(12) United States Patent
`Weeren et al.
`
`USOO65O1956B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 6,501,956 B1
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Dec. 31, 2002
`
`(54) PROVIDING BLENDED INTERFACE FOR
`WIRELESS INFORMATION SERVICES
`
`(75) Inventors: Eric Weeren, Plano, TX (US); Mike
`Watson, Frisco, TX (US); Daren
`Wilson, McKinney, TX (US)
`(73) Assignee: InterVoice Limited Partnership,
`Dallas, TX (US)
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/690,775
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Oct. 17, 2000
`(Under 37 CFR 1.47)
`
`(51) Int. Cl. ................................................. H04M 3700
`(52) U.S. Cl. ........................................ 455/463; 455/414
`(58) Field of Search ................................. 455/414, 418,
`455/466,563, 566; 370/349,389
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,732.216 A * 3/1998 Logan et al. ............... 704/201
`6,128,482 A * 10/2000 Nixon et al. ................ 379/354
`6,167.255 A * 12/2000 Kennedy et al. ............ 455/404
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner Thanh Cong Le
`ASSistant Examiner Nick Corsaro
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`The inventive System provides a user interface between a
`wireleSS communication device and an information Service
`provider. The interface allows for a blended presentation of
`information and calling Services for implementing an infor
`mation Service to a user of a wireleSS communication device.
`The user establishes an initial connection with a data net
`work Server to receive a particular Service. The data network
`Server Sends a Set of wireleSS protocol instructions to the
`user's mobile device. Based on these instructions, the
`mobile device will display information to the user which can
`be used to select a particular service. While preferably
`presenting a continuous display to the user, the wireleSS
`protocol instructions initiate a communication connection
`between the mobile device and a voice server with speech
`recognition capabilities. Depending on the Service Selected
`and identification of the user by whatever means, including
`call signals, the Voice will run a particular voice application
`which interacts verbally with the user to perform the desired
`Service allowing the user to control the Service without the
`necessity of entering data or information using the keypad
`on the mobile device. After receiving the necessary input
`data from the user, the Voice application will obtain the
`information responsive to the Service request. The informa
`tion is translated into a wireleSS application protocol and
`sent to the data network server where it is then available to
`be sent to the user's mobile device to complete the Service.
`The communication connection is then terminated after
`which the data network connection will be reestablished to
`facilitate receiving the requested information. The user's
`mobile device can then display the resulting information to
`the user. AS Seen by the user, there is a continuous connec
`tion with the selected service from the initial receipt of the
`wireleSS protocol instructions to the final receipt of the
`requested information. Thus, the user is presented a blended
`data and Voice interface for access to the information Ser
`WCC.
`
`41 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`SERVICE CENTERWRU 22
`
`
`
`MESSSAGE #
`
`VOICE MESSAGE STORAGE UNIT40
`MESSSAGE
`
`1
`
`- THANK YOU FOR CALLING THE WBLOCATORSYSTEM
`
`- PLEASE SPEAK YOUR USERD
`
`- YOUR USERID HAS BEEN DISPLAYED ON YOUR PHONE.
`IF THIS NUMBER IS CORRECT, SAY"YES" NOW
`- WHAT TYPE OF SERVICE DO YOU WEED? (WAITSECONDs
`ORSAY"HELP"TO HEARALIST OF SERVICES OFFERED,
`
`-DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVORIES2
`
`- McDONALDS ISCURRENTY OFFERINGA FREEDRINK TO
`ALL OUR CUSOMERS.
`
`- YOU MAYSAY"INDEX"FORALIST OFFAST FOOD
`RESTAURANTS IN YOURAREA
`
`- THANK YOU. IAMLOADING THE RESULTS TO YOUR WAPSE.
`GOODBYE.
