WO2001075684A2

WO2001075684A2 - Information service and method

Info

Publication number: WO2001075684A2
Application number: PCT/US2001/009896
Authority: WO
Inventors: Greg Arnold; Scott Lincke
Original assignee: Palm, Inc.
Priority date: 2000-03-31
Filing date: 2001-03-28
Publication date: 2001-10-11
Also published as: AU2001249541A1; WO2001075684A3

Abstract

A server-based event-driven information notification system for a palmtop computer. A push server is programmed to provide selected information to a palmtop computer. The push server periodically queries the Internet or a service provider in order to cache information selected by a palmtop user. The push server attempts to push the information instantaneously to the palmtop computer. If the palmtop computer is off-line, the push server will fail to receive an acknowledgement of the pushed information and the information is stored. When the palmtop user goes on-line, the selected information is pushed to the palmtop computer. This provides the advantage of allowing the user of the palmtop computer to obtain up to the minute information which is pushed to the palmtop computer whenever it is on-line.

Description

INFORMATION SERVICE AND METHOD

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of methods and devices for providing information to the user of a palmtop computer. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to server-based event driven information notification with palmtop computer.

BACKGROUND

As the components required to build a computer system have reduced in size, new categories of computer systems have emerged. One of the new categories of computer systems is the "palmtop" computer system. A palmtop computer system is a computer that is small enough to be held in the hand of a user and can be "palm-sized." Most palmtop computer systems are used to implement various Personal Information Management (PIM) applications such as an address book, a daily organizer and electronic notepads, to name a few.

Due to the small size of such palmtop computers, they are convenient to carry in a pocket or purse. The latest generation of such Palmtop computers also include the ability to transmit and received information over a wireless communication network. This permits the user to send and receive E-mail and use the Internet without being tied to a telephone wire. In spite of the dramatic advances in such technology recently, the palmtop computer must be considered a wireless handheld very thin client at present. It would be desirable for palmtop computers to be capable of having Information of interest to the user automatically sent to the Palmtop computer whenever an event of interest occurs (e.g. important news events or a stock price exceeds a target). Unfortunately, most such devices are turned off most of the time to preserve battery life. This makes conventional push technology essentially impossible. Pull technology is also more difficult to implement due to battery life and memory constraints. Battery life limitations currently make it difficult to provide such features in many palmtop computers since the receiver would need to be on all.the time, or cycled on frequently.

Several special purpose devices currently exist which provide limited* ability to receive real time information in a portable wireless hand held device. For example, certain cellular telephone systems are able to push selected news items to subscribers. Certain special purpose devices are available for receiving information relating to stock quotes or stock splits. However, these devices provide very specialized services which are designed by the service provider and are therefor limited in their ability to retrieve only certain specialized types of information, generally on a subscription basis.

In the desktop-computing environment, push technology has been simulated using the PointCast provided by Compaq Computer. In the PointCast Network, a user's personal computer was programmed to periodically query the PointCast server for particular information of interest to the user. For example, the user could request stock quotes to be updated every 30 minutes. For users connected continuously to the Internet, the stock quotes were updated every 30 minutes. From the user's perspective, it appeared that the information was pushed. Actually, the client personal computer was pulling the information from the PointCast server on a periodic basis. SUMMARY

Accordingly, what is needed is a method and apparatus for providing information services to a palmtop computer which closely approximate the ability to page the user when an event occurs. A method and system are described for providing such method and apparatus.

A server-based event-driven information notification system for a palmtop computer according to certain embodiments of the invention includes a push server which is programmed to provide selected information to a palmtop computer. The push server periodically queries the Internet or a service provider in order to cache information selected by a palmtop user. The push server attempts to push the information instantaneously to the palmtop computer. If the palmtop computer is off-line, the push server will fail to receive an acknowledgement of the pushed information and the information is stored. When the palmtop user goes on-line, the selected information is pushed to the palmtop computer. This provides the advantage of allowing the user of the palmtop computer to obtain up to the minute information which is pushed to the palmtop computer whenever it is on-line.

In certain embodiments of the invention, a method of obtaining information using a palmtop computer, includes instructing a push server to retrieve selected information; at the push server, retrieving and storing the selected information; and pushing the selected information to the palmtop computer via the wireless communication network.

In certain other embodiments, a method of providing information to a palmtop computer includes receiving an instruction at a push server to retrieve selected information; at the push server, retrieving and storing the selected information; making a determination at the push server, that a palmtop computer is not on-line on a wireless communication network; storing the selected information until the palmtop computer goes on-line; and pushing the selected information to the palmtop computer when the palmtop computer goes on-line.

