`Astala et al.
`
`111111
`
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US006590568Bl
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,590,568 Bl
`Jul. 8, 2003
`
`(54) TOUCH SCREEN DRAG AND DROP INPUT
`TECHNIQUE
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Arto Astala, Vantaa (FI); Tapio
`Mansikkaniemi, Espoo (FI)
`
`(73) Assignee: Nokia Corporation, Espoo (FI)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 200 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/714,939
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Nov. 20, 2000
`
`(51)
`Int. Cl? ............................. G09G 5/00; G09G 5!08
`(52) U.S. Cl. ....................... 345/173; 345/156; 345/157;
`178/18.01
`(58) Field of Search ................................. 345/156-179,
`345/799, 856-857
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,327,161 A * 7/1994 Logan et a!.
`............... 345/173
`5,463,388 A * 10/1995 Boie et a!. .................. 345/174
`5,673,066 A * 9/1997 Toda et a!.
`................. 345/173
`5,825,352 A * 10/1998 Bisset et a!. ................ 345/173
`5,880,411 A * 3/1999 Gillespie eta!. ......... 178/18.01
`
`6,430,164 B1 * 8/2002 Jones et a!. ................. 370/313
`6,433,801 B1 * 8/2002 Moon et a!. ................ 345/777
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner-Steven Saras
`Assistant Examiner-Michael 1 Moyer
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Antonelli, Terry, Stout &
`Kraus, LLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A method of and apparatus for dragging and dropping items
`displayed on a touch screen. In one embodiment, the item on
`the touch screen is touched with a pressure greater than a
`first predetermined pressure for a first predetermined period
`of time. The pressure on the item is then reduced, and the
`item is dragged with the reduced pressure to a second
`location at which the touch screen is touched with a pressure
`greater than a second predetermined pressure for a time
`duration greater than a second predetermined time period. In
`another embodiment, the item on the touch screen is touched
`with a pressure greater than a predetermined pressure for a
`first predetermined period of time, and then the touch screen
`is touched at a second location with a pressure greater than
`the predetermined pressure for a second predetermined
`period of time, less than the first predetermined period of
`time.
`
`24 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
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`
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`FILE4
`DIR3
`
`APPLE INC.
`EXHIBIT 1103 - PAGE 1
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 8, 2003
`
`Sheet 1 of 7
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`APPLE INC.
`EXHIBIT 1103 - PAGE 2
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`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 8, 2003
`
`Sheet 2 of 7
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`US 6,590,568 Bl
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`APPLE INC.
`EXHIBIT 1103 - PAGE 3
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 8, 2003
`
`Sheet 3 of 7
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`APPLE INC.
`EXHIBIT 1103 - PAGE 4
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 8, 2003
`
`Sheet 4 of 7
`
`US 6,590,568 Bl
`
`FIG. 4
`
`400
`
`NO
`
`NO COMMUNIC.
`LINK ESTAB.
`
`ESTABLISH A COMM.
`LINK WITH ACCESS
`POINT
`
`406
`
`426
`
`GET INTERNET
`ADDRESS OF MDA
`SERVER FROM THE
`GLOBAL ADDRESS SERVER
`
`408
`
`END
`
`NO
`
`AUTHENTICATE
`TERMINAL AND ESTAB
`FAMILY SESSION WITH
`MDA SERVER
`
`410
`
`TERMINATE 422
`PRIVATE
`SESSION
`
`414
`
`FAMILY SESSION
`ACTIVE AND USER
`CAN CONTINUE TO
`RETRIEVE FAMILY
`LEVEL INFO.
`
`NO
`
`AUTHORIZED USER LOGS
`INTO START PRIVATE
`SESSION
`
`416
`
`r - - - - - - ' - - - - - - - - , 418
`RETRIEVE PRIVATE
`INFO. & SERVICES
`
`APPLE INC.
