Method and system for wireless distribution of local information

Abstract

In a system, called an application manager, portable devices can be connected in various kinds of local area networks (LANs). In the portable devices, local browsers are run to find services by listening in the local area network to messages broadcast from a local information server through some base unit. The local information server registers local services and provides, on automatic requests from the local browsers, address information of the local services. The address information is used by a local browser to obtain, through the Internet, general information of the services from an HTTP server, that contains information of applications, such as graphical information including icon files and short descriptions of the applications. After receiving the general information symbols of available services, it is then shown on the display of the portable device. The user can then by a single click access a service and then the local browser automatically downloads the user part of the application the symbol of which has been clicked and starts to execute the program of the application. The executing generally does not require communication or information relevant to the current location of the user, such as timetable information for trains and air flights.