I IIIII IIIIIIII II llllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111111
`US 20020073235Al
`
`(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication
`Chen et al.
`
`(10) Pub. No.: US 2002/0073235 Al
`Jun. 13, 2002
`(43) Pub. Date:
`
`(54) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTENT
`DISTILLATION
`
`(76)
`
`Inventors: Steve X. Chen, Berkeley, CA (US);
`Ken Chen, Berkeley, CA (US)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`SKJERVEN MORRILL MACPHERSON LLP
`25 METRO DRIVE
`SUITE 700
`SAN JOSE, CA 95110 (US)
`
`(21)
`
`Appl. No.:
`
`09/734,499
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Dec. 11, 2000
`
`Publication Classification
`
`Int. CI.7 ..................................................... G06F 15/16
`(51)
`(52) U.S. Cl. ........................... 709/246; 709/218; 709/219
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A system and method is provided for transferring informa(cid:173)
`tion, such as Internet content. The system may provide
`freeform browsing on a wireless limited-display device,
`Internet content distillation, targeted content delivery based
`on a user's location, one-hop delivery of Internet content to
`a wireless limited-display device, Internet content flagging
`and synchronization of information between a wireless
`limited-display device and another device such as a personal
`computer (PC).
`
`I RECEIVE REQUEST fOR INTERNET CONTENT TO
`l_ BE DISPLAYED O:'! A LlMirED-DISPLAY DEVICE
`
`r----
`T
`---------------i
`IDENTIFY REQUESTED INTERNET CONTENT
`L' -I
`
`i18\
`-200
`
`202
`
`204
`
`206
`
`TRANSFORM PC-
`
`TRANSFORM
`
`COMPATIBLE
`
`NAVIGATION
`
`LINKS TO
`
`LIMirED-
`
`DISPLAY DEVICE
`
`NAVIGATION
`
`LJ]'..1:(S
`
`PG-
`
`COMPATIBLE
`
`GRAPHICS TO
`
`LIMrrED-
`
`DISPLAY
`
`DEVICE
`
`GRAPHICS
`
`PAGE INTO NAVIGATION LINKS, GRAPHICS AND
`
`TEXT
`
`208
`
`210
`
`TRANSFOR'v!
`
`PC-
`
`COMPATIBLE
`
`TEXTTO
`
`LIMITED-
`
`DISPLAY
`
`· DEVICE TEXT
`
`------------"'--~----__,____-------~'----,
`FORJviAT TRANSFORMED WEB PAGE ACCORDING TO
`
`USER'S LIMITED-DISPLAY DEVICE SPECS; TRANSFER
`
`WEB PAGE TO USER'S LIMrrED-DISPLAY DEVICE
`
`\
`
`212
`
`Twitter Exhibit 1007
`Twitter, Inc. v. BlackBerry Ltd.
`Page 00001
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 13, 2002 Sheet 1 of 8
`
`US 2002/0073235 Al
`
`1020
`
`I n, ,,,10, 0
`
`[ I I' I,('
`~
`
`12C
`
`1180
`
`1168
`
`Second Content
`Control Server
`
`HHrd Web Server
`
`Nctvlork Prnvider
`System
`
`Figure 1
`
`liost~Company
`S\'S!em
`
`Page 00002
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 13, 2002 Sheet 2 of 8
`
`US 2002/0073235 Al
`
`160
`
`162
`
`164
`
`...
`
`166
`
`106
`
`/
`
`...
`
`Wireless
`Carrier
`Facility
`
`1 112
`
`Internet Netvvork
`
`I
`
`116C
`
`Content
`Control
`Server
`
`178
`
`Figure 2
`
`174
`
`172
`
`Wireless
`Devices
`
`118E
`
`Host
`company
`server
`
`Page 00003
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 13, 2002 Sheet 3 of 8
`
`US 2002/0073235 Al
`
`RECEIVE REQUEST FOR INTERNET CONTENT TO
`
`BE DISPLAYED ON A LIMITED-DISPLAY DEVICE > - ~
`
`I .,.-
`IDENTIFY REQUESTED INTERNET CONTENT
`
`f- 202
`
`USE
`
`YES
`
`CUSTOMIZED ~USTOMIZED PARSING SCRIPT
`
`PARSING
`
`SCRIPT
`
`204
`
`206
`
`216
`
`AVAILABLE?