`EXHIBIT 1103 - PAGE 5
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`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 8, 2003
`
`Sheet 5 of 7
`
`US 6,590,568 Bl
`
`FIG.S
`( START
`
`500
`
`+
`ESTABLISH COMMUNICATION LINK
`WITH ACCESS POINT
`
`~"------ 502
`
`l
`
`OBTAIN RELATED INTERNET
`ADDRESS FOR THE TERMINAL
`1'-------
`BASED ON CONNECTION W/ ACCESS PT.
`
`504
`
`+
`ESTABLISH COMMUNICATION LINK
`WITH ISP
`
`1'-------506
`
`+
`RETRIEVE INTERNET ADDRESS
`OFGLOBALADD.SERVER
`
`+
`SEND REQUEST TO GLOBAL ADD.
`SERVER
`
`l
`
`OBTAIN ADDRESS OF THE MDA
`SERVER FROM GLOB. ADD. SERV.
`
`+
`TERMINAL SENDS ITS ID
`TOTHEMDASERVERFOR
`AUTHENTICATION
`
`~ 508
`
`~ 510
`
`'-....__....-512
`
`'-....__....- 514
`
`+
`MDA SERVER AUTHENTICATES
`TERMINAL FOR FAMILY LEVEL ~ 516
`i
`FAMILY SESSION STARTS
`
`~ 518
`
`APPLE INC.
`EXHIBIT 1103 - PAGE 6
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`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 8, 2003
`
`Sheet 6 of 7
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`US 6,590,568 Bl
`
`700
`
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`
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`
`-706
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`
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`
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`X, Y,Z
`COORDINATES
`
`r--
`
`718
`
`DETERMINE
`OBJECT
`
`r-
`
`720
`
`MOVE OBJECT
`TO
`DESTINATION
`
`r-
`
`722
`
`c END
`
`724
`
`( START
`
`t
`
`DETECT
`TOUCH
`INPUT
`
`t
`
`START
`TIMER
`
`~
`READ
`X, Y,Z
`COORDINATES
`!
`
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`
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`t1 > tA
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`~
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`Z2·ZpL\z
`
`+
`FOLLOW
`DRAG
`Z>ZB
`
`+
`DETECT
`TOUCH
`INPUT
`I
`
`APPLE INC.
`EXHIBIT 1103 - PAGE 7
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`
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 8, 2003
`
`Sheet 7 of 7
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`US 6,590,568 Bl
`
`FIG. 6b
`
`732
`
`730
`
`DIR 1
`
`DIR2
`
`FILE2
`
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`D
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`
`DIR 3
`
`DIR4
`
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`FILE'4
`DIR3
`
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`
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`
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`
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`DO DO ~ r
`
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`
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`FILE 4
`DIR 3
`
`28
`
`FIG. 6d
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`~I' DO DO ~ 7
`
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`
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`
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`
`28
`
`APPLE INC.
`EXHIBIT 1103 - PAGE 8
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`
`
`US 6,590,568 Bl
`
`1
`TOUCH SCREEN DRAG AND DROP INPUT
`TECHNIQUE
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`2
`While each of the three above-noted patents discloses the
`use of a touch screen for inputting purposes, none of these
`patents teaches or suggests a touch screen arrangement in
`which both the location and the time duration and/or pres-
`s sure and/or velocity of a finger or other object contacting the
`touch screen are detected, the detected values being quan(cid:173)
`tized so as to allow the dragging and dropping of an item
`displayed on the touch screen.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present application is related to U.S. application Ser.
`No. 09/609,581, filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark
`Office on Jun. 20, 2000; U.S. application Ser. Nos. 09/607,
`637 and 09/607,638, both filed in the U.S. Patent and
`Trademark Office on Jun. 30, 2000; and U.S. application Ser. 10
`No. 09/659,416, filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark
`Office on Sep. 11, 2000, the content of these applications
`being incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
`Furthermore, priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. '120 for
`the aforecited U.S. application Ser. No. 09/607,638.
