Method and system for storing and retrieving extensible multi-dimensional display property configurations

• US 20050015513A1
• Filed: 07/16/2003
• Published: 01/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Blattman, Jeffrey T., Tran, Luu D., Myong, Su-Chong, Mueller, Thomas R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,506,070 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/246
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/567 Integrating service provisioning from a plurality of service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

A method and system for storing and retrieving extensible multi-dimensional display property configurations. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed for the display of content that is configurable to a variety of contextual environments by reading a plurality of settings that are associated with an electronic device requesting content. The plurality of settings defines the contextual environment of the electronic device. The method continues by incorporating the plurality of settings as values in the list of filter criteria. The list of filter criteria is organized in a hierarchical order and specifies the format within which to present the content to be displayed at the electronic device. Thereafter, the method continues by matching the list of filter criteria with a resource to be displayed with the content. The resource is retrieved from memory for ultimate delivery to the electronic device for display.

Claims

1. A method of formatting content for display that is configurable for a variety of contextual environments comprising:

a) reading a plurality of settings associated with an electronic device, wherein said plurality of settings defines a context within which to display content at said electronic device;

b) incorporating said plurality of settings into values associated with a list of filter criteria, wherein said list of filter criteria is organized in a hierarchical order;

c) matching said list of filter criteria with a resource to be displayed with said content; and

d) retrieving said resource from memory.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

e) sending said resource to said electronic device for display.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein b) further comprises ordering said list of filter criteria by developer design, said developer creating a channel of content comprising said resource.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one filter criteria in said list of filter criteria is optional.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one filter criteria in said list of filter criteria is required.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein c) further comprises:

c1) matching each of said list of filter criteria with a supported chain of filter criteria following said hierarchical order to create a set of matches; and

c2) returning a property value associated with the last filter criterion that is matched, said property value defining said resource.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

c3) reaching a failed match; and

c4) using said last filter criterion that is matched to define said property value as a default.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

c3) terminating said matching in c1) without encountering a failed match.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

repeating said matching in c1) and said returning in c2) to discover a plurality of possible permutations, in response to terminating said matching without encountering a failed match; and

selecting a first permutation with the highest number of matches, said first permutation associated with said property value.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said resource comprises a property value associated with a matched set of filter criteria.

11. A method of formatting content for an electronic device through a portal server comprising:

a) storing said content comprising a plurality of resources selectable by supported chains of filter criteria, wherein said content is separately configurable to a plurality of contextual environments;

b) storing a list of filter criteria associated with said content, wherein said list of filter criteria is organized in a hierarchical order;

c) selecting a resource to configure said content to a electronic device by matching said list of filter criteria, that is adjusted for settings associated with a wireless electronic device requesting said content, with a supported chain of filter criteria that defines said resource from said plurality of resources.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein c) further comprises:

c1) incorporating said settings into values associated with said list of filter criteria; and

c2) creating a matched set of filter criteria by matching said list of filter criteria to a supported chain of filter criteria, said matched set of filter criteria associated with a property value defining said resource.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein c2) further comprises:

when no match is presented, then returning said property value associated with a last filter criterion that is matched, said property value defining said resource.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

when no match is presented using said last filter criterion that is matched to define said property value as a default.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein b) further comprises ordering said list of filter criteria by developer design, said developer creating a channel of content comprising said plurality of resources.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein each of said list of filter criteria is further defined by an associated value, and each of said list of filter criteria comprises a name value pair.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein b) further comprises:

allowing for an extension to said list of filter criteria.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

transferring said resource to said electronic device for display as said content.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

using said resource to calculate a value;

transferring said value to said electronic device for display as said content.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

using information defined by said selected in support of displaying said content.

21. The method of claim 11, wherein said electronic device is a wireless electronic device.

22. A portal server comprising:

a data store for storing a plurality of resources associated with content provided by a channel;

a memory coupled to said data store for storing a plurality of settings associated with an electronic device, wherein said plurality of settings defines a contextual environment within which to display said content at said electronic device; and

a matching engine coupled to said memory selecting a resource configured for said contextual environment by matching a list of filter criteria that incorporates said plurality of settings with said resource to be displayed with said content.

23. The portal server of claim 22, wherein said matching engine further comprises:

a list creator for creating a list of filter criteria, wherein said plurality of settings is incorporated as values in said list of filter criteria, and wherein said list of filter criteria is organized in a hierarchical order.

24. The portal server of claim 22, wherein said matching engine matches each of said list of filter criteria with a supported chain of filter criteria according to said hierarchical order to create a set of matches, and wherein said matching engine returns a property value associated with said last filter criterion that is matched, and further returns said last filter criterion that is matched to define said property value as a default if said matching engine reaches a failed match.

25. The portal server of claim 22, wherein said portal server provides said content to an electronic device for display, said electronic device coupled to said portal server through a communication network.

26. The portal server of claim 25, wherein said electronic device comprises a wireless portable electronic device.

27. A computer system comprising:

a processor; and

a computer readable memory coupled to said processor and containing program instructions that, when executed, implement a method of formatting content for display that is configurable for a variety of contextual environments comprising;

a) reading a plurality of settings associated with an electronic device, wherein said plurality of settings defines a context within which to display content at said electronic device;

b) incorporating said plurality of settings into values associated with a list of filter criteria, wherein said list of filter criteria is organized in a hierarchical order;

c) matching said list of filter criteria with a resource to be displayed with said content; and

d) retrieving said resource from memory.

28. The computer system of claim 27, wherein said method further comprises:

e) sending said resource to said electronic device for display.

29. The computer system of claim 27, wherein b) in said method further comprises ordering said list of filter criteria by developer design, said developer creating a channel of content comprising said resource.

30. The computer system of claim 27, wherein at least one filter criteria in said list of filter criteria is optional.

31. The computer system of claim 27, wherein at least one filter criteria in said list of filter criteria is required.

32. The computer system of claim 27, wherein c) in said method further comprises:

c1) matching each of said list of filter criteria with a supported chain of filter criteria following said hierarchical order to create a set of matches; and

c2) returning a property value associated with the last filter criterion that is matched, said property value defining said resource.

33. The computer system of claim 32, wherein said method further comprises:

c3) reaching a failed match; and

c4) using said last filter criterion that is matched to define said property value as a default.

34. The computer system of claim 32, wherein said method further comprises:

c3) terminating said matching in c1) without encountering a failed match.

35. The computer system of claim 34, wherein said method further comprising:

repeating said matching in c1) and said returning in c2) to discover a plurality of possible permutations, in response to terminating said matching without encountering a failed match; and

selecting a first permutation with the highest number of matches, said first permutation associated with said property value.

36. The computer system of claim 27, wherein said resource comprises a property value associated with a matched set of filter criteria.