I IIIII IIIIIIII II llllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111111
`US 20020052781Al
`
`(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication
`Aufricht et al.
`
`(10) Pub. No.: US 2002/0052781 Al
`May 2, 2002
`(43) Pub. Date:
`
`(54)
`
`INTERACTIVE ADVERTISEMENT
`MECHANISM ON A MOBILE DEVICE
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Michael E. Aufricht, Los Altos, CA
`(US); Rafael Z. Weinstein, San
`Francisco, CA (US); Geoffrey J.
`Broadwell, Foster City, CA (US)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`STERNE, KESSLER, GOLDSTEIN & FOX
`PLLC
`1100 NEW YORK AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 600
`WASHINGTON, DC 20005-3934 (US)
`
`(73)
`
`Assignee: AvantGo, Inc.
`
`(21)
`
`Appl. No.:
`
`09/864,293
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`May 25, 2001
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 09/559,964,
`filed on Apr. 28, 2000, which is a continuation-in-part
`of application No. 09/393,390, filed on Sep. 10, 1999.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`Int. Cl.7 ..................................................... G06F 17/60
`(51)
`(52) U.S. Cl. ................................................................ 705/14
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`The invention includes systems, methods, computer pro(cid:173)
`gram products, and combinations and sub-combinations
`thereof for enabling interactive advertisements ( as well as
`other objects) to be loaded on mobile devices (as well as
`other types of devices), and for users of mobile devices to
`operate with such interactive advertisements on their mobile
`devices in an interactive manner while in an off-line mode.
`
`202
`
`,200
`
`START
`
`ADVERTISEMENT WITH INTERACTIVE
`CONTENT IS DISPLAYED ON DEVICE
`
`204
`
`DEVICE DISPLAYS ADVERTISEMENT
`PAGE ASSOCIATED WITH THE
`SELECTED ADVERTISEMENT
`
`DEVICE PRE-POPULATES AN APPROPRIATE
`FIELD IN THE INTERACTIVE ADVERTISEMENT
`PAGE WITH THE CLIENTS EMAIL ADDRESS
`
`CLIENT /USER PRESSES "SUBMIT"
`FIELD OF ADVERTISEMENT
`
`208
`
`210
`
`212
`
`220
`
`EMAIL ADDRESS
`IS FORWARDED
`TO ADVERTISER
`
`EMAIL ADDRESS
`IS CACHED
`IN DEVICE
`
`AT NEXT SYNC, EMAIL
`ADDRESS IS FORWARDED
`TO ADVERTISER
`
`216
`
`218
`
`Page 1 of 39
`
`SNAP EXHIBIT 1011
`
`

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`
`Page 2 of 39
`
`

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`100,
`
`FIG. 18
`
`Page 3 of 39
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 2, 2002 Sheet 3 of 22
`
`US 2002/0052781 Al
`
`FIG. 181
`
`DATA PROCESSING UNIT
`103A'
`
`1038
`
`PRDCESSOR(Sl
`
`MAIN MEMORY
`
`103C
`
`1030
`
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`103L
`
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`
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`
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`ENTITY
`
`103N
`
`Page 4 of 39
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 2, 2002 Sheet 4 of 22
`
`US 2002/0052781 Al
`
`FIG. 1C
`
`CORE TECHNOLOGY: PLACING INTERNET/
`INTRANET CONTENT ON MOBILE DEVICES
`
`r ......
`
`'--
`
`--..
`
`~
`
`NETWORK/
`INTERNET
`CONTENT
`
`__,.
`
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`er-
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`
`-
`
`-
`
`.,,,c;;.-
`c::::::J
`
`MOBILE DEVICE
`
`Page 5 of 39
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 2, 2002 Sheet 5 of 22
`FIG. 10
`MOBILE DEVICE/SEAVER ENVIRONMENT
`MOBILE DEVICES IN A CLIENT SERVER ENVIRONMENT
`
`US 2002/0052781 Al
`
`MOBILE DEVICE
`/ '
`PROTOCOL:e.g. SYNC/WIRELESS
`
`MOBILE DEVICE
`/ '
`PROTOCOL:e.g. SYNC/WIRELESS
`
`D ~
`
`o:~ .•••••
`
`WORKSTATION
`
`WORKSTATION
`
`MOBILE DEVICE
`/
`PROTOCOL:e.g. SYNC/WIRELESS
`
`()
`
`...... .