`
`-
`
`214
`
`NO
`
`SEPARATE STANDARD PC-COMPATIBLE WEB
`
`PAGE INTO NAVIGATION LINKS, GRAPHICS AND
`
`TEXT
`
`TRANSFORM PC(cid:173)
`
`TRANSFORM
`
`TRANSFORM
`
`COMPATIBLE
`
`NAVIGATION
`LINKS TO
`LIMITED(cid:173)
`
`DISPLAY DEVICE
`
`NAVIGATION
`
`LINKS
`
`PC(cid:173)
`
`CO:MPATIBLE
`GRAPHICS TO
`LIMITED(cid:173)
`
`DISPLAY
`
`DEVICE
`
`GRAPHICS
`
`208
`
`210
`
`PC-
`
`CO:MPATIBLE
`TEXTTO
`LIMITED(cid:173)
`
`DISPLAY
`
`· DEVICE TEXT
`
`FORMAT TRANSFORMED WEB PAGE ACCORDING TO
`
`USER'S LIMITED-DISPLAY DEVICE SPECS; TRANSFER
`
`\
`
`212
`
`WEB PAGE TO USER'S LIMITED-DISPLAY DEVICE
`
`FIGURE3
`
`Page 00004
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 13, 2002 Sheet 4 of 8
`
`US 2002/0073235 Al
`
`~::::
`11~1F
`/ ..
`
`102F
`
`...
`
`101G
`
`Wireless
`Devices
`
`1/'""
`Comm. Tower Y'i
`Ccmm ,.Tower f/=
`
`COTrfi T ovver
`
`11GC
`
`Cache(s)
`
`118E -il] .
`
`Serve,
`
`11BF
`
`Figure 4
`
`Seryer
`
`1CE
`
`Sv11tch
`
`Router
`
`112
`
`1160
`
`Firewalls
`
`Internet Backbone I Newark
`ProV1ders
`
`Content Control
`SerYer
`~ - - - - - - - - - , - - - - - - - -~ DNSServer
`
`262
`
`255
`Hoel: System
`
`Page 00005
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 13, 2002 Sheet 5 of 8
`
`US 2002/0073235 Al
`
`RECEIVE USER'S REQUEST FOR WEB PAGE OR WEB CONTENT TO
`
`BE DISPLAYED ON A LIMITED-DISPLAY WIRELESS DEVICE AND
`
`IDENTIFY REQUESTED WEB PAGE OR WEB CONTENT
`
`YES
`
`IS REQUESTED WEB
`
`RETRJEVE WEB
`
`PAGE OR WEB
`
`CONTENT FROM
`
`CACHE MACHINES
`
`A1'H) SEND TO
`
`LIMITED-DISPLAY
`
`DEVICE
`
`PAGE OR WEB
`
`CO~TENT STORED IN
`
`CACHE MACHJNES?
`
`3 04
`
`302
`
`306
`
`308
`
`3iJu
`] DI
`
`NO
`
`USE PARSING
`
`SCRIPTS TO
`
`TRANSFORM A PC(cid:173)
`
`SIZE WEB PAGE
`
`OR WEB CONTENT
`
`TOALTh1ITED(cid:173)
`
`DISPLAY DEVICE
`
`WEB PAGE OR
`WEB CONTENT
`
`STORE THE LIMITED-DISPLAY DEVICE WEB PAGE OR WEB
`
`CONTENT INTO A CACHE MACHINE AND SEND WEB PAGE OR
`
`WEB CONTENT TO LJMITED-DISPLA Y DEVICE
`
`FIGURES
`
`Page 00006
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 13, 2002 Sheet 6 of 8
`
`US 2002/0073235 Al
`
`101E
`
`D1splav
`
`~ 150
`
`ltem2
`
`Item 3
`
`"'*
`
`lte .. m. 4.