`
`Comcast, Ex. 1025
`
`1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 31, 2002
`
`Sheet 1 of 7
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`US 6,501,956 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 31, 2002
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`Sheet 2 of 7
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 31, 2002
`
`Sheet 3 of 7
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`US 6,501,956 B1
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`FIG. 3
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`USERACCESSES WML CARD THRU
`IPCONNECTION TO SELECTSERVICE
`
`WML CARD INITIATESTELEPHONY CALL TO
`SERVICE CENTERWRUAND
`SUSPENDS IPCONNECTION
`
`SERVICE CENIER WRU DETERMINES
`USERIDENTIFICATION
`
`SERVICE CENTERWRU DETERMINES
`DESIRED FUNCTION
`
`SERVICE CENTER WRU INTERACTS WITH USER
`USINGAUTOMATICSPEECH RECOGNITION
`
`SERVICE CENIER WRU EXECUTES
`FUNCTION USING USER PROVIDED DATA
`
`SERVICE CENTERWRUPLACES
`RESULTS IN DATA STORE
`
`SERVICE CENTER WRU. ENDS
`TELEPHONY CALL
`
`TRANSLATION AND FORWARD TODATA
`NETWORKSERVER
`
`PHONE REWERTS TO LASTWML CARD WITH
`NEW OPTION TO RETRIEVERESULTS
`
`USERACTIVATES RETRIEVERESULTS OPTION
`WHICHREESTABLISHESIPCONNECTION
`TO GET RESULTS FROM DATA STORE
`
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`PHONE DISPLAY'S RESULTS ON THE SCREEN
`
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`4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 31, 2002
`
`Sheet 4 of 7
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`US 6,501,956 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 31, 2002
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`Sheet 5 of 7
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`Dec. 31, 2002
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`Dec. 31, 2002
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`

`1
`PROVIDING BLENDED INTERFACE FOR
`WIRELESS INFORMATION SERVICES
`
`US 6,501,956 B1
`
`15
`
`2
`(IP), extensible markup language (XML), hypertext markup
`language (HTML), Scripting formats and others, which
`allow access to the Internet information relatively indepen
`dent from a particular platform, creates a problem for mobile
`communication device users. With the memory, power, and
`input/output limitations inherent in the Small mobile com
`munication devices, it becomes increasingly difficult to take
`advantage of the current digital networking and Internet
`Standards.
`In response to this limitation, the industry has developed
`resource conservative alternatives to the current Internet and
`information protocols. Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)
`has risen to the top of these conservative alternatives as the
`defacto Standard transport protocol for delivery of wireleSS
`information and telephony Services to wireleSS devices.
`Using WAP, information and resources are generally
`transported in a format which is more appropriate for
`wireless handheld device users. A WAP Gateway typically
`converts web protocols, such as HTTP and TCP/IP, into
`WAP transfer protocol and vice versa. To a limited extent,
`the WAP Gateway may also translate web content into the
`proper, reduced-sized format for display on a Smaller hand
`held device, if it includes the appropriate logic and proceSS
`ing capabilities. Through appropriate use of proxy
`technology, much of the computational functionality is
`accomplished via the WAP Gateway, thus, further eliminat
`ing the need for excessive on-device memory and power.
`The emerging wireleSS application protocols and formats
`(e.g. WML, HDML, see below) generally allow the use of
`Soft keys (keys which have multiple functions dependent on
`the mode or function the handheld devices is operating in)
`for enabling users to make menu Selections, Scroll through
`multiple screens or “cards,” as they are referred to in WML.
`The availability of an alphanumeric keypad on most hand
`held devices allows for entry of standard text or numeric
`information either with dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) or
`other data Signal criteria. Therefore, the presentation of the
`information is tailored to fit within the Space confines and
`interactivity limits of a handheld device interface.
`In addition to the WAP-styled technology, small-scaled
`web browsers are normally used to navigate through the
`information while presenting a familiar interface to the user.
`These Small-Scaled browsers, called mini-browsers, are typi
`cally designed to render mark-up languages designed spe
`cifically for the memory, input/output and bandwidth limi
`tations of mobile handheld devices communicating over a
`wireleSS network. Two of the more prevalent languages,
`Handheld Device Markup Language (HDML) and Wireless
`Markup Language (WML) allow navigation similar to the
`Standard HTML and use a tag-based language Set defined as
`an XML document type. These wireleSS mark-up languages
`typically conserve memory resources by converting much of
`the overhead necessary for navigation into Smaller machine
`code orbinary representations. WML or HDML applications
`can be written using existing HTML and XML development
`environments.
