United States Patent
`
`[19]
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`6,081,815
`
`Spitznagel et al.
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`Jun. 27, 2000
`
`US006081815A
`
`solution for paging needs,
`all—in—one
`AirNote offers
`Kramer, PC Week, p. 1, Oct. 3, 1994.
`
`Pagers bulk up, branch out with keyboards .
`p. 1, Jul. 21, 1997.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`, PC Week,
`
`Wireless, AT&T Wireless services introduces Internet mes-
`saging services .
`.
`.
`, Edge .
`.
`.
`, vol. 12, p. 17, Jun. 16, 1997.
`
`Help! my cell phone has a browserl, Machrone, PC Maga-
`zine, v16, n10, p. 85, May 27, 1997.
`
`Alphanumeric paging poised for big growth .
`MacWeek, v11, n5, pp. 29-32, Feb. 3, 1997.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`, Streeter,
`
`Mowgli WWW software .
`33-37, May 1996.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`, Liljeberg et al, IEEE, pp.
`
`Primary Examiner—Stephen S. Hong
`Assistant Examiner—Cesar B. Paula
`
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—James A. Lamb
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Amethod processes a hyperlink formatted message to make
`it compatible with an alphanumeric messaging device (118)
`that
`lacks hyperlink decoding capability. The hyperlink
`formatted message includes at least one hyperlink having
`tags, a hyperlink identifier, and a resource locator. The
`method, which is used in a messaging controller of a
`messaging system (100) that communicates with a plurality
`of alphanumeric messaging devices,
`replaces (210) all
`occurrences of a first character within the hyperlink format-
`ted message with a second displayable character, marks
`(220) each hyperlink identifier within the hyperlink format-
`ted message using the first displayable character, removes
`(225) the tags and resource locator of each of the at least one
`hyperlink, and stores (227) the resource locator of each of
`the at least one hyperlink in association with the hyperlink
`identifier.
`
`12 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`[54] METHOD FOR PROCESSING A HYPERLINK
`FORMATTED MESSAGE TO MAKE IT
`COMPATIBLE WITH AN ALPHANUMERIC
`MESSAGING DEVICE
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Kim Loring Spitznagel, Lantana;
`Gerald Herbert Johnson, Jr., Boynton
`Beach, both of Fla.
`
`[73] Assignee: Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, Ill.
`
`[21] Appl. N0.: 08/944,278
`
`[22]
`
`Filed:
`
`Oct. 6, 1997
`
`Int. Cl.7 ...................................................... .. G06F 3/14
`[51]
`[52] U.S. Cl.
`........................................... .. 707/501; 707/513
`[58] Field of Search ................................... .. 707/501, 513;
`455/31.3, 32.1, 412; 345/124
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,355,472 10/1994 Lewis .................................... .. 707/101
`5,629,846
`5/1997 Crapo ........... ..
`708/705
`5,745,908
`4/1998 Anderson et al.
`.. 707/513
`5,781,914
`7/1998 Stork et al.
`...... ..
`.. 707/501
`5,802,299
`9/1998 Logan et al.
`.. 709/218
`5,809,415
`9/1998 Rossmann .... ..
`455/422
`5,944,791
`8/1999 Scherpbier
`709/218
`5,948,066
`9/1999 Whalen et al.
`.. 709/229
`5,968,125
`10/1999 Garrick et al.
`........................ .. 709/224
`5,999,940 12/1999 Ranger .................................. .. 707/103
`6,009,459
`10/1999 Belfiore et al.
`.. 709/203
`6,012,102
`1/2000 Shachar ..................................... .. 710/5
`
`
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Pagers, PDAs find new links to the Internet, Moore et al., PC
`Week, p. 1, Sep. 9, 1996.
`Wireless E—mail, fax, and paging, Abernathy, PC World, p.
`1, Mar. 1, 1995.
