Method and system for generating and sending a hot link associated with a user interface to a device

• US 20050120305A1
• Filed: 05/10/2002
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wildseed Mobile LLC
• Original Assignee: Varia Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Engstrom, Eric G, Graham, Tyrol R, Zatloukal, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,166,139 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/760
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 13/00 Voting apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0058 provided with channel identification means arrangements for monitoring the use made of broadcast services H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/20 Radio receiver with possibility to choose a station with a certain program style
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/93 which locates resources of other pieces of information, e.g. URL [Uniform Resource Locator]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/09 Arrangements for device control with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time; Arrangements for control of broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/80 characterised by transmission among terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/91 Mobile communication networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/85
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• 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: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 : Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42201 : biosensors, e.g. heat sensor for presence detection, EEG sensors or any limb activity sensors worn by the user input arrangements for interaction with the human body based on nervous system activity detection G06F3/015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 : Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 : Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 : for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 : Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 : Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 : Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 : Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 : Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 : Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

Abstract

The invention sends a hot link to a device. The device may be on a wireless network, a wired network, or directly coupled to the device sending the hot link. The hot link contains an associated action that is performed by the device receiving the hot link. The associated action may be performed when a user interface is activated or automatically when the hot link is received by the device. The action (1105) can be a broadcast action (1110), Internet action (1120), call action (1150), download action (1130), or upload action (1140). The broadcast action instructs the device to tune to a particular broadcast in response to the selection of the user interface. The Internet action instructs the device to access an Internet site in response to the selection of the user interface. The call action instructs the device to call a telephone number in response to the selection of user interface.

Claims

1. A mobile device method, comprising:

determining an action to be performed by a mobile device upon activation of an user interface element of the mobile device;

generating a hot link to perform the action;

generating a message containing the hot link and assignment information assigning the hot link to the user interface element of the mobile device; and

sending the message to the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the action includes at least a selected one of a broadcast action, an Internet action, a download action, an upload action, and a call action.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

determining a connection type for sending the message to the mobile device; and

determining a location of the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said generating of the message further comprises including the location of the mobile device in the message.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said generating of the message comprises formatting in accordance with a protocol corresponding to the connection type for sending the message to the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating of a hot link to perform the action comprises generating instructions that direct the recipient mobile device to tune to a broadcast.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating of a hot link to perform the action comprises generating instructions to access an Internet site.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating of a link to perform the action comprises generating instructions that direct the recipient mobile device to call a number.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating of a link to perform the action comprises generating instructions that direct the recipient mobile device to download data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating of a link to perform the action comprises generating instructions that direct the recipient mobile device to upload data.

11. The method of claim 1, further the mobile device is a member of a PAL LIST of a user of another mobile device.

12. In a mobile device, a method of operation comprising:

receiving a message comprising a hot link and assignment information assigning the hot link to an user interface element of the mobile device, the hot link comprising instructions to perform an action;

extracting the hot link and the assignment information;

assigning the hot link to the user interface element in accordance with the extracted assignment information;

executing the hot link to perform the action, responsive to a selection of the assigned user interface element.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the action includes at least a selected one of a broadcast action, an Internet action, a download action, an upload action, and a call action.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a processor to execute instructions; and

a storage medium coupled to the processor, and having stored therein instructions, when executed by the processor, enable the apparatus to

determine a first action to be performed by a mobile device upon activation of an user interface element of the mobile device,

generate a first hot link to perform the first action,

generate a first message containing the first hot link, and first assignment information assigning the first hot link to the user interface element of the mobile device, and

sending the first message to the mobile device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the user interface element includes at least one of a keypad, a hot key, a soft key, a touchpad, a wheel, a slide button, a push button, a pointing device, a virtual button, icon, a symbol, a graphic and an element of a graphical user interface.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said generating of the first hot link comprises generating instructions directing the mobile device to tune to a broadcast.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said generating of the first hot link comprises generating instructions directing the mobile device to access an Internet site.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said generating of the first hot link comprises generating instructions directing the mobile device to call a number.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said generating of the first message comprises formatting the message for a protocol in view of a connection type to be used to send the message to the mobile device.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the protocol is SMS.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is server.

22. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is a selected one of a wireless mobile phone, a pager, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a palm-sized computing device, a laptop computer, a portable radio, a portable MPx player, and a portable CD/DVD player.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the instructions, when executed, further enable the apparatus to

receive a second message comprising a second hot link and second assignment information assigning the second hot link to an user interface element of the apparatus, the second hot link comprising instructions to perform a second action;

extracting the second hot link and the second assignment information;

assigning the second hot link to the user interface element in accordance with the extracted second assignment information;

executing the second hot link to perform the second action, responsive to a selection of the assigned user interface element.

24. An apparatus comprising:

a processor to execute instructions; and

a storage medium coupled to the processor, and having stored therein instructions, when executed by the processor, enable the apparatus to

receive a message comprising a hot link and assignment information assigning the hot link to an user interface element of the apparatus, the hot link comprising instructions to perform an action;

extract the hot link and the assignment information;

assign the hot link to the user interface element in accordance with the extracted assignment information;

execute the hot link to perform the action, responsive to a selection of the assigned user interface element.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the action includes at least a selected one of a broadcast action, an Internet action, a download action, an upload action, and a call action.

26. An apparatus comprising:

means for determining an action to be performed by a mobile device upon activation of an user interface element of the mobile device;

means for generating a hot link to perform the action;

means for generating a first message containing the hot link; and

assignment information assigning the hot link to the user interface element of the mobile device; and

means for sending the message to the mobile device.