Wireless information transmission system and method

• US 20030023671A1
• Filed: 07/26/2001
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Access Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Dalbec, Gabriel, Abdulrahiman, Najeeb
• Granted Patent: US 7,610,350 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system and method for efficiently transmitting useful electronic information from a remote source location to a portable electronic device over a wireless connection is disclosed. A user of an electronic device issues a request to an information transmission system that electronic information be transmitted to the electronic device. The information transmission system retrieves the information from a remote source location and analyzes the information to determine its data format. The information transmission system then compares the data format to a list of supported or compatible data formats to determine if the requested information data format is supported. The information transmission system may also compare the source location of the requested information to a list of unacceptable source locations. The requested information may then be transmitted to the electronic device if the information has a supported format and an acceptable source location

Claims

1. A method of transferring electronic data from a remote location to an electronic device over a bandwidth-constrained connection, the method comprising:

selecting electronic data using an electronic device;

determining whether the electronic data has a supported format; and

automatically issuing a transfer instruction for the electronic data based on acceptability criteria, the acceptability criteria comprising whether the electronic data has a supported format.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a list of supported formats to a proxy server.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the list of supported formats is sent to the proxy server upon selecting the electronic data.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising automatically updating the list of supported formats to reflect the changes in applications included in the electronic device.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising automatically updating the list of supported formats after a file compatibility error occurs in the electronic device.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising manually updating the list of supported formats.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting electronic data comprises sending a request to view an Internet web page.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein sending a request to view an Internet web page comprises entering an Internet web page address in an Internet web browser.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein sending a request to view an Internet web page comprises activating a hyperlink.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting electronic data comprises sending a request to transfer an electronic file.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein sending a request to transfer an electronic file comprises issuing a request to download the electronic file from a remote source location.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is selected from a handheld computer, a pager, and a mobile phone.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the electronic data has a supported format comprises examining the electronic data to determine its format.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the electronic data has a supported format comprises comparing the selected data format to a list of supported formats.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining whether the electronic data has a supported format and issuing a transfer instruction steps are performed by a proxy server.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the transfer instruction comprises an instruction to transfer the electronic data to the electronic device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein a transfer instruction comprises an instruction to transfer the electronic data over a wireless connection.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising transferring the selected electronic data in response to the transfer instruction.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic data is selected from electronic audio, video, graphic, applet, program, and Internet web page plug-in files.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a list of unacceptable source locations to a proxy server.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the acceptability criteria further comprises whether the electronic data has an acceptable source location.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the electronic data has a supported format and an unacceptable source location and the transfer instruction comprises an instruction not to send the electronic data to the electronic device.

23. A method of transmitting electronic information to an electronic device, the method comprising:

issuing a request to an information transmission system that electronic information be transmitted to an electronic device;

transferring the requested information from a source location to the information transmission system;

filtering the requested information to exclude incompatible information; and

wirelessly transmitting the filtered information to the electronic device.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising sending a list of supported formats from the electronic device to the filtering system.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the list of supported formats is sent to the filtering system upon issuing the request that electronic information be transmitted.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising automatically updating the list of supported formats when an update event occurs, the update event selected from the addition of an application to the electronic device, the removal of an application from the electronic device, and the occurrence of a file compatibility error in the electronic device.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising manually updating the list of supported formats.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the information transmission system comprises a proxy server configured to determine whether the requested electronic information has a supported format.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein filtering the requested information to exclude incompatible information comprises comparing the format of the requested information to a list of supported formats and excluding information that does not have a format included in the list of supported formats.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein the electronic device is selected from a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a pager, and a mobile phone.

31. The method of claim 23, wherein the information transmission system comprises a proxy server and a wireless network.

32. The method of claim 23, wherein issuing a request that electronic information be transmitted includes at least one of entering an Internet web page address in an Internet web browser, activating a hyperlink, and issuing a request to transfer an electronic file.

33. The method of claim 23, wherein the source location is selected from a computer, an electronic file server, and another electronic device.

34. The method of claim 23, further comprising sending a list of unacceptable source locations to the information transmission system and filtering the requested information to exclude information having an unacceptable source location.

