(12) United States Patent
`Astala et al.
`
`USOO6590568B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 6,590,568 B1
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Jul. 8, 2003
`
`8/2002 Jones et al. ................. 370/313
`8/2002 Moon et al. ................ 345/777
`
`6,430,164 B1
`(54) TOUCH SCREEN DRAG AND DROPINPUT
`6,433,801 B1
`TECHNIQUE
`* cited by examiner
`(75) Inventors: Arto Astala, Vantaa (FI); Tapio
`Primary Examiner Steven Saras
`Mansikkaniemi, Espoo (FI)
`Assistant Examiner Michael J Moyer
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Antonelli, Terry, Stout &
`(73) Assignee: Nokia Corporation, Espoo (FI)
`Kraus, LLP
`(*) Notice:
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 200 days.
`A method of and apparatus for dragging and dropping items
`displayed on a touchscreen. In one embodiment, the item on
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/714,939
`the touch Screen is touched with a pressure greater than a
`first predetermined pressure for a first predetermined period
`(22) Filed:
`Nov. 20, 2000
`(51) Int. Cl." ............................. GoG500 Gogg 50s E" ES.","...I.E.","...S.
`(52) U.S. Cl. ...
`... 34.5/173; 34.5/156,355i
`location at which the touch Screen is touched with a preSSure
`greater than a Second predetermined preSSure for a time
`(58) Field of Search ................................. 34.5/156-179,
`duration greater than a Second predetermined time period. In
`345/799, 856-857
`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
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5.327,161. A
`7/1994 Logan et al. ............... 345/173
`5,463,388 A * 10/1995 Boie et al. ........
`... 34.5/174
`5,673,066 A * 9/1997 Toda et al. .......
`... 34.5/173
`5,825,352 A * 10/1998 Bisset et al. ................ 345/173
`5,880,411 A * 3/1999 Gillespie et al. ......... 178/18.01
`
`24 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
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`FILE
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`728
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`rol DR1 DR2
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`FILE4
`FILE3
`DR3
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`728
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`US 6,590,568 B1
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`CN
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`3. Al
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`U.S. Patent
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`US 6,590,568 B1
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`Jul. 8, 2003
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`Sheet 3 of 7
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`US 6,590,568 B1
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`Sheet 4 of 7
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`FIG. 4
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`400
`
`START
`
`402
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`
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`
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`TEMINAL
`POWER
`ON?
`
`404
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`NO
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`NO COMMUNIC.
`LINKESTAB.
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`YES
`ESTABLISHA COMM.
`LINK WITH ACCESS
`POINT
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`406
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`
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`426
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`GET INTERNET
`ADDRESS OF MDA
`SERVER FROM THE
`GLOBAL ADDRESS SERVER
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`4.08
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`TENESSAB 410
`FAMILY SESSION WITH
`MDA SERVER
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`END
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`NO
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`TERMINAL
`POWER STILL
`ON?
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`TERMINATE 422
`PRIVATE
`SESSION
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`USER
`REQUESTSA
`PRIVATE SESSION
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`LEVEL
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`414
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`FAMILY SESSION
`ACTIVE AND USER
`CAN CONTINUE TO
`RETRIEVE FAMELY
`LEVEL INFO,
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`USER
`REQUESTS
`TERMINATION
`OF PRIVATE
`SESSION
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`AUTHORIZED USERLOGS
`INTO START PRIVATE
`SESSION .
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`6
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`RETRIEVE PRIVATE
`INFO, & SERVICES
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`48
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`Sheet 5 of 7
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`US 6,590,568 B1
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`FIG.5
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`500
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`ESTABLISH COMMUNICATIONLINK
`WITH ACCESS POINT
`
`OBTAIN RELATED INTERNET
`ADDRESS FOR THE TERMINAL
`BASED ON CONNECTION WIACCESS PT.
`
`ESTABLISH COMMUNICATIONLINK
`WITH ISP
`
`RETRIEVE INTERNET ADDRESS
`OF GLOBAL ADD. SERVER
`
`SEND REQUEST TO GLOBAL ADD.
`SERVER
`
`OBTAIN ADDRESS OF THE MDA
`SERVER FROM GLOB. ADD, SERV.
`
`TERMINAL SENDS ITSD
`TO THEMDA SERVER FOR
`AUTHENTICATION
`
`MDA SERVER AUTHENTICATES
`TERMINAL FOR FAMILY LEVEL
`
`502
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`504
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`506
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`508
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`510
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`512
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`514
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`516
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`FAMILY SESSION STARTS
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`518
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`Sheet 6 of 7
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`US 6,590,568 B1
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`O START )
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`700
`
`DETECT
`TOUCH
`INPUT
`
`702
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`START
`TIMER
`
`704
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`READ
`X, Y,Z
`Coo? DNATES
`
`''
`
`DETERMINE
`OBJECT
`
`708
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`DETECT
`
`Z > ZA
`
`DETECT
`
`FOLLOW
`DRAG
`Z>ZB
`
`DETECT
`TOUCH
`INPUT
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`714
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`716
`
`FIG. 6a
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`
`
`
`
`READ
`X, Y, Z
`
`718
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`DETERMINE
`OBJECT
`
`720
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`MOVE OBJECT
`TO
`DESTINATION
`
`722
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`724
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`Sheet 7 of 7
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`US 6,590,568 B1
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`TOUCH SCREEN DRAG AND DROPINPUT
`TECHNIQUE
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`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.
