Content access from a communications network using a handheld computer system and method

• US 7,747,781 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2001
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Access Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Inventors: Maurya, Sanjiv, Turcotte, Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): Nawaz; Asad M
• Application Number:
  US09/839,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20020156833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,357 Days
• Field of Search: 709/264, 709217-229, 709200-207, 709/245, 709/243, 709236-238, 345/804, 345/806, 707/2, 707/10, 707/200, 715/667, 715/670, 715522-524, 715/234, 715/239, 341/50, 718/103, 718/105
• US Class Current: 709/246
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• 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 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A handheld computer including a wireless communications link with a wireless server is disclosed. The wireless communications link allows browsing of information provided through the wireless server which is coupled to a communications network. A user of the handheld computer may generate a request for content, for example, by selecting a link to content. The request is communicated to the wireless server which requests the content from the content source. When the content is received by the wireless server, a plug-in mechanism or other type of software program is used to convert the particular content type into a format easily communicated and used by the handheld computer. The handheld computer receives the formatted content, and using a compatible plug-in mechanism or software program, is able to display content using the handheld computer.

Claims

1. A handheld computer system to access content for a user, comprising:

a handheld computer capable of transmitting a request for content and lacking the capability to access the content in an unformatted form;

a first server in communication with the handheld computer;

a second server with formatting capability to format the content of the request, and in communication with the first server, to receive the request for content, the second server being configured to send the formatted request to a source of the content;

a third server in wireless communication with both the first server and with the second server over a wireless communication link, the third server being a source for the content requested by the handheld computer, the third server receiving the formatted request from the second server and delivering the content requested to the second server;

the second server further having formatting capability and configured to format the content requested into a form for delivery to the handheld computer; and

wherein the first server is configured to retrieve formatted content from the second server and send the formatted content to the handheld computer;

the handheld computer configured to receive the requested formatted content, from the first server and to provide access to the content by the user of the handheld computer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first server is configured to receive the request for content from the handheld computer.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first server is configured to retrieve the content from the third server.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first server is configured to provide the content to the second server.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the second server is configured to convert the content to a convened format suitable for communication to the handheld computer.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the first server is configured to communicate a link to the content, on the third server, to the second server.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the second server is configured to retrieve the content from the third server.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the second server is configured to convert the content to a converted format suitable for communication to the handheld computer.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the handheld computer is in wireless communication with the first server.

10. A handheld computer system to access content for a user, comprising:

a handheld computer capable of transmitting a request for content and lacking the capability to access the content in an unformatted form;

a wireless gateway;

a first server in communication with the wireless gateway;

a second server with formatting capability to format the content of the request, and in communication with the first server, to receive the request for content, the second server being configured to send the formatted request for content to a source of the content provided the second server is configured with formatting software for the request type of content;

a third server in wireless communication with both the first server and with second server being a source for content as requested by the handheld computer, the third server receiving the formatted request from the second server and delivering the content requested to the second server; and

the second server further having formatting capability and configured to format the content requested into a form for delivery to a handheld computer through the wireless gateway.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the second server is configured to receive the request for content from the handheld computer.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the second server is configured to retrieve the content from the third server.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the third server is configured to provide the content to the second server.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the second server is configured to convert the content to a convened format suitable for communication to the handheld computer.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the first server is configured to communicate a link to the content, on the third server, to the second server.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the second server is configured to retrieve the content from the third server.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the second server is configured to convert the content to a converted format suitable for communication to the handheld computer.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the handheld computer is in wireless communication with the first server through the wireless gateway.