Method and system for storing and retrieving extensible multi-dimensional display property configurations

• US 7,506,070 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2003
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Blattman, Jeffrey T., Tran, Luu D., Myong, Su-Chong, Mueller, Thomas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lin; Kenny S
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOAN, DUYEN MY
• Application Number:
  US10/621,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20050015513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,071 Days
• Field of Search: 709/246, 709/217, 709/219, 455/414.1, 455/414.4
• US Class Current: 709/246
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/567 Integrating service provisioning from a plurality of service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

A method and system for storing and retrieving extensible multi-dimensional display property configurations. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed for the display of content that is configurable to a variety of contextual environments by reading a plurality of settings that are associated with an electronic device requesting content. The plurality of settings defines the contextual environment of the electronic device. The method continues by incorporating the plurality of settings as values in the list of filter criteria. The list of filter criteria is organized in a hierarchical order and specifies the format within which to present the content to be displayed at the electronic device. Thereafter, the method continues by matching the list of filter criteria with a resource to be displayed with the content. The resource is retrieved from memory for ultimate delivery to the electronic device for display.

Claims

1. A method for providing content to an electronic device, comprising:

receiving, from said electronic device, a request for content;

obtaining a plurality of settings associated with said electronic device, wherein said plurality of settings defines a device contextual environment for displaying the content on said electronic device;

incorporating said plurality of settings into a list of filter criteria to obtain a populated list of filter criteria, wherein said populated list of filter criteria is organized in a hierarchical order;

matching said populated list of filter criteria with one of a plurality of support chains of filter criteria, wherein each of said plurality of support chains is associated with one of a plurality of resources, wherein each of said plurality of support chains is organized in said hierarchical order, wherein matching said populated list of filter criteria with one of said plurality of support chains of filter criteria comprises;

matching filter criteria in said populated list of filter criteria with said plurality of supported chains using said hierarchical order to obtain a set of matches, wherein the set of matches do not include any exact matches;

selecting said one of said plurality of support chains of filter criteria from said set of matches, wherein selecting said one of said plurality of support chains of filter criteria from said set of matches comprises;

determining said one of said plurality of support chains of filter criteria that matches the highest number of filter criteria in said populated list of filter criteria;

determining said one of said plurality of resources associated with said one of said plurality of support chains;

retrieving said one of said plurality of resources from memory, wherein each of said plurality of resources comprises the content formatted tot one of said plurality of contextual environments, wherein said device contextual environment is similar to said one of said plurality of contextual environments corresponding to said one of said plurality of resources; and

providing, said one of said plurality of resources to said electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one filter criteria in said populated list of filter criteria is optional.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one filter criteria in said populated list of filter criteria is required.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein matching said populated list of filter criteria with one of said plurality of support chains of filter criteria comprises:

matching filter criteria in said populated list of filter criteria with said plurality of supported chains using said hierarchical order to obtain a set of matches; and

selecting said one of said plurality of support chains of filter criteria from said set of matches.

5. A portal server comprising:

a data store configured to store a plurality of resources associated with content provided by a channel, wherein each of said plurality of resources comprises said content formatted for one of a plurality of contextual environments;

a memory, coupled to said data store, configured to store a plurality of settings associated with an electronic device, wherein said plurality of settings defines a device contextual environment for displaying said content on said electronic device;

a list creator configured to incorporate said plurality of settings into a list of filter criteria to obtain a populated list of filter criteria, wherein said populated list of filter criteria is organized in a hierarchical order;

a matching engine, coupled to said memory, configured to match said populated list of filter criteria with one of a plurality of support chains of filter criteria, wherein each of said plurality of support chains is associated with one of a plurality of resources, wherein each of said plurality of support chains is organized in said hierarchical order, and wherein the matching engine is further configured to determine said one of said plurality of resources associated with said one of said plurality of support chains;

wherein matching said populated list of filter criteria with one of said plurality of support chains of filter criteria comprises;

matching filter criteria in said populated list of filter criteria with said plurality of supported chains using said hierarchical order to obtain a set of matches, wherein the set of matches do not include any exact matches;

selecting said one of said plurality of support chains of filter criteria from said set of matches, wherein selecting said one of said plurality of support chains of filter criteria from said set of matches comprises;

determining said one of said plurality of support chains of filter criteria that matches the highest number of filter criteria in said populated list of filter criteria;

wherein said portal server is configured to receive from the electronic device a request for content, wherein said portal server is further configured to obtain said plurality of settings associated with said electronic device,

wherein said portal server is further configured to retrieve said one of said plurality of resources from memory, wherein said device contextual environment is similar to said one of said plurality of contextual environments corresponding to said one of said plurality of resources, and

wherein said portal server is further configured to provide said one of plurality of resources to said electronic device.

6. The portal server of claim 5, wherein said matching engine is further configured to match filter criteria in said populated list of filter criteria with said plurality of supported chains using said hierarchical order to obtain a set of matches, and select said one of said plurality of support chains of filter criteria from said set of matches.

7. The portal server of claim 5, wherein said electronic device is coupled to said portal server through a communication network.

8. The portal server of claim 7, wherein said electronic device comprises a wireless portable electronic device.

9. A computer system comprising:

a processor; and

a computer readable memory coupled to said processor and containing program instructions that, when executed, implement a method of providing content providing content to an electronic device, comprising;

receiving, from said electronic device, a request for content;

obtaining a plurality of settings associated with said electronic device, wherein said plurality of settings defines a device contextual environment for displaying the content on said electronic device;

incorporating said plurality of settings into a list of filter criteria to obtain a populated list of filter criteria, wherein said populated list of filter criteria is organized in a hierarchical order;

matching said populated list of filter criteria with all one of a plurality of support chains of filter criteria, wherein each of said plurality of support chains is associated with one of a plurality of resources, wherein each of said plurality of support chains is organized in said hierarchical order, wherein matching said populated list of filter criteria with one of said plurality of support chains of filter criteria comprises;

matching filter criteria in said populated list of filter criteria with said plurality of supported chains using said hierarchical order to obtain a set of matches, wherein the set of matches do not include any exact matches;

selecting said one of said plurality of support chains of filter criteria from said set of matches, wherein selecting said one of said plurality of support chains of filter criteria from said set of matches comprises;

determining said one of said plurality of support chains of filter criteria that matches the highest number of filter criteria in said populated list of filter criteria;

determining said one of said plurality of resources associated with said one of said plurality of support chains;

retrieving said one of said plurality of resources from memory, wherein each of said plurality of resources comprises the content formatted tot one of said plurality of contextual environments, wherein said device contextual environment is similar to said one of said plurality of contextual environments corresponding to said one of said plurality of resources; and

providing, said one of said plurality of resources to said electronic device.

10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein at least one filter criteria in said populated list of filter criteria is optional.

11. The computer system of claim 9, wherein at least one filter criteria in said populated list of filter criteria is required.

12. The computer system of claim 9, wherein matching said populated list of filter criteria with one of said plurality of support chains of filter criteria further comprises:

matching filter criteria in said populated list of filter criteria with said plurality of supported chains using said hierarchical order to obtain a set of matches; and

selecting said one of said plurality of support chains of filter criteria from said set of matches.