Integrating contextual information into mobile enterprise applications

• US 20030148773A1
• Filed: 04/30/2002
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Ziegert, Thomas, Vogler, Hartmut, Spriestersbach, Axel, Lehmann, Falk
• Granted Patent: US 7,020,494 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A location context-aware mobile system determines the location of a mobile device and updates a user interface based on the location of the device. By using the location of the mobile device to reduce the amount of information required to be entered by a user in a business process application, the system increases the feasibility of providing business process applications on mobile devices such as mobile telephones.

Claims

1. A location context-aware system comprising:

a location identifier device;

a mobile device operable to receive a location identifier from the location identifier device, the location identifier indicative of the location of the mobile device;

a mobile application server coupled to the mobile device providing a business process application, the business process application including a user interface; and

a backend enterprise server coupled to the mobile application server, the backend enterprise server including business process data;

wherein the mobile application server modifies the user interface based on the location of the mobile device and the business process data.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the location identifier device is a beacon.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the beacon emits an infrared signal identifying the location of the beacon.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the beacon emits a radio-frequency signal indicative of the location of the beacon.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the location identifier device is a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile device receives the location identifier from the location identifier device through a conductive data signal-carrying cable.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile device includes a sensor;

and wherein the mobile device receives the location identifier from the location identifier device using the sensor.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the sensor receives radio-frequency signals.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the sensor receives infrared signals.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the backend enterprise server includes a customer resource management application, and wherein the business process data includes customer data.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface includes a user input field, and wherein the mobile application server modifies the user interface by setting the value of the user input field using the business process data.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the user input field is hidden from the user.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the user input field is displayed with the corresponding value of the user input field set by the mobile application server.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the user interface includes a user input field, and wherein the mobile application server modifies the user interface by providing a selection of possible values using the business process data.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile device is a personal digital assistant (PDA).

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile device is a mobile telephone.

17. A method of modifying a user interface using location context information, the method comprising:

identifying the location of a mobile device;

retrieving information regarding the location of the mobile device;

modifying a user interface using the retrieved information; and

displaying the modified user interface on the mobile device.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein identifying the location of a mobile device includes receiving a location identifier from a location identifier device.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the location identifier specifies a physical location.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the information regarding the location of the mobile device is retrieved from a backend enterprise server.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein the user interface includes a user input field, and wherein modifying the user interface includes setting the value of the user input field using the retrieved information.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the user input field is hidden from display.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the user input field and set value are displayed.

24. A computer program for providing a location context-aware user interface on a mobile device, the computer program comprising:

a location identification code segment to determine the location of the mobile device;

an information dispatch code segment to retrieve information about the location of the mobile device;

a user interface generation code segment to modify a user interface based on the location of the mobile device; and

a user interface display code segment to display the modified user interface.

25. A method of modifying a user interface using context information, the method comprising:

identifying contextual information associated with a mobile device;

modifying a user interface using the identified contextual information; and

displaying the modified user interface on the mobile device.