Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02507852 2008-10-15
Bookmark Beacon Method And System
BACKGROUND
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to an information beacon. More particularly,
the
invention provides a system and method for a bookmark beacon that enables
communication
with any device having access to a computer network, such as the Internet. The
invention is
particularly well-suited for communicating with Personal Digital Assistants,
mobile
communication devices, cellular telephones, and wireless two-way e-mail
communication
devices (collectively referred to hereinafter as "wireless devices").
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Communication between a wireless device and traditionally non-wireless
equipment,
such as printers, facsimile machines, ATMs, etc., currently requires the
equipment to be
specially manufactured with wireless capabilities, such as a Bluetooth
interface.
Bluetooth is a de facto standard, as well as a specification for small-form
factor, low-cost,
short-range radio links between wireless devices. The manufacture of wireless-
enabled
equipment, however, involves increased cost, additional power consumption, and
relatively
complex hardware.
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SUMNIARY
Accordingly, in one aspect there is provided an electronic messaging system,
comprising:
a plurality of wireless devices;
a computer network;
a wireless network that enables the plurality of wireless devices to access
the
computer network;
one or more resources coupled to the computer network, wherein each resource
has a
unique resource address on the computer network;
a bookmark beacon associated with each resource that transmits a bookmark data
packet identifying the unique resource address of the associated resource,
wherein the
bookmark data packet can be received by the plurality of wireless devices; and
a message server having a unique location on the computer network that
transmits and
receives electronic messages to and from the plurality of wireless devices
over the computer
network and wireless network, and that is also configured to (a) receive one
of the unique
resource addresses from one of the wireless devices, and (b) transmit an
electronic message
identified by the one of the wireless devices over the computer network to the
resource
associated with the one of the unique resource address;
wherein the message server notifies the one of the wireless devices when one
or more
of said electronic messages is received that includes one or more attachments
that are unable
to be transmitted to the one of the wireless devices, and wherein the one of
the wireless
devices provides a user interface comprising an option to transmit the one or
more
attachments to the resource associated with the one of the unique resource
addresses.
According to another aspect there is provided a method for electronic
messaging,
comprising the steps of:
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CA 02507852 2008-10-15
transmitting to a wireless device a bookmark data packet from a bookmark
beacon
associated with a resource that identifies a unique resource address of the
associated resource;
transmitting the bookmark data packet from the wireless device to a message
server
having a unique location on a computer network, and that is also configured to
(a) receive
the unique resource address from the wireless device , and (b) transmit an
electronic
message identified by the wireless device over the computer network to the
resource
associated with the unique resource address;
receiving electronic messages from the message server that include one or more
attachments which have been identified for printing by the wireless device;
extracting the one or more attachments from the electronic message;
formatting the one or more attachments for the identified resource;
transmitting the one or more attachments over the computer network to the
resource
associated with the unique resource address;
notifying the wireless device when one or more of said electronic messages are
received that include one or more of said attachments that are unable to be
transmitted to the
wireless device; and
providing the wireless device with an option to print the one or more
attachments
using an attachment processor and reformator.
According to another aspect there is provided a wireless device configured to
execute
software instructions for performing a method, comprising:
receiving a bookmark data packet over a wireless network from a bookmark
beacon,
the bookmark data packet identifying a resource address of a resource coupled
to a computer
network; and
transmitting data over the wireless network and over the computer network to
the
resource using the resource address;
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wherein the wireless device is notified when one or more electronic messages
include
one or more attachments that are unable to be transmitted to the wireless
device; and
wherein the wireless device provides a user interface comprising an option to
transmit
the one or more attachments using an attachment processor and reformator; and
wherein the attachment processor and reformator operates on a message server,
and
(a) receives electronic messages from the message server that include
attachments which
have been identified for printing by the wireless device; (b) extracts the
attachments from the
electronic messages; (c) formats the attachments for the resource associated
with the resource
address; and (d) transmits the attachments over the computer network to the
resource associated with the resource address.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAVTINGS
Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary bookmark beacon system according to
one
embodiment of the claimed invention;
Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing one exemplary embodiment of the bookmark
beacon;
Fig. 3 is an illustrative diagram showing an exemplary embodiment of the
bookmark
beacon system in which the bookmark beacon is associated with a physical
location such as a
commercial establishment;
Fig. 4 is a flow diagram showing an exemplary method for retrieving
information on a
wireless device relating to a guest device having a bookmark beacon;
Fig. 5 is an illustrative diagram showing an exemplary electronic messaging
system
for wireless devices that utilizes a bookmark beacon associated with a network-
enabled
printer; and
Fig. 6 is an illustrative diagram showing an exemplary electronic banking
system that
utilizes a bookmark beacon associated with a point-of-sale (POS) device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to the figures, Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary
bookmark
beacon system 10. The system 10 includes a bookmark beacon 12, a wireless
device 14, and
a wireless communications network 16 through which the wireless device 14 can
access the
Internet 18 via a proxy server 20. In addition, the bookmark beacon 12 may be
physically
coupled with, or in close proximity to, a guest device 22.
