Method and apparatus enabling automatic login for wireless internet-capable devices

Abstract

A network-based system for providing automatic login to a network-connected data source on behalf of a network-connected user accessing the system through a wireless communication appliance is provided. The system comprises, a wireless communication appliance, the appliance having network capability and an interactive user interface, the appliance operated for the purpose of accessing the network-connected data source, a network service-provider for providing access to the network; a network gateway for managing communication between the appliance and network-connected data source, a network-connected server node for performing proxy navigation and automated login services for the network-connected user, a data repository accessible to the network-connected server node, the data repository for holding data about the network-connected user and, a network-connected data source, the data source accessible to the network-connected server node. In preferred embodiments, a user operating the appliance while connected to the network invokes a hyperlink displayed in the user interface, the hyperlink containing a browser instruction for contacting the network-connected server node, the server node directing automated navigation to and login to the data source defined by the hyperlink, the login is accomplished through automated insertion of user data retrieved from the data repository into the appropriate fields of a login request.