`Although WAP and languages such as, HDML and WML,
`Succeed in presenting a familiar interface compatible with a
`mobile handheld device, the inherent limitations of this
`interface complicates the user's interaction. Entering even a
`Small amount of textual information using a 12-key alpha
`numeric keypad requires a great deal of concentration and
`detailed manipulation for the user. Furthermore, Soft key
`functions must be arranged in Standard locations in order for
`a user to navigate intuitively through "glance and touch”
`activation. In most instances, a user is engaged in multiple
`
`25
`
`BACKGROUND
`The integration of computers and telephony Services has
`grown tremendously over the last decade. Rapidly advanc
`ing technology in combination with decreasing equipment
`costs have spurred the computer-telephony integration (CTI)
`industry to new heights. Because of these advancements,
`telephone Service providers are now generally able to offer
`more complex calling Services to a wider population and at
`a lower cost than previously available.
`In the evolution of the modem communication network,
`all telephone Services, including So-called "enhanced'
`Services, were previously provided by telephone Switches.
`Every time a new calling Service was developed, the Switch
`had to be re-programmed by the Switch vendor to implement
`that calling Service. Because of the enormous complexity
`and expense of telephone Switches, new calling Services
`were generally delayed until the new Switches were imple
`mented. This proceSS and the enormous costs of Switches
`typically prohibited Smaller telephone Service providers
`from introducing and implementing their own calling Ser
`WCCS.
`In response to this slow progression, the industry devel
`oped a design architecture called Advanced Intelligent Net
`work (AIN). AIN architecture allowed much of the call
`processing and calling Services to be removed from the
`Switches and placed in peripheral computing Systems. The
`AIN architecture uses peripheral computing Systems as
`service control points (SCPs), service nodes (SNs), and
`intelligent peripherals (IPs) to provide call processing and
`calling Services. Telephone Service providers could now
`invest in relatively inexpensive computers with enough
`processing power to provide the enhanced calling Services
`and call processing. This opened the market for calling
`Services to the Smaller telephone Service providers.
`The Internet has also experienced unmatched growth over
`the last decade. A vast array of information and Services is
`now accessible to anyone with an Internet connection.
`Most companies have web sites or web-enabled data
`bases. Services which were previously limited to interactive
`calling implementation, Such as information Services, home
`banking, Stock trading, and retail Sales, have now become a
`mainstay of Internet commerce. Within the last five years,
`advancing technology has allowed Internet Service providers
`(ISPs) to enter the long distance telephony market in com
`petition with traditional telephone service providers. This
`50
`evolutionary Step established the potential for integration of
`the Internet with traditional CTI.
`Recently, in the wireleSS phone industry, Internet content
`has become accessible, in a limited format, over a new
`design of wireleSS phone and wireleSS data terminals, and the
`development of wireless information formats. In addition to
`all of the communication Services available to wireleSS
`phone users, they now enjoy limited access to the Internet
`content over an expanded Visual display on their wireleSS
`phones. While this limited integration has increased the
`Services and information resources available to the public,
`the amount and character of the information and Services
`available is limited by the current technology.
`The availability of Internet-based information and Ser
`vices based upon Standard digital data networking and
`Internet Standards Such as hypertext transfer protocol
`(HTTP), transfer control protocol (TCP), Internet protocol
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`3
`tasks when using a wireleSS device. Such a user will be leSS
`inclined to access a wireleSS information Service if it
`requires too much special, physical attention.
`
`US 6,501,956 B1
`
`4
`application presents or may preferably be automatically
`initiated by the data application either if the information that
`the data application is attempting to present is too complex
`for the communication device display, or the data applica
`tion itself incorporates the Simultaneous use of the Voice
`application to accept and present input or output. Once the
`telecommunication link is established, the data application
`may then be Suspended until the telephony Session
`terminates, or allowed to process as a background task,
`depending on the capabilities of the wireleSS data network
`and handsets as well as the details of the application.
