Retrieving documents over a network with a wireless communication device

• US 7,711,854 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2002
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture Global Services GmbH (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Barton, Andrea Elise, Newkirk, Travis Scott, O'Boyle, Patrick Thomas, Ecklund, Terry Robert, Herbst, Damon Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Donaghue; Larry
• Assistant Examiner(s): BILGRAMI, ASGHAR H
• Application Number:
  US10/071,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20050262220A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,008 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219, 709/226, 709/246, 709/238, 715/513, 715/523, 235/472.01
• US Class Current: 709/246
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561

Abstract

A computing system is provided that comprises a portable, hand-held computer comprising a display and a plurality of cursor control keys; and a proxy server coupled to the portable computer by a data link. A proxy server is also coupled to at least one remote server on the Internet. The portable computer is adapted to activate a menu comprised of a plurality of entries. Each entry corresponds to at least one mark-up language file to be accessed by the user. The method disclosed herein provides a shorthand way of requesting mark-up language files using one hand and a minimal number of keystrokes. Once the proxy server receives the file, it separates the file into viewable segments and sends the first viewable segment to the portable computer.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system, comprising a remote server including a predetermined mark-up language file;

a proxy server configured to communicate with said remote server, wherein said proxy server is programmed to receive a request to retrieve said predetermined mark-up language file, wherein said request is transmittable from a wireless communication device, wherein said request received from said wireless communication device is generated in response to selection of a menu item from among a plurality of menu items displayable with said wireless communication device, wherein said request comprises an identifier that identifies a location for said selected menu item within a hierarchy for said plurality of menu items, and wherein said request is to retrieve said predetermined mark-up language file, said request being in a first format that is converted into a second format by said proxy server, said second format being used to retrieve said predetermined mark-up language file from said remote server, wherein said proxy server is configured to divide said predetermined mark-up language file into a plurality of viewable segments, said plurality of viewable segments being a predetermined number of viewable segments, including a first viewable segment, a second viewable segment and a third viewable segment, said first viewable segment and said second viewable segment each being sized less than a display buffer and sized to fit within a viewable area of a display screen of said wireless communication device so that a whole of any one of said viewable segments and a first navigation aid are viewable at the same time in said viewable area of said display screen, wherein said proxy server is further configured to generate said first navigation aid, a second navigation aid and a third navigation aid, wherein said proxy server is further configured to transmit said first viewable segment and said navigation aid in response to said request, said navigation aid being selectable with said wireless communication device to request said second viewable segment, said navigation aid being configured to graphically indicate whether other viewable segments adjacent to said first viewable segment in the mark-up language file are above, below, right, or left of said first viewable segment, wherein said proxy server is further configured to transmit said second navigation aid and said third navigation aid with said second viewable segment in response to receipt from said wireless communication device of a selection of said first navigation aid, said second navigation aid being selectable with said wireless communication device to request said first viewable segment and said third navigation aid being selectable with said wireless communication device to request said third viewable segment, wherein said proxy server is further configured to transmit said first viewable segment in response to receipt from said wireless communication device of selection of said second navigation aid, and wherein said proxy server is further configured to transmit said third viewable segment in response to receipt from said wireless communication device of selection of said third navigation aid.

2. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein said proxy server is configured to convert said viewable segments into a format compatible with said wireless communication device.

3. A method of retrieving mark-up language files over a wireless communication network, comprising:

receiving an encoded request transmittable from said wireless communication device, said encoded request containing a request for a predetermined mark-up language file and an identifier that identifies a location for said encoded request within a hierarchy for a plurality of encoded request;

decoding said encoded request;

retrieving said predetermined mark-up language file from a remote server;

dividing said predetermined mark-up language file into a plurality of viewable segments, said plurality of viewable segments comprising a predetermined number of viewable segments, said plurality of viewable segments including a first viewable segment, a second viewable segment and a third viewable segment, said first viewable segment and said second viewable segment each being sized to fit within a display buffer and sized to fit within a viewable area of a display screen of said wireless communication device;

generating a first navigation aid, a second navigation aid and a third navigation aid configured to direct retrieval of one of said plurality of viewable segments, wherein said first navigation aid and said first viewable segment or said second viewable segment are viewable simultaneously in said viewable area of said display screen, said first navigation aid being configured to graphically indicate whether other viewable segments adjacent to said first viewable segment or said second viewable segment in the mark-up language file are above, below, right, or left of said first viewable segment or said second viewable segment;

transmitting said first viewable segment and said navigation aid to said wireless communication device;

transmitting said second navigation aid and said third navigation aid with said second viewable segment in response to receipt from said wireless communication device of selection of said first navigation aid, said second navigation aid being selectable with said wireless communication device to request said first viewable segment and said third navigation aid being selectable with said wireless communication device to request said third viewable segment;

transmitting said first viewable segment in response to receipt from said wireless communication device of selection of said second navigation aid; and

transmitting said third viewable segment in response to receipt from said wireless communication device of selection of said third navigation aid.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

encoding said viewable segments into a format that is compatible with said wireless communication device.

