Method and apparatus for server responding to query to obtain information from second database wherein the server parses information to eliminate irrelevant information in updating databases

• US 6,898,591 B1
• Filed: 11/05/1997
• Issued: 05/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Optis Wireless Technology, LLC (Brevet Capital)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Jain, Vikas, Moon, Billy Gayle, Bankler, Brian, Ramesh, Tripurasundari
• Primary Examiner(s): CHANNAVAJJALA, SRIRAMA T
• Application Number:
  US08/965,002
• Time in Patent Office: 2,757 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 10, 707100-1041, 707200-204, 707/501, 707/513, 707/530, 395/500, 395/200.79, 395/200.37, 395/200.33, 395/200.34, 705/35, 705/1, 705/5, 705/6, 709/206, 709216-219, 709/220, 709/229, 709230-232, 340990-995, 345/963, 345/968, 708/112
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/963 Calendar or scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/968 interface for database querying and retrieval

Abstract

A method and apparatus for updating databases is disclosed. A database is updated transparently using an IDL (Interface Descriptive Language) to interface with websites on the WWW (World Wide Web). Multi-media information is parsed such that the relevant information can be integrated into an application or application framework for a user'"'"'s use. The update can be performed when the device moves to a new location or a particular event occur and can be used to re-configure an entire system or just a particular application. In some embodiments, the device checks to see if a particular database is already available before obtaining a new database. The device can purge unused databases to provide space for new or additional databases.

Claims

1. A system for updating a database comprising:

an electronic device having access to a local database;

a request generator, within the electronic device that automatically generates an indirect request based upon an occurrence of an event other than a direct user request;

a query generator that generates a query from the indirect request;

a server responding to the query to obtain information from a second database wherein the server parses the obtained information to eliminate irrelevant information; and

an update device updating the local database with the obtained relevant information.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the generated request is automatically generated at pre-set intervals.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second database is remote from the local database.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the system includes an application that indicates the time the local database was last updated.

5. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the request generator first determines whether the information to be obtained is available within the electronic device.

6. The system in accordance with claim 5, wherein if the information is determined to be available within the electronic device, the query generator is instructed to not generate a query, and the local database is updated with the available information.

7. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the generated request is automatically generated when the electronic device physically moves from a first location to a second location.

8. A method for updating a database comprising the steps of:

automatically generating a request to update a database within an electronic device based on the occurrence of an event other than a direct user request;

generating a query based on the generated request and transmitting the query to a server;

obtaining information by the server, the information including information which is responsive to the query and information which is extraneous to the query, and

parsing out the extraneous information and providing the responsive information to the electronic device to update the database.

9. The method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the step of automatically generating a request is performed at pre-set intervals.

10. The method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the information is obtained from a second database which is remote from the database to be updated.

11. The method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the step of automatically generating a request includes first determining whether the information to be obtained is available within the electronic device.

12. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein if the information is determined to be available within the electronic device, the step of generating a query is skipped, and the database is updated with the available information.

13. The method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the generated request is automatically generated when the electronic device physically moves from a first location to a second location.

14. A method of updating a database, comprising:

automatically generating a request to update a database within an electronic device with information from a file external to the electronic device;

generating a script file responsive to the generated request, wherein the script file interfaces with the remote file to extract the information;

parsing the extracted information to eliminate information responsive to the script file but not responsive to the generated request; and

updating the database with the parsed information.

15. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the request is generated based upon the occurrence of an event other than a direct user request.

16. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the request is generated based on elapsed time since a previous database update.

17. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the request is generated based on a determination that the electronic device has changed location since the database was last accessed.

18. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the request is generated based on a determination that a telephone call has originated from the electronic device to a country external to the country in which the electronic device is located.

19. A method of updating a database, comprising:

automatically generating a request to update a database with information from a remote file, wherein said request is generated without user intervention;

applying a script file to the generated request, wherein the script file interfaces with the remote file to extract the information;

parsing the extracted information to eliminate irrelevant information; and

updating the database with the extracted relevant information.

20. A method of updating a database, comprising:

automatically generating a request to update a database with information from a remote file; and

checking whether the information is available locally, wherein if the information is determined to be available locally, the database is updated according to a local update method comprising;

determining whether sufficient memory space exists locally to receive the information, wherein if insufficient memory space exists, non-essential files are purged to create additional memory space; and

updating the database with the information.

21. An apparatus for updating a database, comprising:

a request generator operable to automatically generate an indirect request to update a database based upon the occurrence of an event other than a user request to update the database;

a query generator operable to generate a query responsive to the generated request to update the database;

an information server operable to receive information responsive to the generated query, wherein the received information which is non-responsive to the indirect request is parsed; and

an update device operable to update the database with the parsed information.

22. The apparatus in accordance with claim 21, wherein the request generator is configured to generate a request automatically when the request generator moves to a new physical location.

23. The apparatus in accordance with claim 21, wherein the request generator is configured to generate a request automatically a pre-set intervals.