as United States
`a2) Patent Application Publication co) Pub. No.: US 2004/0024846 A1
`
` Randallet al. (43) Pub. Date: Feb. 5, 2004
`
`
`US 20040024846A1
`
`(54) METHOD OF ENABLING A WIRELESS
`INFORMATION DEVICE TO ACCESS DATA
`SERVICES
`
`(76)
`
`Inventors: Stephen Randall, London (GB); John
`Matthew Forsyth, London (GB)
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Aug. 22, 2000
`May 2, 2001
`
`(GB) sessscscsssstssissssassesctne 0020735.7
`(GB) cissscscccssscsssvevsssnseten 0110780.4
`
`Publication Classification
`
`Correspondence Address:
`Richard C Woodbridge
`Woodbridge & Associates
`P O Box 592
`Princeton, NJ 08542-0592 (US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`10/362,109
`
`(22)
`
`PCTFiled:
`
`Aug. 22, 2001
`
`(86) PCT No.:
`
`PCT/GBO01/03788
`
`(51) Unt, C7 oncccssssseetsetnsecevee GO6F 15/16
`(52) US. Che
`cosccsssssstsssssistsssessetnesssasntneses 709/219
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A method of enabling a wireless information device to
`access data from several data services providers in which the
`method comprises the step of the device using an extensible
`framework which handles data passing to and from several
`applications resident on the device, the framework being
`shared by eachof the applications resident on the device and
`also being shared by each of the data services providers.
`
`i
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`Google v. Mullen
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Feb. 5, 2004 Sheet 1 of 6
`
`US 2004/0024846 Al
`
`Figure 1
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`Calendar Pwork
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`Radar Pwork
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication
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`Feb. 5, 2004 Sheet 2 of 6
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`US 2004/0024846 A1
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`Figure 3
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication
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`Feb. 5, 2004 Sheet 3 of 6
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`US 2004/0024846 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Feb. 5, 2004 Sheet 4 of 6
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`US 2004/0024846 Al
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Feb. 5, 2004 Sheet 5 of 6
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`US 2004/0024846 Al
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`

`Patent Application Publication
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`Feb. 5, 2004 Sheet 6 of 6
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`US 2004/0024846 A1
`
`Bobcalls Alice from
`contacts database
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`Correct
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`Number
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`Call put through
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`Access
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`:
`
`

`

`US 2004/0024846 Al
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`Feb. 5, 2004
`
`METHOD OF ENABLING A WIRELESS
`INFORMATION DEVICE TO ACCESS DATA
`SERVICES
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`(0001]
`[0002] This invention relates to a method of enabling a
`wireless information device to access data services, particu-
`larly from several data services providers. The term ‘wire-
`less information device’ used in this patent specification
`should be expansively construed to cover any kind of device
`with one or two way wireless information capabilities and
`includes without limitation radio telephones, smart phones,
`communicators, personal computers, computers and appli-
`cation specific devices. It includes devices able to commu-
`nicate in any mannerover any kind of network, such as GSM
`or UMTS, CDMA and WCDMA mobile radio, Bluetooth,
`IrDA etc. A data service provideris an entity which supplies
`information of intcrest
`to a uscr,
`the term cncompasscs
`commercial entities, as well as individuals.
`[0003]
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`[0004] The convergence of communications and comput-
`ing is delivering a new generation of wireless information
`devices, often referred to as smart phones or communicators.
`The most capable of these devices utilise operating systems
`and related applications such as the Symbian platform from
`Symbian Limited of the United Kingdom. Wireless infor-
`mation devices based on the Symbianplatform, are ‘smarter’
`than current generation GSM phonesin being able to offer
`multiple, advanced, robust client based applications. For
`example, current designs of communicators based on the
`Symbian platform include all of the applications found on a
`fully featured PDA,such as a contacts manager, messaging
`application, word processor, spreadsheet, synchronisation
`etc.
