Method and system for secure activation of web clipping applications

• US 7,971,263 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2007
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Access Company Limited
• Inventors: Johnson, Scott, Johnson, Suena
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, SHIN HON
• Application Number:
  US11/768,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20070289027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,463 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 726/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

The invention disclosed is a method and system for the secure activation of web clipping applications upon a portable information device (PID). In an embodiment of the invention, the method first provides for preventing a user from accessing web clipping applications that are installed on the PID and located within installed software. The method then continues with a user registering the PID with a proxy server by using a registration application within the installed software. Upon the authorized registration of the PID with the proxy server, the web clipping applications are revealed to the user, and with the web clipping applications thus revealed, the user may retrieve information from the proxy server through the implementation of any of the web clipping applications. The invention further provides for a method and system for the secure access of a proxy server by a PID such that the recurring step of device identification can be eliminated. This provides for reduced overhead in recurring data transmissions and affords more efficient communications.

Claims

1. In a portable information device (PID) having previously installed software therein for accessing a server, a method comprising the steps of:

a) preventing a user from accessing web applications that are previously installed on said PID and located within said installed software;

b) said user registering said PID with said server using a registration application of said installed software; and

c) upon authorized registration of said PID with said server, allowing said web applications to be made available for use by said user and otherwise preventing access of said web applications by said user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said PID comprises handheld organizers, cellular phones, laptop computers, and pagers.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step a) of preventing a user from accessing web applications is comprised of:

preventing a user from accessing web applications that are installed on said PID and located within said installed software by hiding said web applications within said installed software until such time that said device is registered with said server.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said step c) of allowing said web applications to be made available is comprised of:

upon authorized registration of said PID with said server, revealing said web applications to said user and otherwise preventing access of said web applications by said user.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

d) said user implementing at least one of said web applications to access and retrieve information from a web-site via said server.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said step d) of said user implementing at least one of said web applications to access and retrieve information is comprised of steps:

d1) said user implementing at least one of said web applications;

d2) said at least one web clipping application commanding a browser application within said installed software to seek web-site data associated with said at least one web application;

d3) said browser accessing said server and requesting data from said web-site associated with said at least one web application; and

d4) said PID receiving said data requested by said browser from said proxy server.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said step d) of said user implementing at least one of said web applications to access and retrieve information is performed without registration of said PID during said accessing and without a transfer of user authorization information.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said installed software upon said PID is a result of a step preceding said step a) of preventing a user from accessing web applications, said step preceding comprising:

downloading said software from said proxy server onto said PID.

9. A method for secure access of a server by a portable information device (PID) wherein recurring device identification is eliminated, comprising the steps of:

a) loading a software package onto said PID wherein said software package comprises a registration application and multiple hidden web applications;

b) registering said PID by the implementation of said registration application by a user;

c) upon said registering said PID, commanding by said proxy server to said PID to reveal said web applications;

d) initiating a browser command for data from said PID, wherein said initiating is a result of an activation by said user of at least one of said revealed web applications; and

e) transmitting said data to said PID.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

d1) accessing data on a web-site corresponding to said at least one of said revealed web applications; and

d2) viewing content on said web-site to select data acceptable to said PID.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said step a) of loading a software package onto said PID is comprised of the step of:

downloading a software package from said server via the Internet onto said PID.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of loading a software package onto said PID is without cost to said user and without restriction to acquirement of said software package by said user.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein said web applications allow a user of said PID to access data and services on a server without cost to said user and without registration of said user during said accessing of data and services.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein said web applications are hidden inside said registration application.

15. An electronic system, comprising:

a server coupled to the Internet; and

an electronic device comprising a processor coupled to a bus and a memory coupled to said bus, said memory having previously installed software for accessing said server and having stored therein instructions for implementing a method comprising the steps of;

a) preventing a user from accessing previously installed web applications that are installed on said electronic device and located within said installed software;

b) said user registering said electronic device with said server using a registration application of said installed software; and

c) upon authorized registration of said electronic device with said server, allowing said web applications to be made available for use by said user and otherwise preventing access of said web applications by said user.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said electronic device is a personal information device (PID) comprising at least one of a handheld organizer, a cellular phone, a laptop computer, or a pager.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said step a) of preventing a user from accessing web applications implemented by said electronic device is comprised of:

preventing a user from accessing web applications that are installed on said electronic device and located within said installed software by hiding said web applications within said installed software until such time that said device is registered with said server.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein said step c) of allowing said web clipping applications to be made available for use by said user is comprised of:

upon authorized registration of said electronic device with said server, revealing said web applications to said user and otherwise preventing access of said web applications by said user.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein said method implemented by said electronic device further comprises the step of:

d) said user implementing at least one of said web applications to access and retrieve information from a web-site via said server.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein said installed software upon said electronic device is a result of a step preceding step a) of preventing a user from accessing web applications, comprising the step of:

downloading said software from said server onto said electronic device.