System and method for pushing data from an information source to a mobile communication device including transcoding of the data

• US 20040199665A1
• Filed: 01/07/2004
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Inventors: Yach, David P., Brown, Michael S., Little, Herbert A., Owen, Russell N., Omar, Salim H., Rybak, Tomasz K.
• Application Number:
  US10/483,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20040199665A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0281 Proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0464 using hop-by-hop encryption, i.e. wherein an intermediate entity decrypts the information and re-encrypts it before forwarding it
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1045 Proxies, e.g. for session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/2871 Implementation details of single intermediate entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/288 Distributed intermediate devices, i.e. intermediate devices for interaction with other intermediate devices on the same level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 : Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 : Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 : Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/566 : Grouping or aggregating service requests, e.g. for unified processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/567 : Integrating service provisioning from a plurality of service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 : Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 : Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 : Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 : Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 : Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

A system for pushing information content from an information source to a mobile communication device over a network includes a transcoding system and a first network device. The transcoding system includes a plurality of transcoders, each transcoder operable to transcode the information content from a respective input content type into a respective output content type. The first network device is in communication with the transcoding system, and includes a push module. The push module is operable to receive a connection request from the information source. The connection request includes an identifier associated with the mobile communication device. The push module is further operable to select a corresponding connection handler that is operable to select one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders to transcode the information content.

Claims

1. A system for pushing information content from an information source to a mobile communication device over a network, comprising:

a transcoding system comprising a plurality of transcoders, each transcoder operable to transcode the information content from a respective input content type into a respective output content type; and

a first network device in communication with the transcoding system, the first network device comprising a push module, wherein the push module is operable to receive a connection request from the information source comprising an identifier associated with the mobile communication device, and further operable to select a corresponding connection handler operable to select one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders to transcode the information content.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network device is further operable to transmit the information content transcoded by the one or more selected transcoders to the mobile communication device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the transcoding system is further operable to transmit the information content transcoded by the one or more selected transcoders to the mobile communication device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the connection request further comprises transcoder request data that identifies a requested transcoder.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the connection handler is operable to determine one or more acceptable content types that the mobile communication device is configured to accept.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the connection handler is operable to search the plurality of transcoders for transcoders operable to transcode the information content from a received content type of the information content into the one or more acceptable content types.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the transcoding system is operable generate and store mapping data comprising transcoding chains, each transcoding chain selecting one or more transcoders to transcode the information content from a respective input content type into a respective output content type.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the connection handler is operable to select a transcoding chain to transcode the information content from a received content type of the information content into one of the accepted content types.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the transcoding system comprises a configuration file associated with the plurality of transcoders, and the connection handler is operable to search the configuration file to determine whether any of the transcoders are operable to transcode the information content from a received content type of the information content into the one or more acceptable content types, and to select the transcoders where any of the transcoders are operable to transcode the information content from the received content type into the one or more acceptable content types.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the connection handler is further operable to transmit an error message to the information source where none of the transcoders are operable to transcode the information content from the received content type into the one or more acceptable content types.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the information content includes multiple content types, and the connection handler is further operable to transmit an error message to the information source where none of the transcoders are operable to transcode one or more of the multiple content types into the one or more acceptable content types.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the connection handler is further operable to determine a type of the mobile communication device and to select one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders based on the type of the mobile communication device where none of the transcoders are operable to transcode the information content from the received content type into the one or more acceptable content types.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the connection handler is further operable to select one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders based on the identifier associated with the mobile communication device where none of the transcoders are operable to transcode the information content from the received content type into the one or more acceptable content types.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the connection handler is further operable to determine an address associated with the information source and to select one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders based on the address associated with the information source where none of the transcoders are operable to transcode the information content from the received content type into the one or more acceptable content types.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the connection handler is further operable to transmit a list of selectable transcoders to the information source where none of the transcoders are operable to transcode the information content from the received content type into the one or more acceptable content types.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the connection handler is operable to receive selected transcoder data from the information source and to select one of the selectable transcoders from the list of selectable transcoders based on the selected transcoder data.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the connection handler is further operable to discard the information content where none of the transcoders are operable to transcode the information content from the received content type into the one or more acceptable content types.

18. The system of claim 9, wherein the connection handler is further operable to pass the information content where none of the transcoders are operable to transcode the information content from the received content type into the one or more acceptable content types.