Operationally, the bookmark beacon 12 transmits a bookmark data packet 24 to
the
wireless device 14, including information that is used by the wireless device
14 to access a
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network server 26 having a website 28 associated with the guest device 22.
Through an
Intemet connection, the wireless device 14 may, for example, communicate with
the guest
device 22, retrieve information relating to the guest device 22, or interact
with applications
associated with the guest device 22. Altematively, if the guest device 22 has
a network
connection, the bookmark data packet 24 may provide the wireless device 14
with the
information necessary to directly access the guest device 22 (such as an IP
address for the
guest device 22). It should be understood, however, that the bookmark beacon
system 10 is
not limited to use with the Intemet 18, but may be implemented using any
computer network,
such as a corporate Intranet or a large network operator.
The guest device 22 may be any type of device or structure, such as a store
front, a
printer, a facsimile machine, an ATM, or a cash register. Various embodiments
of the
bookmark beacon system 10 utilizing different types of guest devices are
described in detail
herein. Altematively, the bookmark beacon system 10 may be implemented without
a guest
device 22. For instance, a bookmark beacon 12 could be used independently to
communicate
information, such as an advertisement, to a nearby wireless device 14.
The bookmark data packet 24 transmitted by the bookmark beacon 12 preferably
includes a resource address, such as an IP address or a Uniform Resource
Locator (URL),
that enables the wireless device 14 to locate a network server 26 and website
28 over the
Internet 18. Alternatively, the resource address may enable a network
connection directly to
the guest device 22. The data packet 24 may also include a limited amount of
text describing
the purpose of the bookmark beacon 12. The descriptive text preferably enables
a wireless
device user to determine if he or she is interested in further interaction
with the system 10. In
addition, the data packet 24 may further include data relating to the wireless
device user's
interaction with the guest device 22. For example, the data packet 24 might
identify a cash
register and the price of merchandise purchased by the wireless device user.
In any case, the
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data packet 24 is preferably a short data stream that does not impose a heavy
transmission
demand on the bookmark beacon 12.
Upon receiving the bookmark data packet 24, the mobile device user is
preferably
given the option to then access the server 26 and website 28 or the guest
device 22 identified
by the resource address. Communication with the Internet is preferably
achieved through an
existing wireless network 16 and proxy server 20. Communications across the
wireless
network 16 and proxy server 20 involve operations that are commonly understood
by those
skilled in the art of wireless communications. Communication across the
wireless network
connection 16 may be facilitated on the wireless device 14 using any known
software that is
capable of interfacing the wireless device 14 with the proxy server 20. The
proxy server 20 is
then used as a gateway that allows the wireless device 22 to indirectly
communicate with the
website 28 or guest device 22 over the network connection. The proxy server 20
preferably
communicates with the target website 28 through a Hypertext Transfer Protocol
(HTTP) fetch
and cache component. The target website 28 relating to the guest device 22 may
operate on a
range of computers, computer systems, or networks. For example, information or
software
applications relating to the guest device 22 could be stored in local
databases, on an Intranet,
or on the Internet 18. The fetch and cache component of the proxy server 20
stores the web
pages that are returned from the website 28 in response to commands by the
wireless device
user. A wireless transport layer at the proxy server 20 then transmits the
information through
the wireless network connection 16 to the mobile device 1.4.
Fig. 2 is a block diagram 30 showing one exemplary embodiment of the bookmark
beacon 12. The exemplary bookmark beacon 12 comprises a short-range serial
infrared data
communicator 32, a microprocessor 34, and a power source 36. The bookmark
beacon 12 is
preferably a wireless-enabled tag that uses the short-range serial infrared
data communicator
32 to transmit the bookmark data packets 24. The data communicator 32 is
preferable an
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IrDA (Infrared Data Association) port coupled to a microprocessor 34. The IrDA
standard
has been widely accepted throughout the wireless industry as a means of
realizing low-power,
non-interfering, interoperable data links. As a result, many commercially-
available wireless
devices include IrDA ports. It should be understood, however, that the
bookmark beacon 12
could be implemented using any known means for transmitting data to a wireless
device,
such as a radio frequency transmitter. The power source 36 is preferably a
battery, but could
be any type of power source capable of supplying sufficient power to the
processor 34.