`Item 5
`
`~ - -~
`
`,
`
`1
`
`152~
`
`Footsteps
`
`Item 1
`ltem3
`
`101G
`
`102G
`
`Wireless
`Devices
`
`'.lJ3G
`
`154
`
`155
`
`Client Device
`
`112
`
`Co:Jrd1r,at1on
`Server
`156
`
`Internet I
`
`Figure 6
`
`Page 00007
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 13, 2002 Sheet 7 of 8
`
`US 2002/0073235 Al
`
`USER BROWSES INTERNET CONTENT AND CHECKS ITEMS OF
`
`INTEREST ON A LIMITED-DISPLAY DEVICE OR A Fe ;-=
`t
`~ 320
`
`'r
`STORE USER'S CHECKED
`
`STORE USER'S BROWSING
`
`l
`
`ITEMS OF ThlTEREST IN A
`
`FOOTSTEPS IN A DATABASE
`
`DATABASE
`
`~ 322
`
`~ 324
`
`'
`RETRIEVE USER'S CHECKED ITEMS OF INTEREST AND/OR
`
`~
`
`BROWSING FOOTSTEPS WHEN USER ACCESSES A LIMITED-DISPLAY
`DEVICE OR AW- C.l.,lf"tlT°~t\Jlctr
`
`"' 326
`,.
`DISPLAY USER'S CHECKED ITEMS OF INTEREST AND/OR BROWSING
`FOOTSTEPS ON THE LIMITED:DISPLAY DEVICE AND/OR THE 1t€
`Ct,te-#J-r ~c.£
`
`~ ~ 328
`
`~
`
`FIGURE 7
`
`Page 00008
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 13, 2002 Sheet 8 of 8
`
`US 2002/0073235 Al
`
`/
`USER
`
`342
`
`I 344
`CHECKED ITEMS
`
`/
`
`346
`
`FOOTSTEPS
`
`ITEM 1, ITEM 3
`
`CHECKED ITEM 1,
`
`CHECKED ITEM 3
`
`FIRST
`
`USER
`
`SECOND
`
`USER
`
`THIRD
`
`USER
`
`FIGURES
`
`340
`
`Page 00009
`
`

`

`US 2002/0073235 Al
`
`Jun. 13,2002
`
`1
`
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTENT
`DISTILLATION
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`[0001] The present Application is related to U.S. patent
`applications entitled "System and Method for Coordinating
`Content Between Devices", Attorney Docket Number
`M-9547, "System and Method for Caching Content", Attor(cid:173)
`ney Docket Number M-9548, "System and Method for
`Synchronizing Content Between Devices", Attorney Docket
`Number M-9550, and "System and Method for Targeted
`Content Delivery", Attorney Docket Number M-9713, co(cid:173)
`filed with the present patent application, assigned to the
`Assignee of the present invention, and are hereby incorpo(cid:173)
`rated by reference in their entireties.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
`
`[0003] The present invention relates to transferring data in
`electronic form, such as Internet content.
`
`[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
`
`[0005] Some wireless devices, such as cellular telephones
`and personal digital assistants (PDAs), have been configured
`to access and display a portion of the content that is available
`on the Internet. In general, these wireless, limited-display
`devices can only display a limited amount of such Internet
`content at one time. Most Internet users, however, strongly
`desire near-instantaneous access to all Internet content.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`[0006]
`"Internet content" may refer to web pages, navi(cid:173)
`gation links, pieces of text, tables, graphics, videos, audio
`samples, Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) files,
`emails, etc. Conventional techniques of accessing and dis(cid:173)
`playing Internet content on wireless,
`limited-display
`devices, such as wireless phones and PDAs, have several
`drawbacks. First, Internet content is formatted for desktop
`displays of personal computers (PCs), and not for wireless,
`limited-display devices.