`WORKSTATION
`
`WEB TO DEVICE SERVER
`
`SYNC SERVER
`
`SERVER ADMINISTRATION
`
`Page 6 of 39
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 2, 2002 Sheet 6 of 22
`
`US 2002/0052781 Al
`
`/106
`DEVICE(NOT
`LAYOUT/NOT
`PRINTING!
`BYTE CODE
`PRESENTATION
`
`-
`
`~
`
`DOWNSTREAM PROTOCOL
`r ~8
`SOURCE:e.g.PAGES.DOTS,BLOBS
`
`HTML
`
`FIG. 1E
`
`r
`104
`SYNC PROCESS
`
`:
`TOKENIZED
`COMPRESSED
`VERSION OF
`HTML
`
`--
`
`'
`'
`'
`' '
`
`' '
`
`ABC
`
`lGUIDSl
`
`TOKENIZED
`RESOURCES: LINKS,
`COMPRESSED
`IMAGES,
`VERSION OF
`JAVASCRIPT,ETC .. ~ RESOURCES
`/
`
`V
`
`/
`
`WEB->SERVER->DEVICE
`
`FIG. 1F
`
`ONE UP/ONE DOWN SYNC
`
`USER DATA
`DEVICE DATA
`COLOR
`IMAGES
`RESOURCES
`CHANGES
`ETC ...
`
`USER DATA
`DEVICE DATA
`COLOR
`IMAGES
`RESOURCES
`CHANGES
`ETC ...
`
`Page 7 of 39
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 2, 2002 Sheet 7 of 22
`
`US 2002/0052781 Al
`
`FIG. 1G
`
`SYNC PROCESS
`
`SERVER
`
`CLIENT
`
`BROWSER
`
`OPTIONAL
`DESKTOP
`
`SECONDARY/
`TERTIARY
`SERVER
`
`OPTIONS ON
`DEVICE
`
`MULTISERVER
`SYNC
`SELECT
`
`FILE
`SYNC
`
`LOCAL
`SYNC
`
`INTRANET
`
`Page 8 of 39
`
`

`

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`LOCATION TO THE MOBILE DEVICE
`PC PRESENTS RESPONSE FROM THE
`
`t
`
`LOCATION OR OTHER NETWORKED LOCATION
`
`WITH INTERACTIVE CONTENT
`
`PC RECEIVES RESPONSE FROM WEB
`
`t
`
`LOCATION OR OTHER NETWORKED LOCATION
`
`TO WEB LOCATION OR OTHER NETWORKED
`EMBODIMENT: HTTP) MESSAGE TO SEND
`CONSTRUCTS PROTOCAL (PREFERRED
`
`t
`
`LOCATION ASSOCIATED WITH THAT
`
`INTERACTIVE CONTENT
`
`t
`
`PC SENDS PROTOCOL MESSAGE TO WEB
`
`INTERACTIVE CONTENT COMPLETED BY
`PC RECEIVES INFORMATION REGARDING
`
`USER OF A MOBILE DEVICE
`
`t
`
`-
`
`NETWORK APPLICATION, DATABASE,
`DATA. RESPONDS TO A WEB SITE,
`CONTENT: FORMS, APPLICATIONS, OR
`PC READY TO RESPOND TO INTERACTIVE
`
`OR OTHER LOCATION
`
`-
`
`NETWORK OBJECTS ARE TO BE RETRIEVED
`PC DETERMINES IF WEB PAGES OR OTHER
`
`•
`
`PC INTERACTS WITH MOBILE DEVICE TO
`
`+
`
`DETERMINE NATURE ITS RESOURCES
`
`PC INTERACTS WITH MOBILE DEVICE TO
`
`RESOURCES ON THE MOBILE DEVICE
`DETERMINE THE NATURE OF THE
`
`PC SENDS WEB PAGES TO SERVER
`
`FOR FORMATTING
`
`CONTENT. ADMIN DATA. OR OTHER INFO
`SERVER MAKES MODIFICATIONS TO WEB
`
`ADMIN DATA. OR OTHER INFO TO PC
`SERVER SENDS MODIFIED CONTENT,
`
`--
`
`SERVER SENDS NEW AND MODIFIED
`
`CONTENT TO PC
`
`I
`
`GRANULAR VARIABLE PROTOCOL
`
`f
`•
`•
`•
`
`PC RECEIVES INFORMATION REGARDING
`
`t
`
`SET OF WEB PAGES
`
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`
`NETWORK OBJECTS
`
`t
`
`PC CONSTRUCTS SET OF INFORMATION
`
`REQUESTS FOR WEB SITES
`
`t
`
`CONTENT:WEB SITES. WEB SERVER.