Operationally, the processor 34 is programmed to contain the data to be
included in
the bookmark data packet 24. The processor 34 may, for example, be programmed
through a
small keyboard attached to the housing of the bookmark beacon 12, or through
an external
electrical interface such as a serial port, or by any means of communicating
data to the
bookmark beacon 12. The processor then transmits the data packet 24 through
the IrDA port
32 for reception by any mobile device within wireless communication range.
This
transmission may be a continuous transmission, or may be configured to
transmit at a
periodic interval.
In an alternative embodiment, the bookmark beacon 12 may be implemented using
a
standard personal computer (PC) configured with an IrDA port. The transmission
of data
through IrDA ports is commonly understood by those skilled in the art, and is
described in
the "IrDA-Compatible Data Transmission Design Guide," TELEFUNKEN
Microelectronic
GmbH, April 1996.
Fig. 3 is an illustrative diagram showing an exemplary embodiment 40 of the
bookmark beacon system 10 in which the bookmark beacon 12 is associated with a
physical
location, such as a commercial establishment 42. In this embodiment 40, the
bookmark
beacon 12 is preferably mounted on or near the commercial establishment 42.
When a
wireless device user 44 approaches the establishment 42, his or her wireless
device 14
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receives a bookmark data packet 24 from the bookmark beacon 12. The bookmark
data
packet 24 may then be used by the wireless device user 44 to retrieve
information relating to
the commercial establishment 42.
Step 1, identified in Fig. 3 by a number one (1) enclosed in a circle,
illustrates the
transmission of the bookmark data packet 24 from the bookmark beacon 12 to the
wireless
device 14. This transmission may occur automatically as the wireless device
user 44
approaches or enters the establishment 42. Alternatively, the user may select
a function on
his or her wireless device 14 that instructs the device 14 to receive bookmark
beacon signals.
If the wireless device user 44 chooses to interact with the system 40, then in
step 2 the
bookmark data packet 24 is used to access a web server 46 that includes web
pages 48
containing information relating to the commercial establishment 42. As
discussed above with
respect to Fig. 1, the web server 46 and web pages 48 are preferably accessed
by the wireless
device 14 through a wireless network 16 that is linked to the Internet 18 by a
proxy server 20.
Once the web pages 48 are accessed by the proxy server 20, information
relating to the
commercial establishment 42 is collected, and the information is delivered to
the wireless
device 14 in step 3. The information delivered from the web pages could
include, for
example, advertisements, sales, or any other information relating to the
commercial
establishment.
In other exemplary embodiments of the bookmark beacon system 10, the bookmark
beacon 12 may be associated with, for example, a cash register in a
restaurant, a facsimile
machine, a printer, a secure door, or even a tree. These exemplary embodiments
are
described below to illustrate the various configurations (and/or guest
devices) well within the
scope of the bookmark beacon system. It should be understood, however, that
the bookmark
beacon system is not limited to these exemplary embodiments, but may be
utilized in a wide
variety of applications.
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1. Cash Register Example - At a restaurant, a mobile device user orders a meal
(order A)
and sits at table B. A waiter enters order A into a cash register with a web
browser interface.
The order and amounts owing are managed and maintained securely stored on a
web page
that is reserved for orders relating to table B. The wireless device user then
completes his or
her meal and initiates communication with a bookmark beacon, attached to table
B, that
provides the mobile device with a bookmark data packet identifying the web
page associated
with table B. The mobile device then accesses the web page as described above.