`
`Onedifficulty faced by designers of wireless infor-
`[0005]
`mation devices is howto effectively allow a user to obtain
`data from data service providers (e.g. commercial organi-
`sations who can supply news, sport, weather, shopping
`information,
`location information—in essence any data
`which users are willing to pay for.). One common approach
`in WAP enabled mobile telephonesis to use a micro-browser
`to access a WAP portal with linksto various sites of interest;
`anotheris to use a search engine (e.g. Google.com). But each
`of these PC based approachesfails to transter ettectively to
`wireless information devices. There are three main reasons
`
`for this. First, the small screen size in, for example, a WAP
`enabled mobile telephone,
`is such that using a micro-
`browser can be difficult for many people. Secondly, expe-
`ricnee showsthat the non-computerlitcrate users of mobile
`telephones find using a portal and also a search engine
`inherently difficult Thirdly, the small screen size and lack of
`computer skills makes it unlikely that a user will follow
`multiple hyperlinks or scroll though multiple windows to
`find the information they need. Yet without a compelling and
`simple approach to allowing people to find the information
`they need, they are unlikely to be willing to pay money to
`obtain data. Since 3G systems are commercially based on
`the premise of users paying to obtain data, this is a serious
`problem.
`SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
`
`there is provided a method of
`In a first aspect
`[0006]
`enabling a wireless information device to access data from
`
`several data services providers in which the method com-
`prises the step of the device using an extensible framework
`which handles data passing to and from several applications
`resident on the device, the framework being shared by each
`of the applications resident on the device and also being
`shared byeach of the data services provider.
`
`[0007] The present invention therefore moves away from
`the conventional model of the internet browser as being the
`sole application which displays on the user’s device infor-
`mation from data services providers.Instead,it proposes that
`multiple applications on the device (althoughclearly not all
`applications on the device) can each receive data trom
`multiple data services providers. The consequences and
`advantages are described below.
`
`[0008] The framework may comprise standardised APIs
`presented by several applications resident on the wireless
`information device to data services components, also resi-
`dent on the wireless information device (or which can be
`loaded onto or plugged-into the device). These components
`allow each application to obtain and display data provided
`by commercial data service providers. The APIs may share
`common elements, leading to significant code savings, a
`major advantage in a wireless information device with
`limited resources.
`
`[0009] A data serviccs component can provide new func-
`tionality to more than one application resident on the wire-
`less information device and will
`typically be a plug-in.
`Coupling an application (e.g. a calendar application) with a
`component which provides a mechanism and pathway for
`data services for that application and any other with which
`it is compatible has not been done before and leadsto several
`advantages. For example, a directory application (which
`contains a user’s contacts list, and is capable of acting as a
`directory for any other name/contactdata), a location appli-
`cation (which gives a user’s location and includesdigital
`maps) and a shopping application (which allows a user to
`pay for purchases using the wireless information device)
`mightall be resident on a device; each present a commonset
`ot APIs. A Yellow Pages™ data services plug-in is down-
`loaded off air and is accessed by each of these applications,
`although in different ways. The Yellow Pages plug-in allows
`different services to be located through the directory appli-
`cation;
`for example, a search request performed in the
`directory application (e.g.
`search:
`‘cameras’) could be
`routed to a Yellow Pages remote server, which responds with
`the required data, including detailed maps in the location
`application; special shopping offers arc be pushed into the
`shopping application; nearby shops/services are shown in
`the location application. The Yellow Pages data services
`provider may charge a fee per hit to each shop etc. featured
`in a user’s search and a further fee if an e-commerce
`transaction results from the query. An Amazon™ plug-in
`could integrate into a calendar and a shopping application,
`giving daily special offers and information on when books
`etc have been dispatched to the calendar and allowing
`shopping via the Amazon site etc. This would also allow
`Amazon functionality (e.g. ‘Find books on this topic’) to be
`accessed in various applications—e.g. when reading a news-
`paper in a Newsapplication, or reading e-mail in an e-mail
`client Another example would be a digital rights manage-
`ment plug-in which could work with (a) a digital music
`player for compressed audio (e.g. mp3 format) and (b) a
`conventional CD audio format player and (c) a still image
`
`

`

`US 2004/0024846 Al
`
`Feb. 5, 2004
`
`manipulation program (e.g. Photoshop) and (d) a digital
`video player. Data from multiple sources could be subject to
`the DRM technique or techniques supported by the plug-in
`and be available to the device.
`
`[0010] The APIs may be extensible, with extensions con-
`forming to a commonstandard so that new functionsoffered
`by a componentare defined bycertain new APIs; these APIs
`can then be re-used whenever the same new [unctionality
`has to be offered by a different application. A new data
`service can be readily written since there is a common,
`standardised set of APIs; once loaded onto a device,
`the
`device simply has to work out which existing, resident
`applications can use the features offered by the new service.