`
`[0007] Second, to provide the same Internet content for
`wireless, limited-display devices, separate, specially format(cid:173)
`ted web pages must be created. This requires a website
`company to manually convert ("hand code" or trans-code or
`re-write) standard PC-formatted web pages to special web
`pages that fit on the limited-displays of some wireless
`devices. But this manual formatting is time-consuming,
`costly and inefficient. For example, many web sites, such as
`ESPN or CNN, have a large number of web pages, each of
`which may have a large amount of content or links.
`
`[0008] Because the creation of web pages specially for(cid:173)
`matted for wireless, limited display devices is not trivial,
`many standard PC-formatted web pages are not available at
`all for wireless, limited-display devices. Even if a web page
`is specially formatted and available for a wireless, limited(cid:173)
`display device, some items on a corresponding PC-format(cid:173)
`ted web page may not be available on the limited-display(cid:173)
`formatted web page. This unavailability of web pages or
`certain items of a web page for a wireless, limited-display
`device may be called the "walled garden" problem.
`
`[0009]
`In addition, every time a website company changes
`the format or adds content to its PC-size web pages, the
`company has to manually convert the new PC-size web
`pages to wireless, limited-display device web pages.
`
`[0010] Third, a web page manually formatted to be dis(cid:173)
`played on one wireless, limited-display device, such as a
`Nokia wireless phone, may not be formatted for display on
`other wireless, limited-display devices, such as a Palm Pilot
`VII. The website company may have to create special web
`pages to accommodate each type of wireless, limited-display
`device.
`
`[0011] Fourth, users of wireless, limited-display devices
`may have to wait extended periods of time for servers to
`download Internet content and/or convert PC-size web pages
`to wireless, limited-display device web pages. These delays
`are frustrating to wireless, limited-display device users.
`
`[0012] Fifth, users of wireless, limited-display devices
`may have to press scroll keys (e.g., up, down, left, right)
`several times to view a web page on their wireless, limited(cid:173)
`display devices. For example, a user may need 65 "down(cid:173)
`clicks" to view a web page on a Palm Pilot or 120 "down(cid:173)
`clicks" to view a page on a Wireless Application Protocol
`(WAP) phone. Each "click" may require additional time
`delays for processing and downloading content. A user may
`have to spend a lot of time to find the most relevant
`information on a web page displayed on a limited-display
`device.
`
`[0013] The present invention solves the foregoing draw(cid:173)
`backs by providing a system and method for transferring
`information, such as Internet content, to a limited-display
`device. One embodiment of the present method advanta(cid:173)
`geously transforms any PC-size web page or Internet content
`from any web server automatically on-the-fly to provide
`real-time
`Internet access
`to wireless,
`limited-display
`devices. This real-time access to any web page may be called
`"freeform browsing."
`
`[0014] One embodiment of the present system comprises
`an intelligent server-based system that distills Internet con(cid:173)
`tent on a PC-size web page for presentation at a wireless,
`limited-display device. The system may use one or more
`methods to determine or identify what is the most important
`or desired Internet content. These methods may be referred
`to as "distilling content" or "content distillation." The sys(cid:173)
`tem is advantageously accessible to host companies that
`want to control the content and/or format of their own web
`sites for wireless, limited-display devices.
`
`[0015] One advantage of the system is the real-time avail(cid:173)
`ability of Internet content that was previously unavailable on
`limited-display devices.
`
`[0016] Another advantage of the system is reducing the
`time and costs associated with manually converting or
`hand-coding PC-size web pages to limited-display device
`web pages. One embodiment of the present system may
`convert a PC-size web page to a limited-display device web
`page in a fraction of the time and at significantly less
`expense than hand-coding or trans-coding.
`
`[0017] Yet another advantage of the system is allowing
`companies to easily add content or change the format of their
`web pages for limited-display devices.
`
`Page 00010
`
`

`

`US 2002/0073235 Al
`
`Jun. 13,2002
`
`2
`
`[0018] Still another advantage of the system is formatting
`web pages and Internet content in real time according to the
`individual specifications of various limited-display devices.
