Technique for effective organization and communication of information

• US 20020013815A1
• Filed: 07/19/2001
• Published: 01/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silver State Intellectual Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Silver State Intellectual Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Crain, Toby C., Obradovich, Michael L., Pirtle, John D., Schebesch, Steven W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,126,960 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/102 applying security measure for e-commerce data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4547 for personal communications, i.e. using a personal identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/30 Profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42178 by downloading data to substation equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5335 Message type or catagory, e.g. priority, indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 : Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 : Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

In a communication arrangement in accordance with the invention, a server is employed to collect and organize information for mobile device users according to the user profiles, e.g., personal profile, business profile, vacation profile, etc., which reflect different user personae. By using this arrangement, the user advantageously maintains only the necessary information in the mobile device and downloads any additional information from the server on an as needed basis. In addition, the server is capable of serving mobile devices which may be incompatible to one another, thereby facilitating an exchange of information between such devices. Moreover, with the server, incoming messages for the user are organized and stored according to the source of the messages and the user criteria established in the user profiles. Further, information in a mobile device may be organized using electronic information cards, referred to as “E-cards,” which facilitate, among others, transfer of information from the mobile device to the server, or other mobile devices to conduct various commercial and data transactions.

Claims

1. A method for use in a server serving a user of a communication device, the method comprising:

maintaining a plurality of profiles of the user, which reflect different personae of the user;

receiving, through a communication network, requests for information from the communication device;

collecting requested information from one or more sources;

storing the collected information in accordance with the profiles; and

providing, over the communication network, selected information to the communication device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the profiles include a personal profile.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the profiles include a business profile.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the profiles include a vacation profile.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more sources are connected to the Internet.

6. A communication arrangement comprising:

a first communication device and a second communication device;

a first server storing information which is accessible by the first communication device;

a second server storing information which is accessible by the second communication device;

a transmitter in the first communication device for transmitting, through a first communication network, a request for selected information to the second communication device, the selected information being stored in the second server;

a transmitter in the second communication device, responsive to the request, for transmitting a second request for transferring the selected information from the second server to the first server, the second server, in response to the second request, transferring the selected information to the first server through a second communication network; and

a receiver in the first device for receiving from the first server a notification concerning a receipt of the selected information.

7. The arrangement of claim 6 wherein the first communication network includes a wireless network.

8. The arrangement of claim 6 wherein the second communication network includes at least part of an Internet.

9. A method for use in a server for communication with at least first and second communication devices through a communication network, the first and second communication devices being of different types, the method comprising:

receiving, through the communication network, from the first communication device information identifying at least a type of the communication device, the information being communicated in accordance with a first protocol, the first protocol being used by both the first and second communication devices for communicating to the server information concerning the respective types thereof; and

providing, through the communication network, a program to the first communication device based on the received information, the program causing the first communication device to be reconfigured, the reconfigured first communication device communicating with the server in accordance with a second protocol, which is not compatible with the second communication device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein at least one of the first and second communication devices is a mobile device.

11. A method for organizing e-mail messages, each e-mail message including a source identification indicating a source of the e-mail message, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of files, which are associated with collections of source identifications, respectively;

receiving an e-mail message;

reading the source identification of the received e-mail message;

determining whether the read source identification is identical to a source identification in one of the collections; and

when it is determined that the read source identification is identical to a source identification in one of the collections, including the received e-mail message in the file associated with the collection having the identical source identification therein.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the received e-mail incorporates an indicator in a predetermined portion thereof, the indicator indicating a priority in presenting the received e-mail.

13. A method for use in a system for conducting a transaction, the system including a server and a payment subsystem, the method comprising:

transmitting to the server first information for verifying an identity of a party of the transaction, second information concerning the transaction, and a transaction amount;

verifying by the server the identity of the party based on the first information;

transmitting by the server the second information and the transaction amount to the payment subsystem for authorizing payment of the transaction amount when the identity of the party is verified; and

transmitting by the subsystem a transaction record to the server when the payment of the transaction amount is authorized.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the second information includes information identifying a second party of the transaction.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the transaction includes a credit card transaction.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the first information includes a personal identification number (PIN).

17. A method for use in a system for completing a transaction, the system including a device, and a terminal which provides transaction information, the method comprising:

providing by the device second information identifying a location of the device, and transaction information which includes third information identifying a location of the terminal;

based on the second and third information determining whether the location of the device is within a predetermined distance of the location of the terminal; and

completing the transaction when it is determined that the location of the device is within a predetermined distance of the location of the terminal.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising generating a transaction record, wherein the transaction record includes an address of a party of the transaction, the address being derived from the third information.

19. A method for gaining access to a vehicle using a communication device, the communication device storing therein a selected access code and information concerning pre-selected options for configuring different aspects of the vehicle, the method comprising:

eliciting an access code from a user of the communication device;

determining whether the access code elicited from the user corresponds to the selected access code; and

allowing the user to gain access to the vehicle and configuring the different aspects of the vehicle in accordance with the pre-selected options when it is determined that the access code elicited from the user corresponds to the selected access code.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the different aspects of the vehicle include a time limit within which the vehicle can be used by the user.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the different aspects of the vehicle include a geographic limit within which the vehicle can be used by the user.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the different aspects of the vehicle include configurable devices in the vehicle.

23. An electronic card arrangement viewable on a display comprising:

a plurality of electronic cards containing information concerning an entity, a first one of the electronic cards being shown on the display, along with at least one tab including data identifying a second one of the electronic cards, the tab being selectable to show the second electronic card instead of the first electronic card on the display.

24. The arrangement of claim 23 wherein one of the electronic cards contains audio information concerning the entity.

25. The arrangement of claim 23 wherein one of the electronic cards contains video information concerning the entity.