Upon
receiving the preferably secure web page, the user may, for example, be able
to review his or
her order, confirm the order and complete payment for such transaction. The
bookmark data
packet utilized in this exemplary embodiment may comprise the following
information:
www.domain.tld {ID }
Wherein: www.domain.tld = resource address containing order information; and
ID = table identifier
2. Facsimile Machine Exarnple - A wireless device user approaches a facsimile
machine
that has an attached bookmark beacon. The user's wireless device then receives
a bookmark
data packet from the bookmark beacon attached to the facsimile machine that
preferably
includes a resource address containing the URL of a webpage associated with
the facsimile
machine. The webpage may contain, for example, the facsimile number, owner,
physical
address and possibly the IP address of the facsimile machine. Once the
resource address has
been obtained, the wireless device may, for example, send data wirelessly to
the fax machine
using the facsimile number, or send data to the facsimile machine over the
network using the
IP address. In an alternative embodiment, the bookmark data packet may contain
the
resource address enabling the wireless device to transmit data over the
network directly to the
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facsimile machine without first accessing a related web page. Advantageously,
this example
enables legacy facsimile machines (i.e., facsimile machines that are not
wireless enabled) to
communicate with mobile devices.
3. Printer Example - A wireless device user approaches a computer printer that
has an
attached bookmark beacon. The user's wireless device then receives a bookmark
data packet
from the boolanark beacon that preferably includes the URL of a web page that
provides the
wireless device with the necessary protocols to communicate with the printer.
The webpage
may include, for example, the owner, physical address and IP address of the
printer as well as
a printer driver for communication with the printer. Once the printer
information has been
obtained, the wireless device may, for example, transmit data to the printer
over the network
using the IP address. In an alternative embodiment, the bookmark data packet
may contain
the printer information, enabling the wireless device to communicate directly
with the printer
without first accessing a web page. Advantageously, this example enables
legacy printers
(i.e., printers that are not wireless enabled) to communicate with mobile
devices such that a
user may print out documents from the mobile device without first having to
forward the
document to the wired network on which the printer is attached.
4. Secure Door Example - A wireless device user approaches a door having an
attached
security-featured bookmark beacon. The wireless device user then initiates
communication
with the bookmark beacon, and the bookmark beacon provides the mobile device
with a
bookmark data packet identifying a web page. The bookmark data packet in this
exemplary
embodiment may, for example, comprise the following information:
www.domain.tld {ID:PS }
Wherein: www.domain.tld = resource address containing order information
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ID = door identifier
PS = password
The bookmark beacon password is preferably generated in synchronization with a
server-based password. Once the mobile device has accessed the preferably
secure web page,
the mobile device submits a secure password to the server. If the password
submitted by the
mobile device and the password encoded in the bookmark data packet are
synchronized with
the server-based password, then the door is unlocked.
5. Tree Example - To illustrate the wide array of applications of the bookmark
beacon
system, the system may be applied to such a simple item as a tree. In this
exemplary
embodiment, a bookmark beacon is embedded on a tree. The bookmark beacon then
transmits a resource address pointing any mobile device to a web site
describing the features
and history of the tree and any other particular information about the tree's
species to the user.
In this example, the bookmark data packet may, for example, comprise the
following
information:
www.domain.tld
Wherein www.domain.tld = resource address containing tree information
Fig. 4 is a flow diagram showing an exemplary method 50 for retrieving
information
on a wireless device relating to a guest device having a bookmark beacon. The
method
begins at step 52 when a wireless device comes within proximity of a bookmark
beacon. In
step 54 the bookmark beacon transmits a bookmark data packet that is received
by the
wireless device. Once the bookmark data packet is received, the wireless
device stores the
bookmark data packet to enable a wireless device user to retrieve the
information necessary
to communicate with the guest device (step 56). If the wireless device user
chooses to
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interact with (or receive information concerning) the guest device (step 58),
then the mobile
device contacts a web site identified by the bookmark data packet (step 60).
In step 62, the
web site preferably determines the relevant information regarding the guest
device such as
protocols and drivers that the user requires, and then downloads that
information to the user's
mobile device. The information downloaded to the wireless device may
preferably be in a
variety of forms such as simple text, graphics and text, applets, forms, etc.
Then, in step 64,
the wireless device or wireless device user may act on the downloaded
information as
described herein.
Fig. 5 is an illustrative diagram showing an exemplary electronic messaging
system
70 for wireless devices 14 that utilizes a bookmark beacon 12 associated with
a network-
enabled printer 72. The system 70 includes a bookmark beacon 12 attached to,
or in the
vicinity of, a printer 72 that is coupled to the Internet 18 or some other
computer network.
The printer 72 is configured to receive print jobs across the Internet 18,
preferably using an
Internet Printing Protocol (IPP). Operationally, the system enables a wireless
device user to
forward e-mail attachments that cannot be viewed on the wireless device 14
over the Internet
18 to the network-enabled printer 72.
