Push content filtering for short range communication

• US 20040219882A1
• Filed: 06/02/2004
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ari Aarnio, Jarkko Lempio, Mikko Rautiainen, Timo M. Laitinen, Tomi Heinonen
• Original Assignee: Ari Aarnio, Jarkko Lempio, Mikko Rautiainen, Timo M. Laitinen, Tomi Heinonen
• Inventors: Aarnio, Ari, Lempio, Jarkko, Laitinen, Timo M., Heinonen, Tomi, Rautiainen, Mikko
• Granted Patent: US 7,308,269 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• 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: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access

Abstract

The user of a mobile terminal capable of receiving low-power, short-range transmissions enters keywords indicative of messages the user wishes to peruse. When the mobile terminal receives a short-range transmission having a message, keywords associated with the message are compared with the user-entered keywords; if any match, a banner portion of the message is displayed on the mobile terminal and the mobile terminal issues a sensible alert. The user may request to view the message body associated with the banner portion. The user may request to take actions regarding the message body, such as storing the message body in the mobile terminal or calling a telephone number contained in the message body.

Claims

40. A mobile terminal of a user comprising:

a processor;

an input device connected to the processor;

a storage device connected to the processor for storing at least filter data indicative of information the mobile terminal user is desirous of viewing;

a short-range transceiver connected to the processor for receiving a short-range communication comprising a message and communication data indicative of the nature of information in the short-range communication, wherein said short-range communication is received from a local information source;

a display connected to the processor for displaying at least a portion of the message; and

filter software operative on the processor for;

directing to the display at least a portion of the message;

performing a comparison between the communication data and the filter data stored on the storage device; and

causing an indication sensible by the mobile terminal user if predetermined criteria between the communication data and the filter data are met within the comparison.

41. The mobile terminal of claim 40, wherein the short-range transceiver comprises a Bluetooth transceiver.

42. The mobile terminal of claim 40, further comprising:

a mobile network transceiver connected to the processor for receiving communications from a mobile network of the mobile terminal.

43. The mobile terminal of claim 40, wherein the local information source comprises at least one of a retail store and a shopping mall equipped with a short-range transmitter.

44. The mobile terminal of claim 43, wherein the short-range transmitter comprises a Bluetooth transmitter.

45. The mobile terminal of claim 40, wherein the mobile terminal comprises one of a personal data assistant (PDA) and a portable computer.

46. The mobile terminal of claim 40, wherein the mobile terminal comprises a mobile telephone.

47. The mobile terminal of claim 46, wherein the mobile telephone is capable of receiving both short-range communication and communications from a network of the mobile telephone.

48. The mobile terminal of claim 40, wherein the filter software is operative for taking, in response to a predetermined indication from the user, an action regarding the message.

49. The mobile terminal of claim 48, wherein the displayed portion of the message is less than the entire message, and the action is to display the entire message.

50. The mobile terminal of claim 48, wherein the user interacts with the input device of the mobile terminal to make the predetermined indication.

51. The mobile terminal of claim 50, wherein the input device comprises at least one of a keyboard and a keypad.

52. The mobile terminal of claim 48, wherein the mobile terminal is a mobile telephone and the action is to dial a telephone number contained in the short-range communication.

53. The mobile terminal of claim 48, wherein the action is to store at least a portion of the short-range communication in the mobile terminal.

54. The mobile terminal of claim 40, wherein a filter datum of the filter data is displayed on the display, when the predetermined criteria was met in the comparison between said filter datum and a topic datum of the communication data.

55. The mobile terminal of claim 40, wherein the input device is used to enter the filter data into the mobile terminal.

56. The mobile terminal of claim 40, further comprising:

means for downloading the filter data from another device into the mobile terminal.

57. The mobile terminal of claim 56, wherein the means for downloading comprises the filter software.

58. The mobile terminal of claim 40, wherein the input device comprises:

a keyboard or keypad of the mobile terminal.

59. The mobile terminal of claim 40, wherein the filter data comprises keywords.

60. The mobile terminal of claim 59, further comprising:

a generator of additional keywords related to the keywords comprising the filter data.

61. The mobile terminal of claim 60, wherein the generator of additional keywords comprises:

a thesaurus and/or dictionary module.

62. The mobile terminal of claim 40, wherein the short-range communication comprises a body and a header, wherein the body comprises the message, wherein the header comprises a banner and at least one keyword, and wherein the at least one keyword comprises the communication data indicative of the nature of information in the short-range communication.

63. A system in a mobile terminal for identifying matches between information a user of the mobile terminal is desirous of viewing and a received short-range communication comprising a message and communication data indicative of the nature of information in the short-range communication, the system comprising:

a processor;

a storage device;

a display; and

software means operative on the processor for;

maintaining in the storage device a database of keywords identifying the information the mobile terminal user is desirous of viewing;

displaying at least a portion of the message in the short-range communication;

scanning the communication data in the short-range communication to find matches between the communication data and the keywords stored in the storage device; and

providing a sensible indication to the mobile terminal user if predetermined criteria between the communication data and the keywords are met.