An information service according to certain embodiments of the present invention include a wireless data network which communicates with a palmtop computer. A data center, includes a push server which periodically retrieves selected information from a plurality of information sources, and pushes the selected information to the palmtop computer; a storage device for caching the retrieved information; a mechanism for determining that the palmtop computer is off-line; wherein, the_push server stores the selected information if the palmtop computer is off-line; and upon determining at the determining means that the palmtop computer has gone on-line, the push server pushes the selected information to the palmtop computer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is system illustration of a palmtop computer system connected to other computer systems and the Internet via a cradle device.

Figure 2A is a top side perspective view of a palmtop computer system that can be used in the present invention.

Figure 2B is a bottom side perspective view of the palmtop computer system of Figure 2A.

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the components of the palmtop computer system of Figure 2A.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a cradle device for connecting the palmtop computer system to other systems via a communication interface. Figure 5 is a logical block diagram of the palmtop computer system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a block diagram of the major components of a wireless network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a flow chart describing an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description of the present invention, a server- based event driven information notification with a Palmtop computer, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be recognized by one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details or with equivalents thereof. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present invention.

NOTATION AND NOMENCLATURE

Some portions of the detailed descriptions that follow are presented in terms of procedures, steps, logic blocks, processing, and other symbolic representations of operations on data bits that can be performed in computer memory. These descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the data processing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. A procedure, computer executed step, logic block, process, etc., is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps or instructions leading to a desired result. The steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared and otherwise manipulated in a computer system. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, Terms, numbers, or the like.

It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the present invention, discussions utilizing terms such as "processing" or "computing" or "translating" or "calculating" or "determining" or "scrolling" or "displaying" or "recognizing" or the like, refer to the action and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.

SERVER-BASED EVENT DRIVEN INFORMATION NOTIFICATION WITH PALMTOP COMPUTER

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an example of the principles of the invention and not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. In the description below, like reference numerals are used to describe the same, similar or corresponding parts in the several views of the drawing.

Figure 1 illustrates a system 50 that can be used in conjunction with the information notification system and method of the present invention. System 50 comprises a host computer system 56 which can either be a desktop unit as shown, or, alternatively, can be a laptop or notebook computer system 58. Optionally, one or more host computer systems can be used within system 50. Host computer systems 58 and 56 are shown connected to a communication bus 54, which in one embodiment can be a serial communication bus, but could be of any of a number of well known designs, e.g., a parallel bus, Ethernet Local Area Network (LAN), etc. Optionally, bus 54 can provide communication with the Internet 52 using a number of well known protocols.

Bus 54 is also coupled to a cradle 60 for receiving and initiating communication with a palmtop ("palm-sized") portable computer system 100 of the present invention. Cradle 60 provides an electrical and mechanical communication. interface between bus 54 (and anything coupled to bus 54) and the computer system 100 for two-way communications. Computer system 100 may contain a wireless infrared communication mechanism 64 for sending and receiving information to and from other devices. Figure 2A is a perspective illustration of the top face 100a of one embodiment of the palmtop computer system of the present invention. The top face 100a contains a display screen 105 surrounded by a bezel or cover. A removable stylus 80 is also shown. The display screen 105 is a touch screen able to register contact between the screen and the tip of the stylus 80. The stylus 80 can be of any material to make contact with the screen 105. The top face 100a also contains one or more dedicated and/or programmable buttons 75 for selecting information and causing the computer system to implement functions. The on/.off button 95 is also shown.

Figure 2A also illustrates a handwriting recognition pad or "digitizer" containing two regions 106a and 106b. Region 106a is for the drawing of alphabetic characters therein for automatic recognition and region 106b is for the drawing of numeric characters therein for automatic recognition.

The stylus 80 is used for stroking a character within one of the regions106a and 106b. The stroke information is then fed to an internal processor for automatic character recognition. Once characters are recognized, they are typically displayed on the screen 105 for verification and/or modification.

Figure 2B illustrates the bottom side 100b of one embodiment of the palmtop computer system of the present invention. An extendible antenna 85 is shown and also a battery storage compartment door 90 is shown. A communication interface 108 is also shown. In one embodiment of the present invention, the serial communication interface 108 is a serial communication port, but could also alternatively be of any of a number of well known communication standards and protocols, e.g., parallel, SCSI, Firewire (IEEE 1394), Ethernet, etc.