35. A method of collecting electronic data from a remote source, the method comprising:

sending an electronic data request from an electronic device to a data transmission system, the electronic device being in wireless communication with the data transmission system;

gathering the requested data from a remote source and storing a copy of the requested data in the data transmission system;

determining within the data transmission device whether the gathered data is compatible with applications included in the electronic device; and

wirelessly transmitting only compatible data to the electronic device.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the data transmission system comprises a proxy server and means for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising sending a list of supported formats to the data transmission system.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the list of supported formats is sent to the data transmission system upon sending the electronic data request.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising automatically updating the list of supported formats when an update event occurs, the update event selected from the addition of an application to the electronic device, the removal of an application from the electronic device, and the occurrence of a file compatibility error in the electronic device.

40. The method of claim 37, further comprising manually updating the list of supported formats.

41. The method of claim 35, wherein determining whether the gathered data is compatible with applications included in the electronic device comprises comparing the format of the gathered data with a list of formats supported by applications included in the electronic device.

42. The method of claim 35, wherein the electronic device is selected from a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a pager, and a mobile phone.

43. The method of claim 35, wherein sending an electronic data request includes at least one of entering an Internet web page address in an Internet web browser, activating a hyperlink, and issuing a request to transfer an electronic file.

44. The method of claim 35, wherein the remote source is selected from a computer, an electronic file server, and another electronic device.

45. The method of claim 35, further comprising sending a list of unacceptable source locations to the data transmission system and transmitting only data not having an unacceptable source location.

46. A method of filtering electronic data from a remote source location based on the compatibility of the information with applications included in a wireless electronic device, the method comprising:

gathering electronic data from a remote source location within a data transmission system;

analyzing the data within the data transmission system to determine its format;

comparing the format of the data to a list of data formats supported by an electronic device;

transmitting to the electronic device only portions of the data having a supported data format.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the list of supported data formats is generated within the electronic device and sent to the data transmission system.

48. The method of claim 46, further comprising sending a list of applications included in the electronic device to the data transmission system, wherein the list of supported formats is generated within the data transmission system based on the list of applications.

49. The method of claim 46, further comprising automatically updating the list of supported data formats when an update event occurs, the update event being selected from the addition of an application to the electronic device, the removal of an application from the electronic device, and the occurrence of a file compatibility error in the electronic device.

50. The method of claim 46, further comprising manually updating the list of supported formats.

51. The method of claim 46, wherein the electronic device is selected from a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a pager, and a mobile phone.

52. The method of claim 46, further comprising sending a list of unacceptable remote source locations to the data transmission system and transmitting only data not having an unacceptable remote source location.

53. A method of delivering electronic data in a wireless environment, the method comprising:

receiving within a data transmission system a request from a portable electronic device to transfer electronic data from a remote source to the portable electronic device;

receiving within the data transmission system a list of data formats supported by applications included in the portable electronic device;

comparing within the data transmission system the format of the requested data to the list of supported data formats; and

wirelessly transmitting the requested data to the portable electronic device only if it has a supported format.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the data transmission system comprises a proxy server.

55. The method of claim 53, wherein the list of supported data formats is received simultaneously with the request from the portable electronic device.

56. The method of claim 53, wherein the list of supported formats received comprises a list of formats supported by the portable electronic device at the time the request from the portable electronic device is received.

57. The method of claim 53, wherein the request to transfer electronic data is a request to view an Internet web page.

58. The method of claim 53, wherein the request to transfer electronic data is a request to transfer an electronic file to the portable electronic device.

59. The method of claim 53, wherein the portable electronic device is selected from a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a pager, and a cellular telephone.

60. The method of claim 53, further comprising sending a list of unacceptable remote sources and wirelessly transmitting the requested data to the portable electronic device only if the data does not have an unacceptable remote source.

61. A method of receiving information embedded in an Internet web page, the method comprising:

issuing a request from a portable electronic device to a proxy server, the request comprising a command to transmit electronic information included in an Internet web page originating from a remote location;

transmitting a list of plug-ins loaded on the portable electronic device to the proxy server;

comparing within the proxy server the electronic information to the list of plug-ins to determine if the electronic information is compatible with the loaded plug-ins; and

wirelessly transmitting the electronic information to the portable electronic device only if the information is compatible with the loaded plug-ins.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the list of plug-ins includes all operational plug-ins included in the portable electronic device at the time of the request.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein the list of plug-ins is automatically updated automatically to reflect changes in the portable electronic device prior to transmitting the list of plug-ins to the proxy server.

64. The method of claim 61, wherein the portable electronic device is selected from a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a pager, and a mobile phone.

