a2) United States Patent
`US 6,590,568 B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`
` Astala et al. (45) Date of Patent: Jul. 8, 2003
`
`
`US006590568B1
`
`8/2002 Jones et al. 370/313
`8/2002 Moonet al. cece 345/777
`
`6,430,164 B1 *
`6,433,801 B1 *
`cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner—Steven Saras
`Assistant Examiner—Michael J Moyer
`(74) Alttorney, Agent, or Firm—Antonelli, Terry, Stout &
`Kraus, LLP
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Amethod 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
`em"draggedwiththeredhcedpressieeto4 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
`
`(75)
`
`(54) TOUCH SCREEN DRAG AND DROP INPUT
`TECHNIQUE
`Inventors: Arto Astala, Vantaa (FI); Tapio
`Mansikkaniemi, Espoo(FT)
`:
`:
`:
`.
`(73) Assignee: Nokia Corporation, Espoo (FI)
`(*) Notice:
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`US.C. 154(b) by 200 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/714,939
`;
`Filed:
`Noy. 20, 2000
`(22)
`Inte C1? neers GO9G 5/00; GO9G 5/08
`(51)
`(52) US. Che oerreeereerrees 345/173; 345/6RRO'
`:
`,
`(58) Field of Search 0.0.0.0...ecco 345/156-179,
`345/799, 856-857
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`Logan et al... 345/173
`Boie et al.
`.....
`. 345/174
`Toda et al.
`....
`... 345/173
`Bisset et al. we. 345/173
`Gillespie et al.
`......... 178/18.01
`
`
`
`7/1994
`10/1995
`9/1997
`10/1998
`3/1999
`
`*t***
`
`5,327,161 A
`5,463,388 A
`5,673,066 A
`5,825,352 A
`5,880,411 A
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`Valve Exhibit 1005
`Valve Exhibit 1005
`Valve v. Immersion
`Valve v. Immersion
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 8, 2003
`
`Sheet 1 of 7
`
`US6,590,568 B1
`
`42
`
`40ay
`D|_}*
`
`AP
`
`34
`
`
`
`BUS.OWNER
`
`36
`
`38
`
`22
`
`|F+_|Co
`
`2
`3
`
`MDASERVER
`30b a
`bo}LH/30c
`FIG.1
`
`30a
`
`20a
`
`20b
`
`4
`
`28
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 8, 2003
`
`Sheet 2 of 7
`
`US6,590,568 B1
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 8, 2003
`
`Sheet 3 of 7
`
`US 6,590,568 B1
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 8, 2003
`
`Sheet 4 of 7
`
`US 6,590,568 B1
`
`FIG. 4
`
`400
`
`ts
`
`402
`
` TEMINAL
`
`POWER
`ON?
`
`
`
`
`NO COMMUNIC.
`
`NO
`
`LINK ESTAB.
`
`YES
`
`ESTABLISH A COMM.
`LINK WITH ACCESS
`POINT
`
`406
`
`426
`
`END
`
`GLOBAL ADDRESS SERVER NO
`
`GET INTERNET
`ADDRESS OF MDA
`SERVER FROM THE
`
`
`
`
`
`TERMINALANGESTAB
`TERMINAL
`
`
`
`POWER STILL
`FAMILY SESSION WITH
`ONS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`#10
`
`TERMINATE]
`PRIVATE
`SESSION
`
`422
`
`414
`
`USER
`
`REQUESTS A
`ACTIVE AND USER
`CAN CONTINUE TO
`RETRIEVE FAMILY
`LEVEL INFO.
`
`MDA SERVER
`FAMILY SESSION
`
`
`
`AUTHORIZED USER LOGS|416
`INTO START PRIVATE
`
`
`USER
`SESSION
`
`REQUESTS
`
`NO
`
`TERMINATION
`
`OF PRIVATE
`
`
`SESSION
`
`
`
`
`RETRIEVE PRIVATE
`INFO. & SERVICES
`
`418
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 8, 2003
`
`Sheet 5 of 7
`
`US 6,590,568 B1
`
`FIG.S
`
`500
`
`ESTABLISH COMMUNICATION LINK
`WITH ACCESS POINT
`
`OBTAIN RELATED INTERNET
`ADDRESS FOR THE TERMINAL
`BASED ON CONNECTION W/ ACCESSPT.
`
`ESTABLISH COMMUNICATION LINK
`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 SENDSITS ID
`TO THE MDA SERVER FOR
`AUTHENTICATION
`
`MDA SERVER AUTHENTICATES
`TERMINAL FOR FAMILY LEVEL
`
`FAMILY SESSION STARTS
`
`902
`
`504
`
`906
`
`508
`
`910
`
`o12
`
`514
`
`516
`
`518
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 8, 2003
`
`Sheet 6 of 7
`
`US 6,590,568 B1
`
`FIG. 6a
`
`INPUT
`
`DETECT
`TOUCH
`
`START
`TIMER
`
`702
`
`704
`
` READ
`
`
`
`XYZ
`coorpINATes|/°
`708
`
`Zi > ZA
`Z2-Z1>Az
`DESTINATION
`INPUT
`
`READ
`X, Y,Z
`COORDINATES
`
`718
`
`DETERMINE
`OBJECT
`
`720
`
`MOVEOBJECT
`
`722
`
`724
`
`DETERMINE
`OBJECT
`
`DETECT
`ty >tA
`
`DETECT
`ty-ty>At
`
`772
`
`FOLLOW
`DRAG
`z>7ZB
`
`DETECT
`TOUCH
`
`716
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 8, 2003
`
`Sheet 7 of 7
`
`US 6,590,568 B1
`
`FIG. 6b
`
`
`
` FILE4
`FILE3
`DIR 3
`
`DIR1
`
`DIR2
`
`FILE 2
`
`DIR3
`
`DIR4
`
`FILE1
`
`FILE2
`
`DIR3
`
`DIR4
`
`FILE4
`FILES.
`DIR 3
`
`FIG. 6d
`
`DIR 1
`
`DIR 2
`
`
`
`DIR 3
`
`DIR 4
`
` FILE4
`FILE3
`DIR 3
`
`