`
`205
`RECEIVE HYPERLINK
`FORMATTED MESSAGE
`IN CCDC
`
`REPLACE 1ST DISPLAYABLE
`
`CHARACTER WITH 2ND DISPLAYABLE
`CHARACTER THROUGHOUT MESSAGE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`STORE EACH HYPERLINK IDENTIFIER IN
`ASSOCIATION WITH A RESOURCE
`LOCATOR
`220
`MARK HYPERLINK IDENTIFIER USING 1ST
`DISPLAYABLE CHARACTER
`225
`REMOVE HYPERLINK TAGS
`AND RESOURCE LOCATORS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
` 227
`
`STORE REFORMATTED HYPERLINK
`MESSAGE IN ASSOCIATION WITH
`RESOURCE LOCATOR IN CCDC
`230
`SEND REFORMATTED HYPERLINK
`MESSAGE TO MESSAGING TERMINAL
`235
`STORE REFORMATTED HYPERLINK
`MESSAGE IN MESSAGING TERMINAL
`24
`0
`TRANSMIT REFORMATTED HYPERLINK
`MESSAGE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1116 p. 1
`
`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1116 p. 1
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 27, 2000
`
`Sheet 1 of 3
`
`6,081,815
`
`112
`
`MESSAGING
`TERMINAL
`
`123
`
`NETWORK
`
`CONNECTION
`DEVICE
`
`109
`
`PROCESSOR
`130
`RESPONSE
`MESSAQE
`HANDLER
`
`117
`
`
`
`I I I
`
`I
`I
`I
`[
`I
`
`I
`
`
`
`RF
`CONTROLLER
`
`PABX
`0R
`PSTN
`
`LAN
`
`WAN
`
`."
`" 3:: '
`:2 ______—J
`{
`102
`mm L
`104 333 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
`I
`aaa “aaa I
`:
`I
`
`
`
`CONTENT
`
`SOURCE
`COMPUTER
`
`118
`
`
`I
`I
`I
`105
`COLLECTION
`
`
`:
`{
`DISTN¥gflTION
`
`
`I
`I
`COMPUTER
`
`I
`I
`:
`107
`:
`,
`,
`.
`.
`I
`I
`L — — _ — _ _. J
`
`
`
`
`
`121
`
`122
`
`1
`
`
`
`116
`
`PAGING
`TRANSMITTER
`
`PAGING
`RECEIVER
`
`
`
`.1F?27(E?€.1F
`
`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1116 p. 2
`
`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1116 p. 2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 27,2000
`
`Sheet 2 of3
`
`6,081,815
`
`205
`
`RECEIVE HYPERLINK
`
`IN CCDC
`
`FORMATTED MESSAGE
`
`210
`
`REPLACE 1ST DISPLAYABLE
`CHARACTER WITH 2ND DISPLAYABLE
`
`
`
`CHARACTER THROUGHOUT MESSAGE
`
`215
`
`STORE EACH HYPERLINK IDENTIFIER IN
`
`LOCATOR
`
`ASSOCIATION WITH A RESOURCE
`
`MARK HYPERLINK IDENTIFIER USING 1ST
`
`DISPLAYABLE CHARACTER
`
`220
`
`225
`
`REMOVE HYPERLINK TAGS
`AND RESOURCE LOCATORS
`
`227
`
`STORE REFORMATTED HYPERLINK
`
`RESOURCE LOCATOR IN CCDC
`
`MESSAGE IN ASSOCIATION WITH
`
`230
`
`SEND REFORMATTED HYPERLINK
`
`MESSAGE TO MESSAGING TERMINAL
`
`235
`
`STORE REFORMATTED HYPERLINK
`
`MESSAGE IN MESSAGING TERMINAL
`
`402
`
`TRANSMIT REFORMATTED HYPERLINK
`MESSAGE
`
`FIG. 2
`
`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1116 p. 3
`
`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1116 p. 3
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 27,2000
`
`Sheet 3 of3
`
`6,081,815
`
`305
`
`PERSONAL MESSAGING
`
`HYPERLINK IDENTIFIER
`
`DEVICE USER SELECTS
`
`310
`
`K
`
`USER INITIATES
`
`RESPONSE MESSAGE
`
`315
`
`RESPONSE MESSAGE THAT INCLUDES THE
`
`
`
`
`
`PERSONAL MESSAGING DEVICE TRANSMITS
`
`HYPERLINK IDENTIFIER AND IDENTIFIES THE
`
`
`REFORMATTED HYPERLINK MESSAGE
`
`
`
`FIND AND RECOVER THE REFORMATTED
`
`HYPERLINK MESSAGE FROM MESSAGING
`
`320
`
`TERMINAL MEMORY
`
`325
`
`
`
`
`
`SEND REFORMATTED
`
`HYPERLINK MESSAGE AND
`
`HYPERLINK IDENTIFIER TO CCDC
`
`330
`
`DETERMINE RESOURCE LOCATOR
`
`FROM REFORMATTED HYPERLINK MESSAGE AND HYPERLINK IDENTIIFER
