Method and system for synchronising bookmarks

• US 7,844,576 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2006
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Gopalan, Balaji, Gilhuly, Barry, Kruis, Dave
• Primary Examiner(s): Trujillo; James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Casanova; Jorge A
• Application Number:
  US11/550,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20080098039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,503 Days
• Field of Search: 707/2, 707201-204, 707/999.002, 707/999.003, 707/999.004, 707/999.005, 707/999.006, 707/999.007, 707/999.008, 707/999.009, 707/999.201, 707/999.202, 707/999.203, 707/999.204, 707/621, 707/695, 709/212, 709/217
• US Class Current: 707/621
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9562 Bookmark management

Abstract

Systems and methods for synchronizing bookmarks between communications devices are provided. Bookmarks refer to user-defined and nicknamed URLs as local parameters in Browser software, also sometimes known as “Favorites”. Real-time synchronization of bookmarks is accomplished through an application of “push technology”. Upon identifying a change in the set of bookmarks of a communications device, the communications device transmits an indication of the change to the network. The network uses push technology to push the indication to the other communications device. Once the indication is received by the other communications device, the other communications device updates its set of bookmarks according to the indication thereby achieving synchronization. Synchronization may be performed between two or more devices.

Claims

1. A method for execution in a communications device, the method comprising:

maintaining a set of bookmarks on an ongoing basis; and

upon determining that a first site referred to by a bookmark of the set of bookmarks redirects to a second site;

updating the bookmark so that the bookmark refers to the second site;

determining whether to synchronise the bookmark with another communications device based on whether the second site is intended for a small screen device or a large screen device and whether the other communications device is a small screen device or a large screen device; and

sending an indication of the second site for synchronisation with the other communications device if so determined.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein maintaining the set of bookmarks comprises:

maintaining the set of bookmarks according to a tree structure, the tree structure providing organisation of the set of bookmarks.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

maintaining a plurality of user profiles;

wherein the set of bookmarks are in respect of one of the plurality of user profiles.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving using push technology an indication from a network to update the set of bookmarks so as to synchronise at least a portion of the set of bookmarks with another set of bookmarks stored elsewhere; and

updating the set of bookmarks according to the indication that has been received.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein updating the set of bookmarks according to the indication comprises at least one of:

adding at least one new bookmark according to the indication;

editing at least one existing bookmark according to the indication;

deleting at least one existing bookmark according to the indication; and

updating a tree structure of the set of bookmarks according to the indication.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

sending an indication of at least a subset of the set of bookmarks to the network.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

receiving user input;

wherein sending the indication to the network is in response to the user input.

8. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

identifying a change in the set of bookmarks of the communications device other than changes caused by updating the set of bookmarks according to the indication; and

sending an indication of the change to the network.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein identifying the change in the set of bookmarks comprises at least one of:

identifying that at least one bookmark has been added;

identifying that at least one existing bookmark has been edited;

identifying that at least one existing bookmark has been deleted; and

identifying that a tree structure of the set of bookmarks has been changed.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the change in the set of bookmarks is identified automatically without user input.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein identifying the change in the set of bookmarks comprises:

accepting user input for identifying the change.

12. The method of claim 4 wherein receiving using push technology the indication from the network comprises:

receiving using push technology the indication using a wireless access radio.

13. The method of claim 4 wherein receiving using push technology the indication from the network comprises:

receiving using push technology change information, the change information being indicative of at least one change to be applied to the set of bookmarks.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon for execution on a processor of a communications device so as to implement a method comprising:

maintaining a set of bookmarks on an ongoing basis; and

upon determining that a first site referred to by a bookmark of the set of bookmarks redirects to a second site;

updating the bookmark so that the bookmark refers to the second site;

determining whether to synchronise the bookmark with another communications device based on whether the second site is intended for a small screen device or a large screen device and whether the other communications device is a small screen device or a large screen device; and

sending an indication of the second site for synchronisation with the other communications device if so determined.

15. A communications device comprising:

a processor; and

a bookmark synchronisation function configured to;

a) maintain a set of bookmarks on an ongoing basis; and

b) upon determining that a first site referred to by a bookmark of the set of bookmarks redirects to a second site;

update the bookmark so that the bookmark refers to the second site;

determine whether to synchronise the bookmark with another communications device based on whether the second site is intended for a small screen device or a large screen device and whether the other communications device is a small screen device or a large screen device; and

send an indication of the second site for synchronisation with the other communications device if so determined.

16. The communications device of claim 15, wherein the bookmark synchronisation function is further configured to:

receive using push technology an indication from a network to update the set of bookmarks so as to synchronise at least a portion of the set of bookmarks with another set of bookmarks stored elsewhere; and

update the set of bookmarks according to the indication.

17. The communications device of claim 16, further comprising:

a wireless access radio configured to communicate with wireless networks.

18. The communications device of claim 17, wherein the bookmark synchronisation function is configured to receive using push technology the indication from the network using the wireless access radio.

19. The communications device of claim 15, wherein the bookmark synchronisation function is configured to maintain the set of bookmarks according to a tree structure, the tree structure providing organisation of the set of bookmarks.

20. The communications device of claim 15, wherein the communications device is configured to:

maintain a plurality of user profiles;

wherein the set of bookmarks are in respect of one of the plurality of user profiles.