Radio terminal for browsing the internet

• US 6,985,754 B1
• Filed: 04/25/2000
• Issued: 01/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Pedersen, Claus, Hansen, Lars Bohn
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Congvan
• Application Number:
  US09/959,414
• Time in Patent Office: 2,086 Days
• Field of Search: 705/5, 709/256, 709/14, 709/203, 4555561-5562, 455/557, 455/560, 455/550.1, 455/455, 455/449, 370351-356
• US Class Current: 455/556.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• 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 67/289 Intermediate processing functionally located close to the data consumer application, e.g. in same machine, in same home or in same sub-network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/59 Providing operational support to end devices by off-loading in the network or by emulation, e.g. when they are unavailable
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• 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: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

A system comprising at least one terminal and a server in radio communication therewith. The terminal comprises a transceiver, arranged to send radio packets to and receive radio packets from the server, and a browser application for displaying content, arranged to initiate a first application by accessing a first item associated with the first application using a first content identifier. The application is provided by the combination of the first item and further items each of which is accessible using an individual content identifier, and each of which comprises content or means for linking to content. The terminal further comprises a user interface connected to the browser having a display for displaying content and user input means. The server has a transceiver for sending and receiving radio packets from the terminal and a storage for storing content, accessible for transfer to the terminal.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

at least one terminal and a server in radio communication therewith, the at least one terminal including

a transceiver arranged to send radio packets to and receive radio packets from the server;

a browser application for displaying content, arranged to initiate a first application by accessing a first item associated with the first application using a first content identifier, the first application being provided by the combination of the first item and further items each of which is accessible using an individual content identifier, and each of which comprises content or means for linking to content; and

a user interface connected to the browser application having a display for displaying content and user input means;

the server having a transceiver for sending and receiving radio packets from the terminal

and a storage for storing content, accessible for transfer to the terminal, the stored content comprising the first item accessible using the first content identifier and the further items, each of which is accessible using individual content identifiers, and each of which comprises content or means for linking to content, the first item on transfer to the terminal including identifying means for identifying to the browser the content identifiers of the further items; and

link means for automatically providing a link from the first item to each of a plurality of further items, each link using an individual content identifier, and wherein activation of each link provides for access to the further items and thereby a functionality of the first application, wherein the server is arranged to asynchronously transfer the first item to the terminal.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first item, on transfer to the terminal, comprises transfer means for transferring the further items from the server to the terminal for storage in a memory in the terminal where the further items may be accessed using individual content identifiers.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the link means of the first item additionally has means for providing a visual indication of the link on the display and for providing for user activation of a displayed link.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein access to the first item and further items by the browser includes attempting to read the item from a memory in the terminal and then, if unsuccessful, requesting transfer of the item from the server by sending a radio packet containing the appropriate content identifier and receiving in reply a radio packet or radio packets containing the item.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a content identifier is a URL.

6. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the transfer means transfers only those items which are not already stored locally.

7. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein on transfer of the first item to the terminal, the identifying means, the link means and the transfer means are activatable to establish a hierarchy of items.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the identifying means, the link means and the transfer means are activated automatically when the first item is transferred.

9. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the browser application may be updated by updating the identifying means and the link means of the first item in the server and transferring the updated first item to the terminal.

10. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the browser application may be updated by updating the content of further items in the server and transferring the updated items to the terminal.

11. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein on the first activation of the first application, all items associated with an application are transferred from the server to the terminal.

12. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein communication between the terminal and server is in accordance with the Wireless Application Protocol and the first item is a deck and the further items are either cards or decks.

13. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the terminal comprises arbitration means for determining whether an item received from the server is in reply to a request for access by the browser application and should be directed to the browser application or is not in reply to a request for access by the browser application and should be directed to local storage.

14. A system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the arbitration means makes the determination on the basis of an identifier provided by the server.

15. A system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the browser application, after receiving content from the arbitration means stores the content in a memory.

16. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the terminal has an unpartitioned memory.

17. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the terminal further comprises a SIM card and a SIM card reader for reading the contents of the SIM card, the SIM card storing the first content identifier.

18. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the terminal further comprises means for creating content in association with an item and means for transferring the created content to the server.

19. A system as claimed in claim 18 wherein the created content transferred to the server updates the items stored therein for future transfer to the terminal.

20. A system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the means for creating content creates a new further item which is then transferred by the means for transferring content.