`
`335
`
`USE RESOURCE LOCATOR
`
`TO REQUEST NEXT
`
`INFORMATION
`
`FIG. 3
`
`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1116 p. 4
`
`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1116 p. 4
`
`

`
`6,081,815
`
`1
`METHOD FOR PROCESSING A HYPERLINK
`FORMATTED MESSAGE TO MAKE IT
`COMPATIBLE WITH AN ALPHANUMERIC
`MESSAGING DEVICE
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`Application Ser. No. 08/769,813, abandoned filed Dec.
`19, 1996 by Davani, entitled “Remote Token Based Infor-
`mation Acquisition System”.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates in general to two way personal
`messaging systems and more particularly to a two way
`personal messaging system that allows a user having a
`conventional alphanumeric messaging device to interpret
`Internet or intranet messages.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`is quickly emerging as a
`The world wide web
`standard for information publishing, and it is a rich source
`of timely information. One of the key features of this form
`of information is the inclusion of hyperlinks in information
`messages received from a website using the “HTML” (hyper
`text markup language), that are commonly presented on a
`sophisticated display screen in a www browser window
`(such as Netscape Navigator”, distributed by Netscape
`Communications Corp., Mountain View, Calif., and Internet
`Explorer, distributed by Microsoft Corp., Redmond, Wash.),
`as underlined text. These hyperlinks indicate that informa-
`tion related to the under-lined topic can be retrieved by
`selecting the underlined word or words in the browser. This
`hyperlink is actually a link to another website, and is
`indicated in the protocol of the HTML, hyper text transport
`protocol (http), by “tags”, and includes text that indicates the
`hyperlink. For example,
`the following information is a
`portion of a message which includes a hyperlink, as viewed
`in a typical browser:
`.
`.
`. claimed that he was ‘innocent’ of any wrongdoing in
`the Whitewater affair .
`.
`.
`.
`
`The information in this example was sent to the browser in
`HTML protocol as:
`.
`.
`. claimed that he was ‘innocent’ of any wrongdoing in
`the <A HREF=“http://www.whitewater.com”> White-
`water </A>affair .
`.
`.
`.
`In this example, a leading and trailing anchor (A) tag (each
`of which comprises the <>symbols and the characters
`between them) delineate the text “Whitewater” that identi-
`fies the anchor (hyperlink). The hyperlink address, or more
`properly the uniform resource locator (url) of the hyperlink,
`is the “http://www.whitewater.com” located within the lead-
`ing anchor tag. It is this text, that indicates the existence of
`a hyperlink to a user, that is underlined by the browser
`program when presented by the www browser window.
`Browsers often present the underlined text in a color differ-
`ent than other text, as well as underlining it. It will be
`appreciated that underlining and changing the color of the
`text are techniques that
`involve changing displayable
`attributes of the characters. The entire sequence of charac-
`ters in the hyperlink, including the two anchor tags and the
`text between them, is called an HTML element.