`
`An object of the present invention is to provide a touch
`screen technique for an electronic device, for example,
`which allows such electronic device to have a reasonably
`large display screen in a compact configuration. The keypad
`15 of the device or substantial portions of the keypad of the
`device are deleted and their functions implemented by the
`touch screen display screen, thereby allowing more space to
`be utilized for the display screen.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide a
`touch screen technique for an electronic device in which the
`location and the time duration of an object, such as a finger
`or stylus or other pointed object, contacting or pressing a
`detection point on the touch screen, are detected. In addition,
`the pressure of the object on the touch screen may be
`25 detected as well as the velocity of the object as it is moved
`across the face of the touch screen. The detected time
`duration may be quantized into one of two or more values,
`each value corresponding to a specific input state. The
`interpretation of the contact detection may be dependent on
`30 the application and/or program phase active in the electronic
`device. For example, pressing a selection point for a first
`predetermined time period may correspond to single click(cid:173)
`ing the left button on a mouse. On the other hand, pressing
`a selection point for a second predetermined period of time
`35 which is longer than the first predetermined period of time
`may correspond to double-clicking the left button on a
`mouse. Thus, when a touch input is effected by pressing a
`selected first item displayed on the touch screen for a
`predetermined period of time and then dragging the object or
`40 finger along the face of the touch screen to a second item
`displayed on the touch screen while pressing the screen with
`a lighter pressure than the initial pressing on the selected first
`item and then pressing on the second item displayed on the
`touch screen for a third predetermined period of time may
`45 result in moving the selected item to the location of the
`second item, that is, dragging and dropping the selected first
`item on the second item.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates to electronic devices and
`more particularly to a touch screen input technique for
`allowing a user input to an electronic device having a touch 20
`screen.
`Advances in technology have resulted in smaller and
`more sophisticated electronic devices becoming available.
`These devices, such as portable communication devices,
`allow a user wireless access to communication networks,
`thereby enabling both Internet access and two-way e-mail
`communication.
`As the size of these communication devices decreases and
`as the number of functions increases, it has become increas(cid:173)
`ingly important for a user to be able to enter commands and
`information into the communication device in an efficient
`manner. With a reduction in size of the device, a keypad
`input device must also be reduced in size, thereby decreasing
`the efficiency with which information can be inputted by
`reducing the number and size of the keys. Furthermore, with
`a reduction in size of the device, the display size must also
`be reduced. Still furthermore, the use of a mouse with such
`devices is usually not possible since a mouse requires a fiat
`clean surface to be properly used.
`The use of a touch screen input device that serves both as
`a display and as an input device for the communication
`device allows a larger display in that a large keypad is no
`longer required since many of the functions have been taken
`over by the use of the display screen as an input device. A
`user enters information and data by touching the display
`screen at specific points.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,022 to Salvador et al. is directed to a
`method an apparatus for determining the coordinates of a
`contact point on a resistive type semi -analog sensitive 50
`surface. The coordinates are of a zone of contact of a
`conductive object, such as a finger, on a sensitive surface
`consisting of an insulating support having a grate formed by
`two terminals between which a certain number of emitting
`resistant strips are connected in parallel and having detecting
`conductive strips placed between the resistant strips. This
`patent merely discloses one of many techniques for deter(cid:173)
`mining the location of the zone of contact on a touch
`sensitive screen.
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,079 to Hube et al. is directed to a
`touch screen user interface with expanding touch locations
`for a reprographic machine. The interface allows the expan(cid:173)
`sion of the area for selection on the touch screen so as to
`improve the accuracy of selection thereof.
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,857 to Lee et al. is directed to a 65
`remote control device having a touch screen allowing user
`input via the touch screen.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The foregoing and a better understanding of the present
`invention will become apparent from the following detailed
`description of example embodiments and the claims when
`read in connection with the accompanying drawings, all
`55 forming a part of the disclosure of this invention. While the
`foregoing and following written and illustrated disclosure
`focuses on disclosing example embodiments of the
`invention, it should be understood that the same is by way
`of illustration and example only and the invention is not
`60 limited thereto. The spirit and scope of the present invention
`are limited only by the terms of the appended claims.
`The following represents brief descriptions of the
`drawings, wherein:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example communication
`network having mobile terminals that are capable of com(cid:173)
`municating with a mobile display appliance (MDA) system
`having an MDA server with related services;
`
`APPLE INC.