`
`[0019] Still yet another advantage of the system is reduc(cid:173)
`ing the number of scroll key movements to view a web page
`on a wireless, limited-display device because of content
`distillation.
`
`[0020] Another advantage of the system is targeting con(cid:173)
`tent delivery based on a user's location. The system may
`determine a user's location and transfer local or regional
`news, weather, sports, business and/or advertising to a
`particular limited-display device, with or without a user
`request.
`
`[0021] Another advantage of the system is minimizing the
`time that users are required to wait to access certain Internet
`content on their limited-display devices. The system pro(cid:173)
`vides cache machines that cache previously-requested Inter(cid:173)
`net content or Internet content posted by companies that host
`web sites. By caching Internet content, the system reduces
`the number of transmissions ("hops") between network
`components, minimizes user waiting time ("latency"),
`improves performance and saves bandwidth. The cache
`machines also allow host companies with web sites to
`directly modify their cached Internet content for limited(cid:173)
`display devices. The cache machines may be advanta(cid:173)
`geously located outside a host company's firewalls. The host
`companies do not have to modify their existing corporate
`web infrastructures. The placement of the cache machines
`ensures a high level of security and does not overburden the
`firewalls with excessive traffic.
`
`[0022] Another advantage of the system is sending tar(cid:173)
`geted advertisements based on user-requested Internet con(cid:173)
`tent to limited-display devices.
`
`[0023] Another advantage of the system is coordinating
`Internet browsing on two separate devices. When the user
`browses the Internet on a first device, such as a limited(cid:173)
`display device, the system keeps track of items of interest
`that the user checks or flags, such as emails and news
`articles. The system may also track browsing footsteps of the
`user. When the user accesses a second device, such as a
`personal computer, the system retrieves the checked or
`flagged items of interest and/or browsing footsteps of the
`user. Thus, the system saves time for users who flag certain
`Internet items on a portable device "on-the-go" and later
`wish to access those items quickly at another device at
`home, at an office, in a hotel room, on a plane, at a
`conference, etc. The user does not have to retrace his/her
`steps at the second device.
`
`[0024] One aspect of the invention relates to a system for
`transferring Internet content to a limited-display device. The
`system comprises a content control server in communication
`with a web server and a limited-display device. The content
`control server is configured to store one or more customized
`parsing scripts. The content control server is further config(cid:173)
`ured to process a user request for Internet content to be
`displayed on the limited-display device. The content control
`server is further configured to execute one or more custom(cid:173)
`ized parsing scripts to parse items in the user-requested
`Internet content in real time. The content control server is
`further configured to transfer parsed Internet content to the
`limited-display device.
`
`[0025] Another aspect of the invention relates to a system
`for transferring Internet content to a limited-display device.
`The system comprises a content control server in commu(cid:173)
`nication with a web server and a limited-display device. The
`content control server is configured to receive a request for
`Internet content to be displayed on the limited-display
`device. The content control server is further configured to
`parse PC-formatted Internet content in real time. The content
`control server is further configured to transfer the parsed
`Internet content to the limited-display device.
`[0026] Another aspect of the invention relates to a method
`of transferring Internet content to a limited-display device.
`The method comprises receiving a request for Internet
`content to be displayed on a limited-display device; trans(cid:173)
`forming PC-formatted Internet content into limited-display(cid:173)
`formatted Internet content in real time; and transferring the
`limited-display-formatted Internet content to the limited(cid:173)
`display device.
`[0027] Another aspect of the invention relates to a method
`of transferring Internet content to a wireless device based on
`a location of the wireless device. The method comprises
`determining a location of a wireless device; distilling Inter(cid:173)
`net content based on the location of the wireless device; and
`sending the distilled Internet content to the wireless device.
`[0028] Another aspect of the invention relates to a system
`for transferring Internet content to a wireless device based
`on a location of the wireless device. The system comprises
`a content control server in communication with a web server
`and a wireless device. The content control server is config(cid:173)
`ured to distill Internet content from the web server based on
`the location of the wireless device in real time. The content
`control server is further configured to transfer the distilled
`Internet content to the wireless device.