`Because a customer demand exists for access to the
`information available on the world wide web as well as other
`
`information networks, the use of hyperlinks by communi-
`cation devices in most communication systems is an aspect
`that
`is highly desirable. However, a problem exists in
`
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`
`2
`phasing in the use of hyperlinks in existing communication
`systems that have communication devices that
`lack an
`ability to decode a hyperlink, such as pagers already in use
`in many paging systems. In this sense, decoding a hyperlink
`means a) locating the hyperlink in the message, b) removing
`the tags, uniform resource locator, and anything else other
`than the text that identifies the hypertext link (so as to not
`confuse a user), and c) marking the text that identifies the
`hyperlink. Newer communication devices may be equipped
`to decode hyperlinks, but what is needed is a technique that
`provides identification of a hyperlink in a communication
`system that includes communication devices that do not
`have a function for decoding a hyperlink.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a messaging system, in
`accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present
`invention.
`FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of a method used in the
`
`messaging system to process a message having hyperlink
`content to make it compatible with a conventional alphanu-
`meric messaging device, in accordance with the preferred
`embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of a method used in the
`
`messaging system to process a response to a reformatted
`hyperlink message, in accordance with a preferred embodi-
`ment of the present invention.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`Referring to FIG. 1, a messaging system 100, accepts
`page or messaging requests from several external sources,
`e.g. a telephone 102, a page entry device 104, a content
`collection and distribution computer (CCDC) 106, and a
`source computer 107. The source computer 107 shown here
`is exemplary in nature, and can function as a messaging
`client, a world wide web client, an information system host,
`or as a world wide web host for both retrieving and serving
`information to other clients.
`
`Apage or messaging request is normally accepted through
`a telephone network input for a public or private telephone
`network 108 that preferably includes capabilities for con-
`necting to a local area network (LAN) or wide area network
`(WAN) for effecting high speed network connections to
`devices such as the CCDC 106 and the source computer 107.
`The public or private telephone network 108 couples the
`page request from one of the sources (i.e., voice message or
`computer message generators) to an automatic telephone
`input 110 or a network input 117 at a messaging terminal
`112. The public or private telephone network 108, as well as
`dedicated inputs, are connected by one or more network
`connection devices 123 such as modems or high speed
`network interfaces, e.g., IEEE 802.3 or the like, supporting
`TCP/IP or the like connections to both the Internet and
`intranets.
`
`The messaging terminal 112 comprises the network con-
`nection device 123, the automatic telephone input 110, the
`network input 117, a processor 109, and a response message
`handler 130. The messaging terminal 112 is preferably a
`conventional WMGTM Administrator! model messaging ter-
`minal made by Motorola, Inc., of Schaumburg, Ill.
`After accepting the page request, the messaging terminal
`112 routes a selective call message comprising a selective
`call address, and possibly a canned message,
`to a radio
`frequency (RF) controller 114 for transmission to a selective
`
`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1116 p. 5
`
`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1116 p. 5
`
`

`
`6,081,815
`
`3
`
`call receiver (more generically referred to as a personal
`messaging device). The message is configured for a
`protocol, such as the well known FLEXTM protocol licensed
`by Motorola,
`Inc., by the RF controller 114, which is
`preferably a Conductor!TM model RF controller made by
`Motorola and coupled to a transmitter 116, which is pref-
`erably a SymphonyTM model transmitter made by Motorola,
`Inc. Conventional messaging systems may convey informa-
`tion from a caller to pager user via a plurality of message
`formats. Each message format can denote a mode of data
`(e.g., characters, numbers, audio, graphics, or “just a beep”)
`being sent
`to the pager. FIG. 1 illustrates a number of
`personal messaging devices, alternatively called selective
`call receivers, subscriber units, and personal messaging
`units, that can receive information messages from the mes-
`saging terminal 112. The personal messaging devices illus-
`trated are an alphanumeric messaging device 118 that is a
`selective call receiver that is of conventional design and has
`two way messaging capability, a numeric display pager 120,
`a voice message pager, 121 and a tone only pager 122. In the
`later case, the tone only pager 122 (i.e., no message is
`presented to the user), alerts (e.g., an audible beep), the user
`that a caller wants the pager user to respond by calling a
`prearranged telephone number, such as a receptionist tele-
`phone number. Additionally,
`the RF controller 114 is
`coupled with a conventional messaging receiver 115 that
`operates to receive inbound signaling information (e.g.,
`acknowledge back responses and return channel messages)
`from the alphanumeric messaging device 118 and route it to
`the messaging terminal 112. The alphanumeric messaging
`device is preferably a PagewriterTM two way pager made by
`Motorola, Inc. of Schaumburg, Ill., which has an alphanu-
`meric display. The messaging receiver 115 is preferably an
`AudienceTM model receiver made by Motorola, Inc. The
`messaging terminal 112, the RF controller 114, the trans-
`mitter 116, and the messaging receiver 115 can alternatively
`be of different model and manufacture.