`PC OBTAINS UPDATED INFO FROM WEB
`
`OR OTHER NETWORK
`
`PC EXAMINES UPDATED INFORMATION
`
`t
`
`t
`
`MOBILE DEVICE SENDS UPDATED INFORMATION
`
`PC RECEIVES UPDATED INFORMATION
`
`t
`
`t
`
`HELD CONNECTOR OR WIRELESS PROTOCOL
`MOBILE DEVICE COUPLED TO PC USING HAND-
`
`MOBILE DEVICE SYNCS INFO WITH PC
`
`t
`
`Page 9 of 39
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 2, 2002 Sheet 9 of 22
`
`US 2002/0052781 Al
`
`FIG. 1I
`
`OPTMIZATION: AN EXAMPLE
`
`.,-1A1
`
`OPTIMIZED THIS
`GRAPHIC BECOMES ...
`
`Page 10 of 39
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 2, 2002 Sheet 10 of 22
`
`US 2002/0052781 Al
`
`Eile » I ~ LirJcs »1 ~ Address ID http,//avanlgo.caa/channels/
`l(q_ ( t}' a nmt~ The pcwer of the web
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`Page 11 of 39
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 2, 2002 Sheet 11 of 22
`
`US 2002/0052781 Al
`
`FIG. 2
`START
`
`202
`
`,-200
`
`ADVERTISEMENT WITH INTERACTIVE
`CONTENT IS DISPLAYED ON DEVICE
`
`204
`
`NO
`
`DEVICE DISPLAYS ADVERTISEMENT
`PAGE ASSOCIATED WITH THE
`SELECTED ADVERTISEMENT
`
`DEVICE PRE-POPULATES AN APPROPRIATE
`FIELD IN THE INTERACTIVE ADVERTISEMENT
`PAGE WITH THE CLIENTS EMAIL ADDRESS
`
`CLIENT/USER PRESSES "SUBMIT"
`FIELD OF ADVERTISEMENT
`
`208
`
`210
`
`212
`
`220
`EMAIL ADDRESS
`IS FORWARDED
`TO ADVERTISER
`
`YES
`SYNC
`
`EMAIL ADDRESS
`IS CACHED
`IN DEVICE
`
`AT NEXT SYNC, EMAIL
`ADDRESS IS FORWARDED
`TO ADVERTISER
`
`216
`
`218
`
`Page 12 of 39
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 2, 2002 Sheet 12 of 22
`
`US 2002/0052781 Al
`
`FIG. 3
`
`6:37PM
`
`ADDRESS
`
`AVANTGO
`
`106
`v ALL
`
`302
`
`DATE BOOK
`
`EXPENSE
`
`@
`~
`@
`@
`0
`~
`
`®
`
`HOTSYNC
`~
`~
`MOBILE LINK
`
`~ TO DO LIST
`
`MAIL
`
`MEMO PAD
`
`PREFS
`
`SECURITY
`
`FIG. 4
`
`,-400
`
`402
`
`MOBILE DEVICE
`
`TIME
`MECHANISM
`
`v404
`
`LOCATION V 406
`DEVICE (GPSl
`
`Page 13 of 39
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 2, 2002 Sheet 13 of 22
`
`US 2002/0052781 Al
`
`FIG. SA
`
`,soo
`
`START
`
`502
`
`r
`IDENTIFY USER
`
`I
`
`IDENTIFY LOCATION
`OF DEVICE
`
`f
`IDENTIFY TIME
`OF DAY
`
`V 504
`
`V 506
`
`V 508
`
`SELECT ADVERTISEMENTS V 510
`BASED ON LOCATION, TIME
`OF DAY. AND OTHER
`USER INFORMATION
`
`TRANSMIT ADVERTISEMENTS . / 512
`TO THE USER'S DEVICE
`
`Page 14 of 39
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 2, 2002 Sheet 14 of 22
`
`US 2002/0052781 Al
`
`FIG. 58
`
`,-s20
`
`START
`
`522
`
`USER TRANSMITS LOCATION OF DEVICE V 524