`The VRU can preferably obtain information either from
`the data application, directly from the user using speech
`recognition technology, through data Signals generated by
`the communication device, or from a remote host applica
`tion Server. Using Selected Voice prompts, text-to-speech
`capabilities, and/or pre-recorded messages, the Voice appli
`cation processes and obtains the information desired by the
`user. When the Voice application has obtained the requisite
`data, it preferably places the information into memory
`Storage, informs the caller that the information can be
`retrieved from the data network Server, and Suspends or
`terminates the telecommunication link. Alternatively, the
`Voice application may present Some of the retrieved infor
`mation verbally to the user, if it is not too complex or long.
`Alternatively, the Voice application may interact with the
`user to gather input needed to retrieve the information for the
`user and pass this input back to the data application Server
`for actual information retrieval and presentation. AS the
`telecommunication link is Suspended or terminated, the data
`application is brought back to the foreground, Such as by
`reactivation or redesignation as the active task, to operate
`with the user. Thus a preferred embodiment of the system
`allows for either the data application server or VRU server
`or both to have the ability to access the host application
`SCWC.
`A wireleSS data application generator, which can be a
`WML page generator, an HDML page generator, or Some
`other wireleSS data application language, builds the data
`application information in a format compatible with the
`mobile communication device and wireleSS data network.
`The wireleSS data application generator then forwards the
`information to the data network Server for final transmission
`via the wireleSS data network to the communication device.
`The application information thus Sent to the communication
`device for rendering and user interaction may include both
`application navigation Structures and data retrieval and
`presentation Structures. For typical Situations, there will
`preferably be a single button or command presented to the
`user on the communication device So the user can retrieve
`the information or initiate actions with Single button actua
`tion. Other situations may result in an automatic push of the
`data to the communication device when the data application
`is operating in the foreground.
`After the wireleSS data application generator has for
`warded the application information, Some or all of the
`information may remain in the memory Storage indefinitely.
`An alternative embodiment of the present invention would
`preferably provide the user addressable access to the
`memory Storage for retrieving the information more than the
`one, initial time. Preferably, the user would be able to
`repeatedly access the user-specific memory location to
`review any or all of the currently stored information
`retrieval results. The memory could be configured to retain
`all of the retrieved information until either the user deletes
`it, or the Service provider deletes it according to terms
`negotiated in a Service contract. Alternatively, the informa
`
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`It would, therefore, be advantageous to have a fully
`integrated communication System which may acceSS and
`Supply information Services from the Internet, corporate
`databases, and other electronic information media and also
`provides enhanced interface between the user and the infor
`mation Service. It would also be advantageous to provide a
`Simpler user interface which allows a user to control acceSS
`to information and application functionality using basic
`inherent skills and minimized device manipulation. These
`and other features and technical advantages are achieved by
`a System that allows a blended communication and infor
`mation System which can Supply electronically accessed
`information to mobile devices and also provides a simple,
`intuitive interface between a user and an information Service
`provider. Such mobile devices may include items like wire
`leSS telephones, handheld computing devices, pagers, and
`other electronic equipment which include a display,
`memory, processing capability, and Some form of user
`interface for receiving user input.
`The System provides a wireleSS information Service inter
`face for use between a communication device and an infor
`mation Service provider comprising a first Server and a
`Second Server. In the preferred embodiment of the present
`invention described in this application, the first Server would
`be a communication Server with a data network connection
`wherein the Server enables communication with the wireleSS
`data networking features of the communication device. The
`Second Server would preferably include a Voice response
`unit (VRU) with a telecommunication connection and one or
`more voice applications, wherein the VRU provides voice
`prompts and/or audio information to the communication
`device over its telephony interface (via the PSTN). The VRU
`preferably has speech recognition capabilities allowing
`users to respond Verbally to voice prompts created by any
`one or more of the Voice applications.
`According to a preferred embodiment of the present
`invention, the interface may include a data network Server
`capable of providing information compatible with the com
`munication device. The data network Server preferably
`45
`includes one or more data applications accessible by the
`communication device, wherein the data applications may
`provide visual information to the communication device,
`and are capable of automatically initiating a telecommuni
`cation connection between the communication device and
`the VRU. Once Such a telecommunication connection is
`established, the VRU may selectively run one or more of the
`Voice applications based on information provided to the
`VRU by the data application, the user, or a remote host
`application server in communication with the VRU or data
`network Server.