`
`Acknowledge back responses convey information such as
`whether a particular message was correctly received (i.e.,
`without errors). Return channel messages can be either
`return channel “canned” messages or return channel alpha-
`numeric messages. Return channel “canned” messages are
`generated by the user, either by selecting a button that
`generates an indicated predetermined return channel
`“canned” message, or by selecting from a list of responses
`that has been included in a message received by the alpha-
`numeric messaging device 118. An example of the “canned”
`response is one that indicates to the messaging terminal 112
`a request for access to a predetermined home page. In some
`models of alphanumeric messaging devices 118, an ad hoc
`alphanumeric return channel message can be generated by
`using an alphanumeric keyboard that is a part of the alpha-
`numeric messaging device 118. In response to a content of
`the return channel signaling information including a canned
`request for access to a predetermined home page, the mes-
`saging terminal 112, using the processor 109 in conjunction
`with the network connection device 123, accesses the CCDC
`106 to retrieve information content in the form of a hypertext
`message language (HTML) from a source computer 107
`corresponding with a uniform resource locator (url) for the
`home page stored in a database of the messaging terminal
`112. The CCDC 106 then receives a home page message in
`HTML from the source computer 107 comprising informa-
`tion intended for the alphanumeric messaging device 118.
`The information content of the home page message is then
`uniquely reformatted by the CCDC 106 as described herein,
`below, and sent to the messaging terminal 112 which modi-
`
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`
`4
`fies the message in accordance with parameters of the
`alphanumeric messaging device for which the message is
`intended, such as replacing a number that
`identifies an
`alphanumeric messaging device within the PSTN 108 with
`an “electronic” identifying number of the alphanumeric
`messaging device necessary for use within the RF protocol.
`The messaging terminal 112 then routes the message to the
`transmitter 116 via the RF controller 114 for broadcasting as
`a return selective call message to the requesting alphanu-
`meric messaging device 118 using a conventional RF pro-
`tocol. The CCDC 106 comprises a conventional set of
`computer hardware that runs under control of a Windows
`NTTM operating system distributed by Microsoft, Inc., and
`includes unique program instructions in the form of software
`(such as a file on a hard disk) or hardware (such as read only
`memory) that controls the CCDC 106 to perform the unique
`functions described herein. It will be appreciated that the
`CCDC 106 could be an alternative computer model as well,
`having appropriate unique program instructions.
`The CCDC 106 and messaging terminal 112 together can
`be collectively referred to as a messaging controller which,
`in an alternative embodiment of the present invention, can
`comprise a single processing device, particularly in a mes-
`saging system 100 that interfaces to a moderate number of
`personal messaging devices (e.g., 1000) and in which the
`number of differing source computers 107 to which the
`messaging system 100 interfaces is small. For example,
`when the messaging system 100 interfaces only to a weather
`reporting system, or when the messaging system 100 inter-
`faces only to the world wide web, reformatting functions of
`the CCDC and the messaging terminal 112 can co-exist with
`the messaging controller.
