Method and device for providing interfaces that are tailored to specific devices

• US 7,730,484 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2004
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Opera Software ASA
• Original Assignee: Opera Software ASA
• Inventors: von Tetzchner, Jon S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhen; Wei Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rampuria; Satish
• Application Number:
  US10/986,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20060168388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,027 Days
• Field of Search: 717168-178, 715/744, 710/305
• US Class Current: 717/178
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4027 using bus bridges G06F13/4022 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

A generic interface device may operate as an interface with different types of electronic data devices that perform data operations. The interface device may establish communications with one of these data devices, and identify the particular type of data device based on data received from the data device. Using the identified type of data device, the interface device downloads a suitable computer program from a server. By executing the downloaded program, the interface device is able to obtain, understand and output specialized data produced by the data device.

Claims

1. An interface device comprising:

one or more communication units including one or more communication ports for communicating with one or more types of data devices and one or more remote servers, each of the one or more types of data devices being adapted to produce specialized data, and the one or more remote servers being adapted to store a plurality of computer programs; and

at least one computer processor for executing;

a first software module for processing type data received by the communication unit from a data device separate from the interface device in order to identify which of the one or more types of data devices corresponds to the separate data device; and

a second software module for executing one of the computer programs, which is downloaded from the one or more remote servers via the communication unit, the executed computer program being chosen based on the identification of the type of data device corresponding to the separate data device; and

an output device,

wherein;

each stored computer program is compatible with at least one of the one or more types of data devices, each stored computer program being adapted to output the specialized data of a compatible type of data device when executed by the second software module, the executed computer program being compatible with the identified type corresponding to the separate data device,

at least one of the one or more communication ports receives specialized data from the separate data device, and

the computer program executed by the second software module causes the output device to output the specialized data received from the separate data device.

2. The interface device of claim 1, wherein the at least one computer processor further executes:

a third software module including logic for generating a message that identifies which of the one or more types of data device corresponds to the separate data device, and for controlling the communication unit to send the generated message to the one or more remote servers.

3. The interface device of claim 2, wherein

at least two of the stored computer programs are compatible with different ones of the one or more types of data devices,

the received type data includes a code uniquely identifying the type of data device corresponding to the separate data device with respect to the others in the one or more types of data devices, and

the third software module is adapted to include the code in the generated message.

4. The interface device of claim 3, wherein

the one or more remote servers generate indicia of stored computer programs, which are compatible with the identified type corresponding to the separate data device, based on the code, and

the second software module is adapted to receive the indicia of compatible computer programs, and use selection criteria to choose one of the compatible computer programs from the received indicia to be downloaded and executed.

5. The interface device of claim 4, further comprising:

an input unit adapted to receive designations from a user,

wherein the selection criteria includes a received designation from the user regarding which of the compatible computer programs should be downloaded.

6. The interface device of claim 4, wherein

the communication unit is adapted to send the generated message to a plurality of remote servers.

7. The interface device of claim 3, wherein the third software module is adapted to include selection criteria in the generated message in addition to the code, the selection criteria being used by the one or more remote servers to choose one of a plurality of compatible computer programs to be downloaded and executed by the second processing unit.

8. The interface device of claim 1, wherein

the communication unit is adapted to send a type data request to the separate data device, the type data being sent from the separate data device in response to the type data request.

9. The interface device of claim 8, wherein the communication unit is adapted to detect a presence of the separate data device in the interface device'"'"'s vicinity, the communication unit being adapted to send the type data request when the presence of the separate data device is detected.

10. The interface device of claim 1, the interface device being a mobile telephone.

11. The interface device of claim 1, wherein the communication unit includes a standardized port for communicating with each of the one or more types of data devices.

12. The interface device of claim 1, wherein the communication unit is adapted to communicate with the one or more remote servers via the Internet.

13. The interface device of claim 12, wherein the second software module includes logic for executing a browser, the executed computer program being configured as at least one of a plug-in and script, which is executed on the browser.

14. The interface device of claim 1, further comprising:

an input unit adapted to receive user designations used by the executed computer program to obtain and output the specialized data of the separate data device.

16. The interface device of claim 1, the interface device being a handheld device.

49. The interface device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of output devices for outputting the specialized data produced by different types of separate data devices in different formats, respectively, wherein the plurality of output devices include:

a device for outputting the specialized data in audio format, and a device for outputting the specialized data in visual format.

15. An interface device, comprising:

one or more communication units including one or more communication ports for communicating with one or more types of data devices and one or more remote servers, each of the one or more types of data devices being adapted to produce specialized data, and the one or more remote servers being adapted to store a plurality of computer programs;

at least one computer processor for executing;

a first software module for processing type data received by the communication unit from a data device separate from the interface device in order to identify which of the one or more types of data device corresponds to the separate data device;

a second software module for executing one of the computer programs, which is downloaded from the one or more remote servers via the communication unit, the executed computer program being chosen based on the identification of the type of data device corresponding to the separate data device; and

an output unit adapted to output the specialized data of the one or more types of data devices in at least one of the following formats;

visual, audible, and haptic,

wherein;

each stored computer program is compatible with at least one of the one or more types of data devices, each stored computer program being adapted to output the specialized data of a compatible type of data device when executed by the second software module, the executed computer program being compatible with the identified type corresponding to the separate data device,

at least one of the one or more communication ports receives specialized data from the separate data device, and

the computer program executed by the second software module causes the output unit to output the specialized data received from the separate data device in at least one of the visual, audible, and haptic formats.