5. A computer network for providing information to a wireless communication device, comprising:

a processor;

a memory in communication with said processor, said memory configured to store proxy server logic executable by said processor to;

receive a request transmittable from said wireless communication device in a first format, wherein said request is to retrieve a predetermined mark-up language file residing on a remote server, and wherein said request comprises an identifier that identifies a location for said request within a hierarchy for a plurality of requests;

convert said request into a second format;

transmit said request to said remote server;

receive a response to said request from said remote server;

separate said response into a plurality of viewable segments, said plurality of viewable segments comprising a predetermined number of viewable segments, wherein said plurality of viewable segments include a first viewable segment, a second viewable segment and a third viewable segment, wherein each of said viewable segments are sized in accordance with a display buffer and sized to fit within a display of said wireless communication device so that an entirety of said first viewable segment or said second viewable segment is displayable simultaneously in said display of said wireless communication device;

generate a first navigation aid, a second navigation aid and a third navigation aid;

transmit said first viewable segment and said first navigation aid to said wireless communication device, wherein said first navigation aid is configured to graphically indicate whether other viewable segments adjacent to said first viewable segment in the mark-up language file are above, below, right, or left of said first viewable segment;

transmit said second navigation aid and said third navigation aid with said second viewable segment in response to receipt from said wireless communication device of selection of said first navigation aid, said second navigation aid being selectable with said wireless communication device to request said first viewable segment and said third navigation aid being selectable with said wireless communication device to request said third viewable segment, transmit said first viewable segment in response to receipt from said wireless communication device of selection of said second navigation aid, and transmit said third viewable segment in response to receipt from said wireless communication device of selection of said third navigation aid.

6. The computer network of claim 5, wherein said memory is further configured to store proxy server logic executable by said processor to transmits said viewable segments to said wireless communication device in a format that is compatible with said wireless communication device.

7. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a remote server including a predetermined mark-up language file;

a proxy server configured to communicate with said remote server, wherein said proxy server is configured to receive a request transmittable from a wireless communication device, wherein said request is to retrieve said predetermined mark-up language file, said request being in a first format that is converted to a second format by said proxy server, said second format usable to retrieve said predetermined mark-up language file from said remote server, wherein said request comprises an identifier that identifies a location for said request within a hierarchy for a plurality of requests, wherein said proxy server is further configured to divide said predetermined mark-up language file into a predetermined number of viewable segments including a first viewable segment, a second viewable segment and a third viewable segment, said first viewable segment and said second viewable segment each being sized to fit within a display of said wireless communication device so that a whole of said first viewable segment or said second viewable segment is viewable in said display, wherein said proxy server is configured to generate a first navigation aid associated with said first viewable segment, a second navigation aid associated with said second viewable segment, and a third navigation aid, wherein said proxy server is further configured to transmit said first viewable segment and said first navigation aid in response to said request, said first navigation aid being selectable with said wireless communication device to request said second viewable segment, said navigation aid being configured to graphically indicate whether other viewable segments adjacent to said first viewable segment in the mark-up language file are above, below, right, or left of said first viewable segment, wherein said proxy server is further configured to transmit said second viewable segment, said second navigation aid and said third navigation aid upon receipt of a selection of said first navigation aid by said wireless communication device, said second navigation aid being selectable with said wireless communication device to request said first viewable segment and said third navigation aid being selectable with said wireless communication device to request said third viewable segment, wherein said proxy server is further configured to transmit said first viewable segment in response to receipt from said wireless communication device of selection of said second navigation aid, and wherein said proxy server is further configured to transmit said third viewable segment in response to receipt from said wireless communication device of selection of said third navigation aid.

11. The wireless communication system of claim 7, wherein the whole of one of said first viewable segment or said second viewable segment and at least one of said first navigation aid or said second navigation aid are viewable simultaneously in said display.