`[0029] Another aspect of the invention relates to a system
`for storing Internet content. The system comprises a storage
`device in communication with one or more wireless limited(cid:173)
`display devices and one or more web site servers. The
`storage device is configured to store Internet content from
`the web site servers and transfer the Internet content to the
`wireless limited-display devices.
`[0030] Another aspect of the invention relates to a method
`for retrieving Internet content. The method comprises
`receiving a request for Internet content to be displayed on a
`wireless limited-display device; determining whether the
`requested Internet content is stored in a storage device in
`communication with one or more wireless limited-display
`devices and one or more web site servers; if the requested
`Internet content is stored in the storage device, retrieving the
`requested Internet content from the storage device and
`sending the Internet content to the wireless limited-display
`device.
`[0031] Another aspect of the invention relates to a system
`for coordinating Internet activities between devices. The
`system comprises a coordination server in communication
`with a first device and a second device. The first device is
`configured to access the Internet. The coordination server is
`configured to store one or more Internet items selected by a
`user on the first device and provide the one or more stored
`Internet items to the second device, wherein at least one of
`the devices is a wireless limited-display device.
`[0032] Another aspect of the invention relates to a system
`for coordinating Internet activities between devices. The
`
`Page 00011
`
`

`

`US 2002/0073235 Al
`
`Jun. 13,2002
`
`3
`
`system comprises a coordination server in communication
`with a first device and a second device. The first device is
`configured to access the Internet. The coordination server is
`configured to store one or more Internet navigation steps of
`a user as the user accesses the Internet on the first device and
`provide the one or more Internet navigation steps to the
`second device, wherein at least one of the devices is a
`wireless limited-display device.
`
`[0033] Another aspect of the invention relates to a method
`for coordinating Internet activities between devices. The
`method comprises storing one or more Internet items
`selected by a user on a first device; and sending the one or
`more stored Internet items to a second device, wherein at
`least one of the devices is a wireless limited-display device.
`
`[0034] Another aspect of the invention relates to a method
`for coordinating Internet activities between devices. The
`method comprises storing one or more Internet navigation
`steps by a user as the user accesses the Internet on a first
`device; and sending the one or more stored Internet navi(cid:173)
`gation steps to a second device, wherein at least one of the
`devices is a wireless limited-display device.
`
`[0035] Another aspect of the invention relates to a system
`for coordinating information between devices. The system
`comprises a coordination server in communication with a
`first device and a second device. The coordination server is
`configured to copy updated information entered by the user
`on the first device to the second device for storage, where the
`transfer occurs in real time and at least one of the devices is
`a wireless limited-display device.
`
`[0036] Another aspect of the invention relates to a method
`for coordinating information between devices. The method
`comprises copying information entered by a user on a first
`device to a second device for storage. The transfer occurs in
`real time, wherein at least one of the devices is a wireless
`limited-display device.
`
`[0037] The present invention will be more fully under(cid:173)
`stood upon consideration of the detailed description below,
`taken together with the accompanying drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0038] FIG. 1 illustrates an environment in which one or
`more systems, according to embodiments of the present
`invention, may operate to transfer Internet content to a
`plurality of wireless, limited-display devices.
`
`[0039] FIG. 2 illustrates an environment for a system,
`according to an embodiment of the present invention, for
`transforming Internet content to accommodate one or more
`wireless, limited-display devices.
`
`[0040] FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a method
`related to the system of FIG. 2.
`
`[0041] FIG. 4 illustrates an environment for a system,
`according to an embodiment of the present invention, for
`caching Internet content.
`
`[0042] FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a method for
`caching and retrieving Internet content using the system of
`FIG. 4.
`
`[0043] FIG. 6 illustrates an environment for a system,
`according to an embodiment of the present invention, for
`
`coordinating browsing activities between a PC and one or
`more limited-display devices.
`
`[0044] FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of a method for
`coordinating browsing activities between a PC and one or
`more limited-display devices using the system of FIG. 6.