`AND CURRENT TIME OF DAY TO
`SERVER DURING A SYNC OPERATION
`
`SERVER IDENTIFIES USER
`
`SERVER SELECTS ADVERTISEMENTS
`BASED ON LOCATION, TIME OF DAY,
`AND OTHER USER INFORMATION
`
`../ 526
`
`528
`
`SERVER TRANSMITS ADVERTISEMENTS
`TO DEVICE UPON SUBSEQUENT
`SYNC OPERATION
`
`. / 530
`
`ADVERTISEMENTS ARE DISPLAYED
`ON DEVICE TO USER
`
`V 532
`
`Page 15 of 39
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 2, 2002 Sheet 15 of 22
`FIG. 6
`
`US 2002/0052781 Al
`
`,-soo
`
`START
`
`602
`
`ADVERTISER SUBMITS
`ADVERTISEMENT AND
`INDICATES USER PREFERENCES
`
`SERVER IDENTIFIES
`USERS MATCHING PREFERENCES
`
`ADVERTISEMENT LOADED ON USER
`DEVICE DURING SYNC OR
`DELIVERED IN REAL TIME
`
`ADVERTISEMENT DISPLAYED TO
`USER WITH INTERACTIVE CONTENT,
`AND USER INTERACTS WITH
`ADVERTISEMENT
`
`604
`
`606
`
`608
`
`610
`
`FIG. 7
`
`,-100
`
`START
`
`702
`
`USER ACCCESSES A WEB SITE
`VIA SERVER VIA A WIRELESS LINK
`
`USER CONDUCTS COMMERCE/BUSINESS
`WITH WEB-SITE
`
`REVENUE IS SHARED BETWEEN SERVER
`AND PROVIDER OF WEB SITE
`
`704
`
`706
`
`708
`
`Page 16 of 39
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 2, 2002 Sheet 16 of 22
`
`US 2002/0052781 Al
`
`FIG. 8
`
`,-soo
`
`vB02
`
`INFORMATION
`DURING SYNC,
`FROM A PROVIDER
`IS PROVIDED
`TO DEVICE
`I
`
`V 804
`
`DURING SYNC. SELECTED
`INFORMATION FROM CONTENT
`PROVIDERS IS LOADED ON DEVICE
`BASED ON USER PREFERENCES
`I
`
`I
`
`USER INDICATES
`A DESIRE TO
`PURCHASE PRODUCT/
`SERVICE
`
`I
`
`INFORMATION REGARDING
`DESIRE TO PURCHASE
`PRODUCT/SERVICE
`IS CACHED
`
`vB06
`
`../""808
`
`INFORMATION
`DURING SYNC,
`IS PROVIDED TO THE
`ADVERTISER/PROVIDER
`
`../""810
`
`I
`
`REVENUE FROM THE PURCHASE
`OF THE PRODUCT/SERVICE IS
`SHARED BETWEEN THE PROVIDER/
`ADVERTISER AND THE SERVER
`
`../""812
`
`Page 17 of 39
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 2, 2002 Sheet 17 of 22
`
`US 2002/0052781 Al
`
`FIG. 9
`
`,-soo
`
`START
`
`902
`
`IDENTIFY A PLURALITY
`OF ADVERTISEMENTS FOR
`PRESENTATION ON
`A MOBILE DEVICE
`
`DOWNLOAD THE PLURALITY
`OF ADVERTISEMENTS TO A
`USER'S DEVICE IN REAL
`TIME OR DURING A SUBSEQUENT
`SYNC OF THE DEVICE
`
`ADVERTISEMENTS ARE
`DISPLAYED AND CONTROLLED
`BY THE DEVICE IN A
`ROTATIONAL FASHION
`
`904
`
`906
`
`908
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`REMOVE ADVERTISEMENT
`FROM PLURALITY
`OF ADVERTISEMENTS
`
`912
`
`Page 18 of 39
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`May 2, 2002 Sheet 18 of 22
`
`US 2002/0052781 Al
`
`c..c = ~
`
`\----------~----->,.