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the palmtop computer system 100 in accordance with one implementation. System 100 contains a front cover 210 having an outline of region 106 and holes 75a for receiving buttons 75b. A flat panel display 105 (both liquid crystal display and touch screen) fits into front cover 210. Any of a number of display technologies can be used, e.g., LCD, FED, plasma, etc., for the flat panel display 105. A battery 215 provides electrical power. A contrast adjustment (potentiometer) 220 is also shown.

On/off button 95 is shown along with an infrared emitter and detector device 64. A flex circuit 230 is shown along with a PC board 225 containing electronics and logic (e.g., memory, communication bus, processor, etc.) for implementing computer system functionality. The digitizer pad is also included in PC board 225. A midframe 235 is shown along with stylus 80. Position adjustable antenna 85 is shown. Antenna 85 is connected to an RF transmitter/receiver device 240 (transceiver) which is provides communications with wireless data network.

A radio receiver/transmitter device 240 is also shown between the midframe and the rear cover 245 of Figure 3. The receiver/transmitter device 240 is coupled to the antenna 85 and also coupled to communicate with the PC board 225. In one implementation, the Mobitex wireless communication system is used to provide two way communication between system 100 and other networked computers and/or the Internet via a proxy server.

Figure 4 is a perspective illustration of one embodiment of the cradle 60 for receiving the palmtop computer system 100. Cradle 60 contains a mechanical and electrical interface 260 for interfacing with serial connection 108 (Figure 2B) of computer system 100 when system 100 is slid into the cradle 60 In an upright position. Once inserted, button 270 can be pressed to initiate two way communication between system 100 and other computer systems coupled to serial communication 265.

Figure 5 illustrates circuitry of computer system 100, some of which can be implemented on PC board 225. Computer system 100 includes an address/data bus 110 for communicating information, a central processor 101 coupled with the bus for processing information and instructions, a volatile memory 102 (e.g., random access memory RAM) coupled with the bus 100 for storing information and instructions for the central processor 101 and a nonvolatile memory 103 (e.g., read only memory ROM) coupled with the bus 110 for storing static information and instructions for the processor 101. Computer system 100 also includes an optional data storage device 104 (e.g., memory stick) coupled with the DUS 110 for storing information and instructions. Device 104 can be removable. As described above, system 100 also contains a display device 105 coupled to the bus 110 for displaying information to the computer user. PC board 225 can contain the processor 101 , the bus 110, the ROM 103 and the RAM 102.

Also included in computer system 100 of Figure 5 is an optional alphanumeric input device 106 which in one implementation is a handwriting recognition pad ("digitizer") having regions 106a and 106b (Figure 2A), for instance. Device 106 can communicate information and command selections to the central processor 101. System 100 also includes an optional cursor control or directing device 107 coupled to the bus for communicating user input information and command selections to the central processor 101. In one implementation, device 107 is a touch screen device incorporated with screen 105. Device 107 is capable of registering a position on the screen 105 where the stylus makes contact. The display device 105 utilized with the computer system 100 may be a liquid crystal device, cathode ray tube (CRT), field emission device (FED, also called flat panel CRT) or other display device suitable for creating graphic images and alphanumeric characters recognizable to the user. In the preferred embodiment, display 105 is a flat panel display.

Signal communication device (I/O device) 108, also coupled to bus 110, can be a serial port for communicating with the cradle 60. Device 108 can also include an infrared communication port. As shown, the device 108 is coupled to the radio frequency transceiver 240 and antenna 85 to provide wireless communication.

Referring now to Figure 6, the Palmtop Computer 100 is shown as it interacts with a wireless data network. In this figure, Palmtop Computer 100 communicates via its antenna 85 with one of a plurality of base stations 300. Each of the base stations 300 is in turn connected to a wireless data network such as those used for cellular telecommunications. The wireless data network 310 is in turn coupled to a data center 320. In addition, data center 300 is connected to the Internet 52 which places a)J of the capabilities of the Internet and the World Wide Web at the disposal of the data center 320.

The data center 320 can provide a number of sen/ices to the Palmtop Computer 100 including authentication services provided by authentication server 322 which authenticates the identity of a user utilizing Palmtop Computer 100. Additional authentication services and encryption services may also be provided by wireless data network 310, depending upon the application. In addition, data center 320 provides a service called "Web clipping" via a Web clipping proxy server 324.