`

`US 6,590,568 B1
`
`1
`TOUCH SCREEN DRAG AND DROP INPUT
`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
`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 numberof 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 mustalso be reduced in size, thereby decreasing
`the efficiency with which information can be inputted by
`reducing the numberandsize 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
`devicesis usually not possible since a mouse requiresa 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 manyof 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.
`US. Pat. No. 4,700,022 to Salvadoretal. 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 arc 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.
`
`is directed to a
`US. Pat. No. 5,119,079 to Hube et al.
`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 sclection thercof.
`US. 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.
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`While eachof 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,
`SUMMARYOF 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 displayscreen, 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
`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 phaseactive 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 ume
`whichis 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 onthe 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 droppingthe selected first
`item on the second item.
`
`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 MDAserver with related services;
`
`

`

`US 6,590,568 B1
`
`3
`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 opcrate with the MDAsystem ofFIG. 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 MDAserver 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 MDAserver; 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 maybe given, although the present invention is not
`limited thereto. Still furthermore, any clock signals and
`timing signals that are set forth are exemplary, andcritical
`time values are mentioned whenappropriate. 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 MDAserver 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)server28 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 MDAserver 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 server28.
`Morespecifically, 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 MDAserver 28
`through the ISP 24, the present invention, as set forth in the
`claims, is not limited thereby. ['urthermore, 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
`cxample, terminals 20a—20c may be coupled directly to the
`MDAserver 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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`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 terminal 20 accesses the ISP
`24 through the access point 22, and thus the user can access,
`navigate through, and retrieve information fromthe 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 MDAscrver
`28 must authenticate and authorize each terminal’s access.
`
`Although only the authentication and authorization steps
`relating to each terminal 20a—20care discussedin detail, the
`teachings set forth herein are also applicable to otherter-
`minals. Upon proper authentication of each terminal
`20a—20c, the user can accessthe 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 [amily 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 uscr 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 asto 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 ta allow the user of a terminal,
`such as, for example, terminal 20a, acccss to information
`intended only for that user. For example, the user could use
`anyterminal 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 bythat 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 20@ and occurs automatically, and a family
`session is always active whenthe terminalis 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
`terminals 20. The global address server 36 is a place from
`whichall the terminals, such as terminals 20a, 20b, and 20c,
`can fetch the Internet address of their respective MDA
`
`