8. A method of retrieving mark-up language files over a wireless communication network, comprising:

receiving a request for a predetermined mark-up language file from a wireless communication device, wherein said request comprises an identifier that identifies a location for said request within a hierarchy for a plurality of requests;

retrieving said predetermined mark-up language file from a remote server;

dividing said predetermined mark-up language file into a plurality of viewable segments that are sized to fit within a viewable area of a display screen of said wireless communication device, said plurality of viewable segments being a predetermined number of viewable segments including a first viewable segment, a second viewable segment and a third viewable segment;

generating a first navigation aid, a second navigation aid and a third navigation aid configured to direct retrieval of said second viewable segment and said first viewable segment, respectively, wherein said first navigation aid and said second navigation aid are configured to graphically indicate whether other viewable segments adjacent to said first viewable segment in the mark-up language file are above, below, right, or left of said first viewable segment transmitting said first navigation aid and said first viewable segment to said wireless communication device, a whole of said first viewable segment being viewable in its entirety simultaneously in said display screen;

in response to receipt from said wireless communication device of selection of said first navigation aid, transmitting said second navigation aid, said second viewable segment and said third navigation aid to said wireless communication device, a whole of said second viewable segment being viewable in its entirety simultaneously in said display screen;

in response to receipt from said wireless communication device of selection of said second navigation aid, transmitting said first viewable segment and said first navigation aid to said wireless communication device, and in response to receipt from said wireless communication device of selection of said third navigation aid, transmitting said third viewable segment.

9. A method of retrieving mark-up language files over a wireless communication network, comprising:

receiving with a proxy server a request for a predetermined mark-up language file from a wireless communication device, wherein said request comprises an identifier that identifies a location for said request within a hierarchy for a plurality of requests;

retrieving with said proxy server said predetermined mark-up language file from a remote server;

dividing with said proxy server said predetermined mark-up language file into a plurality of viewable segments that are sized to fit within a viewable area of a display screen of said wireless communication device, said plurality of viewable segments being a predetermined number of viewable segments including a first viewable segment, a second viewable segment and a third viewable segment;

generating a navigation aid configured to direct retrieval of said second viewable segment, wherein said navigation aid is a first navigation aid, and generating a second navigation aid and a third navigation aid;

transmitting with said proxy server said navigation aid and said first viewable segment to said wireless communication device, said navigation aid selectable to request said second viewable segment, said navigation aid being configured to graphically indicate whether other viewable segments adjacent to said first viewable segment in the mark-up language file are above, below, right, or left of said first viewable segment, transmitting with said proxy server said second navigation aid and said third navigation aid with said second viewable segment in response to receipt from said wireless communication device of selection of said first navigation aid, said second navigation aid being selectable with said wireless communication device to request said first viewable segment and said third navigation aid being selectable with said wireless communication device to request said third viewable segment, transmitting with said proxy server said first viewable segment in response to receipt from said wireless communication device of selection of said second navigation aid, and transmitting with said proxy server said third viewable segment in response to receipt from said wireless communication device of selection of said third navigation aid.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said size of said viewable area of said display screen is determined by querying with said proxy server said wireless communication device.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

generating a menu with said wireless communication device, wherein said menu includes a plurality of menu items selectable with an input device included in said wireless communication device,

wherein said plurality of menu items include an integration and application programming interface (API) tools menu item, a technical services menu item, and a gateway services menu item,

wherein said menu is displayable only when said wireless communication device is in communication with said proxy server;

receiving a selection of a menu item from said menu items with said input device; and

generating said request for said predetermined mark-up language file from said selected menu item.

13. A method of retrieving mark-up language files over a wireless communication network, comprising:

transmitting with a proxy server a menu that includes a plurality of selectable menu items to a wireless communication device, said menu only displayable when said wireless communication device is in communication with said proxy server, and each of said menu items associated with a respective one of a plurality of requests for predetermined mark-up language files;

receiving a request for a predetermined mark-up language file from a wireless communication device based on selection of a menu item from said menu with said wireless communication device, wherein said request comprises an identifier that identifies a location for said request within a hierarchy for said plurality of requests;

retrieving said predetermined mark-up language file from a remote server;

dividing said predetermined mark-up language file into a plurality of viewable segments that are sized to fit within a viewable area of a display screen of said wireless communication device, said plurality of viewable segments being a predetermined number of viewable segments including a first viewable segment, a second viewable segment and a third viewable segment;

generating a first navigation aid and a second navigation aid configured to direct retrieval of said second viewable segment and said first viewable segment, respectively, and generating a third navigation aid;

transmitting said first navigation aid and said first viewable segment to said wireless communication device, a whole of said first viewable segment being viewable in its entirety simultaneously in said display screen, said navigation aid being configured to graphically indicate whether other viewable segments adjacent to said first viewable segment in the mark-up language file are above, below, right, or left of said first viewable segment;

in response to selection of said first navigation aid with said wireless communication device, transmitting said second navigation aid, said second viewable segment and said third navigation aid to said wireless communication device, a whole of said second viewable segment being viewable in its entirety simultaneously in said display screen;

in response to selection of said second navigation aid with said wireless communication device, transmitting said first viewable segment and said first navigation aid to said wireless communication device and in response to selection of said third navigation aid, transmitting said third viewable segment.