In step 1, identified in Fig. 5 by a number one (1) enclosed in a circle, a
wireless
device user receives an e-mail message from a messaging server 74 that
includes attachments
that the messaging server 74 is unable to forward to the wireless device 14.
This restriction
may, for example, be due to storage limitations, formatting problems or
limited viewing
capability on the mobile device 14. Once the wireless device user receives the
e-mail
message with a notification that an attachment could not be forwarded, the
system 70 then
preferably gives the user the option to print the attachment on a network-
enabled printer 72.
If the user chooses to print the attachment, then the wireless device 14
preferably (1) searches
for a signal from a bookmark beacon 12, and (2) if a signal is identified,
then receives the
CA 02507852 2005-06-17
addressing and capability information for the printer 72 in the form of a
bookmark data
packet (step 2). Then, in step 3, the wireless device 14 transmits a print
request along with
the information contained in the bookmark beacon data packet to the message
server 74.
Once the print request and printer data are received, the message server 74
then preferably
passes the information to an attachment processor and reformatting component
76 (step 4).
The attachment processor and reformatting component 76 then preferably
extracts the
attachment from the e-mail message and reformats the attachment for printing.
The
reformatting operation may be performed, for example, using the PostScript
printer
forrnatting language. Once reformatting is complete, the attachment processor
establishes
communication with the printer 72 over the Internet 18, and transmits the
attachment to the
printer using the IPP method supported by the Intemet network 18 (step 5). It
should be
understood, however, that other printer formats could be used and other
printer protocols
could be employed.
Fig. 6 is an illustrative diagram showing an exemplary electronic banking
system that
utilizes a bookmark beacon associated with a point-of-sale (POS) device. The
system
includes a bookmark beacon 12 attached to, or in the vicinity of, a POS device
84 that is
coupled to the Internet 18 or some other computer network. Operationally, this
system may
be used, for example, to authorize a credit or debit transaction for the
purchase of some items.
Step 1, identified in Fig. 6 by a number one (1) enclosed in a circle, occurs
when a
wireless device user completes a sale of some form and is not paying cash. At
the retail sale
point there is a cash register 82 and a point-of-sale (POS) device 84. The POS
device 84
may, for example, include a debit machine, a credit machine or a combination
of both. In
step 1, the POS device 84 preferably receives the amount of the sale and type
of transaction
from the cash register 82, and requires the wireless device user to enter a
Personal
Identification Number (PIN). Then, in step 2, the information received by the
POS device 84
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is transferred from the POS device 84 to the bookmark beacon 12, and
transmitted to the
user's wireless device 14 in the form of a bookmark beacon data packet. In
addition, the
bookmark beacon data packet preferably includes the Intemet address of a Bank
Server and
Proxy 86 associated with the POS device 84, which is configured to process the
transaction.
Once the bookmark beacon data packet is received at the wireless device 14,
the wireless
device user preferably reviews the information and accepts or denies the
transaction at step 3.
If the wireless device user accepts the transaction, then in step 4, the
transaction request is
delivered over wireless network 16 and Internet 18 to the Bank Server and
Proxy 86. The
Bank Server and Proxy 86 then, in step 5, transfers the transaction
information to the network
location 88 of a bank or a credit/debit clearing house that records the
wireless device user's
account information and verifies the PIN validity. If the transaction
information is verified,
then the bank or clearing house 88 accepts the transaction by transmitting the
necessary
information directly to the POS device 84 over the Internet 18 (step 6a).
In an alternative embodiment, the bookmark beacon 12 includes a bi-directional
IrDA
or RF interface utilized to avoid the need for a land-line link between the
bank or clearing
house 88 and every retail outlet. In this embodiment, the verification
information from the
bank or clearing house 88 is transmitted back to the wireless device 14 in the
form of an
encoded verification message as shown in step 6b. Then, in step 7, the encoded
message is
transmitted by the wireless device 14 to the bi-directional interface of the
bookmark beacon
12. The verification message is then transferred to the POS device 84 where
the transaction
is completed.
The embodiments described herein are examples of structures, systems or
methods
having elements corresponding to the elements of the invention recited in the
claims. This
written description may enable those skilled in the art to make and use
embodiments having
alternative elements that likewise correspond to the elements of the invention
recited in the
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claims. The intended scope of the invention thus includes other structures,
systems or
methods that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, and
further includes other
structures, systems or methods with insubstantial differences forrn the
literal language of the
claims.
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