`

`US 6,590,568 B1
`
`5
`server. The advantage of having each terminal 20a—20cstore
`the Internet address of the global address server 36 is thatif
`terminals 20a—20c were relocated near another access point,
`then terminals 20a—20c canstill 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 claimsis 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-
`agementserver 37. Configuration changes mayaffect 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 MDAserver as well as
`changes in the Internet address of MDA servers can beeasily
`and cfficiently 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
`changein the association between the terminal and the MDA
`server, when there are new terminals to associate with an
`MDAserver, or when the Internet address of a particular
`MDAserveris 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 MDAservers in the
`network and the corresponding relation between each ter-
`minal and its MDAserver, Thus, the terminal 20 is always
`able to obtain the address of the MDA server 28, which is the
`MDAserver designedto 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 MDAserver 28
`
`from the global address server 36, provided that the MDA
`server 28 is the MDAserverdesignated 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
`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 inthe 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 meansfor
`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 meansfor modifying a user’s profile information,
`e.g., family and private information and preferences. The
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`6
`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 meansfor
`the MDAserver 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 managementservices.
`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 andits 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 maybe similar in design. Terminal 20a mayinclude
`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 memoryfor 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 MDAserver. Once the terminal 20a
`
`has the Internet address of its MDAserver,it is then coupled
`to the MDAserver 28. The MDAscrver 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 MDAserver 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 MDAserver 28
`to gain accessat 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 74is 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
`oncethe 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 terminal 20a is the primary
`meansof access by the user to the MDA server 28 and the
`related services and applications. However, the user can also
`
`

`

`US 6,590,568 B1
`
`7
`access the ISP 24 and the MDA server 28 using a PC 20d or
`non-mobile terminal using appropriate family level authen-
`tication initiated manually.
`In orderto retrieve informationor to request services from
`the MDA server28 orthe 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 whenthe user types
`a Universal Resource Locator (URL)or followsa hyperlink
`while navigating the Internet 26. In order to return to the
`virtual keyboard,the user presses a button 80, andthe 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 wasa 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 beginsat 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
`MDAserver 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 MDAserver 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 uscr, 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 MDAserver. 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
`
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`to terminate the private session, then the user continues the
`private session at the private level and the processreturns 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 remainsin effect until the terminal
`is turned off. Other features can be included, such as
`termination ofthe private session if no inputis received from
`the user after a predetermined period of time.
`FIG. 5 illustrates an example of the process of establish-
`ing a communication link to an access point, step 406 of
`L1G. 4, and obtaining the Internet address of an MDA server
`for that terminal, step 408 of FIG. 4. Initiating a family
`session at the family level begins at step 500. At stop 502,
`the terminal establishes a communication link with the
`
`access point. At step 504, the terminal obtains its Internet
`address from the access point based on the Internet address
`of the access point with which the terminal has established
`the communication link. At step 506,
`the terminal estab-
`lishes a communication link with the ISP coupled to the
`access point. At step 508, the terminal retrieves the Internet
`address of the global address server from its memory. At step
`510, the terminal sends a request to the global address server
`for the Internet address of the MDAserverthat is associated
`
`the global address server
`with the terminal. At step 512,
`returns the Internet address of the appropriate MDAserver
`to the terminal.