17. A method performed in an interface device for outputting specialized data comprising:

receiving via a communication port, type data from a data device separate from the interface device, the separate data device being of a particular type of data device;

processing by a computer processor, the received type data in order to identify the particular type of data device;

downloading a computer program from one or more remote servers that stores a plurality of computer programs, each stored computer program being compatible with at least one type of data device, each stored computer program being adapted to output specialized data of a compatible type of data device when executed, the downloaded computer program being chosen based on identification of the particular type of data device;

receiving specialized data via a communication port from the separate data device; and

executing by a computer processor, the downloaded computer program to output the specialized data received from the separate data device.

18. The method of claim 17, at least two of the stored computer programs being compatible with different types of data devices, the method further comprising:

sending a message that identifies the particular type of data device to the one or more remote servers,

wherein the downloaded computer program is a computer program identified by the one or more remote servers in response to the sent message.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein

the receiving step receives from the separate data device a code uniquely identifying the particular type of data device from other types of data devices, and

the method further comprises:

inserting the code in the message to be sent to the one or more remote servers.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving indicia from the one or more remote servers of stored computer programs, which are compatible with the particular type of data device, the indicia being received in response to the sent message; and

using selection criteria to choose one of the compatible computer programs from the received indicia to be downloaded and executed.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving a designation from a user,

wherein the using step uses the received user designation to choose the compatible computer program to be downloaded and executed.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the sending step sends the message to a plurality of remote servers.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the receiving indicia step receives indicia of a set of compatible computer programs, which are distributively stored on at least two of the remote servers.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

inserting selection criteria, in addition to the code, in the message to be sent to the one or more remote servers, the selection criteria including information to be used by the one or more servers to choose one of the stored computer programs, which is compatible with the particular type of data device, to be downloaded and executed.

25. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

sending a type data request to the separate data device, wherein the type data is sent from the separate data device in response to the type data request.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

detecting a presence of the separate data device, and

sending the type data request to the separate data device in response to the detecting step.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein the downloading step downloads the stored computer program from the one or more remote servers via the Internet.

28. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving user designations for use by the executed computer program to obtain and output the specialized data from the separate data device.

29. The method of claim 17, wherein the outputting step outputs the specialized data in at least one of the following formats:

visual, audible, and haptic.

30. The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more types of data devices include sensors, the computer program being executed to output sensor data.

31. The method of claim 17, wherein the particular type of data device is one of:

a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, and a blood glucose sensor.

32. A handheld interface device adapted to perform the method of claim 17.

33. A set of instructions encoded on a computer-readable storage device to be executed by one or more computer processors to cause an interface device to perform the following:

receive via a communication port, type data from a data device separate from the interface device, the remote data device being of a particular type of data device;

process by a computer processor, the received type data in order to identify the particular type of data device;

download a computer program from one or more remote servers that stores a plurality of computer programs, each stored computer program being compatible with at least one type of data device, each stored computer program being adapted to output specialized data of a compatible type of data device when executed, the downloaded computer program being chosen based on identification of the particular type of data device;

receive via a communication port, specialized data from the separate data device; and

execute via a computer processor, the downloaded computer program to output the specialized data received from the separate data device.

34. The set of instructions of claim 33, wherein

at least two of the stored computer programs are compatible with different types of data devices, and

the instructions are executed to further perform:

sending a message that identifies the particular type of data device to the one or more remote servers, the downloaded computer program being a computer program identified by the one or more remote servers in response to the sent message.

35. The set of instructions of claim 34, wherein

the received type data includes a code that uniquely identifies the particular type of data device from other types of data devices, and

the instructions are executed to further perform:

inserting the code in the message to be sent to the one or more remote servers.

36. The set of instructions of claim 35, wherein the instructions are executed to further perform:

receiving indicia from the one or more remote servers of stored computer programs, which are compatible with the particular type of data device, the indicia being received in response to the sent message; and

using selection criteria to choose one of the compatible computer programs from the received indicia to be downloaded and executed.

37. The set of instructions of claim 36, wherein the instructions are executed to further cause the interface device to:

receive a designation from a user, the received user designation being used to choose the compatible computer program to be downloaded and executed.

38. The set of instructions of claim 36, wherein the message is sent to a plurality of remote servers.

39. The set of instructions of claim 38, wherein the received indicia identifies a set of compatible computer programs, which are distributively stored on at least two of the remote servers.

40. The set of instructions of claim 35, wherein the instructions are executed to further cause the interface device to:

insert selection criteria, in addition to the code, in the message to be sent to the one or more remote servers, the selection criteria including information to be used by the one or more remote servers to choose one of the stored computer programs, which is compatible with the particular type of data device, to be downloaded and executed.

41. The set of instructions of claim 33, wherein the instructions are executed to further perform:

sending a type data request to the remote data device, wherein the type data is sent from the remote data device in response to the type data request.

42. The set of instructions of claim 41, wherein the instructions are executed to further perform:

detecting a presence of the separate data device, and

sending the type data request to the particular type of device in response to the detecting step.

43. The set of instructions of claim 33, wherein the downloading of the computer program is performed via the Internet.

44. The set of instructions of claim 33, wherein the instructions are executed to further cause the interface device to:

receiving user designations for use by the executed computer program to obtain and output the specialized data from the separate data device.

45. The set of instructions of claim 33, wherein the specialized data is output in at least one of the following formats:

visual, audible, and haptic.

46. The set of instructions of claim 33, wherein the one or more types of data devices include sensors, the computer program being executed to output sensor data.

47. The set of instructions of claim 33, wherein the particular type of data device is one of:

a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, and a blood glucose sensor.

48. A handheld interface device that executes the set of instructions of claim 33.