the data record associated with the e-mail recipient;

extracting the name of the e-mail recipient from the data record; and

automatically filling the e-mail recipient field with the name of the e-mail recipient extracted from the data record.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein mapping an address stored in the address book application comprises:

selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the data record comprising the address to be mapped;

launching a web site proving maps of addresses; and

automatically filling the web site'"'"'s URL with the address to be mapped.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein getting driving directions to an address stored in the address book application comprises:

selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the data record comprising the address to which driving directions are requested;

launching a web site providing driving directions; and

automatically filling an on-line form in the web site corresponding to the destination address with the data record.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising automatically filling an on-line form in the web site corresponding to a starting address with an address selected by the user and stored in the address book application.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein getting driving directions from an address stored in the address book application comprises:

selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the data record comprising the address from which driving directions are requested;

launching a web site providing driving directions; and

automatically filling an on-line form in the web site corresponding to the starting address with the data record.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising automatically filling an on-line form in the web site corresponding to a destination address with an address selected by the user and stored in the address book application.

41. The method of claim 34, wherein finding a commercial location nearest to an address stored in the address book application comprises:

selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the data record comprising the address for which a nearest commercial location is desired;

launching a web site providing addresses of commercial locations in a given neighborhood;

automatically filling the web site'"'"'s URL field corresponding to the neighborhood with the data record selected from the address book application.

42. The method of claim 26, wherein the user interface in the calendar application comprises links to enable the user to perform a plurality of actions, the plurality of actions comprising:

returning to a main menu of the handheld Internet appliance with a single tap on the user interface menu;

disconnecting from the Internet with a single tap on the user interface menu;

sending an e-mail from the address book application;

launching a financial web site with a single tap on the user interface menu; and

launching a travel web site.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein launching a travel site comprises:

selecting one or more dates from the calendar application;

automatically filling an on-line form in the travel site corresponding to a departure travel date with a date selected from the calendar application;

automatically filling an on-line form in the travel site corresponding to an arrival travel date with another date selected from the calendar application; and

selecting a departure and arrival locations from a database of favorite locations stored in the handheld Internet appliance.

44. The method of claim 26, wherein the database comprises a plurality of data fields and a plurality of data records associated with the information required to create the links in the user interface.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the data fields comprise:

an action type data field;

an action name data field;

an action context data field;

an action URL data field; and

an action application data field.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the action type data field stores an action performed by the user from the already open local application, the action comprising:

launching the plurality of local applications from the already open local application;

launching the plurality of web sites from the already open local application;

returning from a main menu of the handheld Internet appliance; and

disconnecting from the Internet.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the action name data field comprises the name of the action performed by the user.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein the action context data field stores a list of local applications having access to the action stored in the action name data field.

49. The method of claim 45, wherein the action URL data field stores a URL for an action comprising launching a web site from the already open local application.

50. The method of claim 45, wherein the action application data field stores the name of a local application launched from the local application.

26. A method for automatically launching a plurality of local applications and a plurality of web sites from an already open local application on a handheld Internet appliance, the method comprising:

providing a software plug-in to automatically launch the plurality of local applications and the plurality of web sites from the already open local application;

providing a user interface in the already open local application to enable a user to launch the plurality of local applications and the plurality of web sites from the already open local application, the user interface comprising a button to display a menu with links to each of the local applications from the plurality of local applications and each of the web sites from the plurality of web sites; and

providing a database programmed to store the information required to create the links in the user interface.

51. A handheld Internet appliance for accessing a plurality of local applications and a plurality of web sites, the handheld Internet appliance comprising:

a main menu with buttons for accessing the plurality of local applications;

a wireless modem for connecting to the Internet;

a plurality of software routines for accessing the Internet;

a software plug-in to automatically launch the plurality of local applications and the plurality of web sites from an already launched local application;

a user interface to enable a user to launch the plurality of local applications and the plurality of web sites from the already launched local application, the user interface comprising a button to display a menu with links to each of the local applications from the plurality of local applications and each of the web sites from the plurality of web sites; and

a database programmed to store the information required to create the links in the user interface.

52. The handheld Internet appliance of claim 51, wherein the plurality of local applications comprises:

an address book application;

a calendar application;

an e-mail application;

a memo pad application; and

a to-do list application.

53. The handheld Internet appliance of claim 51, wherein each web site from the plurality of web sites is formatted for display on the handheld Internet appliance.

54. The handheld Internet appliance of claim 51, wherein each of the local applications from the plurality of local applications comprises a database to store a plurality of data records representing information entered by the user when interacting with each of the local applications from the plurality of local applications on the handheld Internet appliance.

55. The handheld Internet appliance of claim 51, wherein the already open local application comprises a database to store a plurality of data records representing information entered by the user when interacting with the already open local application on the handheld Internet appliance.