`
`C".J
`
`Page 19 of 39
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 2, 2002 Sheet 19 of 22
`
`US 2002/0052781 Al
`
`FIG. 10B
`
`,1010
`
`START
`
`1012
`
`I
`
`IDENTIFY CLIENT
`
`./ 1014
`
`'
`IDENTIFY LOCATION OF DEVICE v 1016
`
`'
`SELECT ONE OR MORE
`ADVERTISEMENTS
`
`, ,
`
`TRANSMIT SELECTED
`ADVERTISEMENTS TO
`DEVICE FOR DISPLAY
`
`v 1018
`
`v 1020
`
`Page 20 of 39
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 2, 2002 Sheet 20 of 22
`FIG. 10C
`
`US 2002/0052781 Al
`
`,-1030
`
`START
`
`1032
`
`RECEIVE LOCATION OF
`DEVICE DURING A SYNC
`
`IDENTIFY CLIENT
`OF THE DEVICE
`AND OBTAIN INFORMATION
`RELATED TO THE USER
`
`SELECT ONE OR MORE
`ADVERTISEMENTS BASED
`ON THE USER INFORMATION
`AND LOCATION
`
`TRANSMIT ONE OR MORE
`ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE DEVICE
`DURING A SUBSEQUENT
`SYNC OF THE DEVICE
`
`ENABLE THE DISPLAY OF THE ONE
`OR MORE ADVERTISEMENTS ON THE DEVICE
`
`1034
`
`1036
`
`1038
`
`1040
`
`1042
`
`FIG. 11
`
`106,
`402
`I
`DEVICE
`
`TRIGGER
`1108
`I
`
`TRIGGER
`SOURCE
`
`1106
`
`/
`
`USER
`1104
`
`Page 21 of 39
`
`

`

`00
`-..J
`N
`Ul
`C
`C
`~
`C
`C
`N
`'JJ.
`d
`
`"'""
`"'"" >
`
`N
`N
`
`"'"" 0 ....,
`~ ....
`'JJ. =(cid:173)~
`
`N
`
`N
`C
`C
`N
`~N
`'-<
`~
`~
`
`.... 0 =
`~ ....
`O' -....
`~
`.... 0 =
`~ ....
`t "Cl -....
`~ .... ~ = ....
`
`""C
`
`I")
`
`I")
`
`1210
`
`I DEVICE
`
`402
`106,
`
`1204
`
`1211
`
`1202
`USER
`
`SERVER
`
`104
`
`FIG. 12
`
`L coNNf
`uxuRrotf HfRf
`~oRf ABouf HoffL
`fOR Rf oRRMArroN I I
`NffD trRVA 11
`
`1NfO A
`
`Ho1fLo?NS
`
`/I I
`
`Sn
`
`Page 22 of 39
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 2, 2002 Sheet 22 of 22
`FIG. 13
`
`US 2002/0052781 Al
`
`,-1300
`
`START
`
`1302
`
`ONE OR MORE ADVERTISEMENTS
`ARE IDENTIFIED FROM THE
`OCCURENCE OF A TRIGGER
`FROM A TRIGGER SOURCE
`
`1304
`
`SERVER
`
`DEVICE
`
`YES
`
`1318
`
`NO
`
`WAIT FOR NEXT
`TRIGGER
`
`SELECT ADVERTISEMENTS
`BASED ON TRIGGER
`
`DOWNLOAD ADVERTISEMENTS
`TO MOBILE DEVICE
`
`DISPLAY ADVERTISEMENTS
`ON MOBILE DEVICE
`
`1308
`
`1310
`
`1312
`
`ALLOW USER TO INTERACT
`WITH ADVERTISEMENTS
`IF DESIRED
`
`1314
`
`Page 23 of 39
`
`

`

`US 2002/0052781 Al
`
`May 2, 2002
`
`1
`
`INTERACTIVE ADVERTISEMENT MECHANISM
`ON A MOBILE DEVICE
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`[0002] This patent application is potentially related to the
`following co-pending U.S. utility patent application, which
`is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety:
`[0003]
`"System, Method, and Computer Program Product
`for Placement of Channels on a Mobile Device for Interac(cid:173)
`tive Offline Communications," Ser. No. (to be assigned),
`Attorney Docket No. 1933.0010007, filed concurrently here(cid:173)
`with.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`[0004] 1. Field of the Invention
`[0005] The present invention relates generally to mobile
`communications, and more particularly relates to technology
`for using interactive applications while on-line and off-line
`on mobile devices.
`[0006] 2. Related Art
`[0007] A variety of mobile devices (such as personal data
`assistants, or PDAs) exist. Such mobile devices include ones
`based on the Palm operating environment and the Windows
`CE operating environment.
`[0008] A variety of software applications for those mobile
`devices also exist. What does not exist is a mechanism that
`allows mobile devices to interact with advertisements. Thus,
`what is needed is a system, method, and computer program
`product for enabling interactive advertisements to be loaded
`on mobile devices and for users of mobile devices to operate
`with such interactive advertisements on their mobile devices
`in an interactive manner while in an off-line mode.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`[0009] Briefly stated, the invention includes systems,
`methods, computer program products, and combinations and
`sub-combinations thereof for enabling interactive advertise(cid:173)
`ments (as well as other objects) to be loaded on mobile
`devices (as well as other types of devices), and for users of
`mobile devices to operate with such interactive advertise(cid:173)
`ments on their mobile devices in an interactive manner while
`in an off-line mode.
