Methods and apparatus for producing and submitting an HTTP request with a selected top-level domain from a mobile communication device

• US 8,462,679 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2009
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Buczek, Tomasz, Kalu, Kalu Onuka, Kalyanasundaram, Sanjay
• Primary Examiner(s): LEVITAN, DMITRY
• Application Number:
  US12/395,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20090286521A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/328, 370/351, 455/414, 455/415, 455/422, 455/432, 455/435
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A mobile communication device is associated with a home wireless carrier that is identifiable by a home carrier identification stored in its memory. The mobile device also maintains a stored list of a plurality of carrier identifications, where each carrier identification is stored in association with one of a plurality of top-level domains. The mobile device reads the home carrier identification from the memory, and selects one of the plurality of top-level domains that is stored in association with the home carrier identification. During operation, the mobile device reads a specified domain name in response to a user-initiated request made via a Web browser or search application. Then, the mobile device produces a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request with a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) having the selected top-level domain and a second-level domain corresponding to the specified domain name. The HTTP request with the URL is submitted via the wireless communication network. Advantageously, consistency in accessing web sites, information, and/or search results may be achieved regardless of location of the mobile station.

Claims

1. A method for use in a processor of a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

storing, in a first memory portion of the mobile communication device, a home carrier identification which identifies a home wireless carrier of the mobile communication device;

storing, in a second memory portion of the mobile communication device, a list of a plurality of carrier identifications which identify a plurality of different wireless carriers, each said carrier identification being stored in association with one of a plurality of top-level domains which indicate a plurality of different countries of the different wireless carriers;

reading, by the processor and from the first memory portion, the home carrier identification which identifies the home wireless carrier of the mobile communication device;

selecting, by the processor and from the second memory portion, one of the plurality of top-level domains that is stored in association with a carrier identification that matches the home carrier identification read from the first memory portion, the selected top-level domain corresponding to a home country of the home wireless carrier of the mobile communication device;

while the mobile communication device operates for communications in a wireless communication network in a visiting country that is different from the home country;

producing, by the processor, a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request which includes a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) comprising the selected top-level domain and a second-level domain corresponding to a specified domain name; and

causing the HTTP request with the URL to be transmitted from the mobile communication device via the wireless communication network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of top-level domains comprise a plurality of country code top-level domains (ccTLDs).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of carrier identifications are vendor identifications and the home carrier identification is a home vendor identification programmed in the mobile communication device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the specified domain name corresponds to a search engine server and the HTTP request comprises a search query, the method comprising the further act of:

receiving, at the processor, an HTTP response which includes search results that are relevant to the home country instead of the visiting country.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the HTTP request is produced in response to a user request made via a Web browser or search application of the mobile communication device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the specified domain name comprises a user-specified domain name.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of selecting comprises the further act of:

comparing, by the processor, the home carrier identification read from the first memory portion with one or more of the plurality of carrier identifications stored in the second memory portion until a match is found, if at all.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of selecting comprises the further act of:

comparing, by the processor, the home carrier identification read from the first memory portion with one or more of the plurality of carrier identifications stored in the second memory portion until a match is found, if at all; and

if no match is found, selecting commercial organization (“

com”

) as the top-level domain.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

repeating the acts of producing and causing for each one of a plurality of requests made while the mobile communication device operates in the wireless communication network.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the home wireless carrier comprises a Home Public Land Mobile Network HPLMN and the home carrier identification is associated with a Mobile Network Code (MNC) and Mobile Country Code (MCC).

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the home carrier identification is stored in a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) accessible by the mobile communication device.

12. The method of claim 1, which is performed by computer instructions stored on a computer readable medium, the computer instructions being executable by one or more processors of the mobile communication device.

13. A mobile communication device, comprising:

one or more processors;

a wireless transceiver coupled to the one or more processors;

a user interface coupled to the one or more processors;

a first memory portion for storing a home carrier identification which identifies a home wireless carrier of the mobile communication device;

a second memory portion for storing a plurality of carrier identifications which identify a plurality of different wireless carriers, each said carrier identification being stored in association with one a plurality of top-level domains which indicate a plurality of different countries of the different wireless carriers;

the one or more processors being configured to;

read, from the first memory portion, the home carrier identification;

select, from the second memory portion, one of the plurality of top-level domains that is stored in association with a carrier identification that matches the home carrier identification read from the first memory portion, the selected top-level domain corresponding to a home country of the home wireless carrier of the mobile communication device;

while the mobile communication device operates for communications in a wireless communication network in a visiting country that is different from the home country;

produce a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request which includes a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) comprising the selected top-level domain and a second-level domain corresponding to a specified domain name; and

cause the HTTP request with the URL to be transmitted via the wireless communication network with use of the wireless transceiver.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the plurality of top-level domains comprise a plurality of country code top-level domains (ccTLDs).

15. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the plurality of carrier identifications are vendor identifications and the home carrier identification is a home vendor identification programmed in the mobile communication device.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the specified domain name corresponds to a search engine server and the HTTP request comprises a search query for submission to the search engine server, the one or more processors being further configured to:

receive, from the search engine server, an HTTP response which includes search results that are relevant to the home country instead of the visiting country.

17. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the HTTP request to the specified domain name is made in response to a user request submitted via a Web browser or search application of the mobile communication device.

18. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the specified domain name comprises a user-specified domain name.

19. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are configured to select by:

comparing the home carrier identification read from the first memory portion with one or more of the plurality of carrier identifications stored in the second memory portion until a match is found, if at all.

20. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are configured to select by:

comparing the home carrier identification read from the first memory portion with one or more of the plurality of carrier identifications stored in the second memory portion until a match is found, if at all; and

if no match is found, selecting commercial organization (“

com”

) as the top-level domain.

21. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

repeat the producing and causing for each one of a plurality of requests made while the mobile communication device operates in the wireless communication network.

22. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the home wireless carrier comprises a Home Public Land Mobile Network HPLMN and the home carrier identification comprises a Mobile Network Code (MNC) and Mobile Country Code (MCC).

23. he mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the home carrier identification is stored in a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) accessible by the mobile communication device.

24. A method for use in a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

storing, in a first memory portion of the mobile communication device, a home carrier identification which identifies a home wireless carrier of the mobile communication device;

storing, in a second memory portion of the mobile communication device, a list of a plurality of carrier identifications which identify a plurality of different wireless carriers, each said carrier identification being stored in association with one of a plurality of top-level domains which indicate a plurality of different countries of the different wireless carriers;

reading, from the first memory portion, the home carrier identification which identifies the home wireless carrier of the mobile communication device;

selecting, from the second memory portion, one of the plurality of top-level domains that is stored in association with a carrier identification that matches the home carrier identification read from the first memory portion, the selected top-level domain corresponding to a home country of the home wireless carrier of the mobile communication device;

while the mobile communication device operates for communications in a wireless communication network in a visiting country that is different from the home country;

producing, at the mobile communication device, a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request comprising a search query and including a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) comprising the selected top-level domain and a second-level domain corresponding to a specified domain name;

causing the HTTP request which includes the URL to be transmitted from the mobile communication device via the wireless communication network; and

receiving an HTTP response which includes search results corresponding to the search query, the search results being associated with the home country of the home wireless carrier.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the act of selecting comprises the further act of:

comparing the home carrier identification read from the first memory portion with one or more of the plurality of carrier identifications stored in the second memory portion until a match is found, if at all.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

receiving a user request via a search application of the mobile communication device;

producing the HTTP request in response to the user request.

27. A method for use in a processor of a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

storing, in a first memory portion of the mobile communication device, a home carrier identification which identifies a home wireless carrier of the mobile communication device;

storing, in a second memory portion of the mobile communication device, a list of a plurality of carrier identifications which identify a plurality of different wireless carriers, each said carrier identification being stored in association with one of a plurality of top-level domains which indicate a plurality of different countries of the different wireless carriers;

in a first mode of operation of the mobile communication device;

reading, from the second memory portion, the home carrier identification which identifies the home wireless carrier of the mobile communication device;

selecting, from the first memory portion, one of the plurality of top-level domains that is stored in association with a carrier identification that matches the home carrier identification read from the first memory portion, the selected top-level domain corresponding to a home country of the home wireless carrier of the mobile communication device;

in a second mode of operation of the mobile communication device;

receiving via a current serving network a carrier identification which identifies the current serving network of the mobile communication device;

selecting one of the plurality of top-level domains that corresponds to the received carrier identification of the current serving network;

while the mobile communication device operates for communications in the current serving network in a visiting country that is different from the home country;

producing, by the processor, a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request which includes a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) comprising the selected top-level domain and a second-level domain corresponding to a specified domain name; and

causing the HTTP request with the URL to be transmitted from the mobile communication device via the wireless communication network.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the first mode of operation is invoked by a first selectable setting of the mobile communication device and the second mode of operation is invoked by a second selectable setting of the mobile communication device.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the first mode of operation is invoked by a first user-selectable setting of the mobile communication device and the second mode of operation is invoked by a second user-selectable setting of the mobile communication device.