`
`[0011] Data component plug-ins can be dynamically
`addedas a user movesinto new locations—e.g.in an airport,
`there could bea flight schedule plug-in, which automatically
`loads (subject to user consent) when the user is in or close
`to the airport, gencrating an icon in the user’s calendar
`application. Whenselected, the user can locate flight details
`and these will subsequently appear, regularly updated, in the
`user’s calendar entry—with, for example, ‘Proceed to Gate
`3’ at occurring at the relevant time with an alarm.
`
`{0012] Another feature of an implementation is that data
`sent from a commercial data service provider can automati-
`cally populate one or more applications (such as PIM
`applications) on the wireless information device. Because
`the data goes automatically into an application on a user’s
`wireless information device, where it is likely to be looked
`at and found useful, this approach overcomes the drawback
`with the browsing model—(a) people give up before they
`find the information ofinterest because navigatingto it takes
`too manyclicks and (b) browsing on a small screen device
`is difficult. Instead, getting the right data becomesfast and
`convenient. For example, sporting fixtures and entertain-
`ment
`listings could be transmitted from a data service
`provider placed straight into a user’s calendar application,
`with the entries being listed at
`the applicable times and
`dates; the user could click on these for more information and
`to perform e-commerce actions (e.g. buy tickets). News
`headlines and weather could be sent straight into a user’s
`calendar application too (with perhaps only today’s news
`visible). Hence, if one subscribes to a BBC™data service,
`one could get current news sentstraight into one’s calendar
`or indeed any other user specified application. Headlines
`could be provided free and pushed into an appropriate
`application;
`if the user wished to obtain more detailed
`information on a particular headline, thenit could select that
`headline, which would cause an information request to be
`sent
`to a BBC server, which would then supply more
`detailed information, possibly with an associated fee (either
`per item, or on a subscription basis).
`
`{0013] A combined data push and data pull model is
`therefore envisaged, with pushed data being free and deliv-
`ered to the device for automatic display in an appropriate
`application (and not just a generic browser) and giving links
`which if selected allowing the user to pull related enriched
`data from external sources with an associated fee.
`
`[0014] Some further example are that bills could go
`straight into a calendar application on the day received or
`date payment is due and also go into an electronic banking
`application, which stores account balances and is able to
`issue secure paymentinstructions. Bills can then readily be
`
`paid, with the instruction to pay going to a user’s bank from
`the banking application. In a digital radio application, a
`message ‘Buy the CD now?’ could accompanya song(e.g.
`appearing in the digital radio application user interface); if
`selected, the banking application could sanction automatic
`payment and send a request to a CD fulfilment house(e.g.
`Amazon™).
`
`(0015] The data sent from a data service provider may be
`a data object, such as an object which conformsto oris an
`extension of the Smart Message standard supported by
`Nokia Mobile Phones Limited of Finland. The data may be
`transported over the SyncML, IrMC or OBEX wireless
`transport standards. SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol)
`may be used bythe client device to pull informationrelating
`to a data object; for example, SOAP calls may be included
`in the data object itself. These data objects are typically
`signed to enable authentication to occur. Another feature is
`that data objects pushed to a wireless information device can
`be shared with others, who can also then request(i.e. pull)
`further information from a data service provider using that
`data object, giving the data objects a viral quality.
`
`[0016] The extensible framework may be defined by a
`schema. Hence,
`in another aspect,
`there is a method of
`enabling a wireless information device to access data from
`several data service providers in which the method com-
`prises the step of each of several applications resident on the
`device using at least in part a common,extensible schema
`which:
`
`(a) defines objects from each of the data
`[0017]
`service providers; and
`
`(b) permits each data service provider to
`[0018]
`define a new object with additional attributes,
`in
`which the new object can be used by any such
`application on the device to the extent
`that
`the
`attributes of the new object are recognisable by that
`application.
`
`[0019] The objects are typically sent by commercial data
`providers and interface to client resident applications using,
`standardised APIs. ‘The term ‘schema’ covers any consistent
`description of data, including data in a database (such as the
`extensible database described more fully in sections D-I
`Detailed Description) and data in an object (such as the
`objects described more fully in section C Detailed Descrip-
`tion which arc handled by the data component plug-ins).