"Web clipping" is a process by which the Palmtop Computer 100 can effectively provide Internet services to the user within its environment of limited communication bandwidth, limited memory and limited processing capabilities. The concept of Web clipping is based on a principal of minimizing the amount of information that is communicated to and from Palmtop Computer 100. That is, the less data transferred the more efficient the communication system. In Web clipping, all user interaction is based on a simple query and response rather than on a system of hyperlinks as on the World Wide Web. The query portion is stored on Palmtop Computer 100 and is active when the user enters data into a request form. For example, if the user wishes to obtain a stock quote, the stock symbol may be entered into a request form without the user going on-line. The query is then submitted to the data center 320 through the wireless data network 310 in the form of a very small message (typically less than 50 bytes). The data center 320 serves as an interface to the Internet 52 which pulls the desired information from the Internet and returns a response via wireless data network 310 to the Palmtop Computer 100 in a response which is typically less than 500 bytes (compressed). As a result, the user is able to obtain the information desired from a particular Web page without having to actually browse the Internet and display Web pages on the limited resolution display of the Palmtop Computer 100.

This approach has the benefits of providing near instant access to t e Internet while simultaneously providing low cost of service by controlling the airtime usage. This in turn results in long battery life since transmissions from Palmtop Computer 100 may be a substantial drain on batteries.

The Web clipping proxy server 324 is responsible for converting standard Internet protocols and content from a Web page into a form that is tuned for transmission across a wireless network and for display on a very thin client device such as Palmtop Computer 100. The Web clipping proxy server 324 uses standard Internet and security protocols (TCP, HTTP and SSL) to HTML servers to insure compatibility. However, on the wireless side, it adjusts everything to support extremely low bandwidth and latency. Moreover, the Web clipping proxy server 324 compresses the data from the Internet to insure maximum transmission efficiency in the wireless environment. Data center 320 having Web clipping proxy server 324 is currently implemented for the commercially available Palm VII wireless palmtop computer system as a service called Palm.net™ operated by Palm Computing, Inc.

In accordance with the present intention, data center 320 also includes a large amount of storage capacity such as disc storage 328 and a "push server" 330, which is able to receive and send HTML code. This push server 330 provides the system with the ability to automatically send information to the Palmtop computer as required by the user.

While not explicitly illustrated in Figure 6, data center 320 is preferably a "secure" data center in that it is protected by fire wall and encryption technologies to assure the security of the information stored in the data center. For purposes of this document, the term "secure" is intended to embrace any security measures such as fire walls, encryption an authentication technologies as well as physical barriers (locked doors, etc.) to provide for security of the server and/or the data center.

Referring now to Figure 7, the operation of the present invention is described starting at 400 where a user of Palmtop Computer 100 sets up information to be retrieved by the push server 330. The user at this stage tells the push server 330 to "Notify me when" a particular event occurs (e.g. a stock reaches a particular price, etc.). This may be accomplished by using pull down menus or the like in an application stored on the Palmtop Computer 100. Alternatively, it can be implemented by programming the push server 330 via a conventional connection through the Internet 52 using a desktop computer to simplify data entry. The push server stores the queries desired by the user of Palmtop Computer 100 in disc storage 328.

The push server 330 queries the Internet 52, and/or other services which provide real time information to the data center, for the information requested by the user at timed intervals at 430 until an event is realized. Examples of this type of information include stock quotes, the presence of other users on-line, a stock price reaching a target price, receipt of E-mail or news events in particular categories. Thus, the push server 330 can query the Internet to obtain and cache information from any available web page to supply to the user of Palmtop computer 100. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many other types of information can be obtained by data center 320 in order to provide information to the push server 330. When push server 330 receives responses to the queries requested by the user, the push server 330 essentially caches those responses. Although the data center 320 might be unable to immediately page the Palmtop Computer 100 to provide it with the information using a true "push" technology, the operation can be closely simulated whenever the Palmtop Computer 100 is placed in a wireless communication mode by raising its antenna 85.

When an event is realized, the push server 330 attempts to notify the user, first by clearing the request (assuming a one time request) from the user account database unless it has been marked for "continuous refresh" at 440 (i.e. the user wishes to be continually updated on the status of a particular requested event). At 450, the push server attempts to notify the user and awaits an acknowledgement. If no acknowledgement is received, the push server 330 stores the event until the user registers. Multiple events can be stored and delivered upon registration of the user.

When the Palmtop Computer 100 is placed in the wireless on-line mode, the data center 320 via information from the wireless data network 310 is able to determine that the user is on-line. When the user is not on-line the event is stored until such time as the user goes on-line.

