Methods and apparatus for producing and submitting an HTTP request with a selected country code parameter from a mobile device

• US 8,983,458 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2009
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Buczek, Tomasz, Kalu, Kalu Onuka, Kalyanasundaram, Sanjay
• Primary Examiner(s): Hu, Jinsong
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hong, Dung
• Application Number:
  US12/395,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20090286535A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,209 Days
• Field of Search: 4554141-4142, 4554321-4323, 455/433, 4554561-4566
• US Class Current: 455/433
• 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: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A mobile communication device maintains a stored list of a plurality of carrier identifications, where each carrier identification is stored in association with one of a plurality of country codes. The mobile device is also associated with a home wireless carrier that is identifiable by a home carrier identification stored in its memory. The mobile device reads the home carrier identification from the memory, and selects one of the plurality of country codes 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) corresponding to a specified domain name and a country code parameter which includes the selected country code. 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 mobile communication device including one or more processors, the mobile communication device including a stored list of a plurality of carrier identifications, each said carrier identification being stored in association with one of a plurality of country codes, the method comprising:

reading, by the one or more processors and from memory of the mobile communication device, a home carrier identification which identifies a home wireless carrier of the mobile communication device;

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

selecting, by the one or more processors, one of the country codes having a stored association with the home carrier identification read from the memory, the selected country code identifying the home country of the home wireless carrier;

producing, by the one or more processors, a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request which includes a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) corresponding to a specified domain name and a country code parameter which includes the selected country code; and

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

2. 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.

3. 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 further comprising:

receiving, at the one or more processors, an HTTP response which includes search results that are relevant to the home country.

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

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of carrier identifications are vendor identifications and the home carrier identification is a home vendor identification.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting comprises:

comparing, by the one or more processors, the home carrier identification with one or more of the carrier identifications until a match is found.

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

comparing, by the one or more processors, the home carrier identification with one or more of the carrier identifications to determine if a match is found; and

if no match is found, selecting a default country code.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting one of a plurality of language codes based on a local setting of the mobile station; and

producing the HTTP request with the URL corresponding to the specified domain name, the country code parameter which includes the selected country code, and a language code parameter which includes the selected language code.

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 the memory comprising a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM).

12. The method of claim 1, which is performed by computer instructions stored on a computer readable medium, the computer instructions being executable by the 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 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, each said carrier identification being stored in association with one of a plurality of country codes;

the one or more processors being configured to;

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

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

select, from the second memory portion, one of the country codes having a stored association with the home carrier identification read from the first memory portion, the selected country code identifying the home country of the home wireless carrier;

produce a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request which includes a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) corresponding to a specified domain name and a country code parameter which includes the selected country code; and

cause the HTTP request with the URL and the country code parameter to be transmitted via the wireless communication network.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 13, 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.

15. 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, the one or more processors being further configured to:

receive an HTTP response which includes search results that are relevant to the home country.

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

17. 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.

18. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are configured to select the selected country code by being further configured to:

compare the home carrier identification with one or more of the carrier identifications until a match is found.

19. The mobile communication device of claim 13, where the one or more processors are configured to select the selected country code by being further configured to:

compare the home carrier identification with one or more of the carrier identifications to determine if a match is found; and

if no match is found, select a default country code.

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

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

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

select one of a plurality of language codes based on a local setting of the mobile communication device; and

produce the HTTP request with the URL corresponding to the specified domain name, the country code parameter which includes the selected country code, and a language code parameter which includes the selected language code.

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 is associated with a Mobile Network Code (MNC) and Mobile Country Code (MCC).

23. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the home carrier identification is stored in the first memory portion which comprises a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM).

24. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are configured in a first mode of operation for operating to produce and submit the HTTP request, the one or more processors being further configured in a second mode of operation to:

while the mobile communication device operates for communications in the wireless communication network in the visited country;

produce a HTTP request with a URL corresponding to a specified domain name and a country code parameter which includes a country code of the visited country; and

cause the HTTP request with the URL and the country code parameter to be transmitted via the wireless communication network.

25. A method for use in a mobile communication device, the mobile communication device including a stored list of a plurality of carrier identifications, each said carrier identification being stored in association with one of a plurality of country codes, the method comprising:

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

while the mobile communication device is in a wireless communication network in a visited country that is different from a home country of the home wireless carrier;

selecting, by the mobile communication device, one of the country codes having a stored association with the home carrier identification read from the memory, the selected country code identifying the home country of the home wireless carrier;

producing, at the mobile communication device, a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request comprising a search query and including a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) corresponding to a specified domain name of a search engine server and a country code parameter which includes the selected country code;

causing the HTTP request with the URL and the country code parameter 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.