`While the information, or message, having hyperlink
`content has been described above as being HTML
`information, it will be appreciated that other sources pro-
`viding messages that include hyperlinks are possible that do
`not use the well known http format. The use of underlining
`and/or changing another attribute of the characters (such as
`the color) is a natural, uniform choice for identifying hyper-
`links in messages received from such other sources, but
`there is a problem in the ability to use such hyperlink
`messages in the significant base of existing alphanumeric
`messaging devices that do not have a function for decoding
`the hyperlink and that in some cases also lack the ability to
`displaying underlined text or otherwise modify displayable
`attributes of the text in a unique manner for hyperlinks. As
`an example of a non HTML information source, a commer-
`cial nationwide or worldwide weather reporting service
`could exist that has a large database of information that is
`conveniently transferred to a user as messages that include
`hyperlinks indicated in a manner other as than specified in
`http. In the case of both http and other information formats
`having hyperlinks, there exists tags or equivalents thereof
`(those symbols which identify the extent of the hyperlink to
`a computer), an associated identifier of the hyperlink (i.e., a
`word or phrase description), and an associated source
`address, which,
`in HTML is the url included within the
`leading tag. For convenience the http tags and equivalents
`are called herein simply tags. The source address in the http
`format
`is called a uniform resource locator (url). For
`simplicity, the source address in other (non HTML) mes-
`sages and the url are hereinafter called a resource locator
`(RL), and the combination of the tags, the RL, and the
`identifier of the hyperlink is called a hyperlink for both
`HTML messages and other types of messages.
`Referring to FIG. 2, a flow chart of a method used in the
`messaging system 100 to process a message having hyper-
`
`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1116 p. 6
`
`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1116 p. 6
`
`

`
`6,081,815
`
`5
`link content to make it compatible with a conventional
`alphanumeric messaging device is shown,
`in accordance
`with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The
`method is used in messaging systems in which compatibility
`with conventional alphanumeric messaging devices is
`desired. Conventional alphanumeric messaging devices as
`used herein describes alphanumeric messaging devices 118
`that are two way messaging devices of conventional design
`that do not have a hyperlink decoding function to remove
`tags, remove resource locators, and mark the identifier of the
`hyperlink, and includes such alphanumeric messaging
`devices that furthermore cannot provide character underlin-
`ing or other unique displayable character attributes. At step
`205, a message that includes hyperlink information (i.e., a
`hyperlink formatted message) is received by the CCDC 106,
`for example in response to a prior transmission by a con-
`ventional alphanumeric messaging device of a home page
`request. At step 210 the CCDC 106 replaces all occurrences
`of a first displayable character within the hyperlink format-
`ted message with a second displayable character. The first
`displayable character is preferably the back tic (identifiable
`as the character having decimal value 96 in the American
`Standard for Coded Information Interchange (ASCII)). The
`second displayable character is preferably the single quote
`(the character having decimal value 39 in ASCII).
`Alternatively, other character symbols can be chosen, but
`both the first and second displayable characters preferably
`have the characteristic of being displayable by all conven-
`tional alphanumeric messaging devices with which the mes-
`saging system 100 is to be compatible, and the first display-
`able character is preferably found infrequently in messages
`sent by the messaging system 100 to the alphanumeric
`messaging devices. It will be appreciated that
`the term
`“displayable character” as used herein excludes the under-
`lining of characters, because underlining is an attribute of
`displayable characters, not a displayable character itself. The
`CCDC 106 at step 215 identifies each hyperlink in the
`hyperlink formatted message by the tags and stores the
`hyperlink identifier and the resource locator of each hyper-
`link in a CCDC message memory, in association with each
`other, for example in a database. At step 220, the CCDC 106
`marks each hyperlink identifier within the hyperlink format-
`ted message, using the first displayable character. At step
`225, the CCDC 106 removes the tags and resource locators.
`The resulting message is a reformatted hyperlink message.
`The reformatted message is stored in the CCDC message
`memory at step 227,
`in association with the hyperlink
`identifiers and the resource locators found therein. At step
`230 the CCDC 106 routes the reformatted hyperlink mes-
`sage to the messaging terminal 112. The response message
`handler 130 reconfigures the reformatted hyperlink message
`in accordance with parameters unique to the alphanumeric
`messaging device for which the message is intended. The
`reformatted hyperlink message is sent to the RF controller
`114, which stores the reformatted message in a RF controller
`message memory at step 235, further configures it within an
`RF protocol and sends it to the transmitter 116, which at step
`240 transmits the reformatted hyperlink message. It will be
`appreciated that the steps are described in a preferable order
`of performance, but that other orders can be used, some of
`them requiring more complex program instruction
`sequences.