`In operation according to a preferred embodiment, a user
`will access one or more of the data applications via the data
`network Server. The data application will then generally Send
`a set of compatible instructions for controlling the applica
`tion which are Stored in a memory on the communication
`device. The application then preferably initiates a telecom
`munication link with the VRU sending data which allows the
`VRU to selectively activate one or more of the voice
`applications. It should be noted that the data application's
`initiation of the telecommunication link may preferably be
`prompted by the user responding to an action that the data
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`tion may be deleted when Subsequent activity by the user
`Stores new information.
`It should be noted that the preferred embodiment of the
`present invention is not limited Solely to wireleSS commu
`nication devices. A conventional wireline telephone could
`also benefit from the services and interface disclosed by the
`preferred embodiment. In order to implement the preferred
`embodiment of the present invention, a wireline phone
`would typically have a visual display either built directly
`into the unit or as a Supplemental display unit and Some
`degree of memory capability. Such a telephone would gen
`erally also have processing capabilities to operate functions,
`programs, and instructions written in a wireleSS application
`protocol. In the use of this alternative embodiment, a desk
`phone could be connected to the Internet or other data
`network which could provide access to phone directories,
`locator Services, retail Services, or other information Services
`available to the wireleSS communication device user.
`Alternatively, a Standard data network acceSS terminal Such
`as a PC with internet access connectivity and browser
`Software further enhanced with a voice telephony capability
`could also be used for the same purpose.
`The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and
`technical advantages of the present invention in order that
`the detailed description of the invention that follows may be
`better understood. Additional features and advantages of the
`invention will be described hereinafter which form the
`subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appre
`ciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and
`Specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a
`basis for modifying or designing other Structures for carry
`ing out the same purposes of the present invention. It should
`also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equiva
`lent constructions do not depart from the Spirit and Scope of
`the invention as Set forth in the appended claims.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`For a more complete understanding of the present
`invention, reference is now made to the following descrip
`tions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing,
`in which:
`FIG. 1A is a block diagram representing the prior art
`interface and information Services provided to mobile com
`munication terminals using Short messaging Service;
`45
`FIG. 1B is a block diagram representing the prior art
`interface and information Services provided to mobile com
`munication terminals using wireleSS compatible formats,
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram representing the Service and
`interface configuration of a preferred embodiment of the
`inventive System;
`FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the steps executed by a
`preferred embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 4A is a flow diagram showing the Steps executed by
`a preferred embodiment of the present invention executing
`a typical application which includes typical corresponding
`user interface displayS,
`FIG. 4B is a diagram showing the Sequence of Voice
`messages played which correspond to the preferred embodi
`ment of FIG. 4A;
`FIG. 5A is another flow diagram showing the steps
`executed by a preferred embodiment of the present invention
`executing another typical application which includes typical
`corresponding user interface displays, and
`FIG. 5B is a diagram showing the Sequence of Voice
`messages played which correspond to the preferred embodi
`ment of FIG. 5A.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT
`INVENTION
`A preferred embodiment of the inventive system allows a
`blended communication and information System which can
`Supply electronically-accessed information to mobile
`devices and also provides a simple, intuitive interface
`between a user and an information Service provider. In order
`to appreciate the novelty of this preferred embodiment of the
`present invention, it is helpful to review the current State of
`the art with regard to providing information and telecom
`munication Services.
`In its earliest forms, provision of information to mobile
`devices generally comprised use of the short messaging
`service (SMS) which transports messages of up to 160
`characters in length over the paging Services of the Global
`System for Mobile Communications (GSM) or other current
`wireleSS System technology. FIG. 1A Shows the basic opera
`tion of such information services provided over an SMS
`System. In one embodiment, the user typically signs up in
`advance for a messaging Service to receive Some kind of
`information at regular or deterministic intervals, Such as a
`news headline Service. Service Application Server 12 may
`execute any one or a number of applications 13-1 through
`13-N to retrieve the news headlines. Service Application
`Server 12 then would normally forward the news headlines
`through connection 102 to SMS Center 11. SMS Center 11
`usually converts the news headlines into a message less than
`160 characters in length and then sends the message at a
`predetermined time to mobile device 1000 in Cellular/
`Wireless System 10 through connection 101 with Cellular/
`Wireless Server 100 and connection 103 between Cellular/
`Wireless Server 100 and mobile device 1000. The SMS
`System typically provides a one-way information route. The
`user must typically sign up in advance for the particular
`desired service and cannot interact with SMS Center 11
`through mobile device 1000. Such SMS systems are cur
`rently in use by wireleSS communication providers.