1. A method for a user of a mobile terminal to receive information in a short-range communication from a local information source, the method comprising the steps of:

maintaining, on the mobile terminal, filter data indicative of information the mobile terminal user is desirous of viewing;

receiving, by the mobile terminal, the short-range communication from the local information source, wherein the short-range communication comprises a message and communication data indicative of the nature of information in the short-range communication;

displaying on a display of the mobile terminal at least a portion of the message in the short range communication;

performing, by the mobile terminal, a comparison between the communication data and the filter data according to a predetermined criteria; and

providing, by the mobile terminal, a sensible indication to the mobile terminal user if predetermined criteria between the communication data and the filter data are met within the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the short-range communication comprises a Bluetooth transmission.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the local information source comprises at least one of a retail store and a shopping mall equipped with a short-range transmitter.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the short-range transmitter comprises a Bluetooth transmitter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal comprises one of a personal data assistant (PDA) and a portable computer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal comprises a mobile telephone.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the mobile telephone is capable of receiving both short-range communication and communications from a network of the mobile telephone.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the filter data comprises first keywords;

the communication data comprises second keywords;

the predetermined criteria are deemed met when any first keywords match any second keywords; and

the sensible indication is at least one of;

sounding an audible signal;

emphasizing at least a portion of the displayed portion of the message; and

causing the mobile terminal to vibrate.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the filter data comprises first keywords;

the communication data comprises second keywords;

the predetermined criteria are deemed met when no first keywords match any second keywords; and

the sensible indication is de-emphasizing at least a portion of the displayed portion of the message.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayed portion of the message is the entire message.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

taking, in response to a predetermined indication from the user, an action regarding the message.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the displayed portion of the message is less than the entire message, and the action is to display the entire message.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined indication comprises pressing a button on the mobile terminal.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

displaying a prompt informing the user of at least one of the predetermined indication and the action which can be taken regarding the message.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the prompt comprises an indicia representing a button on the mobile terminal.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the prompt comprises an indicia informing the user that more of the message remains to be displayed.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the prompt comprises an indicia informing the user of the action which can be taken regarding the message.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the mobile terminal is a mobile telephone and the action is to dial a telephone number contained in the short-range communication.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the action is to store at least a portion of the short-range communication in the mobile terminal.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayed portion of the message is less than the entire message, further comprising the steps of:

displaying, in response to a first predetermined indication from the user, the entire message; and

taking, in response to a second predetermined indication from the user, an action regarding the message.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

displaying a first prompt informing the user that more of the message remains to be displayed; and

displaying a second prompt informing the user of at least one of the second predetermined indication and the action which can be taken regarding the message.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

displaying a filter datum of the filter data, wherein the predetermined criteria was met in the comparison between said filter datum and a topic datum of the communication data.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

entering, by the user, the filter data into the mobile terminal.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of entering the filter data comprises the step of:

downloading the filter data from another device into the mobile terminal.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of entering the filter data comprises the step of:

using a keyboard or keypad of the mobile terminal to enter the filter data into the mobile terminal.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the filter data comprises keywords.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of:

generating additional keywords related to the keywords entered by the user.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the step of generating additional keywords is performed by a thesaurus and/or dictionary module.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the thesaurus and/or dictionary module is located in the mobile terminal.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the thesaurus and/or dictionary module is located in a network accessible by the mobile terminal.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the thesaurus and/or dictionary module is located in at least one of the mobile terminal and a network accessible by the mobile terminal.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication data indicative of the nature of information in the short-range communication comprises header information in the short-range communication.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the performed comparison is between at least one field of the header information and the filter data.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication data indicative of the nature of information in the short-range communication comprises the message in the short-range communication.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the comparison performed is between the message in the short-range communication and the filter data.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined criteria depends upon contents of the short-range communication.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined criteria depends upon a type of the short-range communication.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined criteria depends upon a sender of the short-range communication.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein the short-range communication comprises a body and a header, wherein the body comprises the message, wherein the header comprises a banner and at least one keyword, and wherein the at least one keyword comprises the communication data indicative of the nature of information in the short-range communication.

64. The system of claim 63, wherein the short-range communication comprises a Bluetooth communication.

65. The system of claim 63, wherein the local information source comprises at least one of a retail store and a shopping mall equipped with a short-range transmitter.

66. The system of claim 65, wherein the short-range transmitter comprises a Bluetooth transmitter.

67. The system of claim 63, wherein the mobile terminal comprises a mobile telephone.

68. The system of claim 65, wherein the action is to store at least a portion of the short-range communication in the mobile terminal.

69. The system of claim 63, wherein a filter datum of the filter data is displayed on the display, when the predetermined criteria was met in the comparison between said filter datum and a topic datum of the communication data.

70. The system of claim 63, wherein the filter data comprises keywords.

71. The system of claim 70, wherein the software means is operative for generating additional keywords related to the keywords comprising the filter data.

72. The system of claim 63, wherein the short-range communication comprises a body and a header, wherein the body comprises the message, wherein the header comprises a banner and at least one keyword, and wherein the at least one keyword comprises the communication data indicative of the nature of information in the short-range communication.

64-1. The system of claim 67, wherein the mobile telephone is capable of receiving both short-range communication and communications from a network of the mobile telephone.

65-2. The system of claim 63, wherein the software means is operative for taking, in response to a predetermined indication from the user, an action regarding the message.

66-3. The system of claim 65, wherein the displayed portion of the message is less than the entire message, and the action is to display the entire message.

67-4. The system of claim 65, wherein the mobile terminal is a mobile telephone and the action is to dial a telephone number contained in the short-range communication.