Secure server-based identification for simplified online transaction processing with palmtop computer

• US 7,337,218 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2005
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Inventors: Arnold, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THU HA T
• Application Number:
  US11/237,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20060190564A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 370/401, 455/419, 455/422.1, 455/445, 455/461
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A secure simplified transaction processing method and apparatus for a palmtop computer. Sensitive personal information is stored in a secure personal information database. A site map database contains information which maps the fields of the personal information database to frames of a Web page. On request of a palmtop computer, a robot program correlates the personal information fields with the frames of the Web page and sends the personal information back to the palmtop computer. The palmtop computer uses this information to automatically populate the frames of a Web clipping representing a Web page. This has the advantage that the user does not have to manually fill in the frames of the web clipping while providing security for sensitive information.

Claims

1. A method for providing transaction processing in a portable computing device, comprising the steps of:

providing a secure file server to serve as an intermediate interface to an internet access;

providing a personal information database, residing on the secure file server, containing personal information data relating to a user of the portable computing device;

providing a site map database, residing on the secure file server, the site map database containing data which maps fields of the personal information database to frames of known Web clippings;

receiving a request from computer portable computing device to populate frames of a selected Web clipping;

retrieving personal information data from the personal information database for fields mapped to the frame in the selected Web clipping in the site map database; and

transmitting the retrieved personal information to the portable computing device palmtop computer;

wherein the secure file server is configured to process wireless queries and wherein the portable computing device accesses Internet resources using said secure file server as the intermediate coupling without directly connecting to the Internet.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

populating the frames of the selected Web clipping in the portable computing device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

transmitting the populated frame from the portable computing device to a Web site.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the storing the site map comprises scraping a Web site to harvest frames to be populated.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the personal information database is manually populated with data by the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the Web clipping correlates to a Web page on the World Wide Web.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

mapping the portable computing device to a user in the personal information database.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving and transmitting steps are carried out over a wireless data communication network.

9. A method for providing simplified transaction processing in a portable computing device, comprising the steps of:

sending a wireless request from the portable computing device to a secure file server configured to serve as an interface between the portable computing device and the Intemet to obtain information to populate a plurality of frames of a selected Web clipping wherein the potable computing device utilizes Internet resources using the secure file server as an intermediate coupling without directly connecting to the Internet and without the portable computing device downloading the selected web clipping;

receiving a wireless transmission from the secure file server containing personal information data extracted from a personal information database, the personal information database residing on the secure file server, and containing personal information data relating to a user of the portable computing device;

wherein, the personal information being retrieved from fields in the personal information database which have been mapped to frames in the selected Web clipping in the site map database.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

transmitting the retrieved personal information to the portable computing device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

populating the frames of the selected Web clipping in the portable computing device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

transmitting the populated frames of the selected Web clipping to a Web site for transaction processing.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the populated frames of the selected Web clipping are transferred to the Web site through a data center, which translates between Web clippings and Web pages.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the sending and receiving steps are carried out over a wireless data communication network.

15. A portable computing device, comprising:

a radio frequency transmitter for sending a wireless request from the portable computing device to a secure file server configured to interface between the portable computing device and the Internet to obtain information to populate a plurality of frames of a selected Web clipping wherein the portable computing device utilizes Internet resources using the secure file server as an intermediary without directly connecting to the Internet and without the portable computing device downloading the selected web clipping;

a radio receiver for receiving a transmission from the secure file server containing personal information data extracted from a personal information database, the personal information database residing on the secure file server, and containing personal information data relating to a user of the portable computing device; and

a processor which populates the frames of the selected Web clipping with the personal information data received.

16. The portable computing device of claim 15, wherein the request comprises a label for a Web clipping containing the frames to be populated.

17. The portable computing device of claim 15, further comprising:

a structure for transmitting the populated Web clipping to a Web site.

18. The portable computing device of claim 17, wherein the populated Web clipping is conveyed to the Web site through a data center containing the secure file server.