21. A system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the means for creating content adapts the content of an existing item which is then transferred by the means for transferring content.

22. A system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the means for creating content creates content in dependence on the accessing of items by the browser application.

23. A system as claimed in claim 22 wherein the means for creating content identifies that an item has been accessed.

24. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein pairs of the further items are associated, the first further item of the pair holding content for access by the browser application and viewing by the user and the second further item of the pair storing content identifying a parameter associated with first item.

25. A system as claimed in claim 24 wherein the parameter identifies whether the first further item has been accessed by the browser application and viewed by the user.

26. A system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the means for creating content adapts the parameter of the second further item of a pair of further items when the first further item of the pair is accessed by the browser application.

27. A system as claimed in claim 24 wherein the second further item of the pair is used to provide a visual indication on the display.

28. A system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the means for transferring the created content composes a message comprising the created content for transfer to the server.

29. A system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the message is sent asynchronously to the server by the means for transferring created content.

30. A system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the message is stored in an output box buffer in the terminal until there is radio communication between the server and the terminal and is then emptied automatically.

31. A system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the means for transferring the created content is activated on exiting an application.

32. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each further item has means for exiting the further item when accessed by the browser application, wherein activation of the means for exiting updates the server and then the server transfers the updated item or items to the terminal.

33. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a further item when accessed by the browser application has exit means for exiting the further item and simultaneously exiting the application.

34. A system as claimed in claim 33 wherein the means for exiting is an event handler activated by the creation of an event on exiting an item accessed by the browser.

35. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the terminal provided with a second item is arranged to give an indication upon storage of an item in the terminal.

36. A system as claimed in claim 35, wherein said second item comprises at least a static part, and reserves or removes a reservation of an indication for a dedicated item.

37. A system as claimed in claim 35, wherein said second item comprises at least a dynamic part, and will enable the user to delete or insert an indication an indication of an arbitrary item.

38. A system as claimed in claim 37, wherein said second item comprises both a dynamic and a static part.

39. A system as claimed in claim 35, wherein said second item is further arranged to handle the indications in a First In First Out (FIFO) priority order.

40. A system comprising:

at least one terminal and a server in radio communication therewith, the terminal including

a receiver arranged to receive radio packets from the server,

a memory,

a browser application for displaying content, arranged to initiate a first application by reading a first item associated with the first application from the memory using a first content identifier, the first application being provided by the combination of the first item and further items each of which is accessible from the memory using an individual content identifier, and each of which comprises content or means for linking to content, and

a user interface connected to the browser application having a display for displaying content and user input means; and

the server having a transmitter for sending radio packets to the terminal and a storage for storing content, accessible for transfer to the terminal, the stored content comprising the first item and the further items, the first item on transfer to the terminal including

identifying means for identifying to the browser application the content identifiers of the further items; and

link means for automatically providing a link from the first item to each of a plurality of further items, each link using an individual content identifier, wherein activation of the links provides for access to the further items and thereby a functionality of the first application, wherein the server is arranged to asynchronously transfer the combination of first and further items to the terminal.

41. A server for providing and updating a first application on a terminal via radio communication, comprising:

a transceiver for sending and receiving radio packets from the terminal and a storage means for storing content, accessible for transfer to the terminal, the stored content comprising a first item accessible using the first content identifier and further items, each of which is accessible using individual content identifiers, and each of which comprises content or means for linking to content, the first item including

identifying means for identifying to a browser the content identifiers of the further items; and

link means for automatically providing a link from the first item to each of a plurality of further items, each link using an individual content identifier, wherein activation of the links provides for access to the further items and thereby a functionality of the first application, wherein the server is arranged to asynchronously transfer the first item to the terminal.

42. A method of providing functionality of an application in a browser of a terminal by creating a hierarchy of inter-linked items by transferring the items over a radio link from a server, wherein entrance to said hierarchy is through a first item, accessible through the browser using a first content identifier, the first item identifying further items in the hierarchy accessible through the browser using content identifiers and providing for links to the further items using the content identifiers, comprising the steps of:

initiating the application in the terminal by accessing the first item using its content identifier through the browser;

transferring the first item from the server to the terminal;

using the content identifiers of the further items in the first item to transfer the further items from the server to the terminal; and

creating links between the first item and the further items, so that a functionality of the application results from activation of the links and wherein the server is arranged to asynchronously transfer the first item to the terminal.