`This operation is illustrated by an example of reformatting
`of a hyperlink formatted message which is an HTML
`message, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of
`the present invention. The hyperlink formatted message in
`the example is:
`
`.
`
`.
`
`6
`. claimed that he was ‘innocent’ of any wrongdoing in
`the <A HREF=“http://www.whitewater.com”> White-
`water </A>affair .
`.
`.
`.
`The leading and trailing anchor (A) tags (each identified by
`the <>symbols) precede and follow the text “Whitewater”
`that
`identifies the anchor (the hyperlink). The uniform
`resource locator (url) of the hyperlink is the “http://
`www.whitewater.com” located in the leading anchor tag.
`The text “Whitewater” indicates to the user the existence of
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`a hyperlink, and exemplifies text that is typically found in
`any http anchor or hyperlink message in another protocol,
`that identifies the hyperlink to the user. This text is named
`herein “the hyperlink identifier”. The sequence that includes
`the two anchor tags and the text between them is called an
`HTML element, but also referred to herein just as the
`hyperlink.
`In this example, the word “innocent” is preceded and
`followed by the first conventionally displayable character,
`which is the back tic symbol
`In most text, the back tic
`is used infrequently. The CCDC 106 finds and replaces the
`back tics with a second conventionally displayable
`character, the single quotation mark The CCDC 106 then
`uses the back tic to mark the hyperlink identifier
`(Whitewater) by preceding and following the hyperlink
`identifier with a back tic symbol. Then the CCDC 106
`removes the hyperlink tags and stores the url “http://
`www.whitewater.com” in association with “Whitewater”.
`
`The reformatted hyperlink message is communicated to the
`transmitter 116, which broadcasts it to the alphanumeric
`messaging device. The resulting, reformatted hyperlink
`message is as follows:
`.
`.
`. claimed that he was ‘innocent’ of any wrongdoing in
`the ‘Whitewater’ affair .
`.
`.
`.
`
`It will be appreciated that other characters can be used for
`the first and second conventionally displayable characters.
`For example, the first conventionally displayable character
`can be the left bracket
`It can be replaced by the second
`conventionally displayable character which is a left paren-
`thesis. In this example, a third conventionally displayable
`character,
`the right bracket
`would preferably also be
`replaced by a fourth conventionally displayable character,
`the right parenthesis. Then the right and left brackets can be
`used to mark the hyperlink identifier (i.e., it is marked by
`both the first and third conventionally displayable
`character). An advantage of using the back tic is that it’s
`usage is generally uncommon, so that the original meaning
`of the hyperlink message is less likely to be altered by the
`character changing. As an example of this approach, the
`hyperlink formatted message is:
`.
`.
`. claimed that he was [innocent] of any wrongdoing in
`the <A HREF=“http://www.whitewater.com”> White-
`water </A>affair .
`.
`.
`.
`The reformatted hyperlink message is:
`.
`.
`. claimed that he was (innocent) of any wrongdoing in
`the [Whitewater] affair .
`.
`.
`.
`The user of the alphanumeric messaging device that has
`received the reformatted hyperlink message is then alerted
`of the existence of a hyperlink.
