Geographical web browser, methods, apparatus and systems

• US 20050227739A1
• Filed: 05/27/2005
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Push Data LLC (Equitable IP Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Geobrowser Innovations LP
• Inventors: Dowling, Eric Morgan, MacFarlane, Duncan Leo, Anastasi, Mark Nicholus
• Granted Patent: US 7,215,947 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• 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 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A geographical web browser allows a user to navigate a network application such as the Word Wide Web by physically navigating in geographical coordinates and roaming through coverage areas of cellular base stations, wireless LANs, microcells, and other such broadcast domains. A mobile unit communicates with a network server via an air interface that supports wireless packet data. A network server uses a set of user preferences to filter a set of server-side information in accordance with a user'"'"'s interest. A content-selective information filter performs a network server-side search to identify content that matches the user'"'"'s preferences and automatically downloads the information to the mobile unit based on a geographic event.

Claims

1. A method of processing unsolicited push messages, comprising:

storing in a mobile unit filter data indicative of information a user of the mobile unit is interested in receiving in one or more unsolicited push messages;

receiving, by the mobile terminal, an unsolicited push message including at least data indicative information content related to unsolicited push message;

performing a comparison between the filter data and data indicative information content related to unsolicited push message; and

selectively passing an indication of receipt of the unsolicited push message to a user interface output device if the comparison produced a positive result.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the filter data comprises at least one keyword.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the filter data comprises at least one indication of at least one category of information content.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the unsolicited push message is displayed in a display device.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein:

the portion of the information message displayed is less than the entire information message; and

in response to a user selection, further information related to the unsolicited push message downloaded and displayed.

6. A mobile unit apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a user interface subsystem;

a filter module that stores filter data indicative of information a user of the mobile unit is interested in receiving in one or more unsolicited push messages;

a receiver coupled to receive an unsolicited push message, wherein the unsolicited push message includes an indication of information content related to the unsolicited push message;

a filter software operative on the processor and including;

a first function that performs a comparison between the indication of information content and the filter data; and

a first function that causes an indication to be coupled to the user interface subsystem if the first function produces a positive comparison result.

7. The mobile unit apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the filter data comprises at least one keyword.

8. The mobile unit apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the filter data comprises at least one indication of at least one category of information content.

9. The mobile unit apparatus according to claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the unsolicited push message is displayed in a display device.

10. The mobile unit apparatus according to claim 9, wherein:

the portion of the information message displayed is less than the entire information message; and

in response to a user selection, further information related to the unsolicited push message downloaded and displayed.

11. A system for sending, receiving and filtering unsolicited push messages, comprising:

a module that causes to be pushed onto a wireless channel an unsolicited push message, wherein the unsolicited push message contains an indication of information content;

a mobile unit comprising;

a processor;

a receiver configured to receive the unsolicited push message from the wireless channel;

a user interface subsystem;

a software operative on the processor comprising;

a first function to maintain a database of parameters identifying information content;

a second function to compare at least one information field in the unsolicited push message to determine whether it compares positively with any of the parameters stored in the database;

a third function to selectively notify the user via the user interface subsystem when the second function produces a positive comparison result.

12. The mobile unit apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the filter data comprises at least one keyword.

13. The mobile unit apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the filter data comprises at least one indication of at least one category of information content.

14. The mobile unit apparatus according to claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the unsolicited push message is displayed in a display device.

15. The mobile unit apparatus according to claim 14, wherein:

the portion of the information message displayed is less than the entire information message; and

in response to a user selection, further information related to the unsolicited push message downloaded and displayed.

16. The system according to claim 11 wherein the wireless channel corresponds to a wireless local area network.

17. The system according to claim 11 wherein the wireless channel corresponds to a cellular base station data channel transmitted into at least a portion of a cell of a cellular communication system.