Mobile information services

• US 20040248588A1
• Filed: 11/18/2003
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Friedman, Charles L., Pell, Mike
• Granted Patent: US 7,356,332 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• 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 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions

Abstract

Mobile communications devices display contextually relevant information based on the presence, status, and identification of a user. Lens templates control how the information is displayed and can be customized and designed for specific usage profiles. The lenses that are used can be updated at any time to accommodate changes in a user'"'"'s presence. The granularity of the lenses and corresponding information can also vary to accommodate different needs and preferences. Lenses can also be specialized for different events or venues. The lenses allow a user to access contextually relevant information from a mobile communications device having limited display and/or browse capabilities without requiring a user to navigate through undesired information, wasting valuable resources in the process.

Claims

1. A method of selecting information to be delivered to a mobile user, the method comprising:

determining that a mobile user is online;

receiving information identifying the physical location of the mobile user;

retrieving a time indicator;

retrieving aggregate user preference data;

selecting information to be communicated to the user based on the physical location of the user, the time, and aggregate user preference data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising rendering the information to be provided to the mobile user, and sending the rendered information to a mobile browser of a mobile communications device associated with the mobile user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the information to a mobile carrier to be pushed to a mobile communications device associated with the mobile user.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein rendering the information is based at least in part on an identification of the mobile communications device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving a user profile associated with the mobile user;

wherein selecting information to be communicated to the user is further based on the user profile.

6. A method of managing presentation of data to a mobile user, the method including:

defining a plurality of views, each view corresponding to one of a user location, a user interest, and a user defined category of information; and

displaying information in one or more of the views, the information displayed in one view being distinguishable from information displayed in a second view.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein information displayed in different views is associated with different visual presentations.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the different visual presentations include at least one of different colors, patterns, images and textures.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of views include a home view and a travel view.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of views include a sports view.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising displaying a blend of information from two or more views.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of views include a plurality of lenses.

13. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving information, and

assigning the information to one or more of the plurality of views.

14. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving an information item, and

receiving a view identifier associated with the information item.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving a display priority associated with the information item.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the display priority is based on aggregate user preference data.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

displaying an information item based on one or more of a view, a display priority, and a device capability identifier.

18. A method for selecting information to be delivered to a mobile communications device, the method comprising:

aggregating user preference data from tracked computer usage and tracked telephone usage from a plurality of users into one or more aggregate usage profiles; and

building one or more lenses that can be used to present information at one or more mobile communications devices and that are based upon the one or more usage profiles.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising:

selecting an appropriate one or more of the lenses to use for presenting information to a particular mobile communications device based upon at least one of a user designation associated with the mobile communications device and a presence of the mobile communications device.

20. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the tracked computer usage includes data corresponding to the information that is accessed by a plurality of users with their computers.

21. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the tracked telephone usage includes data corresponding to the information that is accessed by a plurality of users with their computers.

22. A computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for implementing a method for selecting information to be delivered to a mobile communications device, the method comprising:

aggregating user preference data from tracked computer usage and tracked telephone usage from a plurality of users into one or more aggregate usage profiles; and

building one or more lenses that can be used to present information at one or more mobile communications devices and that are based upon the one or more usage profiles.

23. A computer program product method as recited in claim 22, wherein the method further comprises:

selecting an appropriate one or more of the lenses to use for presenting information to a particular mobile communications device based upon at least one of a user designation associated with the mobile communications device and a presence of the mobile communications device.

24. A method for displaying information at a mobile communications device, the method comprising:

reflecting status data of a mobile communications device to a remote information source, the status data comprising at least one of a user designation associated with the mobile communications device and a presence of the mobile communications device;

receiving one or more lenses that control the display of information received at the mobile communications device; and

receiving and displaying the received information at the mobile communications device as specified by the one or more lenses and as corresponding to the status data.

25. A method as recited in claim 24, wherein the status data includes both the presence of the user and a user designation.

26. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein the user designation includes one of a user'"'"'s identity and an anonymous designation.

27. A method as recited in claim 24, wherein the method further includes automatically reflecting a change in the status data to the remote information source.

28. A method as recited in claim 27, the method further includes automatically receiving a new appropriate lens corresponding with the change in the status data, and with the user having to request the new appropriate lens.

29. A method as recited in claim 24, wherein a plurality of lenses that control the display of information are received at the mobile communications device and wherein the plurality of lenses are used to blend the received information into a single blended lens display.

30. A computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for implementing a method for displaying information at a mobile communications device, the method comprising:

reflecting status data of a mobile communications device to a remote information source, the status data comprising at least one of a user designation associated with the mobile communications device and a presence of the mobile communications device;

receiving one or more lenses that control the display of information received at the mobile communications device; and

receiving and displaying the received information at the mobile communications device as specified by the one or more lenses and as corresponding to the status data.

31. A computer program product as recited in claim 30, wherein the status data includes both the presence of the user and a user designation.

32. A method program product as recited in claim 30, wherein the method further includes automatically reflecting a change in the status data to the remote information source.

34. A program product as recited in claim 30, wherein a plurality of lenses that control the display of information are received at the mobile communications device and wherein the plurality of lenses are used to blend the received information into a single blended lens display.

33. A program product as recited in claim 33, wherein the method further includes automatically receiving a new appropriate lens corresponding with the change in the status data, and with the user having to request the new appropriate lens.

35. A method for displaying information at a mobile communications device, the method comprising:

reflecting status data of a mobile communications device to a remote information source, the status data comprising at least one of a user designation associated with the mobile communications device and a presence of the mobile communications device;

receiving a plurality of lenses that control the display of information that is received at the mobile communications device;

identifying two or more of the plurality of lenses to utilize when displaying the information;

receiving and blending the information at the mobile communications device into a single display, as specified by the two or more lenses, the single display corresponding at least partly on the status data.