When the user is determined to be on-line at 450, the information cached in disc storage 328 by the push server 330 is pushed to the user at 450. In this manner, if the user remains on-line and the push server 330 is updated with newer information than that provided to the user at 450, then the updated information is pushed to the user at 450. If the Palmtop computer 100 is off or off-line, the information is cached until the next time the Palmtop computer 100 goes on-line (registers). Although the technique just disclosed is not true push technology when the user of Palmtop Computer 100 is off-line, it closely simulates it by providing the information as soon as possible after the user goes on-line.

Thus, the push server 330 polls service providers periodically to obtain near real time information which is cached in disc storage 328 until such time as the user of Palmtop Computer 100 goes on-line. In this manner, the system is able to closely approximate push technology in the Palmtop computing environment. For E-mail, the system provides a type of store and forward system that obviates the need for the user to initiate a special query to receive E- mail since it is automatically pushed to the user whenever the Palmtop computer 100 goes on-line.

The push server retrieves information based upon an "autoretrieve type" specified in accordance with the type of information needed. Applications register this information with the push server by specifying the type of request and input parameters. In this manner, the robot knows how and where to find the particular type of information requested by a query.

Many examples of the type of information which can be retrieved by the push server can be produced by one having skill in the art. For example, the push server can be asked to retrieve lowest prices for a particular item of commerce by querying on a UPC code, bar code or other identifier serving as the autoretrieve type. Lowest airline prices can be retrieved according to a stored profile, along with to and from information serving as autoretrieve type. Stock prices can be sent when a stock reaches a target price by using the stock symbol and target price information. Local weather information and news clippings can be retrieved using location and key word filters respectively. Email receipts can be delivered specified by sender, subject type or MIME type. Examples too numerous to mention can be devised by those skilled in the art. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments based upon use of a programmed processor. However, the invention should not be so limited, since the present invention could be implemented using hardware component equivalents such as special purpose hardware and/or dedicated processors which are equivalents to the invention as described and claimed. Similarly, general purpose computers, microprocessor based computers, micro-controllers, optical computers, analog computers, dedicated processors and/or dedicated hard wired logic may be used to construct alternative equivalent embodiments of the present invention.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific - embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, permutations and variations will become apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A method of obtaining information, comprising: instructing a push server to retrieve selected information; at the push server, retrieving and storing the selected information; and pushing the selected information to a palmtop computer via a wireless communication network.

2. The method of Claim 1 , wherein information is obtained by using a palmtop computer.

3. The method of Claim 1 wherein instead of obtaining information, information is provided to a palmtop computer, such that instead of instructing the push server, instructions are received at the push server to retrieve selected information; said method further comprising the steps of: making a determination at the push server, that a palmtop computer is not on-line on a wireless communication network; and storing the selected information until the palmtop computer goes on-line; wherein pushing the selected information to the palmtop computer occurs when the palmtop computer goes on-line.

4. An information service, comprising: a push server which periodically retrieves selected information from a plurality of information sources, and pushes the selected information to the palmtop computer; a storage device for caching the retrieved information; means for determining that the palmtop computer is off-line; wherein, the push server stores the selected information if the palmtop computer is off-line; and upon determining at the determining means that the palmtop computer has gone on-line, the push server pushes the selected information to the palmtop computer.

5. The method of Claims 1-3, or the information service of Claim 4, wherein the selected information comprises at least one of a stock quote, a news item and receipt of an email.

6. The method of Claims 1-3, or the information service of Claim 4, wherein the push server is part of a secure data center.

7. The method of Claims 1-3, or the information service of Claim 4, wherein the retrieving comprises retrieving information from the Internet.

8. The method of Claims 1-3, or the information service of Claim 4, wherein the retrieving comprises retrieving information from an information service provider.

9. The method of Claims 1 or 2, further comprising storing the selected information until the palmtop computer goes on-line.

10. The method of Claim 9, further comprising determining that the palmtop computer is off-line by a failure to acknowledge receipt of the selected information.

11. The method of Claim 3, wherein making a determination comprises determining that an acknowledgement has not been received to an attempt to push the selected information to the palmtop computer.

12. The information service of Claim 4, further comprising: a secure data center.

13. The information service of Claim 4, wherein one of the information sources comprises the Internet.

14. The information service of Claim 4, wherein one of the information sources comprises a service provider.

15. The information service of Claim 4, wherein the means for determining determines that the palmtop computer is off-line by failure to receive an acknowledgement to the push server pushing the selected information.