56. The handheld Internet appliance of claim 51, wherein the software plug-in comprises software routines for:

launching the plurality of local applications from the already open local application;

launching the plurality of web sites from the already open local application;

creating the user interface links to the plurality of local applications and the plurality of web sites; and

replacing parameters associated with a data record of a local application on a URL of a web site from the plurality of web sites, the web site displaying information associated with the data record.

57. The handheld Internet appliance of claim 56, wherein the software plug-in further comprises software routines for:

automatically filling on-line forms of each web site from the plurality of web sites with a data record stored in the database associated with the already open local application; and

automatically saving information from each web site from the plurality of web sites into the database associated with the already open local application.

58. The handheld Internet appliance of claim 51, wherein the user interface in the address book application comprises links to enable the user to perform a plurality of actions, the plurality of actions comprising:

returning to a main menu of the handheld Internet appliance with a single tap on the user interface menu;

disconnecting from the Internet with a single tap on the user interface menu;

sending an e-mail from the address book application;

launching a financial web site with a single tap on the user interface menu;

launching a travel web site with a single tap on the user interface menu;

mapping an address stored in the address book application;

getting driving directions to an address stored in the address book application;

getting driving directions from an address stored in the address book application; and

finding a commercial location nearest to an address stored in the address book application.

59. The handheld Internet appliance of claim 58, wherein sending an e-mail from the address book application comprises:

selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the data record associated with the email recipient;

extracting the name of the e-mail recipient from the data record; and

automatically filling the e-mail recipient field with the name of the e-mail recipient extracted from the data record.

60. The handheld Internet appliance of claim 58, wherein mapping an address stored in the address book application comprises:

selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the data record comprising the address to be mapped;

launching a web site proving maps of addresses; and

automatically filling the web site'"'"'s URL with the address to be mapped.

61. The handheld Internet appliance of claim 58, wherein getting driving directions to an address stored in the address book application comprises:

selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the data record comprising the address to which driving directions are requested;

launching a web site providing driving directions; and

automatically filling an on-line form in the web site corresponding to the destination address with the data record.

62. The handheld Internet appliance of claim 61, further comprising automatically filling an on-line form in the web site corresponding to a starting address with an address selected by the user and stored in the address book application.

63. The handheld Internet appliance of claim 58, wherein getting driving directions from an address stored in the address book application comprises:

selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the data record comprising the address from which driving directions are requested;

launching a web site providing driving directions; and

automatically filling an on-line form in the web site corresponding to the starting address with the data record.

64. The handheld Internet appliance of claim 63, further comprising automatically filling an on-line form in the web site corresponding to a destination address with an address selected by the user and stored in the address book application.

65. The handheld Internet appliance of claim 58, wherein finding a commercial location nearest to an address stored in the address book application comprises:

selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the data record comprising the address for which a nearest commercial location is desired;

launching a web site providing addresses of commercial locations in a given neighborhood;

automatically filling the web site'"'"'s URL field corresponding to the neighborhood with the data record selected from the address book application.

66. The handheld Internet appliance of claim 51, wherein the user interface in the calendar application comprises links to enable the user to perform a plurality of actions, the plurality of actions comprising:

returning to a main menu of the handheld Internet appliance with a single tap on the user interface menu;

disconnecting from the Internet with a single tap on the user interface menu;

sending an e-mail from the address book application;

launching a financial web site with a single tap on the user interface menu; and

launching a travel web site.

67. The handheld Internet appliance of claim 66, wherein launching a travel site comprises:

selecting one or more dates from the calendar application;

automatically filling an on-line form in the travel site corresponding to a departure travel date with a date selected from the calendar application;

automatically filling an on-line form in the travel site corresponding to an arrival travel date with another date selected from the calendar application; and

selecting a departure and arrival locations from a database of favorite locations stored in the handheld Internet appliance.

68. The handheld Internet appliance of claim 51, wherein the database comprises a plurality of data fields and a plurality of data records associated with the information required to create the links in the user interface.

69. The handheld Internet appliance of claim 68, wherein the data fields comprise:

an action type data field;

an action name data field;

an action context data field;

an action URL data field; and

an action application data field.

70. The handheld Internet appliance of claim 69, wherein the action type data field stores an action performed by the user from the local application, the action comprising:

launching the plurality of local applications from the already open local application;

launching the plurality of web sites from the already open local application;

returning from a main menu of the handheld Internet appliance; and

disconnecting from the Internet.

71. The handheld Internet appliance of claim 68, wherein the action name data field comprises the name of the action performed by the user.

72. The handheld Internet appliance of claim 68, wherein the action context data field stores a list of local applications having access to the action stored in the action name data field.

73. The handheld Internet appliance of claim 68, wherein the action URL data field stores a URL for an action comprising launching a web site from the already open local application.

74. The handheld Internet appliance of claim 68, wherein the action application data field stores the name of a local application from the plurality of local applications launched from the already open local application.