`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.
`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
`SCCC.
`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
`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 flat
`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
`45
`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
`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
`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
`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
`remote control device having a touch Screen allowing user
`input via the touch Screen.
`
`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
`Sure and/or Velocity of a finger or other object contacting the
`touch Screen are detected, the detected values being quan
`tized So as to allow the dragging and dropping of an item
`displayed on the touch Screen.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`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
`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 touchscreen, are detected. In addition,
`the preSSure of the object on the touch Screen may be
`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
`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
`ing the left button on a mouse. On the other hand, pressing
`a Selection point for a Second predetermined period of time
`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
`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
`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.
`
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`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
`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
`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
`municating with a mobile display appliance (MDA) system
`having an MDA server with related services;
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`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MDA server 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
`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
`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.
`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
`45
`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
`tion.
`Terminals 20a, 20b, and 20c are coupled to the access
`point 22 via wireless connections 30a, 30b, and 30c, respec
`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
`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 ISP24, the present invention, as set forth in the
`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
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`present invention as Set forth in the claims is not limited
`thereby. For example, the acceSS point 22 can be wirelessly
`coupled to the ISP24. Thus, the terminal 20 accesses the ISP
`24 through the access point 22, and thus the user can access,
`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 terminals access.
`Although only the authentication and authorization Steps
`relating to each terminal 20a-20c are discussed in detail, the
`teachings Set forth herein are also applicable to other ter
`minals. Upon proper authentication of each terminal
`20a-20c, the user can access the services of the MDA server
`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
`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.
`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 terminal 20a, and the authentication may
`automatically occur when the unit is powered on. Even
`though the authentication at the family level may automati
`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 terminal 20a is autho
`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
`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
`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
`plary purposes that authentication is based on the hardware
`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 ISP24 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
`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
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`server. The advantage of having each terminal 20a-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
`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
`agement Server 37. Configuration changes may affect Server
`15
`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 MDA servers 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
`25
`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
`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 terminal 20. For example,
`the terminal 40 coupled through an access point 42 to an ISP
`44 can retrieve the Internet address of the MDA server 28
`40
`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 MDA server of the MDA
`45
`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
`the logical elements, the emphasis is merely on the logical
`connections. The Support Server 48 provides Services ori
`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
`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
`provides a means for modifying a user's profile information,
`e.g., family and private information and preferences. The
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`administration Services unit 62 provides a means for admin
`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
`in FIG. 2 and its configuration tool client. The configuration
`tool client is a functional unit that acts when any configu
`ration tool manager 39 (as shown in FIG. 1) of the man
`agement Server 37 (as shown in FIG. 1) upgrades any
`Software component, fully executable Software program, or
`reconfigures configuration parameters, application and Sys
`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
`and 20c may be similar in design. Terminal 20a 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
`operating the terminal 20, 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
`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
`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 terminal 20a has family level access privileges.
`Accordingly, the terminal 20a is authenticated and logged
`onto the MDA server 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 MDA 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
`Personal Computers (PCs), the browser 74 helps the user
`navigate through and retrieve information from the Internet
`once the user is connected to the ISP24 through the terminal
`20. The user utilizes the terminal 20a to connect to both the
`ISP24 and the MDA server 28 using authentication protocol
`as discussed in detail herein. The terminal 20a 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
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`APPL-1018
`APPLE INC. / Page 11 of 14
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`US 6,590,568 B1
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`15
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`access the ISP24 and the MDA server 28 using a PC 20d or
`non-mobile terminal using appropriate family level authen
`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
`board 72, or through the touch Screen input on the touch
`Screen 70 utilizing various processes and functions accord
`ing to the embodiments of the invention. Even though the
`Virtual keyboard may be used as the user retrieves informa
`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
`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
`40
`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
`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
`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
`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
`private Session is terminated and the user goes from the
`private level to the family level. At step 424, it is determined
`whether the terminal is still turned on. If the terminal is
`turned on, then the process returns to Step 412, with the user
`at the family level in a family session. Otherwise, if the
`terminal is turned off, then the family Session is also
`terminated, and the terminal is logged off the MDA server,
`and the process ends at Step 426.
`Thus, once the MDA server authenticates the terminal,
`then a family Session begins at the family level; once the
`user is recognized as a private user, then a private Session is
`initiated. Consequently, a private Session remains in effect
`until the user explicitly terminates the private Session,
`whereas a family Session remains in effect until the terminal
`is turned off. Other features can be included, Such as
`termination of the private Session if no input is received from
`the user after a predeter