`EXHIBIT 1103 - PAGE 9
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`US 6,590,568 Bl
`
`3
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MDAserver of the MDA
`system of the network of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example of a mobile
`terminal that may operate with the MDA system of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process for establishing a family
`session and a private session between the mobile terminal of
`FIG. 3 and the MDA server of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a process for establishing a
`communication link between the mobile terminal of FIG. 3
`and the MDA server; and
`FIGS. 6a-6d are illustrations of a technique utilizing
`touch screen inputs for dragging and dropping objects
`displayed on the touch screen according to an embodiment
`of the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`Before beginning a detailed description of the subject
`invention, mention of the following is in order. When
`appropriate, like reference numerals and characters may be
`used to designate identical, corresponding, or similar com(cid:173)
`ponents in differing drawing figures. Furthermore, in the
`detailed description to follow, example sizes/models/values/
`ranges may be given, although the present invention is not
`limited thereto. Still furthermore, any clock signals and
`timing signals that are set forth are exemplary, and critical
`time values are mentioned when appropriate. As a final note,
`well-known components have not been shown within the
`drawing figures for simplicity of illustration and discussion
`and so as not to obscure the present invention.
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example communication
`network having mobile terminals that are capable of com(cid:173)
`municating with a mobile display appliance (MDA) system
`having an MDA server with related services. Network 10
`includes terminals 20a-20c, each coupled over a wireless
`interface to an access point 22, for communicating with the
`network and transmitting and retrieving information for a
`user. More specifically, the access point 22 is coupled to an
`Internet Service Provider (ISP) 24, which is coupled to the
`Internet 26. Accordingly, the access point 22 has an Internet
`address relative to the Internet address of the ISP 24. 40
`Additionally, the ISP 24 is coupled to a Mobile Display
`Appliance (MDA) server 28 that provides the users, through
`terminals 20a-20c, with specific services and features,
`which will be discussed herein.
`Terminals 20a-20c each includes a user input and output
`device for allowing a user to access services of the MDA
`server 28. The MDA server 28 provides services, such as
`e-mail, calendar, notes, ability to shop on line, and necessary
`authentication, as well as third-party services and informa(cid:173)
`tion.
`Terminals 20a, 20b, and 20c are coupled to the access
`point 22 via wireless connections 30a, 30b, and 30c, respec(cid:173)
`tively; hence, the user has portable or mobile access to the
`Internet 26 and the services provided by the MDA server 28.
`More specifically, terminals 20a-20c may be coupled to the
`access point 22 using a Wireless Local-Area-Network Gate(cid:173)
`way (WLAN GW) that is installed at a specific location,
`such as the user's premises or location. Although terminals
`20a-20c are shown as being coupled to the MDA server 28
`through the ISP 24, the present invention, as set forth in the 60
`claims, is not limited thereby. Furthermore, in the illustrated
`network of FIG. 1, the ISP 24 is not acting as the MDA
`server 28 and vice versa, even though this is possible. For
`example, terminals 20a-20c may be coupled directly to the
`MDA server 28 through the access point 22.
`Additionally, even though the access point 22 is shown as
`being coupled to the ISP 24 through a landline 32, the
`
`4
`present invention as set forth in the claims is not limited
`thereby. For example, the access point 22 can be wirelessly
`coupled to the ISP 24. Thus, the terminal20 accesses the ISP
`24 through the access point 22, and thus the user can access,
`5 navigate through, and retrieve information from the Internet
`26 using the terminal 20.
`In order for a terminal, such as terminals 20a-20c, to have
`access to the services of the MDA server 28, the MDA server
`28 must authenticate and authorize each terminal's access.
`10 Although only the authentication and authorization steps
`relating to each terminal20a-20c are discussed in detail, the
`teachings set forth herein are also applicable to other ter(cid:173)
`minals. Upon proper authentication of each terminal
`20a-20c, the user can access the services of the MDA server
`15 28 at the authorized level of authentication.
