Numeric/voice name internet access architecture and methodology

• US 20020052912A1
• Filed: 08/16/2001
• Published: 05/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VeriSign, Inc.
• Original Assignee: VeriSign, Inc.
• Inventors: Dutcher, William R., Griswold, Timothy J., Conley, Patrick J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,536,639 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9566 URL specific, e.g. using aliases, detecting broken or misspelled links
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location

Abstract

A system that provides users of both fixed and wireless Internet devices, a method of entering numbers instead of the text characters of Internet Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) and other Internet identifiers to access Internet resources and functions, such as Web sites, e-mail services, individual documents or files, location services, etc. When the user enters a WebNum, the digits of the WebNum are sent to a database on a system that is accessible over the Internet. The database maps the WebNum back to a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), which contains a hostname in the Internet domain name structure. This would subsequently be resolved through the Internet Domain Name System (DNS) to an IP address to identify the IP address of the Web site. The cell phone provider or WID network provider would then retrieve the home page of the Web site over the Internet, to return content to the cell phone or WID display.

Claims

1. A method for accessing internet addresses based on a request from a wireless device, comprising:

receiving a transmitted short-name from said wireless device, said short-name comprising a code number representative of a particular internet address;

searching a database for said short-name, said database being located at a location remote from said wireless device; and

if said short-name is found, retrieving said particular internet address so that said wireless device can be connected to said particular internet address.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said database is accessed over the internet.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said database is accessed through a wireless service provider without traversing the internet.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said short-name is received by a software application that queries said database.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein at least one of said software application and said database maps said short-name to an internet URL.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein multiple short-names can map to a single internet address.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprises:

identifying a transport protocol required to complete said accessing; and

addressing a sending site in accordance with said transport protocol.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

if said database indicates that said short-name is not found, searching a second database for said short-name.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of databases, said databases arranged in a logical hierarchy so that if said short-name is not found in a first database, said searching is resubmitted to a next database in said hierarchy.

18. A method according to claim 1, wherein said short-name is input to said wireless device in the form of voice command, and said voice command is converted to a non-voice command after being transmitted by said wireless device.

20. A method according to claim 1, wherein said short name corresponds to a phone number in E.164 format.

21. A method according to claim 1, wherein said short name corresponds to a phone number.

22. A method according to claim 1, wherein said short-name further comprises a root short-name, a separator code, and an extension, said separator code separating said root short-name from said extension.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein said root short-name corresponds to said particular address and said extension corresponds to a sub-address of said particular address.

24. A method according to claim 22, wherein said short-name comprises multiple separator codes and multiple extensions.

25. A method according to claim 22, wherein said extension corresponds to a particular country.

26. A method according to claim 22, wherein said extension corresponds to an ITU country code.

27. A method according to claim 1, wherein said short-name comprises in order, a country code indicator sequence, a country code, a separator code, and a root short-name.

28. A method according to claim 22, wherein said extension comprises variable data that is entered into a website corresponding to said root short-name.

29. A method according to claim 24, wherein at least one of said extensions corresponds to variable data that is entered into a website corresponding to said root short-name, and at least one other of said extensions corresponds to a particular country.

89. A method according to claim 1, wherein said short-name is registered with a central authority for the internet.

10. A method for accessing an email address based on a request from a wireless device, comprising:

receiving a transmitted short-name from a wireless device, said short-name comprising a code number representative of a particular email address;

searching a database for said short-name, said database being located at a location remote from said wireless device; and

if said short-name is found, retrieving said particular email address and returning said email address to said wireless device.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said searching returns multiple email addresses to said wireless device, said wireless device displaying said multiple email addresses and allowing said user to choose from among said multiple email addresses.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said wireless device includes a position-sensing device so that the location of said wireless device can estimated by a wireless network communicating with said wireless device.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein said database is a geolocation database operable to return to said wireless device, directions from said wireless device to a selected target.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said directions returned to said wireless device include voice information.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein said directions returned to said wireless device include text information.

17. A method according to claim 14, wherein said directions returned to said wireless device include graphical information.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein said voice command is converted to a non-voice command by a computer connected to said wireless device via a network.