`In a separate embodiment of the SMS system, a user may
`typically call a specific number designated for the informa
`tion Service and then hang up. Service Application Server
`12, takes either the user's ANI or DNIS signal and deter
`mines which Service the user is calling for. In this
`embodiment, even though the user can trigger the delivery
`of the information, the level of interaction is negligible.
`In the more recent embodiment of mobile information
`services, WAP-based systems have increased the amount of
`information transmittable and the interactivity between the
`user and the information service. FIG. 1B shows the basic
`functionality of the prior art WAPbased systems. In one
`embodiment, a user typically Subscribes to an information
`service offered over the public Internet 15 through Cellular/
`Wireless System 10. The user's mobile device 1000 would
`generally contain a mini-browser that interprets a wireleSS
`device compatible language, such as WML or HDML. At
`anytime, the user may access the Subscribed information
`service through mobile device 1000. Mobile device 1000
`establishes a connection with Cellular/Wireless Server 100
`through link 103. The signal from mobile device 1000
`usually indicates the user's request to access a WAP-based
`service. Cellular/Wireless Server 100 may initialize a con
`nection with WAP Gateway 14 over link 104. Based upon
`the address entered by the user on the mobile device 1000 of
`the desired information Service, typically Specified as a
`uniform resource locator (URL), WAP Gateway 14 would
`forward the user request via link 105 to Internet 15, after
`converting the request from the wireless data protocol (Such
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`US 6,501,956 B1
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`as WAP) to HTTP over TCP/IP. Internet 15 would route the
`request to the HTTP Server 16 over link 106 based upon the
`URL. HTTP Server 16 would then interact over link 107
`with Wireless Data Application Generator 17 to retrieve the
`response to the Specified user request. This response then
`would be sent over the reverse path ultimately arriving at
`mobile device 1000 and being rendered by the mini-browser
`contained therein. The response from the modified web site
`(HTTP Server 16 and Wireless Data Application Generator
`17), may have been specifically written for WAP-enabled
`devices. If necessary, WAP Gateway 14 may include func
`tionality to translate more prevalent Internet formats Such as
`HTML into wireless application compatible formats such as
`HDML or WML and transmit the informational contents to
`mobile device 1000's visual display using WAP.
`The user may then view or interact with the wireless
`formatted information on his/her visual display Screen using
`available function keys.
`The user generally may navigate through Several “cards,”
`which are display-sized Screens of information correspond
`ing to pages in HTML, using the keys or buttons on mobile
`device 1000. The user may also jump to other wireless
`enabled web sites through displayed WML or HDML hyper
`links using the mobile device keys or buttons. At the
`actuation of a hyperlink, WAP Gateway 14 typically trans
`lates the corresponding Uniform Resource Locator (URL)
`and accesses the associated web site over the Internet. The
`keys or buttons on mobile device 1000 generally offer the
`only interface between the user and the information desired.
`Keys must be actuated to scroll through menus or WML
`cards. Keys must also be actuated to enter textual or numeric
`information. A mobile device user will typically be engaged
`in other activities (i.e., driving, walking, or talking) in
`addition to operating the device, therefore, the attention
`necessary to accurately obtain the desired information can
`be dangerously excessive.
`Because the WML protocol defines telephony function
`ality such as in the WTA, currently accessible WML cards
`may allow for users to initiate telephone calls from a
`selection on the WML card display. In a typical example of
`such an implementation, a vendor's WAP-accessible website
`may have a menu option which dials the vendor's Store.
`Therefore, by making a choice to call the vendor, the WML
`card accesses the telephony functionality of the wireleSS
`network to establish a call between the user's telephone and
`the vendor's store. However, once the call is initiated, the
`telephone typically loses access to the WAP/data network.
`FIG. 2 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present
`invention which allows for a blended, simple interface
`between the user and the information or Services desired. In
`this embodiment, a user typically Subscribes to an enhanced
`info