`[0010] These and additional features and advantages of the
`present invention will become more apparent from the
`detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunc(cid:173)
`tion with the drawings in which like reference characters
`generally identify corresponding elements throughout.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGS.
`
`[0011] The accompanying drawings, which are incorpo(cid:173)
`rated herein and form part of the specification, illustrate
`embodiments of the present invention and, together with the
`description, further serve to explain the principles of
`embodiments of the invention.
`[0012] FIG. lA is a block diagram of an embodiment of
`the invention;
`[0013] FIG. lB is an alternative block diagram of an
`embodiment of the invention;
`
`[0014] FIG. lBl is a block diagram of an example data
`processing unit useful for implementing items from FIGS.
`lAand lB;
`
`[0015] FIGS. lC, lD, lE, lF, lG, lH, 11, and lJ are used
`to generally describe embodiments of the invention;
`
`[0016] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram representing a method for
`displaying an advertisement page on a mobile device
`according to an embodiment of the invention;
`
`[0017] FIG. 3 is an exemplary interactive advertisement
`shown on a Palm device;
`
`[0018] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a mobile device
`having time and location modules/devices;
`
`[0019] FIG. SA is a flow diagram illustrating a real time
`content specific advertising method according to an embodi(cid:173)
`ment of the invention;
`
`[0020] FIG. SB is a flow diagram illustrating an offline
`content specific advertising method according to an embodi(cid:173)
`ment of the invention;
`
`[0021] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating an advertiser
`targeted marketing process;
`
`[0022] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for
`sharing revenue between a server and a provider when a
`mobile device is operating in a real time mode of operation;
`
`[0023] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of
`revenue sharing between a server and a provider when a
`mobile device is operating in an offline mode of operation;
`
`[0024] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for
`dynamic advertisement rotation on a mobile device;
`
`[0025] FIG. lOA is a diagram illustrating an example of a
`location specific interactive advertisement to be displayed
`on a mobile device;
`
`[0026] FIG. 10B is a method for displaying location
`specific interactive advertisements on a mobile device
`according to an embodiment of the invention;
`
`[0027] FIG. lOC is a flow diagram illustrating a method
`for offline content specific advertising according to an
`embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0028] FIG. 11 is an exemplary illustration of other
`devices or sources that may trigger the display of one or
`more advertisements on a mobile device according to an
`embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0029] FIG. 12 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an
`advertisement on a billboard that enables communication
`between an advertiser and a user of a mobile device via a
`transport mechanism; and
`
`[0030] FIG. 13 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for
`enabling an advertiser to communicate with a user of a
`mobile device via a transport mechanism on a billboard
`advertisement.
`
`Page 24 of 39
`
`

`

`US 2002/0052781 Al
`
`May 2, 2002
`
`2
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF IBE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`[0031] 1. Overview of Embodiments of the Present Inven(cid:173)
`tion
`[0032] Embodiments of the present invention are briefly
`described in this section.
`[0033] Briefly stated, the invention is directed to placing
`objects such as, but not limited to, Internet or Web content
`on data processing devices, and more particularly, placing
`interactive advertisements from the Internet or Web content
`on data processing devices, such as but not limited to mobile
`devices. Table 1 lists examples of such Internet content,
`although the invention is not limited to these examples.
`
`TABLE 1
`
`Internet Content
`
`Internet content includes but is not limited to:
`
`HTML
`JavaScript TM
`Channels
`Java TM
`ActiveX
`Multimedia:
`Images (e.g., JPEG, GIF, PNG, vector graphics, etc.)
`Audio Files (e.g. MP3)
`Video (e.g. AV!)
`Streaming Content: Voice/Data/Video
`Binary files
`XML
`Applications
`Data Objects
`Documents
`Anything that can be delivered via a "browser"
`
`[0034] Table 2 lists examples of mobile devices, although
`the invention is not limited to these examples.