65. The method of claim 61, wherein the remote location is selected from a server computer and another portable electronic device.

66. The method of claim 61, further comprising generating a list of unacceptable remote locations and wirelessly transmitting the electronic information to the electronic device only if the web page does not originate from an unacceptable remote location.

67. A system for transmitting compatible electronic data to an electronic device over a bandwidth-constrained connection, the system comprising:

an electronic device capable of transmitting and receiving electronic data;

an information transmission system in communication with the electronic device and an electronic data source location;

means for requesting transmission of electronic data from the electronic data source location to the electronic device; and

means for filtering the electronic data to transmit only compatible electronic data.

68. The system of claim 67, wherein the electronic device is selected from a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a pager, and a mobile phone.

69. The system of claim 67, wherein the information transmission system is in wireless communication with the electronic device.

70. The system of claim 67, wherein the information transmission system comprises a proxy server.

71. The system of claim 67, wherein the information transmission comprises a wireless network.

72. The system of claim 67, wherein the means for filtering the electronic data comprises means for comparing the format of the electronic data to a list of data formats supported by applications included in the electronic device.

73. The system of claim 72, wherein the list of supported data formats is automatically updated when applications are installed on and removed from the electronic device.

74. The system of claim 72, wherein the list of supported data formats is automatically updated when a file compatibility error occurs in the electronic device.

75. The system of claim 72, wherein the list of supported data formats is manually updated by a user.

76. The system of claim 67, further comprising means for filtering the electronic data to transmit only electronic data originating from acceptable source locations.

77. The system of claim 76, wherein the means for filtering the electronic data to transmit only electronic data originating from acceptable source locations comprises means for comparing the source location of the electronic data to a list of unacceptable source locations.

78. The system of claim 67, wherein the electronic data is included in an Internet web page.

79. The system of claim 67, wherein the means for requesting transmission of electronic data comprises sending a request to view an Internet web page.

80. The system of claim 67, wherein the means for requesting transmission of electronic data comprises sending a request to transmit an electronic file.

81. A system for transferring electronic information from a remote location to a portable electronic device, the system comprising:

an electronic device capable of transmitting and receiving electronic information;

a proxy server in wireless communication with the electronic device;

means for generating a list of file types supported by applications included in the electronic device;

means for transferring electronic information from a remote location to the proxy server;

means for comparing electronic information to the list of supported file types; and

means for wirelessly transmitting electronic information to the electronic device only if the electronic information has a supported file type.

82. The system of claim 81, wherein the electronic device is selected from a computer, a handheld computer, a pager, and a mobile phone.

83. The system of claim 81, wherein the list of supported file types is automatically updated when applications are installed on and removed from the electronic device.

84. The system of claim 81, wherein the list of supported file types is automatically updated when a file compatibility error occurs in the electronic device.

85. The system of claim 81, further comprising means for transmitting electronic information to the electronic device only if the electronic information originates from an acceptable remote location.

86. A system for wirelessly transmitting electronic data from a remote source to a portable electronic device, the system comprising:

a data transmission system operating in a wireless network environment;

a portable electronic device in wireless communication with the data transmission system and configured for receiving electronic data from the data transmission system;

means for transmitting requests for electronic data from the portable electronic device to the data transmission system;

means for filtering the requested electronic data to exclude incompatible data; and

means for transmitting the filtered electronic data from the data transmission system to the portable electronic device.

87. The system of claim 86, wherein the data transmission system comprises a proxy server.

88. The system of claim 86, wherein the portable electronic device is selected from a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a pager, and a cellular telephone.

89. The system of claim 86, wherein the means for filtering the electronic data to exclude incompatible data comprises means for comparing the format of the electronic data to a list of data formats supported by applications included in the portable electronic device.

90. The system of claim 89, wherein the list of supported data formats is automatically updated when an application is added to or removed from the portable electronic device.

91. The system of claim 89, wherein the list of supported data formats is automatically updated when a file compatibility error occurs in the electronic device

92. The system of claim 89, wherein the list of supported data formats is manually updated by a user.

93. The system of claim 86, wherein the means for transmitting requests for electronic data comprises a web browser.

94. The system of claim 93, wherein the electronic data comprises information included in an Internet web page.

95. The system of claim 92, further comprising means for filtering the requested electronic data to exclude electronic data originating from an unacceptable source.

96. The method of claim 92, wherein the electronic data is selected from electronic audio, video, graphic, applet, program, and plug-in files.