`
`[0045] FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment of a table used
`by the system of FIG. 6.
`
`[0046] Use of the same reference symbols m different
`figures indicates similar or identical items.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`[0047] General Overview
`
`[0048] FIG. 1 illustrates an environment in which one or
`more system, according to embodiments of the present
`invention, may operate. The environment comprises a first
`wireless, limited-display device 102A, a second wireless,
`limited-display device 102B, a third wireless, limited-dis(cid:173)
`play device 102C, a fourth wireless, limited-display device
`102D, a first communication tower (e.g., at a base station)
`104A, a second communication tower 104B, a third com(cid:173)
`munication tower 104C, a fourth communication tower
`104D, a first client device 105A, a second client device
`105B, a wireless carrier facility 106, the Internet 112, a
`network provider system 114 and a host company system
`120 that hosts an Internet web site. In general, the environ(cid:173)
`ment may comprise any number of wireless, limited-display
`devices, communication towers, wireless carrier facilities,
`Internet, network providers and host company facilities.
`
`[0049] Each wireless, limited-display device 102A, 102B,
`102C, 102D of FIG. 1 may comprise a wireless telephone,
`a PDA, a pager or other wireless, limited-display device that
`is configured to access the Internet 112. The devices 102A,
`102B, 102C, 102D, 102E, 102F and 102G are described
`herein as wireless devices. But the systems and methods
`herein may also be used to provide content to limited(cid:173)
`display wired and/or stationary devices in communication
`with, for example, the wireless carrier facility 106 or the
`Internet 112. The term "limited-display" relates to a device
`with a physically small display or a device with a display
`that displays Internet data on a small portion of the display.
`
`[0050] The wireless carrier facility 106 of FIG. 1, such as
`a wireless carrier facility operated by a telecommunications
`company, comprises one or more of mobile switching units
`108 and one or more cache machines 110. The mobile
`switching units 108 control the traffic of data between the
`wireless carrier facility 106 and the wireless, limited-display
`devices 102A, 102B, 102C, 102D. Specifically, the mobile
`switching units 108 switch traffic from one base station (and
`its associated radio towers) to the next base station when a
`mobile user travels from one cell to another. The cache
`machines 110 comprise memory or storage devices config(cid:173)
`ured to cache Internet content from the network provider
`system 114 and/or the host company system 120, as
`described below.
`
`[0051] The wireless, limited-display devices 102A, 102B,
`102C, 102D of FIG. 1 communicate with the communica(cid:173)
`tion towers 104A, 104B, 104C, 104D, which communicate
`with the wireless carrier facility 106. This communication
`may be supported by one or more forms of wireless com(cid:173)
`munication, such as infrared, cellular, personal communica-
`
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`US 2002/0073235 Al
`
`Jun. 13,2002
`
`4
`
`tion system (PCS), satellite, radiowaves, etc. The commu(cid:173)
`nication may use one or more standards or specifications,
`such as CDMA, WAP, Blue Tooth, etc., operated by a
`telecommunications company. The wireless carrier facility
`106 communicates with the network provider system 114
`and the host company system 120 via the Internet 112.
`
`[0052] The Internet 112 of FIG. 1 may comprise a wired
`and/or wireless system. The Internet 112 may use standard
`telephone lines, xDSL, cable or other communication
`means. Internet 112 is an interconnection of computer "cli(cid:173)
`ents" and "servers" located throughout the world and
`exchanging information according to Transmission Control
`Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), Internetwork Packet
`eXchange/Sequence Packet eXchange (IPX/SPX), Apple(cid:173)
`Talk, or other suitable protocol. Internet 112 supports the
`distributed application known as the "World Wide Web."