12. A method for accessing an geographical information based on a request from a wireless device, comprising:

receiving a transmitted short-name from a wireless device, said short-name comprising a code number representative of particular geographical information, said particular geographical information comprising at least one of directions and location information;

searching a database for said short-name, said database being located at a location remote from said wireless device; and

if said short-name is found, retrieving said particular geographical information and returning said particular geographical information to said wireless device.

30. A system for accessing internet addresses based on a request from a wireless device, comprising:

a database storing relationships between a short-name and an internet addresses, said short-name comprising a code number representative of a particular internet address, said database being located at a location remote from said wireless device; and

a controller which receives a transmitted short-name from said wireless device, said controller operable to search said database for said transmitted short-name, and if said short-name is found, retrieving said particular internet address so that said wireless device can be connected to said particular internet address.

31. A system according to claim 30, wherein said database is accessed over the internet.

32. A system according to claim 30, wherein said database is accessed through a wireless service provider without traversing the internet.

33. A system according to claim 30, wherein said short-name is received by a software application that queries said database.

34. A system according to claim 33, wherein at least one of said software application and said database maps said short-name to an internet URL.

35. A system according to claim 30, wherein multiple short-names can map to a single internet address.

36. A system according to claim 30, wherein said system identifies a transport protocol required to complete said accessing and addresses a sending site in accordance with said transport protocol.

37. A system according to claim 30, wherein if said database indicates that said short-name is not found, said system searches a second database for said short-name.

38. A system according to claim 30, further comprising a plurality of databases, said databases arranged in a logical hierarchy so that if said short-name is not found in a first database, said searching is resubmitted to a next database in said hierarchy.

40. A system according to claim 39, wherein said searching returns multiple email addresses to said wireless device, said wireless device displaying said multiple email addresses and allowing said user to choose from among said multiple email addresses.

47. A system according to claim 30, wherein said short-name is input to said wireless device in the form of voice command, and said voice command is converted to a non-voice command after being transmitted by said wireless device.

49. A system according to claim 30, wherein said short name corresponds to a phone number in E.164 format.

50. A system according to claim 30, wherein said short name corresponds to a phone number.

51. A system according to claim 30, wherein said short-name further comprises a root short-name, a separator code, and an extension, said separator code separating said root short-name from said extension.

52. A system according to claim 51, wherein said root short-name corresponds to said particular address and said extension corresponds to a sub-address of said particular address.

53. A system according to claim 51, wherein said short-name comprises multiple separator codes and multiple extensions.

54. A system according to claim 51, wherein said extension corresponds to a particular country.

55. A system according to claim 51, wherein said extension corresponds to an ITU country code.

56. A system according to claim 30, wherein said short-name comprises in order, a country code indicator sequence, a country code, a separator code, and a root short-name.

57. A system according to claim 51, wherein said extension comprises variable data that is entered into a website corresponding to said root short-name.

58. A system according to claim 53, wherein at least one of said extensions corresponds to variable data that is entered into a website corresponding to said root short-name, and at least one other of said extensions corresponds to a particular country.

39. A system for accessing an email address with a wireless device, comprising:

a database storing relationships between a short-name and an email address, said short-name comprising a code number representative of a particular email address, said database being located at a location remote from said wireless device; and

a controller which receives a transmitted short-name from said wireless device, said controller operable to search said database for said transmitted short-name, and if said short-name is found, retrieving said particular email address and sending said particular email address to said wireless device.

41. A system for accessing an geographical information with a wireless device, comprising:

a database storing relationships between a short-name and an internet addresses, said short-name comprising a code number representative of particular geographical information, said particular geographical information comprising at least one of directions and location information, said database being located at a location remote from said wireless device; and

a controller which receives a transmitted short-name from said wireless device, said controller operable to search said database for said transmitted short-name, and if said short-name is found, retrieving said particular geographical information and returning said particular geographical information to said wireless device.

42. A system according to claim 41, wherein said wireless device includes a position-sensing device so that the location of said wireless device can estimated by a wireless network communicating with said wireless device.

43. A system according to claim 42, wherein said database is a geolocation database operable to return to said wireless device, directions from said wireless device to a selected target.

44. A system according to claim 43, wherein said directions returned to said wireless device include voice information.

45. A system according to claim 43, wherein said directions returned to said wireless device include text information.

46. A system according to claim 43, wherein said directions returned to said wireless device include graphical information.

48. A system according to claim 47, wherein said voice command is converted to a non-voice command by a computer connected to said wireless device via a network.