`There are two levels of authentication that provide access
`to the services and information of the MDA server: the
`family level and the private level. The family level is a level
`of authentication that occurs based on the identity of each of
`20 the terminals 20a-20c in order to initiate a family session.
`In order to create a family, at least one terminal is needed,
`but typically there are several terminals that make up a
`family, and each terminal has a unique identity that allows
`the terminal access to a family session at the family level.
`25 Thus, for example, anyone having access to terminal 20a
`could have access to the family level information. The
`family level authentication may be based on the identity of
`the hardware of the terminal20a, and the authentication may
`automatically occur when the unit is powered on. Even
`30 though the authentication at the family level may automati(cid:173)
`cally occur, the present invention, as set forth in the claims,
`is not limited thereby. For example, the terminal 20a could
`request input from the user in order to initiate the family
`level authentication process. Once the terminal20a is autho-
`35 rized to access the services, then each user is able to access
`information and services that are available to all other users
`in the family as well as to initiate a private session to access
`private information and services available only to that user.
`Unlike the family session at the family level, the level of
`authentication for a private session at the private level
`requires input from the user to allow the user of a terminal,
`such as, for example, terminal 20a, access to information
`intended only for that user. For example, the user could use
`any terminal that is within the user's family and then initiate
`45 a private session to access information and services specific
`to that user. The authentication can be done using anything
`that is unique and only known by that user, such as a
`password. Thus, the user can have a private session with a
`secured level of privacy of information and/or services
`50 unique to that user, regardless of which terminal is being
`used. However, as indicated above, anyone having access to
`the terminal 20a would have access to the family level
`information and services, because it is assumed for exem(cid:173)
`plary purposes that authentication is based on the hardware
`55 of the terminal 20a and occurs automatically, and a family
`session is always active when the terminal is on. This allows
`anyone, even an unauthorized user, to access the family level
`services and to perform tasks, and access the Internet
`through the ISP 24 coupled to the access point 22.
`In addition to the ISP 24, the access point 22 is also
`coupled to a business owner 34. The business owner 34
`includes a global address server 36 and a global upgrade
`server 38. The Internet address of the global address server
`36 may be permanently contained in the memories of the
`65 terminals 20. The global address server 36 is a place from
`which all the terminals, such as terminals 20a, 20b, and 20c,
`can fetch the Internet address of their respective MDA
`
`APPLE INC.
`EXHIBIT 1103 - PAGE 10
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`US 6,590,568 Bl
`
`5
`
`10
`
`5
`server. The advantage of having each terminal20a-20c store
`the Internet address of the global address server 36 is that if
`terminals 20a-20c were relocated near another access point,
`then terminals 20a-20c can still obtain the Internet address
`location of the MDA server 28 simply by knowing the
`Internet address of the global address server 36. However,
`the invention as set forth in the claims is not limited thereby.
`For example, the Internet address of the MDA server 28
`could be stored on terminals 20a-20c, and the memories of
`terminals 20a-20c could be updated as needed.
`The user profile and terminal-specific user interface con(cid:173)
`figuration settings, as well as possible software component
`or program updates to server 28, are controlled and effected
`by a configuration tool manager 39 (in FIG. 1) of a man(cid:173)
`agement server 37. Configuration changes may affect server
`28 and/or terminals 20a-20c, and 40.
`An advantage to storing the Internet address of the global
`address server 36 on each terminal 20a-20c is that the
`association between terminal and MDA server as well as
`changes in the Internet address of MDAservers can be easily
`and efficiently appreciated without having to update the
`memory of each terminal. The global update server 38
`updates the global address sever 36 each time there is a
`change in the association between the terminal and the MDA
`server, when there are new terminals to associate with an
`MDA server, or when the Internet address of a particular
`MDA server is changed.
