Numeric/voice name Internet access architecture and methodology

• US 7,543,227 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2005
• Issued: 06/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: VeriSign, Inc.
• Original Assignee: VeriSign, Inc.
• Inventors: Dutcher, William R., Griswold, Timothy J., Conley, Patrick J.
• Primary Examiner(s): RIES, LAURIE ANNE
• Application Number:
  US11/039,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20050125723A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,590 Days
• Field of Search: 715/513, 715/234, 455/3.01
• US Class Current: 715/234
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9566 URL specific, e.g. using aliases, detecting broken or misspelled links
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location

Abstract

A system that provides users of both fixed and wireless Internet devices, a method of entering numbers instead of the text characters of Internet Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) and other Internet identifiers to access Internet resources and functions, such as Web sites, e-mail services, individual documents or files, location services, etc. When the user enters a WebNum, the digits of the WebNum are sent to a database on a system that is accessible over the Internet. The database maps the WebNum back to a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), which contains a hostname in the Internet domain name structure. This would subsequently be resolved through the Internet Domain Name System (DNS) to an IP address to identify the IP address of the Web site. The cell phone provider or WID network provider would then retrieve the home page of the Web site over the Internet, to return content to the cell phone or WID display.

Claims

1. A method for accessing an email address based on a request from a wireless device, the method comprising:

receiving a transmitted code number from a wireless device, said code number being representative of a particular email address, wherein said code number corresponds to a voice name associated with said particular email address;

searching a database for said code number, said database being located at a location remote from said wireless device; and

if said code number is found, retrieving said particular email address and returning said email address to said wireless device.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said searching returns multiple email addresses to said wireless device, said wireless device displaying said multiple email addresses and allowing a user to choose from among said multiple email addresses.

3. A system for accessing an email address with a wireless device, the system comprising:

a database storing relationships between a code number and an email address, said code number being representative of a particular email address, wherein said code number corresponds to a voice name associated with the email address, said database being located at a location remote from said wireless device; and

a controller which receives a transmitted code number from said wireless device, said controller operable to search said database for said transmitted code number, and if said code number is found, retrieving said particular email address and sending said particular email address to said wireless device.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein said searching returns multiple email addresses to said wireless device, said wireless device displaying said multiple email addresses and allowing a user to choose from among said multiple email addresses.

5. A method for accessing an email address from a web-enabled device, the method comprising:

transmitting a code number from said web-enabled device, said code number being representative of a particular email address, said transmission causing a database to be searched for said code number, wherein said code number corresponds to a voice name associated with the email address, said database being located at a location remote from said wireless device; and

receiving said particular email address at said web-enabled device.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said searching returns multiple email addresses to said web-enabled device, said web-enabled device displaying said multiple email addresses and allowing a user to choose from among said multiple email addresses.