`
`In manyprior art systems, hard-coded data struc-
`[0020]
`tures are typically used and not flexible schemas. Hence,
`extending such an infrastructure typically requires either a
`proprietary extension by one software company, which other
`companies may not be able to interpret correctly, or else a
`consensus re-writing of the hard-coded data structures,
`which can be slow to achieve. With the present invention, a
`data service provider can choose to enhance an object with
`additional fields or attributes; because these are defined in a
`schema (which term includes a DTD—Document Type
`Definition) which accompanies the object, any application
`capable of using the additional fields or attributes can make
`immediate, fill use of the enhanced objects. An application
`which cannot make use of the enhanced object, is simply
`unaffected by the enhancements. A data service provider
`can, perhaps responding to consumer suggestions, enhance
`an existing object with new attributes; the user can then
`
`

`

`US 2004/0024846 Al
`
`Feb. 5, 2004
`
`download the enhancements to applications resident on its
`device, or entirely new applications, which are needed to
`make full use of the enhanced objects.
`
`[0021] As an example, take the object to be information
`relating to an individual and held on an extensible frame-
`work whichis a database defined by a schema(Table 1 gives
`an example of this). As new fields are thoughtof, the object
`can be readily extended. Hence, a user might choose to
`subscribe to a service which allowed others to track his or
`her location—location could be a new attribute. The uscr’s
`
`friends or parents etc who wish to track the users location
`might initially have applications resident on their devices
`whichallow them to see the user’s current telephone number
`and address perhaps integrated into a contacts application).
`Oncethe user has subscribed to the location service, then the
`friends/parents could add a ‘map’ application to their own
`devices, which could showtheir position on digital maps and
`also, by using the location attribute of the user’s data object,
`it could also show the position of the user. Objects can have
`many differentattributes, although primarily it is likely that
`core attributes will fall under the general headings of per-
`sonal
`information,
`time based information and location
`based information. As such,they can be handled by contacts,
`calendar and map type applications. Many extensions
`beyond this core categorisation are possible; a strength of
`the present invention is that it can readily accommodate
`them as and when they are conceived. Hence, the present
`invention is flexible and extensible in a way that prior art
`systems cannot achieve.
`
`attribute could include not simply the nameof the city in
`which a person was based, but also a call (such as a SOAP
`call) to be used by a client if it wishes to pull in enriched
`location information, perhaps from a service which can track
`the location of users to within a few meters.
`
`{0025] A further feature is that all directory/contacts type
`applications in a wireless information device may be
`grouped together, a single search can then be conducted
`across all directory/contacts type applications ta unify the
`experience of looking up namesandfinding things. A scarch
`or other data service request can use additional information
`derived from an application currently in use the wireless
`information device to provide additional search or request
`criteria. A browser based search could in theory also dothis,
`but building links into other applications in the browser is
`difficult. But in the present invention, the linkage is inherent
`because the data components work across multiple applica-
`tions.
`
`[0026] Various specific implementations of the invention
`and additional aspects are further particuarised in the claims.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`[0027] A. Overview of the ADS System
`
`[0028] The present invention will be described with ref-
`erence to an implementation from Symbian Limited of
`London, United Kingdom. This implementationis called the
`ADS™system. The ADS system addresses the pervasive
`requirement for wireless applications to access and share
`information: the ADS system is an ‘information distribution
`architecture’, optimised for wireless computing, offering an
`extensible frameworkfor the fast and efficient design, build
`and roll-out of applications which need to securely and
`reliably access and share information. The ADS system’s
`flexible and extensible architecture supports a potentially
`unlimited set of these kinds of client-based wireless appli-
`cations. The term ‘information distribution architecture’
`should be broadly construed to cover any system which
`enables information (including voice, text data, video etc.)
`to pass between entities.
`
`[0022] The objects may be pushed from a data service
`provider to a device;
`the object may be limited in the
`attributes initially used by the device, for example,
`the
`device may use only those attributes which allow it
`to
`display an icon orother shorthand (e.g. name/title) correctly
`in the applicable application(s). But when a userselects the
`icon or shorthand, additional options derived from other
`attributes of the object may be madevisible. Kor example, a
`weather object may initially just display on a device as a
`‘sun’ symbol (or other symbolrelevant to the local weather
`conditions at the device location) in the calendar application
`open at today’s date. If the sun icon is selected by a user,
`additional options are displayed (c.g. pollen count, CO2
`[0029] The core structures of the ADS system information
`levels etc.); these are derived from further attributes of the
`distribution architecture are (a)
`internet servers hosting
`object. Whenauser selects one of these options, a link to the
`extensible databases; (b) wireless information devices which
`network could be initiated to pull down the required addi-
`can access information on these databases; and (c) applica-
`tional information; a fee could be leviedfor this. In this way,
`tions resident on these devices which present a commonset
`the present invention allows users to rapidly access infor-
`of APIs to plug-ins from commercial service providers.