`Web servers maintain websites, each comprising one or
`more web pages at which information is made available for
`viewing. Each website or web page can be identified by a
`respective uniform resource locator (URL) and may be
`supported by documents formatted in any suitable language,
`such as, for example, hypertext markup language (HTML),
`extended markup language (XML), or standard generalized
`markup language (SGML). Clients may locally execute a
`"web browser" program. A web browser is a computer
`program that allows the exchange of information with the
`World Wide Web. Any of a variety of web browsers are
`available,
`such as NETSCAPE NAVIGATOR
`from
`Netscape Communications Corp., INTERNET EXPLORER
`from Microsoft Corporation, and others that allow conve(cid:173)
`nient access and navigation of the Internet 112. Information
`may be communicated from a web server to a client using a
`suitable protocol, such as, for example, HyperText Transfer
`Protocol (HTTP) or File Transfer Protocol (FTP). The
`Internet 112 provides communication between the wireless
`carrier facility 106, client devices 105A, 105B, the network
`provider system 114, the host company system 120 and other
`devices, such as laptops, desktop computers and computer
`servers (not shown). The Internet 112 transfers Internet
`content, user requests and data entered by users.
`
`[0053] Network provider system 114 can be operated by a
`network provider company. Such a network provider com(cid:173)
`pany maintains the systems which support the networks for
`connecting users to the websites of various host companies
`which provide content on the Internet 112. The network
`provider system 114 of FIG. 1 comprises a domain name
`system (DNS) server 262, a first host web site server 118A,
`a second host web site server 118B, a third host web site
`server USC and a first content control server 116A. The
`network provider system 114 may comprise any number of
`DNS servers, host web site servers and content control
`servers. Some or all of the host web site servers 118A, 118B,
`USC may be grouped into cages. The web site servers
`118A-118C may be located in different cages or on different
`floors, or on different network sites.
`
`[0054] The first content control server 116A and the DNS
`server 262 may communicate with the host web site servers
`118A-118C via DNS routing. For example, the DNS server
`262 is the first to receive a request from the Internet 112 for
`a web site, which is hosted by the network provider system
`114. The network provider system 114 may host web sites
`for thousands of companies. The DNS server 262 ordinarily
`routes requests to each host web site server 118A-118C.
`
`[0055] The content control server 116A and the host
`company servers 118A-118C may or may not be located on
`the same floor, building, or network provider site. But the
`content control server 116A and the host company servers
`118A-118C reside on the network provider's network and
`communicate with one or more DNS servers maintained by
`the network provider.
`[0056] The host company facility 120 can be operated by
`a host company which supplier content for the Internet 112.
`Such host company can be an entity which operates or
`maintains a portal or any other website through which
`content can be delivered. For example, the host company
`can be on-line retailer of merchandise, an on-line news
`service, and the like. The host company system 120 of FIG.
`1 comprises a host company web site server 118D, a host
`company database 126 and a second content control server
`116B. The host company system 120 may comprise any
`number of host company web site servers, host company
`databases and content control servers. The host company
`database 126 stores content used by the web site server
`118D.
`[0057] After a host company subscribes to a content
`control company's system (e.g., NetOsprey) and adopts
`methods described herein, both the host company and the
`content control company would request the network pro(cid:173)
`vider to change one or more of the settings in the DNS server
`262. Specifically, the DNS server 262 would direct all
`requests for the host company's web site to go to the content
`control server 116A.
`[0058] After a host company subscribes to a content
`control company's services and adopts methods described
`herein, both the host company and the content control
`company may request the network provider to change one or
`more of the settings in the DNS server 262. Specifically, the
`DNS server 262 would direct all requests for the host
`company's web site to go to the content control server 116A.
`[0059] The first and second content control servers 116A
`and 116B may be supplied, configured, and/or maintained by
`a content control company. Content control company may
`provide a service to which a host company subscribes in
`order to provide an enhanced experience for users. The first
`and second content control servers 116A, 116B of FIG. 1
`may be standard computer servers or general purpose
`machines that are capable of executing software to perform
`the methods described herein, such as freeform browsing,
`content distillation, caching and device display coordina(cid:173)
`tion. Alternatively, the first and second content control
`servers 116A, 116B may be devices specifically configured
`to perform one or more of the methods described herein.
`[0060]
`In one embodiment, a host company has its host
`web site server 118A controlled by the first content