`
`TABLE 2
`
`Mobile Devices
`
`Mobile devices include but are not limited to:
`
`Handheld Computers
`Cellular Phones
`Internet-enabled Phones
`Pagers
`Radios
`TVs
`Audio Devices
`Car Audio Systems
`Recorders
`Text-to-Speech Devices
`Bar-code Scanners
`Net Appliances
`Mini-browsers
`Personal Data Assistants (PDAs)
`
`[0035] FIG. lC illustrates a concept of the invention of
`placing objects, such as, but not limited to, advertisements
`on data processing devices, such as mobile devices. In one
`embodiment, the concept of placing objects on data pro(cid:173)
`cessing devices is disclosed in more detail in co-pending
`application entitled "System, Method, and Computer Pro(cid:173)
`gram Product for Enabling On-Device Servers, Oflline
`Forms, and Dynamic Ad Tracking On Mobile Devices," Ser.
`
`No. 09/559,964, filed on Apr. 28, 2000 (Atty. Docket No.
`1933.0010001), which is incorporated by reference herein in
`its entirety.
`[0036] 1.1. Enabling Mobile Devices to Interact With
`Networked Applications
`[0037] The invention includes technology for using appli(cid:173)
`cations on mobile devices that interact with the Internet or
`with intranets. The invention enables applications available
`via a network or via an Internet/intranet to download and to
`run on mobile devices. Consequently, the invention includes
`software and methods for administering a server that man(cid:173)
`ages the variables relevant to a mobile device/server envi(cid:173)
`ronment.
`[0038] The invention enables:
`[0039] Mobile devices to operate in conjunction with a
`Web server, even when the mobile devices are not coupled
`directly to the PC using portable on-device servers: Web
`pages are loaded, viewed, cached, and deleted even when the
`device is not coupled to any network.
`[0040] Mobile devices to operate in conjunction with the
`Web, Internet, or intranet via a connection mechanism and
`then in disconnected mode or with the Web, Internet, or
`intranet in wireless mode with a continuous or a discontinu(cid:173)
`ous connection mechanism.
`[0041] A technique for interactive connectivity between
`handheld computers and computer networks.
`[0042] Fleet management for centrally administering
`information in a handheld network environment that
`includes, but is not limited to, user data, user groups, group
`channels, channel data, personal channels, commercial
`channels, user accounts, corporate account, software group(cid:173)
`ings, personal information management, form delivery, form
`management, device configuration, device databases, device
`contents, and devices parameters.
`[0043] Obtaining updated Web pages and other network
`objects, for use when the mobile device is not communi(cid:173)
`cating with the PC.
`[0044] An example mobile device/server environment is
`shown in FIG. lD.
`[0045] 1.2. Rapid Transfer of Web Pages to Mobile
`Devices
`[0046] To improve efficiency of data exchange between
`mobile devices and networked content,
`the
`invention
`includes an improved communication protocol that collects
`requests and responses for network objects into a smaller
`number of protocol (such as HTTP) requests and responses.
`The server also determines the nature and the resources of
`the mobile device. This protocol is represented, for example,
`in FIG. lE.
`[0047] Downstream, the data is encoded in a data format
`called content stream (tokenized version of the data) and
`sent to the device. The content stream format creates a
`tokenized codification of HTML pages that is sent to the
`device. (The device receives the content stream and presents
`the material on the device.)
`[0048] The HTML page is encoded into the content stream
`and sent to the device. The encoding is a mapping of parent
`and child HTML elements and/or resources to alphanumeric
`values.
`
`Page 25 of 39
`
`

`

`US 2002/0052781 Al
`
`May 2, 2002
`
`3
`
`[0049] The sync operation of the invention includes vari(cid:173)
`ous synchronization processes that can collect information
`from the Internet to a server, and to the client. In embodi(cid:173)
`ments, the usage of the term "sync" refers to the overall
`operation of connecting a client to a server for the exchange,
`interaction, creation, and removal of data.
`
`[0050]
`In one embodiment, syncing can be defined as
`mirroring data on a client and a server, such that the data is
`the same on client and server. In other embodiments, sync(cid:173)
`ing can be defined as overwriting data on a client or on a
`server, such that the data on either a client replaces the data
`on a server, and vice versa.
`
`[0051]
`In one embodiment, a sync operation involves a
`user placing a mobile device into an adapter that includes a
`sync button. The adapter is connected to a server. Upon
`pressing the sync button, the user initiates the sync opera(cid:173)
`tions of the invention, which include various synchroniza(cid:173)
`tion processes (specific delivery modes). Thus, the term sync
`is meant to refer to the overall operation of linking a client
`to a server. Synchronization is meant to refer to the specific
`process of copying, adding, filtering, removing, updating
`and merging the information between a client and a server.