`mation of relevance to them and provides a straightforward
`Hence, three modes of data access are possible in ADS:
`charging model, based on free, pushed data displayed in
`relevant applications (and not just a generic browser) and
`charged-for, pulled data to enrich the free, pushed data.
`
`[0023] The objects may be enhanced with additional
`attributes only once a user has paid a fee or subscription;
`since the objects can be sent between users, some form of
`access control/digital rights management systems may necd
`to be invoked to ensure that access to enriched data is only
`provided to those entitled.
`
`[0024] The objects may contain attributes at different
`levels of granularity—for example,
`location might be
`defined in very approximate terms without charge; it may be
`no better than a given city. But a user might be able to obtain
`more precise information by paying more—so a location
`
`1. An application resident on the device que-
`[0030]
`ries and receives data from the remote, extensible
`database. No plug-in components are used and the
`application is stand alone.
`
`2. An application resident on the device uses
`[0031]
`a plug-in to receive data from a commercial service
`provider, but the service provider does not use the
`extensible database, but a conventional, dedicated
`server.
`
`3. Acombination of the two above: an appli-
`[0032]
`cation resident on the device uses a plug-in to receive
`data from a commercial service provider and that
`data service provider uses the extensible database.
`
`

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`US 2004/0024846 Al
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`Feb. 5, 2004
`
`[0033] The present invention focuses on options 2 and 3.
`But for completeness, a complete ADS description is pro-
`vided. Because of this quite complex structure, the Detailed
`Description of this specification is organised as follows:
`
`[0034] Section A: Overview of the ADS system
`
`
`
`[0035] Section B: The ADS System—core advantages
`
`[0036] Section C: Client side aspects: data plug-ins
`which work across multiple applications to allow data
`services to be delivered directly into applications
`
`[0037] Section D: Identities—user interaction aspects
`
`[0038] Section E: Shared content—user
`aspects
`
`interaction
`
`[0039] Section F: ADS—server side aspects—general
`comments on the enabling technology
`
`[0040] Section G: ADS—server side architecture—
`ServML
`
`[0041] Section H: An illustration—how the ADS Sys-
`tem framework is used in making a telephone call
`
`[0042] Section I: An illustration—the ADSsystem data-
`base
`
`[0043] Section J: Newservices and functions
`
`[0044] Appendix 1: More newservices and functions
`
`[0045]
`lowing:
`
`In more depth, the ADS system includes the fol-
`
`(a) internet servers hosting extensible databases
`[0046]
`with attributes remotely extensible by application authors
`using a standard protocol over a network. The database
`contains information from or relating to many different
`entities;
`it is organised into information fields which an
`entity can complete or have completed. Table 1 (Section 1)
`includes examples of the kinds of information fields which
`are possible for an individual. Information is placed onto the
`database by an entity so that it can be readily shared with
`other entities: the database in effect represents a web page
`containing information specific to that entity. ‘The informa-
`tion on the database can be thoughtof as a ‘master’ version
`of information. The database can be readily extended to
`include new tagged fields relevant to new applications.
`
`[0047] The database can define which entities can read
`different fields: Alice can therefore give Bob rights to read
`only certain ficlds in her database.
`
`(b) wireless information devices running applica-
`[0048]
`tions which access data by interacting with data component
`plug-ins supplied by commercial data services providers
`using a standardised set of APIs to access data Data may be
`(but does note have to) come from the extensible databases.
`
`(c) wireless information devices running applica-
`[0049]
`tions which access the information held on the extensible
`databases running on central servers and other wireless
`information devices without the plug-ins described above. A
`wireless information device (as well as web browsers) can
`access an entity’s database by sending to the server an
`unchanging pointer or key (an ‘ADS Number’) whichis
`unique to that entity. The ADS number may include more
`attributes than just a number, further, an individual entity
`cold have multiple AADS numbers, each appropriate for a
`
`different circumstance. ADS numbers are typically con-
`structed using text strings and can be though ofas defining
`a namespace. When Bob’s device sends Alice’s ADS Num-
`ber to the server, then the server recognises Bob’s device and
`allows that device to read Alice’s information held on the
`
`database which is specified as being accessible to Bob. The
`ADSsystem is an extensible framework which offers secure
`and persistent entity to entity information distribution. Each
`of these key terms can be expanded on as follows:
`
`[0050] Extensible—The ADSsystems is designed so that
`new data service functionality can be dynamically added to
`existing client resident applications using data component
`plug-ins. The ADS system is also designed so that a new
`application can be created on a wireless information device
`with no new server-side application by remote application
`authors using a standard protocol to extend the database
`fields or (equivalently) attributes. All that is neededis for the
`database (on the remote server or client resident) to be
`expandable to accommodate the new fields (if any) required
`by the new application and for the new application to be able
`to extract information from the required fields in the data-
`base. XMLtags conformingto a standardised schema can be
`used to facilitate this.
