Openwave Systems Inc.

Phone.com, LLC

Unwired Planet, LLC

Andrew L Laursen

Alain S Rossmann

Bruce K Martin, Jr

Russell S Greer

Jonathan M Wulff

Stephen S Boyle

Bruce V Schwartz

Lawrence M Stein

Mark A Fox

Mark Lentczner

Craig William Payne

Cynthia N Dahm

Brad E Sandman

Maurice A Jeffery

Arnaud P Y Capitant

Paul A Smethers

Jared Martin Oberhaus

A method for accessing data contained in a data network using a mobile device or a different computing device. Common data may be accessed by both the mobile device and the computing device, with the mobile device communicating over a wireless data network and the computing device communicating over a data network such as the Internet, a private network or a network of public and private networks. A different format may be used to process and display the data on each of the two devices, with the data being converted as necessary for display on the devices. The data may be updated by the computing device and then made available to the mobile device.

Method and apparatus for accessing a common database from a mobile device and a computing device

The present invention has been made in consideration of thin devices efficiently communicating ideas and transactions into data networks by using other devices with full functional user interface in the networks. According to one aspect of the present invention, the thin device exclusively controls the authentication of a rendezvous that is associated with a user account in a server. The thin device running a micro-browser provisions the rendezvous with a set of credential information in an authenticated and secure communication session so that the provisioning process is truly proprietary. To access the user account, the other devices equipped with well-known browsers must submit the correct credential information to the rendezvous for verification in the server. Once admitted, the other devices can update managed information in the user account, individually and respectively, thereby the thin device is able to conduct desired transactions based on the managed information in the user account without the need to key in pertinent information of the transactions.

Mobile device for accessing a common database and a computing device

Apparatus for accessing a common database from a mobile device and a computing device

The invention allows access to the Internet by two-way mobile communication devices capable of wireless communication via a link server. Despite limited computing resources in the mobile devices, the invention allows the mobile devices to interact with Internet entities using a control engine in the link server and an interface engine in the mobile devices. The control engine utilizes the computing resources of the link server and handles tasks requiring considerable computing resources, such as processing of URL requests, interpreting markup language files, managing a data cache and variable states. Working with a message processor in the link server, the control engine communicates with an interface engine using a compact data format that is efficiently transportable in the wireless data network. The interface engine typically performs tasks that do not require considerable computing resources, such as receiving input from users and rendering data received from the link server.

Method and architecture for interactive two-way communication devices to interact with a network

Improved techniques for synchronizing different electronic mail mailboxes (accounts) of a user are disclosed. The user is able to effectively see and interact with only a single 'virtual' mailbox, which is the synchronized combination of the two different electronic mailboxes. The electronic mailboxes are used to receive, store, read and send electronic mail over a network to electronic mailboxes associated with recipients. The electronic mail can include electronic messages that contain text, graphics or video. The synchronization of the two different electronic mailboxes can be performed automatically in a two-way manner without user interaction. The synchronization can also be performed securely even though electronic messages are transmitted over a public network.

Mail synchronization of remote and local mail systems

Improved approaches for enabling thin devices to efficiently communicate ideas and transactions into data networks by using other devices with full functional user interfaces in the networks. According to one aspect, the thin device exclusively controls the authentication of a rendezvous that is associated with a user account in a server. The thin device running a micro-browser provisions the rendezvous with a set of credential information in an authenticated and secure communication session so that the provisioning process is truly proprietary. To access the user account, the other devices equipped with well known browsers must submit the correct credential information to the rendezvous for verification in the server. Once admitted, the other devices can update managed information in the user account, individually and respectively, thereby the thin device is able to conduct desired transactions based on the managed information in the user account without the need to key in pertinent information of the transactions.

The present invention discloses a fleet managing system in which fleet data can be securely managed and disseminated to a selective group of mobile stations serviced by a carrier infrastructure. The fleet managing system relies on a series of consecutive transitive trusts between pairs of components in the system so that all communications from a provisioning entity to the mobile stations are secure. The access to the fleet managing system is guarded with a challenge response every time there is a request arriving at the system while the mobile stations are verified by an account manager in the system to ensure that the fleet data is eventually pushed to the correct group of mobile stations. Apart distinctly from existing fleet managing systems for mobile stations, the present invention provides secure means for an authorized entity, from anywhere at any time, to control the dissemination of mobile data to a specified group of mobile stations without incurring additional costs to or direct involvement of a service carrier.