`Any number of synchronization processes can be executed
`during a sync.
`
`[0052] Before being sent downstream the data is compared
`to the data that is known to be on the client and then the
`client is updated all at once in a one-up/one-down synchro(cid:173)
`nization method, which is represented in FIG. lF. In an
`embodiment, the one-up/one-down synchronization process
`is disclosed in more detail in co-pending application entitled
`"System, Method, and Computer Program Product for
`Enabling On-Device Servers, Offline Forms, and Dynamic
`Ad Tracking On Mobile Devices," Ser. No. 09/559,964, filed
`on Apr. 28, 2000 (Atty. Docket No. 1933.0010001). The
`server sets the client to preemptively prepare all device
`information necessary during the sync. Then the server
`receives the set of information in a one-up fashion. The
`server collates the information and sends the information in
`a one-down fashion. This optimizes the sync's efficiency and
`speed. The sync process, according to embodiments of the
`invention, is represented in FIGS. lG and lH, and further
`described
`in co-pending application entitled "System,
`Method, and Computer Program Product for Enabling On(cid:173)
`Device Servers, Offline Forms, and Dynamic Ad Tracking
`On Mobile Devices," Ser. No. 09/559,964, filed on Apr. 28,
`2000 (Atty. Docket No. 1933.0010001).
`
`[0053] 1.3. Optimizing Content of Web Pages for Mobile
`Devices
`
`[0054] When Web content and other network objects pass
`through the server they are processed to minimize their size
`and to optimize their delivery to mobile devices: for pre(cid:173)
`sentation, for ease of use, for efficiency, for size, etc.
`
`[0055] The invention uses server logic to optimize con(cid:173)
`tent. The server assesses the mobile device to optimize web
`content for the particular device. Factors that the server logic
`considers when performing this optimization include, but
`are not limited to (it is noted that the server may consider
`subsets of the following, depending on the application and
`implementation):
`
`[0056] Dynamic memory specifications
`[0057] High memory specifications
`[0058] Protected Memory
`[0059] Storage Memory
`[0060] Database Memory
`[0061] Available storage space
`[0062] Screen size
`[0063] User profile(s)
`[0064] Color depth
`[0065] Applications on device
`[0066] Buttons on-device
`
`[0067] Data markers (e.g., cookies, tokens)
`
`[0068] Preferences
`
`[0069] Fonts
`
`[0070] Font specifications
`
`[0071] Sync type
`
`[0072] Synchronization types
`
`[0073] Supported data types
`
`[0074] Supported mime types
`
`[0075] Connection/Network profile
`
`[0076] An example optimization process is shown in FIG.
`11.
`
`[0077] On the server, the graphic is optimized per the state
`information of the device. If the device sends down the need
`for the graphic on a page for a device with a display that is
`27 cm wide and in grayscale, the server sends its best version
`of a graphic optimized for that environment. In one embodi(cid:173)
`ment, the optimization process is disclosed in co-pending
`application entitled "System, Method, and Computer Pro(cid:173)
`gram Product for Enabling On-Device Servers, Offline
`Forms, and Dynamic Ad Tracking On Mobile Devices," Ser.
`No. 09/559,964, filed on Apr. 28, 2000 (Atty. Docket No.
`1933.0010001).
`[0078] The technology of the invention is extended by tags
`on HTML pages that identify content that is designed for
`additional modifications. Bytes processed by the server are
`potentially examined for compression/optimization. The
`server detects the tag and executes the necessary logic.
`[0079] Table 3 illustrates example tags ( the invention is
`not limited to the tags shown in Table 3).
`
`TABLE 3
`
`Sample Markup Language
`
`Tag
`
`Effect
`
`<META NAME-"Handheld(cid:173)
`Friendly" content-"True">
`
`This tag enables several HTML
`features that are normally turned off.
`Most notably, The invention does not
`try to display TABLE tags or the
`HSPACE and VSPACE attributes of
`!MG tags unless the page is marked
`as "HandheldFriendly". Most
`
`Page 26 of 39
`
`

`

`US 2002/0052781 Al
`
`May 2, 2002
`
`4
`
`TABLE 3-continued
`
`Sample Markup Language
`
`Tag
`
`Effect
`
`<AG!GNORE></AGIGNORE>
`
`TABLEs or H/VSPACEs are
`designed for much larger screens.
`Used in a wireless channel. Use the
`AGIGNORE tag