`
`{0051] Framework—The ADSsystem is a general purpose
`architecture which can be used by manydifferent applica-
`tions which require information sharing; it is in essence a
`framework.
`
`[0052] Secure—As noted above, the ADS system allows
`signed data objects to be directly inserted into a user’s
`device resident application; the data object can therefore be
`fully authenticated using an automated process. In ADS, a
`user can also specify the remote database accessrights given
`to different people or groups: an arbitrary group of entities
`maybestoredas an attribute which gives access permissions
`to data in the database. The ADS system includes additional
`access control mechanisms, such as checking the identity of
`the calling device at the server or the called device and
`assessing the access rights appropriate to that device. This
`protection is extended to the voice call mechanism, provid-
`ing a flexible call-screening methodology.
`
`the framework
`[0053] Persistent—As also noted above,
`borrows the concept of the computer software pointer.
`Consider Alice, who is publishing some information, and
`Bob whois accessing it. Usually Bob would store a local
`copy of the information on his device, and this data would
`atrophy as time went by. Using the ADS system,Alice stores
`her data on a server on the Internct, and Bob mercly stores
`a pointer to that data or a local copy of that data (or a subset
`of it) in conjunction with the pointer. Then as Alice changes
`her data, Bob’s view of it can readily remain up-to-date as
`(i) the new data can be automatically pushed to Bob or(ii)
`Bobcan pull the new data into his device whenever he needs
`to make sure that any local copy he may haveis up to date.
`
`[0054] Entity to Entity—since the framework contains an
`indirection mechanism, it can be used to link twoentities,
`and not merely 2 devices. Via a variety of mechanisms
`(programming by the owner, time and location information,
`information on device currently in use) the server transpar-
`ently decides which device an entity should be contacted on
`at any particular time.
`
`

`

`US 2004/0024846 Al
`
`Feb. 5, 2004
`
`[0055] B. The ADS System: Core Advantages
`
`[0056] Core Advantage 1: Extensible Framework
`
`[0057] There is currently no common infrastructure for
`wireless information devices which can be used by appli-
`cations for
`information distribution. Consequently, data
`applications for wireless information devices have to be
`buill using bespoke solutions, often causing them to be slow
`to market costly and complex. The ADS system offers an
`extensible frameworkfor the fast and efficient design, build
`and roll-out of client-based applications which involve an
`elementof secure and reliable information distribution. ADS
`provides the common,data infrastructure for wireless infor-
`mation exchange.
`
`[0058] Core Advantage 2: Reliable Entity to Entity Com-
`munications
`
`[0059] One important example of the class of applications
`which require information distribution is entily to entity
`communication via mobile clients over wireless networks.
`The ADS system allows entity to entity communication
`which is reliable Currently, the contact information on a
`typical user’s PDA or PIM will contain significant amounts
`of out of date information, with the remainder atrophying in
`a non-transparent way. Hence, communication using such
`information is inherently unreliable. Yet further, the burden
`of adding and maintaining contacts using many conventional
`systems is considerable, so that even up to date contact
`information can too easily not be entered into a user’s PDA
`or PIM. ADS exemplifies a reliable communications system
`in that a communication channel can be opened evenif the
`called entity, Alice, has changed her telephone number and
`has failed to notify the calling entity, Bob. But unlike other
`proposed solutions to the problem of enabling reliable
`communication, the ADS system is not directed merely to
`person to person communication, but acknowledges and
`accommodates the reality that whilst much commercial
`communication is between persons (i.e. individuals), those
`persons are communicating on behalf of a larger entity, such
`as an employer. Hence, the ADS system enables entity to
`enlily communications, where the term entily embraces not
`only individuals, but also companies, organisations, and
`positions within an organisation (e.g. vice president, sales
`etc), and devices which may be associated with any entity.
`
`[0060] ADS adds further to its inherent reliability by
`introducing the concept of indicating the freshness of data.
`This