`Referring to FIG. 3, a flow chart of a method used in a
`messaging system 100 to process a response to a reformatted
`hyperlink message is shown, in accordance with a preferred
`embodiment of the present invention. At step 305, a user of
`a alphanumeric messaging device that has received a refor-
`matted hyperlink message selects a hyperlink identifier that
`is displayed with a portion of the reformatted hyperlink
`message. Such selection is made, for example, by moving a
`cursor under a character within the hyperlink identifier. The
`
`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1116 p. 7
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`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1116 p. 7
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`

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`6,081,815
`
`7
`hyperlink identifier is, of course, made obvious by the back
`tic (the first displayable character in accordance with the
`preferred embodiment of the present invention) which pre-
`cedes and follows it. When the hyperlink identifier has been
`selected,
`the user initiates a response to the reformatted
`hyperlink message at step 310, for example, by depressing
`a hyperlink request key. At step 315,
`the alphanumeric
`messaging device transmits a response message that
`includes the hyperlink identifier and that also includes a
`message identifier that identifies the reformatted hyperlink
`message from which the hyperlink has been selected. The
`identification of the reformatted hyperlink message is pref-
`erably accomplished by reporting back the protocol position
`(e.g., hour 15, cycle 3, frame 45, block 10, word 5 in the
`FLEXTM protocol) at which the beginning of the reformatted
`hyperlink message was transmitted. The response is
`received by the messaging receiver 115 and sent to the RF
`controller 114. At step 320, the RF controller 114 uses the
`message identifier to recover the reformatted hyperlink
`message that was stored at step 235 with reference to FIG.
`2. The reformatted hyperlink message is then sent at step 325
`to the messaging terminal 112, which in turn sends it to the
`CCDC 106 along with the hyperlink identifier selected by
`the user of the alphanumeric messaging device, and an
`identity of the alphanumeric messaging device. At step 330,
`the CCDC 106 determines the resource locator from the
`
`hyperlink identifier and the reformatted hyperlink message
`received from the messaging terminal 112 and formats a
`request message that is sent to the resource location at step
`335, which typically results in another formatted hyperlink
`message that can be returned to the alphanumeric messaging
`device using the identity of the alphanumeric messaging
`device received with the reformatted hyperlink message.
`It will be appreciated that there are alternative methods
`for tracking the reformatted hyperlink message, other than
`storing the complete message as described at steps 225 and
`235. For example, the reformatted hyperlink message can be
`identified by a message code which is generated by the
`CCDC 106. The message code, instead of the message, is
`then stored in the CCDC 106 and in the RF controller 114.
`
`When the reformatted hyperlink message is identified by the
`response from the alphanumeric messaging device, the RF
`controller sends the message code and the hyperlink iden-
`tifier back to the messaging terminal 112 which sends them
`to the CCDC 106, which uses the message code and the
`hyperlink identifier to determine the resource location of the
`hyperlink.
`It will be appreciated that by using this unique technique,
`hyperlinks are displayed without a presence of the hyperlink
`tags and resource locators (which would be confusing to a
`user). Furthermore, the hyperlinks are uniquely identifiable
`by a user. This is true when a reformatted hyperlink message
`is received and displayed by a alphanumeric messaging
`device that does not have the ability to decode hyperlinks,
`including those that also lack an ability to present underlined
`characters or to otherwise change displayable character
`attributes. This is also true when a reformatted hyperlink
`message is received by an alphanumeric messaging device
`that can decode hyperlink messages. Thus, the reformatted
`hyperlink message is compatible with such alphanumeric
`messaging devices.
`This technique is useful when, for instance, a group call
`message is broadcast to a plurality of messaging devices that
`includes those that can and cannot decode hyperlink
`messages, or those that can and cannot use underlining of
`characters. This technique is also useful when a system is
`being first converted to be compatible with hyperlink for-
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`matted messages and when the system services mostly
`conventional alphanumeric messaging devices that do not
`decode hyperlink characters including those that also do not
`display underlined characters. The technique is unique in
`that it a) decodes the hyperlink message in a controller of a
`messaging system that
`is separated from the messaging
`device displaying the hyperlink message by another com-
`munication link (in this case, an RF link), b) provides
`storage of the resource locator in the controller the messag-
`ing system, and c) uses a unique character before and after
`(in the preferred embodiment of the present invention) the
`identifier of the hyperlink (instead of changing a character
`attribute of the identifier of the hyperlink).
`We claim:
`
`1. Amethod for processing a hyperlink formatted message
`to make it compatible with an alphanumeric messaging
`device that lacks hyperlink decoding ability, wherein the
`hyperlink formatted message includes at least one hyperlink
`having tags, a hyperlink identifier, and a resource locator,
`and wherein t