`With the Internet address of the global address server 36
`stored in the memory of the terminal 20, the terminal 20 is
`able to request and retrieve the Internet address of the MDA
`server 28 from the global address sever 36. The global
`address server 36 stores information about the location of
`the MDA server 28 and all other MDA servers in the
`network and the corresponding relation between each ter(cid:173)
`minal and its MDA server, Thus, the terminal 20 is always
`able to obtain the address of the MDA server 28, which is the
`MDA server designed to serve the terminal20. For example,
`the terminal40 coupled through an access point 42 to an ISP
`44 can retrieve the Internet address of the MDA server 28
`from the global address server 36, provided that the MDA
`server 28 is the MDA server designated to serve the terminal
`40 and that the terminal 40 is authenticated by the MDA
`server 28 as an authorized user of the services.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MDAserver of the MDA
`system of the network of FIG. 1. The MDA server 38 may
`include an application server 46, a support server 48, a
`network application server 50, and a directory server 52. It
`will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the referenced
`connections do not depict the physical connections between 50
`the logical elements; the emphasis is merely on the logical
`connections. The support server 48 provides services ori(cid:173)
`ented toward enabling and supporting the services provided
`to the terminal 20. The support server 48 may include an
`upgrade services unit 54, a login services unit 56, a profile 55
`services unit 58, an advertisement services unit 60, an
`administrative services unit 62, and a defined services unit
`64.
`The upgrade services unit 54 is a specific means for
`controlled software upgrade of the software for the support
`server 48. The login services unit 56 provides the means for
`authentication of the user and the terminal 20 that is being
`used to access the services. Additionally, the login services
`unit 56 is also responsible for log -off activities, such as
`private session termination. The profile services unit 58 65
`provides a means for modifying a user's profile information,
`e.g., family and private information and preferences. The
`
`6
`administration services unit 62 provides a means for admin(cid:173)
`istration of the support server 48 and the application server
`46. The advertisement services unit 60 provides a means for
`the MDA server 28 to tailor advertisements to the user and
`the terminal 20 according to the user's profile information.
`The defined services unit 64 is a classification of other
`services containing items like bookmark management
`services, help services, log services, name management
`services, and general management services.
`The administration services unit 62 provides for admin-
`istration of the support server 46 and the application server
`48. The software product updates are transmitted from the
`global upgrade server 38 (as shown in FIG. 1) and its
`configuration tool manager 39 to the upgrade service unit 54
`15 in FIG. 2 and its configuration tool client. The configuration
`tool client is a functional unit that acts when any configu(cid:173)
`ration tool manager 39 (as shown in FIG. 1) of the man(cid:173)
`agement server 37 (as shown in FIG. 1) upgrades any
`software component, fully executable software program, or
`20 reconfigures configuration parameters; application and sys(cid:173)
`tem parameters, as well as user interface-specific parameters
`of the terminal.
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal 20a that
`operates within the MDA system of FIG. 1. Terminals 20b
`25 and 20c may be similar in design. Terminal20a may include
`a touch screen 70 for providing a display, a keyboard 72, a
`browser 74, a driver 76, and hardware 78. The hardware 78
`may include a memory for storing data, such as the Internet
`address of the global address server 36, and the software for
`30 operating the terminal20, such as the browser 74. Hardware
`78 may include a touch screen controller for controlling the
`input process for touch screen 70. As the terminal 20a is
`turned on, the driver 76 retrieves data relating to the Internet
`address of the global address server 36. Once the terminal
`35 20a is turned on, it is coupled to the access point 22 and the
`ISP 24. Thus, the terminal 20a is able to obtain its own
`Internet address. Using the Internet address of its global
`address server, the terminal 20a is coupled to the global
`address server 36 and sends a request in order to obtain the
`40 Internet address of its MDA server. Once the terminal 20a
`has the Internet address of its MDA server, it is then coupled
`to the MDA server 28. The MDA server 28 authenticates,
`using the unique identity of the hardware 78 of the terminal
`20a, that the terminal20a has family level access privileges.
`45 Accordingly, the terminal 20a is authenticated and logged
`onto the MDAserver 28 to begin a family session at a family
`level. Thus, the user can now access services or retrieve
`information from the MDA server 28 or access the Internet
`26. In order for the user to initiate a private session and
`retrieve private information, the user must use the terminal
`20a and provide further authentication to the MD A server 28
`to gain access at the private level. It will be apparent to those
`skilled in the art that at either the family level or the private
`level, the user is able to retrieve information related to the
`family of users as well as browse the Internet 26 to retrieve
`information.