19. The system of claim 9, wherein the transcoding system is further operable to transcode the information content into a content type pushed to the mobile communication device in response to a previous connection request where none of the transcoders are operable to transcode the information content from the received content type into the one or more acceptable content types.

20. The system of claim 9, wherein the information content includes multiple content types, and the first network device is further operable to transmit only transcoded content types to the mobile communication device where none of the transcoders are operable to transcode one or more of the multiple content types into the one or more acceptable content types.

21. The system of claim 4, wherein the transcoder request data comprises a network address specifying the location of a transcoder.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the transcoding system is operable to access the location specified by the network address and retrieve the transcoder.

23. The system of claim 4, wherein the transcoding system comprises a configuration file associated with the plurality of transcoders, and the connection handler is operable to search the configuration file to determine whether the requested transcoder is one of the plurality of transcoders and to select the requested transcoder where the requested transcoder is one of the plurality of transcoders.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the connection handler is further operable to transmit an error message to the information source where the requested transcoder is not one of the plurality of transcoders.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the connection handler is further operable receive alternate transcoder request data in response to the error message, the alternate transcoder request data identifying an alternate transcoder.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the connection handler is further operable to transmit a list of selectable transcoders to the information source where the requested transcoder is not one of the plurality of transcoders, and is further operable to receive selected transcoder data from the information source and to select one of the selectable transcoders based on the selected transcoder data.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the connection handler is further operable to discard the information content where the requested transcoder is not one of the plurality of transcoders.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the connection handler is further operable to pass the information content where the requested transcoder is not one of the plurality of transcoders.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein the identifier comprises a network address of the mobile communication device.

30. The system of claim 1, wherein the connection handler is further operable to determine a type of the mobile communication device and to select one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders based on the type of the mobile communication device.

31. The system of claim 1, wherein the connection handler is further operable to select one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders based on the identifier associated with the mobile communication device.

32. The system of claim 1, wherein the connection handler is further operable to determine an address associated with the information source and to select one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders based on the address associated with the information source.

33. A method for pushing information content to a mobile communication device, comprising the steps of:

receiving the information content from an information source;

receiving an address of the mobile communication device;

providing a plurality of transcoders, each transcoder operable to transcode information content from a first content type into a second content type;

selecting one of a plurality of connection handlers based on the information content received;

selecting one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders, the one or more transcoders selected by the connection handler;

transcoding the information content using the one or more of the plurality of transcoders selected to generate transcoded information content; and

sending the transcoded information content to the mobile communication device.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of selecting one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders comprises the steps of:

determining whether any of the plurality of transcoders are operable to transcode the information content from a received content type of the information content into any of one or more accepted content types that the mobile communication device is configured to accept; and

selecting a transcoder operable to transcode the information content from the received content type into one of the accepted content types where any of the plurality of transcoders are operable to transcode the information content from the received content type into any of the one or more accepted content types.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of discarding the information content where none of the plurality of transcoders are operable to transcode the information content from the received content type into any of the one or more accepted content types.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of performing a default transcoding operation on the information content where none of the plurality of transcoders are operable to transcode the information content from the received content type into any of the one or more accepted content types.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the default transcoding operation comprises the step of passing the information content.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the default transcoding operation comprises the step of transcoding the information content into a content type previously sent to the mobile communication device.

39. The method of claim 34, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting a list of selectable transcoders to the information source where none of the plurality of transcoders are operable to transcode the information content from the received content type into any of the one or more accepted content types;

receiving selected transcoder data from the information source; and

selecting one of the selectable transcoders from the list of selectable transcoders based on the selected transcoder data.

40. The method of claim 33, wherein the information source is a web server connected to the Internet.

41. The method of claim 33, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a network address specifying the location of a transcoder operable to transcode the information content from the received content type into one of the accepted content types;

accessing the location specified by the network address; and

retrieving the transcoder.

42. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of transcoding the information content using one or more of the plurality of transcoders selected comprises the steps of:

sending the information content to a transcoding system; and

receiving transcoded information content from the transcoding system.

43. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of sending the transcoded information content to the mobile communication device comprises the step of encrypting the transcoded information content.

44. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of selecting one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders comprises the steps of:

generating a list of transcoders according to an order of preference; and

selecting one or more of the transcoders in the list of transcoders based on the order of preference.