59. A system for accessing internet addresses based on a request from a user'"'"'s computer, comprising:

a database storing relationships between a short-name and an internet addresses, said short-name comprising a code number representative of a particular internet address, said database being located at a location remote from said wireless device; and

a controller which receives a transmitted short-name from said wireless device, said controller operable to search said database for said transmitted short-name, and if said short-name is found, retrieving said particular internet address so that said wireless device can be connected to said particular internet address.

60. A method of accessing internet addresses using a web-enabled device, comprising:

transmitting a short-name from said web-enabled device, said short-name comprising a code number representative of a particular internet address, to a controller to cause the controller to search a database for said short name, said database being located at a location remote from said web-enabled device; and

receiving said particular internet address so that said web-enabled device is connected to said particular internet address.

61. A method according to claim 60, wherein said database is accessed over the internet.

62. A method according to claim 60, wherein said database is accessed through a wireless service provider without traversing the internet.

63. A method according to claim 60, wherein said short-name is transmitted to a controller running a software application that queries said database.

64. A method according to claim 63, wherein at least one of said software application and said database maps said short-name to an internet URL.

65. A method according to claim 60, wherein multiple short-names can map to a single internet address.

66. A method according to claim 60, further comprising:

identifying a transport protocol required to complete said accessing; and

addressing a sending site in accordance with said transport protocol.

67. A method according to claim 60, wherein if said database indicates that said short-name is not found, a second database is searched for said short-name.

68. A method according to claim 60, further comprising a plurality of databases, said databases arranged in a logical hierarchy so that if said short-name is not found in a first database, said searching is resubmitted to a next database in said hierarchy.

70. A method according to claim 69, wherein said searching returns multiple email addresses to said web-enabled device, said web-enabled device displaying said multiple email addresses and allowing said user to choose from among said multiple email addresses.

77. A method according to claim 60, wherein said short-name is transmitted by said web-enabled device in the form of a voice command.

78. A method according to claim 77, wherein said voice command is converted to a non-voice command by a computer connected to said web-enabled device via a network.

79. A method according to claim 60, wherein said short name corresponds to a phone number in E.164 format.

80. A method according to claim 60, wherein said short name corresponds to a phone number.

81. A method according to claim 60, wherein said short-name further comprises a root short-name, a separator code, and an extension, said separator code separating said root short-name from said extension.

82. A method according to claim 81, wherein said root short-name corresponds to said particular address and said extension corresponds to a sub-address of said particular address.

83. A method according to claim 81, wherein said short-name comprises multiple separator codes and multiple extensions.

84. A method according to claim 81, wherein said extension corresponds to a particular country.

85. A method according to claim 81, wherein said extension corresponds to an ITU country code.

86. A method according to claim 60, wherein said short-name comprises in order, a country code indicator sequence, a country code, a separator code, and a root short-name.

87. A method according to claim 81, wherein said extension comprises variable data that is entered into a website corresponding to said root short-name.

88. A method according to claim 83, wherein at least one of said extensions corresponds to variable data that is entered into a website corresponding to said root short-name, and at least one other of said extensions corresponds to a particular country.

69. A method for accessing an email address from a web-enabled device, comprising:

transmitting a short-name from said web-enabled device, said short-name comprising a code number representative of a particular email address, said transmission causing a database to be searched for said short-name, said database being located at a location remote from said wireless device; and

receiving said particular email address at said web-enabled device.

71. A method for accessing an geographical information from a web-enabled device, comprising:

transmitting a short-name from said web-enabled device, said short-name comprising a code number representative of particular geographical information, said particular geographical information comprising at least one of directions and location information, said transmitting causing a database to be searched for said short-name, said database being located at a location remote from said wireless device; and

receiving said particular geographical information at said web-enabled device.

72. A method according to claim 71, wherein said web-enabled device is a wireless device and includes a position-sensing device so that the location of said wireless device can be estimated by a wireless network communicating with said wireless device.

73. A method according to claim 72, wherein said database is a geolocation database operable to return to said wireless device, directions from said wireless device to a selected target.

74. A method according to claim 72, wherein said directions received by said wireless device include voice information.

75. A method according to claim 72, wherein said directions received by said wireless device include text information.

76. A method according to claim 72, wherein said directions received by said wireless device include graphical information.