`The browser 74 is a typical browser and may include such
`features as HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP), JAVA
`script, and cascade style sheet capability. As with typical
`60 Personal Computers (PCs), the browser 74 helps the user
`navigate through and retrieve information from the Internet
`once the user is connected to the ISP 24 through the terminal
`20. The user utilizes the terminal 20a to connect to both the
`ISP 24 and the MDA server 28 using authentication protocol
`as discussed in detail herein. The terminal20a is the primary
`means of access by the user to the MDA server 28 and the
`related services and applications. However, the user can also
`
`APPLE INC.
`EXHIBIT 1103 - PAGE 11
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`
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`US 6,590,568 Bl
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`20
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`7
`access the ISP 24 and the MDA server 28 using a PC 20d or
`non-mobile terminal using appropriate family level authen(cid:173)
`tication initiated manually.
`In order to retrieve information or to request services from
`the MDA server 28 or the Internet 26, the user might utilize
`the input touch screen 70. The user can provide input using
`a virtual keyboard displayed on the display 70, using key(cid:173)
`board 72, or through the touch screen input on the touch
`screen 70 utilizing various processes and functions accord(cid:173)
`ing to the embodiments of the invention. Even though the
`virtual keyboard may be used as the user retrieves informa(cid:173)
`tion from the Internet 26, such as a web page, the user can
`receive the information at the display 70 of the terminal 20
`in a full screen format. Full screen format is available
`because the virtual keyboard disappears when the user types
`a Universal Resource Locator (URL) or follows a hyperlink
`while navigating the Internet 26. In order to return to the
`virtual keyboard, the user presses a button 80, and the virtual
`keyboard as well as the header and footer related to the
`services are presented again. Additionally, once the user
`presses the button 80, the web page, which was a full screen
`display prior to pressing the button 80, is reduced to a
`thumbnail view and positioned in the display 70, such as in
`the bottom left corner of the footer. Consequently, the user
`has a shortcut to quickly access the web page that was
`previously visited or to save that web page as a bookmark.
`FIG. 4 illustrates an example of the process of authenti(cid:173)
`cating a terminal at the family level to initiate a family
`session and authenticating the user at the private level to
`initiate a private session. The process of FIG. 4 begins at step
`400. At step 402, it is determined whether the terminal is
`turned on. At step 404, if it is determined that the terminal
`is not turned on, then a communication link cannot be
`established through an access point to the MDA server;
`hence, the process returns to step 402 until the terminal is
`turned on. On the other hand, if the terminal is turned on,
`then the terminal establishes a connection to the access
`point, and hence to an ISP and a global address server. At
`step 408, the terminal obtains the Internet address of its
`MDA server from the global address server.
`At step 410, the terminal communicates with the MDA
`server and is authenticated as an authorized terminal with
`access to information and services at the family level, and
`the family session begins and continues until the terminal is
`turned off, Once the MDA server recognizes the terminal,
`establishing the family session is an automatic background
`activity carried out by the terminal and transparent to the
`user, which is discussed with respect to FIG. 5. In order for
`the user to establish a private session and access private
`information and services, the user has to log in as a private
`user at the private level.
`At step 412, it is determined whether the user is an
`authorized private user. At step 414, if the user is not
`authenticated as a private user, then the user will only be 55
`given access to a family session with the family level
`information and services. On the other hand, at step 416, if
`the user is an authorized private user, then a private session
`is established and the user is allowed access to the private
`information and services. Although the private level infor- 60
`mation and services may be the same for all users, the
`content will vary from user to user.
`At step 418, in the private session the user retrieves
`information and uses the private level services provided by
`the MDA server. At step 420, it is determined whether the 65
`user wants to terminate the private session and return to the
`family level. If it is determined that the user does not want
`
`8
`to terminate the private session, then the user continues the
`private session at the private level and the process returns to
`step 418. On the other hand, if it is determined that the user
`wants to terminate the private session, then at step 422, the
`5 private session is terminated and the user goes f