45. The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of mapping the plurality of transcoders to create a plurality of transcoding chains, each transcoding chain associating one or more transcoders to transcode a respective input content type into a respective output content type.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the step of selecting one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders comprises the steps of:

identifying transcoding chains having a respective input content matching a received content type of the information content and a respective output content type matching one of one or more accepted content types that the mobile communication device is configured to accept; and

selecting an identified transcoding chain to transcode the information content.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising the steps of:

determining a priority status related to the information content; and

transcoding the information content or passing the information content depending on the priority status.

48. The method of claim 33, wherein the mobile communication device is configured to accept one or more content types selected from the group consisting of Wireless Markup Language (WML), Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), compiled WML (WMLC) and Extensible Markup Language (XML).

49. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of selecting one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders comprises the steps of:

determining a type of the mobile communication device; and

selecting one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders based on the type of the mobile communication device.

50. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of selecting one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders comprises the step of selecting one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders based on the address of the mobile communication device.

51. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of selecting one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders comprises the steps of:

determining an identifier associated with the information source; and

selecting one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders based on the identifier.

52. The method of claim 33, wherein:

the information content comprises multiple content types; and

selecting respective transcoders from the plurality of transcoders to transcode the multiple content types.

53. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of selecting one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders comprises the steps of:

determining whether the information content has been pre-transcoded into a content type that the mobile communication device is configured to accept; and

transmitting the information content to the mobile communication device without further transcoding where the information content has been pre-transcoded.

54. A system for receiving pushed information content over a network, comprising:

a mobile communication device comprising a communication subsystem operable to transmit push data over the network, the push data comprising an acceptable content type the mobile communication device is configured to receive, the mobile communication device further operable to receive pushed information content in the acceptable content type during a push period.

55. The system of claim 54, further comprising an information source operable to receive the push data and to provide the pushed information content for transmission to the mobile communication device during the push period.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the push data further comprises push period data specifying the push period, and the information source is operable to provide the pushed information content for transmission to the mobile communication device once every push period.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the information source is operable to transmit an error message to the mobile communication device where the pushed information content cannot be provided in the acceptable content type.

58. The system of claim 55, wherein the information source comprises a transcoding system operable to transcode information content into the acceptable content type.

59. The system of claim 55, wherein the information source is operable to transmit the information content to a transcoding system, to receive transcoded information content in the acceptable content type from the transcoding system, and to transmit the transcoded information content to the mobile communication device.

60. The system of claim 57, wherein the mobile communication device is further operable to transmit alternate content types to the information source in response to the receiving the error message.

61. The system of claim 54, further comprising a proxy server in communication with the information source, the proxy server operable to select a from a plurality of transcoders to transcode the pushed information content into the acceptable content type.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein the proxy server is operable to transmit an error message to the information source where the pushed information content cannot be transcoded into the acceptable content type.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein the information source is further operable to transmit alternate content types to the proxy server in response to receiving the error message.

64. A system for pushing information content to a mobile communication device, comprising:

means for receiving a mobile communication device address from the information source;

means for providing a plurality of transcoders, each transcoder operable to transcode information content from a first content type into a second content type;

means for selecting one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders;

means for transcoding the information content using the one or more transcoders selected to generate transcoded information content; and

means for sending the transcoded information content to the mobile communication device.

65. The system of claim 64, wherein the means for selecting one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders comprises means for determining whether any of the plurality of transcoders are configured to transcode a received content type of the information content into any of one or more accepted content types that the mobile communication device is configured to accept.

66. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for determining whether any of the plurality of transcoders are configured to transcode the received content type into any of the one or more accepted content types comprises means for discarding the information content where none of the plurality of transcoders are configured to transcode the received content type into any of the one or more accepted content types.

67. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for determining whether any of the plurality of transcoders are configured to transcode the received content type into any of the one or more accepted content types comprises means for performing a default transcoding operation on the information content where none of the plurality of transcoders are configured to transcode the received content type into any of the one or more accepted content types.

68. The system of claim 67, wherein the default transcoding operation passes the information content.

69. The system of claim 67, wherein the default transcoding operation transcodes the information content into a content type previously sent to the mobile communication device.

70. The system of claim 67, wherein the means for determining whether any of the plurality of transcoders are configured to transcode the received content type into any of the one or more accepted content types comprises means for transmitting a list of selectable transcoders to the information source where none of the plurality of transcoders are configured to transcode the received content type into any of the one or more accepted content types.

71. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for selecting one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders further comprises means for selecting one or more transcoders based on the mobile communication device address where none of the plurality of transcoders are configured to transcode the received content type into any of the one or more accepted content types.

72. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for selecting one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders further comprises means for determining an address of the information source, and means for selecting one or more transcoders based on the address of the information source where none of the plurality of transcoders are configured to transcode the received content type into any of the one or more accepted content types.

73. The system of claim 64, wherein the means for selecting one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders comprises means for selecting one or more transcoders based on the mobile communication device address.

74. The system of claim 64, wherein the means for selecting one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders comprises means for determining a type of the mobile communication device, and means for selecting one or more transcoders based on the type of the mobile communication device.

75. The system of claim 64, wherein the means for selecting one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders comprises means for determining an address of the information source and means for selecting one or more transcoders based on the address of the information source.

76. The system of claim 64, wherein:

the mobile communication device address comprises a network address specifying the location of a transcoder; and

the means for selecting a transcoder from the plurality of transcoders comprises means for accessing the location specified by the network address and retrieving the transcoder.

77. The system of claim 64, further comprising means for encrypting the transcoded information content.

78. The system of claim 64, further comprising means for compressing the transcoded information content.

79. The system of claim 64, wherein the means for selecting one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders comprises:

means for searching the plurality of transcoders for a set of transcoders configured to transcode a received content type of the information content into one or more accepted content types that the mobile communication device is configured to accept;

means for generating a list of respective input content types corresponding to the set of transcoders; and

means for sending the list of respective input content types and the one or more accepted content types to the information source.

80. The system of claim 64, wherein the means for providing a plurality of transcoders comprises means for mapping the plurality of transcoders to create a plurality of map entries, each map entry associating one or more transcoders to transcode a respective input content type into a respective output content type.

81. The system of claim 80, wherein the means for mapping the plurality of transcoders to create a plurality of map entries comprises means for determining the input content types for the plurality of transcoders, determining the output content types for the plurality of transcoders, and creating a plurality of map entries, each map entry associating a respective input content type with a respective output content type.

82. A system for pushing information content from an information source to a mobile communication device over a network, comprising:

a transcoding system comprising a plurality of transcoders, each transcoder operable to transcode the information content from a respective input content type into a respective output content type; and

a proxy server in communication with the transcoding system, the proxy server comprising a push module, wherein the push module is operable to receive a connection request from the information source comprising an identifier associated with the mobile communication device, and the push module is further operable to select one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders to transcode the information content.

83. The system of claim 82, wherein the proxy server is further operable to transmit the information content transcoded by the one or more transcoders selected to the mobile communication device.

84. The system of claim 82, wherein the push module is operable to determine one or more acceptable content types that the mobile communication device is configured to accept.

85. The system of claim 84, wherein the push module is operable to search the plurality of transcoders for transcoders operable to transcode the information content from a received content type of the information content into the one or more acceptable content types.

86. The system of claim 84, wherein the transcoding system is operable generate and store mapping data comprising transcoding chains, each transcoding chain selecting one or more transcoders to transcode the information content from a respective input content type into a respective output content type.

87. The system of claim 86, wherein the push module is operable to select a transcoding chain to transcode the information content from a received content type of the information content into one of the accepted content types.

88. The system of claim 84, wherein the transcoding system comprises a configuration file associated with the plurality of transcoders, and the push module is operable to search the configuration file to determine whether any of the transcoders are operable to transcode the information content from a received content type of the information content into the one or more acceptable content types and to select the transcoders where any of the transcoders are operable to transcode the information content from the received content type into the one or more acceptable content types.

89. The system of claim 88, wherein the push module is further operable to transmit an error message to the information source where none of the transcoders are operable to transcode the information content from the received content type into the one or more acceptable content types.

90. The system of claim 89, wherein the push module is further operable receive information content in an alternate received content type in response to the error message.

91. The system of claim 88, wherein the push module is further operable to transmit a list of selectable transcoders to the information source where none of the transcoders are operable to transcode the information content from the received content type into the one or more acceptable content types.

92. The system of claim 91, wherein the push module is operable to receive selected transcoder data from the information source and to select one of the selectable transcoders from the list of selectable transcoders based on the selected transcoder data.

93. The system of claim 82, wherein the push module is operable to select one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders based on the identifier.

94. The system of claim 82, wherein the push module is further operable to determine an address of the information source, and to select one or more transcoders from the plurality of transcoders based on the address.