Method and architecture for managing a fleet of mobile stations over wireless data networks

Techniques that facilitate participation of mobile devices in accessing resources over a data network are disclosed. The data network can be wired, wireless or some combination thereof. In one aspect, a mobile navigation metaphor is provided to yield similar navigation experiences on both mobile devices and personal computers. In another aspect, a central content server is able to return requested content to requesters in a format suitable for their device.

Method and system for providing resource access in a mobile environment

Techniques that facilitate participation of mobile devices in accessing resources over a data network are disclosed. The data network can be wired, wireless or some combination thereof. In one aspect, a mobile navigation metaphor is provided to yield similar navigation experiences on both mobile devices and personal computers. In another aspect, a central content server is able to return requested content to requestors in a format suitable for their device.

A method and system are disclosed for providing subscriber loyalty and retention techniques. These techniques are suitable for mobile devices with small screens and limited keypad communication. This system and method allows mobile subscribers who have been identified as being likely candidates for churning, to efficiently, visually and interactively, review an offer for a mobile service plan better meeting the subscriber's needs. The subscriber can review and execute the offer using the display and interface of a mobile device.

Online churn reduction and loyalty system

Under the limited bandwidth of the current wireless data network and with the low memory in mobile devices in use today, the process of going through a number of intermediate pages to get to a desired page increases the latency of the information deliver and intensifies the network traffic. A method for accelerating the navigation of hypertext pages based on a compound request is disclosed. After a compound request is entered and activated, the compound request is parsed into an antecedent request followed by a final request wherein the antecedent request comprises a plurality of intermediate requests. All the intermediate requests are processed individually and sequentially as if they were entered individually and cards corresponding to the intermediate requests are fetched sequentially. A final card containing desired information by the final request is fetched based on the card corresponding to the last intermediate request and thereby displayed.

Method and apparatus for accelerating navigation of hypertext pages using compound requests

The present invention is particularly applicable to navigation of Internet by two-way interactive communication mobile devices that are capable of wireless communication via a link server with service providers or network servers on the Internet. Despite the limited computing resources in mobile devices that make it economically and technically impractical for the mobile devices to operate a local browser functioning as if it was in a desktop computer, the present invention allows the mobile devices to interact effectively with the Internet using a control engine operating in the link server and an interface engine operating in the mobile devices. The control engine, which utilizes the computing resources of the link server device, is responsible for tasks that require considerable computing power and memory, such as processing of URL requests, interpretation of markup language files, management of data cache and variable states. Further, working with a message processor in the server device, the control engine communicates with an interface engine using a compact data format that is efficiently transportable in the wireless data network. The interface engine typically performs tasks that do not require considerable computing power and memory, such as receiving input data from users, and the rendering of the compact data format received from the link server device, to cause the mobile device to display contents in the markup language files on a display screen.

An improved query input technique is disclosed in which a user supplies a few character-based queries and is able to retrieve and display at least as portion of a record from a structured database. For every character the user enters, a progressively reduced list of indexes that start with the entered characters is displayed. When a desired index identifying the record is among those indexes being displayed, the user may cease the character entry and scroll a zoom window upon the desired index to explore the full record. Various visual feedback indicators can also be displayed for the benefit of the user. Consequently, the user can access and display pertinent information of a certain record from a database quickly and efficiently with a reduced number keystrokes.

Method and apparatus for displaying a record from a structured database with minimum keystrokes

A method and system are disclosed for providing subscriber loyalty and retention techniques These techniques are suitable for mobile devices with small screens and limited keypad communication. This system and method allows mobile subscribers who have been identified as being likely candidates for churning, to efficiently, visually and interactively, review an offer for a mobile service plan better meeting the subscriber's needs. The subscriber can review and execute the offer using the display and interface of a mobile device.

Growing community of inventors

San Mateo, CA, United States of America

Andrew L Laursen